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June 2009
Race for the Cure moves to The Domain
That sea of pink known as the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure is moving from downtown Austin to The Domain shopping center.
Online registration opened today at www.komenaustin.org. Cost is $30 for the untimed race or $35 for the timed race ($20 or $25 for children) or $50 for Sleep in for the Cure.
Organizers say they decided to move to the new location to ensure continued growth of the race, which is expected to draw 22,000 entrants this year. This year’s event is set for Sunday, Nov. 1.
“As sponsors of the Komen Austin Race for the Cure, we were aware of how landlocked the race had become downtown, and the increasing parking challenges survivors, participants and volunteers were facing,” said Kirk Rudy, managing principal for Endeavor Real Estate Group, one of the race’s sponsors.
This year’s race will begin and end just west of Burnet Road. The course will wind through The Domain and parts of the IBM campus, according to a press release from Komen. Ultimately, the race will be staged in an as yet unfinished 9-acre park being added to The Domain.
Since its inaugural race in 2003, the Komen Austin has raised nearly $7 million for breast cancer research, treatment and awareness, according to the release. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised provide breast health education, screening and treatment services in the Austin area. Additional funds are sent to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program, which supports innovative breast cancer research as well as educational and scientific programs around the world.
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Bettysport closes Domain location
Bettysport, a local women’s fitness apparel store, has closed its location at the Domain shopping center. The store’s original downtown location at 12th Street and Lamar Boulevard will remain open.
The store at The Domain has struggled since opening in March 2007, said Craig Staley, who opened the downtown location in 2004.
“The lack of traffic and high rents at the Domain challenged the store from the beginning,” Staley said in a release sent out Monday. “The nose dive in the economy in the fourth quarter of 2008 was too much to sustain. One of the market segments hit hardest has been ‘soft goods’ - Bettyport was no exception, seeing sales off as much as 45 percent since last October. The company tried everything to stay open, cutting staff and hours as well as negotiating with the landlord to defer rent costs.”
Staley said traffic at the Domain never met expectations.
Bettysport Downtown is locally owned and represents more than 40 brands including Nike, Asics, and Stella McCartney.
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Fit City singlet on the podium
Check out these pictures. California reader Ed Hudson won a Fit City singlet in a giveaway a few weeks ago. It’s a little tough to tell, considering he’s covered in mud in these pictures, but Hudson wore the shirt when he did the Mudskipper Race in Chico, California on Saturday.
Teams of two race a 2-mile bike loop and 1.25-mile running loop four times each, tackling wacky obstacles along the way and finally leaping into a mudpit before crossing the finish line.
Hudson and his partner got second place. Nice work, Hudson!
Got any pictures of a Fit City shirt in action? Send ‘em to me!
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Getting CrossFit
Every month or so, CrossFit holds a free “under the bridge” bootcamp under the pedestrian bridge beneath MoPac at Lady Bird Lake.
My marathon buddy Claudia Henry has become a CrossFit addict, and she invited me to join her for the hour-long class today.
I shouldn’t have worn a white shirt! I’m filthy. That’s OK, though. Getting dirty is always fun, especially if you’re getting a workout in the process.
We warmed up with some high-knee running, twisting and contorting with sections of PVC pipe. We also practiced doing snatches with the PVC.
I’ve done CrossFit once before, and I suddenly remembered how uncoordinated it made me feel. Luckily everyone is supportive, and even Claudia managed not to laugh when I tried to execute a snatch.
After that, we did some hopscotch moves on a ladder on the grass.
Then it was time for a short competition: four-person pushups, where you clap hands with the person across from you after each repetition, medicine ball passing, and squats with a medicine ball. After that we ran, as a team, about a block up a hill, lugging a couple of medicine balls.
The nice thing about CrossFit is different people excel at different activities. I happen to suck at squats and snatches, but I’m better at cardio stuff. So while I flailed around a bit for part of the competition, I did better at the run part.
CrossFit routines are different every time you go, too. Claudia is hooked, and part of the reason is that she never knows what to expect. She does know she’ll leave feeling like she’s pushed her body. She’s getting strong!
CrossFit has multiple locations around Austin. The free “under the bridge” workouts are a great way to try it out.
Let me know if you’ve got a class you think I should sample.
(That’s me and Claudia in the top photo; a trainer leading some stretches in the bottom one.)
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Louisiana passes 3-feet law to protect cyclists
UPDATE: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed this bill into law. It goes into effect Aug. 15.
Gov. Rick Perry last week vetoed a 3-foot bill designed to protect “vulnerable users” like cyclists. Louisiana lawmakers are trying to get a similar bill approved in their state.
The bill would require motorists to leave a “safe distance … of not less than 3 feet” when passing a bicyclist, according to an article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Read it here.
The bill, passed 37-0 by the Louisiana Senate, also would require a summary of the new law in driving manuals and installation of signs to make motorists aware of the need to share the road.
The bill has been sent to Gov. Bobby Jindal for approval. If it becomes law, it will go into effect Aug. 15 and would be known as the “Colin Goodier Protection Act,” according to the article. Goodier, a fourth-year resident surgeon, was killed last summer in Iberville Parish while training for a triathlon when his bike was struck from behind by a truck.
Break the law and you would face a fine of up to $250. And get this — motorists who “harass, taunt or maliciously throw objects at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle” face fines of at least $200 and up to 30 days in jail.
Wish we could be more like Louisiana!
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Urban Assault Ride last-minute details
The wackiest event on your weekend fitness calendar? The New Belgium Urban Assault Ride, of course!
Some 1,500 cyclists have registered for the June 28 pedal-powered scavenger hunt, which promotes cycling, health and sustainability. The race started here in 2003 and is now staged in 10 cities around the country.
Packet pickup is from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at Opal Divine’s, 3601 S. Congress Ave. The race starts at 8 a.m. Sunday at Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Bergman Ave., east of Interstate 35.
Pairs of cyclists bike all over the city, plotting their own course to checkpoints where they complete physical and mental tasks. Obstacles change every year and at every event, so riders never know what to expect. The first team to hit all the checkpoints and cross the finish line wins a pair of New Belgium Brewing cruiser bikes.
This time, official checkpoints include the Rowing Dock, 2418 Stratford Dr.; Pease Park, 1100 Kingsbury St.; REI, 601 N. Lamar Blvd.; Ozone, 3202-C Guadalupe St.; RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Dr.; Jack and Adams, 1210 Barton Springs Road; and Rogue Running, 500 San Marcos St. Three mystery checkpoints are also on the agenda.
I did the race a couple of years ago and found myself performing on the stage at Stubbs Bar B-Q Restaurant (that’s us, below), pulling my husband on an oversized inflatable duck in Lady Bird Lake, and jousting on a bicycle.
For more information, go to www.urbanassaultride.com.
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Win “The Athlete’s Pocket Guide to Yoga”
Endurance athletes need yoga.
All that running and biking makes for tight muscles and stiff bodies. But in the thick of triathlon season, who’s got time for yoga class?
“The Athlete’s Pocket Guide to Yoga: 50 Routines for Flexibility, Balance, and Focus” by Sage Rountree guides you through yoga routines at home. And they’re specially designed for endurance athletes.
Rountree is an endurance sports coach, yoga instructor and contributor to Runner’s World and Yoga Journal. She’s an athlete, too — she competes in foot races and triathlons, and raced for Team USA at the 2008 Short Course Triathlon World Championships.
I love this book. It’s spiral-bound, so you can lay it flat on the floor while you use it. It outlines 50 simple yoga routines, including warm-ups and cool-downs, plus sessions aimed at relieving muscle tightness, strength sessions for the off-season, and exercises to sharpen mental toughness or speed recovery.
It’s packed with photos of athletes demonstrating the poses. The back part of the book features longer routines, mapped out in a series of tiny pictures. It’s easy to follow, even for a yoga klutz like me!
The book is brand new, but Velopress sent me a copy, which I’m going to give away.
Post here and tell me why you need it. I’ll pick the best answer as the winner. Check back — I’ll name the winner and that person will need to email his or her snail mail address to pleblanc@statesman.com.
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Battle of the Bottles
First we had single-use disposable plastic water bottles. They’re environmentally unfriendly and we hate them. They wind up in landfills. Besides, who needs to buy water when you can get it free from your tap?
Then we had soft plastic reusable water bottles. They’re still around. They’re light, inexpensive and do the job. But some of them are made of plastic that contain BPAs. That’s bad.
Next came the hard plastic, Nalgene-type bottles with screw-off caps. They took over the planet for a while. Drop one on the hard floor, though, and it might crack.
Sigg started a new revolution with its classy-looking aluminum water bottles.
And now come the stainless steel bottles.
I’ve tested two new models recently, one by Blue Q and another by Camelbak.
I’m torn. I love the 16-ounce Camelbak because it’s insulated (a non-insulated version is available, and it holds more water) and keeps water cold, even in this hideous 100-plus heat. It’s got that great Camelbak bite valve, too, which eliminates spills. (Definitely a desirable feature.) The lid screws off and reveals a nice wide mouth that makes it easy to load the bottle with ice. But it costs a whopping $30. (The non-insulated variety is $24.) Who can afford that? Mine is also kind of plain looking — solid silver.
The Blue Q bottle looks great — it’s silver with a cool retro people design on it, and all kinds of groovy graphics are available. I like the one with an Eskimo on it, and another that says “Holy Water, Tap Into It.” The downside? It’s not insulated, so the ice melts quickly. The bottle itself also feels too cold to the touch — before the ice inside all melts. And the mouth is smaller than the Camelbak’s mouth. This one only costs $18, though, and 1 percent of bottle sales supports The Nature Conservancy. I like that.
Do you have a fave bottle?
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Ironman Coeur D’Alene race report
Erin Whalen just returned from Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, where she tackled her first Ironman Triathlon. She returned to Austin late last night, finisher’s medal firmly in hand. She wrote about the experience so I could share it with Fit City readers:
“I am an Ironman.
Sunday was far and above the hardest day of my entire life — I battled physical and mental pain far and above anything I can ever remember. I overcame all of it, though, and on Sunday I became an Ironman.
For the past six months, I have been training for Ironman Coeur D’Alene with T3, an Austin training group. I averaged about 13 hours of swim/bike/run/core training per week and a total training distance of 2,870 miles. In the end, 59 of us made it to the start line ready to tackle the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
At 7 a.m. race morning, 2,500 athletes dove in to conquer two loops in Lake CDA. Off we went into the washing machine whirlpool spin cycle that is the Ironman swim. Luckily, I do not get freaked out in open water, but the combination of getting constantly kicked and grabbed, plus choppy waters, left me feeling sick and dizzy. Upon finishing the swim, I was greeted by tons of cheering spectators and volunteers who did everything from strip my wetsuit off to completely redress me for the bike portion.
The bike portion was a two-loop course, meaning we rode 56 miles twice. It was beautiful, scenic, technical, and by far the hardest bike ride I have ever completed. Luckily, tons of awesome volunteers, spectators, inspirational signs and scenery distracted us somewhat from those hills. It was important to ride smart, knowing we would have to come back and do the hills all again on loop two.
During the ride, I kept thinking, “This is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I have to keep going.”
Also, I was having bad stomach problems that I couldn’t get under control. Six hours into the race, I wasn’t able to stomach any of my nutrition, but not finishing was not an option! By the time I pulled into the transition area, I had never been so happy to get off my bike.
Due to my stomach issues, I just wasn’t able to run. I tried multiple times, but it became clear that in order to finish, I would have to walk the marathon. My teammates saw me on the course and were so supportive, but eventually I just put my head down so they wouldn’t see my frustration. I saw some of them at the first turnaround and told them, “I don’t think I will make cut-off.” Luckily, they’d done the math and assured me I would. So I kept going.
When I got back to town, I turned around to see my training partner Alisa Leon, who ended up becoming my Ironman Angel. (That’s us in the photo below.) She caught up with me, walked with me, encouraged me, and ended up staying with me the rest of the race. We conquered rain, wind, freezing cold and pitch darkness together, but never entertained the idea of quitting.
Just past mile 25, we turned left down a street to the finisher’s chute. My teammates were there cheering for us, and then we knew we had it. Alisa and I grabbed hands and, for the first time, ran to the finish line. People were cheering in grandstands all around us, and Mike Reilly called my name and said “You are an Ironman!” My teammates were at the finish line waiting for us, and I proceeded to cry like a baby.
They say you have your ups and downs in an Ironman. I’ll be honest, I had far fewer ups than I had downs. My saving grace was my amazing teammates and friends and a promise to myself that I would never quit. I gave this course everything I had. Throughout the race I thought, “You are leaving nothing behind. If nothing else, be proud that you won’t regret not giving it everything.”
In all of my training and race preparation, I never thought I’d have to worry about the 17 hour cut-off time. I was well prepared for this race, both physically and mentally. But, as with any race, anything can happen. I faced things beyond my control, but I still finished with everything I could.
I am so proud of my finisher’s medal and the ability to call myself an Ironman.
And I’m going to do it all again next year.”
All but a handful of the T3 group finished the triathlon. Erin crossed the finish line at 11:38 p.m., 16 hours, 38 minutes and 54 seconds after she began the race.
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Secker finishes Trans Europe Footrace
Congrats to Russell Secker, who on Sunday finished the Trans Europe Footrace.
Secker, of Austin, ran nearly 3,000 miles in 64 stages — an average of 45 miles a day for 64 straight days. That’s him wearing two Gore-Tex jackets at the finish line, above.
He wrote in his blog that he came in 30th out of 68 runners who started the odyssey.
“One competition that I DID win was body fat loss as measured by the MRI docs. I am now officially devoid of all body fat. I solemnly promise that I will never do anything this crazy ever again,” he wrote.
I’m recording that so his wife Claire can remind him of what he said the next time he gets a crazy idea.
Now, he’s hungry.
“Since I woke at 2:30 a.m., I just can’t stop eating or thinking about food,” he wrote early Monday morning as he prepared to catch a ride to the airport. “My brain and body have gone into ravenous overdrive. As I’m spending all day on planes or hanging about in Norwegian airports (Alta, TromsĂś and now Oslo), my credit card has been hit with the equivalent of the GDP of a third world country. Happy now, Mastercard? Mmmm, just spotted a Pizza Hut….lucky I’ve nearley finished this shrimp baguette.”
I’m looking forward to catching up with Secker when he gets back to Austin later this week.
Amazing… Look for an article in the newspaper later this week about Secker’s adventure.
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Locker room nudity
I’m all about nudity, when appropriate.
I’m always shedding my clothes at home, walking around the house in the buff. It’s comfy. It’s natural. It feels good. I’m all for it!
But hello! At the gym? For extended periods of time?
I’m not saying you can’t be naked. When I get out of the swimming pool, I head to the locker room, peel off my suit, shower up and walk into the changing room naked.
I don’t have a problem with that. That’s necessary nudity, and it’s a dressing room, after all. It’s for changing clothes. That’s fine.
What I’m complaining about is women who stand at the mirror and sink area sans clothing. They put on their makeup, dry their hair, brush their teeth and primp, all ala natural.
The counter is at waist level, if you get my drift.
I put on my undies before I do that.
Thoughts?
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Fitness freebies
Freebie alert!
I’ve got some books and shirts to give away.
If you want to win, you must do TWO things — post your name here and email your name and snail mail address (and prize preference) to pleblanc@statesman.com.
Here’s what’s up for grabs: A copy of “The Gene Smart Diet” by Floyd H. Chilton; a copy of “Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During & After Pregnancy,” and one more copy of “Triathlon for Women” by Lisa Lynam.
I’ve also got two size large Fit City running singlets.
Let me know which prize you want. And remember — post your name AND email me your snail address.
Ready, set, go!
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Gov vetoes safe passing bill
UPDATE from Bike Texas:
“Dear fellow Texas cyclists, We are stunned. After passing SB 488 through both houses of the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan margins and responding to every legislator’s concern with information or compromise, Governor Perry killed the bill today. In spite of the huge number of phone calls in the span of two very intense hours, Governor Perry vetoed the Safe Passing bill, SB 488. Thanks to all of you who responded to the BikeTexas Action Alert today and called the Governor’s office. We are extremely disappointed with the Governor’s action. In our view, this reflects a cavalier attitude on the part of the Governor toward the deaths of the 1000 vulnerable road users that are killed annually in Texas. It is well known that Rick Perry rides a bike on the streets and on the trails. Unfortunately, ordinary Texans do not have a security detail to shield them from motorists who drive dangerously. BikeTexas strongly disagrees with the reasoning stated in the veto message from the Governor below. Law enforcement, prosecutors, AAA, AARP, Texas Motorcycle Rights Association and Texas Towing and Storage Association joined BikeTexas in supporting SB 488 because they also believed this bill could have saved lives. We will keep you informed regarding the next steps. Please stay tuned. Respectfully, Robin Stallings Executive Director BikeTexas”
Cyclists take note.
The Texas Bicycle Coalition just sent out an action alert, saying that Gov. Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill and asking cyclist to call and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass.
Here’s what the Coalition’s email says:
“Every cyclist in Texas must call Governor Perry today and insist that he allow SB 488 to pass! The governor mistakenly thinks that the bill puts all of the responsibility on the motorist. There might be time to save the bill if you hurry and make the calls. This is the most important call we have ever asked you to make. Our lives depend on it.
BikeTexas was notified at 12:30 pm CST that Governor Perry plans to veto the Safe Passing Bill. This veto can happen within the next couple of hours TODAY. We need every cyclist in Texas to call NOW and tell the Governor to pass SB 488. More than 1000 vulnerable road users in Texas die every year. This bill will save lives!
You must give the bill number.
CALL both phone NUMBERS:
(512) 463-4375
(512) 463-2000 Governor’s main switchboard until 5 p.m.”
For more information about the bill, go to http://www.biketexas.org/content/view/1115/881/.
The bill requires that cars and light trucks give “vulnerable road users” like cyclists a 3-foot berth when passing. It also requires heavy trucks a 6-foot berth.
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Celebrate International Surfing Day in Austin
![ISD_poster[1].jpg](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2009/06/celebrate_international_surfin/ISD_poster%5B1%5D.jpg)
Surf’s up!
Saturday is International Surfing Day, and the Central Texas Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is organizing a cleanup of Barton Creek and Lady Bird Lake.
You’re invited to join the effort. The group will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday at Zilker Park. Meet in the parking lot on the north side of the playground. Bring sunscreen, a water canteen and your enthusiasm. Gloves, bags and garbage grabbers will be provided. If you’ve got a kayak, bring it, too!
Participants will float or walk along the creek, collecting trash. Everything will be sorted, recycled or disposed of properly. Wahoo’s will provide food; Monster will provide drinks.
International Surfing Day celebrates the sport of surfing and the surfing lifestyle, and the sustainability of ocean resources.
“It’s a day to give thanks and to be of service, go surfing, raise awareness of the state of our oceans, beaches and waterways,” says Kristina Schlegel, volunteer coordinator for the Central Texas Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. “Even if it’s just something small like a cleanup, it makes a huge difference.”
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit national organization headquartered in California that serves as a watchdog for our lakes, creeks, rivers and oceans.
In Austin, the group is currently focused on legislative threats to the Texas Open Beaches Act, which provides public access to our coastline. The group, which has more than 200 members locally, educates area school children about water quality and provides water testing kits to students.
“We advocate education so kids can learn at an early age what it means to have high water quality, to recycle, reduce single-use plastics and see the big picture,” Schlegel says.
To learn more about Surfrider International, go to http://www.surfrider.org/default.aspx. To learn more about International Surfing Day, go to http://internationalsurfingday.ning.com/.
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Secker almost done with 2,800-mile foot race
He’s passed herds of reindeer, slept on the floors of gyms for two months straight, and worn out six pairs of shoes. He’s run through heat, cold, rain and snow.
And now, the finish line is in sight for Russell Secker, who set out on April 19 to finish the Trans Europe Footrace. (The photo here shows him crossing into the Arctic Circle.)
The race, a 2,800-mile jaunt from Bari, Italy to North Cape, Norway, drew 68 qualifiers from 12 countries. Secker was the only American. On Sunday, barring disaster, he will cross the finish line.
We hope he will then rest, long and hard.
He’s been running an average of 45 miles a day since he started. He has three days left in the 64-stage race.
From reading his blog, it sounds like he is tired and ready to finish. And who wouldn’t be?
Every day, he wakes up at 4 a.m. He packs and eats breakfast, then starts running about 6 a.m.
He runs anywhere from 7 to 14 hours a day, pausing for food and water every 10K. When he’s done, he eats, gets medical treatment and massage and sleeps. It’s tough to get enough calories into his system, and Secker didn’t have any body fat when he left Austin.
He’s run through hip pain and upset stomachs, boredom and fatigue. He is amazing.
Ultra running is nothing new for Secker. In 2005 he completed the Transe Gaule, running 750 miles in 18 days. Two years later he did the Deutschlandauf, running 800 miles in 17 days.
But the Trans Europe Footrace is the granddaddy of ultra running races.
I ran 11 miles with Secker one morning a few days before he left. I was pooped. He was just warming up.
The race is not over for Secker, and the field was shocked last week when the woman who had led the women’s race from the start suddenly dropped out. Dozens of others have been forced to quit as well.
But Secker is still running.
Want to follow his last few days on the road? Check out his blog at http://secker.blogspot.com/ and look for my article about him in the newspaper when he gets back. He expects to return to Austin next week.
Let’s wish him well!
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Austin triathletes head to Ironman Coeur d’Alene
Austin’s going to take over Ironman Coeur d’Alene this weekend!
Nearly 60 athletes from Austin T3 Triathlon Training Team — plus 30 or so other athletes from the Austin are — are headed to Idaho for the daunting June 21 race, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run.
Why’s it so popular with the locals? Probably because they can train during cooler weather and avoid long rides and runs in the dead of summer here as they prepare.
In recent years, T3 founder and head coach Maurice Culley has brought 30 or more of his athletes to Ironman Arizona in April. That race was dropped from the calendar, so athletes looked to the next Ironman on the schedule — Coeur d’Alene in June.
“We can train through the winter here and 100-mile bike rides and long runs are not that big of deal,” Culley says.
The Ironman craze in general is growing, he says, and the triathlons are selling out more quickly. “It’s the thing to do now — cross Ironman off the list and maintain your health and fitness lifestyle,” he says.
The biggest misconception about Ironman triathlons is that only elite athletes can do them. “Everyone thinks an Ironman athlete is a robot, type A person who works out twice a day to do it. When we meet with athletes, we say ‘Don’t think you have to put on Super Hero outfit to do this thing.”
Culley says T3 has trained all levels of athletes to finish an Ironman. Someone who has completed a sprint or Olympic distance triathlon just needs to add a few more days of training each week. “We try to get people to train four to six times a week instead of three to five times,” he says. “It’s a bigger commitment, but it’s not just for the super fit. If you do the right training you’re going to be just fine.”
The youngest Austin T3 participant at Ironman Coeur D’Alene is Jesse Popovich, 20; the oldest is Jerry Fleming, 60. The fastest athlete in the T3 group should cross the finish line in about 8 hours and 45 minutes; some of the rookies will likely finish in 15 or 16 hours. The cutoff is 17 hours.
Culley says he expects most — if not all — of the T3 athletes to finish. “In the last two years, we’ve had 100 percent first-timer finish rate,” he says. That’s higher than the average Ironman completion rate. Between 8 and 18 percent of athletes who start an Ironman drop out before finishing, he says.
Athletes pay $525 a person to enter Ironman Coeur d’Alene. T3 training costs $150 a month, and it’s a six-month training program.
It’ll be Erin Whalen’s first Ironman. “I can’t imagine doing all this crazy training mid-summer and fall,” the Austin athlete says. “Granted, I had quite a few times in January and February when I was biking on Loop 360, freezing, crying, getting blown around, doubting myself and thinking I was insane … I’m banking that making it through rides like those will give me extra strength — both physical and mental — come race day.”
The race starts at 7 a.m. Sunday. Some 2,200 athletes from around the world have registered. Air temperatures are expected to be in the low 70s and the water will be about 60 degrees.
Austin T3 plans to Twitter athlete progress during the race at @AustinT3. A celebratory happy hour is planned after the athletes return to Austin next week.
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Trailering a ski boat
My husband and I pulled our boat out of the marina this year, hoping to save more than $400 a month in fees by trailering it instead. We drive it to the lake whenever we want to ski, which is at least once or twice a week now that it’s hot.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how this was going to work. It meant I’d have to perfect my boat driving skills enough to get the Ski Nautique on and off the trailer quickly, while my husband backed down the launch ramp at Walsh Landing near Hula Hut. I had visions of mis-judging the distance, gunning the boat and sending it screeching up a concrete incline, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
I’m happy to report that has never happened.
It took a few weeks to perfect the maneuver, but I’m finally confident getting the boat on the trailer. (Getting it off is no prob.) The other day, I even managed to trailer the boat during a stiff south wind (if the wind is blowing hard, you’ve got to adjust as you come into the trailer, or you’ll miss.)
It’s really empowering! And considering we don’t have to drive as far to the marina, the whole process saves time! I can still water ski on Lake Austin and get to work by 8:30 a.m.
I haven’t seen many other women trailering boats, and I think it’s because they’re intimidated. For some reason, husbands usually handle boat duty. Chris and I make a good team. I drop him at the dock, he fetches the truck and backs it into the water. He waves his arms around to guide me, I line up the boat and steer it where it needs to go.
I like it. I first learned to drive the boat in open water. Eventually I learned how to pull my husband behind the boat on his water ski. (OK, there was that little incident two years ago when Chris broke his ankle while skiing, but it had nothing to do with my boat-driving skills, I swear.) Next up was picking someone up at the dock. Trailering was the trickiest skill, saved for last.
It’s not as tough as I thought. Just take it slow.
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Duking it out with Jesus Chavez
Boy, oh boy — what a day. I just got back from boxing Jesus Chavez!
The retired World Boxing Champion lives in Austin and is teaching over at RunTex on Riverside Drive. I went over to learn about boxing as a conditioning sport.
Before we started, he asked if I was nervous. Well, yes, a little. Who wouldn’t be when they’re about to duke it out with El Matador? Mainly, though, I was nervous about making a complete buffoon of myself.
Jesus is very understanding. I think it helped that I am 3 inches taller than he is. He eased my worries, wrapped my hands up then had me shove them inside 10-ounce boxing gloves. (That made it difficult to take notes.)
He taught me the basics, then let me rip. Coordination isn’t one of my greater skills, but Jesus had me throwing jabs and uppercuts right and left. Mostly, I aimed at red target dots on the thick black mitts he wore. At the end, though, he took off the mitts and told me to try to hit him in the face.
That was hard! I knew I couldn’t possibly hurt him, but it took everything to force myself to throw a punch at his face. (Of course, I didn’t come close to landing a hit.)
By the end of an hour, sweat was running down my face, knees, arms, back and legs. Talk about a great way to stay in shape!
As he unlaced my gloves and undid the wrapping, he looked at my face.
“I think your mascara is running,” he said. (I bet he doesn’t say that to many of his opponents.)
Well, yeah. At least it wasn’t blood.
Fun stuff. Look for my article in the newspaper in a couple of weeks. Attached are shots of me and my new buddy…
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Summer Twilight Track Series starts Friday
Want to do your best Usain Bolt impression? Lace up your racing shoes Friday for the first meet in the Austin Summer Twilight Track Series, organized by Gilbert’s Gazelles and RunTex.
Track meets are scheduled for every other Friday until Aug. 14 at the Austin School for the Deaf, 1101 S. Congress Ave.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never run in a track meet or if you’re a former state champ — you’re invited. Cost is $5 per athlete, and provides unlimited entries into that day’s events. Or pay up front for the whole series for $20. Those who register and race in three of the five meets get a free Tshirt.
Race day registration starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 6:15 p.m. The first event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the long jump starts at 7 p.m.
Events include the 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 300/400m Hurdles, 4X200 Co-ed Relay and Long Jump.
That 4X200 co-ed relay sounds particularly tempting. All teams must have two men and two women. Each runner will sprint 200 meters and pass the baton. There are no age division!
The championship meet, a culmination of the five-part series, will take place Aug. 14. To qualify, participants must race in at least one of the first four meets in their respective event(s). Any participant with a finishing time will be seeded and get an invitation to the championship.
Results will be posted at the meet and on the website shortly after each meet.
For more information or to register go to www.summertwilightseries.com.
Volunteers are needed, too. Email Michael Madison at michael@gilbertsgazelles.com.
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Win a free hooping book!
Do we have any hoopers out there? (I know we do!)
A cool book called “Hooping: A Revolutionary Fitness Program” (Workman Publishing, $15.95) just found its way to my desk.
The book is by Christabel Zamor, creator of the HoopGirl program, a hip-swiveling workout routine that she teaches to fitness instructors around the country. Zamor says she hooped her way from a heavy-set, shy academic into a fitness fanatic. She says hooping can burn 600 calories an hour, improve posture, hone your abs and tighten your booty.
The book, which includes pages of step-by-step follow-the-photo instructions, includes a 50-minute instructional DVD.
So, who wants it? Tell me why you deserve it by posting on this blog, then email your snail mail address to pleblanc@statesman.com.
Do it NOW!
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Grease Monkey Wipes
I’m not exactly sure why, but whenever I ride my bike, I end up with a grease print of my chain ring on my right inner calf.
You should have seen me after a seven-day mountain bike trip from Durango, Colo., to Moab, Utah. We had no water to bathe in, and I had a lot of grease on my legs. Lovely!
What I needed was a pack of Grease Monkey Wipes.
These individually wrapped, pre-moistened towels — like Handi-Wipes for cyclists — are marketed as a way to clean grease and grime off people and bikes. (I wonder if they work on monkeys, too?)
I tested one of the wipes out last weekend, after riding the park road between Bastrop and Buescher state parks. Worked like a charm! They’re small, so you can tuck one into the bag beneath your bike seat or the pocket on the back of your biking jersey. You’ll want one if you have to change a flat or pop a dropped bike chain back in place.
The wipes sell for $1 each and come in packs of six, 12, 18 or 24 (just like beer!). They’re available at most Austin bike shops, including Jack & Adam’s, Bicycle Sport Shop, Mellow Johnny’s and Nelo’s Cycles (new location at 8108 Mesa Dr.). You can also buy them online at www.greasemonkeywipes.com.
Wish I’d had some on that Moab trip!
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Swim, bike, run — and get engaged
![IMG_6359[2].JPG](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2009/06/swim_bike_run_and_get_engaged/IMG_6359%5B2%5D.JPG)
For Drea Bjornson, yesterday’s Danskin Women’s Triathlon didn’t end after the swim, bike and run. She added a fourth discipline — engagement.
Moments after the 25-year-old Austin athlete finished the race, her first triathlon ever, she spotted a crowd of friends she didn’t expect to see at the finish line. As she moved toward them, they parted to reveal her boyfriend, Ryan Haire.
Haire held a sign that said “Congratulations Drea!” Below that, it said “Will you marry me?”
He dropped onto one knee, she said yes, and the triathlon became one she’ll never forget.
“I was still trying to catch my breath,” she says. “His quote was ‘Hit ‘em while they’re tired.”
Bjornson and Haire, a job placement specialist, met in college at the University of Miami and have been dating six years. They moved to Austin two years ago. She’ll head to law school in the fall and they plan to marry in about a year.
As for the triathlon, Bjornson says it won’t be her last, although it’ll be a tough one to top. Her goal was to finish in 2 hours. She smashed that, wrapping up the half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 5K run in 1 hour and 46 minutes.
“I was hooked before the proposal,” she says. “Now I have really good feelings about triathons. It was an absolutely magical day all around.”
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Riding Bastrop-to-Buescher
I pedaled the undulating road linking Bastrop and Buescher state parks on Sunday. Have you ridden there?
The road dips and climbs for 12 miles through the pine forests connecting the two parks. Shade covers nearly the entire route, which makes it a good one for summer, which definitely has kicked in. The route is hilly, but the hills are relatively short. Just when your quads start screaming for mercy, it’s time for a lovely, holler-with-glee downhill.
I’ve ridden the route a dozen or so times, but this time (for the first time ever) we belly flopped into the swimming pool at Bastrop State Park to cool off afterward.
And that pool! It took us a couple of hours to ride to Buescher State Park and back, and we’d worked up a good sweat by the time we finished. We shucked off our bike clothes, yanked on swimsuits (never leave home without one!) and plopped into the pool, which is shaped like an enormous bowl. It’s deep in the middle, too — 8 feet at maximum depth. We paddled around until our core temperatures dropped enough that we wouldn’t melt the seats in our truck, then dragged ourselves out of the water.
It takes about an hour to get to Bastrop State Park from Austin. Admission to the park is $4 a person, but I’ve got a State Park Pass. The $60 annual pass gets you into all Texas state parks for free, so it’s well worth it for me and my husband. It’s $4 to get into the pool for adults, but you get $2 off per person with the pass.
Bastrop always feels like a mini vacation to me, because the scenery is so absolutely un-Austin-like, with all the pine cones and needles. I’ve been going there since I was a kid.
Then it was on to the Roadhouse, just outside the gates of the park, for a late lunch. They’ve got great burgers, but our waitress forgot to turn in our order. Ack! We nearly gnawed off our fingers waiting an hour (!!!) for our lunch to appear. Thumbs down for service, thumbs up for ambiance and food.
(That’s me and Chris above, post bike ride.)
And thumbs up for another great Austin day trip.
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HUG light versus headlamp
I love to camp. I drive my husband crazy with this. I get giddy when we pitch our tent, whether it’s at Colorado Bend State Park or Yellowstone National Park.
Since I love to camp, and camping requires a light source, I recently tested something called a HUG light. It’s advertised for campers and late-night readers. I camp and read — both simultaneously on good days — so I figured I should try it.
I was curious how it would stack up against my headlamp, which I think is the greatest camping advancement since the flashlight. The headlamp is attached to a stretchy band that I wear on my head. It aims its beam wherever I look. It’s hands-free and magnificent.
The HUG is essentially a two-foot stretch of foam rubber-covered wire, with a rubber neck grip and a LED light at each end. Each end of the light has spot and wide-angle mode. Mine is cute: A pink-and-white color scheme. (See photo taken by my iPhone, above).
But could the HUG keep up?
It depends what you are doing.
The headlamp, in my book, is superior for around-the-camp tasks like finding a stick to cook the marshmallows after the sun goes down. I like it for reading, too, because I can aim it directly at the page.
But if you need a steady, fixed light, the HUG comes in handy, too. I liked wrapping it on inanimate objects, and using it in hard to reach spots (like under the desk, in the spaghetti bowl of electrical wires). It beats a flashlight and the headlamp hands down in both those instances.
I didn’t like using the HUG as suggested — resting around my neck, with a LED light at either end. I couldn’t make it point exactly where I wanted because it moved too much.
Still, the HUG has a place in my world. Just maybe not on a camping trip.
The HUG costs $19 at www.mylight.com.
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Lance’s baby is Tweeting!
We know Lance Armstrong is a Twitter maniac, posting all kinds of interesting — and not so interesting — details about his life on his Twitter account.
He’s a veritable Captain Twitter. At last count (and the number is increasing by the moment), he had 986,611 followers.
But check this: Lance and girlfriend Anna Hansen’s day-old baby son Max apparently has his own Twitter account!
A couple of hours ago, Max had about 300 followers. Now, at 1:27 p.m. Friday, he’s up to 671. (Geez, it’s taken weeks for me to get that kind of following on my Twitter account!)
Max’s first post came this morning: “just had my 1st night of sleep ‘out here’. Quite an contrast.”
And this just in: “hanging out with my mom and dad. they seem pretty cool but they keep staring @ me”
Just not sure what to think about this. Discuss…
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Your weekend fitness events
The starting gun for the weekend’s biggest fitness event, the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, goes off at 7 a.m. Sunday. (Packet pickup for the Danskin is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.)
If the Danskin’s not on your agenda, you’ve still got plenty of activities to choose from this weekend. Here are the highlights:
- The Great Castell Kayak Race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Llano River RV Park, at the bridge over the Llano on Highway 87 near Castell. About 150 paddlers are expected. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation. For more information, call 512-217-4596 or go to www.castelltexas.com.
- The Texas Lavender Hills 5k & 10k Women’s Run/Walk starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Texas Lavender Hills Farm & Market in Blanco. Participants receive a technical T-shirt, a lavender goodie and a finish line party with champagne, breakfast, music and shopping. Registration is $45 for the 10K ($50 on race day); or $40 for the 5K ($45 on race day). Packet pick-up is from 5-7 p.m. Friday at RunTex, 2201 Lake Austin Blvd., or at the event on race day. For more information, call 210-651-6096 or go to www.runintexas.com.
- Bicycle Sport Shop celebrates the end of the Austin Commuter Challenge with an awards ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday at the shop, 517 S. Lamar Blvd. More than 300 people logged more than 23,000 pedal-powered miles in the event, created to promote bicycle commuting in Austin. After the awards ceremony, everyone is encouraged to ride to Zilker Park to join the National Trails Day volunteers for BBQ from the Salt Lick, refreshments from Real Ale Brewing, live music and free all-day admission to Barton Springs Pool.
- Join volunteers in removing invasive species, spreading granite gravel on trails, removing graffiti and trash, and rerouting trails from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, National Trails Day. Three hundred volunteers will work to restore existing portions of the Barton Creek Greenbelt trails, marking the beginning of construction on the first phase of the 34-mile “Walk-for-a-Day” Trail from Lady Bird Lake to Kyle. To volunteer, register at www.austinparks.org/trailsday.html or sign up at the Loop 360 access of the Barton Creek Greenbelt at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. For more information, contact Andrea Rado at the Hill Country Conservancy, 512-328-2481 or andrea@hillcountryconservancy.org.
- The Round Rock Roadrunner 10K kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at Williamson County Regional Park off of FM1431 near Parmer Lane, followed by a Kids Fun Run at 9:15 a.m. The race honors the military men and women who make our freedom possible and benefits the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which supports military families who have lost loved ones in the service of our country. Food, drinks, music and prize drawings are planned. For registration and more information, go to www.roundrockroadrunner.com.
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Last-minute Danskin news
The big event of the weekend is the Danskin Women’s Triathlon, which starts at 7 a.m. Sunday at Walter E. Long Park at Decker Lake.
Some quick last-minute notes from the organizers:
- Volunteers are still needed for packet pickup and bike check-in on Saturday.
- Mandatory packet pickup is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane.
- Mandatory bike check-in is from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Decker Lake.
- The transition area will open at 5:30 a.m. Sunday at Decker Lake.
- Bring a refillable water bottle. Athletes and spectators can refill at huge water-filled drums called Water Monsters, which will be located in the finish area.
- Please don’t use mylar balloons to mark your transition spot. Tie something to the end of your rack instead.
- Pack it in, pack it out. If you bring anything to the race site, take it back out (or dispose of it in trash receptacles). This includes anything used to mark your transition spot, flip-flops at the water’s edge, empty gel packets, energy bar wrappers and water bottles.
- Ride safely — stay to the right. Do not hover to the left. Do not ride two-abreast (or three-abreast, or four-abreast).
- For more information, go to http://danskinwomenstri.com/Austin-TX.html.
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Best place to tube
Give me a big ole inner tube and a nice chilly Texas river and I’m as happy as a pig in slop. Tubing is a right of passage in Texas.
My tubing venue of preference is the Upper Guadalupe River, on the west side of the U.S. 281 bridge. That’s mainly because the parents of a college friend have a place on the river, and a couple of times a year he invites us out to soak up some sun, river water, and barbecue. It’s pure bliss.
The Upper ‘Pe, as we fondly call it, isn’t quite as cold as the Lower ‘Pe, which runs through Gruene and sometimes feels like an ice company dumped its load in the river. The water near Gruene comes from below the Canyon Lake dam. That makes it colder than the Upper ‘Pe, which is also less crowded.
My favorite tubing activity? The tube stand, in which I attempt to stand up on an inner tube. It usually only lasts a moment or two before I plunge into the river. Which isn’t too bad either.
Both ends of the river are beautiful, lined with towering, lacy cypress trees and folks piling sausages onto their backyard smokers.
Voters in the latest A-List poll agreed, overwhelmingly choosing the Guadalupe River as the area’s best place to go tubing with nearly half the vote.
Here are the official results:
- Guadalupe River 45.7 percent
- Comal River 23.8 percent
- Frio River 14.1 percent
- San Marcos River 12.3 percent
- Texas Paddling Trails 2.8 percent
- Brazos River 0.9 percent
- Neches River 0.4 percent
What’s your favorite tubing venue? Why?
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Win a women’s triathlon book!
Why a special triathlon book for women? We’re different, of course!
Ten-time Ironman finisher, triathlon coach and part-time Austin resident Lisa Lynam knows that, and it’s why she wrote “Triathlon for Women: A Mind-Body-Spirit Approach for Female Athletes” ($16.95, Meyer & Meyer Sport).
Lynam sent four copies of her book over, and I’m giving them away. Post on this blog, telling me why you need the book.
I’ll look over all the responses and pick four winners, which I’ll post on this blog. (I’ll also ask the winners to email their snail mail addresses to me at pleblanc@statesman.com.)
The book covers everything from shopping for equipment to basic training, mental preparation, nutrition tips, pre-race checklists and recipes. One thing it has that I haven’t seen anywhere else? Information on how menstrual cycles affect training and performance.
Lynam spends her time in Austin and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
The book is courtesy of Meyer and Meyer Sports and is available at area bookstores.
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Danskin volunteers needed
The Danskin Womens Triathlon needs some help.
Volunteers are needed to help with set-up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the race site at Walter E. Long Park. Veteran Danskin triathletes are needed to help out in information booths at packet pickup, and cyclists are needed to “rove” the bike course during Sunday’s race. Swim angels to help athletes through the half-mile lake swim are also needed.
To sign up as a volunteer, go here.
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Austin Marathon registration opens today
Like to plan ahead?
Registration opened today for the 2010 Austin Marathon & Half Marathon, scheduled for Valentine’s Day. (I can’t think of a more romantic way to spend the day than running 26.2 miles and falling into your sweetheart’s arms, can you?)
Last year 14,228 people registered for the two events, and the half marathon sold out shortly after New Year’s Day, according to race director John Conley.
The full marathon is capped at 5,000 entrants and the half is capped at 9,000. Both are expected to sell out before race day on Sunday, Feb. 14.
The photo above shows me in the midst of my first marathon last year. (Marcy Stellfox, left, Pam LeBlanc, center, Claudia Kirk, right).
To register, go to www.youraustinmarathon.com. Entry is $100 for the marathon or $65 for the half through Sept. 30. Fee increases to $110 for the marathon and $75 for the half on Oct. 1.
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