Home > Get Out! > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
Know your trail etiquette?
My favorite place to run in the Austin area is the Hill Trail at St. Edwards Park in North Austin, off Old Spicewoods Springs Road.
Most descriptions of this park mention that it is infrequently travelled, which I appreciate immensely (and yes, I realize that gushingly writing about it has the potential to increase its traffic). Even when the parking lot is full of cars, though, often I will encounter no more than one other person or group. My encounters here have been mostly positive, some less so, and one recent trail meeting was downright weird in a most Texan fashion.
The less-positive encounters are some I’ve had with dogs on the trail. I love dogs. I have a dog, a puppy of dubious origin that seems to be a lab/daschund mix, if you can imagine that combination. What I don’t like are people with ill-behaved or simply untrained dogs who allow them off-leash in leashed parks, the better to terrorize hapless perambulators and knock them off the trail, which has happened to me in Austin no fewer than four times. And I mean, literally, physically, said-in-a-Bill-Shatner way, knocked off a trail and into 1.) a rock, 2.) a creek, and 3.) and 4.) the sides of hills.
Two of these canine Alby-launchings have taken place at St. Edwards Park. One was a German Shepherd mix, who happily bounded far ahead of his owners who were giggling and canoodling in a world of their own. The dog was a sweet fellow, but weighed about as much as I do, and when it attempted to dart directly between my legs, I landed in some shrubbery. “Oh, sorry!” cried the couple. “No problem, don’t mention it,” I said, brushing myself off and picking the cactus spines out of my teeth.
In the winter, I see fewer people out, which is strange, because the climate is vastly more hospitable here in winter. The other day, though, I was running back towards the parking lot when I heard some voices from further on. I slowed down and saw three middle-aged women carefully descending one of the many hills on the Hill Trail. “Hi,” I said amiably. “Hello,” said Barbara, who introduced herself, her sister and Deborah. She asked me what lay ahead, as this was their first time out, and I paused to give them a brief description. They were from El Paso originally, by the way of Michigan. I left our meeting feeling happy that some nice folks had found this little idyll.
But one recent day took the cake. I was running along, near the highest point of the Hill Trail, where it crosses the boundary into the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. I heard a rustling ahead that was too loud to be caused by the birds and squirrels that often shadow my runs through the park. A person? In the bushes? Having a private moment, perhaps?
As I approached, a large brown shape became clear, and since I was relatively sure it was not a moose, I thought, is that a cow? It seemed to be caught in some branches, but then leapt out, away from me, and into the clearing under the power lines at the top of the trail. I got closer, creeping like a panther with the sudden and unexpected hope of a steak dinner. I must have a picture, I thought. There’s a loose bovine on the trail, and if I send a picture back home, I’ll be the trail-running cowgirl to all my northern friends.
It walked away from me and started following the fence that marked the entrance to the preserve. I followed it, until it popped out in another clearing and started following me. It seems lost, I thought, then immediately chided myself. Of course it’s lost. Cattle do not belong on hiking trails, even in Texas. It approached me, seeming to want some assurance (or food). I said, “It’s OK,” feeling foolish about talking to a domesticated ungulate in the middle of the woods. I patted its side, and it, realizing that I was not going to be of immediate assistance, wandered off to slide against the fence again, perhaps retracing its steps. When I got back to my car, I realized that I left my phone at home, and stopped into the Spicewood Springs Branch of the Austin Public Library to call animal control. Which is, apparently, the right thing to do when encountering loose animals, especially livestock.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Running
Ouch! That hurts
Getting out doesn’t always have to involve strenuous activities, being out of breath, or pushing your limits. I say this because this past week I had to teach myself how to be active in a not-so-active way.
Last Saturday a friend and I were trying to settle the score from a previous skip race (skip race: a contest of speed where two or more people move in a light, springy manner by bounding forward with alternate hops on each foot). As I bounded for my first jump, I felt a horrible pop in my left knee and was down for the count — and the week to come. Long story short, I was slightly immobile in that I couldn’t do my normal weekly activities such as running or bike-riding. I didn’t want to just sit around so I had to try to come up with some things that didn’t involve too much action from the waist down.
You’re never too old to fly a kite. Although you might need a friend to give the kite a running start, the weather has been pretty kite-friendly lately. If you want something different than the everyday-low-price-store kite, you can go to World Wind of Kites located in North Austin on McNeil Drive. World Wind has just about everything from beginner kites, single-line kites, sports/stunt kites, college/university kites, and more. Plus, the Zilker Park Kite Festival is coming up on March 2 and it’s never too early to start getting ready for that!
Volunteer. It’s always great to give back to your community, especially if you find yourself taking advantage of the great outdoor amenities that Austin has to offer. I like volunteering for different organizations and a great one that I’ve discovered is the Austin Parks Foundation. It’s a great way to contribute to your city and be active at the same time.
Don’t Forget the Wildflowers: January is almost over and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is giving free admission for the rest of the month. Although there is not a lot in bloom this time of year, it is still nice to get out and enjoy the fresh air in a quaint setting at your own pace. You can go to www.wildflower.org for more details.
So, even if you think you may be stuck in the house due to an injury or whatever the case may be, try to think outside of the box and still get out. You don’t have an excuse any longer!
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This polo’s not for preps
To much chagrin, I used to think water polo was reserved for preppy, non-pushy athletes who try to out do one another by seeing who can pop their collar the highest while saying appalling terms like “bro” repeatedly. Well, for the most part water polo players do fit that mold, but last week I discovered kayak polo.
These guys are like water polo players, only, you don’t ever want to be caught floating up a creek without a paddle if you happen to cross paths with a kayak polo player. This is only a slight exaggeration.
I knew I had found a new favorite sport to take part in when I realized no one was yelling “Marco … Polo” or treading water like goggle-wearing chums who debate over which Ivy League school is better.
It was a pack of water-bound minotaurs, chasing and charging after a ball under the Mopac bridge. They were half boat, half human, slapping their paddles in the hunt like an agitated bull paws at the ground.
As I ran over the bridge, I was surprised that throngs of people were not flocking to the sport. The people didn’t even really stop and stare at the little known sport. They only offered a shoulder shrug.
But this was my kind of sport.
Kayak water polo, is as it sounds, water polo played in kayaks, with each team trying to score the most goals. But leave those regal Ralph Lauren shirts at home.
The action is intense as players jam into rainbow-colored cluster of boats, paddles, helmets and life jackets while chasing the same ball. They play in zippy, whitewater kayaks that weigh 30 to 50 pounds.
The ball is not advanced or moved with the paddle. You’ve got to grab it with your hands and pass it, or try to paddle while you clasp it, usually in the crook of an arm. You can’t place it on your boat and you can’t hold it for more than five seconds. But you can toss it a meter or more in front of you and scoop it up again before the five-second clock starts ticking again.
Sometimes the game takes the form of bumper boats, and all the drivers of the boats just received blatantly obscene “Yo Momma” insults from opposing players. Now and then in the frenzy, one player’s kayak gets launched into the air.
The best part about this sport is that it’s within the rules and encouraged to shove an opponent if he or she is within a meter of the ball. A good shove will submerge the opponent upside down, forcing a classic Eskimo roll back to the air. It’s guaranteed to cause a thunderous belly aching laughter as well.
For more information you can contact the Austin Kayak Polo Club, an informal group of players, at 585-1015. The players usually try to meet twice a week, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Extreme sports
Swim instruction: Who’s the best?
This is the second part in a review of Austin-area swim instruction, and includes info on facilities and quality of instruction. In terms of a final assessment, one location stands out in several ways — although I was able to find positive attributes at each facility (well, mostly). Your own personal preference may depend on where you live in Austin, what else you like to do besides swim, and how into the whole swim team experience you are.
Click here to read the first part of this review.
Austin YMCA
I spoke to Sarah Kreisner, the aquatics instructor at the Town Lake Branch of the YMCA. She is very friendly and helpful, much like the rest of the staff at the Y, and the facility is large and well-maintained. There is a smaller, shallower pool for children’s lessons. The indoor lap pool is heated to 72-82 degrees, and the instructional pool is kept a good 10 degrees warmer. The instructors range from a 72-year-old swimmer who is, I am assured, an excellent teacher and has provided swim instruction for many years, to 19-year-old swim team alum.
As it happens, it is possible to participate in swimming instruction, from youth classes all the way up to their “YBATS” Masters Swim Team without being a member of the Y, although the per-session cost is higher for non-members. One additional downside to not being a member is that the facility cannot be used for practice outside of the scheduled lesson.
I personally don’t see much point in taking lessons at the Y without joining up, as one of the main advantages the Y has over other local swim instruction is flexibility in location and activity. If you are already a member of the Y, or want to take advantages of the many programs the Y has to offer, I see no reason to pursue one’s triathlon or masters swim instruction anywhere else.
With 7 other sites besides Town Lake (instruction does vary from location to location), the Austin YMCA wins the “convenience of location” category.
Nitro Swimming
When I walked into Nitro Swimming, I thought I had died and gone to aquatic heaven. This, coming from a native Atlantic Ocean swimmer who generally has little patience for treated, heated pools and finds Barton Springs positively balmy. Stretched before me in the 28,000-square-foot facility are 23 lanes of 25-yard laps, and one multi-lane instructional pool. Many lanes are filled with slickly moving swimmers. Bleachers surround the pool, and the bleachers, too, are filled with parents and siblings shouting encouragement. Several of Nitro Swimming’s seven full-time coaches (teaching staff expands to 40 in the summer) wander around the enormous pool. Many of the instructors are NCAA All-Americans, and all conform to a teaching manual developed by Coach Mike Koleber.
These people are intense about their swim instruction. When I speak with Coach Mike, it is clear he is passionate about his job. He talks about providing encouragement regardless of ability level and seems eager to accommodate every possible need; from providing information to moms and potential instructors, to removing lane dividers from the entire pool for his triathlon class, to providing introductory swims to potential students. His staff is all likewise professional and exceptionally friendly.
Frankly, except for us North Austinites, Nitro Swimming won’t win any awards for convenience of location, although Coach Mike enthusiastically reports that he coaches swimmers from Dripping Springs to Buda to Temple (one family recently moved from Waco to be closer to Nitro Swimming, which may seem a little, um, insane — but now that I’ve seen Nitro, I can understand). Maybe someday Coach Mike will open additional branches. Still, in terms of pretty much everything else, including cost-to-value ratio (all adult swim classes include access to the small-but-high-quality fitness area); quality of instruction, and amazing support, Nitro Swimming is the fins-down winner.
Tom’s Dive and Swim
Not everyone who wants swim instruction — be they adults or kidlets — want the frenzy of a Y or Nitro Swimming. The first thing one notices about the indoor, heated pool at Tom’s Dive and Swim is that it is small. But instruction is offered on a private basis only for adults, with two persons maximum in a class; and privately as well as in very small classes for children. The pool is absolutely sufficient for as many students as it is likely to contain at any given time. Still, like the non-member YMCA option, there’s no use of the pool outside of scheduled lessons. Nikki Allen is the swim coordinator for a staff of three qualified, friendly instructors, and private lessons for adults are held Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The atmosphere at Tom’s is definitely relaxing, and is obviously geared towards SCUBA diving. My recommendation? Tom’s Dive and Swim is a good option for Central Austin swimmers who don’t want distraction, spectators or hubbub, and don’t mind spending the dosh on private lessons. The children’s group classes are a much better value.
West Austin Athletic Club
There are things I like about the West Austin Athletic Club. The chance to swim in an outdoor, heated pool, while wearing my diamond-encrusted bathing cap and contemplating my stock portfolio, for instance. Oh, I kid. But membership is darn expensive, and even the non-member swim cards are comparatively pricey, and this dulls my appreciation for the very beautiful facility.
The pools are maintained during the winter at 80-82 degrees. The temperature of the air surrounding the pools tends to fluctuate. The facility includes an eight-lane, 25-yard pool, a four-lane, 50-meter pool and six lanes in WAAC’s island pool (25 yards). The masters/triathlete program is directed by Andy Williams, and four additional highly qualified coaches teach children and high school students.
I would recommend WAAC to Austinites who have an aversion to the hoi-polloi.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Swimming
Before you head out solo …
“Aren’t you afraid?”
My friend is asking me whether I am nervous about running alone. It is a question I have been asked many times as regards running, hiking, and swimming — all of which I commonly participate in, solo. The question sometimes has a number of hidden messages. Do you think you’re safe? Isn’t that a little … reckless? What if something terrible happens?
In the wake of Meredith Emerson’s disappearance and death at the hands of a park-roving serial killer, it seems a good time to address some of these issues.
So often when I run or swim, part of my goal is to get away; from family commitments, from daily interaction with others, from thought itself. I’m no misanthrope. I like people. I like thinking about people, too, which requires some remove. Engaging in a sport as a solitary person does have some risks, which I do acknowledge, but the rewards are significant: setting your own pace, having a deeper connection with one’s non-human surroundings, and gaining the confidence that is the result of being comfortable with any situation. It’s not for everyone. Some general rules to be followed when going on a solo excursion:
Remain aware of your surrounding at all times. You should know where you are going, what you are likely to find, and what you might need. Running after a long workday? Take a headlamp, even if you plan to be back before dark. Know the weather before you go out. Open your eyes and ears (and nose!) to what is going on around you. Lots of people like to run with an iPod — and I do too, at times — but it’s good to put it away too. There’s so much going on all around us, even when we are alone, and it is as pleasant to listen to as it is prudent.
Let someone know where you’re going and when you’ll be back. For me, this usually only applies to multi-day excursions, but I do apply common sense. If I plan to run or swim in an unfamiliar area, or do something particularly exhausting, I will make my plans known to someone. Even if I just leave a note.
Never go any place you don’t know how to get out of. This is a riff on a quote from the movie Ronin. It’s good advice, and applies to many more mundane situations than international espionage. You think that side trail is a shortcut? Fine, but be prepared to spend many hours exploring it only to re-trace your steps. You think that unmarked mountainside is a shortcut? Well, even if you have a GPS system implanted in your fibula, remember that terrain looks markedly different when you’re in it than when you look at it.
On a related, and more practical note, be prepared for what you are doing. Meaning, be prepared with what you will need, but not overly prepared. Two things here in Texas that I always carry are water and my EpiPen (I have a moderate bee sting allergy). In the frozen north, I always brought an extra layer. But no matter where I am going or for how long, I do pare down to the bare essentials. Solo athletics means no one else is going to carry anything for you, and in any difficult situation I have been in, it has been better to be relatively unburdened than dealing with a whole bunch of crap of little use.
Listen to your instincts. Like fear, instincts are just warnings your body gives you. And like fear, your instincts are not always right. But since your instincts are working with a great deal more information that you are consciously aware of, chances are they have something useful to tell you.
And, like a favorite guide to the universe advertises, don’t panic. This last one is perhaps the most important of all, and supersedes all previous rules. When I’ve been caught by ocean currents that threatened to drag me out to sea, my decision to take deep breaths and form an idea about how to navigate out, without fighting the current and without exhausting myself with fear, is surely how I am here typing away instead of long since drowned. Even the most friendly glade will seem threatening in the grip of fear, but generally, the places that we enjoy ourselves outside are safer, statistically, than our work and home environments — especially if you factor in a commute by car. Even when a problem occurs away from civilization, it will more likely be due to injury or ill-preparation, both of which can usually be prevented.
Speaking of injury, it does happen. On a solo hike in the Smoky Mountains, a section of rain-soaked, horse-trodden trail gave way under my feet. Instinctively, I used my left leg to keep myself from falling into a gully. The sickening pop that resulted proved to be a torn LCL, but my diagnosis at the time was that my knee hurt like hell. I had eight miles to hike before I would see my car again, and I used a piece of wood to brace myself as I made slow progression through the North Carolina woods. It is the price: when you’re on your own, you’re on your own, and you can’t always depend on another person being there to help you or the ability to call for help. Most solo urban runs are far more populated and accessible, but it’s not a guarantee, and your mental preparation is the best step you can take to having safe and enjoyable solo adventures.
Permalink | | Categories: Running
8 questions for an ultrarunner
Alex Armato lives in Austin, and is currently training for his 15th ultramarathon, the Rocky Raccoon in Huntsville. He works full-time at National Instruments, and is recovering from a broken foot. What is it like to run an Ultra? How do ultrarunners push themselves further despite injury and bad weather? Alex was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.
Alexandria: How did you get started with long-distance runs?
Alex: I was a cross-country runner in high school. After a long layoff from running I started to get involved in the Austin running and racing scene and just progressed my distances from there.
Why are you participating in the Rocky Raccoon?
I have run this race twice before, I am not looking to run this [race] fast, more of a motivational goal and to run with old friends I never get to see. After coming off an injury in July, I hope to run a good portion of this just to have fun and see old friends.
Is the Rocky Raccoon your first ultra?
No, I have run about 14 ultras to this point. My first was the Kettle Moraine in Central Wisconsin in 2001.
What has been your experience in previous ultras?
The sheer distances of these and dealing with varied terrains and unpredictable weather can always be challenging.
Where do you train and what is a typical schedule like?
I train on city streets and sometimes the Town Lake trail. I really have no strict regimen of training, I really have a laidback approach towards training and races now that I have gotten older. I do try to get my longer runs in on the weekends so I have at least a good base for the event I am planning to run at in the near future.
Has your training been affected by a sports injury?
Yes. I had fractured a fifth metatarsal in my foot back in July, which left me in a cast and crutches for a month and no running whatsoever for two and a half months. I felt like I was starting all over again when I resumed my running.
What other preparations have you made?
I try not to overtrain; my body does not handle the workload as it did even five years ago.
What plans do you have for after this race?
I plan on running my first road marathon in six years in May. My hometown in Illinois is having its first marathon in about two decades. I would like to be a part of that if the foot continues to heal well and all goes well.
What is most impressive to me is that running 50 miles with a broken foot is Alex’s definition of taking it easy. I will get to wish Alex and the other 400 or so entrants luck in the Rocky Raccoon when I head to Huntsville to be an ultra spectator Feb. 2.
Talk back: Should Pastorius be allowed to compete
The Associated Press says the IAAF has ruled that double-amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius is ineligible to compete in the Beijing Olympics because his prosthetic racing legs give him a clear competitive advantage.
What do you think of the IAAF’s ruling? Should Pistorius be allowed to compete?
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Running
Taste test: Gatorade’s G2
Remember Coke 2?
Back in 1985, Coke released a new take on its original formula. From all accounts the company played the new soft drink up as the next step in cola evolution. When it finally hit store shelves, reactions were … well let’s just say things didn’t go well and leave it at that, yes? It’s called Coke Classic for a reason.
To assure you I’m not just rambling about stuff that happened before I was born, Gatorade is coming out with its own salient sequel: G2. Marketed as a “low-calorie electrolyte beverage,” a quick browsing of the drink’s official Web site will yield the phrase “both on and off the field” roughly 70 jillion times. The idea behind G2 seems to be that while Gatorade is fine for getting hydration and electrolytes to athletes “on the field,” a different formula is necessary for athletes — you guessed it — “off the field.”
CAUTION: The following short paragraph may contain nutritional values. You can skip it and go straight to the taste test if you’d like, which I can assure you was done in a very science-y manner.
What this all comes down to is a lower calorie count. A standard 32-ounce bottle of G2 contains 100 calories, while its standard Gatorade counterpart packs 200. The same bottle of G2 also contains a lower carbohydrate count, 28 grams compared to Gatorade’s 56. For the number crunchers out there this is all well and good, but how does the stuff taste?
To find out I went to the store and bought a couple bottles of orange-flavored Gatorade and G2. I poured each into identical glasses containing exactly six (6) ice cubes. Also on hand was a cup of regular water to cleanse my palette between sips. After much sipping and swishing, I had a winner: G2.
G2 has a less concentrated flavor that’s a bit softer on the taste buds than regular Gatorade. While it’s not so diluted as to taste watered down, the difference is noticeable, and welcome — especially if you drink Gatorade more “off the field” than on. If you’re going to pick up a sports drink next time you’re out and about, you may as well give G2 a try. Once you’ve had a taste, come back here and tell people what you think in the comments section. This is for you guys, after all!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Categories: Cool stuff
Wildflower Center offering free admission
I recently decided to try out an event I saw on my Big Weekend Calendar: the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has free admission for the whole month of January.
I knew it would be something my mom would enjoy and thought it would be a good chance for us to spend some quality time together. I looked up directions on how to get there and was really excited because, unbeknownst to me, it was practically in my backyard. Just one mile down the road from my apartment complex is this whole other outdoor world I had no idea about.
As you pull in, there is a very popular bike trail that I am now looking forward to trying. A little further down is the center. We pulled up and there were not too many people there — as I had expected — but I was a little unprepared for what was to come. I probably should have known better, but I guess I forgot what Texas weather does to plants this time of year. It kills them. I guess because the weather was so beautiful this past weekend I had expected a little something, but no.
Going along with the whole spending-quality-time-with-mom thing, we proceeded to enter the Wildflower Center. It was very nice with a kids’ area, which was closed for the winter; a gift shop and darling cafe — also closed; and the Lady Bird Johnson museum. Yep, you guessed it. That was closed, too.
We made our way, looking at branches, cacti, and dirt when — out of nowhere — we came upon the lone flower! It was beautiful: bright yellow and about half an inch big. By now, you might think our trip was a waste of time, but that’s not so. Despite the lack of color and the abundance of brown, there were still a few parts that made it worth our while. There are a few trails on the perimeters of the center that we really enjoyed. We felt especially daring and brave once we had conquered them since signs warned of mountain lions. The Restoration Research Trail was especially exhilarating because we appeared lost for a while and neither one of us had our cell phones.
In all seriousness, there’s a reason admission is free this time of year. Besides the lone flower, there were a few trees with red berries and the rest consisted of cacti and dirt. I imagine the Wildflower Center is lovely during the appropriate seasons and I look forward to going back.
Permalink | | Categories: Around town
Coming soon: FitCity, the store
Downtown workers will soon have one less excuse to skip a workout.
The folks behind RunTex plan to open a shop offering athletic apparel at City Hall later this year, in the spot once occupied by the Austin City Store.
The store’s name? FitCity.
Gee, that sure sounds familiar. Anyway …
Statesman City Hall reporter Kate Alexander has more on FitCity in the City Beat blog.
Permalink | | Categories: Around town
It’s never too late to learn how to swim …
Wanting to buff up your stroke? Prepare for the next tri? Tired of blow-drying your mermaid tail to walk among the bipeds? Here’s the first of a two-part review of available options for adult swim classes in and around Austin. The first part will focus on price and location, while the second will provide info on facilities and quality of instruction, and will award highest marks for each category. Read on, Aqua Men and Women!
Austin YMCA
We all know what the Village People said, but is it also fun to swim at the Y? Swim classes range from 6-month-old humans (not that you would know it from all the “Shrimp” and “Guppy” class designations) to 1,188-month-old humans. A masters class is available with “structured, supervised swim workouts and stroke technique analysis” and average workouts of 3,000-4,200 yards. Sessions run monthly, with instruction provided three times a week, and online registration is available for specific classes and locations.
Price: This is complicated. First, there’s a one-time joining fee: $50 currently, $150 normally. Membership is $55 per month for individuals, $75 month for families (although this provides access to all six Austin locations, plus Buda and Pflugerville). The adult masters class adds an extra $20 per month to the bill. For an individual, the cost comes out to $79 each month (including the joining fee: if you are already a member, $75/month), and for a family it’s $99 per month.
Location: If you live in or near Austin, it is easy to get to a YMCA. Eight locations from Pflugerville to Buda mean you can pop in for a swim on your way to the Whole Foods, or fit one in after a business meeting across town.
Nitro Swimming
Ever see the crazy finned N plastered on car windows, especially north of the “hip” line, and wonder what the sticker stands for? Those folks partake in the swim programs at Nitro Swimming, a “USA Swimming program with practice groups ranging from the very beginner level swimmer up through the national level and beyond”. Classes are offered at multiple times a week, and scheduling is flexible.
Price: Adult fitness, triathlon, and masters classes all cost $75 per month and provide access to the Nitro Swimming fitness area.
Location: Way up north. Great if you live in Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Round Rock, or even North Austin. Not so great if you live in Hyde Park, East Austin or South Congress.
Tom’s Dive and Swim
Swim classes at Tom’s are primarily geared to youngsters, but private classes are offered to adults. This is not necessarily a bad thing: many of us do have kids, and the possibility of scheduling some synchronicity between their classes and yours is quite appealing.
Price: Private lessons are $40 per half-hour, $55 for a semi-private half-hour (maximum of two students). What this would be monthly is largely up to you, but even just limiting to a class a week, the cost is $160 per month for a single individual, and $110 per person per month if you schedule your class with a friend.
Location: One facility, centrally located.
West Austin Athletic Club
Offers an adult masters/triathlon class to members in an outdoor pool only. Classes are available five times a week.
Price: For an individual, full membership will set you back a $275 one-time “initiation” fee and $50 per month thereafter. (For a family: the one-time fee is $575 plus $80 per month). Although this seems steep, it averages to $73 per month for individuals and $128 per month for families. I’m sure there are a number of people in Austin, especially in Westlake, who have a spare $300 to put up front, but I ain’t one of them. Much less expensive six-month memberships and non-peak lap cards are available from November to April, but remember folks, WAAC has outdoor pools only. Looks like us steerage passengers have to freeze.
Location: Good for the Southies.
Permalink | | Categories: Swimming
Mojo madness
With a name like Mojo kickball, one can only assume the sport requires a great deal of cunning acumen fit for a womanizing pseudo-athlete to kick gently pitched balls into outer space. Rest assured fellow female-repellent sports enthusiasts because it’s not far-fetched to say Mojo kickball will leave you saying, “Yea, baby.”
But actually, Mojo kickball is so much more. The Austin-born sport is essentially made up of dodgeball, kickball, tag and two-hand touch football.
Though the sport is as complex as human relationships, with elements of love (tag), avoidance (dodgeball), teamwork (tag football) and foul play (kickball) it’s still simple to see why the sport is more fun than plain-Jane kickball.
Put simply, Mojo kickball is not kickball.
And Austin Web developer Eric Heiberg, who actually spawned the sport, said it was created in an effort to combat exercise-free lifestyles. So he re-imagined a sport that even the non-athletic can enjoy.
Summary
The game is timed and divided into four 12-minute quarters.
Whoever gets the most runs wins.
There are six balls in play simultaneously.
The pitcher is on the kicking team.
Unlimited outs, strikes, and fouls.
Runners score on third base. (In mojo world it’s a score.)
There is an official part of the game called “mayhem,” in which anyone on the team can chase anyone holding a ball.
The game starts out like kickball — only there are six rubber balls hurled your way and you kick. Similar to kickball, you get a runner out by tagging or throwing the ball at them.
But getting out isn’t a bad thing. Once out, the runner can score points for their team and tag other people and collect points and “shagging balls.”
The offense also gets to put two players in the outfield. They’re called chasers. They wear bright belts and can do two things: guard their runners and tag outfielders who are holding the ball.
The sport is a compilation of strategies, replete with game-play terms like “monkey in the middle,” “the train” and “cannon fodder.” The game play is continuous, which means it is mayhem for the casual onlooker. This makes it a sport that emphasizes improvisation and spectacle over competition.
The chaos on the field is controlled by rules, even if the game sounds very complicated. But after playing it for at least one-quarter it all becomes clear.
There is a Mojo kickball e-mail list that more than 350 people have signed up for to receive updates and details on upcoming games, which are usually held every other Sunday and Tuesday at Krieg Fields. They are free to play with a $2 suggested donation.
Permalink | | Categories: Extreme sports
Ultramarathons: Are you game?
The house I grew up in marked the last mile of an annual marathon that began in Kennebunkport, Maine (best known as home to You-Know-Who), and ended at the University of New England in Biddeford.
As a young child I passed cups of water to the runners. When I was older, I ran through the forest adjoining the road, following the leading pack. Hopping from rock to rock, I would peep out from behind the trees like a mountain lion apprising a herd of nimble deer. The last mile was an arduous one for many of the runners, and I kept up neatly until the finish, watching the most exhausted collapse into their reflective blankets. Thus began my fascination for the extremes of what people do with their feet.
Austin is well-known as a home to marathons, triathlons, and biathlons, as well as some competitive trail running, and seems naturally to breed the dedication to running I witnessed as a youth.
Even more dedication is required to participate in an ultramarathon, even if the sport’s reigning poster boy, Dean Karnazes, seems to have entered into it on a lark. “I just started running,” he reports to one of the many magazines bearing his face on the cover, “and I didn’t stop.”
For those of you unfamiliar with this bizarre underbelly, this multiple facial piercing of the running world, an ultramarathon is any of several types of long distance runs, usually 100 miles. Ultras can start at 50 miles, and the current longest ultra is 1,300 miles! Just like the regular sort of marathon, an ultra does come to an end eventually — but it may not feel like it does. One of the most famous ultras, and the one I first heard about, is the Leadville 100. The Leadville 100 is a particularly grueling slog through the high altitude and occasionally nasty weather of the Colorado Rockies.
An ultramarathon requires immense stamina and a willingness to patch up one’s blistered feet with SuperGlue. It’s a combination that seems ideal for Austin runners, and although no long-distance endurance run is scheduled for the immediate Austin area (mile 98: Sixth Street?), a handful of Central Texas residents will be competing in the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Run in Huntsville on Feb. 2.
The Rocky Raccoon began in 1993 and follows, for 100 miles, the flat but wooded dirt terrain of Huntsville State Park. Aid stations are provided every few miles along the trail. The list of Rocky Raccoon entrants has grown steadily over the past 15 years, with close to 200 already registered for the February run. An additional 73 entrants plan to complete the abridged version: a 50-mile run. One imagines many prayers to Pheidippides for healthy feet.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Running
Before you buy a new bike …
Learn from the mistakes of others.
It’s something we’ve all heard before.
Before heading out to buy a new bike, I’m hoping you’ll learn from a few of my mistakes.
My husband took me bike shopping a short while back so he could get an idea of what I wanted for Christmas. We went to University Cyclery on North Lamar Boulevard because I remembered passing it a few times during my time at UT. It was a little intimidating at first because I thought I was just going to look. Little did I know that I would be jumping in head first (not literally … yet … knock on wood).
We looked around, told the woman who was helping us what our price range was, that I was looking for a bike to do some trails with, and that I’m a beginner and she went straight to exactly what we were looking for. She asked if I wanted to take it for a test ride (and I didn’t but I knew the hubby wasn’t going to put down that much money without me test riding it first).
Which brings me to my first mistake that you might want to learn from — do not wear tight jeans and clog-like-shoes when you go into a bike shop because they will get you on a bike one way or another. The woman helping us generously rolled the bike to the parking lot for me and I attempted to go for a ride. She went back inside but was obviously watching me through a window because about three minutes into my first bicycle experience in a decade, she brought me another bike to try — one that my grandma would like. I humored her and tried it, but surprisingly, I kind of liked it. The seat was nice and comfy and not digging into areas that bike seats are not supposed to be without permission.
When she came back out, I asked her if I could have the first bike with the second’s seat — the second mistake is coming next. She said that I could, but that it wouldn’t be ideal. I quickly changed my mind again but told her I couldn’t bear the seat that was on there. She agreed that most of the seats that came with bikes were not very female-friendly so she suggested that I try another that has more cushion with the middle cut out.
I tried the new seat she told me about and it was an instant relief. I was sold. I was so excited because I had a bike picked out with a comfy seat, but I still had a few more questions about what’s cool on a bike. So here is a list of things to keep in mind if you’re thinking about purchasing a bike:
Dress for the occasion: sneakers and biking pants.
Search for the right seat. For me, a nice, cushioned one with a hole cut in the middle for some much-needed breathing room did the trick.
Ask for help. There’s a lot more to choosing a bike than you might think. When picking one out, your height, the activities you’re going to be taking part in, and your price range all need to be taken into consideration.
Taking a test ride before buying. Each bike — and owner — is different. You want to make sure your bike suits you because it is an investment.
A helmet and bell for your new bike. Safety first!
Gloves for smooth, callous-free hands.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Cycling
