Sweaty Miles & Sexy Yoga

This weekend I got in a couple extremely sweaty runs.  First up I met up Saturday morning with the White Rock Running Co-op.  I know several of the members of this group, but it ws the first time I’ve been able to join them for a run.  I’m glad I did!

This run they were meeting at a member’s house so we could run his hood.  I’ve always loved when I’ve had someone visit our place and I get to take them on a run of my usual routes, so I really liked this concept for a run.  The local had routes mapped out from 6-10 miles.  I did 8.

There were some speedy folks in this group – it seemed like everyone was wearing Boston Marathon swag.  But there were other paces too – even walkers.  I ran with a group that said they would do an 8:30 pace – they lied.  We did closer to 8:00-8:15.  But it’s good to go faster than you maybe wanted to.  If you want to get faster, sometimes it’s helps to run faster.  Doy.

After the extremely humid run they had a pool party – funzies!

It took me 4 days to stop sweating.

It didn’t cool me down much though.  Haha, in fact, the only problem with the experience was that after I went in their house to grab some grub, they had to mop the floor to clean up my sweat (serisouly)!  I felt bad, but I wasn’t alone in sweating up the floor (honestly).

Sunday I got in another 4 humid miles.  This time I took a cold shower after…it didn’t help.  I was still sweating afterwards.  But it was OK, because I went to yoga practice where I got even more sweatier…which of course makes you sexier.

#NotCreepyatAll  BTW, that wasn’t my hand.

It was a really good class, and left me pretty sore.  But I was already sore from the runs, so now I’m even sore-ier.  It’s good to be sore…lets you know you did some work son!

Anyway, the rest of the weekend included yardwork, housework, toddler time, World Cup, taking off the kiddo’s bike training wheels, and Father’s Day sushi.  Not too shabby.

How bout you?  Ever take anyone on a running tour of your hood?  Find any fun run groups lately?  How sexy is that yoga picture?

-Scott

Fake Partner Yoga, Snakes on a Trail, & Sweaty Runs

Another weekend jammed packed with workouts.  It all culminated with some fake partner yoga, but I’ll get to that.

We call this one the “Spread Eagle Toddler Superman” pose.

The weekend of workouts kicked off with the Thursday Night Social Run.  We met up this time at a great local TexMex joint – Chiladas.  I got in 4 sweaty & hilly miles.

Afterwards we were being social and it was exciting to talk to a bunch of these folks because some were heading to Deadwood, SD for a marathon/half and others were off to San Diego for a marathon/half there.  I hope they all had great races!

I like to relax right before we run.

On Saturday I got up for my long run, and it got ugly.  I had planned to go 8-10, but that didn’t happen.  It was so hot and muggy – 90% humidity.  Just gross.  It was a struggle to run though that pea soup.  But I managed to make it 7 miles – I had to – because it put me at exactly 100 miles run in May!

But dude, was I soaked with sweat glow.  It looked like I had jumped in a lake!  I think my clothes are still drying.  And I know they aren’t daisy fresh.

Who wants some?

On Sunday I got up early to meet with some friends to run trails.  As we move into the warmer months, the wildlife are getting more active.  On the trails today we had to jump over one turtle…and one snake!  Luckily it wasn’t a poisonous one, but when you see a snake under your feet, you don’t stop to ask questions – you jump!  Haha, I about gave the dude behind me a heart attack.  All told, ended up going 6 miles.

After the run, we grabbed a quick bite before going to a power yoga class.  It was a really great practice!  But before it started we were hanging out when my friend who looks like an elf asked, “You want to do partner yoga?”  I replied, “I don’t know how, but sure.”  She answered, “Neither do I, let’s make it up.”  So we did.  Hahaha!

I call this one ‘Egret Getting Sun While Squatting on Uncomfortable Bench”

Then other people got in on the gag…

“Reclining Elf on Planking Bear Back”

Luckily none of us take ourselves too seriously, or get easily embarrassed, because most of the room was laughing at with us.

All in all it was a pretty good little weekend of working out.  Now I’m sore.  I like it that way.

How bout you?  See an animals on your runs lately?  Ever do partner yoga (legit or not)?  Do you have any better names for our poses? 

-Scott

Disney Dopey Challenge Training Week 6

It continues.  Today called for a 3 mile run and a weight session in the gym.  I must still be tired from the combined 20 miles I ran this past weekend, because the 3 was no walk in the park (it was a run in the park, though).  It was still 90% humidity and in the mid 70’s, so a tad bit swampy.  It’s supposed to cool down some today, and we’ve actually gotten rain for the first time in like forever.

And can I just say that with the rain, it brought out like a million snails all over the place.  I don’t know where they came from, but they were everywhere.  I think today in the snail world, will forever be known as massacre day.  Now I can’t be certain, because my morning run was in the dark, but I heard and felt an awful lot of crunching under my feet.  I kept hoping they were nuts that had fallen from trees, but I have a feeling many a brave snail met his doom today.

Stole this pic from my friend. I felt I was moving as fast as this guy on my morning run.

As for the rest of the week, I’ve got 6 miles with hill repeats on Wed.  3 miles with weights on Thurs.  9 miles on Sat.  And Yoga on Sunday.  Still on course to successfully navigate the Dopey Challenge!

What about you, did you witness any exoskeletal massacres today?

The Loop 15k Race Recap

I’ve been very diligent about my training for the Disney Dopey Challenge.  Running four races in four consecutive days will be a new experience, and I want to be smart about it.  Add to that the hefty registration fee, results in me not doing any races lately.  But not racing for several months makes a PirateBobcat go a bit nutso.  Not to mention it’s good to break up training now and again with a race.  This not only serves as a barometer of your status, but also helps you practice racing.  And of course, they’re fun!

This past Saturday I decided to race The Loop 15k by the Dallas Running Club.  Here’s why I chose it: I had some friends doing it, the weather was finally supposed to cool off, it fit into my training schedule, and the registration fee was only $10!  Also, I had never run a 15k, so instant PR! 

They call this race The Loop, because it takes you on one loop of White Rock Lake.  It’s a very popular running and biking spot in Dallas.  It’s where I go to do my long runs as the lake is about 8.9 miles around.  There are also a few detours to make add distance.  This race had to add a detour because we needed to get to 9.3 miles to complete the 15k.  I know, right, why aren’t we on the metric system, except for races?  Haha!

The start/end was at Winfrey Point. I assume named for Oprah.

My last several half marathons have been run at around an 8:12 per mile pace.  My goal after the Dopey is to get faster and the next step is to run 8:00 min miles in a Half.  I secretly hoped I could do that in this 15k.  I thought that hope was out the window when I arrived though because the weather was not cool like the weather dude promised.  It was in the low 80’s with 90% humidity.  It was swampy.  I did a quick warm up before the race and was absolutely drenched with sweat.  But a funny thing happened when the gun sounded – I was able to finish with a pace UNDER 8 min miles!  Here’s what had happened…

Before the race I started chatting with a dude who was new to running.  He was asking me all sorts of questions about it, which I was happy to answer.  This guy is younger and looked like he was in pretty good shape, but this race would be a new experience for him.  Also, at the start line I saw one of my running buddies – Lea.  She’s a great runner who is getting ready for the Houston and Boston Marathons.  I decided to try and keep up with her despite the weather.  My new friend decided to try and keep up with me despite his newness.  We did all stay together until about mile 7 when we hit some hills.  Not nice hills either.  They actually hit me pretty hard, and I fell off the pace a bit.  But my two friends did great and finished just ahead of me.  Lea even got 2nd place in her age group.   

I finished in 1:13:48.  Good enough for 8th in age group and 60th overall out of 512.  I was really happy with this.  Especially considering the weather, and especially considering that I took a few walk breaks through water stations (and part way up the last nasty hill).  The conditions were so bad that I had to briefly stop at one point and tighten the belt lace in my running shorts because they were so heavy with sweat that they kept falling down, and I didn’t want to have a wardrobe malfunction on the course – especially in case a race photographer was around! 

Say ahhhhhh!

There was also a 5k race that I had some friends in.  In both the 5k and 15k, my other friends did great in their races too!  It was tough out there and I’m proud of them all!  One friend even got 1st in his 5k age group! 

But here’s the thang – about 15 minutes after I finished my run, the skies opened up and it began to pour down rain!  I was glad I finished before the wet stuff came down, but after it passed, the weather dropped down into the 50’s!  What I wouldn’t have given for those temps at the start of the race!  Oh well, what are you going to do?  Hopefully those cooler temps will stick around for a while for my next round of training runs. 

Anyways, that’s why there are no post race photos – because it was pouring rain and cold as crap.  I’ll try to take a photo of the lake next time I run there.  Some nice views!

I know this was a big racing weekend around the country.  Did you race?  How’d you do?  If not, what did you do?  How’s the weather there?

-Scott

Disney Dopey Run Training Week 3

So week three Dopey Challenge training is in the books!  And people who run around here really lucked out cause the weather dropped for a couple days.  Instead of being 85% humidity combined with the extreme Texas heat, we had a stretch of 60 degree temps in the mornings!!!  It was still humid, but man did it feel great to be out there in cooler temps.  I felt like a whole new runner!

The weekday runs and workouts were still hot, but I got through them no problemo.  In fact, I ran one of my evening runs at near my 5k pace of 7:00 min miles – cooler temps + being around some fast runners were the reasons me thinks.  The weekend came though and I was glad for the cooler temps.  My schedule called for a short 3 miles on Saturday and 11 miles on Sunday.  3 sounded silly, so I did 4, then went to an hour of yoga.  Afterwards a group of old friends got together for a mini reunion of sorts, where I did enjoy their company and also a few Guinnesseseses.

I guess some of my friends were glad to see me.

I’m glad to report that the health benefits claims of Guinness must be true, because I woke up early for my 11 miler and handled it pretty well.  Like I said, the cooler temps helped too!

Anyway, that’s all I got right now.  More than enjoying this rest day and get back at it tomorrow!

Peace out internet!

Hot Runs: Track Work, Social Run, Weekend Fun

So it’s hot outside.  Like, devil fart hot.  That makes for tough times running.  I’m getting somewhat acclimatized, but there’s only so much you can adjust to.  I tried to get up early and run before work hoping the small clock hour would mean cooler temps.  Didn’t help much – sure the sun wasn’t baking, but for some reason the dawn hours around here are extremely humid.  I did my run, sweated, took a shower, kept sweating, drove to work, sweated at my desk – I’m quite sure my co-workers think I’m up to something.  “Why’s that guy sweating? What’s he looking at on his computer?”

But then on Wed, I met some peeps for a track workout…at 5.  PM!  Holy horse it was blazing.  Trying to sprint 400’s when it’s 102, no clouds, and heat radiating off the black track ain’t easy.  But I got through it (mostly).

Then comes the Thursday social run.  What’s this?  Rain clouds?  Sure it was just a quick downpour that sopped, but at least the clouds will provide relief from the sun that seems to normally be leaning against my face.  Not so much.  The sun that was shining through cooked the wet ground and turned it into rather thick humidity.  But I got through it again.  It helps when there’s 50 other people running with you.  One of which was a Boston Marathon qualifier for this coming year (She told me she qualified with a 3:30’s marathon!).  She kept my pace up by nipping at my heels the whole 2nd half of the run.  We ended up doing a rather decent 7:30 pace – pretty good for a hot casual social run!  And she had a great point – if you can get through these crazy hot runs, as soon as the temps drop, it’s going to feel like you were let out of a cage.  ‘Tis true.  I’ve gone through it before. Running Texas summers = easier fall/winter runs.

Anyhow, we were able to cool off on the fantastic patio at the Katy Trail Icehouse Outpost in Plano.

Only part of our group that was there. We like the mister fans!

I’m not making duck lips, they always look like that.

Anyway, we got no choice.  Gotta train through it.  This weekend will bring more.  I’m thinking long run again on Saturday, possibly followed by yoga.  Then another trail run Sunday, followed by a secret run group meeting.  Stay tuned for info on that last part.

Gotta keep at it!  179 days till the Disney World Marathon Weekend and the Dopey Challenge (3.1, 6.2, 13.1, &26.2)!!!

Peace out internet!

 

Dopey Training (203 Days to Go) and Bling

Just saw that the Disney Dopey Challenge is 203 days away.  Seems like a long time, but I guess it’s really not.  Maybe it is, but I still want to start getting ready now.  Been working on getting ready the past couple months actually.  Keeping my legs tired and my body sore as much as possible.  This weekend I did a humid 8 miles with friend runners and frienemy hills.  Then it’s on to 3-4 hours of yard work.  And by yard work, believe me, it’s work.

Sunday did another 6 miles.  And that was a struggle.  A struggle because it was absolutely fabulously humid and hot!  It was disgusting.  When I finished it looked like I had jumped in a lake during the run.  I mean, my clothes were absolutely fabulously soaked.  It was disgusting.  Did I mention it was disgusting?  But I got through it.  Normally I would’ve gone to yoga after, but it was niece’s birthday day, so spent it at a community pool playing with water rug rats.- that counts as exercising, right?

Monday, back at the gym to pump up some iron…or whatever materials they use to make the heavy things in the gyms now a days.  Today, up early to run again.  It was raining, which was actually nice.  It was somewhat humid, but cloud cover is good and cool rain is good.  I rather enjoyed it.  It wasn’t pouring, but a nice steady sprinkle.  And it didn’t take me half the morning to cool my body internal temps down.  It’s always a little uncomfortable at work when I’m sweating from a morning run…even after a shower!

So it goes on and on.  But I’m feeling good so far.  Feeling strong.  Still early, I know.  But building slowly and smartly is key to avoiding injury.  I looked up the Galloway training plan for the Dopey and it’s for peeps who’ve already been running regularly for 6 months, but it starts it’s week 1 the first week of July.  So this being June, I’m already ahead of the game and the mileage that his plan starts with.  Good I think.

Anyway, I had a thought.  I googled images for the Dopey Challenge and this one of Dopey the Dwarf came up:

Dopey in the sky with diamonds.

I think it’s appropriate for these race.  Here’s because:  I know it was a factor for me, so I know it was a factor for others –  The Bling!  In previous posts I’ve mentioned that when we complete this 4 days of racing, we get 6 medals.  And 6 Disney medals at that.  They don’t mess around with their medals.  And so I know some of us were thinking about all that bling and had diamonds in our eyes like Dopey.

Maybe that should’ve been a warning.  Maybe the race directors thing that being blinded by bling is a bad thing and are throwing us an underhanded dis by calling us Dopey for blindly going for it.  Maybe they secretly think this 4 days of increasing race distances will punish us for our greed.  But I don’t think so.  First off, Disney has never been accused of being anything but greedy itself…just look at the race entry fee for crying out loud!  But I’m not hatin’.  I love all things Disney, always have.  So I’m looking at it like we are getting the bling as a proper reward for completing the tough tough challenge.

203 days until we’re officially Dopey (and Blingy)!

Tour des Fleurs 20K #blog

September, 2011.  A bunch of us ran the Tour des Fleurs 20K.  It’s a 12.4 mile race that goes around White Rock Lake and some of the surrounding neighborhoods.  This is a decent event, but it wasn’t a great race for me. Don’t get me wrong, any time I get to race, it’s a good day, but this was tough.

I had no idea there was a camera present, that’s how I always look when I run.

First off, it was insanely humid and muggy.  In fact, when I finished I crouched down like a hidden tiger and was disgusted as I noticed the waterfall of sweat that was pouring out of my shorts like a faucet.  Second off, I was dumb.  My sister and I took off from the start like it was a 5k.  Went out waaayyy too fast, and paid for it later.  Once we hit the hills of the neighborhoods, I was hurting.  Battling the heat, hills, and non-negative split had taken a toll.

There was on final hill once we got back on the trail that circles the lake, and I had had enough, so I started walking.  Just as I did, I heard a voice behind me, “Come on, buddy!”  It was my friend Ann.  She had run a much smarter race and was able to finish strong.  She encouraged me to start running again and I was able to suck it up and finish with her.

Proof that Ann helped me finish. Get it? Proof? Come on.

The race starts and ends at the Arboretum on the lake, and is fairly scenic.  The post race party inside the park was fun.  We reunited with friends and fams and checked out all the flowers in the Arboretum.  My only question is why they call it the Tour des Fleurs.  Kidding, I get it.

The Three Fleurmigos.

They also offer a 10k.  So there’s something for everyone, or at least for people who are able to run those two distances.

Peace out Internet!