Here's a little fact for you: Our Boy Lance, 35, and past his prime (time?) in competitive cycling, has not raced -- on a bike or otherwise -- since winning a record seventh Tour de France in July 2005.So that's why there is such interest in OBL's participation in the New York Marathon on Sunday?
OBL's goal? A sub-three-hour time. Lance will be paced by greats Alberto Salazar, Joan Benoit Samuelson and Hicham El Guerrouj.
"I haven't felt this kind of buzz since I raced," OBL says. "And I've never been passed in Central Park."
Is that a challenge? Has Lance thrown down a challenge?
"I wasn't born to be a runner. I was born to be other things," says Lance. "It would be foolish for me to say I've done workouts. I simply run. I don't do intervals. I just go every day and run, there's no science behind it. It's not about being competitive or winning, it's a personal goal. I needed something to keep me going. I don't want to say there's no question I'll finish, but I can always crawl. If I start smart and conservatively, I'll be OK from a fuel and energy standpoint. From a pain standpoint, I can deal with it."
Here are some other stories about Lance and the marathon:
-- NYTimes: Run of Luck: Bet the Favorites and Armstrong, Too
-- Reuters: Armstrong swaps bike for NY Marathon running shoes
-- NPR: New York City Marathon Runs Sunday (audio)
-- USA TODAY's Sal Ruibal: No pedaling, just running, this time for Armstrong
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