Mavs Run This Town 5k Preview

This Thursday evening I’m running the Mavs Run This Town 5k. Even though it’s on a random school night, I’m really excited for this race. It combines a lot of things I love.

First off, y’all know that I love to run. I want to run all the miles. This race will add another 3.1 to that.

At a recent race. Givin that finish line the ole stink eye.

2nd off, I’m a huge Dallas Mavericks fan. And your race entry also gets you a ticket to an upcoming game!!

I became a fan of the Mavs when I was growing up in Ohio and they drafted a player from my home state. I’ve followed them ever since…through the bad times and good. The best times being when they won the NBA championship in 2011.

Pic I took immediately after they won. Yes, I watched the game in my retro jersey.

I really really really hope they’ll have the Larry O’brien Trophy on hand. I’d love to get a picture with it. Because after a lifetime of fandom failure following the Cleveland Browns and Indians, the Dallas Mavs World Championship is my pro sports highlight.

On the court after a recent game. Dirk is peeking out of my shirt.

Unfortunately, the team is playing a game in Louisiana the same time as this race, so there probably won’t be any of the players hangin around. I’m sure they’ll have mascots and dancers and alumni and such…and that’s cool. If it’s anything like all the effort they put into the game experience, it will be a lot of fun!

Someday though I’d really love to get a pic with Dirk Nowitzki. I came close at an FC Dallas match he was at. I got an autograph and snapped a pic of him signing it, but couldn’t get a selfie because of the crowd.

A basketball star signing a soccer program.

Third off, the post race party features a racers-only beer garden & concert by Old 97’s!!! I’m a huge fan of this band. I’ve seen them several times and they always bring a lot of energy to their shows. If you ever need a full throttle song to add to your running playlist, might I suggest their hit *Timebomb. It will put a giddy in your up.

His moves and shakes make him sweat about as much as a runner.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet the band a few times. Solid dudes. The lead singer – Rhett Miller – is also a popular topic of discussion amongst my lady friends – they describe him as “dreamy”.

Apparently I wear that hat a lot.

In summary, at this race I get to run, I get a Mavs ticket, I get free beer, & I get an Old 97’s concert. For the win!

#MFFL

How bout you? Does your fav sports team hold a race? Should I wear that old jersey on the course? Any memorable post-race concerts?

-Scott

*Warning – Click that link only if you’re prepared to have your face melt.

Run 4 Da Taco, Pro Soccer, & Weekap

It’s been another crazy week! It started with my Oktoberfest 5k PR on Saturday. Then a 10 mile run at the Balloon Half Marathon. Those were two too hot days. But then…

…We fina-freakin-ly had a break in the weather!! We actually had cool mornings all week! My pace per mile was a minute faster than my runs the week before. Felt great!

One of the runs was at a local running store. It was an early 4 miles followed by breakfast tacos and Pepsi. And when I say Pepsi, I mean my friend (yes, that’s her name).

Pepsi and Serene. A couple of my running partners. Pepsi forgot to wear a longhorn shit. What a fool!

If you follow this blog (or my Instagram) then you know how I love tacos. So when they offered them that morning, I ate them. Then when I got to work, somebody had brought some. So I ate them. I almost made myself sick of tacos. But don’t worry, I’m over that.

Also this week, the boy and I went to watch FC Dallas play against Seattle Sounders. It was a good night and we won the match!

Just a couple of slack-jawed mouth-breathers.

And now it’s time for another crazy weekend! Got a lot planned (yes, tacos included). Aaaaaand, I’m excited because I’m supposed to be getting some new running shoes today! Yessir! Gotta love that!

How bout you? Get a weather break where you are? Any social runs? Who loves free tacos (if you say, “not me” we can’t be friends)?

-Scott

Run + Taco + Soccer + Yoga + Celeb + Swan Balloon

It’s been a crazy few days, kids. We had an uhmaizeeng cold front come through. One day it was over 100 degrees, the next day I woke up and it was in the 60’s! All us North Texas runners were absolutely giddy!

I met up with WRRC to run. The group I fell in with went 12 miles at an 8:30 pace, and it felt easy peasy lemon squeezy!!!

It almost looks like a dog.

Afterwards I wanted breakfast tacos, of course. So I hit up a taco joint called Taco Joint.

Crazy eyes. Migas taco. Weird shrimp lookin thing behind me.

I gotta tell ya, it was like a party up in therre. It was before 9am but it was PACKED with runners from different run groups – as well as a few doctors fresh off the overnight shift. And the bar was open, and the drinks were flowin. It was seriously poppin.

I couldn’t partake tho cause up next I was coaching the boy’s soccer game.

Kick the ball in the goal over there.

My parents came out and took some photos.

Aaaand KICK!

Luckily the boy’s good running form helps him out in soccer too!

He’s flying.

And the day didn’t stop there. My buddy messaged me that he had some extra tix to the FC Dallas pro soccer match. I took him up on it.

My bud with the hook up.

My dad and brother also joined me. It was a rare men’s night out!

The Evans Lads.

And FC Dallas won the game!!

Go team go! I think that guy in front of us is taking a selfie, too bad the field is in front of him. #turnarounddude

The next morning I was up early again to join my runnin bud Serene for a trail run.

The squiggly part is where I was I was looking for my keys.

After the trails we went to yoga. Someone brought their pet.

He’s a natural at ‘down dog’

Then I gotta tell ya that something random happened. I ran into Dallas Cowboy legend Charles Haley at the store. Big guy.

Too bad I’m a Browns fan.

Finafreakinly our neighborhood had a block party. Complete with balloon animals.

Stop looking at me swan.

I was pooped (not literally). Such a fun weekend, but so much tired. I laid on the couch to wind down with the DVR, but my eyelids promptly closed. Out cold. Dreams of sugar plums (whatever those are).

How bout you? Great weekend? 9 am party-ers out there? What’s your spirit balloon animal?

-Scott

Blog Birthday, Fly Fight, Drew Carey & Tacos

Hey kids, guess what? I just noticed that a few posts ago I wrote my 300th blog entry here. Now I’m at like 306 or something. So that’s good I guess. I just wonder where I’d be at if I didn’t ever take my “break”.

What had happened was that when I started training for my first marathon in 2007, I got bombarded with the same question every day, “How’s your training going?” I decided it’d just be easier to write a blog about it so people could follow along. And so I did…for a few years. But then I had a minor freak out about personal thoughts on the net and deleted the entire thing. All of it gone.

Fast forward a couple years and I got back in the game. It’s been fun. I hope to keep it going. So happy birthday Blog…here’s a cake.

My friend’s “Walmart Cake” I love this. So much.

I was just telling Amy over at Fitness Meets Frosting about that cake, and now she knows I wasn’t making it up!

Anyway, this morning I was on my run and came along the path where I saw the nude photo shoot a few weeks back.

There were no budding artists this time, but there was a horsefly. This thing followed me for a good quarter mile and kept nipping at my head. I got pretty frustrated and started yelling at it.

“Seriously dude?!?”

“Come on man, knock it off!”

And finally, “That’s it, you want to come at me bro?!?” I stopped running and turned to fight it.

After a few seconds of flapping my arms about in a manly way, I finally scared it off. I also scared something else. I didn’t realize that behind me was some dude jogging. He had turned the corner to see me swatting at the air and yelling at an invisible foe. He looked at me sideways as he ran past.

Oh well, what ya gonna do?

In other news, Jason over at Must Love Jogs keeps mentioning that he doubts my claims of having met Drew Carey before. Well here’s your proof. (It’s before he lost all the weight.)

Just a couple Ohio boys hanging out at a soccer match in Texas. Good thing I had my fake Drew Carey glasses handy.

I actually saw him another time at the Disney Marathon (yes, he’s a runner too!). But he was injured and couldn’t run, so instead he was cheering for everyone and high fiving. Pretty cool guy.

And finally, I’ve eaten at like 5 different taco joints this week. Here’s a pic of my favorite.

Oh yes. eggs, avocados, spicy things and more!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

How bout you? Anyone else want to question any of my former claims? Ever fight with an insect on a run? Ever get a “Walmart Cake”?

-Scott

A Gentleman’s Wager – “loser” runs.

So my running-blogging buddy Jon over at My ourney: 1,000 Miles in 2014 and also at Inspired Race Events has challenged me to a bet.  Before I get to that, first you should know that Jon and I have never met.  He lives in San Antonio, TX and I live in Dallas, TX.  We only know each other through the blogosphere and our interactions on Twitter.  But now we’re in the middle of a wager.

This came about because both of “our” respective NBA teams are currently playing each other in the NBA playoffs.  He’s a Spurs fan, and I’m a Mavericks man.  These teams are pretty big in state rivals, and so we were taunting each other on Twitter.  Finally he said we need to have a bet.  I agreed.  He asked what it should be over.  I suggested the ‘loser’ has to run an uncomfortable workout.  He agreed.

On the court after a Mavs game last year. Dirk is peeking out of my shirt.

How the playoffs work is the two teams play each in a best of seven game series:  The first team to win four games wins and moves on to the next round.  Loser goes fishing.  The series could be over in 4 games, or it could go up to 7.  We decided that the ‘loser’ will have to run as many 400’s as the number of games the series goes.  If it goes 7 games, the loser has to run 7 400 repeats.  It is currently tied at 2-2.  Hopefully I won’t have to bust out my lucky retro Mavs jersey that I was wearing when the won the title a couple years ago.

My secret weapon.

I personally think the bet should be weighted somehow considering the Spurs had the best record in the NBA regular season and are a #1 seed.  The Mavs are the #8 seed.  But oh well, I guess you throw that all out in the playoffs.  Hopefully my main man Dirk Nowitzki can bring home the win!

Pic I took getting Dirk’s autograph at an FC Dallas match. See, I told you we’re tight.

In the end, the wager isn’t that bad.  Truth be told, I’d probably be doing 400 repeats anyway, hahaha!  Either way, at least one of us will be on the track running 400 repeats at a pace that should induce dry heaving.

From my track workout last week. Luckily I didn’t puke on my pretty shoes.

How about you?  Ever make a ‘run’ bet?  Any other ideas for what we could’ve had the ‘loser’ run?  Anyone else have ‘lucky’ clothes?

-Scott

Runnin, Pro Soccer, & Cassanova

I’m always pretty worn out come Monday from my weekends.  I think we need to make Monday’s a national sleep in day.  Yes, I know we’re supposed to sleep in on the weekends, but runners (and parents) don’t seem to have that luxury.

Saturday I got up and ran 10 chilly/windy miles with one of the pups.  Why did I run ten?  I dunno, sounded good.

That evening I got called to work with the TV broadcast of the FC Dallas match vs. Portland Timbers.  If you don’t know, when I’m not exercising, I’m a TV producer guy.  This gig called for me to stand at midfield and watch soccer.

On field Selfie!

I’ve played soccer since toddler days and it’s still my favorite sport.  So this is a pretty sweet gig for me.

The next morning I was going to get up and run with group on some trails, but I didn’t get up in time for their start.  No biggie, I was able to get 4-5 miles on the trails by my lonesome.  I hadn’t been on the trails in a while, and I loved it.  It’s so awesome to run in nature.

My shoesies got a widdle durty.

I’m so glad to be re-introducing trail and track running back into my routine.  It’s so great to mix it up!  And so beneficial too.

Afterwards I went to the Lululemon yoga class, where get this, a lady had a newborn baby on her mat.  It was kind of cool to see the baby looking around as her parents did yoga over them.  That is until the baby got fussy and they had to step out.  Anyways, it was a good class and I did some poses I had never even heard of before.  Reverse tree/eagle anyone?

And of course the weekend also included some doggy/kiddy walks.  The boy even collected some flowers along the way.

He’s a little early for the prom.

How bout you?  Do you like trail running?  Are you a soccer (football) fan?  Would you accept flowers from a boy in a shark shirt?

-Scott

Pretty Good Lil Sports Weekend

The weekend was a pretty happy one for the Ole Scott-O. First up, you should know that besides running, I’m also a fan of all sports. And this weekend was big for some of ‘my’ teams.

As we creep into March Madness, my Ohio University men’s basketball Bobcats won a big game against our arch rival in overtime. #Excellent

I had to look up to make sure I was balancing her correctly.

My Dallas Mavericks won two big games to keep them in the NBA playoff hunt. #Dope

Pic I took when getting Dirk Nowitzki’s autograph a little while back.

My FC Dallas won their season opener. #Sweet

FC Dallas dancers. We granted their request to have a photo taken with us.

And my Dallas Stars won a very exciting comeback on a night when the team was honoring Mike Modano by retiring his jersey number. #Radical

Me and Mo as I call him. We go way back (to our two run-ins)

It’s rare when all of my teams win all of their games on the same weekend. #Booyah

Other than that…I had a good 7.5 mile run. Went to yoga with some friends. Had some nice doggy walks. And met the whole family at a park for a photo session. #Awesome

My mom always complains that I ruin photos, I think I make them funny. So does the boy.

And it gets even better, because the weekend also kicked off my birthday/St. Pat’s week! #Cheers

I’d be a giant in leprechaun village.

How bout you? Did you have a good weekend? Do you follow sports? Will you be celebrating St. Pat’s Day? What are you getting me for my birthday?

Jimmy Buffett Concert Tailgate = Tropical Christmas in May.

Most runners I know do their long runs on Saturdays.  Why not?  You’re usually not at work and other people are doing it too.  I usually do too.  But not this Saturday.  No way.  No way whatsoever.  Why not?  This Saturday is the best day of the whole year….it’s the day of the Jimmy Buffett Tailgate Party!

My ever present Jolly Roger at last year’s show. We fly it upsidedown – no prisoners!

If you’ve never been to a Buffett concert, you don’t know what you’re missing.  It’s not about the show itself – most people at the party don’t even have tickets.  It’s about the day-long (or several day-long) tailgate party.  Yes it is.  It’s the one day of the year when a tropical vacation comes to you.  It’s the one day of the year when nobody gives a flying crap.  There’s no drama allowed.  There’s no politicks.  There’s no jealousy.  There’s no possessions.  There’s no negativity.  And when you remove all of that stuff, all that’s left is positivity and laid backness.

People at a Buffett tailgate are just happy.  It’s almost like a big tropical hippie commune landlocked in a North Texas parking lot.  “Hey stranger, have a drink.”  “Thanks, you want some of our crawfish boil?”  “Why yes, yes I do…Hey, that guy has an ice sculpture shot dispenser, let’s go meet them.”  “Excuse me, ma’am.  Can I borrow your bike – rickshaw for a while?”  “Sure, when you bring it back – I’ll probably be over at that pirate ship.”

It goes on and on all day.  RV’s as far as you can see.  Boats.  Makeshift beaches – sand dumped in parking spaces.  Hawaiian shirts.  Bikinis (or less).  Cannons shooting out Jello shots.  Motorized coolers.  Kids.  Elderly.  It’s beautiful.

This is NOT an uncommon sight at a JB concert.

The vibe is so great.  It’s like all you have to do that day is smile.

To be honest, I am a fan of JB’s music.  Always have been.  I  know not everyone gets it.  But I find most of them only know his big songs like “Margaritaville” or “Volcano”.  They’ve never chilled out to “Tin Cup Chalice”  “Coastal Carolina”  “Pacing the Cage”  or the like.  But it doesn’t matter this day if you’re a fan or not.  We’re just here for fun.  But if you are a fan like me, then hey, bonus!

Like I said, most people there don’t have tickets.  They’re just their to grill out, hang out, make out, drink out, whatever out.  I stopped buying tickets years ago, but I still get in to the show every year.  I get free tickets somehow.  Either someone is too drunk to go in.  Someone has extra tickets they got stuck with.  A stranger just gives them to me.  Worse comes to worse, I’ll buy one CHEAP from a scalper.  And I don’t mean a typical scalper…I mean the guy who looks like a parrot threw up on him that is standing by the entrance with a ticket he got stuck with.  You can usually get a good deal from those guys.

Just a couple of melon heads.

Anyways, I’ve been going to these shows annually – sometimes multi annually for the past 20 years.  I can’t even count how many shows I’ve been to.  I’ve seen him every where from Vegas to Dallas to Charlotte to Ohio.  Each time awesome.  And over the years we’ve got the system pretty well down.  We know how to maximize our set up to ensure the most time is allowed to get our party on.  I made the mistake this week of listening to Radio Margaritaville and they played an interview with Jimmy where he talked about all the crazy stuff he sees at his concerts.  The crazy stuff he sees in the parking lots.  It got me too pumped up.  I have been literally shaking with anticipation.  I cannot wait until we get there!!!

I hope if you’re around that you join us.  Just experience it and it will blow your mind and you’ll want to come back.  Who couldn’t use a tropical vacation right about now?  Who couldn’t use an escape from life for a day?  Come on out!

Fins up!

2012 Year in Review #blog

I do a lot of stuff.  When you do a lot of stuff, sometimes you forget some of the stuff.  So here’s my look back at the stuff of 2012 that really stands out:

We kicked off the year in Orlando for the Disney Marathon.

Waving to my fans coming out of Cinderella’s Castle with my sis.

One of the coolest experiences of the trip though, was getting to go to a “secret” meeting with the rodents of the house.

Not only that, but our toddler got to run in his first race!

I’m assuming those are moisture wicking jeans.

Then, unlike most years, I had a birthday.  I was lucky enough to spend it with friends on a patio.

Around the same time I ran two Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathons.  One in New Orleans, one in Dallas.

The Ferris Bueler Wheel was closed.

Hey Mister! I like your “throw”.

Then I went to a bunch of spring/summer concerts.  DMB, Edward Sharpe, Flaming Lips, etc. etc. etc.  But Buffett is an annual must!

I also changed my mailing address to Margaritaville.

What else happened?  Oh yeah, we had a baby girl.

Who says you never get to sleep after you have a baby?

I got to act in another movie (still in post-production at the time of this posting.)

Acting like I know what I’m doing.

Speaking of making film & television magic, I was lucky enough to win several more awards for my productions…Including my 4th Emmy!

Don’t be fooled by the fancy photo, I’m actually not wearing pants.

Then three generations of Evanseses got to dust off our Cleveland Browns gear and watch them play in person at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.  It was a rare treat for us Dallasite Browns fans!

All aboard the Browns Bus!

Speaking of rooting for teams, I’m a big fan of FC Dallas, and I was fortunate enough to briefly be a part of their dance team.

Guess which one of us forgot to shave their legs.

Speaking of hanging with famous folks…I get to meet them in my line of business, and one of this year’s highlights was getting to interview The Bangles.  Cool ladies.

I taught them how to walk like an East Texan.

Afterwards I was briefly employed as the official guard of the Alamo.

Yosemite Sam would be proud of my moves. He would then be sad that they no longer serve “Pie Alamode.”

As the year wound down, the elves got to meet the big guy, St. Santa himself.

Finally, Santa granted our Xmas wish, as we were able to go to Shreveport, LA to see the mighty Ohio Bobcat Football Team win the Independence Bowl!  This is a big deal.  After watching the team struggle for decades, they are finally good!  This was their 2nd ever bowl win and their 2nd bowl win in consecutive years.

So there’s some of the stuff from 2012.  In between was a lot of other stuff – races, friends, shows, good times, adventures, etc. but these are some highlights.  Looking back it was a pretty dag nab good year.  Here’s hoping that 2013 is even better!  And here’s hoping your year was also happy and next year even happier.

Peace and love!