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Yamuna Body Rolling – Better than Foam Rolling?
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Tribute Tuesday #2 – Pete Amedure
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| Pete Amedure, Coach, Mentor, Motivator and Friend |
Inspirational, motivational, challenging, generous and caring are all the adjectives I would use to describe my personal friend Pete Amedure.
The first time I met Pete I knew I was going to be in trouble of sorts. Scott Bragan and I decided to check out a brick workout he was hosting with a number of the Team in Training athletes he was coaching at the time, and a couple of other triathletes. I walked over to introduce myself and at first I was taken back by this big, burly, broad guy talking with this raspy voice that sounded like he just walked off the Brooklyn Bridge. We didn’t know each other at all, but we proceeded to start our workout on the bike and after allowing Scott and to think we were superior for the first 10 miles he decided to show us who was really in command by zipping past us like we were standing still. I was at first disgusted at myself and then I was in awe of his explosiveness on the bike. I continued to train with Pete and we started to become fast friends. He also started a informal triathlon club he called the A-Train. (A for Amedure and the fact he was from Brooklyn off the A line subway. Get it?)
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| Pete and the A-Train after a difficult Brick |
In 2010, the A-Train club exploded. Why? In all honesty because of Pete. Pete is a spin instructor at L.A Fitness, as well as Certified Personal Trainer, and as he met athletes who were interested in triathlon he added them to an email list. We all worked out and kept adding friends and other athletes to a point where we were hosting workouts of 20-30 people and the email list grew to about 80 members. While anyone can pull people together once, these members kept coming back for long, grueling bike rides, harsh swims, runs that felt like they just wouldn’t end, and of course some difficult brick workouts in the middle of the Florida summers with high heat and humidity. Why did we all come back? One person; Pete. He has a way of motivating and pushing athletes of all levels to their edge without making them feel inferior if they couldn’t keep up. On long rides he would always play shepherd and leader at the same time. If an athlete was having a bad day and just didn’t have it, Pete would double back and have them draft until they were able to catch up with the group. The group adopted the US Military’s motto, “No one left behind” during long rides and soon we were all taking turns as the shepherd in order to allow Pete to have a good workout as well.
Not to say that training is all we do. There have been numerous barbeques, Xmas parties, Greek Easter parties and nights out, but most of those are exceptions to the rule, because when most of us are asked to go out to the bars, or a party or clubbing on a Friday or Saturday night, we decline. We know that 5am comes very quick and we want to be rested because we know Pete is going to bring us to our edge, and sometimes over it. The difference between the other clubs and Pete’s A-Train? We smile and laugh through it and enjoy every minute of it. Pete turned us not only in to athletes, but a family as well. We look out for each other and Pete looks out for us.
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| Pete loves the sauce…well the healthy sauce |
DOB: Sept 13, 1966 – Virgo
POB: Brooklyn, NY
Grew up: Brooklyn, NY
High School: Brooklyn Tech, HS
High School sports: Swimming
College: Brooklyn College (CUNY)
College Sports: DRINKING
When and why did you start competing in triathlon?
2008 – It was a dare, Someone at the gym said HEY, we’re doing a triathlon out at Ft Desoto in two weeks, you should do it with us.
What is one thing you love most about triathlon?
I love the feeling of pushing yourself to the bitter end no matter what. But most of all the camaraderie of triathletes. During my first triathlon I remember during the run, I recall seeing an older couple. They were each in their 60’s and still competing. They crossed during the run, and stopped, gave each other a warm embrace and a kiss. He then said, I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line. It was by far one of the most moving sights I have ever seen in any sport!
What made you start the A-Train?
The A-Train started as just a couple of friends, training together. Luisa, was one of the first A-Trainers, and shortly there after Mike Walker came along. Then in 2010, the A-Train exploded and continues to what/who we are today.
I know you teach spinning, how did you start?
I’ve been a cyclist for years and took spin classes to supplement my workouts.. Then realized how much I loved it. It also drove me crazy when instructors and just felt the need to get certified and teach people how to do it right!
What is the turning point in your life that made you such a leader and want to move people to their successes?
Not to sound cliche, but I read a book, it was called: “Its Not About the Bike” I don’t care about all the other stuff, but that book made me want to change and take charge of my life.
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| Pete during Ironman Haines City 70.3 |
What would you say is your greatest obstacle you ever overcame?
About 10 years ago, I was 270lbs, with high blood pressure, and drank too much. My biggest obstacle, was ME!
What is your greatest victory?
I have to say last May in Haines City FL. Running on a stress fracture, and in in a state of total emotional disarray, there were more than a few times I almost abandoned the race. Coming across the finish line to my waiting friends, A-Trainers and family was the greatest victory.
What are you favorite quotes?
“Victory belongs to those who believe…”
-Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle
-Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle
“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AROUND HERE”
– Vince Lombardi
– Vince Lombardi
“Do or Do NOT, there is NO TRY”
-Yoda
-Yoda
So how in the world can you not love this guy?
CARPE VIAM!
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| Nick, Jamie & Pete after Haines City 70.3 |
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| The Goof and Pete |
Zoo Run Run Run to Zoo Run Run!!
If you have been following this goofy blog then you probably read in the post “State of the Goof” that I currently coach new runners to their first 5k race. I also mention that there is no other feeling like the emotion I get from watching my runners cross the finish line.
Today was no different. A couple of my runners had mentioned the Lowry Park Zoo Run because it looked like a lot of fun, so by a majority vote we decided to adopt that event as our culmination run. Others may call it an assessment run, because it is the final after the course. It is the race to see if the coaching and training was successful. I am here to say that to those whom participated, it was extremely successful. Just writing this I am getting excited remembering the faces on these women and the strength I saw as they fired over the timing mats at the finish line. What a feeling!
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| The last workout before the Zoo Run |
Some of these runners had trouble with the very first workout which is a 5 minute walk followed by a 3 minute run, another 5 minute walk, a 2 minute run, completing with a final 5 minute walk. Now here they are 10 weeks later running a 5k (3.1 miles) straight without stopping. What an improvement. Barely 3 minutes to over 30 minutes in 10 weeks and hopefully having fun running it. (At least I hope.) I tell my students in the beginning that I have four goals for the coarse;
- They adapt my formula for natural running
- They remain injury free for the 10 weeks
- They complete the course with a 5k run where they run the entire race
- They have fun running.
I also tell them that in my opinion that until a person can run at least three miles straight that they cannot make an educated opinion on if they actually like to run or not. At the end of the course I expect one of three things to happen;
- They love running and they make it a part of their lives (My favorite choice)
- They don’t mind running and they use it as just a supplement to their fitness routine
- They still dislike it, but at least they have the fitness level to make that educated opinion
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| Linda – 1st place AG |
Today I had 10 runners whom all crossed the finish line. Each one of them PR’d (Personal Record) whether it was their first record ever or if they did complete a 5k in the past. I am absolutely ecstatic about their successes. I had one of my women finish first in her age group of which we all stayed to watch her get her medal. Four of my runners were top 10, two of which were top 5, but mostly everyone finished strong, with no injuries and with smiles on their faces.
I started the course with twenty-three new runners and through attrition of work, family, lack of motivation for some reason, I ended with around fourteen of which only nine of them were available for this date. Either way, I am super proud of my team. This is my favorite day every ten weeks. It is obvious that they all still have different fitness levels and speeds so they do not finish together, but I get so excited that I end up running almost double the course running back and forth to encourage them, and I love it.
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| My Champions after the Zoo Run |
My favorite way to go about this is to take the first two miles of the course and run back and forth between the fastest runners and the slowest runners, pacing along side each one to keep them motivated. When the fastest of the runners hits the last mile I try to be there to run with them through the finish line which usually means I am highly encouraging them to sprint to the finish line. After crossing myself, I head backwards through the course and start catching the other runners and I run them in as well until I get to my last athlete which by that time the rest of my group is waiting at the finish line cheering him or her in. Today was no different and I had a blast doing it.
FYI, just for shiggles – my time was around 30:10, but I had 4.25 miles already logged by that time.