Armstrong pulls out of NZ multisport event

[kiwirider]

I'm sure that the news that Armstrong is pulling out of a multisport race in NZ is a surprise to most forum members - mainly because they would've had no idea that he was entered anyhow!

So, for the sake of history, here's an item saying that he'd entered the race:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/multisports/news/article.cfm?c_id=67&objectid=10688914

... and here's today's (or yesterday's I guess - timezones down there and all that) article saying he's pulled out, and why:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/4502562/Lance-Armstrong-pulls-out-of-NZ-multisport-race

Before I'm accused of trolling or asked "why is this in the clinic??" ...

It seems strange to me that the guy has an injury that, while it lets him ride a multi-day stage race, doesn't let him do a small scale tri with a 5.5km forest run on what is generally a pretty forgiving surface around the Blue Lake (I used to live in Rotorua and ran the course they use a lot - it's a gorgeous run).

As I see it, options are:
- the reason given is true ...;
- the organisers aren't paying him, so he's actually not that interested in the race and never was anyhow; or
- (and here's the reason for posting this in the clinic) things are hotting up with the investigations in the US, and he can't spare the time away from home/his legal team

Thoughts, comments??

My thoughts are the third option - but then I've long been a "hater", so I would say that anyhow ....

 

[thehog]

We all knew he had entered. His withdrawal was posted well over 24 hours ago on this forum.

But lets go at it..... there's some tackle in this one...

 

[theswordsman]

I was skeptical when I first saw the story this morning. Velonation has Lance saying he'll need knee surgery at some point. It's kind of like the old National Enquirer, where there were bits of truth occasionally, and that motivated people to believe some of the other stuff is possible.

I keep a Google News window open with an Armstrong search, and refresh it a few times a day so I don't miss any big stories. There was so much coverage, over so many days, of his signing up for this race that I had to add a "-Zealand" to weed out the spam.

My point is that at the end of the day, the guy, once again, got a massive amount of positive publicity, this time for what, the cost of an online entrance fee? He had people looking up the coordinates on Google Maps, trying to identify the location and nearby event. Then there were days of stories about him entering, and now there will be days more about him pulling out.

I hate to ever give his camp credit, but whether or not he ever intended to race there, he got a lot of people talking about him as a triathlete rather than a subject of an investigation. It's like the Don Catlin, toughest anti-doping program ever. The press on that lasted for months.

 

[Kennf1]

Not sure you read a whole lot into the withdrawal, other than the fact that he doesn't want to enter and make a poor showing and get beat by some no-name triathletes.
It is odd that his knee is fine to race the TDU, but won't stand up to a sprint distance tri.

 

[BotanyBay]

Not sure you read a whole lot into the withdrawal, other than the fact that he doesn't want to enter and make a poor showing and get beat by some no-name triathletes.
It is odd that his knee is fine to race the TDU, but won't stand up to a sprint distance tri.

Same reason he pulled-out of Leadville this year. He knew he'd get beat.

 

[steelciocc]

Sorry

Lance's daddy should have pulled out.

 

[BotanyBay]

I'm sure that the news that Armstrong is pulling out of a multisport race in NZ is a surprise to most forum members - mainly because they would've had no idea that he was entered anyhow!

So, for the sake of history, here's an item saying that he'd entered the race:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/multisports/news/article.cfm?c_id=67&objectid=10688914

... and here's today's (or yesterday's I guess - timezones down there and all that) article saying he's pulled out, and why:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/4502562/Lance-Armstrong-pulls-out-of-NZ-multisport-race

Before I'm accused of trolling or asked "why is this in the clinic??" ...

It seems strange to me that the guy has an injury that, while it lets him ride a multi-day stage race, doesn't let him do a small scale tri with a 5.5km forest run on what is generally a pretty forgiving surface around the Blue Lake (I used to live in Rotorua and ran the course they use a lot - it's a gorgeous run).

As I see it, options are:
- the reason given is true ...;
- the organisers aren't paying him, so he's actually not that interested in the race and never was anyhow; or
- (and here's the reason for posting this in the clinic) things are hotting up with the investigations in the US, and he can't spare the time away from home/his legal team

Thoughts, comments??

My thoughts are the third option - but then I've long been a "hater", so I would say that anyhow ....

When one dopes, they must lie to people every day. The lying becomes pervasive in their lives. They end up lying about even stupid little things that they don't even need to lie about. Stupid stuff like triathlons. Lying is his new life partner. So get used to seeing more of them down the road.

 

[forty four]

Not sure you read a whole lot into the withdrawal, other than the fact that he doesn't want to enter and make a poor showing and get beat by some no-name triathletes.
It is odd that his knee is fine to race the TDU, but won't stand up to a sprint distance tri.

i his defense if you dont run much and are a cyclist you can easily and quickly produce injury been there done that.

 

[BroDeal]

It seems strange to me that the guy has an injury that, while it lets him ride a multi-day stage race, doesn't let him do a small scale tri with a 5.5km forest run on what is generally a pretty forgiving surface around the Blue Lake (I used to live in Rotorua and ran the course they use a lot - it's a gorgeous run).

Far be it from me to defend a scumbag like Armstrong, but there are knee injuries like meniscus tears that make running difficult but do not affect cycling that much.

 

[BikeCentric]

Good Lord, this is becoming like the Brett Favre situation in the NFL, everybody talks about every little injury the guy has and whether he's going to play (race) or not. My advice, ignore the old has-been until Novitzsky has his press release on whatever is going down with the investigation.

That is my plan anyway, the rest of you are of course free to carry on discussing the has-been in this public forum, carry on.

 

[red_flanders]

A frustrated New Zealand could not be reached for further comment...

 

[BroDeal]

A frustrated New Zealand could not be reached for further comment...

I heard the Old Zealand was p!ssed.

 

[TexPat]

I heard the Old Zealand was p!ssed.

De Oude Zeeland is geirriteerd.

 

[Barrus]

It´s het oude Zeeland, Pat, not de. And geïrriteerd, but a nice effor anyway

 

[TexPat]

It´s het oude Zeeland, Pat, not de. And geïrriteerd, but a nice effor anyway

Thanks for the correction. Dutch was never one of my languages; that attempt was a hack job.

Any how, I doubt that denizens of either Zeelands are really all that disappointed in the pull-out. Although there are tens of millions of sheep in het Nieuw Zeeland who are breathing a sigh of relief at the news.

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Lance's daddy should have pulled out.

Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[veganrob]

Far be it from me to defend a scumbag like Armstrong, but there are knee injuries like meniscus tears that make running difficult but do not affect cycling that much.

No, please don't defend scumbag. Friend of mine had surgery on meniscus and did IM Louisville two weeks later. Granted he walked 20+ miles but he did it. And then had to have surgery on other knee 2 months later.

 

[BroDeal]

No, please don't defend scumbag. Friend of mine had surgery on meniscus and did IM Louisville two weeks later. Granted he walked 20+ miles but he did it. And then had to have surgery on other knee 2 months later.

Maybe the change in stride wrecked his other knee...

Just sayin' that there are knee issues that do not present problems when cycling but do when running. Cycling is full of ex-runners.

 

[thehog]

Just wait for the tweet on how he nailed 10k today forgetting the "story" about the knee....

 

[D-Queued]

Just wait for the tweet on how he nailed 10k today forgetting the "story" about the knee....

Apparently Matthew backed out...

FADE IN:

INT. A BEACH HOUSE BATHROOM, MALIBU, CALIFORNIA. NIGHT Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong shower, shave, wax, pluck, gel, and dress together before for a big night at Sky Bar in Los Angeles.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: Hey, Matt.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: What can I do you for, LA?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: You gonna wear the linen shirt tonight?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: That’s right.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Yeah, me too. Hey, Matt.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: What now, amigo?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: How many buttons you gonna leave unbuttoned?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Well, my friend. I’m fixin’ to go four deep tonight. Give the ladies a little taste.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Yeah, right. Four sounds about right… Hey, Matt
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Che cosa ora mio Amico?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: You gonna roll your sleeves up?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: To right below the elbow.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Hey, Matt.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: What now, Sir Lancelot?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: You wearing those same shorts you woke up in?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Afirmativo.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: What about foot wear? Flip-flops?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Always!
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Left hand?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: In po-keto.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Dammit!
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Easy tiger. What’s got you down, now?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Ah, it’s just another Nike contract here that says I have to keep wearing this stupid f**king bracelet for 3 more years.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: Man, it’s the same bull**** they tried to pull in my day. If it ain’t that piece of paper, there’s some other choice they’re gonna try and make for you. You gotta do what Lance Armstrong wants to do, man. Let me tell you this, the older you do get the more rules they’re gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin’ man, L-I-V-I-N.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Livin’ strong.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: That’s right. Livin’ strong.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: You’re right. I’m sorry… Okay, I’m ready. How do I look?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: You look like the American dream, my friend.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Sweet. Now let’s go *** some underage Hollywood p***y!
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: All right, all right, all right.
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Hey Matt.
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: What now, compadre?
LANCE ARMSTRONG: Do you think we should call Jake?
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: …
LANCE ARMSTRONG: …
MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY: …
BOTH: HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!!!!!
FADE TO BLACK
THE END

Apologies if this has been posted here before.

Dave.

 

[veganrob]

Maybe the change in stride wrecked his other knee...

Just sayin' that there are knee issues that do not present problems when cycling but do when running. Cycling is full of ex-runners.

It most certainly change his stride. We all told him he was crazy to do it.

 

[runninboy]

Maybe the change in stride wrecked his other knee...

Just sayin' that there are knee issues that do not present problems when cycling but do when running. Cycling is full of ex-runners.

As a runner the older you get the more issues you have. One of the benefits of me switching to cycling is i knew i could continue at a high level without alot of wear & tear. Still I myself had a serious knee issue that i was able to endure on the bike for years. When i started running again i found i had a broken leg/knee and a shredded meniscus(it was in 7 pieces)
If i had not started running again i might never have known

 

[runninboy]

It most certainly change his stride. We all told him he was crazy to do it.

I dont understand what kind of honor there is in participating in a running event and walking? Why bother? Does it make you a man to do this?
"I should be at home recovering but instead i am gonna walk and show everyone how tough i am?"
that dude has issues

 

[D-Queued]

A frustrated New Zealand could not be reached for further comment...

This is how a real hero raises awareness for cancer:

The physical demands of running a marathon every day took its toll on Fox's body. Apart from the rest days in Montreal taken at the request of the Cancer Society, he refused to take a day off, even on his 22nd birthday.[37] He frequently suffered shin splints and an inflamed knee. He developed cysts on his stump and experienced dizzy spells.[38] At one point, he suffered a soreness in his ankle that would not go away. Although he feared he had developed a stress fracture, he ran for three more days before seeking medical attention, and was then relieved to learn it was tendonitis and could be treated with painkillers.[39] Fox rejected calls for him to seek regular medical checkups,[40] and dismissed suggestions he was risking his future health

New Zealand should be happy this mellow-johnny-come-lately isn't showing up.

Dave.

 

[_Zipp0_]

Apparently Matthew backed out...

Apologies if this has been posted here before.

Dave.

Thanks for the laughs! Good stuff.