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August 18, 2008
Pushing it to the limit
I had never run 6 miles consecutively in my life, until this past Sunday.
I participated in Austin Sports and Social Club’s first-ever 10K Plus and am really proud of myself for crossing the finish line, much less accomplishing what you’re about to read.
What is a 10K Plus you ask? It is 6.2 miles of running trails with obstacles (that’s where the “plus” comes in). The obstacles included ridiculously tall hurdles/beams to crawl over at Mile No. 2, tires to run through (like you would see at a football camp or something) at Mile No. 3, balance beams at Mile No. 4, road blocks to climb over at Mile No. 5 and last, but certainly not least, a wall with a rope to climb over at Mile No. 6 with a sprint to the finish. Forgive me if I left any obstacles out but, you see, I have a tendency to block bad things from my memory.
I really did enjoy myself, but it was traumatic nonetheless. I couldn’t have done it without my sidekick/coach/cheerleader/drill sergeant/the devil/good friend/now new best friend Lunchbox from The Bobby Bones Show. He, along with my music and my God-given athletic ability (joke) kept me going without stopping, although there was some walking involved.
After the race there was free beer, water, food and massages as well as a raffle with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Austin Sunshine Camps. The results of the race are listed here, and pictures will soon be posted here and here.
Despite my battle wounds (i.e. bruises, scrapes, and the inability to walk the next day) I look forward to next year’s race. I can only get better, right?
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February 20, 2008
Running a risk
For some of us, running is life. For some, such as the Kenyan team in this year’s AT&T Austin Marathon, that means risking it.
Team member Joseph Mutinda began running in 1998. In Kenya, he said, when you see a successful runner, “you say, ‘oh, I want to be like that guy’.”
It can be a dangerous road to take.
“You normally run with fear,” Mutinda said. “When you are training something might happen.”
Something did happen to Kenyan runner and second place finisher in last year’s marathon, Wesley Ngetich. Ngetich was shot and killed by a poison arrow during fighting in his hometown of Trans Mara, according to an Austin Marathon press release.
Violence erupted in Kenya late last December when president Mwai Kibaki was re-elected despite massive evidence of vote rigging. Ethnic tensions helped fan the violence, and in an AP report from this Monday, U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said as many as 600,000 people have been displaced due to the conflict.
Team manager and president of the AmeriKenyan Running Club Scott Robinson said the recent violence in Kenya has affected marathon preparations for the three runners of the four-person team living there.
“They haven’t been able to do their long-distance training runs because they can’t run far from their homes,” Robinson said.
Still, he maintained an optimistic outlook in spite of these difficulties, enthusiastically noting that the race would be female runner Margaret Chirchir’s first marathon.
British runner Brad Poor organized an effort to show solidarity amongst the international competitors by getting Kenyan flag stickers to put on their racing bibs.
“I probably have more friends in Kenya than in the UK and US put together,” he said. “When the fighting broke out it hit close to home.”
Poore was quick to downplay his efforts, but said he hoped the flags would get people talking about the situation.
“It’s not something that’s going to bring world peace,” Poore said. “It’s just something to get the message out.”
For the time being, Joseph Mutinda was just happy to be in Austin.
“The people here, they are running people,” Mutinda said with a smile.
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February 15, 2008
26 miles of fun
A short time ago, I wrote about the upcoming AT&T Austin Marathon.
Well, time has slipped by, and the race is fast approaching. In fact, it’s taking place this weekend, with the starter’s gun scheduled to go off at 7 a.m. Sunday. If you’d wanted to run, I hope you’re registered. I spoke with race director John Conley, and he let me know that both the full marathon and half marathon events are booked solid, with more than 13,000 paid registrations to date. That means that if you just realized you want to participate, it will have to be as a spectator. But don’t fret - this race promises plenty for runners and non-runners alike, and Sunday’s event promises to offer enough to keep even the most frenetic of fans engaged and satisfied.
Here’s a list of great things to do on race weekend if you’re not planning on running:
Saddle up at a comfy spot and watch the runners go by. Race organizers have set aside a number of primo spots all over town for spectators and amateur photographers, including the intersections of Barton Springs Road and Congress Avenue, Lavaca and Second streets, 15th and San Antonio streets, and the UT intramural fields at 51st and Guadalupe streets. Who knows - you might even snap yourself a shot of Gov. Rick Perry racing by!
Rock out to one of the 42 live bands playing along the route. There’s plenty out there for every taste, from rock to ska to DJs to high school bands, and one-time Austin tastemakers Fastball (remember that radio hit “The Way”?) will be rocking out at the finish line just as the weekend warriors start rolling in. The race Web site, www.attaustinmarathon.com, has all the info you need to get your jam on.
Cheer on your favorite team. This year’s event sports an innovative team system - rather than award all the prize money to the top individual finishers, the race organizers have decided to establish an Olympic-style international team purse. Runners from five nations - the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and the African nations of Kenya and Malawi - will be squaring off to race for the crown, as well as the $15,000 cash prize earmarked for the winners. Who’s your top pick? Be vocal!
Volunteer! Dozens of local nonprofits are running themed booths and water stations through the marathon’s “26 Miles for 26 Charities” route. The race organizers are hoping to enlist the help of up to 1,200 generous locals to help the event go off without a hitch, and you can sign up to work at any time from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., doing everything from set-up to tear-down. Again, check the Web site.
That’s it, race fans! Get ready for another great edition of the Austin marathon.
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January 30, 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.
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January 17, 2008
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.
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January 15, 2008
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?
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January 4, 2008
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.
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December 19, 2007
Brace yourself for marathon madness
The holiday season is here, which means our waistlines are all a bit expanded and our resolutions are coming due. For most of us, that means getting serious (finally!) about getting in shape — and running is a great way to do it.
Novices will want to start off light — just a few miles a week should be plenty at first — but for those slightly more seasoned athletes out there, there’s no better way to turn talk into walk than cycling through an extended period of training and capping it all off with a long race. Luckily for you, just the right event looms near on the horizon: Austin’s annual February marathon and half-marathon.
The AT&T (formerly Motorola) Austin Marathon is held President’s Day weekend — Feb. 15-18 this year. The race itself is Sunday, Feb. 17; the two days prior are marked by the Orowheat Health and Fitness Expo, a registration event-cum-festival attended by runners, food vendors, sports equipment manufacturers and resellers, and more. It’s one of the top running events of the year in our part of the country and, for first-time distance race participants, it’s sure to be an run to remember.
But how to prepare? The time frame is tight, and with only six or seven weeks left to train, Austinites hoping to make good on their New Year’s resolutions will have a lot of work to do. In order to make the most of the experience, be sure to follow these training tips:
Don’t overdo it. If you’re not already in good running shape, a marathon is not for you. However, don’t be discouraged. It’s still possible to put in the work necessary to finish a half-marathon with a respectable time. Know your limits, and if a half-marathon is a better fit for your first time out, go with that. If you’ve got serious health issues, make sure to check with your doctor, too.
Set a training schedule and a goal. Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day, and TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT. This will keep you motivated. The difference between finishing and failing will be putting in the effort to train, even on those days when you just don’t feel like getting out of bed. The cheers (or jeers) of your friends and family are crucial here.
Keep a log. Record your distances and times, and write them on the same sheet of paper as your schedule. You’ll know if you met — or exceeded! — your goals every day, and it will give you something to be proud of. Remember to take two days off per week and try to hit 8-10 miles in practice at least a few times before race day.
Plan a party for the end. For every hard mile you log in training, think about how sweet that post-race celebration is going to be!
Early bird (read: cheap) registration can be found online at www.attaustinmarathon.com/. For those who really get the bug, a list of all local races can be found on the RunTex Web site at www.runtex.com/web/4-2.asp.
