The Loop 15k preview – Running with Ebola

So there is a race I’m supposed to run this weekend. It’s in Dallas. Where the Ebola stuff is going on. They say we’re safe. I believe them. But, I’ve been sick all week with a cold. At least I THINK it’s a cold!!!!

Should I be worried?

I tried to continue with my workouts all week, but on my run yesterday, I felt like doo doo. Besides my Ebola sniffles, it was also flippin hot, wildly windy, and freakin Humid with a capital H. Left me nice and shweaty.

My sweat leaves marks.

Buuut we had a massive storm blow through last night, and that has brought us some relief. And so the thought of running a race in somewhat tolerable conditions is very tempting.

Also, I ate some pho last night (pho realz, I did). And I slept-in instead of running this morning. So I hope that helps me feel more better. Well, at least as well as I can feel…

I hope to get rid of the chip on my shoulder.

I ran this race last year and did ok. But it was muuuch more hotter than it’s supposed to be this year. But two, I was healthy last year. Well, at least as healthy as I can appear…

Say ahhhhhh!

So here’s hopin I feel well enough to race this weekend!

How bout you? Do you run if you’re under the weather? Do you run whether the weather? Can you diagnose my illness?

-Scott

The 9 Mile Lake Loop Run & Taco Reward

I’ve written about it before, but White Rock Lake in Dallas is an extremely popular spot for area runners – as well as bikers, walkers, fishers, kayakers, unicyclers, etc.

The main trail around the lake is pretty much exactly 9 miles. There are also connecting trails and secret little side trails if you want to add more mileage. When in marathon training, this is where I usually go for my really long runs – especially if I need to run 20+ miles.

Running Shoes, meet Lake. Lake, meet Running Shoes.

Since I finished the Dopey Challenge in Janurary, I hadn’t been down to WRL to run. But as our week of record low temps for North Texas in July kept on keepin on, I decided I better take advantage, and so I went to loop the lake.  The temps were awesome, but it was still 95% humidity – It never quite rained, but it did mist at times.  But the cloud cover was very welcome indeed.

Panorama mode

One always see a lot of weird interesting things around the lake – elites training, an episode of Cheaters being shot, coyotes, Dallas Cowboys taking photos of a horse, a dead body, a marriage proposal – seriously, you knever know.

This time around, I ran into crossed paths with a couple runner friends who were doing their own loops…Like my buddy Lindsay over at Marathonstateofmind .  It’s funny though how none of us ever seem to stop and say our hellos – nobody wants to interfere with the others’ workout – we just wave and shout a passing, “Heeyyyyyy!”  Haha – though immediately afterwards we all contacted each other to make plans to catch up.

You might want to avert your eyes at the Pump House ~ brown chicken brown cow!!

Anyways, for my run I decided to keep my pace comfortable and not look at my watch the whole way. Just wanted to enjoy it. I don’t know if it was the weather, but I think this may be the first time I’ve looped the lake without taking any quick breaks (to refill my water bottle or use the loo). I just kept going – one foot after another until I made it all the way around.

When I finished, I looked at my watch and was pleasantly surprised. I had ran the whole way with an average pace of 8:10 per mile! Not bad (for me) for a ‘long’ ‘comfortable’ solo run. I’ve run one 10 mile race as well as a few half marathons at an 8:13-15 pace which felt like tuff exertion.  So I’m anxious to see how my next race at those distances goes! Looks like my speed work is working.

And so ends the tale of one brave man and his trek around a city lake.

Another bonus to running there is the proximity to some good taco joints. Of course that is exactly where I went after I was done to get some breakfast tacos…

Boom. Tacos. Boom.

All in all, a purdy good lil Saturday morning there.  It made me really look forward to the fall (not a literal fall, like falling down, but like the Autumn kind ~ ya dig).

How bout you?  Any special go to run spots?  Seen any odd interesting things on a run recently?  Who wants tacos?

-Scott

Run the White Rock Lake Loop

So I normally don’t blog about my workouts.  I workout nearly every day and sometimes twice a day.  If I were to write about each one, I’m sure I’d bore a lot of people.  But this particular workout, a lot of karazy stuff happened.

On Saturday I decided to do a lap around White Rock Lake.  I think every Dallas runner should do this loop at some point their lives.  It’s roughly 9 miles around and it is pretty scenic with views of the Dallas skyline, trees, kayaks, sailboats, picnicers, wildlife, tamelife, and other runners/bikers.  This time though, there were lots of surprise and cornfusing sights.  I’ll run them down in order of how I saw them.

1.)  Right when I was pulling in to park, Logan Sherman came flying down the trail.  We hadn’t seen each other in a few weeks and so he was kind enough to stop and chat with me for a minute before offering some encouragement and the taking off in a blaze to finish his 20 mile run (he’s getting ready for the Boston Marathon).

2.)  On the run, I passed a Goth lady with bright red hair in a wedding dress with her military uniformed husband taking their wedding photos.  Good for them.

3.)  One lonely pelican floating near the shore.

4.)  An ornery looking snapping turtle just off the trail giving me the stink eye as I ran past him and/or her.

5.)  A group of pro football looking dudes (some wearing NFL jerseys) taking photos of two horses they had tied to a tree by the lake.  Still trying to figure that one out.

6.)  Every fisherperson I passed seemed to be smoking cigs.  Is that a thing?  Do fishing and smoking go together like Spam and eggs?  PS. I’ve never eaten Spam and eggs, but I’m told it’s a thing.

7.)  A truck shaped like a giant shoe.

8.)  After I finished, I was stretching and noticed a lady hiding behind a tree with a camera.  I figured she was a private detective and hoped she wasn’t looking for me.

9.)  Then I saw a marriage proposal…it was accepted.

10.)  The lady hiding behind the tree was taking photos of the proposal.  Mystery solved.

So there you go.  Not you’re typical workout.  But I was glad to see it all ’cause it kept my mind entertained.  Oh, and sorry I don’t have any photos of this schtuff, but I refuse to workout with my phone…gotta keep phocused.  You’ll have to take my word for it.  But it is all true!  I can draw you sketches if you like.

Anyway, give the White Rock Lake loop a chance if you get a chance.  It’s a good trail, and you never know what you’ll see!

Peace out internet!