Sad Stuff, Happy Stuff, & Runspiration

Sad stuff: Today in the States is always a one for reflection. It’s 9/11. That was a sad day. Made even sadder through the fact that at the time I was a producer for a network that made training videos for first responders. I knew a lot of firefighters very well.

Years ago at a shoot. I had to get geared up for safety (and for fun).

Happy stuff: Many years later I was flown to NYC by a firefighter friend to make a video about the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. That was an amazing experience. We got to meet some great people from NYFD and shooting some cool stuff around the city.

Brooklyn in da house. Takin it to the bridge.

Fast forward a couple years and I got to produce another video about 9/11. I was also able to incorporate footage we shot in NYC. I’m really proud of this video (it even won an Emmy). Give it a watch if you have a few minutes HERE.

More sad stuff: I just learned that a old friend from high school has passed away from cancer.

He was a senior when I was a freshman. I always looked up to him because he was like all-state or something in Track, Cross Country, and Swimming. I also thought of him a lot because his freshman year of college he had an unfortunate incident which left him as a quadriplegic.

Brad

Happy stuff: It never slowed him down. He was always living life to the fullest and inspiring others. You can read his obituary HERE.

He would even come to our high school track meets in his wheelchair and cheer for us. Can you imagine a former champion runner, who was just permanently assigned to a wheelchair, instead of retreating from watching others run, but rather seeking them out?!? Amazing.

Some of my HS friends have been going on tribute runs this week and making makeshift memorials.

From a friend’s Facebook page.

I have many forms of inspiration, but to this day, there was nothing more of a “runspiration” than seeing him sitting behind the fence yelling encouragement. I still think about that on runs sometimes.

Me in high school.

OK, I hope I balanced enough happy stuff in with the sad. If not, then here’s a bunch of gifs of dudes getting hit in the privates: Enjoy (only if you’re immature).

How bout you? Do you love NYC? Any runspiration stories? Did I balance the sad/happy enough?

-Scott

Dopey Challenge – To Costume or Not?

Since the Disney Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2) is only a few days away, I have a dilemma:  Should I wear a costume during the first 3 races?

I since the last race is a full marathon, I want to save as much energy for that as I can for it.  So that means NOT racing the first 3 events.  This can be hard to do – once you line up at the start, it can be difficult to fight the adrenaline and excitement and competitiveness.  But I still have hopes of PR’ing in the 26.2, so I must resist the urge to go hard the early races.

To do this, I thought about wearing costumes.  I usually wear costumes when I run in races that I just want to have fun in, to make sure I don’t take it too seriously.  Here’s a few examples…BTW, I went through a mud/obstacle race phase a couple years ago…

Pirate say, “Fire arrgh bad!”

Hippies love mud.

 

Firefighter Scott – in case of emergency.

Can you guess which one of us is the real Santa Clause?

Updated pirate – ear ring and hook!

I went as a Parrothead for this race…and in real life.

So, do you think I should go for costumes?  Check a box  Yes___  No___

If yes, what should I be?  I do have some Mickey Ears and giant Mickey Gloves…

My mickey mitts…do not ask about the rest of my outfit…

The official themes of the races are: 5k – Pluto, 10k – Minnie, 13.1 – Donald, 26.2 – Mickey, 13.1+ 26.2 – Goofy, All 4 races – Dopey.  I could go off of those, or be more creative.  Anything Disney related goes – any character, ride, movie, etc.  Or I could be a tourist.  I also have a whole box of years past Halloween costumes to pick through.  Cross dressing is OK too. The options are endless, but we’re running short on time. 

Please, give me your ideas/suggestions for race costumes!  What’s your fav thing Disney?  Let’s brainstorm!

Generic Title: Year in Review

Last day of 2013.  I got one last run and weight session in.  It gave me time to think about the past year.  Here’s what had happened…

It started by running the 20th Anniversary of the Disney Marathon in Orlando…

Medals dang near big as yo head!

As part of that, the boy ran the Kid’s Race and won his heat!

I can’t believe he has better form than I do. He also has better race photos.

I also kept my streak alive of being undefeated against celebrities in races.  You can read about the others HERE, but this time I beat Joey Fatone….

It’s the guy from that boy band – I think it’s named – My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Explored the Orlando Theme Parks with…

Moms, Pops, Boy.

Celebrated the boy’s birthday at a fire station (his choice)…

Unfortunately, the did not serve us chili.

I then ran the Too Cold to Hold 5 miler.  You can see the recap HERE – A bunch of friends joined me…

We should’ve ordered brighter shirts for TNSR.

I ran the Dallas Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon.  You can see the recap HERE…

I know it looks like Brooks threw up on me, but don’t care cause it was cold! I needed more of that tin foil stuff to wrap me up like a baked potato.

I then got to produce a bunch more videos with the hilarious Flula…

Like our dope videos or we will fight you…in a non violent way.

I got to celebrate my birthday and St. Patty’s Day in a special way, which you can see HERE…

I’d be a giant in leprechaun village.

Then I won my age group in a very special 5k that you can see the recap HERE…

I’ll treasure this one fo shizzle.

I then got to meet up with my sis and sis from another miss in Raleigh, NC…

With my sis and sis from another miss.

After a few days of fun, we were off to the Outer Banks to run the Flying Pirate Half Marathon, which you can read my recap about HERE…

My sis and I after a recent 1/2 marathon in OBX, NC.

We had a bit of fun exploring the site of the Wright Bros first flight…

Gotcha!

And celebrated on the beach…

Here’s your typical beach photo of legs and feet.

Unfortunately, the next day was the bombing of the Boston Marathon.  I wrote my thoughts on it HERE, which I got a huge response from.  Apparently I wrote what others were feeling.

At Fenway Pahk watchin tha Red Sahx play the wicked Yankees a few years ago.

I then ran another 5k, you can read about it HERE…

Takin it to da bridge!

Then my soccer team finished in second place after losing in a shoot-out after double overtime…

No smiles for second place.

I continued running with Thursday Night Social Run...

We run. We socialize. It’s cool.

I ran another 5k, recap HERE…

Posing with a patriotic trash can.

I re-incorporated trail running into my repertoire…

It’s best to run in the back so the leaders are 1st to find snakes and spiderwebs.

Got to play a ninja in a music video…

In between takes with some “Felvis” dancers (female Elvis).

I then ran in an unofficial 4×1 mile relay race, recap HERE…

At the Relay Race – We’re both rockin the Pure Flow 2 by Brooks.

I then ran my first Beer Mile race (4x 1/4 mile + 1 beer at each).  I finished 2nd overall.  Recap HERE…

A trophy, yay!

I became a part of a new run training group – Project Run 214…

Bright and early!

Got to see Mumford and Sons with family and friends…

Went to the local Oktoberfest so that I could drink free beer cheer my friends running the 5k…

My friend wore lederhosen during the race, so we decided to celebrate.

Enrolled the boy in his first hockey class…

He looks serious!

Went to the coast of Texas to teach a class on TV production and collect some awards…

Boats on the water.

I ran my first 15k race.  Recap HERE…

Say ahhhhhh!

Tested out a new mode of transportation…

Howdy pardner. You like my ride?

Went trick or treating with the rug rats…

I’m a ginja (ginger ninja).

Do not cross him.

Cowgirls are udderly cute.

I then went to the Alamo to look for my bike…

Alamo selfie!

Won two more Emmy’s for the mantle…

Emmy #6! I’d like to thank the Academy, etc. etc.

Hung out with Nitro from American Gladiators…

Right before we went through the gauntlet!

I then tweaked something in my knee…

My tape job.

Cheered for more friends running a Thanksgiving day race…

The turkey was probably sad because it was Thanksgiving – a sad day for flightless birds.

Survived a North Texas ice storm…

All that white stuff looks like fun snow, but is actually pure evil ice.

Which forced me to the dreadmill to continue my training…

That took forever.

Helped a friend run the final few of his 30 mile run for charity…

At the mile 27 station.

Celebrated the holidays with family and friends…

All our ornaments on the bottom half of the tree.

And ate a buttload of tacos…

Mmmmm, tacos.

BTW, my knee is feeling pretty great.  I’m almost done training for next week’s Dopey Challenge (5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2) at Disney World!  Can’t wait to get these 6 medals!

My neck feels heavy just looking at them.

In between we just kept on trying to keep on.  Hanging out at home with the fams and dogs.  Making videos.  Yoga-ing.  Working out.  Cooking.  Laughing.  Oh, and blogging.

 

How was your year?  Did you make the most of it?  How’s your 2014 looking?  Big plans?  Holla!

17 Mile Run and Emmy Anticipation

Since I had to rearrange my run Disney Dopey Challenge training schedule this week, that meant I had to do my long run of 17 miles early on Friday before work.  That meant I had to get up pretty darn early.  But I kind of liked it.  I got to run in a part of town I normally don’t because of high auto traffic.  But there were not many cars on the road when my feets hit the streets.  It was kind of cool running through a normally bustling area, that’s temporarily all quiet and asleep.

It was also somewhat cool this morning – temps in the 40’s!  I went out with shorts, tech tee, gloves, and a headband to keep my earsies warm.  I must say, the temps must’ve helped, because the 17 miles seemed relatively easy.  I could’ve kept going.  And my pace increased as I went.  Nice!

I also ran through a part of town I had never run through before – “Why not?” I figured, I’ve got to keep adding miles anyway.  It took me through a new (to me) park that I got to explore the trails of.

It also took me down a dirt road which ended at an old graveyard.  The cemetery was built in 1850 and lots of the grave markers were from around that time.  It’s in an isolated field still to this day.  Now keep in mind that the suburb of Dallas that I now live was nothing more than farm land and a whore house (seriously) until about 15 years ago when the population and construction exploded (they quickly kicked out the cat house).  Back in the 1850’s there couldn’t have been more than a handful of settlers in this area, trying to hack it on their own (and avoid Comanche raids).  I paid my respects and moved on.

All in all, a pretty glorious run!

At Disney’s Emmy display after the marathon in January.

Now I can enjoy the Emmy Gala tomorrow without worrying about trying to squeeze in a run!  Some of you have been asking, so here’s the deets:  The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has a few regional chapters in the USA.  Texas is so big, it has it’s own – The Lone Star Chapter.  So this is a regional competition.  Most of the winners are from the local PBS, ABC, NBC, CBS, Univision, Telemundo, etc. etc. etc. networks.  Every once in a while, one of us smaller guys gets a win.  I’m lucky to have several nominations, and four actual Emmy’s with my name on them.  This year, we’re nominated for five!  We could come home with anywhere from zero to five.  You never know when it’s up to judges.

Please sir, may I have another?

Anyway, here’s a couple of the ones that we have nominated this year.  In this first PSA I actually play a runner, but please don’t critique my form as I was extremely stiff from PR’ing in a Half Marathon the morning of the shoot.  You may also recognize my quirky style of writing in the voice over script…

The other video I’ll share with you is one I’m very proud of.  I used to produce training videos for firefighters and paramedics, so I’m glad to still be able to work with them from time to time.  For this video, we shot some of it in Texas and also utilized some footage I had shot in New York City at Ground Zero…

If you can’t wait until my blog recap of what went down, then follow me on the tweeter as I’m sure to be updating it during the Gala.

They’ll also be streaming the event live on their website, which I have linked earlier in this post.

In the meantime, please send good vibes our way!!!

What about you?  What special plans do you have this weekend?  When was the last time you got dressed up?  Any long runs? 

Hero Rush

6-16-12 – Irving, TX – I ran in the Hero Rush adventure, mud, race, thingy.  I enjoy doing these types of runs – they break up the monotany of a simple 5k.  Plus, they offer unique challenges.  Plus, I get to wear a costume since it’s not going to be very competitive – they’re more for fun for me.  Plus, you get a medal…I like getting medals.

This particular race was firefighter themed.  So all the obstacles had something to do with firefighting, coincidentally enough.  I’ve worked for several years making videos for firefighters and paramedics, so I get it and I respect it.  And one of my best friends was a firefighter who was killed in the line of duty.  I decided to wear the shirt from one of his stations during the race.  I also wore a child’s fake fire helmet, until I lost it somewhere on the course.

Before the race with my friend Shelley who also ran.

The obstacles in these things keep getting progressively difficult.  There were some tuff ones in this race.  In fact, the one I was most looking forward to we had to skip cause some lady fell off of it and hurt herself just before we got to it.  It was a zip line.  I wanted to zip it up.  Oh well.  Say la vee.

I won’t get into all the obstacles as that would take too long, but I will say that it was a mistake to sign up for the 11 am wave of runners.  I figured that would give me time to sleep in and drive to Irving.  I didn’t anticipate the backup of racers from the earlier waves who had caused queues to form at most of them.  I was expecting to take 30-40 minutes for the race, try doubling that.

Anyhoodle, I had fun.  And as these races usually culminate with (a fire pit), I fabulously jumped over.

I knew a camera was watching.

 

And the medals were kind of cool.  Like I said, I like medals.

I know the image is flipped. Byproduct of Instagram. Too lazy to fix it in photoshop.

 

That’s it, short and sweet today.  Peace out homeys.