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May 23, 2012
Marathon director recovering from brain surgery
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Livestrong Austin Marathon director John Conley, who underwent brain surgery earlier today.
Conley developed a sudden bleed inside his brain after a run on Sunday. Doctors operated to stop bleeding and relieve pressure.
“Fit to very sick in a matter of 3 days,” Conley emailed me this morning, prior to the surgery. “Tip to my friends. If you are over 50 and develop a sudden severe headache, see a doctor.”
Conley’s wife Stacey reports that Conley is doing well. “Pain has been relieved,” she wrote me at about 5 p.m. Wednesday. “He’s bald as a billiard ball.”
(Photo above by Statesman photographer Ricardo B. Brazziell shows John Conley in February, greeting last-place marathon finisher Mary McCadie, left, at the finish line.)
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May 15, 2012
Registration opening for 3M Half Marathon, Livestrong Marathon
Runners are a compulsive bunch, and I’m sure tons of you are itching to rush out and sign up for the biggest races of 2013.
Lucky for you, registration opens today for the 2013 edition of the 3M Half Marathon on Jan. 13 and in two weeks for the 2013 Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Feb. 17.
The first 500 who sign up pay $75. Everyone else pays $85 until Sept. 1, when it goes up to $90.
The 3M Half Marathon, a downhill blast from north to central Austin, will be earlier than ever in 2013, to help distance runners preparing for the Livestrong Austin Marathon. Organizers also eliminated the two-person relay option of the 3M and suspended the $18,000 race prize purse. Instead, they’ll invest in race infrastructure, organizers said.
“We have made these changes to streamline our event,” said Matt Fagan, 3M Half Marathon race director. “This is a local race, for the local running community. It’s organized by an army of local volunteers, about a third of whom are 3M employees. The changes to the 2013 event will align the event better than ever to the Austin-area running calendar.”
Registration is capped at 7,000 and the race has sold out the last two years.
To register, go here.
Registration for the 2013 Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Feb. 17, 2013, opens June 1. The first 1,000 entries into each distance get early bird rates of $65 for the half and $100 for the full. Others pay $85 for the half or $110 for the full until Aug. 29, when they increase again.
To register go here.
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May 8, 2012
Then-Gov. Bush involved in 1999 accident at nearly same spot on trail
Then Gov. George W. Bush was involved in an accident in 1999 while running on the hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake at nearly the same spot where two pedestrians were struck by a car that jumped the curb last night. One of the pedestrians in last night’s wreck later died.
Ricardo B. Brazziell /American-Statesman
Here’s the article:
Trailer overturns near hike-and-bike path, bruising governor and injuring DPS guard Dick Stanley Publication Date: November 2, 1999 Page: A1 Section: News Edition: Final
Gov. George W. Bush narrowly avoided flying debris when an out-of-control trailer overturned Monday near where the Republican presidential front-runner was jogging on the north shore of Town Lake.
Bush suffered minor bruises and scrapes to his right leg and hip when he dived away from the Longhorn Disposal truck and trailer, which spilled some of its load of concrete rubble and broken tree limbs onto the hike-and-bike path. The truck was traveling east on Cesar Chavez Street when the driver lost control near the Lamar Boulevard bridge at about noon.
The governor was treated at the scene. He later traveled to New Hampshire on a campaign trip.
“I was at the end of a three-mile run when I heard the noise, looked back, saw it start to tip, and my instincts were to dive,’’ Bush said by telephone from New Hampshire. Bush said he scraped his right leg and hip when he dived behind a bridge support. “I’ve got a significant strawberry,’’ he said.
Department of Public Safety Staff Sgt. Roscoe Hughey , part of the governor’s security detail, was treated for minor injuries and released after being struck by some of the trash. Hughey was riding a bicycle near the governor, who is a familiar figure on Austin’s jogging trails.
Officials said Hughey, 39, was in pain Monday, and as a member of the governor’s security detail would not discuss the incident. Traffic was rerouted for several hours until the mess was cleaned up.
A witness, Ernest Bedford, 50, a pipeline inspector for the city who was working nearby, said he didn’t hear any brakes squeal, just “a big, loud bang.’’ Bedford said he saw Bush in the clear but “the other guy was reaching his hand up out of the debris.’’
Bush used Hughey’s cell phone to call security agents at the Governor’s Mansion, and they called 911, said Linda Edwards, Bush’s press secretary.
The governor told Vikki Branning, the Austin Emergency Medical Services paramedic who treated him, that “he didn’t want to go to the hospital,’’ said Warren Hassinger , an EMS spokesman.
Hassinger said Hughey was taken to Brackenridge Hospital because he suffered injuries to his right side and was having trouble walking. “He got knocked around pretty good,’’ said Tom Vinger , a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.
Officials said they had no reason to suspect that the driver, who was not injured, intended to hit the governor. Sally Muir, a spokeswoman for the Austin police, said the driver, whose name was not released pending an investigation, has not been charged.
The driver had worked for a Longhorn Disposal subsidiary, Houston-based Waste Management, for 13 years and had a good driving record, the company said.
The truck “experienced a shifting of waste material,’’ and the company is investigating, said Cherie Rice, Waste Management vice president for investor relations.
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Are guard rails needed on trail near Lamar?
*UPDATE** Susan Rankin, executive director of The Trail Foundation, the non-profit organization that works to maintain and improve the trail, said that the city will place water barrels along the trail as a barrier where the fatal wreck occurred.
Most people generally feel pretty safe while running or cycling on a separated pathway. Nobody expects to get hit by a car when they head out on a hike-and-bike trail.
But that’s what happened during rush hour last night, when a suspect identified as 21-year-old Joseph Rosales drove his car off the roadway in the 900 block of West Cesar Chavez near the Lamar Boulevard bridge, striking two pedestrians on the trail around Lady Bird Lake, according to police reports.
One of the people hit, an 81-year-old man, died overnight of his injuries. The other, a 42-year-old woman, suffered broken bones and non life-threatening injuries, according to police reports.
Rosales was booked into the Travis County Jail shortly after 1 a.m., and has been charged with felony manslaughter and failure to stop and render aid.
My heart goes out to both the victims’ families.
The trail runs right along Cesar Chavez Street in the area where the incident occurred. Rosales was heading eastbound.
Yes, there’s a curb, but how much protection does that really afford?
Do we need a guard rail in that spot? A metal fence?
Do you worry about cars in that area?
Sometimes they’re moving quickly in that stretch, after they’ve exited MoPac (Loop 1). The road curves a bit as it passes underneath the Lamar bridge.
Are there other stretches of the trail where you feel exposed to motor traffic?
What do you think should be done to improve safety on the trail?
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May 4, 2012
Celebrate completion of Johnson Creek Trailhead improvements on Saturday
The water fountains are running, a bottleneck at the north end of the pedestrian bridge underneath MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) has been widened, retaining walls constructed and landscaping put in place.
Trail users are invited to drop by the newly renovated Johnson Creek Trailhead between 8 and 11 a.m. Saturday to check out the improvements during a “trailhead warming.”
At 9 a.m., Trail Foundation officials will make a brief presentation to thank Bosse & Associates and other donors who contributed to the $475,000 project.
Whole Foods Market will provide drinks and Camp Gladiator, Jack & Adams and Rogue Running will offer give-aways.
You’ll get a peek at the future, too. Studio 8 Architects will show renderings of new restrooms that will be built across the street from the spot affectionately known as “The Rock.”
The Johnson Creek trailhead, on the north side of Lady Bird Lake underneath MoPac and just west of Austin High School, is the most often used entrance to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. About a third of all users access the trail there.
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April 21, 2012
Jason Robillard to lead barefoot running clinic at Backwoods
When I raced the Statesman Capitol 10,000 last month, I passed a trio of guys running without shoes.
Judging by the look on their faces at Mile 4, they hadn’t actually worked their way up to running barefoot for extended distances.
On Tuesday, ultra marathoner Jason Robillard, founder and director of Barefoot Running University, will give a free clinic on safely making the transition to barefoot and minimalist running. The session is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Backwoods store at the Hill Country Galleria, 12921 Hill Country Boulevard in Bee Cave.
Customers will be able to try minimalist shoes and go on a short run with Robillard.
Robillard has been running barefoot for more than 20 years. He runs nearly 100 miles each week and has done everything from a 5K to 100 mile races sans shoes. He is also the author of “The Barefoot Running Book: The Art and Science of Barefoot & Minimalist Shoe Running.”
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April 12, 2012
Gearing up for Sunday's Austin 10/20
A new Austin race — a 10-miler with plenty of music to motivate athletes along the route — makes its debut this weekend.
More than 8,000 runners are expected to line up for the inaugural Austin 10/20 on Sunday, April 15. The 10-mile race will feature rock bands performing on stages every half mile along the course.
The mostly flat course starts and finishes at The Domain shopping center. Start time is 8 a.m.
A finish line party will feature a performance by Everclear starting at 10:45 a.m., barbecue from Big Daddy’s BBQ and a Miller 64 Beer Garden.
The elite field will feature 20 women and 30 men, including athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and Europe.
If you haven’t registered, there’s still time. Online registration closes at midnight Thursday.
Packet pickup is from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. -6 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. -6 p.m. Sunday at Luke’s Locker Austin, 115 Sandra Muraida Way. Race registration will be available there if the race hasn’t already sold out, too.
For more information go here.
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April 6, 2012
John Carchedi provides inspiration for Pick Up Your Feet for Parkinson's 5K
In 2009, I wrote about a 60-year-old retired psychology professor who’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease but vowed to continue running marathons in as many states as he could, while he still could.
Each year, Sun City resident John Carchedi provides inspiration to the people who organize and race in the Pick Up Your Feet For Parkinson’s 5K run in Leander.
He’s inspired me, too, every time I see him on a race course. I recognize his lumbering stride from a distance, and have spotted him everywhere from the Zooma Half Marathon in Bastrop to the 3M Half Marathon in Austin.
Carchedi once tore through races, placing near the top of his age group. As the years have passed, his gait has worsened and his feet cramp more often. Sometimes he has to stop every 100 yards just to cross the finish line.
But he doesn’t quit.
Since his diagnosis with the degenerative brain disease nearly a decade ago, Carchedi has now finished 24 marathons in 24 states.
“In the last one I was on the ground a lot,” he told me recently. “It is getting tougher, but I am planning to do No. 25 and probably the last one in Nevada on April 21. That would make it half of the states.”
Read a story I wrote about him in 2009 here.
This year, Georgetown Triathletes are partnering with The Plummer Movement Disorders Center and Central Texas Advocate for Parkinson’s to raise money for people with Parkinson’s.
Money raised for the 2012 event Pick Up Your Feet For Parkinson’s will be used to open a “Movin’ to Wellness” Parkinson’s disease support and exercise class. Their goal is to raise $10,000.
Parkinson’s disease affects over 1.5 million people in the United States alone, with about 60,000 Americans being diagnosed with this disease each year. It is a progressive brain disease that is characterized by tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia (slowness).
Registration is $25 for the 5K or $5 for a 1-mile fun run here. Race day registration will be available on site starting at 6:30 a.m. Packet pick up is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 14 at the RunTex Georgetown.
The race starts at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 15 at Williamson County Regional Park, 3005 County Road 175 in Leander.
For more information go here.
Good luck John!
(Statesman photo by Larry Kolvoord, 2009)
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March 29, 2012
Looking for a new kind of 5K? Run naked!
Time to shuck off your clothing, running people.
The 15th annual Bare Buns 5K Fun Run and Kids 1K is set for Saturday, April 14 at Star Ranch in McDade, east of Austin.
When I blogged about this event last year, I got an email from a guy I used to swim with, who told me he won this race several years back, thus laying claim to the coolest trophy he’s ever earned. I’d share photos, but this is a family newspaper.
David Phillips, who lives at the ranch, enthusiastically emails me about it every year, pointing out various advantages to running without clothes. (I can’t help wondering if I’d run faster naked myself!)
“No need for messy bibs; your number is drawn on your body,” Phillips says.
For those hoping to set a new PR wearing only their shoes, a couple of things to note:
- It’s an off-road course, over mostly sandy soil.
- Yes, it really is a nude race. As the press release puts it: “Runners need not be encumbered by clothing.” Shoes are allowed.
- Prizes will be awarded in traditional age and gender categories.
- After the race, you can grab fruit and beverages in the pavilion by the pool.
- 1. I’ve got one thing to say to Darth Vadar, standing on 11th Street at the end of the first major hill, holding a sign that read “Last Hill” — Oh the cruelty! If you ran, you know that was the first of many hills in a famously undulating course.
- 2. Mellow Johnny’s provided free bike parking, right at Auditorium Shores. It worked perfectly, and I avoided all the traffic congestion as my neighbor and I zipped from the Allandale neighborhood right to the start line on our two-wheelers, no delays.
- 3. To those three amigos running barefoot. Did that hurt? You all looked like every step was agony!
- 4. Kudos to that very elaborate carrot costume I saw trotting up Congress Avenue. Did you finish? That thing must have weighed 100 pounds!
- 5. What’s up with all the tutus? I must have seen 30 women (and men!) wearing all colors of the frilly ballet attire. Do tutus make you run faster? (Perhaps I need to experiment.)
- 6. Thank goodness for the sprinkler chute over by Austin High School. By the time I passed Mile 4 I really wanted to jump in the river. The water sprinklers were a much-appreciated (but not quite as refreshing) substitute.
- 7. Loved those three frat boy hipsters who dragged their sofa out into their front yard to sip beer and heckle the runners. And that guy bouncing on a trampoline over along the MoPac access road? That looked fun!
- 8. Did you take time to glance back at the stream of runners on Enfield Drive after you dipped down to Lamar Boulevard and starting chugging your way up the other side? Impressive.
- 9. Every year, someone is handing out Krispy Kreme doughnuts on the west side of Lamar, on the haul up to the highest point on the course. This year, someone upped the anty and offered strips of crispy bacon about half a mile from the finish. Does anybody take these people up?
- 10. I’m always inspired when I pass one of the handful of runners who has participated in every single Cap10K, since the race began in 1977. Amazing.
- 11. Yay music! The bands that volunteer along the route keep me happy and motivated.
- 12. Great showing by HEB. About 3,000 store employees donned red T-shirts and dashed the 10K.
- 13. Thanks to whoever that was who yelled “Go Pam! Go Pam! Go Pam! Go Pam!” as I sprinted down the finishers’ chute. I think I cut 5 seconds off my time because of your encouragement. I crossed in 54 minutes 42 seconds — good for me. I still think of myself as a 10-minute miler, so I’m proud of my 8:49 pace.
- Healthy at HEB — Think “Eat better, move more and live well,” and if that’s downright baffling (and yes, it is), go to here heb.com/healthy for inspiration. Winning contestant gets a $1,000 HEB gift card.
- Ready, Fresh, Go — If you’re running as part of a team, dress like your favorite produce items, from apples to zucchini. The winning team gets four $150 HEB gift cards.
- Go green — Reflect one of HEB’s environmentally friendly initiatives. The winner gets a $1,000 HEB gift card.
- 6 a.m. — Gear check tent opens
- 6:15 a.m. - Arrive at the start area, 16th Street at Congress Avenue.
- 6:55 a.m. - Wheelchair/Hand cycle start
- 7 a.m. - LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon start
- 7:30 a.m. - Paramount Break-a-Leg 5K start
- 9:30 a.m. - Entertainment begins on the Main Stage
- 10:30 a.m. - Awards on the Main Stage
- 11 a.m. - Dale Watson performs on the Main Stage
- The winner of this year’s marathon will get to sign a custom marathon-themed American Select Fender Stratocaster guitar, which will be kept and signed by the winner each year, kind of like the Stanley Cup.
- More than 30 bands will perform along the race route, and Austin’s own Dale Watson will perform on the main stage at the finish.
- Look for Lance Armstrong. He’ll be running the half marathon.
- Race organizers will recognize the 150,000th runner to cross the finish line. That’s expected to happen around 9 a.m. If a 2-hour half marathon is in your wheel house, it could be you! (It might even be me!)
- Austin food trailers including Hey Cupcake!, Amy’s Ice Cream, Short Bus Subs, Mmmpanadas and The Peached Tortilla will set up shop at the finish area. Bring cash — or have someone with cash meet you there.
- About 70 percent of the people who register for the LiveStrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon travel from out of town.
- Yellow chalk messages will cover Cesar Chavez Street, otherwise known as the LiveStrong mile.
- Lululemon will sponsor a cheer station at the intersection of 15th and West streets.
- Attention Mardi Gras revelers: Congress Avenue will close between 5th and 11th streets starting at 3 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18.
- Instead of throw-away cups, runners will be given Silipints, reusable silicone cups, to fill with water at the finish line. It’s part of the race’s green effort.
- The flag that will fly at the finish line was flown during a combat mission in Iraq.
- A shadow half marathon will take place at Camp Dwyer in Afghanistan.
- 1. Yay for no dilly dallying at the start line. We got off right on time.
- 2. Burnet Road definitely doesn’t rank among the most scenic stretches of roadway in Austin. And that U-turn underneath U.S. Highway 183 was plain funky. This was a lot more industrial than the old cut through Northwest Hills. I miss Mesa Drive!
- 3. My husband dropped me off at the start line. We approached via Loop 360, and had no problems getting in at all. Plenty of parking. Ditto with the finish, which shifted this year to the Texas State History Museum.
- 4. Did you see all the discarded jackets and gloves and old T-shirts along the first half of the course? I hope someone collected those and donated them to charity.
- 5. I loved the two mariachi guys jamming on San Jacinto Boulevard. And thumbs up to the bag piper playing “Chariots of Fire” as we crossed MoPac Boulevard, too. Music is such a motivator.
- 6. You’ve got to love a downhill course. Fast and furious.
- 7. I wish volunteers wouldn’t fill the cups of Gatorade and water at the aid stations quite so full. I just want a couple of sips, not a full cup. So much waste!
- 8. Perfect weather, don’t you think? Start temp in the low 40s, finish not a whole lot warmer. I love running when it’s chilly.
- 9. I’m pretty sure a man wearing a full banana costume finished ahead of me.
- 10. I wish I hadn’t stopped to pee so many times. My finish time was 2:01:13. I might have broken the 2 hour mark! Still, I ran faster than I usually do, so I’m happy.
- 11. Those finishers medals were huge. Seriously. You could warm a tortilla on one.
- 6:30 a.m. — All 50K runners must be at Rio Grande Village Parking lot by to catch the shuttles to the start line, unless you’re being dropped off at the start line. There is no parking at the start line. Place your drop bag (included in your race packet) with post-race apparel in the truck provided.
- 7:30 a.m. — 50K Start
- 7:30 a.m — All 25K runners must be at Rio Grande Village Parking lot to catch the shuttles to the start line, unless you’re being dropped off at the start line. There is no parking at the start line. Place your drop bag (included in your race packet) with post-race apparel in the truck provided.
- 8:30 a.m. — 25K Start
- 8:45 a.m. — All 10K runners drive to the parking lot at the intersection/start line of Rio Grande paved road and River Road East. Look for signage.
- 9:30 a.m. — 10K Start
- 11 a.m.— First shuttle leaves long course finish line. All runners in 50K/25K will be shuttled from finish line to RGV campsite for post-race meal (included in entry fee - $10 for guests).
- 1:30 p.m. — Awards ceremony and door prizes
- Scotch lint roller, $3
- Scotch-Brite scour pads, $3
- Nexcare knee brace, $17
- Safety glasses, $10
- Scotch craft glue, $3
- Scotch Variety Tape, $10
- Postit PopUp Dispenser, $15
- Postit Notes, $4
- Nexcare Blister Pads, $5
- Nexcare bandages, $5
- Scotch-Brite Shammy, $8
- Shed your shoes at The Merrell Naked Foot 5K at Brushy Creek Lake Park this Saturday in Cedar Park. Proponents of barefoot running say running without shoes can help prevent injuries and improve form. The Austin race is part of a new national barefoot race series that includes events in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Boulder, Colo. Prefer to run with shoes on your feet? You won’t be turned away. Besides the 5K, the event will include a free kids’ fun run, foot massages, foot painting, barefoot games, vendors and prizes. Organizers will also collect gently worn footwear and donations for Soles4Souls, a Nashville, Tenn.-based charity that collects and distributes shoes to people in need. For more information and to register, go here.
- Teams of five will run a collective marathon during Sunday’s Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay at Auditorium Shores. The race covers 26.2 miles, divided into five relay legs — one 12K, two 10Ks and two 5Ks. All relay legs will hand off in the same location near the start/finish line at Auditorium Shores. The course winds along scenic Lady Bird Lake, through downtown Austin and around the Capitol. The race benefits Junior Achievement of Central Texas, which teaches financial literacy to more than 10,000 local kindergarten through 12th-graders each year. Online registration ends today, but paper registration will be available at RunTex Riverside on Thursday and you can register at packet pickup Friday and Saturday at RunTex. For more information or to register go here.
- Caped crusaders will take to the streets at Sunday’s CASA Superhero Run, a 5K and Kids 1K featuring runners (many in costume) running on behalf of abused and neglected children. Event activities include a superhero costume contest, bounce house, photobooth, kids crafts, sports massage and free food and drink. Registration opens at 7 a.m.; 5K starts at 8 a.m. and Kids 1K starts at 8:45 a.m. in front of Macy’s at The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace. Benefits CASA of Travis County. For more information on The Superhero Foundation, whose mission is to end child abuse, go here.
- 1. Train for a 25K like you’re training for a half marathon, only beef it up a little. Build up to a long run of 18 miles, then start tapering.
- 2. The race will start at an elevation of 3,100 feet. We’ll climb to a highpoint of 3,400 feet by mile 3.5, then start cruising downhill to the finish at 1,900. It’s considered a fast course.
- 3. Aid stations with solid food, water and Hammer nutrition gels will be set up every 5 miles along the course.
- 4. Temperatures are likely to be in the 30s at the start and 60s at the finish. Unless, of course, they aren’t.
- 5. Bring gloves, hat and fleece if you like. You can put them in a drop bag that will be transported to the finish.
- 6. You’ll be running through parts of the park most folks never see. But you’ll be looking at the trail in front of you, so you won’t really see it.
- 7. Most of the route is along one-lane dirt and gravel roads.
- 8. It’s dry in the desert and you’ll lose fluids rapidly. Plan to carry water with you in a hand-held bottle or waist pack.
- 9. Road shoes will work, but trail shoes are better because they have a tougher strike plate. That protects the bottom of your foot from being stuck by a sharp rock, stick or cactus. Trail shoes weigh a little more than road shoes.
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Mellow Johnny’s, 400 Nueces Street.
- 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 at REI Gateway, 9901 N. Capitol of Texas Highway.
- 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16 at REI Downtown, 601 N. Lamar Blvd.
- 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at REI Round Rock, 201 University Oaks Blvd, Round Rock.
- A final informational meeting and kick-off party is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 at McCormick and Schmick’s in the Domain, 11600 Century Oaks Terrace.
- the IBM Uptown Classic 10K on Oct. 2
- Run for the Water 10-mile race on Oct. 30
- ARC Decker Challenge Half Marathon on Dec. 11
- 3M Half Marathon on Jan. 29
- and the LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Feb. 19.
- To run 14-20 miles: Meet at the Pavilion Park & Ride at Oak Knoll/U.S.183 at 6 a.m. Carolyn will meet you, maps will be provided and water will be out. A truck will transport your gear bag to the finish at Rogue Cedar Park. A shuttle will be available every 45 minutes between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. to return you to your car.
- To run 3-10 miles: Meet at Rogue Cedar Park at 7 a.m for an out-and-back course with map, water and coach support.
- To run 26.2 miles: Interested in running the whole marathon? You are welcome and encouraged to do so, but you must carry your own water for the first half and you must be capable of finishing the route in 4 hours or less. Email james@roguerunning.com. All finishers get tacos, mimosas and coffee at the finish line party. The run and party are both open to the public. Runners who are not currently enrolled in a Rogue program must RSVP to james@roguerunning.com no later than July 20.
- Sunday, July 24: Family Day, noon to 5 p.m. Join Rogue for fun, family activities and games at the store, complete with prizes and deals on running gear.
- Tuesday, July 26: Taco Tuesday plus a free run, 7 a.m. Get in your daily run and get free breakfast tacos. Showers available at the store.
- Wednesday, July 27: Ladies Night, 5-8 p.m. Special, ladies-only hours for women to shop, get fitted by our experts (shoes and bras), and enjoy a glass or two of sangria.
- Thursday, July 28: Free run with TeamROGUE Elite, 6:30 p.m. Ever wanted to meet, run with and pick the brain of an elite runner? Come run with Rogue’s elite team (at your pace) and get all of your questions answered.
- Friday, July 29: Running movie and pizza night, 5:30 p.m. Bring the whole family or just yourself. Eat pizza and watch “Without Limits” to get inspired for that next training run or race.
- Saturday, July 30: Rogue Party, 4:30 p.m. Rogue will cap off the week with a celebration fit for all Rogues, old and new. Adult beverages and free food.
- Make sure your dog can go the distance. When I got Oskar he was ready to run and full of energy, but I started him out with an easy mile jog and slowly ramped up his distance. Even a mile may be too long for a dog that’s not in shape. You don’t want to overdue it.
- Can he handle the leash? Oskar still likes to pull on the leash from time to time, but otherwise he’s pretty dependable and comfortable with it. Still, if he eyes a squirrel, all bets are off. Try a basic obedience class or learn on your own (use a lot of treats).
- Breed of dog. Oskar is a short-haired cattle dog and was bred to work. If he doesn’t get enough playtime, he gets cranky. Some dogs don’t make good running companions. Make sure your dog can handle it. Bulldogs, for example, have a hard time breathing and some colder climate dogs aren’t built for the heat.
- Water water everywhere. Here in Austin we are lucky to have Lady Bird Lake in the heart of downtown. Unless the water is flowing along the Barton Creek Greenbelt, I take Oskar downtown. He swims in the cold water coming off the Barton Springs spillway before we even start. I also let him jump in and cool off multiple times during our run. Plan your outing to include some swim time. You may be feeling the heat as you run, but your dog is doing it while wearing a fur coat.
- Drink up. Make sure your dog has plenty to drink before, during and after the run. Even if you don’t feel thirsty, your dog may need water.
- Go easy. Other than keeping your dog cool and wet, the pace you set is probably the most important part. Just as you have to slow down in the heat, so does your dog. Pay attention to his body language. If he his lagging behind and you have to pull him along, he may have had enough. Watch out for excessive panting and vomiting — they are indications that your dog is in trouble. Save the speed drills for when you are running sans the pooch.
- Have fun. It may sound cliche, but if you aren’t having fun, then why do it at all? If you do it right, your dog can be your best running partner. If you find, mid-run, that you just aren’t enjoying yourself, call it a day and try again another time.
- Morning:
- 1/2 bagel with grape jam (pre-run)
- 2 bagel & egg sandwiches
- small strawberry/banana smoothie
- 2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
- 3/4 small french fries
- bucket of Coke
- oatmeal cookie
- chocolate chip cookie
- chicken sandwich with bbq
- side salad with balsamic
- chocolate chip cookie
- white milk
- 1. Kick back the last 48 hours. If you’re running the marathon, stay off your feet as much as possible on Friday. If you’re doing the half, don’t worry so much.
- 2. A 25-minute “shakeout” run is OK on Saturday. “It lets you know that everything works and gets the blood flowing,” Yasso says.
- 3. Try to get to bed early Friday. If you’re unable to sleep well Saturday night, don’t worry. You might even be less groggy if you’ve been awake for hours before start time.
- 4. Drink enough — but not too much — in the days leading up to the race. “I call it smart hydration,” Yasso says. “Sip on some energy drink and water throughout the day, but do not overhydrate. I usually go by color of urine. If it’s clear you have nothing but fluid. It should have a little bit of color to it.”
- 5. Eat some carbohydrates the day before, but remember you’re not running from Austin to Denver. “You don’t need enough calories to survive two days,” Yasso says.
- 6. Eat several smaller meals throughout the day on Saturday. Leave a banana or energy bar out the night before the race. If you do wake up at 3 a.m., take a bite and go back to sleep.
- 7. Come race morning, stick to your routine. Don’t try any new food or drink. Don’t wear new shoes, socks or shorts, either. Go with what’s proven.
- 8. The only exception? If you get close to the finish and you start to bonk, give yourself permission to try something new. “If you get to Mile 23 and you’re just starving and people are handing out gummy bears or de-fizzed soda and you’ve never eaten them, I would do it at that point,” Yasso says. “Not a lot is going to happen in the last 3 miles of the race.”
- 9. When you get to the starting line, take a minute to think how fortunate you are to be able to run a marathon, both physically and culturally. Your body is healthy enough to let you race, and you live in a city that supports runners.
- 10. Aim for a negative split — run the second half of the race faster than the first That means holding back early on and building your pace as the race goes on. It’s a tough but essential tactic. “I think people fear if they’re not going fast enough they’re not going to run a good race, but it works in many ways,” Yasso says. “You feel better and get stronger as you go on. Most of it’s mental.”
- 11. Instead of counting up the miles as you tick them off, count them down. “I learned that from the Boston Marathon, where they always posted a sign saying ‘1 Mile to go.’ It was comforting,” Yasso says. “You knew you could run 1 more mile no matter how bad you felt.”
- 12. Take ice baths to soothe your leg muscles. You don’t have to bury yourself — just a couple of small buckets of ice and cold water to cover your lower extremities for 20 minutes will do. (Although Yasso says he’s built up to a soak that’s 90 percent ice and 10 percent water. And yes, he wears a jacket and gloves for that.) The pre-race soak on Friday or Saturday will help ease any inflammation from weeks of training. “The ice bath afterward is a celebration one,” Yasso says. “You can do that one with a Dos Equis and a taco in hand.”
- 13. Enjoy your run. Share it with the people around you. Have fun.
- 1. Make a dinner reservation now. You’ll need a good meal and an early bedtime the night before the race.
- 2. Plot your driving route and parking plan ahead of time for race morning. Plan to be on-site at least an hour before the start.
- 3. First, drop you gear off at gear check, located in the finish area on Congress Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets.
- 4. Don’t forget that the new start line is located at 16th Street and Congress Avenue, north of the Capitol Building.
- 5. Plan a place to meet friends and family in the finish area before the race. Use cross streets and store fronts.
- 6. Remember to bring cash for after the race - all the food trailers will be serving up good grub, but they don’t all take plastic.
- 7. Have fun!
- Tuesday, Feb. 1 Join Livestrong Austin Marathon organizers at 6 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., for a short Pub Run. The group will run about a mile south to Hotel St. Cecilia, where representatives from Thirsty Planet Brewery will meet them. Then it’s back to the Paramount for the next activity on our schedule …
- Tuesday, Feb. 1 A special screening of “Run, Fat Boy, Run” begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $10, and include complimentary Thirsty Planet beer and popcorn. Proceeds benefit the Paramount Theatre. Tickets available here.
- Thursday, Feb. 3 Meet like-minded athletes at 7 p.m. at Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Drive, to hear about the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon race route and learn more about running strategy. Presented by John Conley, race director of the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, and Dick Beardsley, Boston Marathon legend. Free.
- Saturday, Feb. 12 Alamo Village Drafthouse, 2700 W. Anderson Lane, presents a special screening of the documentary “Running the Sahara” at 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Colin’s Hope. For more information and to purchase tickets go here.
- Sunday, Feb. 13 Unplugged at the Paramount, benefiting the Paramount Theatre and Livestrong Foundation, starring Kevin Russell, Amy Cook, James McMurtry, Walt Wilkins and a special surprise guest. Tickets from $15 to $30 each; special VIP tickets available. Small silent auction in the lobby that will close at the end of the night. Doors at 6:30 p.m.; show at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information go here.
- Saturday, Feb. 19 Alamo Drafthouse South, 1120 S. Lamar Blvd., screens “Spirit of the Marathon” at 1 p.m. Followed by Q&A session with the film’s director, Jon Dunham. Proceeds benefit Community in Schools. For tickets go here.
- Saturday, Feb. 19 Alamo Drafthouse South, 1120 S. Lamar Blvd., screens “Spirit of the Marathon” at 4 p.m. Followed by Q&A session with Dunham and Austin’s own Boston Marathon legend, Dick Beardsley.
- Sunday, Feb. 20. The Livestrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon finally get under way at 7 a.m. The Paramount 5K starts at 7:30. For more information go here.
- Pets and skating are prohibited.
- Headphones and earphones are strongly discouraged.
- Runners with baby joggers must line up in the back of the pack.
- Do not have a car pace you or follow you along the course. Any vehicles found pacing or following runners may be subject to a fine.
- Supporters should plan to meet you at key points along the course.
- Have fun, and say hi if you see me!
- John Yoder (3:47:08) from Houston
- Tanya Hunter (4:28:00) from Austin
- Jim Weddell (4:24:25) from El Paso
- Amanda Mcintosh (4:30:44) from San Antonio
- Mike McCorgary (1:50:05) from El Paso
- Meg Ayers (2:12:40) from Austin
- J.B. Bryan (2:03:40) from Houston
- Kimberly Aubuchon (2:15:56) from San Antonio
- Bart Stevens (45:06) from Kerrville
- Zoe Berra (55:10) from San Antonio
- Todd Bureau (48:11) from Hope, Ark.
- Miroslava Shoemaker (57:10)
- The Brown Santa 5K and Kids K, 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 12 at the Travis County Expo Center, 7311 Decker Lane. I’m sure more than a few folks will wear Santa suits and reindeer antlers for this event, which includes a chip-timed 5K, a 5K fun run and a 1K walk for kids under 12. A wellness fair runs from 8 a.m. until noon. Proceeds benefit Brown Santa, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office charity that helps underprivileged children and families in rural Travis County and residents of local retirement centers. Register here. Registration is also available Friday and Saturday at Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., or at the Expo Center the morning of the race.
- If donning a big furry gorilla suit is more your speed (yes, I’m talking to YOU, Chris Bell!), check out the Austin Gorilla Run on Jan. 22. Everyone in the race will wear a full, head-to-toe gorilla costume to help raise awareness about the plight of the mountain gorilla. Everyone who registers (entry fee is $99.95) gets the gorilla suit for keeps, lunch at Fado Irish Pub and an after party with live music. Proceeds benefit the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, which works in Uganda, Rwanda and The Democratic Republic of Congo to train locals in becoming park rangers and veterinarians. For more information go here.
- 8-9 a.m., Sept. 18 — Rogue Running, 500 San Marcos St., 493-0920. Chat with Team Livestrong representatives; discounted registration for Team Livestrong.
- 6:30 p.m. run, 7:30 p.m. info session, Sept. 29; Texas Running Company, 1011 W. Fifth St., 474-0022. Group run, Team Livestrong representatives on hand; discounted registration for Team Livestrong.
- 7 p.m. Oct. 5 — REI Downtown, 601 N. Lamar Blvd., 482-3357. Team Livestrong representatives on hand; discounted registration for Team Livestrong.For more information go here.
- 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 — T3 Triathlon. Team Livestrong representatives on hand; discounted registration for Team Livestrong. For more information go here.
- 7-7:35 p.m. — Freddie’s
- 7:40-8:15 p.m. — Doc’s
- 8:20-8:50 p.m. — Zax’s
- 9-9:30 p.m. — Cedar Door
- 9:35 p.m. — Gingerman
- Packet pickup: All packets must be picked up at the Health & Fitness Expo at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Spring Road. Expo hours are 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Expo parking is $7 (spend $100 and parking is free), so carpooling or public transit is recommended. There is no day of race packet pickup, so all packets must be picked up at the Expo, which is free and open to the public. More than 100 vendors, experts and panelists will be on hand, and nonprofits in the 26 Miles for 26 Charities program share information on their causes.
- “Unplugged at the Paramount” Kick-off Concert - Austin favorites Joe Ely, Billy Joe Shaver, Slaid Cleaves and Amy Cook in a live acoustic performance Friday at the Paramount Theatre to start off race weekend; benefits the Paramount and Lance Armstrong Foundation. Doors open 7 p.m.; show starts 8 p.m. Tickets$13 to $50 here.
- Paramount Break-A-Leg 5K — Race starts at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at 10th Street and Congress Avenue.
- Parking — Parking in the downtown area within walking distance of the start and finish-lines is plentiful. There are numerous free and paid parking garages and surface lots as well as free on-street parking downtown. Also, going northbound on Trinity off the I35 11th Street exit; parking will be available on 12th, 13th, and 14th streets. Race organizers strongly encourage the use of public transit.
- Post-Race Massages! — A team of more than 25 licensed massage therapists, sponsored by Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club and ThriveAustin, will be available after the Austin Marathon for table massages for a special price of $1 per minute, with options for a 20-minute or 30-minute massage.
- MILE 0: Take energy bars and a sports drink to the starting line for the long wait.
- MILE 1-2: Start really slow.
- MILE 3: Bring a bottle.
- MILE 6: Soak up the great crowd support.
- MILE 8: When there’s no center divide, run in the middle of the road - it’s flatter.
- MILE 15: Keep your heart rate in check, take in the view.
- MILE 16.5: Pump your fists, smile for the cameras, just don’t start sprinting yet or stop for autographs.
- MILE 18: Gel station! Eat one. You’ll need the boost.
- MILE 20: The real work starts here. Trust your training.
- MILE 23: Stay positive: it won’t break you.
- MILE 24-25: Power through.
- MILE 26.2: No matter how you really feel, raise your arms at the finish, you deserve it.
- The race starts earlier this year, to accommodate residents along the route and Sunday morning commuters. The start whistle blows at 6:45 a.m. Arrive early.
- Need help hitting your goal? RunTex and Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club of Austin will provide pace groups for the following finish times: 1:30‚ 1:40‚ 1:50‚ 2:00‚ 2:10 and 2:20. Look for pacers wearing brightly colored shirts and carrying pace signs in the starting corrals.
- The 13.1-mile race follows the same down-hill, point-to-point course used the past three years, starting in Austin’s Arboretum area on Stonelake Boulevard near the Baby Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina and ending at Waterloo Park.
- Event organizers anticipate nearly 5,500 runners this year.
- Pre-race carbo load dinners are planned at Cannoli Joe’s Gourmet Italian Restaurant, 4715 U.S. 290 on Friday and Saturday. Reservations can be made online.
- Any Baby Can of Austin, whose mission is to ensure that all children reach their potential through education, therapy, and family support services, is the event beneficiary.
- Street closures will affect many roads from 3 a.m. to noon Jan. 24. Check the schedule here or look at a map of street closures here.
- First Night Austin New Year’s Eve Run: Run in the New Year with RunTex and all of your running buddies. Meet at the South First Street Bridge at 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 for the “First Night Austin New Year’s Eve Run.” The 2-mile run should get you ready to enjoy the festivities of the First Night Austin celebration. Pick up your First Night Austin long sleeve T-shirt at the finish to wear as you watch the fireworks in style. Register here. Registration ends at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31.
- Red Licorice Events 1.1 Run: The 1.1.Run was originally conceived as a one time run on New Year’s Day, but interest has grown the event into a monthly series. Runners will line up at the designated location (for New Year’s day the starting line is at Jack & Adam’s) with no clue where the run will take them, or even how far. Just before the gun goes off athletes will be given the mystery destination. The challenge will be mapping out the shortest route on the fly because there is no set route. The races will be out and back to the starting point where a Sweet & Twisted post race party and awards presentation await them. To make things even more Twisted (and Sweet depending on your viewpoint) these runs will be underwear runs. Athletes are encouraged (but not required) to race in their undies. The runs are free, but runners are encouraged to donate to a designated charity at each event. For the first race on Jan. 1st, everyone is asked to either donate a coat to Coats for Kids or make a contribution to Running For Ryan. The Jan. 1 run starts at 11:10 a.m. at Jack & Adams, 1210 Barton Springs Road.
- Resolution Run 2010 Round Rock: The Resolution Run is an annual 5K race through the Brushy Creek neighborhood. The course is certified and chip timed. The run starts at 11 a.m. at St. Phillip’s United Methodist Church, 16321 Great Oaks Drive in Round Rock. Doughnuts, coffee and hot chocolate will be provided before the race and black-eyed peas, bananas, oranges, bottled water, coffee and hot chocolate at the end of the race. Wheelchair participants, strollers and leashed dogs welcome. Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children. For more information go here.
- Hill Country Running Company New Year’s Day Run: Hill Country Running Company, 215 S. Lamar Blvd., will host a New Year’s Day run. Meet at the store at 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1. Breakfast tacos will be provided. Please RSVP. Canine companions welcome. For more information go here.
- Horses galloping in pastures alongside the race course.
- Gorgeous, scenic terrain.
- My friend Nell Carroll hosting a breakfast party in her front yard, right on the most daunting hill of the entire course.
- Girls, girls, girls! Except for a handful of guys (including one wearing a green floral dress and a long, blonde, Rapunzel-like wig) this race was all about women.
- Quotes posted along the route, including this one by Eleanor Roosevelt: “A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”
- Tiny cupcakes at the finish line!
- Giant blue towels spread on a hillside amphitheatre, so exhausted runners could collapse and listen to live music.
- The finishers’ party, with the Colorado River as a backdrop.
- A dainty silver necklace instead of a finishers’ medal.
- The shuttle system from Airport Fast Park, which worked like a charm. No lines, no problems (except when our driver overshot the resort by a few miles on the way in.)
- 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 31 at Bettysport - The Domain, 11401 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 129
- 3-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1 at Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., Ste. 104
- 3-7 p.m. Thursday, April 2 at Bettysport Downtown, 916 A. West 12th St. (at Lamar Boulevard)
- 2-8 p.m. Friday, April 3, Zooma Marketplace at The Belmont, 305 W. Sixth St.
- Shuttles will run from Airport Fast Park between 5 and 6:30 a.m. Officials recommend arriving at the parking lot no later than 6 a.m. Travel time from Airport Fast Park to the Hyatt can be up to 40 minutes.
- Shuttles will run approximately every half hour after 6:30 a.m. for spectators. (Spectators can hop on any shuttle before 6:30 a.m., but participants will have priority.)
- The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K starts at 7:45 a.m. 5K runners should gather behind those running the half marathon. Please arrive at the start line no later than 7:15 a.m.
- Gear check will be available near the information tent at the starting area. Feel free to leave a change of clothes, extra shoes, your ID (for wine at the post-race party) and anything else you might want to make your time at the After Party Expo more comfortable. Race officials will transport the bags while you’re on the course and they will be available just beyond the finish line area.
- The After-Party Expo runs from 8 a.m. until noon at the LBJ Pavilion and Amphitheater at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa. There will be a catered brunch, wine and champagne, mini spa treatments, demos and shopping for runners after the race. The party is free and open to the public.
- For more information, go to www.zoomarun.com.
- The “running nose”: A large, flesh-colored proboscis with an attached furry mustache and a pair of very human legs to run on. Anyone have a hanky?
- The view of all those people streaming up Congress Avenue as the race begins. Awesome!
- Seeing my husband on his bike at the beginning of the hill building from Enfield Road up to MoPac. Thank you, Peanut!
- The band at the MoPac underpass playing the theme from “Rocky.” They’re always there. I always love it. They give me an extra burst of energy as I make the swing south.
- Meeting someone on the course who has run all 32 Cap10Ks.
- The party at the finish line, complete with food, drink and lots of sweaty togetherness.
- My running buddy Tony’s enthusiasm! (That’s us in the photo above.) And the way he carried me through the run, making me go faster than I’d have gone without him!
- Hanging out with Hank and the Schlotzsky’s Bun guy, watching people snatch up all those bags of free chips after the race.
- 1. I can train in wind/rain/cold/heat/humidity.
- 2. I can get used to waking up at 5 a.m.
- 3. Everyone stinks after a 15-mile run.
- 4. Energy gels never taste good. Ever.
- 5. Peanut butter on toast is the best pre-run breakfast.
- 6. The holy trinity of marathons: Lidacaine, cortisone and Ibuprofin.
- 7. Running buddies are like life lines. They pull you through.
- 8. I can do the impossible.
- 9. Injuries sometimes disappear on race day.
- 10. Contrary to popular belief, I am a runner.
- Run in a group. There’s safety in numbers.
- Pay attention. Don’t get so wrapped up with what’s on your iPod that you don’t constantly scan your surroundings.
- Run in populated areas.
- Let someone know where you’ve gone.
- Run during daylight when possible. (Obviously this didn’t help in this case, but you’re still generally safer when it’s light outside.)
Registration is $20 here. After March 31, the fee increases to $25. All participants get a T-shirt. (Which is kind of funny, considering this is a nude race staged at a nudist community.)
The kids race starts at 10 a.m.; the 5K begins at 1 p.m.
Meals will be available for purchase in the Nekkid Cafe, and a Texas Hold ‘ Em Tournament benefitting the McDade Food Pantry will start at 7 p.m.
The Bare Buns 5K is the first in a series of 5K events held at various nudist clubs in the American Association for Nude Recreation’s Southwest Region.
Visitors to Star Ranch must undergo a background check before they are admitted. It is a private, family-oriented residential community.
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March 26, 2012
13 reasons I love the Cap10K
Chalk up another spectacular — if a tad warm — Statesman Capitol 10,000.
Nearly 23,000 people ran the race, which grinds up Congress Avenue, rolls west along Enfield Road, then dips and dives back down to Cesar Chavez Street before crossing the First Street Bridge and finishing at Auditorium Shores.
My thoughts on this year’s edition:
How did your race go?
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March 24, 2012
Zooma Half Marathon set for March 31
I’ve dashed up and down those quad-burning hills at the Muscle Milk Light Zooma Texas Half Marathon each of the last three years.
I love the challenge of the undulating course, the smallish crowd and the setting at the finish of the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa. I also love getting a silver charm instead of a finisher’s medal. I wear my mine all the time.
I can’t run this year because of travel commitments, but if you’re looking for a good race, I’d recommend it. Just brace yourself for those hills. They’re tough
Race start is at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 31 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.
Look for two notable athletes at this year’s running - 2012 USA Cross Country Championships winner (and wife of Ryan Hall - 2008 US Marathon Olympic Trials winner) Sara Hall, and Austin pro triathlete Desiree Ficker.
Hall will be signing autographs and taking photos.
Unless you’re staying at the hotel, there’s no on-site parking. Don’t worry, the shuttle system works smoothly. Just park at Fast Park, across from the Austin-Bergstrom Airport, where shuttles will pick you up and carry you to the start. Shuttles start running at 5 a.m. and end about 6:30 a.m. After the race, shuttles will take you back to Fast Park.
About 2,500 runners are expected for the event. Plan on sticking around for a little while afterward.
Packet pickup is scheduled for 3-7 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Way, or 2-8 p.m. Friday at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.
Haven’t registered? You can sign up at packet pickup for $95 for the half or $55 for the 5K.
Have fun and let me know how it goes!
For more information go here.
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March 19, 2012
Austin Runners Club launches training group for beginners
Austin’s awash with runners who ramble all over the city in preparation for their next marathon or half marathon. If you’ve never run even a few miles, though, just the thought of joining them for training might make you break out in a sweat.
The Austin Runners Club wants to take away the intimidation factor.
Jack Wilkinson and Diane Sager will coach a new ARC training group that will guide rookies through their first 5K race.
The group will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays starting April 3 at O’Henry Middle School, 2610 West 10th Street.
The cost is free, but for $30 new members get a one-year membership in the Austin Runners Club, a running shirt and entry into any one of 23 Sunstroke Summer Stampede 5K races. Non-ARC members must pay their race entry.
For more information or questions, contact Jack Wilkinson at newarcrunners@austinrunners.org.
(Photo above by Rodolfo Gonzalez of the Austin American-Statesman.)
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March 16, 2012
Run to the Sun overnight relay raises money for Beyond Batten
Imagine running under a full moon, through the Texas Hill Country, past mooing cows and howling coyotes you can’t even see.
After 5 or 6 miles, a glowing light appears in the distance. As you get closer, you see a cluster of vans pulled off the road. Your friends are there, sipping coffee and urging you on. When you finally reach them, you tag one of your teammates, who starts running through the night.
On April 28 and 29, several hundred athletes will run 90 miles from Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to Austin during the Run to the Sun.
The event raises funds for Beyond Batten Disease Foundation, a non-profit, Austin-based organization that raises money to fight Batten disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder.
During the first-ever Run to the Sun last year, runners sped from Mount Bonnell in Austin to Enchanted Rock near Fredericksburg, where they finished just as the sun rose over the huge granite dome. This year, they’re reversing course, starting in the country and finishing in the city.
Lance Thompson started the race to draw attention to the disease that affected Christiane Benson, the daughter of Austin couple Craig and Charlotte Benson. The disease, which affects children born to parents who unknowingly carry a gene mutation, starts with vision loss and seizures, but eventually causes mental and physical disabilities. Victims die by the time they reach their late teens or early 20s.
Running through the night symbolizes what Christiane and others who have the disease go through as they lose their sight.
“It’s supposed to be hard. That’s what she’s going through,” says Paige Alam, who ran the relay last year and plans to run again this year.
Teams of eight, each with two accompanying support vehicles, run a total of 16 legs. Runners wear reflective vests and blinking lights, and signs warn motorists that they are on the road. Starts are staggered, based on seed times. Last year’s winners held a 7-minute per mile pace. Last year’s event drew 25 teams; more are expected in 2012.
“It’s like a traveling circus,” Thompson says.
The race will end with a pancake-fueled, music-infused celebration at Laguna Gloria. The Bensons will speak about their daughter and the foundation.
The event offers a closer-to-home option than other overnight relays, such as the popular Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon. “This is like running a mini version of it, it’s here and it’s raising money for people here,” Alam says.
Run to the Sun raised about $240,000 last year. Entry fee is $85 per person this year, and each team pledges to raise $5,000 for Beyond Batten. To register or for more information go here.
“You’re competing with people and running with a team, but you’re all supporting the same cause,” says safety coordinator Jay Hillscher.
The Bensons established Beyond Batten Disease Foundation in August 2008 after Christiane was diagnosed with Batten disease. Since then, the foundation has developed a comprehensive carrier screening test to detect genetic mutations that cause Batten disease and more than 600 other rare conditions.
Christianne is now a 9-year-old third-grader at Casis Elementary. Two teams of teachers plan to run in her honor.
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March 13, 2012
Grab a costume for Cap10K!
In years past, I’ve run alongside runners dressed as a giant rolled up newspaper (my fave!), oversized sacks of groceries and even the University of Texas Tower during the Statesman Capitol 10,000.
This year, I’m hoping even more folks will don costumes for the foot race, which is expected to draw about 20,000 runners and walkers to downtown Austin streets on March 25.
It’s the largest 10K in the state and fifth largest in the nation, and this year marks its 35th anniversary. HEB is a presenting sponsor and Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas is the beneficiary.
I love the race, which I credit for luring me into running six or seven years ago. Since then, I’ve morphed from a non-runner into someone who runs several times a week and has a marathon and a dozen or so half marathons under her belt.
Run the race and you’ll be part of a rolling party that celebrates the arrival of springtime in Texas. Besides people in wacky costumes, you’ll run past bands playing live music, families hosting street-side breakfast parties, and folks handing out everything from doughnuts to mimosas to the athletes. It’s a hoot!
This year’s race includes some new costume contest categories. To be eligible for prizes, get your photo taken at the Brightroom Photo area on Auditorium Shores after the race. Your race bib number must be visible. Winners will be announced by March 30.
This year’s costume categories are:
For more information or to register for the race, go here.
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February 26, 2012
Head 'Back to the Future' during Leap Day Pub Run
![PubRun2_v2[1].jpg](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2012/02/PubRun2_v2%5B1%5D.jpg)
Just because the marathon is over (and aren’t your feet happy about that!) doesn’t mean Austin’s done celebrating Marathon Month.
The Trail Foundation and Paramount Theatre team up for the Leap Day Pub Run on Wednesday, Feb. 29.
Meet at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., at 6 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., runners will head out on a 1.1-mile trot to Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Way. Stop for a pint of Thirsty Planet beer and some quick shopping before the 1.1-mile run/jog/walk back to the Paramount for more pints and a screening of “Back to the Future.” The film begins at 7:45 p.m.
Tickets are $15 for the run and movie (including beer and other goodies). If you only want to see the movie, tickets are $10 at the door or $8 in advance.
Register online here. The event benefits The Trail Foundation and the historic Paramount Theatre.
Costumes are strongly encouraged. Think 50s, 80s, or even Doc’s radiation suit.)
Co-hosted by the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, the Paramount Break-A-Leg 5K, Thirsty Planet Brewery, Conley Sports, Luke’s Locker, Oatmega, Perfect FIT and The Trail Foundation.
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February 23, 2012
I can't help it: I love bright running shoes
Serious runners will scoff, but I can’t help it: I’m drawn to running shoes with flair.
I want them bright and bold, like they just crawled out of a crayon box that spent a few minutes in a warm oven.
Maybe it’s because my regular wardrobe tends to more sedate colors. Whatever, it’s been a factor (don’t worry, not the only one) in my running shoe selection over the years.
Fit, of course, is foremost. The wrong running shoe will sabotage any running program before it starts.
Head to a running store and get a professional to check your stride. They can help you find an appropriate pair of shoes. That’s of utmost importance.
Once you know if you pronate or supinate, and you’ve tried on some shoes that feel comfortable, you’ve got my permission to pick the coolest color.
For a while I was wearing Mizunos, which I liked just fine. Except for the boring mostly white color scheme of the pair that fit me.
Then I discovered Karhus, a brand made in Finland. They supported my feet correctly, and I couldn’t resist the color palette. I’ve got a lime green pair and a sky blue pair, both with yellow speed streaks on them. I’m pretty sure they make me faster. Plus, I found them cheap online.
When I wore little holes in the Karhus from where my little toe pressed against the edges, though, I decided to try another brand. Just for fun, of course.
My latest pair is from the Swiss shoe maker On.
They’re lusciously funky looking. The bottoms have little hollow rubbery loops instead of solid treads. They felt good when I laced them up. And the purple-fuschia color with bright pink laces definitely didn’t hurt.
I wore them around the neighborhood on some long training runs. They felt supportive and good.
Last weekend, I put them to the ultimate test and wore them at the LiveStrong Half Marathon. No blisters, no discomfort and a decent time (for me) of 2 hours and 2 minutes.
They’re now at the top of my rotation.
In honor of running shoes we love, I’m giving away a pair of running shoes, courtesy of RunTex. (Keep in mind that you’ll have to go to a RunTex store in Austin to pick up the shoes if you win.)
All you have to do is take a picture of your feet in your favorite pair of running shoes and post it on the Fit City fan page on FaceBook at http://on.fb.me/rG2a7W.
I’m going to pick my favorite the week of March 5.
Here’s a hint: I like funny. I like bright. I like crazy poses.
Have fun and good luck.
(The photo above shoes my Karhus on the outside and my new On shoes in the middle.)
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February 17, 2012
City Running Tours offers foot-powered tours of Austin
Runners already know that the best way to see a city is on foot.
You see things at ground level, at your own pace and you get an understanding of a city’s layout. Training for the marathon a few years ago made me realize that running from Allendale all the way downtown and back wasn’t impossible at all, or trotting a loop from East Austin to Ben White Boulevard might actually be fun.
That’s why I love the concept of City Running Tours.
You might remember the company offered running tours here from 2008 to 2010.
I wrote about the tours at the time, and joined tour guide (and ultra runner) Russell Secker for a run that took us from the Driskill Hotel to the State Capitol to the University of Texas campus. I ran at a comfortable pace, and we paused periodically while Secker imparted cool tidbits and historical facts I never knew about Austin. When we finished, I’d knocked out a workout and packed my brain full of Austin trivia.
The tours were suspended here two years ago.
Saturday, they return, with new routes and new themed runs.
To celebrate, City Running Tours is hosting a kick-off party from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Texas Running Company, 1011 W. Fifth Street. Come dressed for a free historic run around Austin. After the run, there will be pizza, drinks and free schwag.
The company offers pre-planned routes, including a downtown historical run, an Austin music run and a parks/bat colony run. Customized tours also are available.
Individual running tours in Austin begin at $60 for the first six miles and are $6 for each additional mile. Each tour includes a bottle of water; a Clif bar, digital photos along the route, a City Running Tours T-shirt and a City Running Tours goody bag filled with running essentials. A portion of proceeds from each run is donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
The cost is $25 per person for 5K runs ($30 for 5K beer runs); $40 per person for 10K runs ($45 for 10K beer runs); or $60 for custom tours, plus $6 for each additional mile (discounts for groups of four or more.)
City Running Tours operates in other major U.S. cities, too. If you’re traveling to New York, San Francisco and Chicago, you can check out the city’s most notable landmarks while you’re getting your daily exercise.
Pretty cool!
For more information go here.
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February 15, 2012
Last minute marathon, half and 5K news for Sunday
Marathon runners get notoriously twitchy in the days preceding the big race.
That’s why LiveStrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon organizers have scheduled a Shake Out session at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Stevie Ray Vaughan statue on the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake. Members of the Austin Track Club, including Olympian Leo Manzano of Austin, will join Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso and Dick Beardsley for a little loosening up and some great racing tips.
Don’t forget packet pickup, too.
The expo will run from 3-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. Check the schedule here for details on the speaker and musician lineup for each day.
And, finally, here’s your Sunday schedule:
Want to participate but a marathon or half marathon isn’t in the stars this time?
The sixth annual Paramount Break-A-Leg 5K will take place Sunday in conjunction with those longer races, and a portion of proceeds benefits the historic Paramount and Stateside Theatres.
The race starts at 7:30 a.m. 16th Street and Congress Avenue and ends at the finish line of the marathon and half marathon. Entry fee is $37 through 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. There is no race day registration. Online registration closes at midnight Friday here. Packet pickup coincides with that for the marathon and half marathon.
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February 14, 2012
LiveStrong Austin Marathon factoids
It’s marathon week!
At 7 a.m. Sunday, a combined 18,000 runners will line up on Congress Avenue for the LiveStrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon.
Some interesting factoids about the Austin race:
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February 9, 2012
Free app lets you track runners at LiveStrong Austin Marathon
If you’re planning to cheer on a runner at this year’s LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, listen up.
A free mobile application will let you track runners in real time, read the event’s Twitter feed for the latest race news, view interactive course maps, search race results and share them via FaceBook.
You can also see the race expo schedule, check a finish line food trailer guide, view a visitor’s guide from austin360.com and stay up to date with the weekend event schedule.
The best part? Runners don’t have to carry a smart phone for someone to track them because the system isn’t GPS based.
Instead, the app uses timing data to show the runner’s approximate location and estimated arrival times at recommended spectator areas along the course.
Fans can also view their runner’s current pace and split times, as well as find themselves on the map to see where they are relative to the runner’s current location.
The mobile app, created by Austin-based Brilliant Solutions Inc. and sponsored by RadioShack, is available as a free download from the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace.
To see a demo of the tracking system, go here.
(Photo above by Ashley Landis)
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February 8, 2012
Mutt Marathon teams shelter dogs, runners for race
The only thing better than running a marathon? Running a marathon with a team of dogs, of course!
On Sunday, teams of runners can provide some much needed exercise for shelter dogs at the same time they knock off their weekend miles during the Austin Pets Alive! Mutt Marathon and Half-Marathon Relay.
Teams of two to five runners will partner with APA! shelter dogs and set off on relay legs adding up to approximately 26.2 miles. The legs will vary in distance from 3 to 5 miles, all on the Lady Bird Lake Trail. Pooch teammates will be selected by lottery, and runners will swap dogs on each loop.
Teams will be timed, but can toodle at Basset Hound pace or move at Greyhound speed, limited only by trail safety, the dogs’ and runners’ ability, and the dogs’ (and runners’) need to sniff things or pee, says organizer Rob Hill, head of Team Spiridon, which is sponsoring the event along with Hill Country Running Co.
Pre-race orientation is at 9 a.m. The marathon and half marathon relays will start at 9:30. (Starts may be staggered if there’s a large turnout.) Entry fee is a donation to Austin Pets Alive! Because of a limited pool of dogs, interested teams should contact Rob Hill at rob@teamspiridon.org to register.
Meanwhile, Hill will run his second annual solo marathon with four APA! dogs, as part of his own fund-raising for Team Spiridon. Those wanting to put in more distance can grab a dog and run a six-legged-leg with him.
To donate to Rob’s Double Dog Dare Ya, go here.
The Mutt Marathon grew out of Austin Pets Alive!’s Jog-A-Dog program, which allows people to check out shelters dog for a jog or run.
“APA!’s really great about getting dogs out several times a day and they have play time, but they really need exercise,” says Rob Hill, head of the Team Spiridon running group and an APA volunteer. “That’s what Jog-a-Dog is set up for.”
To participate in Jog-A-Dog, volunteers attend a 30-minute orientation session at the new APA! facility, formerly the Town Lake Animal Shelter. After completing the orientation, they can take a dog for a run or walk around Lady Bird Lake. Participants get discounts at Hill Country Running Co. and Bettysport.
“What we’re trying to do is get a range of people from walkers to runners, so the dogs are getting exercise on a consistent basis,” Hill says. You can even check out a recumbent tricycle donated by Fire Cracker Dog, attach a dog to it and go for a cruise.
The Jog-A-Dog orientation schedule is posted on the Jog-A-Dog and Austin Pets Alive! pages on Facebook.
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January 30, 2012
Reveling in the post 3M Half Marathon high
I’m reveling in a little post-half marathon muscle soreness today, but it’s nothing compared with how my legs felt after that 25K trail race at Big Bend National Park two weeks ago.
So. Thoughts on the 3M Half Marathon & Relay, which did some tinkering with its route this year?
What did you think of the race — and the new course? Other thoughts? Who did the relay? Did the exchange site along Great Northern Boulevard work for you?
Congratulations on your finish, runners!
Results are posted here.
(That’s me and my neighbor, Chris Bell, after finishing the race. Below is long-time Austin runner Keith Boone making his way along Shoal Creek. And that’s me with my gigantic finisher’s medal, suitable for cooking.)
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January 25, 2012
Ready for Sunday's big run
My quads have recovered from the Big Bend Ultra 25K, so it’s time to run across the city again, as fast as I can.
The weather looks good for Sunday’s 3M Half Marathon & Relay: A low of 38 and high of 60, with sunny skies.
Look for me among the crowd of 6,000 at the start line. I’ll be wearing a tie-dyed shirt and a white cap.
Need last minute details?
Packet pickup is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Norris Conference Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane, behind Northcross Shopping Center. Bring a photo ID.
The race starts on Stonelake Boulevard near Baby Acapulco Restaurant at 6:45 a.m. Sunday. Organizers suggest arriving between 5:45 a.m. and 6:15 a.m.
Buses will shuttle runners from the finish line at the Texas State History Museum to the starting line starting at 8 a.m.
Enjoy your run!
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January 23, 2012
Runners: Please light up!
The other morning as I was biking to swim practice, I came upon a string of runners on Shoal Creek Boulevard.
They were running north in the quasi bike and parking lane.
Not a single one of the half dozen or so runners was wearing a light or had reflective material on their clothing. Most were wearing dark colors.
Thank goodness my husband yelled at me, “See the runners?”
I didn’t.
I’ve got a recurring nightmare that involves me either hitting a cyclist or pedestrian with my car or crashing into someone with my bike. (I’ve also got one that involves me getting hit, and that’s why I wear a fluorescent vest and tons of lights when I bike.)
I know lots of Austin runners are preparing for the upcoming marathon. You’re out early or late, logging the miles after dark.
Please make yourself visible!
Here are a few websites to get you started:
Brooks makes a great line of gear called Nightlights. Check it out here. The picture above shows me wearing the Nightlights vest that I bike in.
A new product called Knucklelights is designed to be worn on runners’ hands. Pretty cool.
REI and local running stores carry clip-on lights that can be attached to caps or shirts.
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January 19, 2012
Behind the scenes at 3M Half Marathon packet stuffing
Visiting 3M during packet stuffing for upcoming 3M Half Marathon & Relay last week was sort of like stopping by Santa’s workshop.
Big cartons of tape, Post-It notes, knee braces and lint rollers.
Industrious employees, carefully loading items into small string backpacks.
One young volunteer, lamenting the fact that he’s an elf and not a dentist.
OK, I made that last part up. But I did get a happy, magical feeling when I swept through the room where employee volunteers were busy at work last week, loading 3M products into bags for runners who have registered for the Jan. 29 race.
“They’re the best bags of any of the runs they’ve ever done, that’s what people tell me,” electrical engineer Bill Taylor said as he dropped a protein cookie into his final, 1,500th bag of the day.
(That’s Taylor, comfortably resting in a bin of Post-It Notes, in the photo above.)
Taylor has helped stuff bags for 18 years and counting. He used to run the race, too, but traded the excitement of crossing the finish line for the thrill of tossing blister pads and flexible sanding pads into the packets, named “Best Schwag” by Runner’s World in January 2008.
“I’m not sure which is harder, spending two hours here or running the race,” said Jonathan Haggar, an engineer in the company’s manufacturing group, as he wrapped up a two-hour shift.
Each bag contains eight products, plus literature and a protein cookie. Not every bag is the same.
Eager to get your hands on your stash? The race has sold out, but if you’re already registered, you can get your bag during packet pickup, scheduled for 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Norris Conference Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane‚ Suite 365 - behind Northcross Shopping Center.
For more information about the run, go here.
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January 18, 2012
Everclear to perform at Austin10/20 race
Does music motivate you to run faster?
Check out the Austin10/20, a 10-mile race making its Austin debut on April 15. Race organizers announced today that Everclear will perform at the finish line of the event, which will also feature 20 local bands performing on stages every half mile along the race course.
Everclear, an Oregon-based band known for hits that include “Wonderful” and “Father of Mine,” will perform at 10:45 a.m., as the feature act on the main stage at the finish line party. The concert is free for all runners, spectators and volunteers.
The full musical lineup will be posted here.
The race starts and finishes at The Domain shopping center. The course is flat and fast, organizers say.
Registration is capped at 10,000 runners and features $23,000 in guaranteed prize money and $20,000 in bonuses. Organizers say they expect the event to sell out.
To sign up for the run, go here.
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January 17, 2012
We tamed the Big Bend Ultra trail race!
My quads feel like a rubber band overstretched to the point of snapping and a couple of big red scratches adorn my rump from a close encounter with a yucca plant during a desert pee break, but I can’t wipe the grin off my face.
My first trail race, the 25K version of the Big Bend Ultra, goes down in history as my favorite foot race ever.
Really, what could be better than running through the flat lands of Big Bend National Park?
The race, a fund-raiser for The Friends of Big Bend National Park, took place Sunday. The course followed Glenn Springs Road through the southeastern portion of the sprawling West Texas park. (There’s also a 10K and 50K version of the race.)
My friend Marcy Stellfox (that’s her on the left with me, at top) joined me for the run. Early Sunday, my husband dropped us off at the start line. Temperatures were in the 40s — perfect for the roughly 16-mile run.
After a grinding 3-mile uphill along a gravel road, the course more or less smoothed out. Trotting along the double-track, we took in sweeping vistas all the way to the mountains across the Rio Grande.
The desert might look stark and desolate from a roaring car, but when you’re running through it, you notice the variety. We wove our way through land bristling with prickly pear, creosote and ocotillo, admiring canyons with rock layers in all shades of ochre, maroon and gray.
I had worried in the days leading up to the race that I hadn’t done enough off-road training. Most of my running had been on paved roads, with only a few trail runs.
In the end, I was fine. We started slow, and kept a conservative pace. I felt strong all the way to the finish.
Although it’s off-road, the terrain wasn’t terribly technical. Instead of zipping along twisty single-track trails, we ran along roads suitable for four-wheel drive vehicles. Parts of the route were rocky, but much was nearly as smooth as the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
Even so, by the end of the run I was happy to climb into a shuttle bus for the 45-minute ride to Rio Grande Village campground, where organizers set up a post-race meal of grilled chicken, jambalaya, sweet potatoes and green beans.
Today, I’m hobbling at a slower-than-normal pace.
But I’m happy. And I’ve already made plans to enter next year’s Big Bend Ultra.
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January 10, 2012
Am I ready for the Big Bend Ultra?
This Sunday, I’ll be scampering through the desert, dodging cactus and (hopefully) managing to stay out of reach of any resident mountain lions or bears.
I’m signed up for the 25K version of the Big Bend Ultra, a trail race in Big Bend National Park that raises money for The Friends of Big Bend National Park. It’ll be my first off-road race.
Am I ready? I don’t know.
A 25K is a little less than 16 miles. If this was a road race, I’d feel confident that I’d logged enough miles to make my way comfortably through it. But this is off road, and most of my training has been on pavement.
Oh, I’ve done a few trail runs, including one at Big Bend National Park back in November, when I spotted a black bear along the way. I love running off road, because I get so wrapped up in the scenery that I don’t realize how far I’ve traveled.
I’ve also done a half dozen or so runs on a ranch west of Abilene. (That’s where these photos were taken.)
That’s where I put in my latest runs, over the New Year’s holiday. I wove my way through a small herd of cattle, who chewed their cuds and slobbered as I trotted past. They seemed befuddled.
High overhead, a flock of geese flapped their way across the sky in a huge V formation. A squadron of ducks quacked and flushed out of the brush when I ran by the creek.
My plan, come Sunday, is to lose myself, again, in the surroundings.
I don’t care how long the run takes. I don’t care that I’ll be walking part of the distance.
I can’t wait for that flush of happiness I know will come just from being able to run in such a beautiful setting.
LAST MINUTE DETAILS:
So far, the weather looks ideal. The long-range forecast shows low 34 and high of 61 with mostly sunny skies and low winds.
If you’re headed to Big Bend for the race, you’re in luck. Jan. 14-16 is a fee-free weekend at Big Bend National Park.
Here are last minute details for runners:
Packet pickup is 4-6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday at Panther Junction Park Headquarters. The HAM pre-race dinner and pre-race Q&A is at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Rio Grande Village campground. Cost for jambalaya is $10. Final packet pickup is from 5-8 p.m. Saturday at Rio Grande Village campground. No race day packet pickup is scheduled
Here’s the Sunday race schedule:
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January 4, 2012
Great apes to take to Austin streets for Gorilla Run
Really, what could be more fun than racing through the streets of Austin in a gorilla suit?
I can’t think of thing. (Pass me a banana, would ya?)
On Jan. 21, apes will run wild through downtown Austin, and we’re not talking about a zoo break-out or filming for another Planet of the Apes movie.
Hundreds of runners in full gorilla costumes will tear through the streets when the Austin Gorilla Run gets under way at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. The 5K run, which raises money and awareness for the endangered mountain gorilla, starts and finishes on the First Street bridge at Riverside Drive.
Registration is $99.95 for adults, $50 for returning gorillas or $45 for little gorillas, and covers the cost of a gorilla suit, which each participant gets to keep, plus brunch catered by Fado Irish Pub and an after party featuring music by local funk-rock band, Achachay.
A portion of proceeds benefits The Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, educating veterinarians and park rangers and creating jobs in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Registration is available here or from 7-8:30 a.m. on-site the day of the event.
The run even has its own beer — Silverback Pale Ale, brewed by Thirsty Planet Brewing Company. A portion of proceeds from sales goes to the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. (Drink beer, save gorillas!)
The brew is available at Abel’s on the Lake, Baker Street Bar and Grill, The Barber Shop in Dripping Springs, Bender Bar & Grill, Black Sheep Lodge, Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery, Cedar Door, Dancing Bear in New Braunfels, Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant, Fion Wine Pub in Bee Cave, Hopfields, Kingdom Austin Night Club, Little Woodrow’s, Nasty’s, Red’s Porch, Snack Bar, Star Bar, The Tavern and Whip In.
For more information about the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, go here.
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December 28, 2011
Why running socks matter
And I thought socks were just soft little covers for my feet …
Curious why one company could possibly need to offer 10 different types of running socks (and that doesn’t include their tennis socks, walking socks, golf socks, ski socks, hiking socks or hockey socks), I got a quick primer from Gus Blythe, the founder and president of Drymax.
If you blindfolded a runner, didn’t let her look at her feet and had her run a 10K, I asked Blythe, could she tell the difference between, say, hyper thin running socks and hot weather running socks?
Maybe or maybe not, Blythe says. But the farther the distance the runner is going, and the worse the weather conditions, the more important sock selection becomes.
That’s why Drymax makes cold weather running socks, trail running socks, maximum protection trail running socks, maximum protection running socks, lite trail running socks, running lite-mesh socks, hyper thin running socks, triathlete socks and hot weather running socks in addition to its (plain ole) running socks.
Now, I’m a believer in buying good socks. They can prevent blisters.
A while back I hiked 27 miles around Lake Georgetown with the Sun City Hiking Club. I hobbled away with the worst blisters I’ve ever had. Part of my problem was my shoes. But socks played into my comfort level, too.
Since then (and thanks to some of the folks in that group) I’ve adopted my own plan for combatting blisters, and it involves Injinji toe socks (yes, they look ridiculous, but I don’t care) and Two Tom’s anti-blister powder (amazing stuff, but incredibly messy, especially when you’re trying to spoon it into your socks while squatting inside a tent in the back country.)
That’s kept my feet happy on multi-day backpacking trips through Glacier National Park and the Desolation Wilderness. And Thorlo running socks got me through a marathon just fine.
But if you believe Blythe, Drymax makes the most technical socks on the planet. They can probably even solve quadratic equations.
Moisture, friction and heat are the big culprit when it comes to blisters.
With Drymax socks, Blythe says, moisture doesn’t stick to the inner layer of the sock. The material is hydrophobic — it hates water. Drymax fibers on the outside of the sock then squeegee sweat off the skin. That’s better than mere wicking, he says.
“If you take one of our socks and turn it inside out and put drop of water in the heel, it will repel it like water on a Teflon pan. The socks hate the moisture. But if you drop water onto the outside of the sock, it grabs it and spreads it out,” Blythe says.
So what’s the difference between all 10 kinds of socks, and do people really need them?
Some basic things.
Trail running socks don’t have any mesh in them, because mesh, while cooling, allows dirt to work its way in. And trail runners get dirty feet. They’re beefier than regular running socks, too. Drymax trail running socks have Drymax fibers in the legs, so you can run through creeks without getting water logged. And finally, trail socks are dark, so dirt doesn’t show and you don’t need to bleach them, which can ruin the moisture management fibers.
The company’s “maximum protection” socks (for road runners and trail runners) are injected with something called expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, which is sort of like Teflon, which you’d use to keep eggs from sticking to cookware. It helps keep your feet dry and prevent blisters, Blythe says.
Finding the right sock, Blythe says, also has a lot to do with personal preference when it comes to thickness. Some runners like to run in thinner socks. Some like more cushion. That’s why there are so many options.
The hot weather sock is the most technical in the lineup. It’s got vents. It’s got the Teflon coating. It’s also got an amped up pricetag — it costs $16 compared to the running lite mesh, which is a thin, airy number and costs about half that. There’s also the hyper thin running sock.
All this from a guy who confesses that he’s got a library full of books about fiber technology. His favorite is “Fiber Science,” which is even better, he says, than “Fiber Surface Energy” and “The Surface Science of Fibers.”
The bottom line: If you’re going to run just a mile or two, you could do it in an ordinary cotton sock. But if you’re going to run a long distance, a technical sock will keep your feet more comfortable.
One thing Drymax doesn’t make, by the way? Socks for couch potatoes.
“If you could perspire profusely and sit on a couch you’d have wet feet with Drymax,” Blythe says.
It’s enough to make your toes curl.
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December 26, 2011
3M Half Marathon has best goodie bags
I got a sneak peak at the 3M Half Marathon & Relay goodie bags recently.
It’s crazy. They look like an Office Depot store exploded into a plastic bag.
The race, in case you didn’t know, is famous for what it hands out to people who register. In 2008, Runner’s World Magazine named it “Best Schwag.”
Think Post It notes, tape, band-aids, glue, scouring pads, cleaning wipes, ankle or knee braces, ear plugs and more.
Last year, 3M gave out the equivalent of 80 miles ofScotch Crystal Clear tape and 154 gallons of Scotch® Strong & Precise Glue.
Sign up for the race and you could open your own business and stock it with office supplies.
Race organizers say the goodie bags are valued at about $100 — $80 in products and $20 in coupons. Each bag has a different collection of stuff in it.
Race organizers say they’ll have a donation station at packet pickup, for any runners who want to donate their stash to a school or non-profit organization.
Here’s the breakdown of a sample bag:
The 2012 race, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29, is capped at 6,000 runners. Register online here.
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December 16, 2011
Running in the rain
Add this to the reasons to keep on running, even if it’s raining outside: It makes you feel tough.
My running buddy and I stuck to our plan to tackle some hills on Thursday morning, despite a steady rain and a gusty north wind.
It’s not that we really wanted to run in the rain, at first. If either one of us had suggested it, we’d have called it off. But that’s the beauty of a running buddy — you’re accountable to someone, so you don’t skip the run.
We set out at 6:20 a.m., unsure how far we’d go.
Turns out we made our whole run.
The rain can’t stop you, it just gives you an excuse not to run — if you let it. Don’t bow to the temptation, and you’ll be just fine.
It was a little harder to hear each other talk, thanks to the raindrop-splashed hoods tugged over our heads. Trotting through 2-inch deep puddles quickly turned our running shoes into water-logged sponges, too.
But the running, really, didn’t change. One foot in front of the other.
We ran the hills of River Place neighborhood, dancing around mucky spots, tipping our heads back to thank the skies for the watery gift now and then, and logged a blissful if blustery 7 miles.
Besides rain-soaked shoes, we got to wallow in a little bit of pride when it was over.
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December 15, 2011
LiveStrong extends marathon partnership until 2020
![609003__12R3658[1].jpg](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2011/12/609003__12R3658%5B1%5D.jpg)
It looks like the LiveStrong — Austin Marathon relationship is going to stick.
LiveStrong officials announced today that they have extended their partnership with the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon until 2020.
LiveStrong, the non-profit organization founded by seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong to help people living with cancer, teamed up with the marathon for the first time last year, adding its name to a race that’s been staged in Austin since 1992.
Race director John Conley says the partnership means more local and international interest — and thus a higher level of competition — for the race, which is now the 23rd largest marathon in the United States.
LiveStrong officials say the partnership will drive $120 million into the Austin economy over the 10-year partnership.
“We think it’s an awesome event and so much more than just a race,” says Doug Ulman, president of LiveStrong. “It’s something that will drive economic development and philanthropy for the city and we’re thrilled about it.”
In 2011, 500 runners participated in the event as part of Team LiveStrong, raising donations for foundation as they ran. The program raised a collective $350,000 for LiveStrong.
“We expect that number to continue to grow every year,” Ulman said. “It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that we raise $500,000 to $1 million every year.”
Since its inception, the race has generated more than $6 million for other Austin non-profits, much of it through its 26 Miles for 26 Charities program. Through that program, representatives of Central Texas non-profit organizations man water stops along the race route and earn proceeds raised by charity runners participating in the race.
Charities participating in the 26 Miles program in 2012 are ACTIVE Life Movement; Blue Dog Rescue; Boys & Girls Club of the Austin Area; Capital of Texas Team Survivor; Caring Family Network; Catholic Charities of Central Texas; Colin’s Hope; Con MI MADRE; Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America; CureDuchenne; Girls on the Run of Austin; Hand to Hold; Hill Country Conservancy; LIVESTRONG; Manos de Cristo; Odyssey School; Pancreatic Cancer Action Network; Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas; Round Rock school district’s Project Graduation 5K; Seton Southwest Hospital; Spirit Reins; Superhero Kids; Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure benefiting Komen Austin; Sustainable Food Center; Team Spiridon; and The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music.
LiveStrong has no current plans to partner with any other marathons, Ulman says, adding that the concept has strong potential.
If you’re running this year, take a close look around.
Armstrong plans to run again in 2012, although he hasn’t said if he’ll be doing the marathon or half marathon. Ulman will serve as pace setter for the 4-hour group.
This year’s LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon is set for Feb. 19. Registration is open here.
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December 13, 2011
3M Half Marathon course changes
Race organizers have unveiled a slightly different route for the 2012 3M Half Marathon and Relay.
Don’t freak out, course lovers. The race, scheduled for Jan. 29, is still a downhill, point-to-point race. Since it starts at an elevation of 860 feet and finishes at 545 feet, it’s still ideal for setting a personal record.
The race still starts on Stonelake Boulevard, near the York Boulevard intersection. Instead of crossing Highway 183 and meeting up with Mesa Drive, though, runners will head north to Braker Lane, where they’ll head east and cross Loop 1 MoPac.
From there they’ll head south, tracing Shoal Creek Boulevard and Great Northern Boulevard before shifting east again along 45th Street to Duval Street. The new route finishes on Congress Avenue near the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, instead of at Waterloo park.
Race organizers changed the course because of scheduled construction at the park.
Also new this year?
A health and fitness expo that will coincide with packet pick up at the Norris Conference Center, 2525 West Anderson Lane, Suite 365, behind Northcross Mall.
The 2012 race benefits Communities In Schools of Central Texas, which provides campus-based programs to empower students to stay in school.
Registration for the race is open. Nearly 4,000 people have signed up; registration is capped at 6,000 runners.
To register go here.
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November 30, 2011
'Run Like the Wind' pays for training so dogs stay out of shelter
Nothing lands a dog in a shelter faster than a behavior problem.
Dog owners, unable to pay for training to correct bad behavior, give up their pets. In this economy, it’s happening more and more often.
The Schrodi Memorial Training Fund, a scholarship program administered by Animal Trustees of Austin, provides scholarships that help people pay for training so they can keep their dogs at home and out of shelters.
A fund-raiser Saturday will raise money for the fund with a slate of running events.
The “Run Like the Wind” event includes a chip-timed 3, 6, 9, 12 or 24-hour solo run or relay, a 5K run, a 5K walk and a Kids K. Dogs can join their owners in the 5K run or walk.
The runs will take place on the soft mulched running trail at the Canine Center for Training and Behavior just north of the Y in Oak Hill. Besides the run, an auction, food by professional chef Sam Voltaggio and massages for tired pooches are planned.
Event fees range from $15 to $315. Register online or at the event.
The 5K run and 5K walk start at 8 a.m. Dec. 3. The Kids K starts at 10 a.m. and the long distance events begin at 10:30 a.m.
The non-profit Schrodi Fund was created in 2008 by Shari Elkins in memory of her dog Schrodi, whose rowdy behavior led her into dog training. It is open to all dogs, regardless of age or breed. In 2010, “Run Like the Wind” awarded 80 training scholarships. Selection criteria are based on financial need and the type of training needed.
The program has a 95 percent success rate in keeping dogs in their homes.
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November 25, 2011
Run the Austin Marathon with Team LiveStrong
Need a little motivation to train for the LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon on Feb. 19? How about the 28 million people living with cancer?
LiveStrong, the Austin non-profit created to help survivors, is inviting runners to join Team LiveStrong.
Participating athletes get paid race entry into the full or half marathon, Team LiveStrong Dri-Fit shirt and cap, fund-raising support, and a pre-race brunch and post-race party.
A Team LiveStrong happy hour is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30 at the Tap Room at Six Lounge, 117 W. Fourth Street. Organizers will share information about the program, and happy hour specials will be offered.
Another Team LiveStrong event is scheduled for Jan. 1 at Texas Running Company, 9901 North Capital of Texas Highway, on Jan. 1. Experts will provide training tips, New Year’s resolutions, fund-raising and more. Giveaways and food are also planned.
Registration for Team LiveStrong is $35; participants must raise at least $500 for LiveStrong.
Don’t want to actually run the race? There’s a virtual participation option, too.
Last year, Team LiveStrong runners raised more than $335,000.
For more information, email teamlivestrong@livestrong.org or call (512) 279-8407.
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November 18, 2011
Running with bears at Big Bend National Park
I’ve dodged deer, hopped over toads and spotted snakes while running. But Tuesday, I saw a black bear.
I’d gone for an early run at Big Bend National Park with my friend Katie Ryan. I’m signed up for the Big Bend Ultra 25K on Jan. 15, so I thought I’d get in some practice while I was at the park working on some stories for the newspaper.
We headed out from the lodge at the Chisos Basin, heading up the trail toward Emory Peak. I’m not used to running off-road, so the going was slow as I scrambled over rocks and logs, pausing now and then to catch my breath and look out at how the rising sun was lighting up the hillsides.
We ran to where the switchbacks started, then turned back. At about 8:30 a.m., we stopped to chat with a man coming up the trail. He told us that he’d just seen a black bear feeding in a tree a ways down the trail.
I’ve spent a lot of time hiking the trails at Big Bend National Park, but I’ve never been lucky enough to see a bear — only bear scat and tracks.
We crunched along the trail for another mile, then I pulled up short when I noticed about five deer standing off to the side of the trail. We paused to admire them, and that’s when Katie noticed the dark, furry animal standing just behind the deer, about 35 yards from us.
A black bear!
The deer didn’t seem at all concerned by the bear, and the bear didn’t seem at all concerned by either the deer or me and Katie. His perky, tortilla-sized ears rotated toward us, keeping tabs on what was happening.
Our bear was smallish — about the size of a fat St. Bernard or a sofa ottoman. It was definitely smaller than a Smart Car, and not nearly as intimidating as the bears that sometimes make appearances in my pre-backpacking trip nightmares.
We stood and watched for 10 minutes before it ambled slowly down the trail ahead of us, stopped now and then to glance over its shoulder.
Oddly, the deer followed along, a safe distance. An animal entourage! Pretty soon, they were out of sight.
We picked up a couple of big rocks, just in case, and slowly made our way down the trail.
The Chisos Mountain Basin at Big Bend National Park is home to a small population of Mexican black bears. Scientists say the habitat in the basin can support about 30 adults. Read more about the black bears’ return to the park here.
Back at the basin, we headed to the ranger station, where we reported our bear sighting. We got to place a bear sighting sticker on a park map, and a ranger filled out a bear sighting certificate for each of us.
I feel incredibly lucky to have spotted one, finally!
Only problem? Who carries a camera when they run?
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November 10, 2011
Race for the Cure fund-raising numbers down
Fund-raising from this year’s Komen Austin Race for the Cure is lagging significantly behind last year.
With just a few days to go before the event, organizers say they’ve raised just 35 percent of their $1.5 million fund-raising goal. At this time last year, the non-profit organization had raised 61 percent of its $1.2 million goal.
Funds raised through the race are used to provide free mammograms, diagnostic exams, medical services and emotional support for Central Texans dealing with breast cancer.
“If we go from being able to grant out $1 million to just $500,000, that’s a significant amount of services that will not be available,” says Christy Casey-Moore, executive director of the Austin affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. “If we don’t rally together as a community and raise this money, who’s going to? We owe it to our neighbors, moms, sisters and daughters to be able to provide these services.”
Up to 75 percent of money raised by Komen Austin stays in the organization’s five-county service area of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Williamson and Travis counties. The remaining 25 percent goes to national research for breast cancer.
Last year, Komen Austin granted more than $1 million to health care organizations that provide free services to uninsured and underinsured men and women. So far this year, the organization already has provided more than 1,100 mammograms, Casey-Moore says.
Sunday’s race, which brings a never-ending stream of pink to the city, is moving back downtown after two years at The Domain. The timed 5K run begins at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Congress Avenue and 16th Street. Untimed participants can start anytime between 8 and 10 a.m.
Haven’t signed up? Race day registration is $40 for adults or $30 for children. Chip timing is an additional $5 for timed participants.
The registration fee mainly covers the cost of putting on the race. Donations are needed to fund the non-profit agency’s programs.
Packet pickup is from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 10-12 on the second floor of St. David’s North Austin Medical Center, 12221 North Loop 1 (Mopac).
Don’t want to run but still want to support Komen? Register for Sleep In for the Cure for $50. The organization accepts donations year round on its website.
For more information about the race, go here.
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October 31, 2011
LiveStrong Austin Marathon to award two scholarships
The LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon will award two $5,000 college scholarships to student athletes.
One male and one female cross country or track student athlete from the Austin area will be chosen based on academic performance, leadership skills and commitment to community service.
Winners will be picked in May 2012.
Recipients will be encouraged to volunteer during their freshman year of college with one of the non-profit organizations associated with “26 Miles for 26 Charities,” a philanthropy program of the marathon.
Applications must include a copy of the applicant’s high school transcript and a coach’s letter of recommendation. All applications must be postmarked by March 1, 2012.
For applications and more information go here. youraustinmarathon.com/scholarship.
That marathon, by the way? It’s scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012 in downtown Austin. For more information, go here: www.youraustinmarathon.com
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October 18, 2011
Running builds friendships as it burns calories
One of the best things about running is the way it builds friendships.
You can’t run with someone without winding up knowing all the best kinds of things about them.
It starts with a little joyful complaining. Who really wants to get up at 5:30 a.m. and run down a street in the dark, after all? Wouldn’t we all rather be in bed?
But we know it’s good for us, and so we do it. And then slowly, over days and weeks and months and years, we learn to love running.
When you run alongside someone, you hear about all those mundane things that runners obsess about, like shoes and pace and digestive ailments and cramps. You also learn their hopes, their worries and their dreams.
Pretty soon you crave the run, and it’s not just about the exercise. It’s about the friendship and sharing time with someone you care about. Suddenly it’s a lot easier to push yourself up a hill.
Did you run this morning? I did.
We ran before dawn, as the first cool front of the season slid in, all blustery breath and crispy airborne leaves.
This run wasn’t about the 7 hilly miles, though. It was about hashing out rough edges in a friendship that has felt lately like it was slipping away with all those blowing leaves.
The whipping wind fit the mood.
My running buddy and I argued for 10 minutes straight.
The wind blasted in response. The hills beneath our feet slipped away, unnoticed.
Then something shifted.
The temperature dropped. The edge of the sky brightened along an orange seam, like someone pulling back the curtain on a whole new day.
And that frayed spot in our friendship felt like it mended, just a little bit.
I love the run. It always makes things better.
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October 17, 2011
100-year-old man finishes marathon
So you think you’re too old to run a marathon? Tell that to Fauja Singh, who finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon this weekend.
Singh, aka the Turbaned Tornado, is 100 years old. The bearded runner crossed the finish line of the 26.2-mile race wearing a bright yellow turban, a group of supporters in matching yellow T-shirts at his side.
It took him more than eight hours, but who’s counting? He did it, under his own power, becoming the oldest marathoner in the world.
I’m blown away.
Singh was born in India in 1911. He ran his first marathon at age 89. He’s now got eight under his belt.
His secrets? No booze, no meat, lots of veggies and regular walks or runs of up to 10 miles.
The next time you feel like you can’t finish your run, think of Singh and his yellow turban.
Read more and watch a video here.
(Photo above by Associated Press).
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October 13, 2011
Young cancer survivor gears up for LiveStrong 5K
The last time Parker Yax did the LiveStrong 5K, he crossed the finish line riding in the back of a pedicab.
That was two years ago. This time, Parker plans to walk and run all 3.1 miles on his own, something that seemed all but impossible not that long ago.
Parker, 8, was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer, when he was 5. Surgeons removed a malignant tumor in 2009, and Parker underwent 30 days of radiation and a year and a half of chemotherapy.
The surgery left Parker, who attends Laurel Mountain Elementary School, with hemiparesis, a type of temporary paralysis on one side of the body. He had to relearn how to walk, run and use the whole left side of his body, says his mother, Sandra Yax.
Now he’s ready to tackle a 5K on his own.
“He’s going to run some of it and walk some of it,” Sandra Yax said. “He’s totally excited. There are a lot of great people out there and a lot of support. He loves going out and not being restricted in anyway.”
Parker and Sandra will be part of the Survivor’s Challenge team from Dell Children’s Medical Center.
The 5K is part of the Team LiveStrong Challenge Austin weekend, which also includes a 20-, 45-, 65- or 90-mile bike ride through the Hill Country on Sunday.
Last year’s events raised $3.1 million for the LiveStrong Foundation, which works to improve the lives of the 28 million people living with cancer.
There’s still time to register. Entry fee is $35 for the 5K or $50 for the bike ride (cycling participants also must raise $250 for LiveStrong.)
Packet picket for the 5K will take place from noon-7 p.m. Friday and 7-7:45 a.m. Saturday at La Zona Rosa, 612 W. Fourth Street. Cyclists can pick up packets from noon-7 p.m. Friday or 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at La Zona Rosa, or 6:30-7:30 a.m. Sunday at Roger Hanks Park in Dripping Springs, where the bike ride begins.
For more information go here.
(The photo above, provided by LiveStrong, shows, from left to right, Frankie and Valente Garcia with nurse Alyssa Tough and Parker Yax. Frankie and Parker are cancer survivors who are preparing to run the Team Survivor Challenge of the LiveStrong 5K.)
(The family photo below shows Parker with his pedicab before the 2009 LiveStrong 5K. He’s wearing “beads of courage” given to him by hospital staff. Each bead represents a different medical procedure he underwent during treatment. He collected two full necklaces.)
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October 12, 2011
Handling of race cancellation irks some runners
When the See Jane Run Half Marathon and 5K was cancelled last Sunday due to rain, not everyone cheered the much-needed thunderstorm and crawled back into bed like I did.
Some, angry that the event would not be rescheduled and entry fees wouldn’t be refunded, posted their disappointment on FaceBook and fired off irate emails to race organizers.
They’d trained for months, after all. And some had traveled across the country to run the race, which was being held in Austin for the first time. They were understandably bummed.
See Jane Run, along with the local race director, police and volunteer groups, made the call to cancel the race at 6 a.m. Sunday, an hour before it was to start, because of downpours, lightning and flooding.
“Safety was a major issue,” said See Jane Run owner Lori Shannon.”A lot of people were upset, but it was something we had to do for their safety.”
Shannon says the race could not be rescheduled because of the preparations needed to put on such an event. From picking a date that doesn’t conflict with other events to applying for a permit, arranging road closures, designing the course and certifying a barrier plan, it would have been impossible, she said.
“It’s an amazing amount of steps. It’s not something you just reschedule,” Shannon said.
Refunds couldn’t be issued because See Jane Run had already paid for everything, from chocolates and champagne for finishers to the timing guys. “There’s no money left over. We have spent every penny,” she said.
Still, some runners are furious. Several emailed me.
“If so many mistakes weren’t made leading up to the race, I wouldn’t have been so upset,” Laura Wright wrote, referencing an email from race organizers, sent the night before the event, apologizing because finishers medals had been lost by the company shipping them to Austin. She also said the course map that was posted on the race website was inaccurate. “Not to mention the course ran through the only bad part of Austin!”
The scheduled to start and finish in the Mueller neighborhood.
Kendra Arnold flew in from New Jersey for the race. She didn’t get word the race was cancelled until she drove to the event site.
“There was no way to contact anyone, nobody updated anything,” Arnold said. “I think the way they handled it was poor.”
Shannon says she feels bad for the runners. “I have a lot of empathy for those people,” she said. “To have it be cancelled after so many months of anticipation is brutal.”
But she says reaction was over the top.
“We’re having people swear at us on email, being awful and mean,” she said. “If we had screwed up I’d say fine, but we did nothing wrong but protect them from danger.”
Not everyone complained. Two women ran their half marathon on a treadmill at a hotel gym. Others did a 13.1-mile run later in the day, when the rain stopped.
A post-race party, featuring champagne and chocolates, was still held at a downtown hotel. The medals, Shannon said, will be donated to charity, and a portion of proceeds will still be donated to Con Mi Madre.
Those who registered can run any See Jane Run event in 2012 for $30, and anyone who didn’t get their T-shirt, goody bag, champagne glass or chocolate can email events@seejanerun.com to have them mailed.
Race organizers plan to bring the race to Austin next year.
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October 5, 2011
See Jane Run on Sunday
I’m not sure how this happened, exactly, but I’m excited that it did. (Actually, I do kind of know what happened. And it involved dinner and drinks at Max’s Wine Dive.)
I’m running the See Jane Run half marathon this Sunday at Mueller Lake Park in Austin.
No, I’m not quite in half marathon shape. I’ve done a few 7 milers lately, but haven’t built up to 13.1 yet.
I think that’s OK. I’m going to consider this a training run. I’m already signed up for a 25K trail run in Big Bend National Park in January, and this race will help get me there. So what if I walk portions of the See Jane Run course?
Besides, my friend Leilani Perry, race director for the event, promises I’ll get to eat chocolate and sip champagne after I tick off those miles. I am so in!
The half marathon (there’s also a 5K option and a 1-mile kids run) starts at 7 a.m.
A post race brunch will take place at La Condesa, 400A West 2nd Street. Drop by with your race bib and you’ll get a free glass of champagne with the purchase of anything on the brunch menu. (The Belmont was previously listed as the brunch location, but that restaurant has since closed.)
To get to the start at Mueller Lake Park, take Interstate 36 to the 52st Street exit. Take 51st Street east, then turn right onto Mueller Drive. At the traffic circle, veer left and turn onto Aldrich Street. Go one block, then turn right onto Simond Avenue. Continue down Simond and park in the field on your left. (Parking will not be permitted on any neighborhood streets; carpooling is encouraged.)
Entry fee is $95. The event benefits Con Mi Madre. Packet pickup is from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday at Courtyard Austin Downtown, 300 East 4th Street. Bring identification.
Volunteers are still needed.
To register or to sign up to volunteer, go here.
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September 21, 2011
Three big runs this weekend
Not one, not two, but three big runs top this weekend’s fitness schedule.
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August 29, 2011
Tips for Big Bend Ultra
I’ve never done an official trail race, but that will change in January when I line up for the start of the Big Bend Ultra.
I’m only doing the 25K version of the race, but a 50K and 10K also are offered.
I’m curious. How will it compare to running the same distance on the road?
I’ve run a full marathon and half a dozen or so half marathons. But this is on trail instead of pavement, and I’m sure it’ll be a whole new experience.
To get some tips before race day on Jan. 15, 2012, I stopped by an informational session at Whole Earth Provisions here in Austin. Race director Carol Voss filled us in on what to expect. Here are some of the most important tips I took away:
The informational meeting got me really fired up about the run, which raises money for the Friends of Big Bend National Park, a non-profit organization that works to maintain the park, located in far West Texas.
The 2012 race will mark the fifth edition of the Big Bend Ultra. Over the years, the race has raised more than $15,000 for trail maintenance.
Awards will be given for overall and masters winners, but not in age groups.
Registration fee is $125 for the 50K and 25K; $100 for the 10K. Race entry includes a post-race meal of chicken, beans and rice.
The 50K race will start at 7:30 a.m.; the 25K starts at 8:30 a.m.
Packets should be picked up at park headquarters at Panther Junction on Friday night or Saturday during the day, or at Rio Grande Village Saturday evening before 9 p.m.
Want to sign up? Both the 50K and 25K races are capped at 150 runners each, and the events are more than half filled already. There’s also a 10K, which is capped at 100 runners. For more information or to register, go to www.bigbend50.com.
(Photo above, from Big Bend Ultra, shows a runner crossing the finish line.)
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August 18, 2011
Zilker Relays set for Sept. 2
Got three running buddies? Grab ‘em and sign up for the Zilker Relays.
Teams of four in more than 30 divisions will blaze through Zilker Park on Friday, Sept. 2 to see who’s been training the hardest in this brutally hot summer.
Categories include families, college students, corporate teams, military and training groups. Specialty retail stores get their own division, so we’ll find out which Austin running shop has the most fleet-footed employees. There’s a costume contest, too.
It’s short — just 2.48 mile per leg of the adult race or 600 meters for each leg of the kids’ run. (And Barton Springs is just a hop away, so runners can reward themselves with a dip in the pool after the run.)
All relay legs start and finish at the same location near the Mopac footbridge on Stratford Road.
Entry fees range from $140 or $160 for most teams of four; high school teams pay $100 and kids teams cost $20. Registration will be capped at 250 teams.
There’s incentive for carpooling: Teams that designate a driver and promise to use just one car per team on race day get a Tacodeli coupon for each runner.
Packet pickup for the adult relays is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at Hops ‘n Grain, 507 Calles St., Suite 101. Packet pickup for the 1379 Kid’s Relay is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1 at 1379 Sports, 2727 Exposition Blvd., Suite 121. On-site packet pickup and registration will be from 4:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m Friday, Sept. 2.
The kids race will begin at 6 p.m.; the relays start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2.
If you’ve never been, know that the Zilker Relays isn’t just about the run. This year’s party features food from Tacodeli, beer from Hops ‘n Grain and music by Vallejo.
To register go here.
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August 16, 2011
High schools can get free registration for marathon relay
Heads up, high school runners and coaches.
Adidas is offering free registration and gear to the first 26 high school teams to register for a new high school challenge that is part of the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay on Sept. 25.
Registration for the adidas High School Challenge is open now at www.austinmarathonrelay.com and will close when 26 teams have signed up. (I bet that happens before sundown today!)
The relay is the largest fund-raiser for Junior Achievement of Central Texas. Teams of five run a collective marathon, broken into one 12K, two 10Ks and two 5Ks.
The first 26 high school teams that sign up for the race using “adidashsc” in the promo code box get free race entries, racing singlets, technical training T-shirts and shoes provided by adidas in honor of the 26.2 miles covered in a traditional marathon.
Runners on each team must all attend the same high school. Schools can register up to two teams each. Rogue Running, a local adidas distributor, will fit and equip the teams with apparel prior to the race.
The adidas HSC runners follow the same course as the Relay with a common exchange point at Auditorium Shores.
“Not only is this race a perfect opportunity for high school teams to jump-start their cross country season or do something fun with their friends, but the best part is that all the money raised for the event goes right back to supporting students like these with programs from Junior Achievement,” said Mikal Peveto, head of running at adidas America.
All proceeds from the 2011 Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay benefit Junior Achievement of Central Texas, which provides educational resources to teach students about personal finance and economics of businesses.
This year, Junior Achievement is encouraging each relay team to raise $500.
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August 15, 2011
Race for the Cure moving back downtown
After two years at The Domain in North Austin, the Komen Austin Race for the Cure is moving back downtown.
This year’s race is set for Nov. 13. The race will start on Congress Avenue at 18th Street, circle around the Capitol and finish at the intersection of 18th and Brazos Streets, according to a press release from the Komen Austin affiliate.
Money raised through the even fund grants to local hospitals and community organizations that deliver breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved men and women in Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, Hays and Bastrop counties.
Last year, the Komen Austin Affiliate provided more than $1.1 million in grants.
“We hope this accessible race route will encourage more participants to come out and run or walk in memory of loved one, to celebrate survivors or to generate awareness about breast cancer,” said Christy Casey-Moore, executive director of the Komen Austin Affiliate.
Registration dropped in the last two years, when the race was held at The Domain, the release said.
Participants in the 2011 Komen Austin Race for the Cure can either walk or run the 5K or family 1 mile. Timed race participants will start at 7:30 a.m. and untimed participants who will run or walk will start at 8 a.m.
For more information or to register, go here.
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Side benefit of Texas heat: Setting a PR
I can’t stand this heat. It makes me grumpy, it makes me curse, it turns my bicycle commute into a miserable, sweat-soaked endurance test. And it definitely makes running more difficult.
But it paid off Saturday, when I ran in the annual 5K footrace at the South Haven Blueberry Festival.
Back when I started doing this race more than 15 years ago, I considered it an accomplishment if I didn’t have to walk part of the way (which I usually did.)
I wasn’t a runner, but the start line was just a block from my mom’s house, where I spend a week every summer. I had no excuse not to race.
In the last four years, though, I’ve come to love running. I’ve never been fast, but I like to think I’ve got pluck. In 2009 I even ran the Austin Marathon (very slowly.)
Running in the heat and humidity of an Austin summer can make even the most enthusiastic runner feel like she’s got cinder blocks tied to her feet.
When I lined up for the start of the Blueberry Jam 5K on Aug. 13, however, the temperatures were in the low 60s. A thunderstorm had just passed through and the streets were wet.
I felt like a hot wet blanket had been peeled off my shoulders and those heavy cinder blocks had finally been removed. When the starting buzzer sounded, I galloped away with relative ease.
Run in the heat, it turns out, and you can run a lot faster when it’s cool.
My usual pace is close to 10-minute miles. On Saturday, I finished the 5K in 24 minutes and 14 seconds — that’s faster than an 8-minute per mile pace. A personal record!
Yahoo!
It feels incredibly good to PR, especially as we get older.
My time has improved steadily since I first started doing the race. Early on, it took me 32 or 33 minutes. In 2007 I finally broke the 30-minute barrier. For a non-runner like me, that was big! In 2008 I ran in 25 minutes 7 seconds. The next year I ran a second faster.
I missed last year, but came back in force this time.
Older and faster. I feel like I’m cheating Father Time.
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August 8, 2011
Run Las Vegas half marathon with Team Challenge
Always dreamed of running a half marathon down the neon-lit Las Vegas Strip?
Team Challenge Austin can help you with that.
The group is planning a series of informational meetings starting Aug. 10 to spread the word about a program that helps train runners for the 13.1-mile Rock ‘n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon as they raise money for the non-profit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
Participants get 15 weeks of coached running sessions, a T-shirt and a racing singlet. Once they’ve raised a minimum of $3,300, they get a flight to Las Vegas and three nights of hotel accommodations. A pasta party the night before the race and a Team Challenge victory celebration at the finish line are also included.
The Rock ‘n Roll Las Vegas Marathon and Half Marathon is scheduled for Dec. 4. This year marks the first that the race will take place as the sun goes down. The full 26.2-mile marathon starts at 4 p.m.; the half starts at 5:30 p.m.
A quick perusal of the Team Challenge website this week turned up a link to a company that sells Elvis jumpsuits and Elvette dresses made of moisture managing, breathable, microfiber fabric. The white outfits are snazzed up with sequins or wildly printed accents. (Peanut butter and banana sandwich, anyone?)
For more information on those, go here.
Here’s the meeting lineup:
To RSVP go here or call Carly Samuelson at 646-306-2713.
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August 1, 2011
Changes afoot for Austin Distance Challenge
Changes are afoot for the Austin Distance Challenge, a series of five running races that culminates with the LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon.
The Austin Runners Club is taking over management of the 15-year-old series, which has been handled most recently by RunTex running stores, said Vance Taylor, a former board member of the Austin Runners Club and the new director of the series.
The race series is getting a new sponsor, too — Austin Fit Magazine.
The Austin Fit Magazine Distance Challenge includes:
To participate in 2011, runners must register individually for each race in the series, then register separately for the Distance Challenge, an additional $50. (Distance Challenge registry does not cover the cost of entry into each race.)
Registration closes Oct. 1. (If you participate in the first race of the series, you have until the second race to register.)
Distance Challenge participants get a long-sleeved running shirt, access to a special Distance Challenge tent stocked with drinks, snacks and special treats after each race, and entry into an end-of-series party in March 2012.
Those who complete all five races also get a custom finisher’s jacket and completion certificate. Trophies will be awarded in overall, masters and five-year age group categories for both men and women in full track or half track distances.
“It’s a personal accomplishment to do all five races and to compete against others in age group for prizes and standing,” Taylor said. “Runners are a competitive group.”
About 400 people registered for the Distance Challenge in 2010.
Net proceeds from the challenge will be donated to The Trail Foundation, which works to maintain and improve the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
“You’ve got to give back to your community,” Taylor said. “There are so many great organizations and worthwhile charities in Austin, but The Trail Foundation is one of the few that directly benefits the runners. Most runners are using the trail around Lady Bird Lake on a regular basis.”
For more information, go here.
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July 26, 2011
Barefoot race coming to Cedar Park
You can hardly make it to the start line of a foot race these days without spotting someone who’s running without shoes.
Come Sept. 24, Central Texas barefooters will have an entire race to themselves.
The Merrell Naked Foot 5K is scheduled for Sept. 24 at Brushy Creek Lake Park in Cedar Park.
Proponents of barefoot running say it can help prevent injuries and improve running form. Modern running shoes, they say, cushion the foot too much and muffle any feedback from the body. Take the shoes off, the thought process goes, and the discomfort of improper form will keep you in check.
“You don’t have the cushioning of the shoe so you are much more aware of your form and tend to land a little softer,” said Lauren Jones, cofounder of the Merrell Naked Foot 5K.
Barefoot running, proponents say, also strengthens tiny muscles used to support and keep the foot properly aligned. Over-protective running shoes mean you don’t have to use those muscles as much, so they weaken.
The Austin race is part of a new national barefoot race series that includes events in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Boulder, Colo.
Founders Scott and Lauren Jones call themselves “barefoot moderates.” They run about 10 percent of their weekly training miles barefoot, but say they recognize there is a time and a place for a good pair of shoes too.
Prefer to run with shoes on your feet? You won’t be turned away. Organizers say they hope to prove the validity of barefoot running by recording top times by unshod athletes.
Besides the 5K, the event will include a free kids fun run, foot massages, foot painting, Tarahumara barefoot games, green and healthy living vendors, prizes and more. Organizers will also collect gently worn footwear and donations for Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based charity that collects and distributes shoes to people in need.
For more information and to register, go here.
(Photo above by Laura Skelding shows a barefoot runner at the Statesman Capitol 10,000.)
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July 20, 2011
Rogue Running expanding
The Rogue Running empire is about to expand.
The running store’s original location, now dubbed Rogue Downtown, is located at 500 San Marcos Street, just around the corner from Progress Coffee Shop and less than a mile from the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake.
This weekend, Rogue Cedar Park will open at 2800 E. Whitestone Boulevard in Williamson County.
It turns out the two shops are located exactly 26.2 miles — that’s marathon distance, for you non-runners in the crowd — apart.
Fate? Maybe. The perfect excuse for a group run? Definitely.
Rogue will celebrate the new store’s opening with a whole week of special events, starting with the Rogue2Rogue Marathon Relay and party.
Store owners are planning a mile-by-mile flag relay to officially welcome Cedar Park into the Rogue community. Founder Steve Sisson will lead the opening mile, and other Rogues will carry the flag on other sections of the route.
Want to join in the run?
Here’s the rest of the lineup:
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July 14, 2011
Doggy hydration station
Most of us know the importance of staying hydrated when we’re outdoors during the summer. But we’re not always as careful when it comes to our pets.
Dogs, which don’t sweat the way humans do, can overheat quickly. Make sure they have plenty of water when you walk or run with them.
A thoughtful animal lover who lives on Rosedale Avenue has set up this watering bowl for passing pups.
It’s a doggy hydration station, and I love it.
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July 5, 2011
Running with your dog
While I’m in Colorado communing with llamas, running buddy Colin Moss kindly takes over blogging duties…
By Colin Moss
Summertime has hit Central Texas hard, and my dog Oskar and I are trying to cope with the scorching heat.
We’ve modified our running routine so neither of us passes out from heat exhaustion. We’ve trimmed our distances and focused on having fun instead of going fast.
Oskar is a 2-year-old Australian cattle dog mix I got from the Town Lake Animal Shelter about a year and a half ago. Lucky for me, he loves to run, swim, surf and catch Frisbees.
Here are a few things I’ve learned that may help you get through another Texas summer with your dog:
Be careful out there this summer. We’re stuck with this high heat through September, so take it easy when you run. And if you see me and Oskar, don’t tell him where the squirrels are hiding.
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June 29, 2011
New Jog-a-Dog program pairs runners, pups
I love it when dogs and runners team up to help each other. That’s what’s happening with Austin Pets Alive!’s new “Jog-a-Dog” program.
Starting Saturday, runners can stop by Austin Pets Alive!’s new facility in South Austin to borrow a running partner. The dog gets some much needed exercise; the runner gets a little motivation, in the form of a four-legged buddy eager to run and some incentives at area stores.
The program is the happy collaboration of Team Spiridon, a local non-profit running group, Hill Country Running Co., Bettysport and RuffWear.
About 60 dogs are typically housed at the Austin Pets Alive! facility in South Austin. They need human interaction, and who among us couldn’t use a little outdoor exercise time?
Participants get a card that gives them a 10 percent discount at Bettysport and Hill Country Running Company. After they’ve run with 10 dogs, they get a $25 gift card for either of those stores. RuffWear, a manufacturer of products for active dogs, is donating special running leashes for use in the program.
The program starts Saturday. Dog runners and behaviorists will be on hand from 8-10 a.m. at Austin Pets Alive!, 2807 Manchaca Road.
The program may expand to include the Austin Humane Society, says Rob Hill, executive director of Team Spiridon. (I bumped into Hill and his dog last Sunday at Maudie’s on Lake Austin Boulevard. They’d just finished running; I was fresh off a morning of boating on Lake Austin.)
Austin Pets Alive! takes in adoptable animals from the city’s Town Lake Animal Center and other local shelters in an effort to help Austin shelters reach no-kill targets.
For more information about Jog-a-Dog, visit Team Spiridon here or on Facebook.
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June 22, 2011
Jeff Galloway coming to Austin
If the sound of running a marathon turns your quads to jelly, consider this: Jeff Galloway, a 1972 Olympian, believes you don’t have to torture yourself with hours and hours of non-stop running to prepare.
Galloway promotes a Run-Walk-Run method of training that alternates periods of running with periods of walking. It’s less intimidating for beginners, and Galloway has had remarkable success. Since introducing his low-mileage training program in 1978, he’s shepherded more than 200,000 people to their running goals.
Want to meet him? Galloway will be on hand for a free meet and greet from 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday, June 26 at the HEB Hancock Center. An optional running school is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. the same day. Cost for the school is $99.
![gallowaytraining2006[1].gif](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/austin/fitcity/upload/2011/06/gallowaytraining2006%5B1%5D.gif)
Galloway will make another appearance from noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 at the Sid Richardson Auditorium at the Scott & White Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street in Temple.
The Galloway Program has grown from just three training groups in Texas in 2005 to 10 today.
“A lot of people have barriers, either physical or mental, and Jeff helps remove those barriers,” says Will Carlson, program director and coach for Galloway Austin.
By incorporating walking breaks into your running, your body can actually recover while you are training, Carlson says.
“We make it fun. You’re in a group and there’s no pressure for speed. All you have to do is obtain the distance,” he says.
Galloway Austin’s 10-week “Getting Started” program starts with 20 second periods of slow running alternating with 1 minute of walking. In 10 weeks, participants can run-walk for 5 miles, Carlson says.
The group meets once a week for a long run, and participants run-walk two days on their own. Cost is $99 for a half marathon or $159 for a marathon, with discounts for program alumni.
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June 17, 2011
Interview with Scott Birk
David Mitchell interviewed Scott Birk for the Austin Runners Club member of the month recently. Scott was struck by a car and died earlier this week. David shares what he wrote with our readers:
(Author’s Note: My great friend Scott died on June 13, 2011, doing one of the things he loved most, running. He graciously provided the information for the interview below in March, but it wasn’t published until now. It was my sincere honor to be one of Scott’s many, many devoted friends, and I was lucky enough to do this interview with him.)
Scott, 48, was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. He has been married to his wife and fellow runner Carla for 26 years, and they have three children _ two daughters in engineering school at the University of Texas, and an eighth-grade son. Scott graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 1985 with a BA in Computer Science, and obtained a Masters in Finance from North Texas University in 1987. He works as a computer programmer.
We asked Scott why he moved to Austin: “Carla and I moved to Austin from Dallas in 1990 because she was offered a new job opportunity. I love living in Austin. I have a hard time picturing myself living anywhere else. About the only downside is that most of our family still lives in the Milwaukee/Chicago area so we really miss them a lot.” Scott joined the Austin Runners Club in 1995 and has been a loyal and supportive member, volunteering at a couple of races a year. Scott was usually among the first people to register for the Austin Runners Club Decker Challenge. One year he was actually first, and we tried in vain to get him to wear a bib with #1.
Scott started running in 1992. He wrote, “Prior to that time I participated in many different activities, but my main things were golfing and basketball. I thought anyone who wanted to go for a run was bit crazy. My mom started running when I was in high school. She ran a few races a year, but I had a lot of family members who would run a 5-miler in Milwaukee called Al’s Run. They were always trying to convince me to come and run it with them, but there was no chance they were going to convince me to run for 5 miles! Unfortunately, I tore my ACL playing basketball and as part of rehab I started running. I told my family since I was running I would make it one of my goals to run Al’s Run with them. I met a couple of runners where I was working and they were really helpful about teaching me how to train. I trained for three months to get ready for the race. I was not sure how I could make it 5 miles, but I made it, I loved it and I have been running ever since.”
Scott loves completing runs. “I try to run every day. The only time I schedule a day off is the day before a race. However, I usually end up taking off a couple more times each month. I am sure people think I run too much or that I am addicted to running, but the interesting thing is I am not a person who really enjoys the run itself. It is a chore to haul myself out there every day and while I am running I cannot wait for it to be over, but it always a great feeling when I have logged another run.”
“On Monday, Wednesday, Friday I will do a recovery run. Tuesday is hill repeats. Thursday is tempo. Saturday and Sunday are long run days.”
We asked Scott about his training philosophy: “I would not say I have a specific philosophy. I run fairly high mileage and I emphasize effort using my heart rate monitor rather than pace. Over the years I have developed my own training plan that I have broken into three eighteen week segments. One segment is my training for the Austin Marathon, another segment is training for the spring races following Austin, and the final segment is summer training for a fall marathon. I realize I should probably change things up if I want to see improvements, but it has worked well for me and I am too lazy to do anything different.”
“My favorite place to run is in my neighborhood in River Place with my friends Michael Budde, Jesse Devlyn, Paul Szostak, Jorge Martinez, and Scott Hanna. These guys are awesome and have helped me become a better runner and a better person. We have logged lots of miles and had lots of good times running over the years. The best part about running is all the fantastic people I have met over the years. I am so lucky to have become friends with so many fine people while pursuing this sport.”
Scott remembers “the first time I made it through a three mile run without walking. At that point I thought running may be something I could actually do and enjoy.”
Scott helped his son Nicolas train to get ready for his last two cross country seasons. “I had a blast running with him and watching him as he improved almost every day. I guess my coaching must not be too great as he has not run a step since his last meet.”
His advice for new runners? “I am a very goal-oriented person so I would tell somebody to think about what it is you want to get out of running. After you have defined your goal then set up a reasonable plan to achieve that goal. Whether your goal is losing weight, running a certain distance, or maybe running a certain time, make sure you have short term milestones to mark your progress. If you find you are not where you want to be then realize that your plan is flexible and can be changed. Make the necessary changes so that you continue on your journey. I would also tell them that running is not easy, so do not get discouraged when you struggle because everyone struggles. I always try to remember it is the struggle that will make the goal even sweeter when it has been attained.”
And what does he have for experienced runners? “I honestly do not feel I am accomplished enough or knowledgeable enough to be handing out advice to this group of folks.” (Author’s note: this man was always modest about his considerable achievements).
Scott has been a fixture at local races, frequently the Master’s winner, despite his size (Scott is well over 6 feet, big for someone so fast). He runs in up to 25 races a year. “My favorite distance is the half and then 5K. I like the tactical aspect of the half and the run as hard as you can aspect of the 5K.”
For his race philosophy, Scott says “I am not sure I have one. When I first started racing I always went WAY too fast at the start and crashed at the end. Every time. I finally figured out that it is smart to try and run even or negative splits in a race, but I still have a hard time listening to my own advice. I tend to start off too fast and have far too many races where I fade at the end. I just find it too much fun to try and run right at the edge and see if I can avoid falling off the proverbial cliff.”
Scott’s PRs (at time of interview) are: 1 mile-4:41, 5K-16:50, 10K-35:22, Half-1:16:13, Marathon-2:47:48.
We asked Scott about his “wish list”: “Try and enjoy every day that I am able to run because it is such a gift to be able to have the health and time to commit to this incredible sport.”
We close with his last thoughts: “I cannot thank my family, and most especially my wife Carla, enough for indulging me while I spend so much time on the roads participating in this crazy sport. I also have to say that Carla has been a true inspiration to me with her determination to become a runner. For years she truly believed it was impossible for her to run. However, she found a plan she liked and was able to begin running. I asked her to come to a race with me and helped her devise a plan. She followed the plan and it was awesome to watch her cross the finish line of her first 5K. It is a memory I will never forget. It has been wonderful to share the experience of running with her in the years since.”
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June 14, 2011
Clean up streets at tonight's Trash Run
Let’s talk trash. Better yet, let’s pick it up.
Tonight, runners will gather at Polvo’s, 2004 S. First Street, for the LiveStrong Austin Marathon’s first ever Trash Run.
It’s actually called Run, Recycle, Refuel, but I like the nickname. It’s a way, organizers say, for runners to give back to the neighborhoods they run through on marathon day. They pick up trash as they go, and when they’re finished they patronize a local restaurant for happy hour.
The run starts at 6 p.m. The group will head south toward Lightsey Road, scooping up plastic bags, soda cans and candy wrappers as they make a 4-mile loop. If enough runners show up, the group will split into two, with the other faction heading north from Polvo’s.
Participants get a free Trash Run T-shirt. (And no, you needn’t have run the marathon in order to pitch in!)
“It’s a way of thanking the neighborhoods for letting us run the marathon on their streets,” said race director John Conley. “We’ll be doing it this summer and fall.”
Michelle Sandquist, managing director and so-called Green Goddess of the marathon, got the idea after hearing about a clothing company in Maine that organized similar trash runs.
The Austin Marathon & Half Marathon was recognized by Runners World Magazine in 2008 as the greenest race in North America. In 2009 it was certified by the Council of Responsible Sport. In 2011, it earned a silver certification from the same organization.
As part of its efforts, the race uses compostable cups and renewable energy, reuses all extra finishers shirts and institutes no-idle zones on the course. It also reduces plastic use by using Water Monster water tanks.
The next Trash Run is scheduled for Aug. 9.
For more information go here. http://youraustinmarathon.com/trashrun
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June 13, 2011
Runner hit, killed this morning at River Place/2222
Be careful out there, runners.
A jogger died this morning after behing hit by a carwhile trying to cross RM 2222 at River Place Boulevard. Police have not identified the man, reportedly in his late 20s or early 30s.
A witness told police the vehicle went through a green light at about 9 a.m. and hit the man. No charges are expected to be filed.
As runners, we need to pay careful attention to traffic. Sometimes we get caught up in our run or get impatient at intersections. Every weekend when I’m out logging miles, I see runners caught up in the zen of their exercise. They either assume cars are going to stop for them or don’t realize cars are coming when they step into the road.
Pedestrians will always lose in a matchup with a motor vehicle.
Condolences to the family and friends of the runner killed today.
Today’s incident comes about a month after a pedestrian was struck and killed on Exposition Boulevard in a hit-and-run accident.
Thoughts?
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June 8, 2011
What's your favorite race T-shirt?
I’ve got about a billion race shirts stuffed into my dresser drawers at home.
Some I love, some I rarely wear.
And some I see all over town. Like the ubiquitous red technical fabric T-shirt from the Nike Human Race 10K held in Austin — and locations around the world — on Aug. 31, 2008.
Every time I pull one of those race shirts on, I remember a little about the event it represents. What I remember about the Nike Human Race, held at the peak of the afternoon heat on downtown streets, was the face-reddening, body-withering, energy-sapping heat.
People sweated profusely. Staggered toward the finish line. Panted for cold water.
Yet people love that T-shirt, and to this day you see it every time you run on the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
The topic came up when I bumped into a pair of runners I met while writing about an Austin running group called Team Riff Raff. Rawhide Callais and Gin Johnson remember the race, too.
We joked that you can’t go anywhere in Austin without spotting at least one person wearing that shirt.
Right on cue, someone walked past the Flying Saucer, where we were chatting, wearing one.
We chuckled.
What’s your favorite race shirt? Why?
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May 26, 2011
Early morning runners: Pipe down!
Now that it’s officially hot, Austin runners are getting out earlier and earlier to log their miles.
We have to. Wait too long and the sun comes up, the pavement turns into a giant cast-iron frying pan and our muscles wilt along with our hairstyles.
Have you been out at 5 a.m. lately? I have. And you know what? On any given Saturday morning, you can find packs of runners tearing through neighborhoods.
Here’s the thing. Sometimes, as runners, we forget where we are. We get caught up in our run — and the conversations we’re having with our running buddies. We figure we’re awake, and part of us automatically assumes that everyone else is, too.
We guffaw at something someone in the group said; we holler because we’re so happy to be our moving our bodies. We talk loudly, we bellow, we yell at a driver who passed too close.
Sometimes, caught up in the zen of the moment, we fail to look both ways at an intersection, and charge right across, even if it’s a red light.
I’m guilty of it too, sometimes. But I’m trying to pay attention and pipe down.
Our neighbors would appreciate it.
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May 3, 2011
Do compression socks help?
I rocked one of these attractive (ha!) black knee socks a few weeks back, when I ran the Zooma Half Marathon.
No, I didn’t do it to make a fashion statement. (Although maybe some people, besides my Dad, like the look of tall black socks with athletic shoes.)
They’re compression socks.
The technology isn’t new. Folks with bad circulation have been wearing them for years. But if you’ve been to a running race in the last couple of years, you’ve probably noticed the growing number of people wearing compression socks during endurance sporting events.
Retailers say the socks help prevent swelling and blood pooling in the legs. They also supposedly help prevent cramps, reduce the production of lactic acid in leg muscles and speed recovery after an endurance event.
A few days before the half marathon, I tweaked a muscle in my calf. It didn’t hurt enough to scratch the race, but I was worried what would happen a few miles into the run. Would I have to stop?
I did what I often advise others not to do — I tried a new piece of equipment on race day.
I slipped a long black Recovery Sock (about $35, made by Vitalsox) onto my right leg and wore my usual short running sock on the left.
I wondered if the compression sock leg would get hot and sweaty, but it didn’t. (The packaging notes that the socks are made of wicking fabric.) I looked a little goofy, too. In retrospect I should have worn both compression socks, not just one.
But my calf muscle didn’t bother me. I think the socks, which hug but don’t squeeze your legs into a state of discomfort, kind of held everything together.
Now if they just didn’t look so silly.
Anyone else run with compression socks? What do you think?
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April 18, 2011
Another Zooma Half Marathon down
Chalk up another Zooma Half Marathon!
I ran the 13.1-mile race on Saturday, and have been savoring a runner’s high ever since.
Best things about this year’s race?
The weather, which was crisp and clear as a fresh apple, with no humidity and none of that jowl-flapping wind we’ve been experiencing lately. Perfect for running.
The motivational quotes posted on signs during the hilliest part of the race.
The race organization, which included parking at a lot near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and a free shuttle bus to the race start at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort. This system always runs smoothly, saves thousands of runners from driving all the way to the Bastrop resort and reduces congestion at the Hyatt.
The little brown dog that raced along side us for a couple hundred miles at about Mile 8.
I loved the way the morning sun sparkled on fields of swaying grass, the peaceful rural setting and the flashy Z-shaped charm that finishers got instead of a medal.
Oh, those hills! The first half of Zooma is the most challenging half marathon I’ve ever run. Up and down and up and down and just when you think things have flattened out again, a long, slow grinder that will make your quads scream. But that added challenge makes crossing the finish line all that much more satisfying.
I did want to scream on the last 2 miles of the course, which weave up and down the golf course. It’s so demoralizing to see how many times you’ve got to go chug back and forth the course before you get to the finish line. I felt like an ant marching off to work.
Actually, I wasn’t sure what would happen at this year’s race. I had tweaked a muscle two days earlier. I figured I was doomed, but my running buddy Marcy Stellfox and I started slowly and ran at a comfortable pace. I wore a compression sock (more on that later this week) and my calf hardly bothered me.
We finished a minute faster than last year, but still about 11 minutes off the pace I set in 2009. (That was the year I ran the marathon, so I was running more then. And the course was different.)
In all, more than 2,300 people ran the half marathon and 5K.
Amanda Lovato was overall winner of the half marathon, with a time of 1:19:59. Sarah Mark was second in 1:26:09, and Jennifer Fisher was third in 1:30:44.
Congrats to everyone who ran. Did you race? How was it?
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April 14, 2011
Runner's World special mag focuses on trail running
For those who prefer rock, grass and gravel to streets and sidewalks, Runner’s World presents a special publication focused on trail running.
The Trail hits newstands Tuesday.
It’s a one-time deal, and Runner’s World has no plans at the moment for a monthly trail running magazine, says publisher Chris Lambiase.
According to a report by the Outdoor Foundation, trail running has grown steadily since 1998, with 4.8 million Americans claiming to be trail runners in 2009.
“Trail running is taking off in Austin and all over the country,” Lambiase says. “It adds variety to one’s running schedule, so it keeps you excited about switching it up a little bit.”
Among the features in the mag? Articles about the best trail runs and trail races in America, tips from experts, gear advice, a training plan, and my favorite, an article titled “Hauling Ass,” about a trail race in which the runner has to drag along a 500-pound donkey.
I’m hoping to do a little trail running myself this year. I ran the Greenbelt a few months ago with Andrea Fisher, co-owner of Hill Country Running Company, which carries a lot of trail running gear.
I’ve purchased a pair of Salomon trail runners, which I also use for backpacking, and I’m planning to register for the Big Bend Ultra 25K next January at Big Bend National Park. (There, I said it!)
To me, the difference between road running and trail running is all about concentration. Don’t pay attention when you’re running off road and you could fall down or whack your head on a low-hanging tree branch. (I did this.) It’s generally shadier, the ground is softer, and the miles seem to tick off more quickly.
Why do you like to trail run?
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April 6, 2011
Peel off clothes for Bare Buns Run
Feel like peeling off your clothes and running naked? Now’s your chance.
Star Ranch in McDade, east of Austin, is hosting its 14th annual Sahnoan Bare Buns Run 5K, the first event in the American Association for Nude Recreation’s 2011 Nude Racing Series.
Runners, unencumbered by clothing, will scamper up and down hills and through the wooded countryside surrounding the family-oriented nudist park in Bastrop County. (Shoes are allowed.)
The race starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9. Registration is $25 and includes gate fees and a race T-shirt. To register, go here.
Wondering where to put your race number? On your hat if you’re wearing one, on a string around your neck if you’re not, or directly on your shoulder, with a marker.
Not everyone who does the race is a year-round nudist, by the way. But the race is a rare opportunity to see how much faster you can run without the added burden of shorts and a T-shirt.
Typically, the run attracts between 80 and 125 runners.
Star Ranch is a member of the American Association for Nude Recreation. It’s got swimming pools, tennis and volleyball courts and playgrounds. You can dance, hike, play shuffleboard, darts, billiards or bingo, all sans apparel. Cabins are available for rental.
The park does sexual predator and criminal background checks on everyone who enters through the gate.
For more information call (512) 273-2257 or go here.
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April 4, 2011
Running makes me happy; gearing up for Zooma
This photo, taken by Gilbert Tuhabonye at the 3M Half Marathon a few months back, reminds me how much fun it is to run.
I didn’t always think so.
Seven or eight years ago, I’d have whined about how I’d rather dig ditches, go to the dentist or clean out the cat’s litter box than go for a 13.1-mile run. All I could do while running was think about how much it hurt to run. How bored it made me. How I was gasping like a guppy. How I needed to be done. Right then.
It turns out I was doing a bunch of things wrong. I had the wrong shoes (critical!), I was trying to run too fast, and I hadn’t found the right running partners.
I got new shoes. I joined a running group. I got over that beginners’ hump where even the first mile is daunting. I found friends who ran at my pace, so I could run and socialize simultaneously.
Running became more than a workout, it became a rolling social hour, a time I could catch up with friends and put my brain on vacation for an hour or two.
Sometimes it’s hard. And yes, the upcoming Zooma Half Marathon is going to be hard. It’s notoriously hilly, and chances are it’ll be warm and muggy for the April 16 race at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa near Bastrop.
But it’s a beautiful course, and I’m running it with my number one running buddy. We may not be setting any land-speed records, but we’re sure as heck going to enjoy our morning, and get some good exercise in the process.
Registration is still open for the race. It’s $95 for the half marathon or $55 for the 5K here.
Start time for the half marathon is 7:30 a.m. Saturday. The 5K starts at 7:35 a.m.
Participants and spectators can park at FastPark, a covered parking area at the airport. Shuttles will take runners to the Hyatt resort and back again after the race. Arrive at the lot between 6 and 6:30 a.m. (This system has worked perfectly both times I’ve run the Zooma.)
Packet pickup is from 3-7 p.m. April 14 at Luke’s Locker, 115 Sandra Muraida Drive, in Austin or 2-8 p.m. April 15 at the Hyatt Lost Pines near Bastrop. There is no race morning packet pickup.
Wine, live music, massages and shopping are planned for the post-race expo.
Look for me out there. I’ll be the one wearing a smile as big as the one in the photo above.
Just because I can.
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March 30, 2011
Manzano Mile this Saturday
(UPDATED WITH COMMENTS FROM LEO MANZANO, 10:19 a.m.)
Leo Manzano can run a mile faster than most people around the globe.
This Saturday, you can measure your best land speed against the former University of Texas track star and 2012 London Olympics hopeful.
The Manzano Mile lineup includes a free 400-meter “Future Milers of America” race for kids, an individual mile race for adults, and a four-person relay. At the end, elite runners will attempt to break the 4-minute mile.
Proceeds will benefit the newly-created Leo Manzano Foundation, which will provide mentorship and financial support to running programs at low-income schools.
“This is an exact mile, 1609.2344 meters (as opposed to the more traditional 1600 meters),” Manzano says.
Among those confirmed to attend? Track star Trey Hardee, Olympic swimmer Garrett Weber-Gale and Miss Texas Anna Christina Rodriguez. Relay teams from local running stores will go head-to-head on the track.
But you don’t have to be a super athlete to compete.
“Anybody can do this. The biggest thing we’re promoting here is health and fitness,” Manzano says. “The second benefit is this is all for a good cause.”
Heats for the Manzano Mile start at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Texas School for the Deaf, 1102 South Congress Ave., and will run every 12 minutes.
Need some inspiration?
Manzano, who is short for a track athlete and wiry, was born in a small town in Mexico that had no electricity or running water. Boys were expected to work at an early age to help support the family.
He moved to Granite Shoals, near Marble Falls, with his parents when he was 4.
He joined his first real track program the summer after sixth grade. In seventh grade, he joined the cross-country team and quickly showed promise. During his four years at Marble Falls High School, where the track around the football stadium now bears his name, he won a total of nine Texas high school track and cross-country titles.
Manzano landed a track scholarship to the University of Texas, where he became a five-time NCAA champion and an 11-time NCAA All-American.
He won a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and competed in Beijing. He didn’t medal then, but his eyes are now set on the 2012 London Olympics.
His times of 3:32 in the 1,500 meters and 3:50 in the mile are among top American performances, and he’s one of the most decorated track athletes in NCAA history.
Registration for the Manzano Mile is $25 for individuals (age group or open) or $75 for relays (two men, two women). To register online go here. www.myraceregistration.com. For more information go here. ManzanoMile.com
Packet pickup and late registration is noon to 7 p.m. Friday, April 1 at Jack & Adam’s, 1210 Barton Springs Road.
Manzano won’t be running Saturday, but he had exciting news this morning — he might be running in the Texas Relays April 6-9.
(Photo by Ricardo Brazziell.)
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March 25, 2011
Statesman Capitol 10K is Sunday
Grab your costume, lace up your shoes and prepare to embrace Spring: The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is here.
Wheelchair athletes start at 8:30 a.m., timed athletes start at 9 a.m. and untimed runners start at 9:05 a.m. The race begins on Congress Avenue, just south of the river.
If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still register at packet pickup. Entry fee is $35 for the timed run or $30 for the untimed run.
The packet pickup and expo is from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday at the North Austin Event Center, 10601 North Lamar Blvd.
For more information go here.
This year’s Cap 10K is part of the new 512 Speed Series, which also includes the Texas Round Up 5K on April 30 and the Congress Avenue Mile on May 21.
For more information on the series go here.
Good luck runners!
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March 22, 2011
Guides will help blind runners at Cap10K
Among the thousands of folks who will line up for the Statesman Capitol 10,000 this Sunday are about 20 visually impaired runners.
Organized by William Greer, an IT specialist, and Joe Paschall, athletic director at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the runners will work with guides to navigate the downtown race course.
Different runners use different techniques.
“I, for instance, can follow the guide as long as he or she stays in front of me and to the left,” Greer says. “This is important because I have virtually no peripheral vision on the right, so I could lose track of my guide if he or she were on the right.”
Some runners prefer to be guided by a rope, while others use vocal cues, he says.
Greer and Paschall, who are both visually impaired, started putting together the team shortly after the Austin Marathon. Many of the runners are from the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Their goal? To encourage physical fitness and dispel myths about the abilities of people who have a disability.
“Our team introduces the joy of exercising on a regular basis,” Greer says.
Good luck on Sunday to the team!
For more information about the Capitol 10K, go here.
(That’s William Greer, above, running the Austin Marathon.)
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March 16, 2011
Schlotzsky's Bun Run design contest open
Got a creative streak? Schlotzsky’s needs a T-shirt design for its 29th annual Bun Run.
The sandwich shop will accept design entries, which must incorporate the title “Schlotzsky’s Bun Run 2011” along with the Schlotzsky’s and Bobby Bun logos, until March 24.
To enter, email a jpeg of your 12-inch by 12-inch design to bunruncontest@schlotzskys.com.
Judges will select five design finalists, which will be put up for public vote at www.bunrun.com from March 28 to April 10. The artist whose design gets the most votes will win $1,000 and get his or her design on the official long-sleeved Bun Run T-shirt.
The race, the city’s longest running 5K, is scheduled for May 1 on South First Street near Auditorium Shores. The Lil’ Bun Run 1K starts at 7:30 a.m.; the 5K starts at 8:30 a.m.
Registration is open at www.bunrun.com. Entry fee is $30 until April 29, when it increases by $5. (Lil’ Bun Run registration is $15.)
Proceeds from the race benefit the Young Men’s Business League’s Sunshine Camps, a program for at-risk and disadvantaged youths.
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March 11, 2011
Fight Trafficking 5K
Austin runners have dozens of races to choose from, but the Fight Trafficking 5K caught my attention.
The race, set for April 2 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock, raises money for a charity anti-sex trafficking organization called Love 146. The organization partners with groups that rescue victims, work to convict offenders and provide safe homes for rescued children.
I love the story behind the organization’s name.
In 2002, the group’s founders went on an exploratory trip to Southeast Asia to see what they could do to stop child sex trafficking. They visited a brothel in Thailand, where customers stood on one side of a glass wall and little girls, each with a number pinned to her red dress, stood on the other.
All the girls except one stared, robotically, at cartoons being shown on small TVs around the room.
Girl No. 146 instead stared each man in the face with fight in her eyes.
The group named their organization after that little girl.
Love 146 is now establishing safe homes around the United States.
The goal of the Fight Trafficking 5K is to promote community awareness about the high rate of sex trafficking in Texas and provide education about how to prevent it, says Amanda May, co-director of the race.
Entry fee is $25 for adults ($35 on race day) or $15 for children ages 8 to 12 ($20 on race day). To register, go to www.fighttrafficking.com. For more information on Love 146, go to www.love146.org.
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March 10, 2011
McRunner eats only McDonald's while training for marathon
Add this to the annals of insanity: An Illinois runner is 21 days into a 30-day mission to eat only McDonald’s food while he trains for the Los Angeles Marathon.
Joe D’Amico of Palatine, Ill., calls himself the McRunner and has been blogging about his experience atwww.McRunner.com. His blog, titled “Confessions of a Drive-Thru Runner,” includes a daily food diary.
While Joe is tossing back Mickey D’s, it’s not as bad as you think. (But it’s still bad.) He’s a wiry, experienced runner with more than a dozen marathons under his belt. He runs a lot, so he’s burning more calories than your average person. And he’s making wiser than average decisions when he’s at McDonald’s.
In other words, he’s not eating a Big Mac, large order of fries and a chocolate milkshake at every sitting. He does down the occasional burger (no pickles), but eats grilled chicken and salads more often than burgers. He gobbles his Egg McMuffins with egg only (no meat or cheese) and opts for the yogurt parfait over a chocolate milkshake.
He does eat a lot of cookies and the occasional hot fudge sundae, though.
Amazingly, D’Amico, 36, has set his eyes on a new personal record of two hours and 36 minutes for the 26.2 mile race. That’s an incredibly-fast 6-minute per mile pace.
No, his doctor does not recommend this diet. Neither do I.
Here’s a typical day on his plan:
March 7, 2011 (Day 18)
Afternoon:
Evening:
Snacks:
He’s turned his challenge into a fund-raiser for the Ronald McDonald House Charity. He’s donating $1 for every McRunner Facebook fan he gets before the marathon.
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March 3, 2011
Live Music Capital gets Austin 10/20, a music-themed race
San Antonio may have the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, but starting in 2012, Austin will have its own music-themed race. And isn’t it about time, considering we’re the Live Music Capitol of the World?
Registration is now open for the Austin 10/20, a new 10-mile race scheduled for April 15, 2012. That’s just over a year from now, in case you’re easily confused, as I was.
A stage will be set up every half mile along the race course at the Domain in North Austin, and more than 30 bands will serenade runners as they stream past. (Confusing again, I know. That’s 20 stages, hence the name, but more bands.) A nationally-known artist will perform at a finish line concert and post-race party.
Entry fee is $50 for the first 300 registrants. It’s $60 until July 15; $70 until Oct. 15; and $75 until April 11, 2012.
Race director is Peter Douglass, a founding partner of San Diego-based Elite Racing and a former vice president of the Competitor Group. Douglass moved to Austin in 2009 after spending more than 20 years staging running events, including the popular rock ‘n’ roll marathon series.
“We are very excited about being in Austin with this new running event concept,” Douglass said in a press release. “The 10-mile distance is under appreciated but is actually perfect for creating a great running experience. We intend to spice it up with more rock ‘n’ roll music on our course than ever seen before and tie it all together with a top notch race production.”
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February 22, 2011
New book club for runners
You like to run, you like to read.
Luke’s Locker, the new running store on the north side of the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge, has organized a book club that let’s you do both.
The first meeting of the Luke’s Locker Book Club is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, at the store, 115 Sandra Muraida Way. Wine and snacks will be served.
At each meeting, club members will discuss health, fitness and diet books, plus inspiring biographies. Titles will be chosen through a drawing each month.
Wednesday’s featured book? “The Engine 2 Diet” by Rip Esselstyn. Whole Foods will serve up plant-powered food for the meeting.
“Since ‘Engine 2’ is a hardcore diet, we might do a check-in with one of the (book’s) health specialists at the two-week mark to see how everyone is doing,” said Kortni Hampton from Luke’s Locker. “ I am super excited about this and hope we have a great turnout and create even more of a community here at Luke’s Locker.”
For more information call 482-8676.
What books would you like to see the group discuss?
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February 21, 2011
Slowest marathon runners inspire most
I can’t watch a marathon without my eyes filling with tears.
Watching the leaders blaze by like it’s nothing is inspiring enough. But what really grabs my heart is seeing the regular folks tick off the miles.
They’re out there suffering for twice as long as the top athletes, who finished yesterday’s 26.2-mile race in about two and a half hours.
I rode my bike along most of the course of the LiveStrong Austin Marathon yesterday, in my quest to find a couple who had arranged to get married at Mile 22.5.
While I searched the crowds for the bride and groom, I saw so much more.
Every person out there had his own reason for lining up at the start.
Some ran simply as a celebration that their bodies were strong enough to do it. Some ran to push their physical limits. Some ran for friends and family with cancer. Some ran to raise money for charity. Some ran because their friends conned them into it.
One ran in a gorilla suit. (Yes, he told me, it was hot.)
At least two people I saw ran barefoot. Ouch!
Some danced as they passed bands set up on the side of the road. Some hugged their husbands or wives or children as they spotted them among the onlookers.
Many laughed at signs held along the route: “Morgue ahead. Look alive!” ““Your feet hurt because you’re kicking so much (butt)!” and simply “Y’all are crazy!”
As the hours passed, the pack thinned out and the slow pokes took over the roads.
They’re the ones who impress me most.
It’s not easy to run a marathon. I know, I ran the Austin Marathon two years ago.
Some runners crumpled on the side of the road, suffering in the heat, humidity and wind. Some paused for orange slices or gummy candies handed out by people on the side of the street. A handful even stopped near Mile 20, where some neighbors had set up a free beer stand.
Almost 5,000 people accomplished what they set out to do yesterday.
The last one crossed the finish line in 7 hours, 24 minutes and 26 seconds.
Congratulations on a job well done.
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February 18, 2011
Marathon tips from Bart Yasso
You’ve got less than two days until the start of the LiveStrong Austin Marathon.
Time to panic? Definitely not, says Bart Yasso, Chief Running Officer for Runner’s World magazine.
“Number one, don’t freak out,” says Yasso, who’s got about 200 marathons under his belt. “Just be a creature of habit. Don’t try anything new, stay in your routine and be happy with what got you this far.”
You can hear more of Yasso’s tips when he speaks at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday at the LiveStrong Austin Marathon’s expo and packet pickup at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. (Check the entire schedule here).
Here’s some more advice from Yasso:
Yasso, who has run the Austin Marathon several times, consistently rates our town among the top running cities in America.
“Austin’s the coolest host city because it’s got such a great running vibe and everyone’s active,” he says. “I love the music scene, too — it’s kind of hard not to partake in all the fun.”
(Photo by Runner’s World)
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February 17, 2011
Soothe muscles with Pure Polar Plunge after marathon
The continued closure of Barton Springs Pool puts a kink in a long-standing Austin Marathon tradition — a post-race, muscle-soothing dunk in cold water.
Pure Austin Fitness at Quarry Lake, 4210 W. Braker Lane, is stepping in to fill the void. The gym is hosting the Pure Polar Plunge at Quarry Lake at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Doesn’t a leap into a chilly outdoor lake sound like a lot more fun than submerging yourself in an ice-filled bathtub?
For more information go here.
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February 15, 2011
Last minute LiveStrong Austin Marathon details
Are you running the LiveStrong Austin Marathon or Half Marathon this weekend?
The current weather forecast calls for a warm day — low of 57 and high of 73 with a 10 percent chance of rain.
Ouch. That sounds a little too warm to me, but at least there’s no sign of another freak ice storm in the near future.
The Health & Fitness Expo, which includes packet pickup, is scheduled for 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.
Expo speakers include Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso, Austin running legend Dick Beardsley, marathon director John Conley and former world record holder Steve Jones. Go here to check the schedule.
You’ll need your photo ID to get your bib number and timing chip.
Plan on arriving at the start area, at 16th Street at Congress Avenue, at 6:15 a.m. The marathon and half marathon will start at 7 a.m. and the 5K will start at 7:30 a.m.
If you want to find out how friends and family can track you on race day, stop by the iPhone App/Runner Tracking booth or go here to learn more about the free app.
If you’re not running the marathon or half marathon, you can still sign up for the Paramount Break-A-Leg 5K. Registration is $35 until Feb. 17 or $40 at the expo. Go here to sign up.
Here are some tips from race organizers for a better race:
Look for me while you’re out there. I won’t be running the race, but I’ll be writing about a couple who plan to wed along the marathon course.
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February 10, 2011
Austin Marathon shadow run in Iraq
Athletes in Austin will pass bands, family members waving signs and the state capitol as they tick off 26.2 miles in the LiveStrong Marathon in two weeks.
In Iraq, runners in a shadow race the same day will pass a shooting range and landfill in what the organizer describes as “the world’s least scenic course.”
Nearly 80 service men and women at Camp Kalsu, 20 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, have signed up for the shadow run. Finisher’s medals, race bibs and T-shirts, along with finish line tape and banners, are already on their way.
The races are separated by 7,500 miles, but runners in both marathons will face some of the same obstacles — long, grueling miles, exhaustion and the thrill of crossing the finish line.
Capt. Kyle Gemmill with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment is organizing the Iraq race. Nearly all of the Camp Kalsu runners are from Fort Hood in Killeen.
“It always means a lot to our team to have men and women overseas running in our race,” John Conley, race director of the LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, said in a press release.(That’s Conley and his wife Stacy in the photo above, holding the banner.) “It’s tough being away from home for such a long time, so we do our best to support them in any way we can.”
The race will start at 7:30 a.m. Iraq time — about 10:30 p.m Feb. 19 here in Austin. Temperatures should range from the mid-40s at the start to the lower 60s by finish time.
“Having a race in Iraq gives everyone something to look forward to while we’re deployed,” Gemmill said. “If the race gives everyone a fitness goal to work toward and boosts morale, then it will be a success.”
Marathoners will run three and a half loops around the base on hard-packed mud and asphalt.
Past shadow races for the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon took place in Baqubah, Iraq (2007); Jalalabad, Afghanistan (2009); and Al-Asad, Iraq (2010).
For more information, go here.
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February 9, 2011
Encore showing of 'Hood to Coast'
Did you miss the last Austin screening of “Hood to Coast,” the documentary about the 197-mile footrace from Mt. Hood to the Pacific Coast?
Two Austin theaters will show the movie again at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10.
Tickets are $12.50 and available here.
The movie focuses on a handful of the 12,000 runners who compete in the world’s largest relay every year. Interviews and a panel discussion with celebrities of the running world will follow.
In the Austin area, the movie will be shown at Arbor Cinema at Great Hills, 9828 Great Hills Trail; and Metropolitan 14, 901 Little Texas Lane.
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February 8, 2011
Crazy marathon costumes
In honor of the upcoming LiveStrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, we present BuzzFeed’s hilarious entry featuring the 35 best costumes at the 2010 London Marathon.
Among my favorites? The Whoopie Cushion, the giraffe with a 20-foot neck, a bride and groom who look like they’re headed for divorce and a carrot.
See the whole collection here.
The 2009 50 best costumes aren’t bad, either, although I’m a bit freaked out by the giant nurse and Marshmallow Man. Even the Queen ran last year!
One question: What’s up with all the guys running marathons in Speedos? The one titled “Your Grandfather in a Speedo as Superman” is, um, inspiring.
See the 2009 list here.
How do people run in this stuff?
And, what are you planning to wear for the Austin race?
(Photos from BuzzFeed)
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February 1, 2011
3M Half Marathon - Were you there?
Somewhere between watching the jugglers on the side of Spicewood Springs Drive and accidentally tossing a half-filled glass of water on the woman in front of me at the aid station along Great Northern Boulevard (she laughed it off, thank goodness), I officially decided — the half marathon is my favorite race distance.
At 13.1 miles it’s long enough to feel like you’ve accomplished something and gotten in a great workout. But it’s not so long that you feel like you’ve been thrown in front of a garbage truck by the time you reach the finish line.
Sunday’s 3M Half Marathon snaked its way from the Gateway Shopping Center in North Austin to Waterloo Park in Central Austin.
My running buddy Marcy Stellfox and I laughed the whole way, yelping with glee everytime we passed a mile marker, high-fiving people on the side of the road and thanking every cop stopping traffic along the route. We applauded people who came out to cheer, whooped for the bagpipe players, admired runners in costume and watched in awe as the skies went from inky dark to bright blue.
That race is a smokin’ good time!
By the time we rolled across the finish line after two hours and 14 minutes, men’s race winner Stephen Muange and women’s race winner Hirut Mendefro were probably soaking in a warm bubblebath someplace.
That matters not.
Marcy and I run for fun, to stay fit, to give us time to talk about what’s going on in our lives and so we can fit into our favorite jeans. She didn’t even mind stopping for 6 minutes while I waited in line for the Porta-Potty.
I finished in 2,673rd place. That’s 128th of the 281 women in my age group.
Pretty average.
But like thousands of people who came out for the 3M Half Marathon in record numbers this year, I was in it for the fun — not the win.
And the post-race nap was pretty awesome, too.
Congrats to everyone who ran!
(Photos by Julia Robinson)
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January 27, 2011
Marathon Month gears up with events
You may have noticed the growing herds of runners pacing through Austin’s neighborhoods every Saturday and Sunday morning.
Those folks are doing their long runs, ticking off mile after mile in their relentless pursuit of completing the Livestrong Austin Marathon or Half Marathon come Feb. 20.
Folks, marathon month is nearly upon us.
To keep you runners motivated, the good folks over at the race office sent me this schedule of events.
This year is a special one for Austin’s marathon. Not only does the 2011 race mark the first year of sponsorship by Livestrong, Lance Armstrong’s cancer survivorship foundation, it’s the 20th anniversary of the event.
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January 25, 2011
Livestrong Austin Marathon close to sellout
Still waffling on the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon? It’s time to make up your mind.
Race director John Conley said he expects both events to sell out by Monday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 495 spots were available in the marathon and 1,016 spots were left in the half marathon.
But they’re going fast. An average of more than 200 runners sign up daily, Conley said..
“We are pretty close and I expect both events to be sold out by Monday,” he said. “We always get a big surge after 3M (Half Marathon) and Houston (Marathon). This year with both events falling on the same day, the surge should put us over the top by Monday.”
Race entry is capped at 12,000 runners for the half marathon and 6,000 for the marathon, with no wiggle room.
“Once we are closed, we’re closed,” Conley said.
Packet pickup will be from 3-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road.
For more information or to register go here.
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January 24, 2011
See you at the 3M Half Marathon!
UPDATE Packet Pickup is Friday and SATURDAY, not Friday and Sunday. Thank you alert readers!
This 3M Half Marathon sold out a week ago, but if you’re registered for Sunday’s race (I am!), here’s some information you need to know.
Don’t miss packet pick-up, where you’ll finally lay hands on that famous goodie bag full of Post-It notes, tape, glue, lint rollers and other groovy 3M products!
It’s scheduled for 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the 3M Innovation Center, 6801 River Place Blvd. (Take note — that’s a good 20-minute drive from downtown Austin — without traffic. Plan accordingly.) There is no race day packet pick-up.
Bring a photo ID, and cash or check. No credit cards will be accepted.
If you’re picking up a packet for another runner (thank you for getting mine, Marcy!), bring a signed letter from the participant, authorizing you to pick up the packet. There’s also a form you can print out here.
Make your way to the starting line at Stonelake Boulevard near Baby Acapulco Restaurant by 6:15 a.m. on race morning.
You can park in the lots near Dave & Busters, Sam’s Club or the Regal Gateway 15 Cinema, or in the parking garage closest to Microsoft. Do not park in reserved spots, fire zones or handicapped spaces (unless your vehicle is properly marked.) Do not park in Gateway Shopping Center!
The half marathon starts at 6:45 a.m. and finishes at Waterloo Park, at Trinity between 12th and 14th streets. Buses will transport runners back to the start from the finish area.
A few more tips:
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January 21, 2011
Big Bend Ultra results
Austin athletes made a good showing in the Big Bend Ultra Marathon last weekend at Big Bend National Park.
Tanya Hunter of Austin won the women’s 50K race in 4 hours, 28 minutes. Meg Ayers of Austin won the women’s 25K in 2 hours 12 minutes and 40 seconds.
Congrats!
Nearly 300 runners participated in the event, which includes a 50K, 25K and new 10K race. Entry is capped to minimize impact on the park.
Proceeds from the race raised more than $5,000 for the Friends of Big Bend National Park’s trail fund, dedicated to improvement and expansion of trails in the park, according to Courtney Lyons-Garcia, president of Friends of Big Bend National Park.
The event included 50K and 25K trail races and introduced a new RGV/Hot Springs 10K race.
Here’s a list of all the winners:
50K Overall:
50K Masters:
25K Overall:
25K Masters:
10K Overall:
10K Masters:
Runners raced along Glenn Springs Road, alongside historical mines and past gorgeous desert scenery.
Full results, photos and race details are on the Big Bend 50 Ultra Run FaceBook page. Organizers are already planning to bring the event back next year.
(Photo above by Courtney Lyons-Garcia)
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January 10, 2011
Time to get serious about 3M Half Marathon
It’s getting near crunch time if you’re planning to run the 3M Half Marathon.
With the 13.1-mile, mostly downhill race in mind, I set out Sunday morning with a friend to see if I was in 3M Half Marathon shape. We ran just shy of 10 miles, at an easy pace, under dreary skies. Temperatures hovered around 45 degrees — perfect for running.
We ran from the intersection of Jollyville Road and Mesa Drive to her house near Lake Austin Boulevard and Exposition Drive. Our path overlapped parts of the 3M course and parts of the Austin Marathon course.
Our run gave me the confidence boost I need in advance of race day.
My goal is to run the Zooma Half Marathon on April 16 at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines. That’s a hilly, tough course, so I’m hoping to do 3M as a warmup.
If you’re planning to run the 3M Half Marathon on Sunday, Jan. 30, you should register soon. The race, a downhill blast that starts on Stonelake Boulevard and finishes at Waterloo Park in downtown Austin, is capped at 5,570 participants.
Not sure you can run all 13.1 miles on your own? Consider running it as a two-person relay. The first leg is 6.4 miles; the second is 6.7 miles. A shuttle will carry runners from the start to the exchange point.
Twenty-Six Two Marathon Club and Hill Country Running Company will provide pace groups, too, so if you’ve got a target finish line in mind, an experienced runner can help you reach that goal.
This race is legendary for its goodie bag, by the way. Sign up and at packet pickup you’ll be handed a bag filled with enough tape, sticky notes, glue, and 3M products to get you through the Apocalypse. (Some of this year’s bags include neoprene knee braces and sunglasses!)
In fact, the race earned “Best Schwag” honors in the January 2008 edition of Runner’s World magazine. I’m still working my way through the office supplies I got in the race two years ago.
The race is part of the Austin Distance Challenge. Start time is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. Buses will transport runners from the finish line at Waterloo Park to the starting line.
Registration is $75 for individuals or $130 for relay teams. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Austin non-profit Any Baby Can. For more information or to register, go here.
Permalink | | Categories: running
January 6, 2011
Hood to Coast documentary screens Tuesday
Want to get a runner’s high without breaking a sweat?
A documentary that follows four teams in the world’s largest relay race will be screened Tuesday at three local theaters.
Although “Hood to Coast” doesn’t specifically follow any runners from Austin, it debuted at the South by Southwest Film Festival last year.
“We are incredibly supported by the hundreds of members of AustinFIT,” says Anna Campbell, producer of the film. “They are jazzed about the film, and we hold Austin dear to our hearts because of the warm welcome we received there.”
Among those who are highlighted, according to promotional materials, are “a woman who literally died on the course the previous year. A mother and family grieving their lost son. Seasoned athletes looking for life’s meaning. A group of young film animators who train by drinking beer, not running.”
Each year, about 1,000 teams of a dozen runners each run through the night to cover the 197 miles from Mount Hood to the Pacific Ocean. Each athlete runs three times, 5 to 7 miles each leg, running from the edge of a glacier, through the urban areas of Portland, into the dense, fir forests to the Oregon coast.
Following the film, a pre-recorded panel discussion featuring expert runners, Olympians and running world giants will be shown. They include Mary Decker Slaney, Bart Yasso, Kenny Moore, Bob Foote, director Christoph Baaden and characters from the film.
The documentary will be shown at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at Arbor Cinema at Great Hills, 9828 Great Hills Trail; Tinseltown USA Pflugerville, 15436 FM 1825; Metropolitan 14, 901 Little Texas Lane.
Tickets are $12.50.
For tickets or more information about the film go here.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
January 4, 2011
Run Like a Girl
It’s January — time to start thinking about the Statesman Capitol 10,000, one of my favorite races of the year.
Intimidated? Don’t be.
I used to think I wasn’t a runner. The Cap10K was the race that changed my mind for good. From there I went on to run a half marathon and, ultimately, a marathon.
This year’s race is scheduled for March 27.
To get you geared up, the Austin American-Statesman is teaming with HEB to bring you the Run Like a Girl program.
I’ll be speaking at launch parties for the program in the next two weeks.
Come hear my story at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 at the HEB Plus, 2508 Riverside Dr.; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9 at the HEB near Far West, at 7025 Village Center Dr.; or 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at the HEB near Parmer and Interstate 35, at 500 Canyon Ridge Dr.
The parties last about an hour. You’ll get training and nutrition tips, recipes, giveaways and a chance to win cool door prizes. A workout with Austin Fit coaches will follow each party, so wear your walking or running shoes if you can.
You can also sign up for the Run Like a Girl training program, a 10-week training program coached by women for women that will prepare you for the Cap10K. Participants get a T-shirt and entry into a special tent after the race.
For more information about the Run Like a Girl program or the launch parties, call 445-3598 or go here.
Permalink | | Categories: running
January 3, 2011
New app allows runner tracking at Livestrong Austin Marathon
Know someone running in the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon?
A new free iPhone application will allow you to track them in real time during the Feb. 20 race.
Austin-based Brilliant Solutions Inc. has teamed with race organizers to present the application, available at the Apple App Store.
The application is not based on GPS, so athletes don’t have to carry a mobile device in order for someone to follow them. Instead, the application uses timing data to show the runner’s current location and estimated arrival times to recommended spectator locations on the course and the finish line.
Users can view the runner’s split information and current pace as well as locate themselves on the map to see where they are relative to the runner’s current location.
Besides tracking runners, the app allows users to read a Twitter feed of the latest race news, view interactive course maps, search race results, view a visitor’s guide from austin360.com, and consult a weekend event schedule.
The race starts next to the Capitol and finishes on Congress Avenue in front of the historic Paramount Theater.
More information about the mobile application, including a demo of runner tracking, can be found here.
For more information, go here.
Permalink | | Categories: running
December 16, 2010
Runner crawls to finish
Sometimes running really sucks.
My legs feel like cinder blocks are anchoring them down, and I plod along so slowly I’m pretty sure I’d lose a race with a beetle.
Usually the feeling happens when I’m trying to run hills.
I want to quit. I want to soak in a tub, read a book, get a cavity filled — anything but try to push my 46-year-old body up the road ahead of me.
In reality, it’s not that bad. My body is healthy and my heart is strong. The struggle unfolds in my mind.
After our morning run today, my running buddy Marcy Stellfox sent me a video of a high school student crawling across the finish line of a race at a cross country meet in California.
I watched it, and any excuse I ever had for whining about a run melted into the dirt alongside all those beetles I’ve been trying to outpace.
Holland Reynolds, a 16-year-old junior at a small private high school in San Francisco, was half a mile from the finish of a 3.1-mile race, holding down third place out of 169 runners, when she felt her legs start to give out. She slowed down and started to wobble. A few yards from the finish line, she collapsed.
A race official rushed to her side. Reynolds told him she wanted to finish. She wanted to finish for her coach, Jim Tracy, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Despite his worsening disease, Tracy has continued to coach his team. He struggles to walk and sometimes falls down, but he’s taught his team to keep on going.
Reynolds finished. It took her 20 seconds to crawl those last few yards, and to avoid disqualification, nobody could touch her.
When she reached the finish line, she was scooped up and rushed to an ambulance, where she was given intravenous fluids. She recovered in a few hours.
She said later she was battling a slight cold. The weather was rainy and cooler than normal, and she thinks she might not have hydrated enough before the race.
Her team won the state championship.
Watch the video. It’ll inspire you to finish your run, too.
And watch an interview with Reynolds and her coach on Good Morning America here.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: running
December 9, 2010
Brown Santa 5K, Austin Gorilla Run
My neighbor (hey Chris!) loves to dress in costume.
If he’s not dressing as a golf nerd to play putt-putt on his birthday, he’s donning a headress and loin cloth to run the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.
Any excuse to wear something weird will suffice. When he grew a mustache to raise money for prostate cancer awareness in November, he even put a fake mustache on his dog. I expect to see him with leaves pinned to his arms come Arbor Day.
Two upcoming runs might interest him. And you, for that matter:
Permalink | | Categories: running
December 6, 2010
Lose a key on the trail?
Did you lose something?
I spotted this collection of keys (and a spare shirt and a single baby shoe) on The Rock at the pedestrian bridge underneath Loop 1 on Saturday morning.
I wonder how all those folks missing their keys got home?
If you drop something on the trail around Lady Bird Lake, check The Rock first. Your fellow runners, walkers and cyclists may have found it for you.
Isn’t Austin great?
Permalink | | Categories: running
November 29, 2010
Turkey Trot course confusion: No, you didn't run 5 miles
Turns out I didn’t run as smokin’ fast as I thought I did at the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.
Neither did you, I’m sorry to say.
The advertised 5-mile course was nearly half a mile short, thanks to some confusion at the front of the pack.
According to race organizers, the lead vehicle went off course near the intersection of Cesar Chavez Street and Veterans Drive. Instead of turning left, to add a little more mileage to the course, the lead car - and the lead runners - turned right and headed back toward the First Street Bridge and the finish line. Everyone else followed suit.
Read a full explanation here.
It was my first experience running the Turkey Trot, and I’ll do it again. Next time, though, I’ll start closer to the front. I was in the back, and got boxed in by thousands of people who were walking the course.
That’s why I was surprised at my finish time. With that many folks to weave through, I figured I’d run much slower than normal. My time didn’t reflect that.
Too bad it was wrong!
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: running
November 26, 2010
Did you run the Turkey Trot?
I joined the herd of runners hustling through downtown Austin on Thanksgiving morning, running 5 miles in the annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.
Were you there?
More than 18,000 people registered for the run, which debuted a new course this year that started on the South First Street bridge, cut west along Sixth Street, then swung back on West Cesar Chavez to finish in front of the Long Center.
I even rode my bike to and from the event, adding to the calorie deficit needed for the turkey feast that followed.
Besides the requisite number of folks wearing stuffed turkeys on their heads (plush, not raw), pilgrim outfits or full-blown turkey suits, I saw a couple of guys wearing blue jumpsuits, hard hats and foam pick axes. The Chilean miners!
Proceeds of the run benefitted Caritas of Austin.
Twenty-three-year-old male winner Curtis Bixler crossed the finish line in 22 minutes and 34 seconds. Kelly Williamson was the first female, finishing in 25 minutes 32 seconds.
It was my first experience running the Turkey Trot. I’ve found a new tradition!
How did you like it?
Photo By Kreutz Photography
Photo by Frank CarletonPermalink | Comments (7) | Categories: running
November 19, 2010
Livestrong Austin Marathon route announced
What has 29 turns, 17 rolling uphill miles and 9.2 predominantly downhill miles?
The route of the 2011 Livestrong Austin Marathon & Half Marathon, of course.
Organizers have finalized the route of the Feb. 20 race, which includes three major changes. (Check out the map above.)
First, the start (now separate from the finish) is north of the Capitol on Congress Avenue at 16th Street.
Second, the Lake Austin Boulevard section of the route has been eliminated. Residents in the neighborhoods west of Exposition Boulevard should have better access in and out with Lake Austin Boulevard open in both directions and Fifth Street open into downtown.
Third, the 46th Street stretch of the route has been shifted north to 51st Street. The race now bypasses the choke point along the 46th Street corridor and allows a clean turn onto Duval Street for a long, straight downhill to the finish.
Race organizers hope to keep the course the same for at least the next three years. That’s a tricky task, apparently, in a city that’s growing as quickly as Austin.
Of note?
The total uphill average is a 14 foot per mile climb. The total downhill average is a 40 foot per mile drop, with a 250 foot downhill drop over the last 10K. (Wheee!)
The finish line stays the same on Congress Avenue at 10th Street.
The route no longer runs through the Capitol grounds.
The course is considered record-eligible and meets criteria for BAA Marathon and Olympic Trials qualifying.
Better start training …
Permalink | | Categories: running
November 18, 2010
Turkey Trot here I come
I just signed up for the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.
Yes, I’m planning to run off my Thanksgiving dinner before I eat it. (And a good Thanksgiving it’s shaping up to be, Aggie fans!)
It’s the 20th anniversary of the Trot, which has raised more than $1 million for Caritas of Austin. More than 17,000 runners are expected for the event, which moves this year to the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. It’s the largest 5-mile run in Texas.
The 5-mile race kicks off at 9:30 a.m. There’s also a 1-mile walk and the Stepping Stone School Kids K.
And get this, bicycle commuters — Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop will provide bike valet.
Need some convincing in order to do the run?
The average Thanksgiving plate is heaped with more than 4,500 calories. You’d have to run more than 8 miles at a good clip to burn it off.
One piece of pecan pie, with whipped cream, is packed with 555 calories. A slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream has 255 calories.
You’re ready to sign up right now, aren’t you?
Registration is $25 for the timed 5-mile run ($30 race week); $20 for the untimed 5-mile run; $20 for the 1 mile untimed walk; and $8 for the Stepping Stone School Kids K ($10 race week.) Entry fees increase the week of the race. Go here to sign up.
Registration and packet pick-up are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday at RunTex Georgetown, 809 S. Main St.; 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Wednesday at RunTex Riverside; and 7:30 until 9 a.m. Thanksgiving Day at The Long Center.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
November 17, 2010
What's new in running at The Running Event
The barefoot running trend continues full steam at The Running Event, a trade show for all things running at the Austin Convention Center this week.
Between the Frankenstein-channeling Hoka One One, with fluffy soles so thick they look like orthopedic shoes, to the wildly popular Vibram Five Fingers, it’s all about putting your foot in its natural position.
The Hoka One One’s cushy midsole supposedly mimics the experience of running on grass or sand. Anyone who buys them should brace themselves for lots of stares.
The theory of barefoot running, outlined in the book “Born to Run,” is that modern running shoes, with all that support, allow certain muscles in your foot to atrophy. Take away that support and your feet get stronger.
The Vibram Five Fingers was one of the innovators. It’s like a glove for your foot, with a grippy sole. Slip a pair on and you feel like you’ve got animal feet, with prehensile toes.
Shoes were only part of what was highlighted at the expo. Companies representing energy bars, gels and drinks, books, clothing, headlamps, heart rate monitors, socks, blister remedies, hats and everything else were on hand to show off their wares.
I loved the Nite Beams arm bands, which light up (in six cool colors) to keep you visible while you’re running (or cycling or even swimming!) The company also makes illuminated dog collars and baseball caps.
Austin’s own Kim Overton was at the show, showing a new red plaid version of her nifty SPI Belt, an expandable pocket on a waistband for stashing cell phones, identification cards and keys while you run.
If you don’t like carrying stuff on your waist, check out the Armpocket, a pocket for your iPhone that straps to your upper arm.
I sampled Honey Stingers new organic Stinger Waffles.
Awesome!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
November 16, 2010
Tuhabonye, Clemons lead St. Andrews to 3rd championship
Running coach Gilbert Tuhabonye screeched his screaming red pickup truck to a halt as I rode my bike past Auditorium Shores yesterday morning.
He jumped out and nearly hyperventilated right then and there as he told me about the boys cross country team at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School.
Tuhabonye and coach Reed Clemons coached the team to its third straight title at the Southwest Preparatory Conference Fall Championships in Dallas last weekend.
Congrats to the team —, Clemons and Tuhabonye, who gets my award for the happiest running coach on the planet.
Three St. Andrew’s runners placed in the top five at the championships.
Team captain Robert Diaz placed first for the second consecutive year with a time of 16 minutes and 15 seconds on the 3-mile course.
Three other Crusaders placed in the top 20, earning all-conference honors. They are Jack Moody, third place, 16:19; Evan Wineland, fourth place, 16:23; and Sam Andrews, 10th place, 16:52. James DelVesco placed 26th.
The girls cross country team placed 10th, led by Megan Bentzin, who finished 23rd, and Lena Blietz, 37th.
Permalink | | Categories: running
November 15, 2010
The Running Event hits Austin
It’s all about running this week in Austin.
The Running Event, a closed-to-the-public trade show for manufacturers and retailers in the running business, is taking place here Nov. 15-18. Expect our downtown trails to be bustling!
About 1,000 people — owners of running specialty stores, exhibitors and retailers from all over the United States, Canada and as far away as New Zealand and Japan — are expected to attend.
The growth of the “barefoot” and minimalist shoes should be a hot topic at Monday and Tuesday’s conference at the Hilton Austin. The expo at the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday and Thursday will feature shoes, socks, apparel and high-tech accessories by Asics, Brooks, New Balance, Nike, Pearl Izumi, Powerbar, Puma, Timex, Under Armour and others.
Not everything on the agenda is for industry insiders.
From 7-9 a.m. Tuesday, representatives of Brooks Sports will set up tables along the trail around Lady Bird Lake, staging fun runs and “minute to win it” challenges that anyone can enter. Participants can win Brooks freebies, including a pair of running shoes.
Tables will be set up in the parking lot at the south side of the pedestrian bridge under Loop 1 (Mopac); in the parking lot at the north side of the pedestrian bridge under Loop 1 (Mopac); at the intersection of the Shoal Creek Trail and the Lady Bird Lake trail; and in the parking lot of the trail and South First Street.
The Brooks Run Happy Calvalcade of Curiosities bus will park on the south side of the First Sreet Bridge from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, offering free gait analysis and prizes for the public. There’s also an Arcade of Oddities, featuring an array of weird stuff, including what is billed as the world’s biggest shoe and some kind of carefully preserved faux bunion thingie. (Yikes!)
For more information go here.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
October 28, 2010
Run for the Water: Why do you run?
The marketing campaign for this year’s Run for the Water is all about the reasons we run.
“It’s not about the post-race brag Tweet,” a t-shirt proclaims. “It’s not about making your ex jealous,” a sticker reads. “It’s not about your 40-inch waist size,” says another.
I told race organizers I run because a grumpy goose on the trail chases me.
Occasionally, though, I run because it just feels so dang good. That usually happens in the fall, when it’s crisp and cool and the sun is rising.
This year’s Run for the Water is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 31.
A portion of proceeds from the 10-miler, 5K and Kids’ K will benefit the Gazelle Foundation, which uses the money to fund clean water projects in Burundi, in Africa.
It’s the second race in the Austin Distance Challenge, a series of five races that culminates with the Austin Marathon in February.
The races start and finish at the First Street Bridge and the course winds through the hills of West Austin. The 10 miler starts at 7 a.m., followed by the 5K at 7:10 a.m and the kids K at 9 a.m. Children are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes.
Crazy popular local running coach Gilbert Tuhabonye, a survivor of genocide in Burundi in 1993, created the Gazelle Foundation and the Run for the Water.
Proceeds from the previous three races have raised money to build a water project that now provides clean water to more than 2,500 villagers in Songa, Burundi. Before the project, they had to walk as far as 2 miles each way to get unpurified water shared by livestock.
“By simply entering the race, every runner, regardless of their level, ensures a lifetime of clean water for one other person in Burundi,” Tuhabonye says.
Registration is open at www.runforthewater.com. Entry fee is $49 for the 10-miler, $25 for the 5K and $12 for the Kids K until Oct. 28. Fees go up to $60, $30 and $15 starting Oct. 29.
Packet pickup is 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday and 6-7 a.m. (until 8:30 for the Kids K) Sunday at RunTex Riverside, 420 W. Riverside Drive.
For more information or to volunteer, contact info@runforthewater.com.
Why do you run?
Permalink | | Categories: running
October 26, 2010
Study: Running marathon damages heart
Interesting news about heart damage and long distance running this week …
A new Canadian study shows that runners experience temporary heart damage while running a marathon.
If you’ve ever run a marathon, this probably won’t surprise you. Those last 3 or 4 miles are brutal.
The good news? The damage is reversible, and better training and proper hydration help minimize it.
According to researchers, regular exercise reduces cardiovascular risk by two or three in the long run, but during vigorous exercise (i.e. running a marathon) cardiac risk increases by seven.
The study was presented Monday in Montreal.
Another point to remember? Running a marathon is half as risky as driving the same route on a normal day, researchers say.
Read more here.
(The photo above by Kelly West shows Austin Marathon winner Keith Pierce of Cedar Park catching his breath after winning the men’s race in 2:20:35 in February.)
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: running
October 22, 2010
Run with donkeys, dogs at Sunday race
Meet Lou, honorary guest at this Sunday’s Donkey Dash 5K in Sunset Valley.
Lou, a miniature donkey who doesn’t quite top out at 3 feet, will hang out at the start and finish line of the race, which also includes a Doggy Dash component.
He won’t be the only donkey in attendance. Star, the race’s official mascot, will be on hand to cheer on (bray at?) runners along the course.
For that matter, Lou and Star won’t be the only four-legged folks in the neighborhood. Expect lots of dogs, all vying for the honor of fastest pooch in town.
Both races gear up Sunday at Doc’s Backyard, 5207 Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley.
This is serious business. Canines are treated just like human athletes in the race — they get bib numbers, run in age groups and get their own timing chips, which will be attached to their collars. They get awards, too, and bonuses if they set new course records.
The starting chute and first part of the Donkey Dash course are separated from the Doggy Dash, so the dogs won’t interfere with people (and vice versa).
New this year? A $1,100 prize purse for top runners in the Donkey Dash 5K, and course record bonuses.
Race organizer Andrea Fisher promises a flat, fast, beginner-friendly route. Doc’s Backyard will provide post-race munchies, and Will and the Unwilling will perform live music. Congressman Lloyd Doggett will present awards.
Late registration is $40 and is available at packet pickup or from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Sunday at the race site.
Packet pickup is from noon to 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hill Country Running Co., 215 South Lamar Blvd. A Donkey Dash tech shirt is included with registration.
Both owner and canine must register to participate in the Doggy Dash 5K. All participating humans and dogs will pickup their chips prior to the race start Sunday morning.
The race starts at 8 a.m. Sunday at Doc’s Backyard, 5207 Brodie Lane in Sunset Valley. For more information go to www.donkeydash.com.
Permalink | | Categories: running
October 19, 2010
Runnin Down a Dream
I never used to think of myself as a runner.
The transformation started slowly. I signed up for a class to train for the Statesman Capitol 10,000. I loved that race and wanted more, so I registered for a half marathon. Then, two years after my first 10K, I ran my first marathon.
I know the power of running, and it’s about more than physical fitness. It makes me feel strong and confident in mind as well as body.
That’s why I was happy to accept when the non-profit after-school program Girls on the Run invited me to serve as emcee for their annual benefit.
Runnin’ Down a Dream is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 at the Belmont, 305 West 6th St.
Tickets are $20 in advance at www.gotraustin.org or $25 at the door. You get live music from The Daze, appetizers, beer, wine and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run Austin.
The program helps prepare pre-teen girls for a lifetime of self-respect, positive choices and healthy living. Volunteer coaches spend 12 weeks teaching them about positive self-image. At the end of the semester, girls and their families, coaches and volunteers participate in a 5K race.
I hope to see you there!
Permalink | | Categories: running
September 21, 2010
Set a record at Austin Marathon Relay
Think you and four friends can hold a sub 5-minute per mile pace in a footrace?
If you can, you’ve got a shot at cracking the record set in the Silicon Labs Austin Marathon Relay by Team Jack and Adam’s Zapata Roadrunners.
To have a chance, you’ll have to run faster than an armadillo. Luckily, you won’t have to run as fast as a longhorn.
The race kicks off at 7:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 26 at Auditorium Shores. Teams of five will run a collective marathon — one person running a 12K, two running 10Ks and two running 5Ks.
Registration is open here.
Proceeds benefit Junior Achievement, which teaches financial literacy, entrepreneurship and work preparedness programs to more than 12,000 Central Texas students.
(Thanks for the chart, Katie Ryan!)
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: running
September 17, 2010
Team Livestrong info sessions for Austin Marathon
Now that temperatures have settled down to highs in the almost tolerable low to mid-90s, I’m running again.
Slowly, for now. And not very far.
If you’re thinking about doing the Livestrong Austin Marathon or Half Marathon (I’m thinking of the half) on Feb. 20, 2011, now is the time to get serious.
It’ll be an extra special race this year, the 20th anniversary of the run and the first year of the race’s partnership with Livestrong.
Expect lots of yellow.
To mark the occasion, Livestrong wants to sign up 1,000 runners on Team Livestrong. To join the team, runners must register for $35, raise $500 for Livestrong. In return, they get Livestrong gear and entry into full or half marathon and entry to post-race party marathon weekend.
Go here to register for Team Livestrong.
To find out more, attend one of a slew of upcoming informational sessions, including these:
Don’t dally about registering for the race, even if you’re not joining Team Livestrong. The half will be capped at 12,000 runners; the full at 6,000.
Permalink | | Categories: running
September 16, 2010
Superhero Run on Sunday
Superheros were out in force last weekend, swirling their capes and showing off stretchy tights as they jogged on the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
Sunday, they’ll race in the CASA Superhero Run, a chip-timed 5K that starts at 8 a.m. at The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace. A Kids 1K, led by the Texas Rollergirls, will follow at 8:45 a.m.
Austin entrepreneur Matt Curtin created The Superhero Foundation two years ago after dreaming one night about ending child abuse with the help of superheros. The non-profit organization, whose motto is “Every child needs a hero, but abused children need superheros,” now hosts fund-raising runs in Austin, Pittsburgh and Richmond, Va.
Proceeds from the Austin event will benefit CASA of Travis County, which recruits and trains volunteers to advocate on the behalf of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. In 2009, CASA served 1,106 children with the help of 444 volunteers.
Besides the 5K and Kids 1K, a superhero costume contest, obstacle course, photobooth, kids crafts, sports massage and food are planned.
Registration for the 5K is $25 in advance or $35 on event day. Registration for the Kids 1K is $15 in advance or $20 on event day.
For more information on CASA of Travis County, go here. For more information on The Superhero Foundation or to sign up for the race, go here.
(Photos by Rudy Gonzalez)
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
September 14, 2010
Trail closure
The hike-and-bike trail around Lady Bird Lake will be closed at the north end of the Pfluger Bridge on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 18 and 19.
The trail will be closed between B.R. Reynolds Road and San Antonio Street as part of the construction project that will extend the bridge to the north over Cesar Chavez Street.
The extension is part of the new north-south route for bicyclists and pedestrians that will route cyclists over the Lady Bird Lake and Cesar Chavez Street, through the future Gables site to the Bowie pedestrian underpass and up to West Third Street.
For more information about the bridge extension go here.
For more information about Austin park closures go here.
Permalink | | Categories: running
September 9, 2010
Minnows, mud and more on Lady Bird Lake trail
Whew, what a deluge!
Have you seen the trail around Lady Bird Lake? What a mess.
I ventured out yesterday afternoon and encountered stranded (and dead) minnows near the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a mud wallow on the point where Shoal Creek empties into the lake, and all kinds of debris, including a huge metal dumpster, along the shore.
My shoes are muddy, my bike tires are slipping and sliding and the humidity feels like post-Katrina New Orleans. And that white goose that hangs out on the south side of the river near the Congress Bridge? It’s extra grumpy today. Beware.
Yuck.
Please mind the signs and stay off places in the trails that are closed until things dry up. Places like the Barton Creek Greenbelt are especially vulnerable to erosion right now, and biking through there can cause damage.
What problems have you noticed?
Here are some scenes, photographed with my trusty iPhone:
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
September 7, 2010
Get ready for Big Bend Ultra run
Thinking about signing up for the Big Bend Ultra?
The 50K and 24K trail runs are scheduled for Jan. 16, 2011 at Big Bend National Park.
There’s just enough time to prepare. But you probably need help, right?
Whole Earth Provision Co. is hosting a workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Westgate store, 4477 South Lamar Blvd., to help interested runners get ready.
Carroll Voss, director of the race and owner of Fleet Foot Sports in San Antonio, will answer questions about the race course and give tips on preparing for an ultra run — and an ultra in Big Bend National Park in particular.
Courtney Lyons-Garcia, executive director of the Friends of Big Bend National Park, will talk about the park itself, giving tips on places to stay, hiking trails to explore and driving tours to take. She’ll also provide information about Friends of Big Bend National Park, the non-profit host and beneficiary of the foot race.
Snacks and door prizes will be provided.
For more information call the store at (512) 899-0992.
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August 6, 2010
Congrats finishers of Moonlight Margarita Run
Lots of folks in Austin’s running community ventured out in the heat for last night’s Moonlight Margarita Run and Gala benefitting The Trail Foundation.
Sean O’Neil, 19, of Austin won the 5K race in 16 minutes 39 seconds. Jack Moody, 19, came in second at 17 minutes 6 seconds; and Frank Jarosky, 22, came in third at 17 minutes 7 seconds.
Sarah Mark, 24, won the women’s race in a time of 18 minutes and 41 seconds. Ivi Kerrigan, 40, was second in 19 minutes 57 seconds; and Valerie Hunt, 39, was third in 20 minutes and 16 seconds.
Congrats!
This year’s 5K run and dinner, with fajitas and margaritas provided by underwriting sponsor Maudie’s, raised money for improvements to the Johnson Creek trailhead underneath the Loop 1 bridge.
Trees on the grounds of the American Legion Hall were hung with big glowing orange and yellow orbs, and tables were draped with white table clothes.
Everyone seemed to be buzzing about the proposed boardwalk that would complete the missing link in the trail from east of Interstate 35 to the Austin American Statesman building near Congress Avenue.
I didn’t participate in the run this year, but my husband Chris and I rode our bikes to the event. I was happy we did — it was a lot easier to park our bikes than find a spot for a car.
We enjoyed the night — and appreciate the work The Trail Foundation does to keep Austin’s favorite running trail in good shape.
Did you go? Thoughts? How did you handle the heat?
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August 3, 2010
Running while intoxicated
I always knew it was a bad idea to drink beer and run long distances.
Read this report from a guy who decided to drink a beer every mile of a half marathon.
Yes, folks, that’s 13 beers. And yes, he barfed at the end.
I’m definitely not endorsing such behavior. I just find it interesting.
Who hasn’t wondered what it would be like to try this kind of a beer run?
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July 12, 2010
Trail running with Andrea Fisher
I’ve been on vacation the past week, but this morning I was back in Austin, running on the Barton Creek Greenbelt with pro triathlete Andrea Fisher.
We met at the Gaines Creek access point, just above Twin Falls.
Here’s what I saw when I parked my car at 7 a.m. this morning:
Yuck. Overflowing trash cans.
Once Andrea and I crossed Twin Falls, though, the terrain was beautiful and mostly litter free.
I haven’t done much trail running before (except to catch up to my pals when I lagged behind while taking photos during hiking trips), so this was a new experience.
Other than the bump on my head from where I ran into a low-hanging tree branch (doh!), I loved it.
The ground is softer than pavement, so running is easier on the joints. It takes all your concentration to avoid falling, so before you’ve had time to notice, you’ve gotten in 3 or 4 miles. (Confession: I did fall this morning. Once. And I’m unscathed, except for my ego.)
Trail running is typically a little slower than road running, too, and that made me happy. Otherwise I couldn’t keep up with Andrea.
And the scenery! The creeks are flowing, everything’s green and you’ve got to keep an eye out for snakes, so you won’t get bored.
Check next Monday’s paper for an article on the ins and outs of trail running.
In the meantime, congrats to Fisher. She and husband Jamie Cleveland, who own Hill Country Running Co., are expecting their first child in February.
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June 23, 2010
Run/Drink/Repeat
Looking for a good reason to run on a hot night?
The monthly Run/Drink/Repeat benefit pub crawl, sponsored by Team Spiridon, starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Team Spiridon started as a running group, but now trains runners who raise funds and awareness for local animal welfare organizations. The group, which is now recruiting runners for its fall training program, is one of the official charities of the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon’s 26 Miles for 26 Charities program.
Runners are asked to bring a $3 donation and meet at 6:30 p.m. at the rock outside of Whole Foods Market, 6th Street at Lamar Boulevard. From there the group will run to Freddie’s Place, Doc’s, Zax Pints and Plates, the Cedar Door and the Gingerman. The total distance is 4.8 miles.
Here’s the estimated timetable:
Here’s a map of the route.
Runners of all skill levels, paces and tolerances are invited.
“It’s neither race nor drunkfest, it’s just a good time for a great cause,” says Team Spiridon coach and spokesman Rob Hill. “The first leg can be shortened by a mile, if necessary, or, if you want, drive and meet us at one or more stops.”
Some runners also bring shelter dogs looking for permanent homes. (A dog that came out for the last run, Pinto, was adopted by a couple that met him at The Ginger Man.)
Proceeds from Thursday’s event will benefit EmanciPET, which provides free and low-cost spay and neuter services. Last month’s pub run raised $500 for Austin Pets Alive.
Next month’s Run/Drink/Repeat is scheduled for July 29.
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June 2, 2010
Should runners be able to use Deep Eddy's restroom for free?
Should Deep Eddy Pool allow runners to use the rest rooms for free?
Sherill A. Barron, the 51-year-old girls athletic coordinator at Hill Country Middle School in Westlake, stopped by the pool a few weeks ago, hoping to use the restroom before she set out on a run around Lady Bird Lake.
When Barron headed into the bathhouse, though, the cashier stopped her and told her she’d have to pay the $3 pool admission fee in order to use the bathroom.
Barron didn’t argue, and headed to the restrooms next to the tennis courts by Austin High School, about a half-mile away, instead. But the more she thought about it the madder she got.
“By the time I finished my run I was fuming,” says Barron, who managed Deep Eddy Pool in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
She went home and wrote a letter to the Austin American-Statesman.
“Never once did I deny a runner the use of the restroom facilities,” Barron wrote. “Maybe being a runner myself, I had more empathy! Is the city of Austin in such a financial crisis that this is a new form of revenue? What has happened to the friendly atmosphere that always exuded from Austin’s oldest and finest park facility?”
Barron notes that many runners start and end their runs on the hike and bike trail behind the pool. Having a restroom there is a convenience to the pool goers, as well as runners and people that enjoy adjacent Eilers Park, she wrote.
Tom Nelson, head of the aquatics department for the city of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department, said the cashier was following city rules and the wishes of the Friends of Deep Eddy group, which raised money to fund renovation of the bathhouse.
“There is a fee established for the use that facility, the other municipal pools and Barton Springs. The bathrooms are a part of the facility and require a fee as well,” Nelson says. “When the restoration project occurred at Deep Eddy, the Friends of Deep Eddy expressed support for this point.”
Barron thinks runners and park visitors should be able to use the restrooms without paying.
“I’m 51 and I’ve got to use the potty before I get on the trail,” she said. “Are they going to tell a young mother swinging her 3-year-old son at Eilers Park they can’t use the restroom? I thought ‘Boy has this place lost its charm.’”
Barron, by the way, was Nelson’s first supervisor when he was a basket attendant at the pool in the early 1980s.
So, folks. What do you think? Should the city let runners use the facilities for free?
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May 24, 2010
Run with Barefoot Ken Bob
It’s shaping up to be a real barefootin’ week here in Austin!
I just got word from Jim Nicar, of the Austin Barefoot Running group, that “Barefoot Ken Bob” Saxton will lead a free barefoot running clinic at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Butler Park, just west of the Long Center and across the street from Auditorium Shores. Meet by the park’s hill.
This in addition to the barefoot (or nearly barefoot) session planned for 6 p.m. Thursday at Rogue Running (see entry below).
RSVPs are not required for Tuesday’s event.
Saxton, who has maintained a website devoted to barefoot running since 1998, has completed more than 350 barefoot races, including more than 75 marathons.
He’s been featured in Runner’s World magazine and was described as the “great bearded sage” of the barefoot running world in Christopher McDougal’s bestseller “Born to Run.” calls Saxton the “great bearded sage” of the international community of barefoot runners.
Saxton lives in California. He, his wife Cathy, and their dog Herman are traveling around the country this summer, conducting free barefoot running clinics along the way.
Tuesday’s workshop will include 1 to 2 miles of walking and running on a variety of terrains, and emphasize technique over mileage.
Anyone with an interest in barefoot running is welcome.
For more information about Ken Bob’s tour go here http://barefootkenbob.com/
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Barefoot Running 101
Barefoot — or nearly barefoot — running has been in the news a lot lately.
Christopher McDougall’s book “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen,” fired up the movement about a year ago. The introduction of the Vibram Five-Fingers — a shoe that looks more like a neoprene glove than a running shoe — also spurred the trend toward more minimal shoes.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., John Schrup will lead a seminar on barefoot/minimalist footwear in running. The talk will include a brief history of running shoes from the 1970s through today, take a look at what the future brings in terms of running shoe design and discuss how you can incorporate barefoot or minimalist running footwear in your own running programs.
The seminar will wrap up just in time for the inaugural Rogue Raffler, a new social run.
At 6:55 p.m., organizers will reveal locations. At 7 p.m. the run begins. Runners head out on foot to the checkpoints, where raffle tickets will be handed out. Collect as many raffle tickets as you can, get back to the store before 8 p.m. and put your tickets in the raffle jar. Tickets will be drawn and winners will get prizes from run sponsors and Rogue Equipment.
For more information go to www.roguerunning.com or call the shop 512-493-0920.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on barefoot — or almost barefoot — running. Do you do it? Why? Does it help? Thoughts?
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May 12, 2010
A vertical marathon
Want to add a new dimension to your athletic endeavors?
The American Lung Association presents the Fight for Air Climb, a competitive stair climbing event, or “vertical marathon.”
Participants climb 672 steps — that’s 31 floors — up the Frost Bank Tower, 400 Congress Ave.
The race starts at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 15. Running or walking is allowed.
Participants can compete as individuals or as teams. Climbers will be released in 6-10 second intervals, and times will be calculated through electronic chip timing.
Teams can start the race together. Water stations and rest floors will be provided every few floors. A celebration will take place at the top.
Proceeds benefit the American Lung Association’s fight against lung disease, the third leading cause of death in the United States.
To register, go here or call the American Lung Association at 512-467-6753.
And just think: Training is as easy as skipping the elevator.
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April 29, 2010
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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April 20, 2010
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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April 13, 2010
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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April 12, 2010
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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April 8, 2010
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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March 29, 2010
Who else ran Zooma Half Marathon?
I ran the Zooma Women’s Half Marathon on Saturday.
It’s a hilly race in a beautiful setting — the start and finish is at the Hyatt Lost Pines near Bastrop.
My favorite things about the race? It’s extremely well organized. It’s a fun, rolling course. You get a cool little necklace (see photo above) instead of a medal for crossing the finish line. And there’s a nice party at the end.
Organizers thought of everything. Shuttles ran from Airport FastPark to the race start to prevent congestion. They ran smoothly and we didn’t have to wait around at all.
The run itself started right on time. The course was a little different than last year — it had several short loops instead of a single out and back.
And woo, boy, those hills! My quads were screaming by Mile 6. Thankfully it flattened out (except for one big lump in the gravy at Mile 9) for the second half.
The last few miles weaved back and forth through the golf course. That was good and bad. It was pretty, but looping up and down the same stretch several times made it seem like we were in a giant turnstile.
Call me grouchy, I didn’t like the guy who worked his way along the route, stopping every 3 or 4 miles to blast his ear-piercing air horn, presumably to encourage the runners. Ack! I practically passed out every time he did it!
Definitely not helpful.
This year’s finisher’s necklace was a tiny silver star, with the name and date of the race on it. Lovely! Who really needs another medal? I can actually wear the necklace — and I am today!
My time was slower this year than last year, but I expected that. I finished in 2:15:13. Last year I finished in 2:03:35.
Last year, though, I ran the Austin Marathon and was running a lot. This year, I’ve just been maintaining with a couple of 5- or 7-mile runs a week. I’ve been focusing more on other activities, like swimming and gardening and hiking and biking.
Who else did Zooma? How did you like it?
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March 26, 2010
Reading while running: A ticketable offense?
People do the strangest things on the trail around Lady Bird Lake.
This week, while running with pal Katie Ryan, we passed a woman running, in the rain, while reading a book.
Seriously.
Paperback book. Held out in front of her as she made her way down the gravel trail between the pedestrian bridge at Loop 1 and Lou Neff Point.
Can you get a ticket for that?
She didn’t even trip while crossing the railroad tracks for the mini train in Zilker Park.
I wish I’d seen the book’s title. All I can say is it must have been good.
What strange behavior have you observed on the trail?
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March 21, 2010
Ready for Zooma Half Marathon?
We’re a week away from the Zooma Women’s Half Marathon.
I’m a wee bit worried!
I ran the Zooma last year and loved it. I loved the small size of the race, the fact that it was staged at the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop instead of downtown Austin, and the cute silver necklace I got for crossing the finish line. The course was hilly but beautiful.
But last year I’d run the Austin Marathon. The Zooma felt like nothing after those 26.2 grueling miles. This year, I haven’t been running as much. Usually, I get in three runs a week — a hilly 7-miler, an easy 5-miler and a weekend 10-miler. (I also swim with a swim team.)
That’s not ideal.
But I’m running the race for fun, not to set a land-speed record. And my body has been thanking me for months for easing back on my running program.
Last year I battled a torn calf muscle and an inflamed IT band. This year, no such problems.
The race starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27.
Packet pickup is 3-8 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., or 2-8 p.m. Friday, March 26 at the Hyatt Lost Pines. There is no race day packet pickup for the half marathon.
Remember, there’s no on-site parking, either. Airport Fast Park, across from Austin Bergstrom International Airport at 2300 Spirit of Texas Dr., will provide free parking. Plan to arrive no later than 6 a.m. to catch a free shuttle to the resort.
For more information on Zooma, go to www.zoomarun.com.
Who else is running Zooma? What are your goals? How is your training going?
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March 18, 2010
Wash your car while you run
Imagine this: You park your car, go for a run around Lady Bird Lake, and when you get back, your vehicle’s been washed and waxed, instead of covered in bird poo.
Enterprising twin brothers Emory and Thomas Fincher, 26, opened their Wash & Run business outside RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Drive, last September.
They offer three packages: The Sprint ($30), a basic hand wash, spray wax, vacuum and dashboard/door wipedown; the Mile ($80), which adds a hand wax, mat shampooing and complete interior wipedown; and the Marathon ($150), which adds leather cleaning, upholstery steam cleaning and complete interior detailing.
It takes about 30-40 minutes for the Sprint, up to an hour and a half for the Mile (hey, that’s slower than me!), and two or two-and-a-half hours for the marathon (there’s a PR!).
The Finchers have set up shop next to the annex in the parking lot of RunTex. Look for the green canopy.
Emory Fincher thinks the concept will work, because, he says, time is everything.
“People who stay in shape and take care of bodies also like to take care of cars,” he says. “And now they can do it all at once.”
Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and by appointment Sunday and Monday. To make an appointment, call 461-9524.
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February 19, 2010
Girls, get ready for Zooma Half Marathon!
I’m slowly building up my running distance in preparation for the ZOOMA Austin Half Marathon on March 27.
The race caters to women — with silver necklaces for half marathon finishers and a post-race party with massages, shopping, a light breakfast, wine tastings, live music and a post-race pool party. (Men are allowed, but trust me, this one is all about girls.)
There’s also a 5K and 20K for those who don’t want to run 13.1 miles.
The official charity partner for ZOOMA Austin is LifeWorks, an Austin-based social services non-profit that transitions youths and families in crisis to safety and success. For more information on LifeWorks go here.
All three distances start at 7:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa in Bastrop.
Register here.
Sign up before Feb. 28 and ZOOMA Austin will donate to LifeWorks’ pregnancy prevention programs on your behalf. You will also be entered in a drawing to receive an $80 gift certificate from Austin’s Pizza.
Use the following codes when you enter to make the donation — LOVEAUSHALF10 for a $10 donation or LOVEAUS5K10 for a $5 donation.
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February 17, 2010
How a 3:51 marathon becomes a 7:01 marathon
Need a reminder about the importance of staying hydrated? Listen up.
Kurt Wilkin had just run past mile 24 in the Austin Marathon. He was on track for a 3 hour and 51 minute race.
He’d been feeling a little funny for a mile or two, but didn’t realize anything was wrong.
He remembers walking a bit. Then remembers falling at the end of the race, and arguing with officials about whether or not he’d crossed the finish line.
Turns out that last part never happened.
In reality, Wilkin passed out at mile 25.5. He woke up to people pouring water on him. Medics put him in an ambulance and administered an IV. He was dehydrated and taken to the hospital.
(Wilkin notes that he ate seven Gus and drank water at every water stop along the way, in addition to hydrating in the days leading to the race.)
When he was hydrated again, doctors gave him permission to go back and finish that last mile and a half.
Crazy? Maybe.
What is understandable is Wilkin’s desire to finish. He’d completed every race in the seven-race Distance Challenge Series.
Adding to his motivation?
In 2006, almost the same thing happened. He and a buddy were doing the Distance Challenge. A half mile from the finish of the RunTex 20 Miler, the second to last race in the series, he became dehydrated and had to be given fluids. He didn’t finish the race — or the Distance Challenge.
“My friends gave me endless grief,” Wilkin says. “This year I decided to finally mark it off my list.”
He had to go back and knock out the next mile and a half.
His official finish time? Seven hours and 1 minute.
A little off his pace. But he earned his Distance Challenge finishers jacket fair and square.
Thank goodness!
(The photos above show Wilkin at the beginning of the race, left, and walking across the finish after his hospital visit.)
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February 16, 2010
Mike Davis hand cycles Austin Marathon
I met Mike Davis two years ago, when I wrote an article about how the U.S. Army veteran stays fit despite being paralyzed from the waist down.
Davis, 48, was crushed by a military Range Rover during a training exercise in New Mexico 15 years ago. That never changed his need for daily exercise, and now he gets it through swimming and racing his hand cycle.
Davis competed in the Austin Marathon on Sunday, and for the second time in two years he was the first person to cross the finish line.
His time? Two hours, 17 minutes and 54 seconds. That’s 26.2 miles — all by propelling his wheelchair with the hand cranks. (Yes, his arms are big!)
Davis doesn’t have much competition in Austin, so now he’s looking for nearby races that attract more hand-crank athletes. He still has the competitive athletic spirit he had before the injury.
He just signed up for the Big D Texas Marathon in Dallas in April.
Davis was cycling with his girlfriend on Saturday when a car pulled up alongside them and the driver rolled down his window. The driver yelled to Davis how he had inspired him to get off the couch and get on his own bike.
Davis has that affect on people.
Here’s a picture of Davis with Gov. Rick Perry before Sunday’s race.
Way to go Mike!
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February 15, 2010
A romantic Austin Marathon story
Lots of great stories out of the Austin Marathon this year!
Did you run? Or watch the race?
I did a little of both. I walked a few blocks from my house to the intersection of Shoal Creek and RM2222 and watched the runners stream by. Then I ran over to Mile 20, where I waited for my friend Raj Randeri, who was running his first full marathon. I ran the last 6 miles in with him for moral support.
He did great!
Along the way, I saw a guy running in a kilt and sash, a woman running barefoot, a bare-bellied pregnant runner, and two men dressed as cupids, complete with fluffy faux wings and “Free Kisses” and “Free Hugs” signs.
It made me want to run the marathon again! (It’s funny how you forget the pain but remember the joy!)
I saw several people who, at mile 20, looked like they might not finish the race. One pulled off the course, rubbed his calf for a few minutes, put his hands in his face and cried.
After a few minutes, he hobbled on. I don’t know if he made it or not.
Running a marathon is not an easy thing to do.
The race was particularly rewarding for Victoria Gomez, who finished her first marathon Sunday. (That’s her in the photo above). Her boyfriend, who is in the military and currently stationed in Iraq, coordinated with race organizers to have a bouquet of red roses and a personal note presented to her at the finish line.
Now that’s a good Valentine’s Day!
How did your race go?
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February 13, 2010
Marathon course maps
Austin Marathon is Sunday! Here are two route maps:
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February 12, 2010
Running for Blue Dog Rescue
Jacqueline Tame swears she’s not really a runner, but she’s running the Austin Half Marathon on Sunday anyway. (If she can get out of Washington, D.C., where she’s been snowed in, that is.)
Once in Austin, she plans to present Blue Dog Rescue with a check for $1,000. Then she’ll take off on her 13.1-mile, foot-powered jaunt through the city.
Members of Blue Dog, which finds permanent owners for homeless dogs, will man a water stop at mile 14.5 of the marathon. It’s part of the Austin Marathon’s 26 Miles for 26 Charities program.
What’s interesting is how Tame, who grew up in Austin, raised the money. She and her husband, Jonathan, got married Jan. 17.
“When my husband and I got married, we decided I was doing the half marathon. I wanted to be able to give Blue Dog a donation, but didn’t feel like we could ask people already flying out for our wedding to sponsor me as well,” Tame says.
Instead, she and her husband Jonathan decided not to buy wedding favors, and to use that money as a donation to Blue Dog instead.
Tame has her own rescue dog, a shepherd mix named Chandler, who she’s had for six years.
“The number of homeless animals in this country is staggering,” she says. “A lot of people are really not knowledgeable about breeders and the type of lifestyle those dogs are used to and the health problems that can come with them while so many dogs are being euthanized.”
Tame is running with her friend Meredith Lupa, who is also raising money for Blue Dog Rescue.
Go Jacqueline! (That’s her and Jonathan at the Cherry Blossom, above, and with Chandler, below.)
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February 11, 2010
Last-minute Austin Marathon news
We’re just a few days away from marathon day!
It’s the 19th year of the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon, which kicks off at 7 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at 2nd Street and Congress Avenue.
The race is sold out. About 4,500 runners are registered for the full marathon; another 9,000 are signed up for the half.
To see a course map, go here.
I’m not running this year (I did it for the first time last year) but I’ll be standing at the intersection of RM2222 and Shoal Creek Boulevard, cheering on runners. Look for me! I’m also planning to jump in for a few miles near the end, to help a friend through those nasty last few miles.
Here are some last minute tidbits:
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February 10, 2010
Marathon tips from Outside Magazine
I ran my first marathon last year. Lots of folks will be running their first on Sunday, when the Austin Marathon winds its way around the city.
My number one suggestion? Start easy! Conserve your energy for those grueling last 5 miles.
And have fun!
Here are some other tips from our friends at Outside Magazine:
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January 28, 2010
Run-in with a trash can
I had a little run-in with a trash can during a training run the other day.
As my friend Marcy and I zoomed up a gigantic hill in her neighborhood off of City Park Road, deep in conversation, I ran smack into a huge green trash bin.
Boom!
My reward? A lovely greenish-purple bruise on my wrist from the encounter.
I’m not running a full marathon this year, but I am signed up for the Zooma Austin Half Marathon.
I have to say I’ve enjoyed running 7 and 10 miles at a time instead of 15 and 20. The distances I’ve been putting in the last few months would have seemed like nothing last year, but it’s nice to take a break.
The advantage, though? When I’m done with a 10-mile run I still have energy to do stuff on Saturday afternoon. I’m not wiped out.
Another bonus? Other than the trash can bruise, no injuries!
Last year I spent so much time nursing a strained IT band and a torn calf muscle that it seemed like half of my training miles were done with at Big Stacy Pool, with an Aqua Jogger strapped around my waist.
Lest you think I’m completely slacking, take note. I’m still swimming with my swim team and riding my bike. I’ve already got some events on my upcoming calendar, including the Capitol 10,000 on April 11 and the Pedal Power Wildflower Ride in Johnson City on April 10.
How’s your training coming? What’s on your calendar?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: running
January 27, 2010
Cap 10K training class registration ends Sunday
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January 25, 2010
Website lists Central Texas foot races
Looking for a single website where you can plot your entire running season?
Steve Benesh, an Austin attorney and runner, spent a recent weekend putting together a website that features a comprehensive listing of upcoming races in Central Texas. (If you’ve got one to add, you can do that, too!)
Benesh, 48, never ran until two years ago, when the law firm he works for was a back-of-the-T-shirt sponsor for a 5K run. As a race sponsor, the company got two free race entries, so he signed up.
“I couldn’t run the whole 3.1 miles that time, but the running bug bit me hard … and it’s the last thing I would have foreseen,” he says.
Benesh was so hooked that he convinced his wife Jennifer (that’s them in the photo above) to start running, too. Now they run weekend races together, not for the medals, but for the camaraderie, new courses and good causes. Last year, he logged 56 races — 51 5Ks, two 10Ks, two 5-milers and a 4K.
Check out his website here.
He started the site because he was frustrated at how much time he spent surfing various websites to get information about runs within 100 miles of Austin. He’s not making any money on the project; he’s doing it as a service to local runners.
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January 20, 2010
Last-minute 3M Half Marathon notes
UPDATE FRIDAY 12:43 p.m.
For the first time in its 16-year history, the 3M Half Marathon & Relay has sold out. Registration for the race, scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 is no longer available.
Good luck to everyone running the 2010 3M Half Marathon on Sunday!
If you haven’t signed up but are still thinking about it, snap to it. Online register closes Thursday (or earlier, if there’s a sell-out). There is no race-day registration, but you can register at packet pickup Friday or Saturday.
Speaking of packet pickup, it’s taking place at the 3M Austin Innovation Center at 6801 Riverplace Blvd. this year. (At least one reader was annoyed by this far-from-downtown locale.) Hours are 7 a.m-7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. (Packet pickup will be available on race day, but there will be a $5 surcharge.)
Veteran 3Mers know to expect a goodie bag loaded with 3M products, including Scotch tape, Post-it pads, insect repellent, lint rollers and bandages. Woo hoo! I’m still using notepads and cool stuff I got in my packet two years ago!
You’ll need your photo ID for packet pickup, and bring cash or check for any purchases. Credit cards will not be accepted. If you plan to pick up a packet for another runner, you’ll need a signed letter from the participant (preferably typed), authorizing them to pick up the packet on your behalf.
When you get your packet, be sure to fill out the “Important Medical Information” on the back of your race-numbered tag.
A few things to remember on race day:
For more information go here http://www.3MHalfMarathon.com.
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Shoes for Haiti
Need a new pair of running shoes?
RunTex is collecting shoes today to help with Haiti relief programs taking place in Central Texas.
Trade in your old pair of usable shoes and get a 10 percent discount on a new pair. RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Drive, will make sure the old shoes go to Haiti, where hundreds of thousands of people are homeless after a devastating earthquake.
Gently worn race T-shirts can be put to use, too.
Please act today; the shipment to Haiti leaves Thursday.
For more information, call RunTex at 472-3254.
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January 15, 2010
Cap 10K Training Programs
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December 31, 2009
Start the new year with a run
Now’s your opportunity to start the new year right — with a run!
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December 22, 2009
Big Bend Ultra returns!
It’s official. The Big Bend Ultra Marathon will return on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011.
That gives us just over a year to prepare.
I ran my first road marathon last year, but am hoping to do some trail running this year. This race gives me a goal to shoot for.
The event will include 50K and 25K trail races and a new 10K race. Everything is off-road and slightly downhill.
Proceeds will benefit Friends of Big Bend National Park, which raises money for park preservation and improvement. The number of participants will be limited to minimize impact on the park.
For more information, go here or email info@bigbend50.com.
Who’s in?
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December 21, 2009
Austin Marathon has its own iPhone app
Attention iPhone junkies: The Austin Marathon now has its own mobile application.
The free app is available on the Apple App store. It allows users to find information about the marathon, challenge others to race, view course maps and receive race results.
Austin Marathon organizers partnered with Austin-based Brilliant Solutions Inc. to create the app, called Austin Marathon. Sign me up!
I’m tentatively planning to do the half marathon this year, by the way. I did the full 26.2 miles last year (my first marathon!), but am opting for a shorter distance this time out.
Austin Marathon uses the newest iPhone features, including Apple Push Notification. Runners are notified on their iPhone as soon as race results are available and can view them within the application.
Runners without access to an iPhone can access the application online at www.myirace.com.
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December 16, 2009
Running for Ryan update
Sarah Shay, who is running the 2010 Austin Marathon in honor of her brother Ryan, tackled 18 miles last weekend on her way to her first ever 26.2-miler.
Shay says she thinks of Ryan, who collapsed and died during the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2007, whenever she’s struggling to get through a difficult run.
No trouble this time, she reports.
“At mile 16 I kind of wanted to quit, but then at mile 17 I got back in that zone and wanted to finish. You just don’t pay attention to your legs,” she says.
It was the longest run so far for Shay, who is using the Austin Marathon on Feb. 14 as a way to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project.
Her goal is to raise $10,000 for the non-profit agency. So far, she’s raised about $2,000.
One way to help her reach her goal? Make a donation at Rogue Running before the close of business Sunday. For every $10 you donate, your name will be entered into a raffle to win a basket packed with gear including free entry to the 2010 or 2011 half or full Austin Marathon, a $100 gift card to Rogue, Tshirts, socks and other runner-friendly stuff.
To donate online, go to www.runningforryan.com and email your name and contact information to Sarah at runningforryan@gmail.com.
Fund-raising has been harder than running, she says.
“Trying to mix that with work and being a mom and getting the runs in has been a challenge,” she says. “But it’s definitely worth it and I can wait for the race.”
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December 9, 2009
Big Bend Ultra may make a comeback
Can’t think of anything dreamier than running miles and miles and miles across West Texas desert? I’ve got good news for you!
A movement is afoot to bring back the Big Bend Ultra Trail Run.
If you’re interested in seeing 50K and 25K races once again staged at Big Bend National Park, let organizers know.
The proposed date for the race is Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011. (That’s a little more than a year away, not next month.)
Organizers are also considering adding a 10K run and 45-mile mountain bike race.
The run was held in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but discontinued due to lack of interest. Race director Carroll Voss says he’s been hounded by people since then who want to reinstate the run, one of only two races held at a national park.
A portion of proceeds will benefit the Friends of Big Bend National Park’s efforts to preserve and enhance Big Bend National Park.
Participants will enjoy the scenery, excellent footing, post race cookout and traditional trip to the hot springs, Voss says.
The point-to-point, all off-road race will start about 5 miles from the park’s headquarters at Panther Junction. It’s a fast, slightly downhill course. Registration will be capped at 200 runners.
“It’s so beautiful in the Chihuahuan Desert and so quiet — there’s no noise, only your footsteps,” Voss says. “It’s only 6 more miles than a marathon, so if you’ve done that you can do this with another hour. It’s a great entry-level ultra.”
To have your voice heard, go to the Big Bend Ultra Facebook Page (you don’t have to be a Facebook member) and take a short poll in “My Stuff.” If you are a Facebook member, become a Big Bend Ultra page fan. Also check the race website. For more information, email here.
Who out there has run an ultra? Who’s done the Big Bend Ultra? What’s it like to run that far?
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December 1, 2009
World AIDS Day run tonight
Today is World AIDS Day.
Join the Capital City Front Runners tonight in a special run to show the community that the fight against AIDS is not over.
Meet at the stretching area under the MoPac Bridge at 5:30 p.m. Participants will run and walk to City Hall with red flowers and flashing red lights. (Bring a light if you have one.) After a ceremony at City Hall, the group will return to the MoPac Bridge. Total distance is 3 miles.
The run is free and open to everyone. Wear red and white.
After the run, the group will meet at Rusty Spurs, Trinity and Seventh Street, for food and drinks. For more information go here.
More than 2 million AIDS-related deaths were reported globally in 2008, according to the World Health Organization. New HIV infections have declined each year since 2001, but for every five people infected, only two start treatment.
Go here for more information.
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November 10, 2009
Running for Ryan Shay
Two years ago, long-distance runner Ryan Shay collapsed and died of a heart attack 5 miles into the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in New York City. He was 28 years old.
Now Sarah Shay, his older sister, is training for her first marathon with two goals in mind — to honor her brother’s memory, and to raise money for the Wounded Warriors Project.
Sarah, a single mom and military veteran who moved to Austin last year, is blogging about her preparation for the Austin Marathon at www.runningforryan.com. The marathon is Feb. 14, 2010.
Like lots of folks training for marathons, she’s facing challenges at every step. Last week, she did her longest run yet — 15 miles.
“My butt hurt,” she says. She also had a close encounter with an over-exuberant dog.
Even though he’s gone, Ryan is helping Sarah get through the training. She thinks about him whenever she runs.
“In the beginning, I couldn’t not cry,” she says. “When you have a brother pass away because he was running in an Olympic marathon trial, it’s impossible to not think about him when you’re running.”
She also thinks about soldiers, and the recent tragedy at Fort Hood. She plans to attend the Veterans Day Parade at 9 a.m. Wednesday on the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge.
Sarah hopes to raise $10,000 for the Wounded Warriors Project, which offers programs to heal soldiers physically and mentally. It’s a cause she thinks her brother would be proud to support.
One night, she dreamed he was watching her run. Her legs felt like lead, but he smiled at her and asked if she was going to make it to the finish line.
I think she will.
Sarah is also coping with a recent diagnosis of lupus, an auto-immune disease. So far she’s managing the disease with vitamins and exercise.
She’s running five or six days a week. Most of her mileage is either around Lady Bird Lake or in the neighborhood where she lives. Usually she pushes her son, Max, in a stroller.
To donate to Shay’s cause, follow the link on www.runningforryan.com. If you’re interested in joining the fund-raising team by running or raising money, contact Shay at runningforryan@gmail.com.
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October 27, 2009
Are slow pokes ruining marathons?
Are slow runners ruining marathons?
A New York Times article last week raised the question, pointing out that some hard-core runners say slow pokes are zapping the marathon of its prestige. Once, only the best runners finished marathons; now scores of mediocre athletes (and non-athletes) are getting out there and pounding out 26.2 miles.
Read the entire article here.
I say fast runners should just get over it.
At a time when 34 percent of U.S. adults aged 20 and over are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, encouraging regular folks to exercise is a good thing.
I’m not condoning getting off the couch on a Friday and running a marathon on a Saturday. Proper training is important to prevent injury. But making an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle is important, and having a goal like a marathon — whether you run it all or walk part of it — can help.
Do ultra slow marathon runners really interfere with the speedy folks? They’re in the back, out of the way. The fast runners are done with their race long before the slow pokes.
Does it matter if marathon runners aren’t part of an elite club anymore?
Besides, without all the slow folks signing up and paying registration fees, some marathons couldn’t afford the costs of putting on a race. The regular folks are keeping them in business.
Sure, the median finishing time for completing a marathon has dropped significantly. In 1980, according to the New York Times article, that time was 3 hours 32 minutes and 17 seconds for men and 4 hours 3 minutes and 39 seconds for women. In 2008, it was 4 hours 16 minutes for men and 4 hours 43 minutes 32 seconds for women.
I should point out here that I ran my first marathon last year in 4 hours 42 minutes. Pretty average!
It’s not that elite runners are running slower, it’s that more slow runners are tackling the 26.2 miles. And I think it’s a good thing.
What do you think?
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October 15, 2009
Memorial service for Austin runner
Competitors in the Dallas White Rock Marathon will be reminded of an Austin runner as they pass the spot where she collapsed and died during last December’s race.
A plaque honoring Erin Lahr will be placed in a garden outside the Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, 909 N. Washington Ave., during a memorial service at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16.
Lahr, 29 at the time of her death, collapsed without warning at the intersection of Swiss and Washington avenues, the 23-mile point of the race.
She had been keeping a brisk 8:20 pace and hadn’t shown any signs of distress before she fell, according to a friend who was running with her earlier in the race. The death saddened and shocked the Austin running community.
The plaque, which reads “May the footprint she left keep her spirit running on,” is meant to honor Lahr and inspire future runners as they finish the last few miles of the marathon.
Lahr graduated from Louisiana State University, where she played clarinet in the marching band. She lived in Austin with her husband Jeff and worked as an engineer with PBS&J, an environmental engineering firm.
Friday’s service is being organized with the support of the White Rock Marathon Board, including Phil Baker and Marcus Grunewald, as well as Lahr’s friends. For more information about it, call Olivia Zokai at 214-820-8697.
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October 14, 2009
The Runner's Rule Book
I’m laughing my (running) socks off here.
A copy of “The Runner’s Rule Book, Everything a Runner Needs to Know — and Then Some,” by Mark Remy and the Editors of Runner’s World, has landed on my desk, and it’s full of wise little blisters of wisdom that everyone who’s ever thrown it down at a community 5K needs to know.
There’s info on passing gas during a group run (“It’s fun to pretend that the gas you have just expelled is helping to propel you forward, like a little booster rocket”), proper attire (“Wearing the official race shirt during the race is like wearing a U2 T-shirt to a U2 concert. Not cool. Don’t do it.”) and posting your training plan on the refrigerator (“Remove a child’s artwork to make room, if need be.)
Remy loves to run; that much is clear. He’s executive editor of RunnersWorld.com.
Best yet, he’ll give you permission to skip the ice bath.
Other jewels?
“Do whatever it takes to finish ahead of a costumed finisher. Because being outkicked by Elmo is too much to bear.”
Don’t Tweet while running. Be careful whom you ask for body lubricant. Acknowledge fellow runners in public, but be cool about it.
What are your tips?
Best (and most hilarious) one posted on this blog gets my copy of this cool new book, which sells for $17.99. (BOOK HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN AWAY.)
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October 12, 2009
Fund-raiser planned for RunTex employee in coma
The Austin running community is rallying around RunTex employee Justin Gabriel, who suffered a head injury after falling 20 feet into a creekbed near his apartment on Sept. 16.
No one realized Gabriel had fallen until he was found 14 hours later.
Gabriel, 26, remains in a coma, but has shown a few signs of recovery, like opening his eyes for a few minutes and squeezing his hand. He has been moved from Brackenridge Hospital to Texas NeuroRehab Center.
His co-workers and friends miss him, and have organized a fund-raiser to help defray his living and long-term medical costs.
The “Run for Justin” fund-raiser starts at 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at RunTex, 422 W. Riverside Dr. A concert by Gary Clark Jr., one of Gabriel’s favorite musicians, will follow the untimed 2-mile walk/run around Lady Bird Lake. Items from some of Gabriel’s favorite businesses, including Magnolia Cafe, Jack and Adam’s, and RunTex, will be raffled.
Register here. Cost is $26.99 but more can be donated.
Nearly all of the money raised will go directly to Gabriel’s family. RunFAR will make a $2 donation for every online registration.
“Justin lived for running,” says RunTex owner Paul Carrozza. “He also cares so much about the running community and loves to cover it with his videos. He will return.”
Packet pickup is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, or 7 to 9 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at RunTex.
Gabriel ran at Hays High School in Buda and at Adams State College in Colorado. He won the Texas Roundup 5K in April, with a time of 15:46.
Richard Martinez Jr., a co-worker at RunTex who helped organize the fund-raiser, says Gabriel got him interested in running years ago. “If you wanted to get involved in running, he was guy to go to because he’d keep you motivated and keep pushing you.”
Sarah Mark, another RunTex co-worker, says Gabriel likes live music, writing and being the center of attention. “He’s just really outgoing,” she says. He recently got interested in cycling, too.
A website has been set up with updates on Gabriel’s condition here.
Speedy recovery, Justin!
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September 30, 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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September 29, 2009
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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September 26, 2009
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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September 24, 2009
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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September 22, 2009
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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September 16, 2009
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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August 31, 2009
Marathon study: Run more to ease heart stress
A friend pointed out an interesting study of heart health in marathon runners that came out of Harvard University a few years ago.
The study found small abnormalities in heart structure and function of men and women who ran the Boston Marathon. Read more about the study here.
The lead researcher, a cardiologist and marathon runner, recruited 60 marathoners with no history of heart disease. The runners underwent blood tests and sound imaging before and after the marathon.
The tests showed signs of heart stress, but no evidence that heart cells died from the run. According to the study, some of the runners’ heart chambers had difficulty refilling after pumping blood out. They also showed abnormalities in pumping blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. Heartbeats increased by 40 beats a minute.
Interestingly, the problems showed up most often in runners who spent the least time training. Those who ran 45 miles or more a week had fewer signs of heart stress than those who ran 35 miles a week or less, according to the study.
It’s a good reminder with the Austin Marathon less than six months away. Train wisely!
What do you think?
To register for the Austin Marathon, go here.
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August 10, 2009
The Blueberry Jam
Hi everyone. I’m back from a week in Michigan, where temperatures hovered mostly in the 70s and actual water fell from the sky.
While I was visiting my mom, who lives in South Haven, blueberry capital of the world, I ran the Blueberry Jam 5K.
The race is a good barometer for me. I think it’s wise to pick an event and do it every year to gauge your fitness level.
I’ve done that with swimming for years, and am amazed by the results. For three years in a row, I came within 3 seconds of the same time while swimming the Deep Eddy Mile.
And this year, my time at the Blueberry Jam was 1 second faster than last year. It was a new personal best for me, so I’m happy. (Not fast, just happy.)
It also shows me how much easier it is to run in cooler temperatures than what Austin offers up in August. I’m a solid 9:30-miler here in Austin in the summer. I ran the Blueberry Jam in 25:05 — that’s about 8:20 per mile.
What event do you do year after year to judge how fit you are?
The photo above shows my main activity in South Haven — relaxing in my mom’s back yard. Her deck overlooks the marina in South Haven, on the coast of Lake Michigan. Gorgeous! Isn’t it crazy? I need a sweatshirt in August!
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August 7, 2009
Marathon training kickoff!
Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., will host a training kickoff party for the Austin Marathon from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, Aug. 8.
After free breakfast tacos and coffee, organizers will present a short series of seminars, hand out product samples and discounts, and offer up information about training programs.
Amy Culp, a registered and licensed dietitian, will discuss fueling for performance. Cassidy Phillips, founder of Trigger Point Performance, will demonstrate his revolutionary foam roller. Representatives from the Austin Marathon and Half Marathon will share the latest about the 2010 race.
For more information, go here.
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June 30, 2009
Race for the Cure moves to The Domain
That sea of pink known as the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure is moving from downtown Austin to The Domain shopping center.
Online registration opened today at www.komenaustin.org. Cost is $30 for the untimed race or $35 for the timed race ($20 or $25 for children) or $50 for Sleep in for the Cure.
Organizers say they decided to move to the new location to ensure continued growth of the race, which is expected to draw 22,000 entrants this year. This year’s event is set for Sunday, Nov. 1.
“As sponsors of the Komen Austin Race for the Cure, we were aware of how landlocked the race had become downtown, and the increasing parking challenges survivors, participants and volunteers were facing,” said Kirk Rudy, managing principal for Endeavor Real Estate Group, one of the race’s sponsors.
This year’s race will begin and end just west of Burnet Road. The course will wind through The Domain and parts of the IBM campus, according to a press release from Komen. Ultimately, the race will be staged in an as yet unfinished 9-acre park being added to The Domain.
Since its inaugural race in 2003, the Komen Austin has raised nearly $7 million for breast cancer research, treatment and awareness, according to the release. Seventy-five percent of the funds raised provide breast health education, screening and treatment services in the Austin area. Additional funds are sent to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Award and Research Grant Program, which supports innovative breast cancer research as well as educational and scientific programs around the world.
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June 22, 2009
Secker finishes Trans Europe Footrace
Congrats to Russell Secker, who on Sunday finished the Trans Europe Footrace.
Secker, of Austin, ran nearly 3,000 miles in 64 stages — an average of 45 miles a day for 64 straight days. That’s him wearing two Gore-Tex jackets at the finish line, above.
He wrote in his blog that he came in 30th out of 68 runners who started the odyssey.
“One competition that I DID win was body fat loss as measured by the MRI docs. I am now officially devoid of all body fat. I solemnly promise that I will never do anything this crazy ever again,” he wrote.
I’m recording that so his wife Claire can remind him of what he said the next time he gets a crazy idea.
Now, he’s hungry.
“Since I woke at 2:30 a.m., I just can’t stop eating or thinking about food,” he wrote early Monday morning as he prepared to catch a ride to the airport. “My brain and body have gone into ravenous overdrive. As I’m spending all day on planes or hanging about in Norwegian airports (Alta, Tromsö and now Oslo), my credit card has been hit with the equivalent of the GDP of a third world country. Happy now, Mastercard? Mmmm, just spotted a Pizza Hut….lucky I’ve nearley finished this shrimp baguette.”
I’m looking forward to catching up with Secker when he gets back to Austin later this week.
Amazing… Look for an article in the newspaper later this week about Secker’s adventure.
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June 18, 2009
Secker almost done with 2,800-mile foot race
He’s passed herds of reindeer, slept on the floors of gyms for two months straight, and worn out six pairs of shoes. He’s run through heat, cold, rain and snow.
And now, the finish line is in sight for Russell Secker, who set out on April 19 to finish the Trans Europe Footrace. (The photo here shows him crossing into the Arctic Circle.)
The race, a 2,800-mile jaunt from Bari, Italy to North Cape, Norway, drew 68 qualifiers from 12 countries. Secker was the only American. On Sunday, barring disaster, he will cross the finish line.
We hope he will then rest, long and hard.
He’s been running an average of 45 miles a day since he started. He has three days left in the 64-stage race.
From reading his blog, it sounds like he is tired and ready to finish. And who wouldn’t be?
Every day, he wakes up at 4 a.m. He packs and eats breakfast, then starts running about 6 a.m.
He runs anywhere from 7 to 14 hours a day, pausing for food and water every 10K. When he’s done, he eats, gets medical treatment and massage and sleeps. It’s tough to get enough calories into his system, and Secker didn’t have any body fat when he left Austin.
He’s run through hip pain and upset stomachs, boredom and fatigue. He is amazing.
Ultra running is nothing new for Secker. In 2005 he completed the Transe Gaule, running 750 miles in 18 days. Two years later he did the Deutschlandauf, running 800 miles in 17 days.
But the Trans Europe Footrace is the granddaddy of ultra running races.
I ran 11 miles with Secker one morning a few days before he left. I was pooped. He was just warming up.
The race is not over for Secker, and the field was shocked last week when the woman who had led the women’s race from the start suddenly dropped out. Dozens of others have been forced to quit as well.
But Secker is still running.
Want to follow his last few days on the road? Check out his blog at http://secker.blogspot.com/ and look for my article about him in the newspaper when he gets back. He expects to return to Austin next week.
Let’s wish him well!
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June 11, 2009
Summer Twilight Track Series starts Friday
Want to do your best Usain Bolt impression? Lace up your racing shoes Friday for the first meet in the Austin Summer Twilight Track Series, organized by Gilbert’s Gazelles and RunTex.
Track meets are scheduled for every other Friday until Aug. 14 at the Austin School for the Deaf, 1101 S. Congress Ave.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never run in a track meet or if you’re a former state champ — you’re invited. Cost is $5 per athlete, and provides unlimited entries into that day’s events. Or pay up front for the whole series for $20. Those who register and race in three of the five meets get a free Tshirt.
Race day registration starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 6:15 p.m. The first event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and the long jump starts at 7 p.m.
Events include the 60m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 300/400m Hurdles, 4X200 Co-ed Relay and Long Jump.
That 4X200 co-ed relay sounds particularly tempting. All teams must have two men and two women. Each runner will sprint 200 meters and pass the baton. There are no age division!
The championship meet, a culmination of the five-part series, will take place Aug. 14. To qualify, participants must race in at least one of the first four meets in their respective event(s). Any participant with a finishing time will be seeded and get an invitation to the championship.
Results will be posted at the meet and on the website shortly after each meet.
For more information or to register go to www.summertwilightseries.com.
Volunteers are needed, too. Email Michael Madison at michael@gilbertsgazelles.com.
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June 1, 2009
Austin Marathon registration opens today
Like to plan ahead?
Registration opened today for the 2010 Austin Marathon & Half Marathon, scheduled for Valentine’s Day. (I can’t think of a more romantic way to spend the day than running 26.2 miles and falling into your sweetheart’s arms, can you?)
Last year 14,228 people registered for the two events, and the half marathon sold out shortly after New Year’s Day, according to race director John Conley.
The full marathon is capped at 5,000 entrants and the half is capped at 9,000. Both are expected to sell out before race day on Sunday, Feb. 14.
The photo above shows me in the midst of my first marathon last year. (Marcy Stellfox, left, Pam LeBlanc, center, Claudia Kirk, right).
To register, go to www.youraustinmarathon.com. Entry is $100 for the marathon or $65 for the half through Sept. 30. Fee increases to $110 for the marathon and $75 for the half on Oct. 1.
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May 6, 2009
Gilbert Tuhabonye honored
Gilbert Tuhabonye, head of the Gilbert’s Gazelles running group, just snagged another award.
Gilbert’s an amazing guy. Take one of his training classes and you’ll not only run, you’ll dance to African drums, run with a giant rubber band around your waist and dash down the track with a weighted ball over your head. Somehow he makes all of this fun.
Here’s are some details about the award:
Kansas City, Mo. (May 5, 2009) - In recognition of everyone who goes the fistance to overcome life’s challenges, on May 13, 2009, Kansas City-based Assurant Employee Benefits will present its Shining Star of Perseverance award to former NCAA All-American runner and best-selling author Gilbert Tuhabonye. Through incredible perseverance, Tuhabonye has overcome the effects of an unimaginable atrocity and severe physical injury, to lead a successful life and inspire others.
Born to a Tutsi tribe farming family in Burundi in east central Africa, Tuhabonye grew up in the midst of the centuries-old war between the Tutsi and Hutu tribes. In October 1993, members of the Hutu tribe invaded Tuhabonye’s high school and captured members of the Tutsi tribe, including Tuhabonye, following the assassination of Melchior Ndadaye, a Hutu and Burundi’s first elected president. The captives were beaten and then burned alive in a building near the school. Tuhabonye, the only survivor, escaped after more than eight hours inside the burning building, where he had been buried beneath the corpses of his friends.
Tuhabonye first came to the United States in 1996 as one of the select members of the International Olympic Committee’s development training camp gor athletes from developing nations. In 1999, he was recruited as a runner by Abilene Christian University in Texas, where he earned All-American honors six times while completing a bachelor’s degree.
Today, Tuhabonye is the award-winning coach of Gilbert’s Gazelles, a training group consisting of hundreds of dedicated runners of all skill levels, as well as a best-selling author. Tuhabonye shares his life story in This Voice in My Heart, a testament to the triumph of the human spirit.
In 2006, he co-founded the Gazelle Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation with the mission of improving life for people in Burundi and offering education assistance to children in Austin, Texas, where Tuhabonye lives with his wife and two daughters.
Tuhabonye will be the seventh recipient of the national Shining Star of Perseverance award given annually to honor those who have made a significant recent contribution toward demonstrating perseverance through disabling illness or injury.
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May 4, 2009
Running into summer
It was tough training for the Austin Marathon in February. After it was over, I let out a giant sigh of relief.
I’m used to swimming a lot, but running is outside my comfort zone. I was frustrated by a tweaked calf muscle and irritated IT band, too.
But after taking a couple of weeks off from running to let my legs rest, I jumped back into it — but at a level that fit my lifestyle more comfortably.
That means weekend runs of 8 to 12 miles, and the occasional half marathon.
Half marathons … what a reasonable distance!
You can train for them without consuming your life. You’re not completely exhausted after a weekend run, and can reserve some quality time for things like boating and biking and swimming gardening — and hanging out with the husband and friends.
I ran the Zooma Half in April, and loved it. I’m going to pick a few more to do in the next year.
That’ll keep me focused as we head into what I consider the hardest time of the year to run — the wretchedly hot days of June, July, August and September.
I ran with my friend Marcy on Saturday. We started at my house in Allandale, ran up Shoal Creek a bit, dipped in and out of the neighborhood and then worked our way south. We ended up on the Shoal Creek Hike and Bike trail near Pease Park for a stretch, then circled back to Bull Creek Road and headed north again.
Ten miles. Perfect.
After I got home, I still had plenty of energy to take the boat out on Lake Austin.
How is your fitness schedule changing as we head into summer?
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April 29, 2009
Death knell for city's foot races?
A marathon without live music? Fewer small foot races? So much paperwork due so far in advance that non-profits can’t afford to put on charity events?
That could happen under the proposed Street Events Closure ordinance, says one of the biggest players in the Austin running community.
“If approved and enacted in its current form, this ordinance will create an environment that is fundamentally hostile to running events and will make running events in Austin much more difficult and expensive, and in some cases impossible, to hold,” John Conley, director of Conley Sports, which puts on the Austin Marathon and Texas Round-Up 10K and 5K, wrote in an email to leaders in the running community this week.
Conley says he supports improved coordination of events that shut downtown streets, but the proposed ordinance goes too far. He’s encouraging members of the running community to call city council members and the mayor to register their concerns in advance of the Austin City Council meeting on Thursday, April 30.
The ordinance would give neighborhood associations the power to veto any race that runs within half a mile of their neighborhood, sending it to the city’s Transportation Commission, which would then make a recommendation to the council on whether or not to allow it.
“They could derail a race or force (organizers) to reroute. Then we end up with a Frankencourse — a zig here and zag there. It doesn’t make sense to runners and for access,” Conley says.
The ordinance also includes a propose timetable that requires race organizers to submit completed paperwork four months before an event. Large events like the Austin Marathon are planned years in advance and could comply, but small startup events put on by non-profits would be hurt, Conley says.
“It’s a very unwieldy process,” he says. “It creates an overwhelming paper log jam.”
The ordinance’s ban on amplified sound before 10 a.m. would create confusion at the start line of races, which typically start early in the day, he says. “You’ve got to be able to give your crowd instructions, be in a position to tell them where to go and what to do,” he says.
Eliminating amplified live music along the route and at the finish would put Austin races at a competitive disadvantage when compared to races like the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon in San Antonio.
Conley says he’s all for better communications, to avoid overlapping events and traffic nightmares, but calls the ordinance the way it is currently written a “scorched earth policy.” He says he hopes the city council amends the ordinance before approving it.
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April 23, 2009
Win running workout book!
You don’t have a running coach, but want some advice.
You think a “fartlek” happens when you eat too many beans, and “bricks” are what houses are built of.
You’d print out workouts to take with you to the track, but they’d just blow away. Or get covered with sweat and disintegrate.
You’re looking for a training plan to get you through a 5K, a 10K, a half-marathon, a marathon or a triathlon.
Clearly, you need a copy of “Run Workouts for Runners and Triathletes,” by Bobby McGee.
Here’s a sample page:
What makes this book cool is that it’s small, it’s printed on water-resistent pages, and you can easily flip through it and leave it opened to an appropriate page. There’s even a built in flap to mark your page. It includes fitness tests, and has different workouts for beginning, intermediate and advanced runners. It’s one in a series of “workouts in a binder” books by Velopress.
Tell me why you need this book!
Post your answer here AND email your snail mail address to pleblanc@statesman.com. The best answer gets the book. (I’ve only got one copy.)
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April 20, 2009
Mayoral candidates talk about running
Want to know what our city’s mayoral candidates think about the future of running in Austin?
It’s a hot topic, with all the discussion lately about limiting road closures and how that will affect events including our city’s slate of road races.
Candidates Lee Leffingwell, Brewster McCracken and Carole Strayhorn will talk running in a forum from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. tonight (April 20) at RunTex Riverside, 422 Riverside Dr.
Lou Earle, publisher of Austin Fit and Austin Runner magazines, will moderate.
Runners encouraged to attend!
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April 10, 2009
Running nude
Think you can run faster without the burden of clothing? You can find out at the Bare Buns 5K Run at Star Ranch in McDade.
The nude race kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18. Typically, it attracts between 80 and 125 runners.
“The majority of them run in the nude,” says Debra Leverington, office manager at the family-oriented nudist park, which opened in 1957. “Usually all the men do. The heavier-chested women usually wear a sports bra. Some run barefoot, but most wear tennis shoes.”
Wondering where to put your race number? On your hat if you’re wearing one, on a string around your neck if you’re not, or directly on your shoulder, with a marker.
The cross-country course runs through the Star Ranch grounds in Bastrop County, east of Austin. There’s also a 1K fun run for kids 17 and under. Registration is $25 and includes gate fees and a race T-shirt. You can sign up between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. race day on site.
Not everyone who does the race is a year-round nudist. “For some, it’s the one time of the year they get nude,” Leverington says.
Star Ranch is a member of the American Association for Nude Recreation. It’s got swimming pools, tennis and volleyball courts and playgrounds. You can dance, hike, play shuffleboard, darts, billiards or bingo, all sans apparel. Cabins are available for rental.
“It’s not a swingers club, it’s not an alternative lifestyle club,” Leverington says. “We are a family-oriented clothing-free club … We do encourage people to be nude, because we don’t want to encourage voyeurism.”
While nudity is encouraged, it’s not required. “We’re nudists, but we’re common-sense nudists. If it’s cold, by all means wear clothes. Or if you have medical reasons, like skin cancer, wear clothes.”
The park does sexual predator and criminal background checks on everyone who walks through the gate, she says.
For more information, call 866-705-5978 or go to www.starranch.net.
Would you run nude?
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April 9, 2009
Running across Europe...
Russell Secker is packing his running shoes — all six pairs, mind you — and heading for Europe in a few days. A little running is on the agenda.
Secker has signed on for the TransEurope Footrace. He’s going to run an average of 45 miles a day for 64 days in a row.
He’ll cross six countries _ Italy, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Finland and Norway — and cover nearly 3,000 miles.
Nuts, you say? Well, he seems pretty normal.
I ran 11.5 miles with him Wednesday morning. That was a quick jog for him, a long run for me. I made him promise to keep the pace at 10-minute miles. That worked out fine, since that’s the pace he’ll set as he runs across the European continent.
This ultra running is nothing new to Secker. In 2005, he ran 750 miles across France in 18 days during the Transe Gaule. Then, in 2007, he ran 800 miles aross Germany in 17 days during the Deutschlandlauf. Here in Austin, he kept in shape by running the 12 miles each way to work and back.
The race begins April 19 in Italy and finishes June 21 inside the Arctic Circle. Of the 68 runners who have qualified, Secker is the only one from the United States.
For the next few months, he’ll wake up at 4 a.m. each day, hit the road by 6 a.m. and run for 7 to 14 hours. To fuel that exertion, he’ll eat at least 8,000 calories a day, including plenty of carbs.
He took some time this week to cut the toe boxes out of those six pairs of New Balance sneakers to help prevent blisters. Each pair should carry him 500 miles.
What about injuries, you ask? He’ll get them, no doubt. But if things go according to his plan, he’ll keep running through the discomfort.
He paid about $6,000 for the opportunity. To Secker, this is fun. It’s the glory of running through a multitude of cultures, of seeing the countryside and small towns like most never do, and of pushing his body to its limit.
Want to follow his adventure? Go to www.secker.blogspot.com.
What do you think about Secker’s upcoming adventure?
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April 4, 2009
Doing the Zooma
Hills, humidity and some seriously yummy egg and cheese breakfast tacos at the finish line. What more could a girl want?
The inaugural Austin Zooma Half Marathon and 5K, which started and finished at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort near Bastrop, made a grand debut on Saturday.
I ran the 13.2-mile course in a hair over two hours - pretty good for me, especially considering the route dipped and climbed like the stock market.. Whew!
Thick clouds and New Orleans-like humidity made it a challenging race.
Things I liked most about the race:
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April 1, 2009
Are strollers at races a hazard?
Here’s a good topic for discussion: Strollers at foot races.
I got an email from a woman annoyed because, even though she had registered for the timed version of the Statesman Capitol 10,000, she had to start at the back of the pack.
“Since I was running with a stroller, I got pushed back to the very end, which meant I had to try and negotiate through the untimed participants,” she wrote. “I did have a chip, but that didn’t seem to make a difference when getting to the starting line.”
She had her worst race ever, finishing 28 minutes slower than her target.
I pointed out that the rules clearly state that strollers are allowed in the Cap10K, but only in the Fun Run/Walk category of the event. Anyone with a stroller has to start in the very last wave. No one with a stroller is allowed in the timed run.
“I don’t mind starting at the end of the timed group, but I have a problem with starting at the very end of the untimed if I have paid for a timing chip and am trying to go for a time,” she said.
“I’m not sure I will participate in the Cap 10k in the future,” she wrote.
I asked Cap10K Race Director Jann Girard for her thoughts, and she stands by the rule banning strollers from the timed category. “It is dangerous (and frustrating) for both runners and baby jogger pushers,” Girard said.
While I worry about runners getting tripped up by baby strollers, or baby strollers getting tipped over by over-exuberant runners, I also wonder if putting strollers behind the slowest walkers is a good idea. Isn’t it hazardous to have strollers work their way through the slowest folks?
Maybe strollers shouldn’t be allowed at all. Or maybe there’s a compromise.
Stroller woman likes the way things are done at the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. “Since I always register for a chip, I am able to start with the timed runners (in the back of the pack) but am a ways out before the untimed group hits,” she says.
What do you think? Should strollers be allowed in races? Or should parents leave babies at home for competitive races? What do runners do during races that bugs you?
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March 31, 2009
Last-minute ZOOMA news
The Zooma Half Marathon is only a few days away! I’ll be running Saturday, along with about 2,000 others who had signed up by Monday night.
Packet pickup is already taking place:
No race day packet pickup is available.
Here’s some other last-minute news to keep in mind:
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March 30, 2009
Favorite things about this year's Cap10K
The stars aligned at the Statesman Capitol 10,000 yesterday! With clear skies, temperatures in the 40s for the start, low humidity and hardly any wind, lots of folks ran personal bests in Austin’s most beloved foot race.
I shaved nearly 7 minutes off my time from last year, when it was hot, rainy and humid. I wanted to run under an hour, and crossed in 54:12.
My running buddy (and Austin American-Statesman co-worker) Tony Plohetski ran a PR also, turning in a time of 53:44. I hung with him until about mile 5, then let him go. I think someone lit his underpants on fire. He crossed the finish line nearly half a minute in front of me.
This year, more than 18,000 folks registered — the most since 1992 for the biggest 10K in the state.
A few of my favorite things about this year’s race?
What did you like or dislike about the race?
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March 26, 2009
Cap10K: Timed run full, fun run open
The timed run category of the Statesman Capitol 10,000 has reached capacity for the first time ever!
If you didn’t sign up, don’t worry. You can still register for the Fun Run. It’s the same 6.2-mile course, but you don’t get an official time. You also start 15 minutes behind the timed pack. (So you can sleep in a few more minutes.)
Sign up for the race at packet pickup, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 27, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Crockett Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd.
The timed run category was capped at 8,000 participants. It reached capacity at 9 p.m. Wednesday, three hours before online registration closed.
So far, 15,288 people have registered for this year’s race — the timed run, fun run and walk combined. Race Director Jann Girard expects another 2,500 to 3,000 people to sign up for the fun run and walk during late registration. That would push registration over 18,000 — the most since 1992.
Girard says the number of first-time entrants is up, along with runners from nearby cities like San Antonio.
“What we’re seeing when the economy is bad, people actually start taking care of themselves and doing things for themselves,” she told me this morning. “They’re not traveling as much, and finding things to do locally.”
Race registration peaked in 1987, when 28,341 convened for the biggest 10K in the state. Last year, 16,505 people registered.
The timed race starts at 8:45 a.m. Sunday, March 29; the Fun Run and Walk begin at 9 a.m. Look for me out there!
For more information, go to www.cap10k.com.
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March 25, 2009
Running again
Just over a month ago, I ran a marathon. Now it seems that even running 10 miles is a challenge.
Yes, I took a couple of weeks off from running. I eased back in with a quick 3-miler, then did a 7-miler a few days later. That was tough. But when I set out with a group of running buddies on Saturday, I felt like weeping.
My pal and Statesman cops reporter Tony Plohetski, complaining about his “rapid weight gain” of 2 pounds since the marathon, looked pretty chipper. (And not at all “fat as a hog,” as he says he feels.) My partner in physical therapy, Marcy Stellfox, was bouncing so joyfully down the road I almost lost sight of her.
I don’t think my quads were prepared for the hilly Scenic Road route we (thanks Hank!) decided to run. Also, I was nursing a bit of a sore throat.
I took it slow. While everyone else scurried ahead, I plodded slowly along.
I’m running the Statesman Capitol 10,000 on Sunday, so I need to remember what it feels like to run.
Those of you who are about to berate me for not adequately preparing for the 10K? Stuff it!
I am doing it for fun, not for a personal record. I’m doing it for the joyful, wonderful, happy springtime feeling I get bounding around downtown with 10,000 other runners, some of them dressed like newspapers and ballerinas and hippies and UT towers. I love the folks who hand out glazed doughnuts to passing runners (no thanks!), the bands playing along the way, the guy dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase like he’s rushing to work.
If you haven’t signed up for the race, there’s still time. Late registration is available at packet pickup, from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Saturday at the Crockett Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd.
The race starts at 8:45 a.m. Sunday at Congress Avenue just south of the river.
Do it — it’s an Austin tradition you don’t want to miss.
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March 19, 2009
Gotta do the Cap 10K
The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is fast approaching, and race director Jann Girard tells me that the timed race is almost full. Register now!
Yes, I plan to join the masses at 8:45 a.m. Sunday, March 29. It’s the race that started it all for me.
After I ran the Cap10K in 2007, I decided that I actually did love to run. I had so much fun, in fact, that I trained for a half-marathon the next year and a marathon this year. So I HAVE to do it!
Last year I crossed the finish line in a soggy hour and 56 seconds. It was raining, remember? My goal this year is to finish in under 1 hour.
I’ve been doing a little too much relaxing since the Austin Marathon last month. I’ve only just now started running again, and the race is less than two weeks away! (No worries, I’ve been swimming four or five days a week and riding my bike to work, so I’m still fit.)
But I have paid the price. I ran 7 miles last Sunday and it seemed more like 20. What’s up with that? And my quads were sore the next day! Outrage!
Guess that’ll teach me.
OK, if you haven’t signed up for the Cap10K, go here to register online or to volunteer. It costs $32 to enter ($15 for youth 8 and under).
The Capitol 10,000 is the largest 10K foot race in Texas and the fifth largest in the nation. It’s in its 32nd year. Dress in costume and you could win a special prize.
Registration is up from last year. Girard, the race director, says that more than 12,000 people have signed up for the event. Many folks wait until the last week to register, too.
Packet pickup and late registration is at the Crockett Center, 10601 N. Lamar Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 27, or 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 28.
Questions? Call 445-3598 or email cap10k@statesman.com.
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March 11, 2009
ZOOMA registration filling
Forget the traditional medal. Runners who cross the finish line at the ZOOMA Austin Half Marathon & 5K will get engraved silver necklaces made by women in Guatamala, tucked inside small pouches made of Guatamalan fabric scraps.
About 1,500 runners have signed up so far for the women’s race, scheduled for April 4 at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa near Bastrop, according to Brae Blackley, founder and executive director of the race series.
She also reports that ZOOMA has finalized a partnership with Nest Inc., a non-profit that works with women’s artisan groups in developing countries and provides a market for their goods in the United States.
Nest uses micro-credit loans that allow poor women a chance at self-sufficiency by providing them with small loans to create sustainable businesses. It also creates markets for women’s artisan groups to sell their products abroad. The ZOOMA necklaces will be crafted in Guatemala according to fair trade principles.
Besides the necklaces, ZOOMA participants get free training programs, one-on-one interactive coaching, and an after-party expo complete with shopping, mini spa treatments, wine tastings, brunch, live music and much more.
Registration is $85 for the half marathon or $45 for the 5K through March 15. Fees increase by $10 from March 16-April 3. There is no race day registration, and online registration closes at 8 p.m. March 30.
For more information or to register, go to www.zoomarun.com.
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March 9, 2009
Marathoner died of heart arrhythmia
An autopsy showed that Erin Lahr, the Austin woman who collapsed while running the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December, died of heart problems. Our heart goes out to her family and friends.
Here’s a report from the Dallas Morning News:
By DAN X. McGRAW The Dallas Morning News
A 29-year-old runner who collapsed during the Dallas White Rock Marathon died from a cardiac arrhythmia, the Dallas County medical examiner’s office said today.
Erin Lahr collapsed along Swiss Avenue, near the race’s 23-mile marker. (A marathon is 26 miles, 385 yards.)
Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition resulting from abnormal electrical activity in the heart. It can cause one’s heart to beat too fast or too slow, or irregularly. Arrhythmia can lead to cardiac arrest and death.
The medical examiner’s office said Lahr’s arrhythmia was of unknown origin. It did not say that running had caused or contributed to the condition.
Lahr, who had recently married, was an experienced runner. She lived in Austin.
Her death was the first in the White Rock Marathon since 1986. In that year’s race, a 47-year-old Mesquite man collapsed and died of a heart attack.
The December race was run in 66-degree weather - 19 degrees warmer than the previous year. That led race organizers to add medical aid stations and water stations along the route, said race director Marcus Grunewald.
Witnesses said Lahr showed no sign of distress as she came down Swiss Avenue, just over three miles from the finish line. But then she stumbled and was caught by a spectator.
She was carried to the curb, where she initially responded to questions. However, she quickly lost consciousness.
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March 1, 2009
10 Things I learned by running a marathon
Ten things I learned from running a marathon:
That’s me (center) and running buddies Marcy Stellfox (left) and Claudia Kirk (right) running the Austin Marathon a few weeks ago in the photo above.
What did you learn?
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February 25, 2009
Post marathon depression, anyone?
Feeling sad and depressed, marathoners? No purpose in life?
“Remember, post-partum depression after a big race is normal,” says my friend Ron Perry, fitness director at the Northwest Family YMCA in Williamson County. “The big high can result in a really big low … The only cure is to start training for your next one.”
I’m not quite ready to register for my next marathon like some of my friends, but post-marathon depression is fairly common, especially for first-timers like me.
It’s like any big event. You plan for months, work hard and fret nearly non-stop — and then (much to the relief of your husband) it’s over. It’s a bit of a let-down. And what will you do at 5:45 a.m. Wednesdays now that your running group has disbanded?
Some of us are basking in the rest and recovery phase of our lives. According to one rule of thumb — the one to which I am listening — runners should take an easy day for every mile of the event they just raced. That’s 26 easy days! Yay!
What’s the definition of an easy day, you ask? A day off or a run that doesn’t wear you out. Toss in some walking. Don’t go all out.
Some folks go cold turkey after a marathon. They flat out quit running. They sit on the couch and watch TV. That’s not for me.
Other folks miss the endorphin rush that running gave them. They get twitchy without exercise. Or they get depressed.
I fall into that bunch. The answer, my friends, is finding a replacement physical activity.
I didn’t do much of anything for two days after the race. Then I (very gingerly) got back in the pool. Since training for the marathon, I’d cut back from four or five swims a week to just two or three. Time to get back at it!
I’ve also got time to ride my bike more often now. And water ski season is nearly upon us!
And yes, I’ll be running again soon.
Are you suffering post-marathon depression? What’s your plan?
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February 23, 2009
(Almost) last marathoner shares story
Lara Newcomer wasn’t the first across the finish line of the Austin Marathon last weekend. She wasn’t the 100th or the 1,000th or even the 4,000th.
She was one of the last people to officially cross the finish line, and she did it with the help of her husband, other people in the race and a whole lot of folks who saw her go by and reached out to offer encouragement. It took her 7 hours and 20 minutes.
Here is her story. Thanks for sharing, Lara. And congratulations!
“Last Sunday’s marathon wasn’t my first, but it was certainly my hardest. About a month ago I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, which makes walking very painful at times. I stopped training and started treatments to try to let things heal up a little, but was still struggling with it. Then a week before the marathon I came down with the flu. I spent Monday and Tuesday in bed coughing and wheezing, with my fever hovering between 100 and 103.
My parents tried to talk me out of doing the marathon. But, I’ve been doing the Distance Challenge, a series of six races that started in October and totals almost 100 miles. The Austin Marathon was the last race in the challenge and if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t get any credit for the Distance Challenge at all. So, I decided to give the marathon my best shot.
I knew when I got up Sunday morning that I wasn’t 100%, but I thought I had enough in me to do the marathon. I met up with my training partner, Shae, and two of her friends at the starting line. It all started pretty well —- I thought it was a good omen that there was a guy playing the cowbell on the Congress Avenue Bridge. It only took about three miles before I realized that my body was not going to let me keep up with the pace Shae and her friends were setting. Shae realized this and sent her friends on ahead. We slowed down a little, but I could tell that the pace was still just too fast for my poor recovering body.
By mile 8, I had decided to send Shae on ahead. I really thought I was done. I had texted Adam, my husband, that my body just couldn’t keep the pace and that I was going to quit. Shae said she’d stay with me until mile 10 because that’s where our husbands were. At mile 10, she went on ahead, but I decided that I had nothing to lose. So, I told Adam that I was just going to keep walking until I couldn’t walk anymore.
A lovely woman named Marissa had overheard me talking to Shae and to Adam and she was walking about my pace (very slow) and decided to walk with me — we decided that we would help and encourage each other. I don’t know her last name or where she’s from, but she walked with me from mile 10 until mile 23 and was a great encouragement.
By mile 13 my feet were killing me. Each step was painful and my knees were beginning to hurt because of the way I was compensating for the pain in my feet. A woman I don’t even know looked at me and told me she could tell by my face that I was dehydrated. And then my dear friend Edgar rode up on his bike. He just happened to be riding first aid and gave me a bottle of water with electrolytes and some of his wife’s “magic” pierogies. Thank God for Edgar and the water and pierogies! It was like someone flipped a switch and I suddenly had more energy and I was pretty confident that I was going to make it.
By mile 17 I wasn’t so confident anymore….the police car and official race vehicles had been right behind us since mile 15…..I knew I was the very end of the line. Everything below my hips was hurting and I really thought that something was going to seize up and I just wouldn’t be able to walk anymore. But, Edgar showed up again at mile 17 with more water and pierogies and my switch flipped again and I kept on walking.
At mile 20, I thought— heck, 6 more miles?! That’s just a 10K — I can do that in my sleep! My pace picked up a little and I really felt confident. Marissa was starting to slow down and I did all I could to encourage her.
Mile 23 nearly did me in. At that point a motorcycle policeman rode up next to us and told us that we needed to pick up the pace and catch up with the ladies in front of us or we’d have to move out of the street and on to the sidewalk and would probably not get credit for the race. Well, I nearly quit right then —- I knew my body didn’t have enough left to catch up to those women. Marissa tried to encourage me, and she found some sort of inner reserve and powered right past those women in front of us. I picked up my pace, but I couldn’t breathe and my body felt so weak. I just wanted to sit down on the curb and give up.
Adam had met me at several different spots on the course to encourage me and see how I was doing and if I needed anything. He showed up again just past mile 23. I was ready to quit, but he hopped out of the truck and started walking with me. He just wouldn’t let me stop.
Then Edgar showed up on his bike again. And there we went —- Edgar on my left, and Adam on my right (in his blue jeans and work boots). Every time I wanted to quit (which was pretty often), they talked me out of it. Edgar coached me through the hills and helped me catch a breath when I was having trouble. Every time Adam saw spectators he shouted, “You know what we have here? A marathon finisher!!! We’ve got a finisher here!!” or “You know what I see? I see a woman who looked inside for some quit but couldn’t find any!!”
There was a police woman at 23rd and Guadalupe who reminded me that pain is just weakness leaving the body. And another police woman at 20th and Guadalupe who shooed pedestrians out of the crosswalk so I didn’t have to break my stride (slow as it was). The motorcycle officers on MLK began cheering with Adam as I made my way down the hill. And then I had less than a mile to go. My body wanted to quit so badly, but I was so close.
When there were 200 meters left, a race official with a walkie talkie approached me — I was sure he was going to tell me that I was too late, they’d already closed the race. But, he held out his hand and said, “Lara, I’m the race organizer and it’s my honor to escort you across the finish line.” I burst into tears — and Adam did, too.
I turned the corner on to Congress Avenue and Adam shouted again, “Do you know what I see? I see a woman who looked inside for some quit and couldn’t find any!” And the DPS trooper standing there looked at me and said, “That’s the kind of determination we need. You should be on the force!” Adam clapped his hands, looked at me and said, “I am more proud of you than I have been in the 18 years I’ve known you. I’ve seen you do some remarkable things, but I have never seen anyone with such determination, will power and grit. You made a conscious decision all day long to keep at this and you never gave up.”
I cried, he cried … and stepped away from me, for the first time since mile 23 … so that I could have the finish line to myself. I felt like a celebrity — there were photographers and race officials and people cheering. Once I crossed the finish line, the race organizer put the medal around my neck and we had a photo op (guess there are some advantages to being last) and the workers started tearing down the finish line.
I want to thank the police officers who spent all day sitting at intersections to keep my slow butt safe. And a special thank you to those who were so encouraging to me. I also want to thank the families who stayed out in their front yards for hours to cheer on even the slowest marathoners (especially those at Rutgers Avenue and those on Avenue H). Fellow marathoners Marissa and Walt were incredible inspirations to me — I wish I knew how to contact them and thank them. And I just can’t thank Edgar and Adam enough — without them, I’m fairly certain that I’d have just sat down on the curb at 24th and Guadalupe and given up.
It took me 7 hours and 20 minutes to complete the marathon. I was the last “official” finisher. But, I did it — I conquered my weakness and my doubt and I accomplished my goal. It was an epic journey — and one I’m glad is over — but I will never forget the feeling of confidence from finishing what I set out to do.”
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February 20, 2009
Run the Daisy 5K
Austin’s oldest footrace, the Daisy 5K and Kids K, is set for Saturday, Feb. 28.
The event raises money for Marathon Kids, a non-profit program in which school children run an incremental marathon over a six-month period.
The Daisy 5K, sponsored by the Austin Runners Club, promotes fitness and brings a bit of friendly competition and family togetherness to the Austin racing scene.
Runners take off at 8 a.m. from Rogue Equipment, 500 San Marcos St., and follow a loop course that is considered flat and fast. The race features a traditional womens-only start before the general race begins.
Registration is $32 through Feb. 25. After that, the cost increases to $37.
Registration includes a T-shirt, refreshments, a chance to win prizes, and a daisy for female finishers. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners in each category. Online registration is available at www.austinrunners.org.
For more information, email Melissa Keller at daisy@austinrunners.org.
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February 19, 2009
Schlotzsky's Bun Run T-shirt contest
A thumbs-up smilin’ bun, victorious buns or a Texas-sized bun?
Schlotzsky’s needs your help picking the design for the T-shirt of this year’s Schlotzsky’s Bun Run 5K.
You can vote on the five finalists at www.bunrun.com. Participants will automatically be entered in a random drawing to win one of 10 free Bun Run race entries, valued at $28 each. Voting ends Feb. 28.
The winning artist will receive $1,000 and recognition at the race on May 3. Thousands of race participants and volunteers will wear the selected masterpiece.
The Schlotzsky’s Bun Run draws about 5,000 runners and raises an average of $50,000 for Austin Sunshine Camps, a camp for at-risk and disadvantaged youths that teaches leadership, team-building and trust.
Here are the finalists:
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February 17, 2009
Let's run Kelso out of town!
Did you read John Kelso’s column today? Click here.
Poor Kelso. I don’t blame him for being ticked off. I’d be ticked off too, if I was stuck in my Lexus driving up and down MoPac while thousands of people were out improving their cardiovascular fitness.
Clearly, he should have parked his car, gotten out and joined the fun. He could have gotten a little exercise on the way to his speaking engagement. He’d also be a lot less crotchety.
Heck, I’d round up a pair of Texas flag shorts for Kelso if he’d run farther than here to the nearest chicken-fried steak joint.
Kelso, do you hear me? Flag shorts. For you!
Heck, he’s probably scared to run. A couple of years ago, when Lamar Boulevard was torn up during construction, Kelso and I raced from Auditorium Shores to 24th Street. He was in a fancy convertible car; I was on my bike. I had to wait so long for him to show up I was stretched out on a stone wall napping when he finally arrived, grouchy because of the traffic. I was experiencing a post-cycling high. If more folks ran and walked and biked everywhere, we’d all be a lot more cheerful.
Kelso thinks we should have a law prohibiting more than eight runners from assembling in one spot. I think we should have a law prohibiting people from getting so out of shape and stressed out that they wind up in hospitals.
He’s not the only one a little hot under the collar about this. I came back from lunch today and listened to an anonymous message on my voice mail. (Why is it that people who leave nasty messages don’t leave their names or numbers?)
“I just got off phone with John Kelso,” Mr. Grumpy Pants raged into my phone. “He’s not too happy about you runners, either, and we’re both just overjoyed that you’re going through (expletive deleted) after the race, haha …”
He added that now might be the time to come get us — “when you can’t run away.”
“Y’all need to quit taking up the (expletive deleted) streets, you need to run someplace else. We’re going to possibly even file a lawsuit against the city for constantly blocking this city up.”
“You’ve got the whole state of Texas to run in — why don’t you go look at it? There’s no (expletive deleted) excuse for this, this is just not funny any more.”
Well, let’s see.
I’m all for events that promote fitness. Too many of us are overweight and lead sedentary lifestyles. We need to move, and large group events that encourage people to do that are one way to improve the health of our community.
Runners thrive on running through urban areas, with thousands of people out cheering them on. I’m not sure running through cow pastures would have the same appeal.
Another point? Marathon organizers say that 82 percent of the runners who participated in this year’s event come from outside the 512 area code. That’s 10,700 out-of-towners, with a direct dollar spending of $15 million and a net economic impact on the city of $12 million, says race director John Conley. A good thing, especially in this down economy!
Early reports show that the Austin Marathon generated nearly $200,000 for charity, too, led by $130,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society “Team in Training.”
One more thing: Anytime an event requires street closures, organizers must get city permits and notify businesses that will be affected. That’s getting more and more difficult. Organizers of the upcoming Zooma Half Marathon decided to stage their race in Bastrop to avoid jumping through the hoops required to stage their race here. That saves Austin a traffic jam, true, but it also directs hotel and restaurant dollars to our east.
That’s not to say I don’t sympathize with Kelso and Mr. Grumpy Pant’s frustrations. (Hey, it’s why I ride my bike to work once a week. No traffic jams!) I just hope there is a way we can minimize traffic impact and still have foot races.
Please, some input?
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February 16, 2009
After the marathon...
(Here I am at about Mile 17.)
So, how’s everyone feeling out there today? I bet you can relate to this video:
It’s the day after the Austin Marathon and I, for one, can barely walk. I slept like a hibernating bear last night, and this morning I’m hobbling like Quasimodo. My quads are so sore! Two of my toes look hideous (funny, I didn’t even notice they hurt yesterday while I was running) and my whole body just feels pooped.
Oddly, though, I feel better today than I did after the RunTex 20-miler. What’s up with that?
I brought my finisher’s medal with me to work so I can look at it constantly. Yes, I’m proud.
I’m enjoying the day of rest and refueling. I can’t seem to get enough food in my belly, but I’m giving it my darndest.
And my running buddy Tony Plohetski had the audacity to say this to me: “I have something to tell you.” Pause. “We’re doing another marathon.”
I turned and walked away. I can’t even think about that right now.
How do you feel?
(My running buddies: Marcy Stellfox, Pam LeBlanc, coach Cindy Henges, Camille Compton, Tony Plohetski, Amanda Johnson)
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February 15, 2009
I made it!
Just a quick note to let you know I finished my first marathon.
Thanks for the physical therapy Ryan, thanks for the steady coaching Cindy, thanks for the pacing Claudia, thanks to the band and brace that held my knee together, thanks to all my running buddies, especially Marcy. And thanks to Gretchen H for pulling me along those last 2 miles.
Can’t believe it. Yay!!!
And now, a nap.
Congrats to everyone else who set out this morning to run a half or a full marathon. Way to stay fit!
And there are still freebies available. To win, post your name on this blog and email me your snail mail address. I’ll get them out Monday or Tuesday.
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February 12, 2009
Last minute marathon news
Not much time left until marathon day, is there? I can’t believe it. But there’s lots left to do …
First, an update. I have no idea what’s going to happen come race day. My IT band didn’t really respond (yet) to the cortisone shot on Friday. I’ve done a couple of easy runs this week. On Wednesday, the IT band flared up after just 3 miles, on a downhill stretch. That didn’t bode well at all. But I wasn’t wearing the special strap under my left knee that’s supposed to keep things comfortably aligned.
I wore it this morning at physical therapy and ran 4 miles on the treadmill, no problem.
So what does that mean? Heck if I know.
I’m planning to show up at the start line, run very slowly and see what happens. Maybe it’ll be my day. Maybe it won’t. If not, I’m going to walk as much of the course as I can, enjoying the bands, the weather and the people.
I’m picking up my registration packet Friday afternoon. The Austin Marathon and Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo is scheduled for 3 - 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road. You can catch seminars about marathon strategy, fitness and health while you’re there. I’m going Friday to avoid the crowds (and the nervous energy) of Saturday.
If you haven’t registered for the race yet, you can still sign up for the marathon at the expo. The half marathon is full.
Saturday, the Alamo Drafthouse Downtown at 320 E. Sixth St. will present the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon.” An optional pasta dinner is also available. Showtime is 4:30 p.m. Talk about a great way to relax the day before the race!
My Saturday plans involve a lot of lounging around. I’m staying off my feet as much as possible.
Then, gulp, comes race day. I’m spending the night with my running buddy, so we can freak out together. The start gun will go off at 7 a.m. Sunday and we’ll surge out from Congress Avenue. Taiko drummers, jugglers, mariachis, mimes, unicyclists and others will line the street to entertain runners before they start.
Even if my dream of running the marathon falls apart after just a few miles, I’m still going to have fun out there. Race organizers have arranged for 40 (!) on-course bands. That’s more musical acts than water stops. The band Skyrocket, featuring Trish Murphy, will headline the main stage at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue, starting at 11 a.m.
For more information, go to www.youraustinmarathon.com.
And good luck to everyone!
Update: Just back from the expo. It’s pretty crowded, and I had to wait in a looooong line to get my packet. But it moved quickly. Lots of people hanging around, from Race Director John Conley to Christine Yarosh and Rick Slawsky of Medals4Mettle. Plus tons of running buddies and reps from every running store in town. It’s exciting!
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February 11, 2009
I need your marathon advice
Is everyone enjoying their taper?
I sure am. I’m taking everyone’s advice that there’s no training I can do at this point to improve my chances of completing this weekend’s marathon.
I’m also doing frequent weather dances, hoping that Sunday will dawn clear and cold. (So far, forecasts call for a low of 45 and high of 66.)
As Derick Williamson of Source Endurance wrote me the other day, “Remember, the best thing you can do now is rest … No races are won in the last week before the event, but a lot of races are lost. Be smart!”
And so I’ve been taking it easy, cruising through swim practices, gently riding my bike to work and generally kicking it down several notches. As for running, what’s that? Just a few extra short trots around the neighborhood are about all that’s on my agenda.
I’m still not sure what to expect on race day. I’ve battled a torn calf and IT band issues. I’ve missed tons of training because of the injuries. I’ve been in physical therapy since Nov. 11, but I haven’t been able to run more than 6 miles since the RunTex 20-miler more than a month ago. Last week, I had a cortisone injection in my left knee. (Yes, my doctor says it’s safe to run and I’m not in danger of making my IT band worse.)
Now it’s out of my hands.
I’m showing up at the start line on Sunday with nothing but a good attitude.
I want to cross the finish line. And not in a taxi cab. But I have to be OK with the possibility that may not happen.
Do you need a final boost of motivation before the race? Source Endurance is hosting a strategy session at 8 a.m. this Saturday.
Kelly Handel Williamson, the first Austin female finisher for the 2008 Marathon (eighth female overall!), along with her husband Derick Williamson, winner of the 2007 Austin Half Marathon, will lead an easy 30-minute recovery jog and a post-run chat on what to expect from the course.
The run will leave from the Source Endurance office at 3006 Bee Caves Road, Suite C-180. Bagels and coffee will be served after the run, which is free and open to runners of all levels.
For more information or to register (Derick needs to know how many bagels to buy!), email dwilliamson@source-e.net.
What are your last-minute tips to sooth my frazzled nerves?
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February 10, 2009
Drink, drink, drink!
If you’re running the marathon or half-marathon on Sunday, bottoms up!
Remember, you can’t just drink a bunch of water the morning of the race and expect to fare well. You’ve got to drink extra fluids in the days leading up to the run.
My friend Audrey Herold, a personal trainer at the Dell Jewish Community Center (she trains my dad), was reminded of the importance of hydration after the 3M Half Marathon a few weeks ago.
Herold has always excelled at running short distances; she often wins her age group in 5K or 10K races. But she hasn’t had much experience at long distance races. So she didn’t think much about pre-hydrating before the 13.1-mile race.
“I went to the starting line not having had that much fluid,” she says. The weather was cool, too, so she didn’t feel hot and thirsty.
She did carry a bottle of watered-down Gatorade with her, and sipped a little at aid stations along the way.
It wasn’t enough.
At the end of the race, she started feeling cold. After she got home, she began to feel light-headed. Her heart started racing. “I got into bed and started shaking,” she said.
All Herold’s symptoms were signs of dehydration. She knew she needed medical attention. A friend took her to a hospital, where she received 3 liters of IV fluid.
“It was pure carelessness, because I’m not used to these long distances,” she says. “My lesson was I’ve got to drink a couple of days before, the morning of, more during the race and after,” she said.
“You always imagine people collapsing at the finish line. But I got home, felt fine for a while, then boom. It caught up to me … I feel lucky that I learned a lesson and I’m OK. I will never do that again.”
I’m learning from her mistake. Someone, hand me a glass of water, stat!
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February 6, 2009
Marathon update
Whew! No meniscus tear!
I had a scare yesterday. At the end of my physical therapy appointment, I was going to get a cortisone injection. But instead of a cortisone injection, I got an MRI. The doctor thought I might have a meniscus tear.
Turns out I don’t. I got the injection today instead, and now that I’ve had an MRI, I know for sure there is nothing structurally wrong with my knee.
That’s a relief. I will at least make it to the start line of the Austin Marathon on Feb. 15.
In other marathon news, I just came back from a meeting with organizers of the race, now in its 18th year. So far, a total of 13,800 runners have signed up for the marathon or half marathon. The half has already reached capacity, but registration for the full marathon continues on-line through Sunday.
Organizers have tons of great entertainment lined up for the event, from bands to BMX bikers. They’re making the event as green as they can, pushing recycling and cutting down on waste. In all, 2,000 volunteers and 225 medical staffers will be on hand come race day.
And here’s some good news. I know it’s early, but we’ve got a weather forecast, folks: High of 63, low of 40, and sunny. Humidity, my biggest concern, is supposed to be low.
Let’s hope conditions don’t heat up any more. Organizers are making plans for a “hot weather” race just in case they do.
Other cool news? I didn’t see one, but finisher’s medals are supposed to be extra nice. The half-marathon medal, I hear, has a “stained glass” component.
I hope I earn my very first full marathon medal!
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February 5, 2009
Is it a meniscus tear?
Surprising and possibly ominous news from physical therapy land this morning…
I made my weekly trip to Sports Performance International to help ease what was presumed to be a sore IT band.
I ran for an hour on the treadmill, pain free. I was wearing a special band that wraps around my leg, just below the knee. My physical therapist thought it might prevent the pain I’ve been feeling when I run more than about 4.5 miles.
And it worked. We thought.
My dreams of actually finishing the Austin Marathon next weekend came briefly and ever so clearly into focus.
Then I headed back to see the doctors, who were considering giving me a cortisone shot. During the examination, my left knee made a weird and painful pop when Dr. Ted Spears moved it a certain way.
That won me a ticket for an MRI. Spears thinks I may have a meniscus tear.
I’m hoping he’s wrong. I should know later today or tomorrow morning.
Somebody really doesn’t want me to do this marathon, do they?
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February 3, 2009
Runner attacked in NW Austin
A 19-year-old man tried to kidnap and sexually assault a runner in Northwest Austin last week.
I know runners aren’t immune to crime, but it’s pretty shocking to hear that this happened in broad daylight. At the very least, it’s a good reminder that we need to take precautions when we’re out logging our daily miles.
Police arrested the man, 19-year-old Arnold Jenssen, who ran up to a woman on Spicewood Club Drive a little after noon last Wednesday and knocked her down, an arrest affidavit said. The woman fought back, and Jenssen fled in his SUV.
Police later arrested Jenssen on traffic warrants. During an interview, Jenssen told police that he intended to take the woman to another location where he would have sexually assaulted her, the affidavit said.
What can we do to stay safer while running?
As for Jenssen, he has been charged with attempted aggravated kidnapping, a second-degree felony, and attempted sexual assault, a third-degree felony. He is in the Travis County Jail with bail set at $100,000.
If you’ve got any more safety tips, please post them here. Also, I’m interested to hear about any situations you’ve had while on a run.
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January 29, 2009
Marathon nearing capacity
If you haven’t registered for the marathon on Feb. 15, get crackin’!
The half marathon part of the Austin Marathon & Half Marathon sold out at 8,000 runners on Jan. 18. The full marathon is currently at 4,655 runners, with a cap of 6,000.
On-line registration ends Feb. 8, and an average of 72 people a day signing up for the race, says race director John Conley.
Conley says 82 percent of the runners are from outside Austin. “This bodes well for our downtown businesses, as this amounts to 10,700 visiting runners!” he says.
So far, people from all 50 states and 11 nations have registered.
I’m one of them.
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January 19, 2009
Saving myself for the marathon
Apparently, all is not lost.
Despite the non-stop hit parade of injuries, I am told that I should be able to run the Austin Marathon on Feb. 15.
Please, cross all fingers and toes.
The latest snafu is, indeed, an IT band issue. That’s the band of fascia that wraps from the hip to the knee.
My knee locked up at about mile 18 of a 20-mile run a week ago. When I tried to run 10 this Saturday, it froze at mile 5. This only a month or two after recovering from a slight calf tear.
My latest (non) marching orders?
Lots of cross training. No long runs until Marathon Day. Keep to 4-milers when I hit the pavement. Lots of aqua jogging.
I’m thankful for all my swim training. It’s keeping me sane. I’m also thankful for the doctors and trainers I’ve been working with.
“Normal,” they chuckle with each new ache and pain.
The good news is I’ve got the 20-miler in the bank. I can draw on that experience when I go for 26 next month.
Everyone tells me if I can run 20 miles I can run a marathon. I’m ready to prove them right.
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