MTV Cribs- The Runner's Edition
I have had some free time these past Sundays, while my daughter naps and my wife cleans the house to catch up on the very interesting, MTV Cribs. For those of you who boycott MTV or just have never seen the show, it's basically a bragging-rights, show and tell, of the the latest celebrities "cribs", or dwellings/homes.
Lately, MTV Cribs has had it's share of music artists and athletes, but most recently they have visited several X-Game athlete's homes. Here I am working 50 hours a week and running another 20, earning a modest income while "Bucky-the-Dirt-Bike Rider" earns close to millions of dollars for riding a dirt bike. I had no idea moto-bikers earned so much. MTV Cribs also visited Tony Hawk (skateboarding legend) once again (gorgeous home) and some other no-names of the X-World. "X" athletes compete in snowboarding, dirt bike racing, skateboarding, surfing, and any other non-comformist "sport" you can think of.. and these guys are rich!
So, in contrast, I thought, hey, wouldn't it be inetersting to host an MTV Cribs for Runners! So, below is my lineup for the newest and latest MTV Cribs, "Runner's Edition":
Paula Radcliffe
Alright, how can you not do an MTV Cribs without the world's most dominant, and perhaps wealthiest, marathoner in Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe. However, we did not know which location to film here at, as she has many training bases including her condo in Flagstaff, one in Albuquerque, a nice loft in Limerick, or one of her two homes in the Midlands in Leicester, but we have decided to catch the ever-elusive Radcliffe at her exotic apartment in Fort Romeu, France, tucked amongst the Pyrenees.
INTRO- Fort Romeu, France. Apartment- 3 Bed/2 Bath; 3500 sq. ft. 2 Stories. Altitude Tent/Weight Room/Hot Tub/Outdoor Track Facility
As we pan into Radcliffe's front door, she opens the door casually dressed in a baby-blue, Nike sweatsuit. Cheers, MTV, and welcome to my crib in Ft. Romeu. Radcliffe leads us into a gorgeous foyer with cathedral ceilings. We are taken aback at the cleanliness of the place. This is my apartment I share with my husband, Gary. We have been here over 5 years and just love it. Follow me to the kitchen.. She leads us into the kitchen, with granite countertops covered with tons of fresh fruit. I have to show you my fridge, right? Paula asks, as she opens her Sub-Zero fridge. There inside are hundreds of bottles of water, gallons of Gatorade, and even some Godiva chocolate that is being kept cold.. to ward off tapering headaches. Otherwise, all we see in terms of solid food are oatmeal packages and spaghetti/rice bags in all her cabinets. Sacks of potatoes fill the pantry. Enough with the boring kitchen, let me take you to the weight room..
We follow Radcliffe to the east end of the apartment where there is a single weight bench and pleny of free weights, a couple stability balls, wooden plyometric boxes, and several mats and mirrors all based on impeccable cherry wood floors. Here is where I do all my plyos and strength work... now let me show you the upstairs.
As we head upstairs to the bedroom areas, we are greeted by two distinct rooms. This is my room with my altitude chamber. It's a queen-sized bed in case Gary ever wants to sleep with me, but in heavy training he leaves me alone so I can get my 12 or so hours of rest. It's actually quite comfortable, as I have the altimeter set to 15,000 feet, which is a couple thousand feet lower than what I used to sleep at, but I got tired of the constant nosebleeds. Occassionally, I'll put it above 26,000 feet just to experience the "Death Zone" and warp my reality. Live High, Train Low, that's the theory. This other room is Gary's. As she shows us a sweeping Master bedroom, full with antique collectibles. This is actually a piece of Phiddipidies sandal.. encased in a glass frame in the center of the room. We try not to the notice the Vodoo doll in the corner of the room, pricked full of needles, that eerily resembles former Brit star, the bitter Liz McColgan. Oh, don't mind that.. as she notices our stares, let me show you the Master Bathroom...
The Master Bathroom is enormous, with a striking marble tub in the center of the room. Suddenly, several small gnome-like people scamper out of the room before the camera can catch them on film.. Those are my massage therapists.. They are from an exotic pigmy tribe in the Pyranees. Each Elkin, as they are called, can work on a certain muscle group simultaneously. It is one of my keys to training and staying healthy when Gerard can't fly in, referring to her physiotherapist, Gerard Hartman. After the initial shock wears off about the Elkin, we notice a Finnish sauna tucked away in the corner of the room. The initials "L.V." are inscribed into the wooden doorway. Lasse Viren introduced me to sauna. They are quite splendid. We notice what looks like steam exiting what looks to be like a closet door and approach. Paula notices our interest and seems excited to show us... This is the latest in ice-bath technology. It's actually dry ice casted in my body image. I lay down in a suppine position and with a press of this button I can become encapsulated in sub-freezing temperatures to help reduce the swelling in my muscles. My dry ice bath is key to recovery. Whoa.
Otherwise, the only other noticeable interest is the stacks of nose-strips that Radcliffe has stored in her medicine chests. Presumably, at best guesstimate, there are thousands of the arguably helpful devices. And that leads us to her walk-in closet.
Here is where I store my equipment: my shoes, my wardrobe. I feel like I have walked into a mini-Nike warehouse. Training bras of every color with matching shorts, training tees, training long sleeves, training suits, everything sorted by shades of color. And the shoes. Hundreds of orange boxes stacked nicely, close to ten deep per row, almost all never opened, but each numbered. The amount of Nike Steak Ekidens are impossible to count, and some freshly stacked Zoom Marathoners are evident. Air Altheas and Pegasus line the floor. The upper shelves are stacked with her infamous compression hoses. Socks in packs by the hundreds also take up shelf space. Come on, let me show you outdoors...
As we exit her apartment, we are taken aback by the backyard. Entrenched within the acreage that goes as far as the horizon, is a 4-lane Mondo track. I found that my own personal track would be key to my success, so I can just step out the door for speed work and not have to fend off the paparazzi. There is even a water table on the interior of the track with mock water bottles to practice fluid intake on the run. But perhaps most amazingly about her backyard is the man-made hill in the infield of the track, rising close to 100 meters in a breathtaking climb. This is Howard, my hill. I love doing hill sprints. They are great for recruiting muscle fibers, and how better on a smooth surface?
Finally, she takes us even further in the distance, past the track to what appears to be a single lane track. The only outstanding object is a circuit box. When asked what is this, Paula replies, This is my greatest tool. This Simul-Track has programmed in it every marathon course in the world and it is a racecourse simulator. Watch, I'll run Boston's Heartbreak Hill. And as she says this, a computer screen emerges from the circuit box and after a few inputs, Paula hops on the single black track and, almost treadmill-like, begins to run in place. Suddenly, the whole earth shakes and she is suddenly climbing a hill, then down, all while in place! Suddenly, I note that she is truly running on the streets of Boston.. but in France! Stunned, she commands a "Halt!" and hops off. Come on, let me show you my "toys."
She takes us to her garage, which turns out to be a trophy room. Singlets, bib numbers, trophies of all sizes, everything with a descriptive plaque noting the accomplishment. More amazingly is a mile-by-mile breakdown of a sub-5:00 marathon etched into the stone, almost Ten Commandment-like, at every angle of the room: Radcliffe's ultimate goal of sub-2:11. Parked inside the garage is a gold Mini Cooper. Adjacent to the Mini is a Volkswagen Multivan that has been chromed-out, sitting on 22" Pirelli's. However, inside the Multivan is what is flavored to Radcliffe- mounted in the center and with a custom slant-top that opens to expand over 9-feet high is a Precor treadmill on air-cast shocks. If we're stuck in traffic, I can squeeze in some recovery running while on the road. The shocks allow me to run quite stable and regardless of the road conditions, I can run smoothly at speeds up to a sub-4 minute mile. Finally, next to the VW is a classy, midnight blue, Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish S. My prize possession.. my baby, exhales Radcliffe.
Well, as she leads us out the front gate, we are left in wonder what other records Radcliffe may attempt and how fast she will become, but until then, Goodbye, MTV, and now, get off my curb, I've got a run to do...
Next Week: We visit American Miling Legend, Alan Webb, at his pad in Reston, Virginia.
Lately, MTV Cribs has had it's share of music artists and athletes, but most recently they have visited several X-Game athlete's homes. Here I am working 50 hours a week and running another 20, earning a modest income while "Bucky-the-Dirt-Bike Rider" earns close to millions of dollars for riding a dirt bike. I had no idea moto-bikers earned so much. MTV Cribs also visited Tony Hawk (skateboarding legend) once again (gorgeous home) and some other no-names of the X-World. "X" athletes compete in snowboarding, dirt bike racing, skateboarding, surfing, and any other non-comformist "sport" you can think of.. and these guys are rich!
So, in contrast, I thought, hey, wouldn't it be inetersting to host an MTV Cribs for Runners! So, below is my lineup for the newest and latest MTV Cribs, "Runner's Edition":
Paula Radcliffe
Alright, how can you not do an MTV Cribs without the world's most dominant, and perhaps wealthiest, marathoner in Great Britain's Paula Radcliffe. However, we did not know which location to film here at, as she has many training bases including her condo in Flagstaff, one in Albuquerque, a nice loft in Limerick, or one of her two homes in the Midlands in Leicester, but we have decided to catch the ever-elusive Radcliffe at her exotic apartment in Fort Romeu, France, tucked amongst the Pyrenees.
INTRO- Fort Romeu, France. Apartment- 3 Bed/2 Bath; 3500 sq. ft. 2 Stories. Altitude Tent/Weight Room/Hot Tub/Outdoor Track Facility
As we pan into Radcliffe's front door, she opens the door casually dressed in a baby-blue, Nike sweatsuit. Cheers, MTV, and welcome to my crib in Ft. Romeu. Radcliffe leads us into a gorgeous foyer with cathedral ceilings. We are taken aback at the cleanliness of the place. This is my apartment I share with my husband, Gary. We have been here over 5 years and just love it. Follow me to the kitchen.. She leads us into the kitchen, with granite countertops covered with tons of fresh fruit. I have to show you my fridge, right? Paula asks, as she opens her Sub-Zero fridge. There inside are hundreds of bottles of water, gallons of Gatorade, and even some Godiva chocolate that is being kept cold.. to ward off tapering headaches. Otherwise, all we see in terms of solid food are oatmeal packages and spaghetti/rice bags in all her cabinets. Sacks of potatoes fill the pantry. Enough with the boring kitchen, let me take you to the weight room..
We follow Radcliffe to the east end of the apartment where there is a single weight bench and pleny of free weights, a couple stability balls, wooden plyometric boxes, and several mats and mirrors all based on impeccable cherry wood floors. Here is where I do all my plyos and strength work... now let me show you the upstairs.
As we head upstairs to the bedroom areas, we are greeted by two distinct rooms. This is my room with my altitude chamber. It's a queen-sized bed in case Gary ever wants to sleep with me, but in heavy training he leaves me alone so I can get my 12 or so hours of rest. It's actually quite comfortable, as I have the altimeter set to 15,000 feet, which is a couple thousand feet lower than what I used to sleep at, but I got tired of the constant nosebleeds. Occassionally, I'll put it above 26,000 feet just to experience the "Death Zone" and warp my reality. Live High, Train Low, that's the theory. This other room is Gary's. As she shows us a sweeping Master bedroom, full with antique collectibles. This is actually a piece of Phiddipidies sandal.. encased in a glass frame in the center of the room. We try not to the notice the Vodoo doll in the corner of the room, pricked full of needles, that eerily resembles former Brit star, the bitter Liz McColgan. Oh, don't mind that.. as she notices our stares, let me show you the Master Bathroom...
The Master Bathroom is enormous, with a striking marble tub in the center of the room. Suddenly, several small gnome-like people scamper out of the room before the camera can catch them on film.. Those are my massage therapists.. They are from an exotic pigmy tribe in the Pyranees. Each Elkin, as they are called, can work on a certain muscle group simultaneously. It is one of my keys to training and staying healthy when Gerard can't fly in, referring to her physiotherapist, Gerard Hartman. After the initial shock wears off about the Elkin, we notice a Finnish sauna tucked away in the corner of the room. The initials "L.V." are inscribed into the wooden doorway. Lasse Viren introduced me to sauna. They are quite splendid. We notice what looks like steam exiting what looks to be like a closet door and approach. Paula notices our interest and seems excited to show us... This is the latest in ice-bath technology. It's actually dry ice casted in my body image. I lay down in a suppine position and with a press of this button I can become encapsulated in sub-freezing temperatures to help reduce the swelling in my muscles. My dry ice bath is key to recovery. Whoa.
Otherwise, the only other noticeable interest is the stacks of nose-strips that Radcliffe has stored in her medicine chests. Presumably, at best guesstimate, there are thousands of the arguably helpful devices. And that leads us to her walk-in closet.
Here is where I store my equipment: my shoes, my wardrobe. I feel like I have walked into a mini-Nike warehouse. Training bras of every color with matching shorts, training tees, training long sleeves, training suits, everything sorted by shades of color. And the shoes. Hundreds of orange boxes stacked nicely, close to ten deep per row, almost all never opened, but each numbered. The amount of Nike Steak Ekidens are impossible to count, and some freshly stacked Zoom Marathoners are evident. Air Altheas and Pegasus line the floor. The upper shelves are stacked with her infamous compression hoses. Socks in packs by the hundreds also take up shelf space. Come on, let me show you outdoors...
As we exit her apartment, we are taken aback by the backyard. Entrenched within the acreage that goes as far as the horizon, is a 4-lane Mondo track. I found that my own personal track would be key to my success, so I can just step out the door for speed work and not have to fend off the paparazzi. There is even a water table on the interior of the track with mock water bottles to practice fluid intake on the run. But perhaps most amazingly about her backyard is the man-made hill in the infield of the track, rising close to 100 meters in a breathtaking climb. This is Howard, my hill. I love doing hill sprints. They are great for recruiting muscle fibers, and how better on a smooth surface?
Finally, she takes us even further in the distance, past the track to what appears to be a single lane track. The only outstanding object is a circuit box. When asked what is this, Paula replies, This is my greatest tool. This Simul-Track has programmed in it every marathon course in the world and it is a racecourse simulator. Watch, I'll run Boston's Heartbreak Hill. And as she says this, a computer screen emerges from the circuit box and after a few inputs, Paula hops on the single black track and, almost treadmill-like, begins to run in place. Suddenly, the whole earth shakes and she is suddenly climbing a hill, then down, all while in place! Suddenly, I note that she is truly running on the streets of Boston.. but in France! Stunned, she commands a "Halt!" and hops off. Come on, let me show you my "toys."
She takes us to her garage, which turns out to be a trophy room. Singlets, bib numbers, trophies of all sizes, everything with a descriptive plaque noting the accomplishment. More amazingly is a mile-by-mile breakdown of a sub-5:00 marathon etched into the stone, almost Ten Commandment-like, at every angle of the room: Radcliffe's ultimate goal of sub-2:11. Parked inside the garage is a gold Mini Cooper. Adjacent to the Mini is a Volkswagen Multivan that has been chromed-out, sitting on 22" Pirelli's. However, inside the Multivan is what is flavored to Radcliffe- mounted in the center and with a custom slant-top that opens to expand over 9-feet high is a Precor treadmill on air-cast shocks. If we're stuck in traffic, I can squeeze in some recovery running while on the road. The shocks allow me to run quite stable and regardless of the road conditions, I can run smoothly at speeds up to a sub-4 minute mile. Finally, next to the VW is a classy, midnight blue, Aston Martin V-12 Vanquish S. My prize possession.. my baby, exhales Radcliffe.
Well, as she leads us out the front gate, we are left in wonder what other records Radcliffe may attempt and how fast she will become, but until then, Goodbye, MTV, and now, get off my curb, I've got a run to do...
Next Week: We visit American Miling Legend, Alan Webb, at his pad in Reston, Virginia.
posted by Gabriel Rodriguez at 11:59 AM
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