A Snowy Run

Alarm off. Running pants, long sleeve NYC shirt, a second sleeveless running shirt, hooded sweatshirt, running gloves, ear warmers and a beanie on top of it. And finally, snow shoes. Wait, I don't own snow shoes. Anyone have tennis rackets and some duct tape? No? Ok, my trusty Asics will have to do. Grab my water belt, Garmin and I'm ready to go.

I don't know if that is over-dressed or under prepared and there is only one way to find out. I almost slip on the way out the door and consider that this may be a nightmare waiting to happen. But, I know I just have to get to the road where snow won't be a problem. A hundred or so feet more and I hope I am now in the clear.


I run in the Bay Area (in California) where snow isn't an issue. Im used to 50 degrees being cold, requiring gloves and 5 mins of complaining about how cold it is before our group run. Once I get out to the street it takes me a few steps to get the blood flowing. I wind a few curves and climb some rolling hills, which comes with the territory on a side mountain road and start to breathe heavier than normal. I can see altitude will be an issue today, but it makes me a stronger runner, right? Now I can race with the elites after some training at altitude. (insert sarcasm) After awhwile, I check my watch to see how far I've gone and all of a sudden, .4 miles doesnt seem right. Can the satellites not find me? I decide to run based on time, rather than distance since my Garmin seems to be "on vacation."

I left the iPod at home since I need to be able to hear cars coming down the two lane road. Traffic is really light to begin with and everyone still seems to be asleep on a snowy holiday morning. But to play it safe, no earbuds for me. The dogs are awake and several come and greet me as I run by their yards. I wonder what they are saying: "Hey, how far are you going today?" I wonder if they are mocking my out-of-sync Garmin.

I hit 45 mins and see that I am estimated to have traveled 3 miles. That doesnt seem right, but it was hilly and I did enjoy a couple walk breaks. I decide to turn around and conclude that a 90 min run sounds pretty good. Besides, it's warm inside and the TV probably misses me. As I head back the same way I came, the miles seem to fly by. But that is always the case. I climb up what was downhills on the way in and see the same dogs who greet me with the same demeanor. "Hey, have you figured out how far you've gone yet?" Nope, still not working. Beep. Now my Garmin AND the dogs are mocking me. I snap a few photos on the way back since it isnt very often I get to run near snow.


As I reach the house, my Garmin reads almost 7 miles which makes complete sense on an out and back where I turned around at mile 3. Dogs 1, Me 0. I stayed pretty warm the whole way, legs felt strong. I would have liked to have logged more miles and got in more time on the road, but getting up and out on a snowy morning was half the battle... so half the distance seemed appropriate.

Runner Cards

I heard on the radio that moms are starting to (or have been for some time) carrying "Mom Cards." Essentially it is a business card that has all vital information pertaining to their child that a mom might want to hand out. For example one might say: Kara Goucher, Colt's Mom. It would have information such as Kara's phone, cell, e-mail address or any contact information she might want to share with another person. It can be useful if you want to arrange a play-date or meet another mom at the park that you would like to see again.

Mom's can also take it a step further by including information about allergies or emergency contacts. The radio hosts were making the case that this can be handy if you happen to run into another mother and are in a rush and don't have time to exchange information on the spot. Boom! Here is my Mom card, let's hang out. Also could be used for sleep-overs, birthday parties, car pool, etc.

Soooo, being the runner that I am, I started to think: "Could this be useful for us, as a running community?" Many times when I'm out running, I see other runners and think, maybe we are running the same distance. Looks like we are running the same pace, in the same location, why not run together? I've chatted with other runners at stop lights or intersections and had pleasant conversations. Boom! Here's my runner card.

Haha. Ok, no one would want to carry a business card for miles. First, it would get all sweaty and often times the pockets are being used for keys, gu, etc. But, it could be pretty fun. It could have extremely important information such as: pace, location preference (trails, parks, roads), iPod, no iPod, desired running times (a.m. vs. p.m.), favorite Gatorade flavor, potty intervals... who knows? We are a picky bunch, we might have to use both sides.

Note: it could come in handy when you run by an attractive runner. I know I'm not the only one that corrects their form and picks up the pace when a cutie runs by. And I run in a group, so I've seen it happen whether it be male or female.

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.

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