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September 2009
It’s cool … and I can run again!
Now that the heat has abated, I’m going to ramp up my running again.
I’ve been a bit of a slacker over the summer, focusing on slalom skiing, swimming and other sports instead.
It’s hard to believe I ran my first marathon last February. During the heat of the summer, running felt like I was slogging through molasses with cinder blocks tied to my feet. I did manage to keep up a steady diet of 3- and 4-milers, with the occasional hilly 7-miler tossed in. But it wasn’t easy!
Now that we’ve had temperatures in the upper 50s and lower 60s in the morning, though, I think running will become blissful again. It just feels like I’ve got such a long way to go before I can build the mileage back up.
What really makes it bad? Some of my marathon training buddies kept at it all summer, knocking out 20- and 24-milers — in the heat, no less — to prepare them for the Chicago Marathon next weekend. (Good luck Tony, Camille and Amanda!)
Me? I’m eyeing a couple of races — the 3M Half Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 24 and the Zooma Half Marathon on March 28, 2010 at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Bastrop.
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Donkey and Doggy Dash
Dogs, donkeys and, oh yeah, humans, get equal billing at this weekend’s inaugural Sunset Valley Donkey Dash 5K and Doggy Dash.
The run — which encourages runners to compete alongside their four-legged training partners — kicks off at 8 a.m. Sunday at Doc’s Backyard, 5207 Brodie Lane.
That donkey on the course, cheering runners on? That would be Star, event mascot.
All aid stations will have water bowls and treats for canines. All owners will be required to carry a doggy disposal bag (provided at the start) and pick up after their pets.
Race director Andrea Fisher (yes, the triathlete) tells me that a grand post-race party is in store, too. Doggies will get special canine-friendly ice cream and other treats from Banfield and Petsmart. Humans get free beer! (Who’s a lucky dog?)
Registration is $20 for individuals and $5 for canines; $30 individuals and $10 canines after Wednesday, Sept. 30. Race proceeds benefit the Sunset Valley Elementary School. To volunteer, email Fisher at ironmanfishy@hotmail.com. For more information go here www.donkeydash.com.
(Photos by Jake North Photography)
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Look for me in The Nutcracker!
Guess what? I just found out that I get the one-night role of Mother Ginger in Ballet Austin’s upcoming production of The Nutcracker.
Yahoo!
I get to climb into the enormous, well-endowed costume of Ma Ginger and get rolled onstage for the evening performance on Friday, Dec. 18 at the Long Center. For 3 minutes I hang out in the costume while 16 children (!) run out from under the skirt and do a dance number.
No talent required, thank goodness!
Come watch me… For more information go to www.balletaustin.org.
(The photo above, from Ballet Austin, shows Mother Ginger during a performance last year. Quite a get-up, isn’t it?)
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Jogger hit by SUV backing out of driveway
Terrible news.
A woman died Friday after she was hit by an SUV backing out of a driveway downtown.
Read more here.
Her name or age has not yet been released.
Please pay attention when you’re out running. And motorists, please take an extra moment to make sure you’re clear before backing up.
Especially when it’s dark, I think it’s a good idea to wear reflective clothing or flashing lights. Run in groups if you can.
What other tips do you have for staying safe while running?
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Your weekend fitness events
Once again, we’ve got your weekend fitness events right here:
- Fight Gone Bad: Join the CrossFit community and the fight against prostate cancer at the Fight Gone Bad at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Long Center downtown. Athletes will rotate between five exercise stations, where they will do as many repetitions as they can in 1 minute. Proceeds benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information go here http://www.crossfitcentral.com/content/view/566/99/.
- Trail project: The Austin Ridge Riders and REI Round Rock are hosting a service project to work on a 5-mile stretch of the Goodwater Loop around Lake Georgetown. Meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Tejas Campground. The first 100 volunteers get a technical Tshirt; everyone gets free breakfast and lunch. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring work gloves. Please carpool; parking is limited. RSVP by calling REI Round Rock at 512-255-1938.
- Silicon Labs Marathon Relay: The Fifth Annual Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Auditorium Shores. The race is broken into five legs — two 5Ks, two 10Ks and one 12K. The winning team will claim the first-ever Guinness World Record for the fastest five-person marathon relay. The relay is the opening event for the Austin Distance Challenge. Runners who raise $750 for the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay gain free entry into the rest of the series, and the money they raise will help fund Junior Achievement programs in Central Texas schools. For more information go here www.austinmarathonrelay.com.
- David Byrne: Talking Head David Byrne talks bicycles during a panel discussion at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. Admission is free. Also on the panel are Rob D’Amico, president of the League of Bicycling Voters; Annick Beaudet, bicycle/pedestrian coordinator for the City of Austin; and Jana McCann, urban planner with ROMA Design Group.
- Polo at The Vineyard: Ride on Center for Kids presents Polo at The Vineyard in Florence, Texas, from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. The Austin Polo Club’s match supports kids and adults with special needs and the “horses for heroes” riding program for service men and women. The event also includes a ladies hat parade, sponsor’s champagne divot stomp, food and music. Tickets are $25 for adults or $10 for children. The Vineyard at Florence is located at 8711 W. FM 487. For more information go here www.rockride.com or call 512-930-7625.
And there’s more on the horizon:
- Track stars at Wild Basin Fitness: Trey Hardee, University of Texas graduate and reigning world gold medal champion in decathlon, and Chelsea Johnson, silver medalist in pole vault, will make an appearance from 8-10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Wild Basin Fitness, 300 Beardsley Lane, Building B, Suite 101, from 8-10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2. The athletes will demonstrate 10 different exercises and then invite participants to try. For more information call (512) 306-7376.
- Donkey Dash 5K and Doggy Dash: Run with your canine training partner at the inaugural Sunset Valley Donkey Dash 5k and Doggy Dash. The race kicks off at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at Doc’s Backyard, 5207 Brodie Lane. All aid stations will have water bowls and dog treats; owners must carry a “doggy disposal bag.” A post-race doggy party will include dog ice cream and other treats compliments of Banfield and Petsmart. For the adults? Free beer! Registration is $20 for individuals and $5 for canines; $30 and $10 after Sept. 30. Race proceeds benefit the Sunset Valley Elementary School. To volunteer, contact race director Andrea Fisher at ironmanfishy@hotmail.com. For more information go here www.donkeydash.com.
- Parkinson’s 5K: The Pick Up Your Feet for Parkinson’s 5K Run/Walk kicks off at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 at Williamson County Regional Park, 3005 CR 175 in Leander. The race honors long-time runner and Sun City resident John Carchedi, who has Parkinson’s. Registration is $25 ($10 per additional family member). A portion of proceeds will benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. To register go here www.georgetownrunningclub.org.
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Gearing up for Sunday’s Marathon Relay
Running in the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay this Sunday? Listen up.
Packet pickup is 3-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. It’s part the Austin Money Show — look for the relay packet pickup counter to the left when you walk in.
Packets are kept in order by the name of the team captain. The person picking up the packets does not have to be the team captain, but whoever picks up the packet picks up for the entire team.
Mecca personal trainer Valdo will lead a runners stretching workshop at 10:30am Saturday at packet pickup. RunTex owner Paul Carrozza will lead a runners workshop at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Didn’t register? No worries! You can still register at packet pickup. Entry fee is $150 for a five-person team. Or sign up as a premiere team for $1,000 and compete as part of the corporate challenge.
The race itself starts at 7 a.m. Sunday at Auditorium Shores.
The relay is broken into five legs — two 5Ks, two 10Ks and one 12K. The winning team will claim the first-ever Guinness World Record for the fastest five-person marathon relay.
It’s the opening event for the Austin Distance Challenge. Runners who raise $750 for the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay gain free entry into the rest of the series, and the money they raise will help fund Junior Achievement programs in Central Texas schools.
For more information go here.
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Banana sports drink is for me (and the monkeys)
Nuun’s got a new flavor out, and they sent some over for me to sample.
I might be alone here — me and the monkeys, that is — but I love the new banana-flavored electrolyte-enhanced tablets. I dropped one in my water bottle before a recent bike ride, and had visions of creamy yellow fruit dancing in my head as I mashed on the pedals.
I was so excited about a variation in the never-ending berry-orange-lemon lineup that I shared a sip with my husband. He wasn’t a fan. And one of my friends declined to taste it at all, he was so repelled by the idea of a banana-flavored drink.
More for me!
Nuun tablets are about the diameter of a quarter, and thick as a piece of corrugated cardboard. They come in a plastic tube, so they’re convenient to carry in your pocket or in the little pouch under your bike seat. Drop one in a bottle of water and it dissolves in a minute or two.
Nuun describes the new flavor as if it were a fine vintage: “Abundant bouquet of banana, pineapple, and papaya with a breezy, clean, almost tart finish.”
The tabs supply sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium, without added sugars.
I’m a fan of carrying one bottle of plain water and one bottle of flavored water (Gatorade, Nuun or some other electrolyte-enhancer) when I ride my bike. Water gets old, and sometimes a little flavor encourages me to drink more.
What’s your favorite beverage while you exercise?
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Secker writes book about 2,800-mile run
I first wrote about distance runner Russell Secker in 2005, just after he finished running across all of France.
Crazy, I thought. Why would anyone want to run so far their ankles swelled and toenails fell off?
Two years later, he ran across Germany. Madness!
Then this year Secker, who seems otherwise normal — even charming and smart — ran all the way across Europe, covering six countries and 2,800 miles in 64 days during the Trans Europe Foot Race. I ran with him (11 miles, thank you very much) a few days before he started his adventure.
I read Russell’s blog while he was gone; I interviewed him for another article when he returned. As much as I try, I still can’t comprehend why he — or anyone — would put their body through such a thing. But I’ve had lots of fun listening to Russell try to explain it to me.
Now, as if running more than a marathon a day for months on end wasn’t enough, my friend has written a book about his experience. And he did it in two months!
Some of the text is based on the blog he kept along the way, which was by parts harrowing and hilarious. A lot of the material is new. The self-published book is full of photos, plus tales of blisters, the unique shuffling style of running demonstrated by some Japanese distance racers, eating reindeer lasagna and sleeping with more than 60 other people on the floor of a school gymnasium.
Russell assures me that writing “Running Across Countries” was tough. I think he’s just trying to make me feel better, because he knows I’ll never run 2,800 miles in two months.
“Mentally, running the race is easy, because the goal is obvious — get to the finish,” he told me last week when he dropped off a couple of copies of the book. “Mentally, the writing is tough. But physically sipping coffee at my keyboard was a lot easier than wrapping myself in plastic bags and running through the Arctic Circle.”
Yeah, I’d say so.
The book sells for $12.95 and is available on www.amazon.com. Rogue Running Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., also sells the book.
Russell gave me an extra copy to give away on my blog. Who wants it? Post your answer here. I’ll pick a winner and post it in the next few days.
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The “bike to dinner” gang
Now that the summer inferno has passed, my buddies and I have formed our own “bike to dinner” gang.
We tried it first in the spring, meeting up for happy hour and snacks downtown, then pedaling north to get gelato at Teo’s before heading home. So much fun!
We launched our fall season on Friday. Seven of us rode from the Allendale neighborhood to The Triangle, where we ate dinner at Sago, 4600 W Guadalupe St. It took all of about 15 minutes, and we didn’t have to look for a parking space for our car. We just locked up at a rack outside the restaurant. (Note to developers: More racks, please! Also, access to The Triangle could be better. Please keep cyclists in mind when planning shopping centers. Thank you!)
Hopping on a bike and riding to a destination is so much more fun than driving there (as long as it’s not 105 degrees out). We zipped down Shoal Creek Boulevard, reveling in the coolish air, admiring the fading sun and screaming at my friend Sara to slow down because she was going so fast we could hardly keep up with her bionic legs.
At the restaurant, nobody made fun of our geeky bike clothes and helmets. The food was awesome, too.
It was like being 11 years old again. Wooo hooo!
Dates on bikes. You should try it.
What’s your best bike date?
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Fitness freebies!
I’ve got some fitness freebies for you!
To win, post which prize you want and why you deserve it here. Then check back. I’ll pick the winners early next week and if you’re a winner, I’ll need your snail mail address.
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- ”Countdown to Kona: An Amateur Triathlete’s Journey from Lottery Winner to Competing in the Ford Ironman World Championship,” by Dale Tweedy.
- ”Denise Austin: Best Bun & Leg Shapers,” a DVD featuring 10-minute workouts to sculpt your backside.
- ”Female Brain Gone Insane: An Emergency Guide for Women Who Feel Like They Are Falling Apart,” by Mia Lundin, founder and director of the Center for Hormonal and Nutritional Balance Inc.
- The Dude Girl Tri, a women’s only Olympic distance triathlon from Red Licorice Events, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20 at Pace Bend Park in Spicewood. Registration is $125 until Sept. 16, when it goes up to $135. It consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. For more information, go here.
- Water to Thrive 5K: Austin-based non-profit Water to Thrive will host the Water to Thrive 5K and Kids K starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Hill Country Galleria. Proceeds go to help build water wells in rural, impoverished communities in Africa. Entry fee is $28 for the 5K and $12 for the kids race. For more information, go here.
- Tri Zones Training Clinic: Tri Zones will hold a free training clinic and information session at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21 at RunTex Riverside. On the agenda? How to run faster 5Ks and what to expect if you train for a marathon or half marathon. Representatives will share information about weekly workouts, technical gear, proper running shoes, mileage buildup and race day nutrition. For more information go here.
- Learn to Curl: The Lone Star Curling Club will host a Learn To Curl event at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Chaparral Ice Rink at Northcross Mall, 2525 W. Anderson Lane. Equipment and instruction provided. Admission is free but $5 donations are appreciated. For more information go here.
- Team Survivor Fund-Raiser: Capital of Texas Team Survivor, a free fitness support program for women cancer survivors, will host a fundraiser at Stubb’s BBQ, 801 W. Red River, from 7-11 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23. “Not Just Another Cancer Event” will feature music by Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox, Dysfunkshun Junkshun and Beautiful Mistakes. Admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door and includes hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks. For more information go here or call 426-1408.
- Fight Gone Bad: Join the CrossFit community and the fight against prostate cancer at the Fight Gone Bad at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Long Center downtown. Athletes will rotate between five exercise stations, where they will do as many repetitions as they can in 1 minute. Proceeds benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information go here.
- Polo at The Vineyard: Ride on Center for Kids presents Polo at The Vineyard in Florence, Texas, from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. The Austin Polo Club’s match supports kids and adults with special needs and the “horses for heroes” riding program for service men and women. The event also includes a ladies hat parade, sponsor’s champagne divot stomp, food and music. Tickets are $25 for adults or $10 for children. For more information go here or call 512-930-7625. The Vineyard at Florence is located at 8711 W. FM 487.
- Silicon Labs Marathon Relay: The Fifth Annual Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Auditorium Shores. The race is broken into five legs — two 5Ks, two 10Ks and one 12K. The winning team will claim the first-ever Guinness World Record for the fastest five-person marathon relay. The relay is the opening event for the Austin Distance Challenge. Runners who raise $750 for the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay gain free entry into the rest of the series, and the money they raise will help fund Junior Achievement programs in Central Texas schools. For more information go here.
- St. John 5K — The inaugural St. John 5K and Kids Mile kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 in the St. John neighborhood in East Austin. The race aims to support, bring awareness and help fund projects that create more affordable housing in the St. John Neighborhood. A portion of proceeds benefits the new Community Housing Development Organization. To register, go here.
- Tour de Florence — The second annual Tour de Florence Bike Ride starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at The Vineyard at Florence. Riders choose from routes of 15, 35, 45, or 65 miles. A kids’ ride starts at 9:30 a.m. The Tour proceeds benefit The city of Florence’s Parks and Recreation Department. For more information go here. Volunteers are needed to man rest stops. For volunteer information, email shawna@thevineyardatflorence.com.
- The Sweet & Twisted Du — This co-ed off-road duathlon, certified by USAT and produced by Red Licorice Events, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13 at Flat Rock Ranch. Entry fee is $65. For more information go here.
- 2009 Women’s Race — The Women’s Race on Sept. 13 is designed for athletes of all skill levels and includes mystery events. Contestants must bring their own water craft and life jacket. Race starts at 9 a.m. at Cedar Park YMCA, 204 E. Little Elm Trail. Awards for best costume and best water craft. Entry fee is $25 for kids; $75 adults. Registration closes Sept. 11. For more information go here.
- Day of Free Dance: Ballet Austin’s Butler Dance Education Center, 501 W. Third St., will offer free dance classes from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Sample everything from ballet to modern,jazz to hip hop and hula. For more information, go here.
- Taco Social Training Ride: A training ride for cyclists participating in the Texas Mamma Jamma Ride against breast cancer is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. The ride starts at Mellow Johnny’s, 400 Nueces. Free tacos and coffee provided. For more information, email info@mammajammaride.org.
- Water to Thrive 5K: Austin-based non-profit Water to Thrive will host the Water to Thrive 5K and Kids K starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Hill Country Galleria. Proceeds go to help build water wells in rural, impoverished communities in Africa. Entry fee is $28 for the 5K and $12 for the kids race. For more information, go here.
- The Dude Girl Tri, a women’s only Olympic distance triathlon from Red Licorice Events, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20 at Pace Bend Park in Spicewood. Registration is $125 until Sept. 16, when it goes up to $135. It consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. For more information, go here.
- Learn to Curl: The Lone Star Curling Club will host a Learn To Curl event at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, at Chaparral Ice Rink at Northcross Mall, 2525 W. Anderson Lane. Equipment and instruction provided. Admission is free but $5 donations are appreciated. For more information go here.
- Team Survivor Fund-Raiser: Capital of Texas Team Survivor, a free fitness support program for women cancer survivors, will host a fundraiser at Stubb’s BBQ, 801 W. Red River, from 7-11 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23. “Not Just Another Cancer Event” will feature music by Joel Guzman and Sarah Fox, Dysfunkshun Junkshun and Beautiful Mistakes. Admission is $25 in advance or $30 at the door and includes hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks. For more information go here or call 426-1408.
- Fight Gone Bad: Join the CrossFit community and the fight against prostate cancer at the Fight Gone Bad at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 at the Long Center downtown. Athletes will rotate between five exercise stations, where they will do as many repetitions as they can in 1 minute. Proceeds benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation. For more information go here.
- Polo at The Vineyard: Ride on Center for Kids presents Polo at The Vineyard in Florence, Texas, from 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. The Austin Polo Club’s match supports kids and adults with special needs and the “horses for heroes” riding program for service men and women. The event also includes a ladies hat parade, sponsor’s champagne divot stomp, food and music. Tickets are $25 for adults or $10 for children. For more information go here or call 512-930-7625. The Vineyard at Florence is located at 8711 W. FM 487.
- Silicon Labs Marathon Relay: The Fifth Annual Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at Auditorium Shores. The race is broken into five legs — two 5Ks, two 10Ks and one 12K. The winning team will claim the first-ever Guinness World Record for the fastest five-person marathon relay. The relay is the opening event for the Austin Distance Challenge. Runners who raise $750 for the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay gain free entry into the rest of the series, and the money they raise will help fund Junior Achievement programs in Central Texas schools. For more information go here.
- Olympic - Open
- Olympic - Age Groups
- Olympic - Relays
- Olympic - Searchable
- Sprint - Age Groups
- Sprint - Searchable
- “The Brown Fat Revolution: Trigger Your Body’s Good Fat to Lose Weight and Be Healthier,” by James R. Lyons. Here’s an interesting opening line from the press release for this book — “Fat is your friend.” Really? It goes on to say that brown fat is good fat and gives our bodies a youthful shape. Lyons is a plastic surgeon. Includes an exercise plan and eating plan.
- “Nicki Anderson’s Single-Step Weight Loss Solution: 101 No-Nonsense Tips for Healthy Living, Weight Loss and a Diet-Free Life.” This paperback is full of exercise tips and busts myths like “Potato chips are part of the vegetable group in the food-guide pyramid.” Ha! Comes with a pink “Dieting Sucks” Tshirt (size large).
- ”Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga” DVD by element — This instructional DVD was filmed in garden overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and is designed to help you firm your body, build strength and gain flexibility. The instructor is Elena Brower.
- ”Yoga for Weight Loss” DVD by element — Another instructional video, this one focuses on physical and mental factors that can affect weight. The instructor is Ashley Turner.
- AVIA Austin Triathlon — The Olympic Distance race consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. The sprint race consists of a 700-meter swim, 27-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run. Athletes will compete in age group and open divisions. The Austin Triathlon expo runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 208 Barton Springs Road. Packet pickup is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the hotel, and mandatory bike check-in is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Auditorium Shores. The transition area opens at 5 a.m. Monday, and a pre-race meeting is scheduled for 6:40 a.m. The Olympic distance race starts at 7 a.m., followed by the sprint at 8:30 a.m. Expect live music on the course and at the finish line, plus free post-race massages, food, beer and treats for participants. For more information go here.
- Tour of Austin — Holland Racing, organizers of The Driveway Austin Thursday Night Bike Race Series, has pulled a trio of area races under one umbrella to create a three-day event Labor Day weekend with more than $15,000 in prize money. The Tour begins Saturday with road races of 20 kilometers to 100 kilometers on a looping course around the flat, cornfield-dotted countryside surrounding Manda, about 8 miles east of Austin. On Sunday, the Tour moves to a 1.15-mile closed loop at the University of Texas’ J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Road. The big finale comes Monday, with the Eracing Stigma Criterium at the Austin State Hospital, 4110 Guadalupe St. Cyclists will tear around a 0.9-mile loop on the campus. Registration is $30 per race, with a 15 percent discount for those who preregister for all three days at www.raceaustin.com.
- Red Licorice Events Open Water Swim — Pro triathletes Brandon and Amy Marsh host a clinic at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6 at Pure Austin-Quarry Lake. Cost is $40, and includes the timed swim at noon ($25 for the timed swim alone). Choose from distances of 250 meters to 3,000 meters. To register go here.
- The Sweet & Twisted Du — This co-ed off-road duathlon, certified by USAT and produced by Red Licorice Events, is scheduled for Sept. 13 at Flat Rock Ranch. Entry fee is $50 until Sept. 10 or $65 afterward (relays $75/$90). For more information go here.
- St. John 5K — The inaugural St. John 5K and Kids Mile kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 in the St. John neighborhood in East Austin. The race aims to support, bring awareness and help fund projects that create more affordable housing in the St. John Neighborhood. A portion of proceeds benefits the new Community Housing Development Organization. To register, go here.
- Tour de Florence — The second annual Tour de Florence Bike Ride starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 at The Vineyard at Florence. Riders choose from routes of 15, 35, 45, or 65 miles. A kids’ ride starts at 9:30 a.m. The Tour proceeds benefit The city of Florence’s Parks and Recreation Department. For more information go here. Volunteers are needed to man rest stops. For volunteer information, email shawna@thevineyardatflorence.com.
- 2009 Women’s Race — The Women’s Race on Sept. 13 is designed for athletes of all skill levels and includes mystery events. Contestants must bring their own water craft and life jacket. Race starts at 9 a.m. at Cedar Park YMCA, 204 E. Little Elm Trail. Awards for best costume and best water craft. Entry fee is $25 for kids; $75 adults. Registration closes Sept. 11. For more information go here.
- The Dude Girl Tri, a women’s only Olympic distance triathlon from Red Licorice Events, is scheduled for Sept. 20 at Pace Bend Park in Spicewood. Registration is $125 until Sept. 16, when it goes up to $135. It consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike and 10-kilometer run. For more information, go here.
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Upcoming fitness events!
This weekend’s agenda includes the much-anticipated Dude Girl Triathlon (one of my favorite T-shirts, which has a bike’s chain ring on the front, is by Dude Girl). But that’s not all. Check out these fitness events in coming days:
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Amy Marsh wins Ironman Wisconsin
Congratulations to Austin’s own Amy Marsh, who won the Ford Ironman Wisconsin in Madison on Sept. 12.
Marsh, 32, won by an impressive 17 minutes over last year’s champion, Hillary Biscay. Marsh’s finishing time was 9 hours, 43 minutes and 59 seconds.
Read a full report by Bob Wischnia, here.
Marsh’s husband, Brandon Marsh, placed ninth overall among pros. His time? Nine hours, 4 minutes, 41 seconds.
Way to keep it in the family!
The photo above shows professional athletes Kelly Williamson (left) and Amy Marsh (right), both of Austin, after they won second and first place, respectively, at the Buffalo Springs 70.3 Ironman in Lubbock, TX in June. (Photo by Mario Cantu).
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Who the heck is Mother Neff?
Every time I drive up Interstate 35 toward Waco, I see a sign for Mother Neff State Park. This week I tossed the hiking boots in my car and headed there to see it for myself.
It turns out that Mother Neff was the mother of Texas Governor Pat Neff, who served from 1921 to 1925 and pushed for the creation of the Texas state parks system. She donated 6 acres, which became the seed of the state’s first state park.
The park is in Moody, about a 20-minute drive west of the I-35.
I stopped by park headquarters, where Park Ranger Don Ickles met me. We tramped all over the grounds - walking beneath huge pecans in the campground, exploring a rock shelter once used by native Americans, and taking in the view from a grass-covered prairie.
This park was the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps encampment in the 1930s, and the legacy of those men’s work lives on today. A stone pavilion, a recreation hall and a water tower all carry that wonderful old CCC flavor.
The park now covers 259 acres and has 3 miles of improved hiking trails. A major flood in 2007 damaged the park’s bathhouse, so for the time being camping is primitive. But crews hope to have showers, bathrooms and electricity up and running later this fall.
It’s a popular place with locals, and I immediately saw why. We met a water snake in a shady grove near the rock shelter, watched a tiny leopard frog leap alongside a pond and stopped more than once just to listen to the breeze ruffle the leaves of the old growth forest.
I’m working on a camping story for the paper. Look for it next month in the travel section.
Anyone know of other hidden gems - places you love to camp that are close to home?
And anyone know what kind of snake that is? Water snake or moccasin?
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What do you want in trailhead renovation?
Think, for a moment, of the trailhead on the north side of Loop 1 at the pedestrian bridge. What do you like about that access point to the trail around Lady Bird Lake? What don’t you like about it?
I like the water fountain; I hate the bird poop. I like the view of the lake; I don’t like the view of the cars crammed like sardines under the bridge.
The Trail Foundation is planning a major renovation of the trailhead and stretching area, and it wants your input.
Among the improvements being considered are native plants to buffer the adjacent street, chilled water fountains, informal seating, restrooms and stretching areas with improved exercise bars.
If you’ve got an opinion, go here and fill out a survey. Or post comments on this blog.
Survey results will be compiled and summarized on The Trail Foundation’s website. The foundation has hired the Austin firm of Bosse & Pharis for the project. The trailhead will remain open during the 2010 installation.
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Disc jockey swims 4.1 miles in Lake Austin
Who out there listens to Mix 94.7?
If you do, you know that the disc jockeys from the “JB and Sandy Show” have been busy lately tackling physical challenges. One ran 10 miles, another rode 100 miles on a bike, a third did a gut-wrenching gym workout. And this morning, JB Hager swam 4.1 miles from the Pennybacker Bridge to Abel’s on the Lake near the Tom Miller Dam.
I water ski on Lake Austin nearly every Tuesday morning, and as my husband Chris and I headed up the river to get in some slalom turns, we spotted JB and his crew. JB had just started his challenge. At that point he was cruising downstream like a freight train, ducks and catfish leaping out of the way. (You can slide me a $5 for that one later, bud!)
Worried that the wake we were setting off might throw him off-course, we stopped for a quick hello and promised to catch up with him on our way in.
An hour later, we spotted JB again, near Mount Bonnell, the half-way point in his odyssey. Dude was still trucking along scaring the wildlife out of the way.
We slowed our boat so I could leap into the water and chase him for a few minutes. I don’t think he even noticed me alongside of him until he paused to slurp down a packet of Gu and sip some water (other than what was in the lake.)
I was impressed. Two miles in and he barely whined. His shoulder was giving him trouble, as shoulders will do when you crank on them for extended periods of time. We chatted a minute, said hi to his support kayaker Tim and waved at the rest of the radio show crew. (They were kicked back on a follow boat, eating French toast and sipping mimosas while JB continued to burn calories.)
Attached are some photos of JB the first time we saw him and later, when I jumped in to share a few minutes of fun with him.
JB successfully completed his swim, just as I knew he would. Way to go JB!
His time? A respectable 2 hours and 35 minutes. “I had the wind at my back,” he said.
JB and Sandy had special motivation to undertake their challenges. “Part of it was Sandy and I knew we were going to be starting TV in October, and this was a little kick in pants to take better care of ourselves,” JB said.
Good enough.
So what can we take from this? If JB can do it, if Sandy can do it, if Alex can do it, if Sarah can do it … you can too!
Get out there and challenge yourself to something you didn’t think you could do. It’ll do you — and your attitude — a world of good.
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Out of Control Fat Roll!
Last spring, four young professionals in Austin griped that their jeans were too tight. They complained about failed diets, office snacks and weight that kept creeping up.
They were out of control!
What to do?
Determined to whip their unwanted expansions into shape, they launched a friendly competition. They became the Out of Control Fat Roll gang, hatched a blog, opened a Facebook page and started a Twitter account. They would make exercise a part of their lifestyle and kick junk food to the curb.
“Four girls unite because their jeans are too tight,” they screamed.
But they needed incentive. Real incentive.
So Jenni Balthrop, 27; Meredith Budwin, 26; Ashley Sparger, 26; and Kristine Gloria, 25; added some motivation.
Whoever lost the greatest percentage of weight by Oct. 6 would get a new pair of (hopefully smaller, sexier) jeans — purchased by the other three. The loser — and this is harsh — would have her photo taken in a bikini and posted on the blog.
This was serious.
They drafted spreadsheets. They scheduled office weigh-ins and began charting their weight publicly, on their blog and on a sheet posted in the office kitchen where two of the women work.
They made public confessions when they had what they termed failures — indulgences in unhealthy food or skipped workouts. They created their own lingo and drafted wanted posters for Fatroll Offenders — people who brought unhealthy food to the office.
“We’ve had huge support from friends, family and coworkers,” Budwin says.
They joined boot camps and organized weekend runs, took pilates and yoga. They even organized a team for the upcoming Silicon Labs marathon relay.
And they’ve found a supportive following in blogosphere with their updates at www.outofcontrolfatroll.com, which tracks their weekly progress. Their (very hilarious) Twitter account is at @fatroll.
“When you put yourself out there publicly, it makes you very approachable. It’s amazing the support you get,” says Sparger, who wears a pedometer on her left pump.
So far, they’ve each shed between 7 and 15 pounds.
“We’re not striving to be super models, we just want to reach a healthy body mass index,” Balthrop says.
The final weigh in is Thursday, Oct. 8.
After that? A maintenance round to get them through the holidays.
We’ll keep you posted.
Any tips for the Fat Roll girls?
The photo above shows the gang. From left to right, that’s Meredith Budwin, Jenni Balthrop, Ashley Sparger and Kristine Gloria. Beautiful, aren’t they?
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Trial run at the Oyster Race
I spent a couple of hours downtown Sunday morning, scavenging for coffee beans, tracking down a police officer and snagging a coaster from a bar on Sixth Street.
Rough night on the town, you ask? Nah. I was taking part in a tune-up for the upcoming Oyster, an urban adventure race scheduled for Oct. 11 here in Austin.
The race, a sort of cross between a triathlon and a scavenger hunt, involves running, biking and taking public transportation around town, and doing wacky tasks at check points.
The attached photos show scenes from last year’s race.
My team of three (me, husband Chris and neighbor Chris Bell) found ourselves collecting trash from the shores of Lady Bird Lake, working a sudoku puzzle and photographing a woman in Longhorn garb during Sunday’s trial run. It took about an hour and a half. The real race will take four to six hours, and teams will cover 30 or 40 miles.
Registration is $75 per person for the full race (less for the shorter Half Oyster), and each team must also raise $100 in pledges. (Teams of three or relay teams of four to six racers are allowed.) Proceeds benefit the non-profit Austin Parks Foundation, which works with the Austin Parks Department and volunteer groups to maintain area parks.
To register for the race, part of the Merrell Oyster Racing Series, go here.
The race starts at 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Team check-in is 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at RunTex Riverside, 422 W. Riverside.
According to organizers, the race could include anything from canoeing, eating, climbing, rafting, kayaking, trivia, golfing and bowling to whatever else they dream up. I predict a stop at the giant pile of dirt on Auditorium Shores that represents the amount of dog poop generated each day in our city. Expect to get wet, too.
It’s going to be fun, fun, fun!
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David Byrne talks bikes in Austin; win his book!
For 30 years, David Byrne has used a bike to get around New York City. He even cycles one when he’s touring overseas.
He writes about three decades of pedaling in his new book, “Bicycle Diaries” (Viking, $25.95).
In two weeks he’s coming to Austin to share his thoughts on cycling. He’ll speak as part of a joint panel discussion at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Paramount Theater. Admission to the event, sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop, the League of Bicycling Voters, Austin Public Library Friends Foundation and the Yellow Bike Project, is free!
Also on the panel? Rob D’Amico, president of the League of Bicycling Voters; Annick Beaudet, bicycle pedestrian co-ordinator for the City of Austin; and urban planner Jana McCann.
Byrne devotes about 34 pages of his 300-page book to biking through American cities like Detroit, Baltimore, Niagara Falls and — surprise! — Sweetwater, Texas. He spends four pages on that West Texas town, where he ate at a steak restaurant, read the local paper and rode through older parts of town. He describes people selling watermelons in parking lots and an American flag fashioned from plastic cups jammed into a chain-link fence.
His assessment? “Most U.S. cities are not very bike-friendly. They’re not very pedestrian-friendly either.”
Then it’s on to bigger digs, like Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul and Manila. An appendix at the end of the book includes tips on bike security, rider safety and clothing. There’s even a list of bicycle activist organizations, and sketches of some funky bike racks he designed for the New York City Department of Transportation.
Want to win a copy of Byrne’s book?
Post on this blog, telling me why you deserve it. Best answer wins.
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Upcoming fitness events!
- A whole new week of fitness events awaits! Here’s a sampling:
And more on the horizon!
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What’s your favorite spot on The Trail?
Mention “the trail” in Austin, and you probably mean the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake — 11 miles of crushed granite pathway in the middle of downtown.
It’s our backyard, our gym, our park.
It’s where we train for marathons, walk to lose weight, catch up with friends and family, exercise the dog, people watch.
Cruise the entire loop and you might hear live music, see a blue heron fishing for lunch, or see a kid learning to ride a bike.
I’ve seen the current president and the former president walking there (separately, of course), and the governor and former mayor running there.
Sometimes a musician serenades you as you stroll it; a friend is plotting a 40-mile run around it.
A lot of us know it so well we could walk it in our sleep.
What’s your favorite spot on the trail? Why?
I’m gathering ideas for a possible future story …
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Gov gets Bicycling’s Wheel Sucker award
I wonder if Gov. Perry reads Bicycling magazine. And if he does, I wonder how he feels about his designation, on page 27 of the October issue, as a “Wheel Sucker” for vetoing a bill that would have made it illegal to pass within 3 feet of vulnerable road users in Texas.
“Yet one more ‘bragging right’ that we’re not so proud of here in Texas,” says Leslie Luciano, community relations manager for Bicycle Sport Shop. She stirred the fire after Perry’s veto, Tweeting and vocalizing her disgust with his move and rounding up for support for a similar city-wide 3-foot rule, which was met with approval by the Austin City Council last month. We like Luciano’s spirit!
Here’s the text of the blurb in Bicycling:
“Despite being a cyclist, Texas governor Rick Perry vetoed a bill that would have required cars to give cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, farm-equipment operators, stranded motorists, motorcyclists, highway workers and tow-truck drivers 3 feet of room when passing. ‘While I am in favor of measures that make our roads safer for everyone,’ he said, ‘this bill … places the liability and responsibility on the operator of a motor vehicle when encountering one of these vulnerable road users.’ If you’d like to tell Perry where he can stick his veto, visit biketexas.org.”
That photo above, by the way? Taken after Perry broke his collarbone — while riding his bike.
Thoughts, anyone?
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AVIA Austin Triathlon results
The Austin Triathlon took place Monday, and we have the results, as reported by RunFAR Racing services. The overall winner of the Olympic-Open group was Richie Cunningham, who finished with a time of 1:53:26.90. Click the links below to find out complete results by category.
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Elk rutting at Rocky Mountain National Park
The elk are rutting! The elk are rutting!
I got back late last night from a long weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park with my husband Chris, my sister Angie and her husband John. We spent a few nights near the Estes Park side of the park, where a herd of elk hangs out.
Every fall, as the male elk woo the females, they strut around and make an amazing, high-pitched bellow. It’s almost eerie, in a crazy-harmonica-gone-out-of-tune sort of way, and definitely not what you expect to come out of such a proud, strong-looking animal.
We got to hear it close-up from my sister’s pop-up camper, which we parked at the Moraine Park Campground.
Angie and John live in Denver and bought the pop-up last year. I’ve always loved sleeping in a tent, but I’ll never poo poo a pop-up after the two weekends I’ve spent in their cozy little rolling habitat. It’s got screened-in windows all around, two snug little beds, a cooktop and a sink.
One of our favorite things? Snuggling under the covers in the camper, peering out the window at the elk.
The bull elks are gorgous — all muscle and testosterone, their horns so huge you wonder how they can hold their heads up. The cows seem amused by all the snorting and bugling. You can almost see them roll their eyes in disgust.
Besides ogling the elk, we did a few short hikes, including one up to Fern Falls, where we got a good look at a wasp nest before the inhabitants zoomed out and stung John on the wrist and me on the chin. (That taught me a lesson!)
John took the elk photos during last year’s mating season at the park. Amazing, aren’t they? He’s a great photographer.
That’s Chris, standing in the mist, looking over the meadow where the elk hang out. (Taken with my iPhone) And me, trying on a Junior Ranger hat at the ranger station. I must have been a ranger in another life. (Another iPhone photo.)
Who’s been to Rocky Mountain National Park?
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More bad news for Austin swimmers
More bad news for Deep Eddy swimmers — the shallow half of the pool will remain closed because of very low levels in the two wells that feed the pool. And if the drought continues, officials may close the deep end, too.
“Right now there’s enough water to fill the deep end, but not both ends,” says Tom Nelson, the city’s aquatics director.
Even worse, city officials announced at the end of July that Barton Springs has serious structural damage and will probably need to close for six months for repairs to an underground tunnel that runs parallel to the pool on its north side. No date yet on when that closure could take place.
What does all this mean for Austin swimmers?
More congestion at area pools that remain open — like Big Stacy Pool. And another reason to get comfortable with circle swimming — allowing multiple swimmers to share a lane by swimming counter clockwise in a single lane.
Austin pool-goers celebrated the re-opening of the renovated bath house at Deep Eddy just two years ago. Ever since, the city has kept the deep end of the pool open year-round for lap swimming. The shallow end traditionally closes in October.
But on Aug. 28 of this year, the city closed the shallow end of the pool after a pump broke. That pump has been fixed, but water levels are still low.
City of Austin officials announced the Deep Eddy news this morning. They plan to test soil near the pool to see if they can dig deeper wells or if they must find another water supply.
“We’re hoping for some rain,” Nelson says.
In the meantime, we’ve got to share our limited resources, and we’ve got to be polite and friendly.
Pool space is about to get even more limited. Let’s do what we can to let everyone have time in the water.
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Fitness freebies!
Happy Friday, folks. To celebrate, I’ve got a new selection of stuff to give away.
To win, you must do TWO THINGS: Post here, telling me which DVD or book you want and why you need it. Then email your snail mail address to pleblanc@statesman.com.
This is what’s up for grabs this time:
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Half of Deep Eddy Pool still closed
UPDATE 4:23 p.m. THURSDAY
The shallow end of Deep Eddy Pool is still closed.
UPDATE 2:07 p.m. MONDAY from City of Austin:
“Currently, the down stream pump is the only pump that is operating. We will have a new pump motor for the upstream pump hopefully some time today. However, we will need to pull the pump on Wednesday as well. The earliest that the shallow end will be open is on Thursday Sept. 3. “
UPDATE 4:02 p.m. FRIDAY from City of Austin:
Media Advisory
One of the two Deep Eddy Pool pumps will not be restored until Monday, August 31, 2009 and fully functioning possibly until Tuesday, September 1, 2009. However, the deep end of the pool will be opened as of tomorrow, Saturday, August 29 thru Monday, August 31st given there are no problems with the other pump that is working and able maintain this section of the pool.
Earlier:
In case you hadn’t already heard, Deep Eddy Pool is closed due to storm damage, and it sounds as though the recreational side may be closed longer than first expected.
This from Leon Barish, president of Friends of Deep Eddy:
“Lightning caused both pumps to go out. When power was restored, neither pump was working properly. Aquatics hopes to have the downstream pump running so the lap pool can be open for the weekend. The upstream pump will have to be rebuilt which means the timing for re-opening the recreational side is uncertain. We will keep you posted. Thanks for your patience.”
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Austin Triathlon and other upcoming events
The biggest fitness event of this long holiday weekend? The AVIA Austin Triathlon.
Registration for the popular race, staged in downtown Austin, is closed, but it’s worth heading down to watch the athletes swim in Lady Bird Lake and bike and run through downtown on Monday. In case you are already signed up, here are some last-minute reminders:
And even more stuff on the horizon …
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What’s your favorite post-workout pick-me-up?
Companies occasionally send me products to test, and I just ate my way through a sampling of Luna bars.
The big news at Luna is that the bars are now made with more Vitamin D, which apparently half of all women don’t get enough of. Vitamin D helps maintain strong bones, strengthen the immune system and prevent high blood pressure, according to product literature.
Still, the bars, which have 170 to 190 calories, only provide 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin D. They do contain 3-5 grams of fiber and 8-9 grams of protein. And they sell for $1.39 each.
Other natural sources of Vitamin D? Salmon, tuna, eggs, orange juice and milk.
I tried the white chocolate macadamia, chocolate peppermint and lemon zest flavors of the Luna bar. I’m not a big chocolate fan, and usually like lemon, but in this case I liked the white chocolate macadamia one best. The lemon tasted a little Pledge-like, if you get the drift. The other two … not bad, if you like this sort of thing. I felt a little like I was indulging in a candy bar after I got out of the pool.
Frankly, I’m more partial to a slice of wheat bread with a little reduced fat peanut butter. But that doesn’t always travel well, and when I need a post-workout snack sometimes an energy bar is quick and convenient. And sometimes I get slammed with hunger from one minute to the next and don’t have time to get something more natural.
But have you tried Lara Bars? Yum. Quick! Someone send me a sample pack of those!
What’s your favorite post-workout pick-me-up?
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