Author Archives: Scott D.
“THAT’S A WRAP” ON 2014!
Hi everyone!
…auld lang syne anyone?
I hope you all had a fun-filled Christmas and that Santa gave you mounds of great presents (perhaps some cool running gear or a new GPS watch).
As 2014 draws to a close and Baby New Year prepares to make his grand entrance, we all naturally take a look back… at the good and the not-so-good. The resolutions kept and the ones that fell by the wayside.
But before I finish the final chapter and close the book on 2014 (and start a new one for 2015) I wanted to give a recount of my running year that was.
And it was a doozy.
Here are some of my running “highs” and “lows.” Read the rest of this entry
RUNNING HOLIDAY
Hi everyone!
A Ho-Ho-Holiday.
With my 2014 race season done, it’s time for a little holiday rest and relaxation.
Lindy and I are heading to Atlanta for Ho-Ho-Ho Day and then we’re doing a little driving trip around Georgia and Florida for a week, with stops in Savannah, Daytona, Cape Canaveral (“Woo hoo” NASA) and Sarasota (my old FSU grad film school stomping grounds).
While I’ll be doing a few maintenance runs during my hiatus (when the opportunity allows), I’ll also be taking it a little easy.
And just as my legs could benefit from some reduced mileage, my fingers could use some down time as well. So, Tripping The Kenyans will also be taking a Christmas vacation.
I’ll be back New Year’s Eve with an “end of the year” wrap-up. And I’m looking forward to a festive and run-filled 2015.
Happy Holidays to all… and to all a good run.
REVIEW: SANTA TO THE SEA HALF MARATHON
Thumbing it up with Rudolph.
RACE: Santa To the Sea Half Marathon
DATE: December 14, 2014
LOCATION: Oxnard, CA
DISTANCES: Half Marathon/5K/1K Kids Run/Diaper Dash
START TIME: 8:00am (Half Marathon)
WEATHER AT START: 51° and sunny
FINISHERS: 1,878 (Half Marathon)/ 736 (5K)
‘Tis the season to be sweaty, Fa la la la la… la la la la. This past Sunday the north pole came to Oxnard as a gaggle of runners showed off their holiday spirit (and a whole bunch of wacky holiday costumes too) as they trekked from the 101 highway down to the ocean in the 7th running of the Santa to The Sea Half Marathon. Read the rest of this entry
MONDAY TIDBITS
Hi Everyone,
Race trimmings.
Just a quick post today with two tidbits:
First off, a post mortem from yesterday’s race: The Santa To The Sea Half Marathon.
Yup, this was my last race of 2014… race #17 of 17.
My goal time for the race was simply to come in at 2:10:00 or below.
Fortunately, my legs didn’t let me down and I crossed the finish line with a whole 6 seconds to spare.
You can check out my race stats below. Read the rest of this entry
ONCE MORE, WITH “HOLIDAY” FEELING…
The holiday season is in full swing.
Run run Santa!
Between finishing up things with work for the year, holiday parties, Christmas shopping and planning for holiday travel, I’m one busy little elf. I have a feeling I’m not alone in this… am I right?
Well, ever since my crazy 3-pack of half marathons in one weekend back in November, I have taken things a little easy race wise. I had planned to run a 10K on Turkey Day, but decided to rest up. Even this last weekend I strongly considered doing the Santa Monica Christmas Run (another 10K) but again opted to hold off on pushing it.
Mind you I’m still running, as I continue to train with T2 in preparation for the Los Angeles Marathon in March. Read the rest of this entry
THE “EYES” HAVE IT…
Hey Everyone!
Why yes, you do have eyes.
Just like how “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” cut its story down the middle, I too chopped my “Two-fer” trip to a pair of doctors (regular and eye) into a 2-part saga.
Yesterday you got a gander at part 1.
So, here’s the latter half of my tale… featuring a few less wizards than Harry Potter.
EYE EXAM
For those of you who know me, I’ve prided myself on having some killer “baby blues.” Now this isn’t in reference to their ability to woo the ladies throughout my life (okay, mostly not), but rather to the fact that I had some pretty mad vision skills. Read the rest of this entry
“DOCTOR DOCTOR, GIVE ME THE NEWS…”
Hi Everyone,
Not sure, but you’re probably boned.
My trip to the podiatrist on Monday turned out to be all good news. No problems with my feet, just an issue with my new orthotics that will be corrected in a week or so. Cool.
Yesterday, I had parts two and three of my medical trifecta… annual physical and a visit to the eye doctor.
So, let’s pull a “Hunger Games: Mockingjay” and unnecessarily split these results over two days of posts. Everyone loves a cliffhanger, right? Read the rest of this entry
“STRESSED” OR NOT…
Hi Everyone!
Paging Dr. Foot.
Yesterday I mentioned that this week I’d be getting myself thoroughly checked out: physical, vision test and a visit to the podiatrist.
Well, I called my foot doctor’s office and managed to snag an open spot on the schedule for Monday.
A quick jaunt to Burbank later and there I was lounging in the waiting room.
And by lounging, I meant sweating bullets.
You see, one reason for going to the office was to follow up on my new orthotics. But the other reason was this new and unexplained pain on the top of my left foot that flared up shortly after I ran my 3-pack of races. Read the rest of this entry
CHECKING UNDER MY HOOD…
Every 5,000 miles I change the oil in my SUV (okay, I pay Jiffy Lube to do it). At 7,500 miles I get my tires rotated.
Open up your hood and say “Ah.”
Whenever the “check engine” light goes on, my car is in the shop ASAP to make sure she’s firing on all cylinders and doesn’t need any TLC.
And I get her washed often. I take good care of my ride.
Well, I realized I’ve been a little lax as of late in taking care of my main form of transportation… namely me.
I’m way overdue for my annual physical; I haven’t had my eyes checked in far too long (almost embarrassed to say how long). And when I get a foot problem, I don’t go to the podiatrist as quickly as I probably should.
And I do see a few signs that this boy is getting a little more… how shall we say… “seasoned.” Read the rest of this entry
MAN TIGHTS! (AND LADIES TOO)
The big squeeze just got squeezier!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. And given all of the power-eating that went on yesterday, I’m pretty sure all of our pants are fitting just a tad bit tighter.
Well, speaking of “tight”… I want to talk to you about MAN TIGHTS!
(Pardon the lazy segue; credit it to a tryptophan hangover. And yes, I know the whole turkey tryptophan thing is a myth).
But back to MAN TIGHTS!
Today, the gang at PRO Compression are debuting compression tights for men (Ladies compression tights and leggings are also available). Read the rest of this entry
GOT GOBBLE?
Hi Everyone,
Run turkey run!
Thanksgiving stands as one the biggest race days of the year, with runners nationwide getting up early to “earn their turkey.”
Each year I typically make the trek to Atlanta to visit my folks, my brother & his family for a traditional Thanksgiving weekend.
And since I started distance running back in ’08, I’ve begun each Turkey Day off with a race… either the Marietta Gobble Jog 10K or the Atlanta Half Marathon. Read the rest of this entry
“BOTTOMS UP”… AND A NICE GESTURE
Marathon runners love their bling and race swag.
Bring on the bling.
After each race is run and done, I happily hang my new race tech shirt in the closet… the latest addition to my growing sweat-wicking wardrobe.
The race medal finds a nifty spot on my medal hanger, a shiny reminder of the miles run.
Heck, I even keep my race bibs, which go onto another display rack in my bedroom.
But about a year ago I decided I wanted another memento of the race experience, something different that could serve as a daily reminder of the fun I have when racing.
Enter the pint glass. Read the rest of this entry
REVIEW: ROCK ‘N’ ROLL LAS VEGAS HALF MARATHON
RACE: Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon
Yes. Yes we do.
DATE: November 16, 2014
LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV
DISTANCES: Marathon/Half Marathon/Half of Half Marathon/5K
START TIME: 4:30pm
WEATHER AT START: 51° and sunny… colder when the sun went down.
FINISHERS: 25,172 (Half Marathon)/ 3208 (Full Marathon)
“Viva Las Vegas” everyone! It was a busy night in “Sin City” as almost 30,000 runners shut down the famed Las Vegas strip, gambling that they could finish the latest running of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon/Half Marathon.
Read the rest of this entry
REVIEW: AVENGERS SUPER HEROES HALF MARATHON
RACE: Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon
Runner’s Assemble!
DATE: November 16, 2014
LOCATION: Anaheim, CA
DISTANCES: Half Marathon/5K/Kids Race
START TIME: 5:30am
WEATHER AT START: 55° Partly cloudy… and windy as hell.
FINISHERS: 10,449 for the Half Marathon (4042 Men/6407 Women)
Disney has added a new race to its fall California schedule, as runners dressed up as their favorite Marvel super heroes for the inaugural running of this half marathon. The villain at this race, however, were the blustery Santa Ana winds that battered runners throughout the race.
Read the rest of this entry
Tripping The Kenyans 