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July 2008
Nike+ Human Race
The Nike Human Race is now a month away …
Need a little motivation? Watch this video provided by Nike of people in Austin preparing for the 10K run on Aug. 31. It’ll inspire you to get out and run, even in this insane heat.
We want Austin to show other host cities how it’s done. We’re one of just four cities around the country staging the event. We’re in impressive company, too, with Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. If you want to register for the race, which includes a free post-race concert by Ben Harper, go to https://www.nikeplus.com. The cost is $35, and proceeds go to one of three charities of your choice.
Need someone to train with? Join Team Fit City for tonight’s training. We’ll meet at 6:30 p.m. at RunTex on South First Street, then move to Auditorium Shores.
If you have a water bottle, bring it! We’re trying to wean ourselves off the paper cups at the RunTex water station.
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New York police officer knocks down cyclist
Have you seen this You Tube video?
The clip shows a Critical Mass bike ride through downtown New York on July 25.
Critical Mass rides are loosely organized group rides that were originally staged to draw attention to the bike-unfriendly nature of some cities.
To be fair, not everyone enjoys a big Critical Mass rally. Drivers get irritated because some Critical Mass cyclists revel in the joy of clogging intersections and jamming traffic. I find that pretty annoying myself.
But the original intention of Critical Mass — to point out that cities don’t always create bike-friendly infrastructure — is a good one in my book.
Back to the video, which shows a mob of cyclists rolling down the street. Nothing shocking there. Folks on the sidewalk are lined up watching the parade when a uniformed New York City police officer walks toward an oncoming bicyclist and knocks him to the pavement.
Pretty crazy. And it gets even crazier.
According to New York station WNBC-TV, the officer, Patrick Pogan, accused the cyclist, Christopher Long, of steering into him, flinging him to the ground and causing cuts on his forearms. The New York Times reported that the cyclist, 29-year-old Christopher Long, was later charged with attempted assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Luckily, a bystander with a video camera makes Pogan’s claim pretty dubious.
According to Newsday, Pogan is a rookie cop. He’s been reassigned to a desk job pending an internal investigation.
Discuss…
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Exercise and pregnancy
Sometimes, when women find out they’re pregnant, they quit exercising. They’re worried that too much exertion might harm their growing baby.
I’ve written before about prenatal fitness, and the importance of maintaining a reasonable exercise program during pregnancy. It’s always smart to consult your physician, but there’s a way to exercise safely. And it may benefit your baby in the long run.
Now Austin moms-to-be have a new resource in Total Mommy Fitness.
Tatum Rebelle recently unveiled the new company, which works with pregnant women and new mothers in their own homes, helping them work exercise into their busy daily routines and evaluating their nutrition plans. She also is helping to dispel myths about moms and working out.
Rebelle, 26, an ex-drill sergeant for the U.S. Army, used to work as a trainer at gyms in Scottsdale, Dallas and Fort Worth. She decided to start the company after noticing that many women stop going to the gym when they get pregnant, and many never return after they give birth. “I saw a huge need for this. I was looking for a resource as a trainer and couldn’t find one,” Rebelle says.
Now she is certified in personal training and prenatal and postnatal fitness by the American Council on Exercise. She’s also a member of the Mayor’s Fitness Council.
She and her team of trainers work one-on-one with clients, making sure they develop routines they can do between feeding babies, getting kids to school and heading to work. Total Mommy Fitness offers programs for women before they get pregnant, during and even after pregnancy, and when they have toddlers and young children.
“If a woman is pregnant, we work hand in hand with her doctor to make sure we’re not doing anything that goes against his or her recommendations,” Rebelle says. “We’re experts in pregnancy exercise, we know what they can do and can’t do and how to modify it accordingly.”
The program is individualized, focusing on each family and its specific needs. “One mom may have a problem with nutrition, another with getting motivated to exercise. We really sit down with them and go into their home and learn about their life and adapt accordingly,” Rebelle says. “We make it realistic and feasible for them.”
A package of 10 sessions starts at $850. Trainers meet clients at their home, so their child can nap or play during the session, or at a park, where the child can play.
“We start by assessing needs. If nutrition is their biggest problem, we start at the grocery store. We walk through the aisles, not telling them specific things to buy but showing them how to shop so they don’t leave with a basket full of junk food,” Rebelle says. “We get to know the person.”
Nutritional counseling is part of every session, and most clients keep a food log. “I never build a plan that says eat this or eat that for breakfast or lunch, but I’ll look at the log and we’ll talk about it,” Rebelle says.
Total Mommy Fitness also offers on-line training. If kids or dad want to get involved, Rebelle encourages a family session. For more information, go to www.totalmommyfitness.com, call 512-428-5673 or email info@totalmommyfitness.com.
Here are Rebelle’s Top 10 Myths about exercise and pregnancy::
- Myth: Exercise causes low birth weight. Total Mommy Fitness: Babies born to mothers who exercise are often born about 10 percent leaner, but with normal height and cranial circumference. They are more likely to remain leaner and fit throughout their lives.
- Myth: No weight training. Total Mommy Fitness: Resistance training is a vital part of any fitness program and can be maintained throughout pregnancy. Going slowly and using good form is important to prevent injury, but that is true whether pregnant or not.
- Myth: Exercise must be low-intensity. Total Mommy Fitness: The intensity of a pregnancy workout is a direct reflection of a woman’s pre-pregnancy fitness level. The same intensity can be maintained, and will naturally decrease as pregnancy progresses. Even if a woman has never exercised before, she can work out during pregnancy.
- Myth: Exercising in the first trimester will cause miscarriage. Total Mommy Fitness: A regular fitness regimen can be maintained from the beginning until delivery in a healthy pregnancy, with minimal modifications. There is no connection between exercise and miscarriage.
- Myth: Do not elevate heart rate over 140 beats per minute. Total Mommy Fitness: Women will often naturally have a higher heart rate at times during pregnancy. It is more important to listen to your own body, and use perceived exertion. Pregnant women should be able to speak comfortably while exercising.
- Myth: Do not elevate body temperature. Total Mommy Fitness: Pregnant women are better able to dissipate heat. Research has shown no abnormalities or fetal distress associated with increased body temperature caused by exercise.
- Myth: Entangled umbilical cord. Total Mommy Fitness: Exercise reduces the incidence of entanglement.
- Myth: Premature or prolonged labor. Total Mommy Fitness: There is no correlation found between premature labor and exercise, though it can reduce labor time by about 30 percent.
- Myth: Exercise can cause fetal distress and difficulties for baby after birth. Total Mommy Fitness: Remaining active during pregnancy actually reduces fetal distress and babies adapt faster to the outside and handle labor better, usually receiving better Apgar scores.
- Myth: Do no perform abdominal exercises during pregnancy. Total Mommy Fitness: Women can continue abdominal exercises, ensuring that they are doing so safely. They should not perform exercises lying on their back after the first trimester, and avoid twisting exercises if they have Diastasis Recti (separation of the abdominal muscles).
Here are some scenes from the opening party of Total Mommy Fitness last weekend:
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Skip the water cup on the hike-and-bike trail
I’m trying to break my paper cup habit.
For years, RunTex owner Paul Carrozza has provided free water stations to walkers and runners on the trail around Lady Bird Lake. Besides jugs of iced-down water, he stocks the stations with paper cup dispensers.
The cold water is crucial, but the cups are wasteful. That’s why RunTex is trying to wean us off the cups. The store promises to keep supplying the water.
I’ll miss the convenience, but I’m all for the change. It’s such a waste of resources, and I cringe when I see trash cans full of once-used cups. I’ve stood at the stations and watched one person use multiple cups. Then seen them at the next station, plucking another cup out of the dispenser.
On Saturday, my running buddies and I braved a 7-mile run. For the first time, I carried a bottle along the way. I worried it would bother me, but it really didn’t. After a few minutes, I hardly noticed it. It’ll be even easier when I get one of those detachable handles to allow me to carry a bottle in my hand without gripping it. Or I could buy a belt that lets me carry a bottle around my waist.
One nice consequence of carrying my own water? I drank more along the way. I didn’t have to wait until I reached a station to rehydrate. In this heat, that’s a good thing. (If you forget your bottle, don’t hesitate to use one of the cups — hydration is vital!)
I’m not alone. People are still using the cups that RunTex sets out, but I see more and more people carrying their own bottles. Hopefully, Carrozza will be able to cut back on the $3,000 a month he spends to pay for the cups.
Let’s make an effort to do our part. We don’t really need the cups. It’s environmentally friendly to refill a plastic bottle. You still get the water you need, but the planet saves the energy needed to make that cup.
If everyone skipped the cup, we could make a difference.
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Pfluger Bridge extension
Take a look at this architect’s rendering of the proposed extension of the Pfluger Bridge over Cesar Chavez Street. I can’t wait until it’s built!
The design phase of the extension is 60 percent complete, and construction is expected to begin in January 2009, according to the city of Austin. When it’s done, we’ll have a safe way to cross Cesar Chavez on foot or bike and get to places like Whole Foods and Book People.
The original pedestrian bridge opened in June 2001, but the city didn’t have the funds to build the extension across Cesar Chavez.
Once the City Council approves the final design plans, it will award a construction contract. The current budget for the extension is $2 million. Another $1 million has been approved for an underpass of the Union Pacific railway.
Here’s a shot of the bridge as it looks today:
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Tempo run with Team Fit City
Hurricane Dolly might have provided cooler temperatures, but she really racheted up the humidity Thursday. That made for one heck of a sweaty tempo run.
Team Fit City started off its Thursday night session (held in the RunTex Annex because of threatening skies) with 20 minutes of quadraceps-quaking yoga moves led by Desirae, who had us balancing on one leg and raising our arms over our heads like wings. That opened up our hips, warmed up our muscles and all kinds of other good things — just what runners need.
Then we trotted over to Auditorium Shores, where Patrick Guy ran us through our warmups. (See a cute picture of Guy posted last Thursday in this blog.)
Then it was on to the main event, a tempo run.
We did a 2-mile out-and-back run on the hike-and-bike trail, running at a faster pace on the way back than on the way out. That’s what’s called a negative split.
Guy, ever the coach, optimistically announced that we’d all be back in under 20 minutes. That got a few chuckles.
We’ll do another tempo run in about four weeks, and Guy promises we’ll see drastic improvement. I’m looking forward to that!
I was sweating before I even started, but finished the run (in a rather desperate state) in 17:03. Since I consider myself a 10-minute miler, that made me happy. In fact, I was still pretty charged up about it when I woke up this morning. I want to try again and go faster!
Of course, we’ve got a couple of speedsters in our group, including one who finished in under 13 minutes. We’ve got slower folks, too, and a couple of walkers. All that matters is that you’re out there trying, and getting fit.
Join us for our next training session, 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue at Auditorium Shores. If you haven’t registered for the free Team Fit City training group, go to www.runtex.com. And if you haven’t registered for the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31, go to www.nikeplus.com.
Another exciting note: We got our Team Fit City shirts! They’re made of cool technical fabric. Everyone on the team gets one — free.
So, how’d you survive the tempo run? Let us know how you did — and how you plan to improve next time.
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Bad manners on the trail
Riding my bike home the other day along the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike trail, I nearly got mowed over by a scooter.
A motorized scooter.
An idiot in a gray helmet on a red motorized scooter, to be exact.
He zipped past, scaring the snot out of me as I pedaled along a stretch of trail between 34th and 38th streets. When he paused to read a sign on the side of the trail, I sped up to him and (politely) asked him if he knew it was illegal to drive a motorized vehicle on the trail. (I tried to think of a non-confrontational way to approach him, but decided there wasn’t one. So what the heck.)
“Yes,” he said, looking me straight in the eye.
I couldn’t think of a response, so I just said OK and pedaled on. A few minutes later, he zoomed by me again.
What’s up with that? I ride the hike and bike trails because I don’t have to worry about getting buzzed by cars and motorcycles. Or scooters.
Scooter Dude isn’t the only one demonstrating bad trail etiquette. Other examples?
- Running three or more abreast on the trail, clogging the works for folks who are trying to pass. If you run in a big group, try to stay to one side and let people through.
- Not cleaning up after your pooch when he poops on the trail. Please, just carry a bag and pick it up. Who wants that washed into Town Lake? And, while I’m at it, dispose of said bag. Doesn’t do any good to bag it up and leave it on the trail.
- Indiscriminate spitting on the trail. Look before you let fly with a loogie.
- Creating your own off-trail short cut, which can cause erosion. Stick to the trail. You’re out there to get exercise, right? Running a few extra yards is a good thing.
- Barreling down the trail on a bike, dive bombing runners. Consider using a handlebar bell to alert walkers and runners that you’re coming through, and keep your speed down. The trail isn’t a criterium course. Don’t use it to set a land speed record.
The list is endless. What’s your biggest pet peeve on the trail?
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Training for an Ironman while stationed in Iraq
Imagine training for an Ironman triathlon. Now imagine training for an Ironman triathlon while stationed at Camp Fallujah in Iraq.
Not much off time, and, well, there’s the heat. And dust.
My friend Lynne Smith, who swam the English Channel last year, sent me a picture of her friend Major Bill Conner, who is training for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii this October.
Sometimes I complain about the difficulties of squeezing in a workout, but I’ve got it easy. Conner, 34, works seven days a week, for 15 or more hours a day.
“I really do not have a daily routine as each day is different, except that I usually end up going to bed very late,” he wrote in an email. “I just have to be very flexible with my workouts.”
Conner, who is from Tulsa, Okla., where he was a high school track and cross country athlete, is a frequent visitor to Austin. He’s been doing triathlons since 1996, and has two Ironmans under his belt — Coeur d’Alene in 2003 and Arizona in 2005.
As you might have guessed, Camp Fallujah has no pool, so he can’t swim. Instead, he’s focusing on the bike portion of the race. A fellow Marine gave Conner his indoor trainer when he left Camp Fallujah, which has helped. On Saturday nights, Conner tries to ride six or more hours on the trainer, while watching a video of the Ironman course.
“I turn off the air conditioning in the room to help simulate the conditions that I will be facing in Hawaii, and it usually gets up to 90-plus degrees and very humid. Now I only wish I could find a way to simulate the 40 mph winds,” he writes.
He also bought an inexpensive mountain bike from the exchange on the base and has been riding it as often as possible around the camp’s perimeter. Once a week, he also runs the perimeter by flashlight.
“Everything else I try and fit it in when I can break away for an hour or two,” he writes. “Some days I am not able to break away, so I do not get my workout in — but my job comes first.”
Conner is scheduled to return to the United States in September. He plans to jump right into the pool, since he’s had almost zero pool time while in Iraq.
“I have gotten to swim in one of Saddam’s pool at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and another base, but there is not a pool on Camp Fallujah, so I definitely will not be breaking any records in the water,” he writes.
He also plans to get a new bike. He’s still using the one he bought when he first started doing triathlons 12 years ago.
Conner will dedicate his Ironman to three friends killed while serving their country — LCDR Erik Kristenson, who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan; Major Megan McClung, killed in an explosion in Ramadi; and Major Doug Zembiec, also killed during his deployment.
“Specifically, I plan to dedicate the swim to Major Zembiec, who was one of the best amphibious reconnaissance Marines who has served in the Corps,” he writes. “I would dedicate the bike segment to LCDR Erik Kristenson, who I rowed on the varsity heavyweight rowing team with four years. Lastly, I would run the marathon portion for Major Megan McClung, who was an avid runner and triathlete herself. She actually competed in the Hawaii Ironman in 2000 and 2001 and was the fastest female military triathlete that year.”
“There also has been a lot of sacrificing over here,” Conner writes. “Whether it is a Marine who is away from his new wife or girlfriend or not being able to see the birth of their child or attend the funeral of a relative. Some, like Erik, Doug and Megan, have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country and will never be forgotten.”
The attached photo was taken on the three-year anniversary of Kristenson’s death in Afghanistan. Conner did a special 6-hour ride that day — 2 hours outside and 4 on the indoor trainer because of a sandstorm.
Scholarship funds have been created for all three friends:
- Erik Kristensen Memorial Scholarship Gonzaga College High School 19 Eye St. NW Washington, DC 20001
- Doug Zembiec Memorial Wrestling Club 1127 Meadowalk, San Antonio, TX 78253
- Major McClung Memorial Scholarship Women Marines Association P.O. Box 8405 Falls Church, VA 22041
- Runs leave at 8 a.m. Saturdays from Starbucks at 24th and Nueces streets on July 19 and 26; and Aug. 2, 9, 16 and 23.
- Runs leave at 7 p.m. Tuesdays from Guero’s Taco Bar, 1412 S. Congress Ave. ,on July 22 and 29; and Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26.
- Runs leave at 7 p.m. Thursdays from Six Lounge, Fourth and Colorado streets, on July 24 and 31; and Aug. 7, 14, 21 and 28.
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Crowding the hike and bike trail?
A not-very friendly posting from a reader made me stop and think.
After I published some photos of our Team Fit City running group on my blog, he (or she) commented that we should go away and quit using public parks for this type of activity (actually, he used a bad word here, but I’ll spare you.) “When we are trying to relax, this is the last thing we want to see — a herd like this commandeering the area,” he wrote.
Um, nice.
I’m curious what type of activity he’d rather see at our parks. None at all?
The trail is a public place and it belongs to all of us.
And I’m pretty sure we weren’t taking over the entire trail.
We did our drills on the big field at Auditorium Shores at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, one of the hottest times of the day. Even our group of about 40 folks didn’t “commandeer” the place. We took up one small corner of the field for our yoga session, which lasted 20 minutes. Our drills took another 20 minutes. And we spent the last 20 minutes galloping around the edges of that big field.
Really, not so bad.
In a world where obesity has become epidemic, I’m all for getting everyone we can outdoors and moving.
I’m happy when I see lots of folks out using our trail. It shows me they’re concerned about their health and long-term fitness.
Can’t we all relax and enjoy our parks together? What do you think?
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Is Dallas really more walkable than Austin?
Get this. Someone thinks that Dallas and Houston are more walkable than Austin.
What?
Of course, it depends what neighborhood you live in. And that’s what Walk Score is all about. You can go to the website, plug in your address, and up pops a list of stuff within a short walk.
When I entered my home address, it showed the Randall’s grocery store, Zuzu Restaurant, Starbucks Coffee, all within half a mile of my home. Also close by? Little Longhorn Saloon, Alamo Drafthouse, Northwest Park and a few health stores and pharmacies. It also shows a map, with all the places highlighted.
Cool!
Walk Score ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in 40 cities. It calculates the walkability of an address by its proximity to stores, restaurants, parks and schools. It helps you figure out how hard it would be to live without a car. As the website points out, it’s not how pretty an area is for walking.
It also doesn’t consider public transit, street width, block length, street design, safety, topography, freeways, rivers or weather, which all factor in to how often you want to venture out on foot.
I’ve got a grocery store less than half a mile away, for example. But to get there I’ve got to cross Loop 1 and a railroad track. Not a very enticing option.
And if heat had anything to do with it, Austin wouldn’t even make the list.
San Francisco tops the list. Its most walkable neighborhoods, according to the website, are Chinatown, the Financial District and downtown.
Next up are New York, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.
As for Texas cities, Dallas ranks 24th, Houston 26th, Austin 29th, El Paso 31st and San Antonio 32nd. Austin’s most pedestrian friendly neighborhoods are downtown, the University of Texas area and West University.
I didn’t agree with all the rankings. I mean, would you rather walk through Los Angeles, which ranked ninth, or Austin? How about Las Vegas , which ranked 18th? Or Detroit, at 23rd?
And come on. Dallas over A-Town? Please.
Anyway, it’s fun to play around on the site. Check it out at http://walkscore.com/rankings/.
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Team Fit City does yoga, sweats while running
About 50 members of Team Fit City apparently don’t care about blast furnace temperatures. We were at it again Thursday night, sweating like stuck pigs on the Fourth of July.
We started with about 20 minutes of yoga stretches, compliments of Amy Younkman from Austin Kula Yoga.
Amy had us stretching and bending and trying to maintain our balance while standing like storks on one leg. (Balance has never been a strong suit of mine!)
Amy, a runner, cyclist, swimmer and triathlete, says yoga perfectly compliments all her sports. She specializes in teaching yoga to teens and athletes.
After the yoga, we went right into about 20 minutes of drills led by co-coach Patrick Guy. He reminded us to hop right into our drills whenever we meet. They include side steps, cross-overs (those leg-tangling ones), butt kicks, skips, high knees, backward jogging and strides.
Our main set consisted of 200-meter intervals. We did three laps around the big square on Auditorium Shores, going at about 60-percent effort on the east-west legs, and recovering on the north-south legs. It doesn’t matter if you’re a runner, a jogger or a walker — the key is to go faster on the sides and slower on the top and bottom. This is what will help you get faster.
Patrick also handed out training guides from RunTex University. This little booklet can help you determine what to do on days our training group doesn’t meet. Remember — to get fit, you need to do something more than attend our Thursday evening running group. That could be walking, swimming, doing yoga, riding your bike or playing basketball. Make it fun!
One option? Starting this weekend, Nike is gearing up a series of community runs. The first 250 people who attend enough of these runs or test drive enough Nike products get a VIP ticket to the Ben Harper concert that follows the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31. (Anyone who registers for the race gets to see the show, but if you attend enough of the Nike training runs you’ll get even better seats.)
The runs start from Starbucks on Saturday mornings, Guero’s Taco Bar on Tuesday evenings and SIX Lounge on Thursday evenings. Pace teams will lead 3- and 5-mile runs. All levels are welcome. Besides product trials (drivers license required) there will be product giveaways and post-run refreshments.
Pre-register for the training series at www.niketrainingruns.com.
And we hope to see you at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday! I’m trying to learn names. See you next time, Lonnie!
Here are some photos from last night’s session:
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Week 3: Team Fit City
I just talked to Paul Carrozza and Patrick Guy, the two coaches leading the Team Fit City training for the Nike+ Human Race on Aug. 31.
For those coming tonight, Carrozza says he’ll have a yoga instructor on hand to help us work on flexibility. I can barely touch my toes, so this will be a good thing.
I missed last week because I was traveling. I’m back in action tonight and hope you can make it too. Remember to wear sunscreen and bring water.
To see a weekly schedule to help you prepare for a 10K, go to http://www.runtex.com/runtexu/training/5K/default.asp.
We’re in Week 3 of our program. Remember, we’re starting on a Thursday, so you may want to shift this entire program back two days. Here’s what the plan says.
Tuesday - Walkers: (5 min easy/5 min hard walk) X 4
First-time runners: 30 min alternating 2 min walk/5 min run
Runners wanting improvement: (10 min easy/10 min hard) X 3
Wednesday - Walkers: 40 min easy walk
First-timers: 25 min walk or jog
Improvers: rest
Thursday - Walkers: rest
First-timers: rest
Improvers: 45 min easy run
Friday - Walkers: 35 min flat walk
First-timers: 40 min easy run/walk combo as needed
Improvers: 30 min alternating 2 min easy/2 min hard
Saturday - Walkers: 60 min hilly walk
First-timers: 20 min jog/10 min walk/10 min jog
Improvers: rest
Sunday - Walkers: rest
First-timers: rest
Improvers: 60 minute hilly run
Monday - Walkers: 45 min easy walk
First-timers: 30 min alternating 2 min walk/3 min jog
Improvers: 45 min easy run
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Hit and run bike accidents
I’ve talked to two people in the last two days who were hit by cars while riding their bicycles. Both incidents were hit and runs, and neither case has been resolved.
Greg Keefer was pedaling home from his weekend job as a bike taxi driver for Capital Pedicab at 3 a.m. Saturday, May 3. He was heading east on Manor Road, preparing to turn north onto Cherrywood, when a vehicle struck him from behind, knocking him off his bike.
“I was riding my bike home and the next thing I know I was on a stretcher being asked questions,” he says. “When they found me I was crumpled up on the inside corner across from El Chilito.”
Keefer, an active mountain bike racer who works full-time as a storage analyst at Dell Inc., had four teeth knocked out and broke seven vertebrae in his back. He had surgery June 3 to fuse part of his spine.
His bike isn’t much better. The down tube was cracked and the rear end buckled.
A witness reported that a 1990 green Chevrolet pickup truck drove away from the scene, but police haven’t tracked down a suspect.
“It totally freaks me out,” says Keefer, 33. “I’ve been riding bikes 14 years here and I’ve got a pretty good record … I’m a very defensive rider. I don’t flip people off, I know where I’m at, I know where cars are — I’m like a ninja. But being hit like this from behind — it’s crazy. I don’t even know what happened.”
Keefer’s story isn’t much different than the one Amy McNair tells about what happened to her last month.
She was riding south on South Congress Avenue at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, June 14 and had just passed Guero’s Taco Bar and the Monroe intersection.
“I was in the right-hand lane,” she says. “I just remember riding up and all the sudden hearing screeching tires behind me and knowing that was a little too close. I remember seeing the sky and then the pavement. I stayed conscious the entire time, but when I looked up, the guy had driven off.”
Witnesses described the car that hit McNair as a white Ford Taurus with paper license plates. The car turned onto Annie Street. Police were on the scene almost immediately, but didn’t catch it.
McNair, 26, didn’t break any bones, but suffered scrapes and bruises and is nursing nerve damage in her left glute and a torn muscle in her right inner thigh. Her $8,000 bike is trashed, the wheel and carbon frame broken. Check out this photo:
“I’m really, really, really lucky nothing else happened,” she says. “He hit me dead on, and I flew over his car and not under it.”
“It’s frustrating for me as a cyclist,” she says. “If somebody comes up behind you, there’s no way. I did nothing wrong and couldn’t do anything to prevent that situation because the guy came up behind me. For whatever reason, he decided he could not stop and help me.”
Like Keefer, McNair is an experienced cyclist. She works as a manager at Castle Hill Fitness, where she also teaches cycling classes. This spring, she rode from Austin to Marfa. She plans to start racing bikes next spring.
“This place is great for cyclists, but we have to have people be aware. And you can’t just hit somebody on a bike and drive off,” she says.
True.
It’s one thing if you’re in a car and hit by another car. But if you’re on a bike? Chances of serious injury or death are much greater. And chances of catching the car that did the damage are less.
Keep an eye out for either of the vehicles described above. Either may have front end damage.
And be careful out there.
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Cargo bikes in Austin
Imagine: Zipping to the market for groceries. Pedaling to work. Cruising to a concert at Auditorium Shores, all without parking hassles or traffic nightmares.
If you’re going to live down town in one of Austin’s fancy new condominiums, you’ve got to have a bike. Better yet, you’ve got to have a bike with lots of room to haul stuff.
To promote that urban bed and bike lifestyle, Rick Westervelt of Constructive Ventures, the developer behind condo projects including Pedernales Lofts, Saltillo Lofts, Spring, Barton Place, Este and Twentyone24, has unveiled a fleet of cargo bikes.
The bikes, outfitted with gigantic carry-all bins in front of the handlebars, were designed and built in Amsterdam, that capital of bikedom, for transporting groceries, children and pets.
Last night, Westervelt and other bicycling advocates hopped on the rigs and cruised to the new park next to Palmer Events Center. To prove just how useful they are, he filled the bin of the bike he was riding with a box of tools (just in case!) and a cooler full of drinks.
The 7-speed bikes have front caliper brakes and rear disc brakes, plus a pedal -powered generator that runs head and tail lights. They cost about $2,500 each.
Constructive Ventures bought 10 of the bikes as a way of getting people thinking about commuter cycling and urban living. One of the reasons Westervelt gets the whole bike thing is that he grew up in Portland, one of the most bike friendly cities in America.
“Downtown living is new for many people in Austin, so we want to show them how to make the transition to downtown fun and sustainable,” he says. “Running errands on a bike is a big part of this.”
Constructive Ventures will display the bikes at various downtown retail locations — Austin Java (12th Street at Lamar Boulevard, City Hall and 1608 Barton Springs Road), Uncle Billy’s at 1530 Barton Springs Road, Little Woodrow’s at 520 W. 6th St., Progress Coffee at 500 San Marcos St., and the Constructive Ventures office at 2124 E. 6th St. This fall, it will give the bikes away in a series of free drawings. Starting in mid-August, people will be able to register to win a bike at http://www.austincargobike.com.
“They’re weird and a little ungainly, but easy to steer,” Robin Stallings, director of the Texas Bicycle Coalition, said after test driving one of the bikes.
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Manta rays, Team Fit City and Michael Argall memorial ride
Sorry for the lapse in entries. I’ve been scuba diving in Kona on the live-aboard dive boat the Kona Aggressor II.
I didn’t shower or wear shoes for a week, and did four or five dives every day. It’s tough coming back to work.
Here’s a photo my husband took of a manta ray. They stretch 14-15 feet across from wingtip to wingtip, and fly like kites underwater. Amazing…
Team Fit City
I missed Team Fit City running practice last week, but I’ll be back in action this Thursday. Meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Stevie Ray statue at Auditorium Shores. You can still sign up. Go to http://www.runtex.com.
Michael Argall Bike Ride
And don’t forget the memorial bike ride in honor of Michael Argall, the cyclist and running coach killed while biking near Fredericksburg a few weeks ago.
Leilani Perry of Rogue Running says a scholarship fund has been established in his name. It is designated for college-bound seniors with financial need. In order to qualify, the student must have a 3.5 GPA, demonstrate financial need, and run cross country or track in their senior year of high school in the Austin school district.
To donate to the Michael Argall Scholarship Fund, go to http://www.austincommunityfoundation.org/?nd=donatedetail&donationid=432&return_nd=donate.
The memorial ride starts at 8 a.m. this Sunday, July 20. It’s an unsupported ride, so bring your own water. To see a map of routes, go here:
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Austin’s toughest triathlon?
Looking for a challenge, mountain bikers? Check out the Pure Austin Fitness Xterra Austin triathlon. The race starts at 8 a.m. July 20 at Emma Long Park, and will include a 1,000-meter swim, 14-mile off road bike and 5-mile trail run. You can enter as an individual or relay team.
To register, or for more information, go to austinxterra.com. Cost is $85 per individual or $135 for a relay. (Cost goes up closer to the event.)
Race organizers say the Austin version of the race will be one of the toughest Xterra events to date. “The Emma Long mountain biking trails have long had a reputation as being the most technically challenging in the city, and maybe in all of Texas!” Mike Carter, one of the organizers, reports on the website.
Check out a helmet-cam view of the first part of the bike leg here:
Race organizers have adapted the Emma Long trails by re-routing sections and adding ramps to make it safer. Volunteers will also be posted on the course to warn riders of particularly treacherous sections.
“Racing the Emma Long trails ‘as is’ with no modifications could be dangerous. There are simply some areas that have been eroded so badly that even the most technically gifted riders have to walk them now,” the site says.
I’m tempted, but the bike leg scares me. Maybe I need a relay team. I’ll swim. I know a runner. Anyone up for the bike?
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Team Fit City!
Thanks to all the folks who made it to the debut performance of Team Fit City. And if you couldn’t come tonight, we’ll be out there again at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday to train for the Nike Human Race.
Here’s our group:
Paul Carrozza, owner of RunTex, shared some good information about incrementally increasing our distance and effort to avoid injuries. He also let us know that we’ll get some yoga instruction as part of future classes.
If you haven’t signed up for Team Fit City, there’s still time. Go to www.runtex.com. The first 100 people will get a Team Fit City T-shirt. The Tshirt is the carrot in this equation — we don’t get the shirt (a technical one, Carrozza promises) until we complete a few more sessions.
Today, we did a set of drills to warm up our muscles. We did 50 yards of side steps, 50 yards of cross-overs, 50 yards of butt kicks, 50 yards of backwards running and then about 400 yards of strides. Afterward, we cooled down with a 1-mile jog or walk.
Please check this blog site often; I’ll be updating periodically with running tips from the crew at RunTex, and information about what kind of training you should be doing between classes.
For now, do what you’ve been doing up until this point. If you’ve been walking a few times a week, keep that up. If you’ve been running, it’s status quo. If you haven’t been doing anything, take an easy walk.
Don’t overdo it.
I’m going to miss next Thursday’s session because I’ll be scuba diving, but I’ll be back. Until then …
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Bike versus pedestrian?
We hear about cars hitting bikes all too often. But did you see this today?
Fellow Austin American-Statesman reporter Claire Osborn reports that a pedestrian was struck by a bicyclist Wednesday night and remains in critical condition.
The pedestrian stepped off a curb at the intersection of Loyola Lane and Manor Road into the path of the cyclist, who was traveling south on Manor Road, said Helena Putnam, a spokeswoman for the Austin Police Department.
Just another reminder that cyclists need to stay alert.
It’s also why I keep a little bell on my handlebars. I ring it when I’m near pedestrians just to let them know I’m approaching. If you don’t have a bell, you can call out an alert. I do that all the time, especially when I’m rounding blind corners, like one near the pedestrian bridge over the Shoal Creek Hike-and-Bike trail behind the Austin Music Hall.
Pedestrians, too, need to keep an eye out. Oncoming traffic — whether it’s motor-driven or pedal-powered — can kill.
What do you think?
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City bike program manager blazes at national time trial
Most days Annick Beaudet is working to improve bicycle infrastructure around Austin. Last week, though, the manager of the city’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Program returned to her bike-racing roots, snapping up third place in her age category at the 2008 USA Cycling Masters Road National Championships in Louisville, Ky.
Amateur cyclists age 30 and up raced on a 38-kilometer flat to rolling course at the championships. “It was a blast,” Beaudet says. “I didn’t feel that great, but I pulled it out. I was thrilled to make it to the podium.”
Beaudet, a 38-year-old New York native, has probably spent more time on a bike than in a car over her life. She spent eight years pedaling a one-gear cruiser around Austin and didn’t even get her driver’s license until she was 23.
She’s an avid runner and swimmer, too, and for 11 years competed in triathlon. Among her successes? Third in her age group at the Texas State Tri Championship in 1993; first overall woman at the Lone Star Triathlon in 1994; second place in her age group at the 2002 Capitol of Texas Triathlon; and third place in her age group at the 2003 Capitol of Texas Triathlon. She competed at the 1994 World Amateur Triathlon Championships in Wellington, New Zealand and has finished two Ironmans — one in Nice, France in 1998 and one in Canada in 2004.
In 2005 she turned to bike racing, competing with Team Hotel San Jose. She quit for a year, then joined the Bicycle Sport Shop Austin Flyers last year. Now she’s training with Carmichael Training and has had a phenomenal season as a Category 3 cyclist. She’s currently racing with AT&T - Brain and Spine.
She took second in the 2007 Texas State Time Trial Championship; second at the Fort Davis Stage Race; second at the Fayetteville Stage Race; and third at the Pace Bend Road Race. She’s currently in second place in the Texas Cup Road Racing Series and hopes to win the Texas State Time Trial Title in the Category 3 race on Aug. 2. She’s earned enough points this season to become a Category 2 road racer.
She’s married to another biking buff, Ed Beaudet, who was an expert class mountain bike racer in the 1990s. They have an 8-year-old son named Nicolas, who’s showing talent as a BMX rider.
Beaudet says that during her spare time in Louisville, she checked out that city’s “Freewheelin” Program, administered by Humana Health Care. The company operates three downtown bike stations where employees can borrow a cruiser bike for a spin around town. ”The idea is to promote people to move their bodies during the day, which in turn will make them healthier, which in turn will lower health costs,” Beaudet says.
Oooo. Can’t we get that in Austin?
Beaudet has been an urban planner in Austin since 1996. (Cyclists have her to thank for the paved trail connection from Stratford Avenue to Barton Springs Road at Loop 1.) And talk about Austin street cred. Beaudet appeared in the movie “Slacker” and still gets royalties — about $18 every three years.
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More stolen bikes
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the misery of having a bike stolen.
Now three residents of Garden Terrace efficiency apartments in Austin are going through the same experience. Someone cut the cable locks Sunday night and wheeled away the bikes, which the owners depend on for transportation.
Garden Terrace, at 1015 W. William Cannon, is an efficiency apartment complex for single adults who make less than $25,000. Most residents make about $10,000, says Robin Bradford, director of development and communications at Foundation Communities.
The thefts were reported this to Austin Police Department on Monday, but chances of their return are grim. The bikes were parked on a rack in a well-lit area in front of the building. The complex has raised $49 toward buying replacements through a hot dog stand, says Julie J. Benziger, property manager of Garden Terrace.
“These are wonderful guys, they’re just great,” Benziger says. “It’s so unfortunate for them.”
If you’d like to donate a used bike or money to buy another bike, contact Benziger at 416-8300.
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Austin cyclist killed
A Rogue Running coach was killed in a bicycling accident over the weekend.
According to a posting on http://www.roguerunning.com, Michael Argall was struck by a car and killed while cycling on Saturday, June 28.
No details yet on where the accident happened. The site invites people to sign a memorial page set up for Argall at http://www.roguerunning.com/memorial.php.
Rogue will also host a safe ride in honor and celebration of Michael Argall at 8 a.m. July 20 at Lake Pflugerville. The ride is open to the public. Donations will be accepted.
In his online coaching bio, Argall described himself as a cyclist first, then a runner. He started coaching with a Livestrong training group as a ride leader in 2006. He also coached for Ironchick, Tri-Series and a summer cycling group. He was working on obtaining my USA Cycling Level 3 coaching certification.
“I have learned so much with regards to running and I am really enjoying the simplicity of being able to just get out and do it,” he said in the bio.
