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April 2010
Weekend fitness events
From the Bun Run to the Cap2K, we’ve got a lot on tap in Austin this weekend. Here’s your weekend fitness lineup:
- Shiner GHASP: The Great Houston, Austin to Shiner Pedal departs Met Center 10, 7551 Metro Center Dr., at 7 a.m. Saturday, May 1. The 100-mile supported ride finishes at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, where riders get free food and cold Shiner beer. Tours of the brewery will be offered from 1-4 p.m. Day-of registration is $50. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information go here. /
- Longhorn Run: Choose from 10K and 2-mile races starting at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 1, in front of the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center, 1900 University Ave. Both routes go through the University of Texas campus and finish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Proceeds benefit the Excellence Fund. For more information go here or call the Student Government office at 512-232-2948.
- Healthy Kids Day: The TownLake YMCA, 1100 W. Cesar Chavez Street, will hold its annual Healthy Kids Day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 1. The fair promotes healthy lifestyles. Participants can play together while learning ways to prolong wellness and healthy living. For more information call (512) 542-9622.
- Schlotzsky’s Bun Run: The city’s longest-running 5K kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, May 2 at South First Street near Auditorium Shores. Proceeds benefit the Austin Young Men’s Business League’s Sunshine Camps for at-risk and disadvantaged youth. A pre-race expo and the Lil’ Bun Run 1K take place Saturday at Auditorium Shores. To register or for more information go here.
- Cap2K: The Money Box Cap 2k Open Water Race and Pledge starts at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 2 at Red Bud Isle in Lady Bird Lake. The 2,000-meter swimming race ends at the Texas Rowing Center dock. For more information, go here or call 512-327-2260.
- Red Licorice Open Water Swim: The Sub17 Series kicks off May 2 with the Red Licorice Open Water Swim at West Lake Beach. Swim distances are 800 meters, 1.2 miles or 2.4 miles. To register go here. The series is a staged iron distance race - 140.6 miles spread across three separate events — and five months.
- World’s Biggest Disc Golf Weekend: Pull out your gear for a two-day celebration of all things disc golf. Activities from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 1 at course designer John Houck’s Circle R Ranch in Wimberley and 10 to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at the Polo Picnic area at Zilker Park. Entry fee is $10 or $25. For more information go here or call 512-426-7722.
- Bat-Stravaganza Fun Run: Scott & White Healthcare - Round Rock, 300 University Blvd., will host the Bat-Stravaganza Fun Run & Family Festival from 8:30 until noon Saturday, May 1. The Kids’ 1K starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit Hope Alliance. Post-run events include a concert by the Biscuit Brothers, a climbing wall, moonwalks, face painting and wellness and safety booths. To register go here.
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Kristin Armstrong book signing May 6
Kristin Armstrong is quick to admit she’s fumbled a few times in raising her children.
But she says that’s exactly what sets her latest book, the devotional “Heart of My Heart: 365 Reflections on the Magnitude and Meaning of Motherhood” (FaithWords, $16.95), apart.
“Most people who write a parenting book are parenting experts,” she says. “The author of this particular book is not an expert. That’s the beauty of it and the humor of it.”
It’s the third devotional and fifth book overall for Armstrong, who has three children — Luke, 10, and twins Grace and Bella, 8 — with ex-husband Lance Armstrong. She’ll sign copies at 7 p.m. Thursday at Book People, 603 N. Lamar Blvd.
Mother’s Day, in case you’ve forgotten, is May 9.
“The more you recognize the fact that you’re not an expert, the more you recognize the fact you need one. And that expert I’m referring to would be God,” she says.
One entry in the book describes how proud she was when Grace stood up for a girl who was being excluded on the playground.
“As moms, our children are listening to what we say some of the time, but they’re watching what we do all the time,” she says. “In order for us to be able to parent well, we have to be living accountable, authentic, transparent lives in front of our kids.” Another is a letter to her son on his birthday.
“I think the art of love notes is dying and needs to be revived,” she says. “The idea of putting feelings down on paper for your spouse, your children … letting people know how special they are — that’s important to me.”
Armstrong says parenthood has transformed her.
“I used to be a neat freak, a control freak, all kinds of freak,” she says. “My children have completely humbled me and improved my sense of humor and given me balance and perspective. More than anything they’ve given me a sense of joy back. They remind me all the time of everything that’s good.”
The book isn’t just for birth mothers. Everyone from teachers to aunts helps raise children, and should be recognized, she says.
Armstrong, a dedicated runner, also writes a weekly blog called Mile Markers for Runners World. She is in talks with Rodale Books to write a book by the same title.
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Cap2K swim race is Sunday
Four more days until I plop into Lady Bird Lake for my favorite swim of the year — the Money Box Cap 2K Open Water Race.
The 2,000-meter race starts at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Red Bud Isle and finishes at the Texas Rowing Center. As race organizer Keith Bell likes to say, “It’s all downhill.”
I’ve raced the Cap2K five or six times and love it. (I’ve got three backpacks from winning my age group in past years!)
The stretch of river west of MoPac is gorgeous, with limestone cliffs and, if we’re lucky, blue herons flapping overhead. But the best part is swimming beneath the pedestrian bridge under MoPac, where spectators yell and cheer as you glide below them.
The water will be brisk — it’s usually in the upper 60s. But honestly, as soon as the race begins, you won’t even think about it you’ll be so focused on swimming.
Entry fee at this late date is $110. For more information go to www.cap2k.com.
I hope to see you there!
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Team Statesman enters Austin Commuter Challenge
We’re in!
Team Statesman is registered for the Austin Commuter Challenge, and we’re 13 members strong (and counting).
So far, 35 teams have signed up for the challenge, in which cyclists compete to see which team can log the most trips by bike.
Trip distance doesn’t matter, it’s all about how many times you hop on your bike instead of turning a key in your car’s ignition.
Trips to work count, as do trips to the grocery store, to the neighborhood restaurant or to visit friends. The only trips that don’t count are those taken just to get exercise. (And those count for keeping you healthy, even if they don’t help rack up points in this challenge.)
The contest officially begins on Saturday.
Look out. I’m going to be riding everywhere. That’s me in the photo above, riding the bike I dubbed The Cheetoh to work along the Shoal Creek hike-and-bike trail.
Have you registered?
Do it now here.
And post here why you ride your bike instead of drive your car or truck.
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Free books and DVDs
Lots of freebies are stacking up on my desk again.
If you want any of these books or DVDs, post on this blog what you want and why you deserve it. Best answers win.
Here’s what’s up for grabs:
- ”Skiny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads”: A book by Christine Avanti that puts to rest the myth that skinny women only eat lettuce and tomatoes.
- ”The Positive Portions Food & Fitness Journal”: A journal where you can jot down what you eat and what exercise you do each day.
- ”The Glycemic Index Diet”: A book by Rick Gallop, past president of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, that explains how to lose weight without counting calories or jeopardizing your health.
- ”Rx Nutrition: Eating for Improved Performance in Life, Fitness and Sport”: A three DVD series by Dr. Rick Kattouf II, author of “Forever Fit” packed with tips on what foods to eat to fuel an active lifestyle.
- ”Belly Beautiful Workout”: A DVD starring Patricia Friberg for pregnant women who want to stay fit during their pregnancy.
- ”Pilates! A Gentle Formula to a Strong Body”: A DVD by Risa Sheppard that guides you through a 30-minute mat workout.
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Weekend fitness events
Here it is, your weekend lineup of fitness events!
- Hill Country Ride for AIDS: More than 500 cyclists will ride to raise money for Central Texans living with HIV/AIDS at the 11th annual Hill Country Ride for AIDS starting at 7:30 a.m. April 24 at Krause Springs, west of Austin. For more information go here.
- New Balance Girls on the Run - Austin 5K: A 5K race open to anyone, this run also serves as the “graduation race” for girls in grades three to five who have been enrolled in the 12-week Girls on the Run development program. Starts at 8 a.m. April 25 at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. Registration is $26 here.
- Art Rides: Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop leads an easy bike ride exploring public art downtown and on the UT campus. The last ride, UT Landmarks to Art City, starts at 8:30 a.m. April 24. RSVP required and online rental reservations at mellowjohnnys.com. All rides depart from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop 400 Nueces St. Helmets are required.
- Austin Ballroom Festival: The Texas Union Ballroom, 24th at Guadalupe streets, hosts the Austin Ballroom Festival April 24. Tango workshops featuring Victor Fung and Anastasia Muravyeva are scheduled starting at 1 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the evening event, which includes a mini-workshop, dancing, performances and live music by the Nash-Hernandez Orchestra. General admission is $15 in advance ($12 UT students; $18 at the door) and includes entrance to the afternoon workshops. Call (512) 23-CLASS to buy tickets. Sunday Waltz Workshops are scheduled for The Hills Fitness Center.
- Texas Road Rash: The City of Round Rock hosts the 7th Annual Texas Road Rash Inline Skate Marathon and Half Marathon on April 24-25 at Old Settlers Park and the Dell Diamond parking lot complex in Round Rock. Skaters compete in age groups and skill level categories for cheese grater trophies. Helmets and wrist guards mandatory; knee and elbow pads recommended. Inline skates and quads only. Register here.
- Cedar Park Kids Triathlon: This triathlon, part of the 1379 Kid & Family Triathlon Series, is for children ages 7 to 15 and their families. Registration for the USAT sanctioned event is closed. Races start at 8 a.m. at Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd. in Cedar Park. The swim starts on a water slide, the cycle route is around the park. For more information go here.
- Free Yoga in the Park: Free outdoor yoga classes at noon every Wednesday in April at Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. All ages and abilities. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. Taught by registered yoga teachers from Yoga Yoga. For more information, contact Yoga Yoga at www.yogayoga.com or call (512) 380-9800.
- Happiness Is: Marathon Kids will screen the locally-produced movie “Happiness Is” April 27 at the Carver Library. ABC News political analyst Matthew Dowd, author and Marathon Kids mom Kristin Armstrong, and Latin Works Chief Creative Officer and President Sergio Alcocer will lead a discussion following the screening. Proceeds benefit Marathon Kids. For more information go here.
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How does Austin fund bike infrastructure?
Thought I’d post a presentation from the City of Austin about where funding for Austin’s bike/pedestrian programs come from, in light of John Kelso’s column about the bike boulevard today.
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Detour on trail around Lady Bird Lake
UPDATE The contractor finished ahead of schedule. The abatement work is complete and the trail is now open again.
A portion of the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake at Waller Creek will be closed from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. through April 29 while an asbestos coating is removed from the bridge.
The trail will be detoured along an alternate route, according to a press release from The Trail Foundation, a non-profit group that helps to maintain the trail. Both the trail and bridge will reopen at the end of each work day and on the weekend.
The bridge will be renovated this fall as part of the city of Austin’s Waller Creek Tunnel Project. The renovation will include a widening of the trail at this pinch point.
In preparation for the bridge renovation, city crews tested materials on the bridge. Asbestos is present in a coating on the bottom of the bridge. To follow state and federal air quality regulations, the coating must be removed before it can be disturbed during the renovation.
For more information, call Carolyn Perez with the project at 974-7139.
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Long Beach’s bike friendly mission
Check out this video of how Long Beach, Calif., is making itself more bike friendly.
It comes from Charlie Gandy, a former Texas legislator and Austin resident who now works as the mobility coordinator for Long Beach, Calif.
Long Beach is a beach town south of Los Angeles. Three years ago, residents there elected a slate of new city council members with bike-friendly agendas. Since then, they’ve pushed cycling as a way to differentiate their city from their more car-centric neighbors.
They even installed artwork and a sign on City Hall that says “The most bicycle friendly city in America.”
A spate of infrastructure, from a downtown bike station where people can park their bikes for free, green-painted lanes called sharrows that alert motorists that cyclists frequent the area, and bike corrals that hold eight to 12 bicycles instead of a single car, has been installed. In the next few months, crews are putting in new bike lanes separated from motor traffic by barriers.
They’re even creating something that’s been discussed in Austin — the first bike boulevard in Southern California. The idea, which emphasizes bike and pedestrian traffic over motor traffic, was so embraced by the community that planners expanded it from including five traffic circles to seven.
Cyclists not only exist in Long Beach, they’re encouraged to ride there. What a concept.
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Your weekend fitness events!
Stretch, run, tri, ride … There’s lots on the fitness calendar this weekend:
- BP MS 150: An estimated 13,000 cyclists will ride 180 miles from Houston to Austin April 17-18. The National MS Society: Lone Star has a goal to raise a record-setting $18 million, with funds raised supporting research, programs and services provided by Lone Star that benefit an estimated 20,000 people affected by MS in 174 Texas counties. For more information go here http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/bp-ms-150/index.aspx
- Free Yoga in the Park: Free outdoor yoga classes at noon every Wednesday in April at Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. All ages and abilities. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. Taught by registered yoga teachers from Yoga Yoga. For more information, contact Yoga Yoga at www.yogayoga.com or call (512) 380-9800.
- Vern’s No Frills 5k: The Georgetown Running Club’s monthly race starts at 8 a.m. the third Saturday of every month — that’s April 17 this month — at Berry Springs Park and Preserve in Georgetown. Race day registration only, starting at 7 a.m. Cost is $1 for adults; free to students kindergarten through 12th grade. A portion of proceeds benefit the Williamson County Parks & Recreation. For more information go here http://www.runtex.com/web/2-2861.asp
- Lake Travis Triathlon: Swim 750 meters, bike 20 kilometers and run 5 kilometers in this sanctioned sprint triathlon that starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 18 at Mudd Cove in Pace Bend Park in Spicewood. Entry fee is $60 through April 12, when fees go up to $70. To register go here https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=142V6K7&Source=Calendar29. If you want to practice, a free 750-meter swim and 1.4-mile swim will be held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17.
- Bare Buns Run: Forget the clothes and run in the 10th annual Bare Buns 5K at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17 at Star Ranch in McDade, 20 miles east of Austin on Highway 290. For more information email info@starranch.net. The run is part of a series of runs at nudist clubs in the southwest. Yes, runners are nude, for the most part, although some women wear jog bras. Terrain is uneven.
- Shoes for Austin 5K and Kids K: Your $25 entry fee buys a new brand name pair of athletic shoes for a deserving child. The race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 17 at the Austin State School, 2203 W. 35th St. To register go here https://www.racetechs.com/EventRegister?eventNumber=a1c7b.
- Spring Into Fitness Demo and Expo: Premiere Lady Fitness, 7028 Woodhollow Drive, will host an expo from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17. The public can visit the club, try demo classes, get massages and body fat testing and win prizes. For more information call 512-418-9399.
- New Balance Girls on the Run - Austin 5K: A 5K race open to anyone, this run also serves as the “graduation race” for girls in grades three to five who have been enrolled in the 12-week Girls on the Run development program. Starts at 8 a.m. April 25 at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. Registration is $26 at http://gotraustin.org/race.php.
- Art Rides: Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop leads a series of easy bike rides exploring public art downtown and on the UT campus. Four rides: Art and Architecture, 12 p.m. April 21; Downtown Art in Public Places to Pecha Kucha, 6 p.m. April 22; Downtown Art in Public Places to Art Installation at Republic Square, 12 p.m. April 23; UT Landmarks to Art City, 8:30 a.m. April 24. RSVP required and online rental reservations at mellowjohnnys.com. All rides depart from Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop 400 Nueces St. Helmets are required.
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Ladies, train with Maddog at UT
OK, ladies. Who’s a glutton for punishment?
Coach Jeff “Maddog” Madden (that nickname should serve as a warning) is hosting a women’s strength and conditioning clinic at the University of Texas on Saturday.
As a friend pointed out, look closely at the pictures on the attached flyer. I think the participants might be crying in some of the shots.
In real life, Maddog works with members of the University of Texas football team. So he’s not going to take it easy on you.
The clinic runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17. Cost is $50. (IV fluids and medical treatment are at your own expense. Ha!)
Seriously, this looks like a great opportunity.
But dang it, I’ll still be at Caddo Lake and won’t be able to make it. And no, I can’t come back early.
If you go, let me know how much fun it was!
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I’m heading to Caddo Lake
I’m heading to Caddo Lake today to do some canoeing and exploring.
Look out Big Foot! Look out Creature of the Black Lagoon!
I’ve never been to the park, which was the only natural lake in Texas until it was dammed in the early 1900s.
It looks sort of spooky from the photos I’ve seen — swampy and thick with bald cypress trees. I’m hoping for mist and fog, to really set the scene. (The photos here were taken by Eileen McClelland of the Houston Chronicle.)
I’m staying in one of the cabins built at the park by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. I love rustic CCC structures; I’ll take one of them over a four-star hotel any day.
I’ve got plans to canoe the sloughs, bayous and ponds at Caddo with a park ranger. I’ll hit some hiking trails, too. Maybe I’ll do some fishing.
I’ll be back Saturday night. Look for a full report in the paper in a few weeks.
For now, read more about the park here.
Have you been to Caddo Lake? What shouldn’t I miss?
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Shed your clothes for Bare Buns 5K
Felt a little encumbered in the Capitol 10,000 last weekend? Peel off your clothes and join the Bare Buns 5K this Saturday at Star Ranch, a nudist camp 20 miles east of Austin.
Yes, the runners are nude, for the most part. Some women wear jog bras.
It’s part of a series of runs at nudist clubs in the southwest region of the United States. The Star Ranch is a family-oriented mobile home park and residential community.
“Ours is always the first of the season,” says David Phillips, who is helping to organize the event.
“Having worn my own rut in the glorious path around Memorial Park in Houston for several years back in my running days, I can tell you that our run is no walk in the park,” Phillips says. “The terrain here is uneven, and our soil is mostly beach sand. If there has been no rain for a couple of weeks before a run, that sand affords no real traction. It is more like cross-country running.”
Sounds tough.
The run starts at 1 p.m. April 17.
Registration is $25 for adults or $10 for children here. For more information email info@starranch.net.
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Recap of Cap10K
Did you run the Statesman Capitol 10,000?
I ran it and loved it, as usual. Apparently, a lot of others did, too. According to race director Jann Girard, 20,145 registered for the race. That’s the most since 1990.
Highlights:
The beachballs at the start.
All the folks who have run all 33 Statesman Capitol 10,000 races. Congrats, you inspire me!
Seeing all those folks streaming up Congress Avenue.
My husband, who always rides his bike to a spot Enfield Drive, just west of Lamar Boulevard. Talk about a reason to look cool getting up that grinding hill!
The “Music Man,” who pushes a music-playing cart that has a sign with a phone number on it saying “Runner Request Line,” so you can call in what you want to hear.
People eating pancakes on the side of the road, good-naturedly mocking the runners.
The 1,200 HEB employees, some of them dressed as recyclable grocery bags and food items, who ran the race this year.
The guy handing out doughnuts to runners on the course. And the folks who took him up on the offer.
The bands on the side of the road, especially the Connally High School band, which cranks out great stuff at the underpass under MoPac.
Mark Fuller, who chatted with me the last 2 miles of the race, when I really needed a distraction.
The finish line!
What did you like?
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Pedal Power Wildflower Ride was amazing
My legs are pooped today, the after effects of a one-two punch this weekend: The Pedal Power Wildflower Ride on Saturday and the Capitol 10,000 on Sunday.
But boy, was it fun.
My husband Chris and I have done the Pedal Power ride four or five times. It’s a great supported ride that benefits the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center. We do the 62-mile route, which starts and finishes at the LBJ Ranch. It winds through some of the most spectacular wildflower viewing areas in Central Texas, including the famous Willow City Loop.
Raj Randeri (who took some of these photos), Katie Ryan and Charlie McCabe joined me and Chris for the ride this year.
Highlights?
The flowers. This year’s show was the best ever, and I’m not just talking bluebonnets. Besides those rivers of blue, we saw white prickly poppies, Mexican blankets, winecups, Indian paintbrush, phlox, Mexican hats and more. Gorgeous!
That giant downhill. Yikes! I’m trying to train myself not to grip the brakes down that screaming downhill on Highway 16, but it’s tough. Anyway, the miles slide away like unspooling thread. Until…
That giant uphill. OK, we whine about it every mile of the way leading up to it, but there’s something about pedaling a bike up that enormous hill at about the midway point that makes me feel like Super Woman.
The cattle. At one point, we had to pedal around a gigantic brown and white steer standing in the middle of the road. Now that kind of traffic I don’t mind!
The wind. Not exactly a highlight, but I will remember this year’s ride for that stiff wind that built during the day. It’s like an unending hill that you can’t see. Ugh.
The rest stops. This ride has the best aid stations! Besides water and sports drinks, riders feast on beef jerky, fruit, sausage wraps, cookies, granola bars, crackers, cheese and more. Is it possible to finish a ride weighing more than when you started?
The homemade spaghetti lunch at the finish. No store-bought meal here. These folks gather the crockpots and cook up a mountain of pasta and sauce (including vegetarian!) for hungry riders.
Did you do the ride? What did you like/dislike? Other favorite rides or wildflower viewing spots?
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Free fitness books and DVDs
Help, my desk is buried in fitness books and DVDs! Time to give stuff away.
If you want to win one of these prizes, post a comment on this blog telling me why you deserve it. Best answers win! (I’ll pick next week.)
Here’s what’s up for grabs this time:
- ”The Glycemic Index Diet,” by Rick Gallop. A color-coded guide to help you eat healthy. If a food is tagged red, avoid it. Yellow, eat it occasionally. Green, go for it.
- ”Men’s Health Guide to Your Best Body at 40+.” A four-week plan designed to help men get fit and healthy during their 40s.
- ”The Stress Eating Cure,” by Dr. Rachael Heller and Dr. Richard Heller. Scientists share their research on why stress makes us eat and how to balance our hormones so we don’t chow down on Twinkies. Or something like that.
- ”Framework for the Lower Back: A 6-Step Plan for Treating Lower Back Pain,” by Dr. Nicholas DiNubile. The question is, whose back doesn’t hurt? Maybe this will help.
- ”Kundalini Yoga Solar Power Workout.” A DVD yoga workout from Ana Brett and Ravi Singh.
- ”Ultimate Boot Camp.” A DVD filled with 10-minute workouts to whip you into shape, military style.
- ”Belly Beautiful Workout.” A DVD of prenatal fitness exercises .
- Learn to Row Day: The Austin Rowing Club hosts a free Learn to Row Day from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 10. Free on-land instruction, a tour of the boathouse, and a chance to row in an eight boat on Lady Bird Lake with a crew of experienced rowers. First come, first served. The boat house is on Lady Bird Lake, just east of the Four Seasons Hotel and south of Trinity Street. For more information go here.
- Pedal Power Wildflower Ride: Pedal 12, 23, 36 or 62 miles through the Hill Country in this supported ride, which benefits the Hill Country Children’s Advocacy Center. The ride starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 10, at the pavilion/dining hall, where breakfast and a spaghetti lunch will be served. Ride-day registration is $40 starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center at LBJ State Park in Stonewall. For details go here.
- Barton Springs Pool Treeathlon: Swim the short way across Barton Springs Pool, bike a short loop through Zilker Park and run a short course around the Polo Fields in this fund-raiser to help plant and maintain trees at Barton Springs Pool. Registration is $30, plus $10 for a single-day USA Triathlon license if you don’t have one. Race starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 10. For more information go here.
- ATXcellent Adventure: The YWCA Greater Austin hosts its own amazing race starting at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, April 10 at Hickory Street Bar & Grill, 800 Congress Ave. Teams of two walk or use Capital Metro buses to follow clues and tackle wacky tasks in this adventure race to benefit the YWCA Greater Austin. For more information, volunteering, sponsorships or the race, contact Daphne Garza or Diana Gorham at 512-326-1222, or go here.
- Williams Tract opening: Williamson County unveils its newest parkland on Saturday, April 10. The undeveloped property includes more than 1,000 acres of meadowlands, wetlands and hills between Leander and Liberty Hill. Review the conceptual master plan, which includes future hiking trails, campgrounds, equestrian trails and a visitor’s center. Guided hikes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An equestrian trail ride starts at 10:30 a.m. To reach the park, take SH 29 west to Liberty Hill and turn left on RR 1869. Then turn left on CR 282. The park is on the left just south of CR 284. Call 512-260-4283 for more information.
- Baseball kickoff: The Leander Parks and Recreation Department and Dr. John’s Sports Center, 1800 Clover Lane in Cedar Park, celebrate the arrival of the Leander Youth Baseball Club with festivities starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 10. Concessions, a moon bounce, and other vendors. For more information, call Ty Gibson at 512-259-7545.
- Banff Mountain Film Festival: Whole Earth Provision Company screens two nights of high-octane films featuring mountain biking, hiking, climbing and other mountain-related sports. Radical Reels starts at 8 p.m. Saturday; the 2010 World Tour starts at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. Tickets are $20 a night or $35 for both nights at all three Austin Whole Earth stores, the Paramount box office, online at www.austintheatre.org or by calling 866-977-6849. Proceeds benefit the Austin Parks Foundation. For more information, go here.
- Capitol 10,000: The largest 10K in Texas kicks off at 8:45 a.m. Sunday, April 11, on Congress Avenue, just south of the river. Free parking at the City Hall Garage, W. Cesar Chavez at Lavaca St., and at the TxDOT Riverside Lots, 200 E. Riverside Dr. Packet pickup is 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Crockett Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd. For more information, go here.
- Free Yoga in the Park: Free outdoor yoga classes at noon every Wednesday in April at Republic Square Park, 422 Guadalupe St. All ages and abilities. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat. Taught by registered yoga teachers from Yoga Yoga. For more information, go here or call (512) 380-9800.
- Vern’s No Frills 5k: The Georgetown Running Club’s monthly race starts at 8 a.m. the third Saturday of every month — that’s April 17 this month — at Berry Springs Park and Preserve in Georgetown. Race day registration only, starting at 7 a.m. Cost is $1 for adults; free to students kindergarten through 12th grade. A portion of proceeds benefit the Williamson County Parks & Recreation. For more information go here.
- Lake Travis Triathlon: Swim 750 meters, bike 20 kilometers and run 5 kilometers in this sanctioned sprint triathlon that starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 18 at Mudd Cove in Pace Bend Park in Spicewood. Entry fee is $60 through April 12, when fees go up to $70. To register go here. If you want to practice, a free 750-meter swim and 1.4-mile swim will be held at 9 and 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17.
- BP MS 150: An estimated 13,000 cyclists will ride 180 miles from Houston to Austin April 17-18. The National MS Society: Lone Star has a goal to raise a record-setting $18 million, with funds raised supporting research, programs and services provided by Lone Star that benefit an estimated 20,000 people affected by MS in 174 Texas counties. For more information go here.
- Bare Buns Run: Forget the clothes and run in the 10th annual Bare Buns 5K at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 17 at Star Ranch in McDade, 20 miles east of Austin on Highway 290. For more information email info@starranch.net. The run is part of a series of runs at nudist clubs in the southwest. Yes, runners are nude, for the most part, although some women wear jog bras. Terrain is uneven.
- New Balance Girls on the Run - Austin 5K: A 5K race open to anyone, this run also serves as the “graduation race” for girls in grades three to five who have been enrolled in the 12-week Girls on the Run development program. Starts at 8 a.m. April 25 at Southwest Williamson County Regional Park. Registration is $26 here.
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Pro cyclist killed by street racers
A professional cyclist in California was hit and killed yesterday by teen-age street racers, according to news reports.
The cyclist, 27-year-old Jorge Alvarado of Ontario, Calif., was struck by a speeding Honda Accord driven by an 18-year-old. The Accord was allegedly racing two other cars driven by high school students, and crossed onto the wrong side of the road while trying to pass them, according to sheriff’s officials in San Bernardino County.
Alvarado was thrown from his bike, landed in a nearby field and died at the scene. He was a member of the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team.
Read more in this article from KTLA.com.
According to the blog bikinginla.wordpress.com, Alvarado won the recent UCLA Road Race and finished fifth in the Redlands Classic Pro/Am Criterion. He was scheduled to compete in the Dana Point Grand Prix this weekend.
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Your weekend fitness events!
Row, ride, run, swim, explore … There’s lots on the fitness calendar this weekend:
There’s even more fun on the horizon. Check out these upcoming events:
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Cap10K packet pickup starts Friday
Packet pickup for the Capitol 10,000 is Friday and Saturday.
Pick up your stuff between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Friday or 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Crockett Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd (that’s half a mile south of Braker Lane.)
You can also register late for the race, which is the largest 10K in the state. Fees are $33 for the timed run or $30 for the fun run at packet pickup. (You can pay $40 on race day to do the fun run, but no timed entry will be available.)
While you’re out chewing up the course, keep an eye out for Darren Brown, who won last year’s race and is aiming for another win this year. That’s him in the photo below.
He’s serious. He’s also part of TeamROGUE Elite, an Olympic development track and field team sponsored by Rogue Running here in Austin. It’s made up of eight post collegiate runners who are coached by Steve Sisson, the women’s distance coach for the University of Texas at Austin. Other team members are Kara June, Allison Rae Macsas, Kyle Miller, Adam Perkins, Dacia Perkins, Erik Stanley and Joe Thorne.
They’re smokin’ fast.
For other last minute details on Sunday’s race, including pre-race instructions and information about the HEB costume contest, go to www.statesman.com/cap10k/.
Look for me out there and say hello. I’ll be way behind TeamROGUE Elite — but I’ll be having fun!
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Bicycling Mag ranks Austin 11th among bike-friendly cities
Austin ranks 11th in Bicycling Magazine’s list of America’s 50 Top Bike-Friendly cities.
Do we deserve it? Debatable.
The magazine looked closely at infrastructure, from segregated bike lanes to bike racks and bike boulevards, when compiling its list. Editors also looked for “a vibrant and diverse bike culture” and “smart, savvy bike shops.”
Well, we’re making great strides in Austin.
In the last few years, the city has added miles of bike lanes, including stretches on Exposition Boulevard and Anderson Lane. It’s also experimenting with the use of road markings like bike boxes at the front of intersections and painted markings to alert motorists that bikes might be crossing lanes. All good stuff.
Some cyclists howled this week when plans for a downtown bike boulevard, which encourages bike traffic and discourages through motor traffic on certain stretches of road, were watered down.
But looking at the broader picture, the situation is better than it was even five years ago. And the process the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program went through in making its recommendation to install road cushions on both Rio Grande Boulevard and Nueces Street helps it earn credibility. City staff listened to community concerns, gathered more data, evaluated it and modified their recommendation based on that data.
Yes, it would have been nice to have a real bike boulevard. But we’re making progress.
We’ve got a great bike culture here, with tons of weekly social rides and hammerhead training rides. We’ve got weekly bike criterion and lots of other races. We’ve got a network of mountain biking trails. And we’ve got plenty of small bike shops.
Certainly, there’s room for improvement before we reach the likes of top-ranking cities like Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., Boulder, Colo., or Seattle. But we’re on our way.
To read Bicycling Magazine’s full report, go here.
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City wants input on new bike map
The city of Austin wants input from cyclists as it updates its city bicycle map.
To help out, you can answer questions in an online survey here.
The current map, last updated in Fall 2008, outlines cycling routes and categorizes their difficulty level by marking them in three different colors.
Map designers want to know if you’d also like features like hills, bike shops, trail access points, places to swim and rail or bus stops marked on the new map.
What kind of supplemental information — tips for parking your bike, carrying loads, using public transit — would you like to see included?
Would you rather the map be wallet-sized or wall-sized?
How large an area should the map cover?
Should it be one-sided or two-sided?
Once you’ve aired your opinion, get on your bike and ride!
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Start walking on Wednesday
You’re more than twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease if you’re inactive.
That’s why the American Heart Association has dubbed Wednesday, April 7, National Start! Walking Day.
People everywhere are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and incorporate 30 minutes of walking into their day.
Why walking? It’s got the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity.
Walking vigorously for 30 minutes each day can help reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, according to the Heart Association.
Need some company? Join Austin City Council Member Laura Morrison, who will lead a group walk along the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. Meet her at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall Plaza, near Cesar Chavez and Lavaca streets.
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Terry Todd inducted into National Fitness Hall of Fame
Austin fitness guru Terry Todd has been inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame.
I wrote about Todd and his wife Jan, both instructors in the kinesiology department at the University of Texas, a few years ago. (That’s Jan on the left and Terry on the right in the photo above.)
Besides their amazing personal stories about weight lifting, they’ve gathered an amazing collection of old-time fitness memorabilia, now housed at the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports at UT. The center opens later this month.
Read my 2005 article about the couplehere.
Terry Todd started his weightlifting career at The University of Texas at Austin, while he was still on the varsity tennis team. He went on to win national championships in weightlifting and powerlifting, setting a slew of records along the way.
He also spent time as managing editor of Strength & Health magazine before going into teaching. He joined UT in 1983. He’s written seven books about fitness and lectures around the nation on drugs in sports, conditioning and fitness history.
Congrats Terry!
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Walk for a Day trail plans unveiled
Last Thursday, while I was out hiking 27 miles around Lake Georgetown, some Austin officials were unveiling sketches of a trailhead for their own long-distance hiking system.
Attached are some renderings, provided by George Cofer of the Hill Country Conservancy, of the proposed 34-mile trail system, and what the trail head could look like.
The Capital Area Trail System, or Walk for a Day, as it’s known, will eventually link central Austin to city of Austin Water Quality lands in the countryside south of the city.
The trail is broken into three segments.
The first segment stretches from Zilker Park, along 4.5-miles of existing trail to Gaines Creek, where a new trail will begin that will lead another mile and a half through a creek valley to a plateau near the city of Sunset Valley and adjacent neighborhoods.
The second segment covers 7 miles from Sunset Valley to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It crosses through seven neighborhoods, past three major retail centers, a library and three parks.
The third segment runs 21 miles from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center south through city of Austin Water Quality Lands.
About 80 people attended the unveiling, held at the entrance to the Barton Creek Greenbelt/Walk for a Day near Barton Springs Pool at Zilker Park.
It was so rewarding to be able to hike 27 miles around Lake Georgetown without leaving a trail. I can’t wait for Walk for a Day to become a reality so we have the same opportunity here in Austin!
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Police seek help in solving bike thefts
This from the Austin Police Department:
Has your bike been stolen?
Austin Police North Bureau detectives are currently investigating a series of bicycle thefts that occurred during the middle of February, in the area north of downtown and south of Koenig Lane.
The suspects have been pawning the stolen bicycles or selling them to bike resale shops throughout the city. The North Bureau detectives would like to encourage anyone in this area that was a victim of bike theft and failed to report the theft to call 311 and make a report.
Please try to give as much detailed information about the bicycle as you can. We are attempting to link the bikes that the suspects pawned to the proper owner of the bike.
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Which is tougher: Running a marathon or hiking 27 miles?
Yesterday, I hiked 27 miles around Lake Georgetown with members of the Sun City Hiking Club.
Today, I’m nursing a blister the size of a pecan on my right heel. The one on my right ankle already burst. I’ve also some got nice blisters between my toes, too. It’s disgusting.
I ran a marathon (that’s 26.2 miles) about this time last year. No blisters, and it took me about 4 hours and 40 minutes.
This hike took 13 hours, if you include the hour-long lunch break.
Which was harder? I’ve been debating that all morning.
The blisters are definitely worse from the hike. The first 20 miles or so felt great. The trail that circumnavigates the lake is incredible — it covers rocky, cactus-covered ground, high bluffs along the north branch of the San Gabriel River, shady bottomlands, a field of irises, tons of bluebonnets, and some flat, graded roads.
Those last few miles really hurt, though, mainly because my boots were rubbing me wrong. I just knew I was causing some serious damage under my socks, and stupidly I hadn’t tested my boots on such a long walk before. Every step hurt, and I was hobbling by the end. (Note to self: Test all gear before backpacking at Glacier National Park this summer.)
But fatigue wasn’t an issue on the hike, like it was during the marathon. During the last 4 miles of the run, I felt like I had cinder blocks strapped to my legs. All I wanted to do was stop and walk. My feet didn’t hurt so much as my body just wanted to flop on the ground and take a nap.
Those Sun City Hikers are tough, I’m telling you. Of the 13 who started, seven made it the entire way around the lake. They ranged in age from 56 to 74, and their pace hardly flagged.
You can read about my experience in the paper in a few weeks. Hopefully I’ll be able to walk again by then.
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