Halloween Fun & 10 Mile Run!

Yay, Halloween! I wrote the other day about the costumed social run I went on. Good times. But on the official Halloween, it was time for some trick or treating with the fams and friends. It went something like this:

Enforcing the law, lollipop in tow.

A good ninja is never seen…except when there’s candy involved.

Here in Texas, we haven’t had Autumn yet, so it was a bit sweaty on Halloween. It’s been in the 90’s still during the days. That all changed on Friday night though when a cold front came through. I woke up early for my usual long run and saw the temps in the mid-30’s!!! No thanks! I went back to bed. It was probably the first run I didn’t go on in 6 months. And call me a halloweenie if you must, but I need time to adjust – I can’t just jump into a 60 degree temp change!

Not to worry, it had warmed back up a little on Sunday, so I went for a 10 miler followed by some tough yoga.

I was also race stalking all my friends over the weekend at the NYC Marathon and locally at the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon. Congrats to all!

In between checking split updates, I also cleaned house. And found this gem in amongst the kids Halloween candy.

Times are tough in the suburbs apparently.

Ha, ok then.

How bout you? Did you race this weekend? Did you go trick or treating? What was your costume? Are you ready to get off the rock?

-Scott

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!

October Run Mileage & Halloween Recap

As I get closer to the Disney Dopey Challenge (4 straight days of races: 5k, 10k, 13.1, 26.2), my training mileage is obviously increasing week by week and month by month.  I decided to look back at the past few months and see what I’ve been hitting.  It goes a little something like this:

August – 93 miles

September – 111 miles

October – 130 miles

Looks like the Hal Higdon plan I’m following increases about 20 miles per month.  I don’t want to look ahead and do the math to see if that will hold true, I’m just going to keep following it and trust that it will all work out.

That said, I think 130 miles in a month is a pretty good number.  I’m happy to have reached that.  But I know enough not to get all cocky about it.  Here’s why:  I have friends who do 100 mile races in a DAY.  I have friends who run up to 120 in a WEEK.  And the list goes on.  So there is always someone doing more, and there are always opportunities to do more.  I also have friends who run just a handful of miles a month, it’s all good as long as they’re out there!

Anyway, on to November and many more miles!

As for All Hallows Eve, it went well. The girl wanted to be a cowgirl (we’re assuming this since she can’t really talk, but she is obsessed with her pink cowgirl boots).

Cowgirls are udderly cute.

My boy wanted to be a ninja.  I’m guessing he wanted to be that because he has two imaginary friends who protect our house from a tree in the front yard.  They are named Go and Johnny Go.  They are ninjas.  famous illustrator David Hyde Costello, who graciously offered to sketch them for him.  Here’s what he drew:

Grif said the only inaccurate part is that one of them has a bow and arrow, not a sword. Shoulda known!

I must go back and say that I can only ASSUME they are imaginary friends, because as my one friend pointed out, if they’re true ninjas, then they cannot be seen!  Here’s Griffin in his costume:

Do not cross him unless you want to taste steel (or plastic, as it were).

And it just so happens that I have access to a ninja outfit as well.  So I told him I’d dress up with him, but I don’t do normal costumes, it has to have a twist.  I decided on adding a red wig and going as a Ginja (ginger ninja).

I’m a ginja with attitude.

So there you have it, another month of run training down, and another successful Halloween!

What about you?  How’s your mileage looking?  What’s you dress up as for Halloween?  Do you have any imaginary friends?