Ode to the Hare

With today being the celebration of Chinese New Year and the beginning of the year of the Hare, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of our famous furry friends.
The Hare
From Aesop's Fables, the hare is critical of a slow-moving tortoise who then challenges him to a race. With the hare being well ahead in the race and confident of his soon-to-be-victory, he decides to take a nap. The tortoise moving slow and steady, takes the lead and wins the race. Possibly the most famous hare in history, we give kudos to his impressive first split... not so much on the second.

Roger Rabbit
My favorite and the one I grew up watching a million times on VHS. Roger, a toon star, exists in a world where toons and humans live side-by-side. P.I. Eddie Valiant is hired to investigate Roger's wife, Jessica, playing patty-cake with gag king Marvin Acme. When Marvin shows up dead, Roger is the lead suspect. Hilarity ensues. I love this movie. From Baby Herman, to Christopher Lloyd as Judge Doom, it is a great film.


Bugs Bunny
Rabbit Season, Duck Season, Rabbit season, Duck Season, Duck Season. An iconic Looney Tunes (and Merrie Melodies) character with his catchphrase "Eh... what's up doc?" has been a part of American culture for over 50 years. And just an FYI, if you are ever lost, you probably "shoulda taken that left turn at Albuqueque."

Energizer Bunny
Keeps going, and going, and going. I don't know why he is always playing that drum, but pink has never looked so fashionable paired with sunglasses. As endurance runners, we are thankful for his oh so catchy mantra.


Thumper
One of the more famous side characters from Disney's animated film Bambi, he is known for thumping his left hind foot. From calling Bambi "kinda wobbly" to his all important lesson "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all," Thumper will always put a smile on our faces, even in a very sad film such as Bambi. 

Honorable mentions

the Easter Bunny, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland's the White Rabbit and the silver rabbit from Donnie Darko.


Kung hei fat choy.

Beatles Weekend

Why wouldn't you add a song that can instantly transform you to (perhaps) a happier place? I have been going through my CD collection... yes, CD collection and I've been turning those little 5-inch discs we used to buy from Sam Goody or Tower Records into MP3 files.

One: It's clearing up tons of space from the house as I am selling the CDs to Rasputin (a Bay Area used record store). I'm only getting (on average) $1 a piece, but considering I still have the music electronically, it's free money.

Two: I'm discovering tons of music that has been sitting on my shelves, rarely getting any play. From 90's alternative to 80's hip-hop, it is bringing life to my iPod when it's on shuffle.

I posed a question the other day on Facebook, as an old favorite popped up on the most recent shuffle: "Favorite Beatles song... GO!"

Results from Facebook:
In My Life (four responses)
Blackbird (two responses)
Let It Be (two responses)
Here Comes the Sun
With a Little Help From my Friends
Yellow Submarine
Imagine, by John Lennon
I Saw Her Standing There
A Day in the Life
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
When I'm Sixty-Four

Here are a couple of my Favorites:

Eleanor Rigby
I'm a sucker for violins in a song. Throw in some cellos, the voice of McCartney and its a wrap.

Norwegian Wood
"I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me." I like to consider that the best song lyric to ever start a song. Again, this song has a unique sound, like many Beatles songs, but it features the Sitar played by George Harrison.

The list goes on an on: Dear Prudence, Come Together, Revolution, Penny Lane... it's just endless. So why not add some of your favorites to your running playlist? Most of the songs are short... perhaps no more than 3 mins. If you are worried about the song being to slow for your pace, give it a try. I often find that I run faster to a slower paced song. Think of an action movie with fast driving cars and a slow song... it adds a dramatic effect to what's going on. If not, hit skip. On to the next song. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but you'll never know unless you try.

Make it a Beatles weekend run and add a few to your playlist. Would love to hear some feedback if you do.

Hood to Coast Film Review

After enjoying my own experience as being part of a 12-person relay that runs almost 200 miles, I was extremely excited to be given the opportunity to review the film Hood to Coast. It was being shown across the U.S. in select theaters on 1-11-11 with the ambitious (and successful) goal of creating one of the largest nation-wide running events. Plus, it's pretty cool to walk into a theatre and use the words "press pass."

Before the film started, we were treated to some red-carpet style interviews by Runner's World's chief running officer Bart Yasso and the film's producer, Anna Campbell. It was a nice addition to the normal movie-viewing experience and added some quick introductions to people associated with the race and the film. Anna also provided a panel interview after the film with cast members, HTC Founder Bob Foote, the film's director Christoph Baaden and Olympian and HTC Women's Course Record Holder Mary Decker Slaney.

For a quick synopsis, the film follows four teams (comprised of 12 runners) as they participate in an annual 197-mile relay race (Hood To Coast Relay) through the Oregon country side from Mt. Hood to the Oregon coastline. The relay race began in 1982 with only 8 teams but has reached a such a level of success and popularity that it is now capped at 1000 teams and uses a lottery system for the majority of the entry spots. Early on in the film, they do a great job of covering the history of the event and breaking down how the event works logistically — this is very important for those who might not know how such an event works — it was a wonderful inclusion and helped introduce the relay-experience in a successful manner.

One of the key elements in the film was to include all types of runners and their unique experience and relationship to the event. The four teams featured were all there for different reasons. Here is a quick (important) break-down of the teams:

Dead Jocks in a Box

12-men (including one of only two 27-year veterans) who aim to rank high in their age-group to guarantee a spot in the following year's race. Their comedic and humorous, yet competitive, approach to the event highlights the range of characters that this race consistently draws. 

Heart-n-Sole

A team of women over 50 who love the race for the pure sake of enjoying running together. The focus of their story line is based on a longtime team-member Kathy who collapsed on the race the previous year with a heat attack. Their (and her) goal to finish the race is an important one on testing the limitations of the human mind, spirit and body.

Thunder and Laikaing

The experience from a non-runner's perspective is highlighted here and done so extremely successfully with good-natured and light-hearted levity and humor. Focusing on two runners of the team, who are reviewing the race logistics and going out to run 3-miles for the FIRST time, EVER, days before the event. This team offers a true-experience for first time participants (and first time runners).

R. Bowe

This team's experience will tug at your heart strings and give a glimpse into how running can celebrate both life and death. A year prior, weeks before the race, Ryan Bowe died suddenly at age 30 leaving his family and friends grief stricken. Their journey the following year to run together as a collection of family and friends to celebrate his life is told through the experiences of his mother, father, wife, brother and friends across the 197-mile journey.

Including four different groups, all there for different reasons, but striving to complete a single goal is the basis for the success of the film. It drives the entire story line covering a complete spectrum of emotions across each of the teams' journey to accomplish a race that will test the endurance (and sanity) of any runner.

I took this opportunity to watch the film with a non-runner so that I could gauge the film-viewing experience from someone who doesn't run. We runner's love talking, reading and watching anything associated with running. It's a given. But for a film to be truly successful and effective, it has to reach the masses, including those without a knowledge of the intricacies of what we do. Speaking with her after the film it was clear that we enjoyed the film for the same reasons. It wasn't a single story line that covers every monotonous mile of an epic race. Nor was it an informational documentary who's sole purpose is to give a history and recap. It was a multi tiered view into a journey that brings people together, runners and non- alike. The common goals that bond us as humans, as friends.

Using humor, pain, triumph and raw emotion, we are getting a front row seat to a journey across 197-miles, not just focusing on the race and the running, but focusing on what unifies people in the experience. That is what makes Hood to Coast one of the most sought-after race experiences and also what makes the film so engaging. We are enthralled in the passion of competitive and humorous older male runners. We are inspired by the determination of a single woman to not only over-come a heart attack, but to finish a race that nearly killed her and to rely on the support of her entire team. We are introduced to the magnitude of the course's requirements and captivated by the first-time experiences of two individuals who have no idea what they have gotten themselves into... and we love every minute of it. And we are ultimately given a glimpse into what we as friends and family can accomplish when we are surrounded by those that love us and how our lives can affect those around us.

I absolutely loved this film and would recommend it to everyone. It also received a "stamp of approval" from my non-running friend who enjoyed it on multiple levels. The film is looking to set up additional dates for nation-wide viewing, please check their website for additional information. There are also some great film trailers and video shorts for you to enjoy.

Tweet

Hood to Coast Movie

What do you get when you combine 197 miles, 12,000 runners, 3,500 volunteers, 2000 vans and all 50 states? You get an amazing adventure titled Hood to Coast, the largest relay race in North America as it stretches 197 miles from Mt Hood OR to the Pacific Ocean in Seaside OR.

Or as Bart Yasso of Runner’s World describes it, “Hood To Coast is a must-do in a runner’s life.”  and Director, Producer (and most importantly, runner) Christoph Baaden has captured it on film for us to experience it.

Here is a quick synopsis of the film:

HOOD TO COAST follows four unlikely teams on their epic journey to conquer the world’s largest relay race. Each year 1000 teams (12,000 runners) in 2000 vans cover 197 grueling miles as a relay team, putting themselves through an arduous physical journey that as an individual would be impossible. Some run to test their personal limits, some to overcome personal obstacles, and others leap in blindly looking for a way to shake up a complacent life. As we follow these four teams, we realize that winning isn’t everything in a documentary that takes a celebratory look at personal motivation and attempting the extraordinary.

Hood to Coast is playing in 350 theatres nation wide, for one day only (check listings here) What is posed to be the biggest running events nationwide. Stay tuned for additional content covering this event. For now, take a look at the trailer:

Running in Sydney (Adventure 1)

In another country and want to get to know the area? Just bring your running shoes. And that's exactly what I did when I was in Sydney, Australia in late November. It was a last minute trip that left next to zero time to plan on how to get around. So I threw my running shoes in my luggage and less than a week after finishing the ING New York Marathon, it would be great to get in a nice and easy (and scenic) run.

So I when I woke up the first morning, I put on my running gear, loaded a backpack with a map, some water and made my way to the lobby... only to find out that it was pouring rain. I was already dressed and set to go, but wasn't anticipating the rain drops so I decided to see if I could wait it out. I went to the hotel's business room and jumped on the Internet to kill some time. After about 30 minutes and the rain still falling, I decided that I wasn't going to let the rain stop me. Screw it! I was going to go run in the rain. I threw on a hat I bought the day before (the $3 tourist hat with a kangaroo on it) and started plotting away. I considered running while holding an umbrella, but thought that might look dumb (says the guy in the kangaroo hat). I got about a mile in and it started raining harder and I was already drenched. I decided to swoop into a 7-11 (yes, in Australia) and buy a poncho. Now I was thinking! So I threw that on and away I went. This was a much better way to run in the rain... it kept me completely dry, although my clothes were already wet. As you can tell, my running brain doesn't function outside the US.


I really wanted to see the ANZAC bridge, so I made my way in that general direction. I reached the bridge quicker than expected, so I decided to run across it. It was a shorter distance than I anticipated, so I kept going... seemed like that right thing to do. I saw a park on the other side and thought: "who doesn't like to run in a park?" After that, I headed down what looked like a nice neighborhood and ended up in cozy neighborhood/downtown area. I passed a bakery and immediately decided it was a good time to grab a bite to eat. I settled on a white-chocolate blueberry scone with an orange juice and rested for a few minutes while I ate my delicious breakfast and watched the locals go about their daily business.

After I was done I realized that I put my backpack down in what started as a dry spot and was now a puddle. PERFECT. So I put on my wet backpack on my wet clothes and covered it with my water proof poncho and headed back to the hotel. All in all, it was a "interesting" run. I got my 10 miles in, ran across an amazing bridge, had a great breakfast and WAS IN SYDNEY! Can't beat that I guess.

Here is a photo of the experience... so if you happened to be in Sydney and saw this crazy guy running in wet clothes and a wet backpack with a kangaroo hat covered by a poncho, it was probably me. Seems like a safe bet.