Awesome Run, Muddy Run & Birthday Fun!

First off, I want to thank everyone again for the birthday wishes. And yay, we finally got to celebrate it over the weekend with a bunch of friends and fams.

Some running buds. “Must be this tall to ride.”

But I’ll get to that…

…The weekend started with one of the best runs I have had in a long time. I woke up early to meet up with WRRC in Dallas. The weather was gorgeous. It was especially lovely as we ran by White Rock Lake.

This sunrise is the kind of stuff runners see every day. Almost makes up for the early alarm clock…almost.

The folks I joined up with said they were doing 10 miles at an 8:45 pace. “OK, sure.” I said. I’m not really training for anything specific, so just running for fun.

Buuut, one thing that WRRC group runs are famous for, is always running further/faster than planned. We ended up going closer to 11 miles at an 8:15 pace.

My GPS was off – hence the pace/distance discrepancy.

I felt really really good on this run. I think I could’ve gone all day long. I wish more runs were like that.

Afterwards, a few of us got breakfast tacos…Natch! I didn’t take a picture of the tacos (they got in my mouth hole too fast), but I did take a pic of a pic of a friend that I spotted on the wall.

Pic of my good friend…his name is Dean. Oh, and also there’s a pic of my pal, Sylvia (who just ran her first 13.1). BTW, how do I get on the Taco Wall of Fame?

The next morning I met more friends for a really muddy trail run. They also surprised me with some birthday presents…I didn’t take a pic, but trust me, they were Klassy.

Anyway, we went about 6 miles and had a few photo ops along the way.

Taking a break. Bummer that I forgot my giant headband.

A couple friends even camped out there the night before. They let us play with their toys.

We got so hammered.

Even though there were some really muddy patches that slowed us down, we eventually finished the run.

The park rangers didn’t like our shenanigans, so they put us in their tree jail.

After the run, guess what happened? Yeah, that’s right…

I had this thought as I was eating.

From there I had to get all cleaned up nice, cause it was finally time for the birthday party! We went to a runner/kid/dog friendly Texas patio bar. It was packed (like I said, gorgeous weather). Because of the crowd, most of us were spread out all over, but it was still great to see everyone!

I was really bad about taking pics – too busy with birthday bevvies socializing. But we did get a few.

That’s a small glass of water.

Ha, but I did take one photo with a friend who complained it was too “normal”. She wanted a more “Scottish pic”. OK, you asked for it.

I needed salt for the tequila.

So all in all it was a really good past few days. It wouldn’t be a bad life if every day you got to go on a run, eat some tacos, then sit on a patio with friends/fams, would it? Need to work on that.

How bout you? Ever have one of those runs where it just felt effortless? Any guesses what my trail runner friends gifted me? Is it patio weather where you are yet?

-Scott

20 Miles Runnin, Soccer Time, & Winning Yoga

This weekend I got twenty miles running. Not all at once, but split into two. Saturday I met up with some folks to run 13 miles.

We ran there and there and there and there.

After the run, we got breakfast tacos of course. Sorry, no picture, as I had no time to dilly dally. I had to get to the boy’s soccer match (which I was coaching). And the most important thing, they won! they had fun!

I’m hoping to be named ‘coach of the year’.

The next morning I was up early again for a trail run sponsored by a local running store. I got in 7 naturistic miles, then got to catch up with friends.

My old runnin buddies. Er, I mean, they’re not old, I’ve just known them for a hot minute.

I also caught up with folks I don’t know as well.

There was food. And also shadows.

Sadly, I couldn’t dilly dally too long (when will I ever get to dilly dally?!?!) as I had to get to yoga class. But after 20 miles of total running, my quads were not loving the chair pose. Or the warriors. Or pretty much any pose other than ‘dead man’ pose.

After practice we were presented with the green yoga mat. Given to the winners of that day’s sesh. Not really, but I like to pretend.

So now I’m tired. And sore. And I’m very thankful for my rest day. And also sleep. I want more sleep. The process starts over in the morning. Bring it!

How bout you? Get in some good miles this weekend? Anyone know how to dilly dally? Anyone ever win yoga class?

-Scott

Tuff Trail Run & Mastering Yoga

I almost titled this post “Crappy Trails to You”. I ain’t gonna lie…I had a hard time on this run.

The day after my long hot group run, I met up with another group for a hot trail run. A local running store organized it, and I was glad to see a bunch of familiar friendly faces there.

Some of the group, but not all of the group.

I don’t know if it was the heat, the humidity, the hills, the previous day’s run, or the fact that I went out way too fast trying to keep up with my super-fast friend (his last 13.1=1:07), but I just wasn’t feelin it this day.

But hey, I got through it…And after the run we had pancakes waiting for us!

See, flap jacks. I like the range of expressions in this photo – from stone faced to ecstatic to skeptical to pancake faced. 

We ate, throwed the Frisbee, and had a sweaty good time. It was fun to catch up with a bunch of friends I hadn’t seen in a while.

Then it was off to yoga with some other friends.  And I’m proud to say I finally mastered the ‘chair pose’.

Nailed it.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the community pool with the fams.  These kids loooove to swim.

Besties.

After those two days, I was wiped out.  Bed time came early.  And I’m ok with that.

How bout you?  Any tough runs lately?  Mastered any yoga poses?  Who wants flap jacks?

-Scott

Weekend Trail Run: (Wo)Man down!

It was a pretty good little American Easter weekend.  I got a run in, a few fam/dog walks, and a sunburn from doing yard-work.

With two dogs and two toddlers, It’s never as peaceful as the photos make it seem.

For Easter we got together with the fams and some friends to hang out and eat food stuffs.  Pretty good times all around.

I think the chicken that laid these must’ve been ill.

Blowin Easter bubbles.

Another highlight was the 7.5 mile trail run.  I got up early Saturday to meet some friends at a park.  It was perfect weather – the kind where you are in short sleeved clothes but still have steam coming off you when you get all sweaty.  And even better, my little nagging calf injury thingy didn’t bother me at all!

There were lots of people in the park who were camping, biking, and even a few taking off in hot air balloons.

I don’t care what anyone says, those guys are full of hot air!

Funny thing happened on the run.  One of our friends fell down.  We can laugh because she didn’t get hurt…but then again, we’d probably laugh at her anyway.  She was right in front of me and I saw it all happen.  A tree root jumped up and grabbed her foot.  She claims she could’ve stopped her fall, but was too lazy to do so.  She probably just wanted a break.

I thought we might’ve lost her for a second, but I was eventually able to locate a pulse.  It took me a while to even find her because her cammo shorts made her really blend in amongst the nature.

Anyway, pretty good little weekend there.  Not too shabby.

How bout you?  Ever fallen during a trail run?  Color any eggs this weekend?  Weather in your parts nice enough for walks, bubbles, and balloons?

-Scott

 

 

Week 6 Disney Dopey Challenge Training

I finished the 6th week of my Disney Dopey Challenge Training (if you can’t tell from the title).  It was my last unofficial training week, because this week begins week 1 of the Hal Higdon training plan.  Why did I have to do pre-training training?  Because week 1’s long run is 13 miles.  So I have to be prepared for that.

Week 6 was supposed to include a kind of an easy weekend of running.  The weekend long run was supposed to be only 6 miles (but I accidentally did 7) with Project Run 214.

A few of us from the group…bright and early!

It’s still miserably hot for running around here, no matter how early you get up.  So humid too.  After the run I sat down on the ground for a minute and left a heart shaped stain of butt sweat.

Awww, my sweat is so sweet.

Afterward we did my fave thing to do after an early run, we went to breakfast and exchanged running war stories and ideas.  Yes to eggs, must satisfy that “Runger”!

Then Sunday Runday was supposed to be only a cross training day.  I made mine a 6 mile trail run with friends.  We ran through Erwin Park in McKinney, TX.  It’s a great park, but there are usually lots of mountain bikers on the trail that you have to watch out for.  It was also kind of freaky hearing all the gun shots going off from the surrounding fields – apparently dove season has opened and people were out shooting birds.  Only one of us was hit, but luckily he had on a bullet proof vest.  Just kidding.  But not kidding, it was cool to see the recreational hot air ballooners flying from and around the park.  My one friend snapped this pic as we were leaving.

How does one decide to buy a hot air balloon?

After the run we did my fave thing again – breakfast!  Where for some reason we took a group photo in the restroom.  Runners are weird I guess.

I was caught by surprise by the camera lady.

Anyways, pretty good weekend of running and eating.  No the training officially kicks in, and I’m ready.  I’m also ready for some cooler temps.  When football season starts, I know we’re close to cooling down some (I hope).

Hope you got a good sweat or two in this past weekend!

Peace!