Author Archives: Scott D.
“CAPPING IT OFF”
Running with Bucky emblazoned on my noggin.
I have a recurring problem… okay several (Ha Ha), but this one I’m willing to talk about openly.
It’s hats… in particular, baseball hats. Yup, I’m addicted to those wonderfully brimmed beauties that keep the sun and sweat out of our eyes while simultaneously professing our love of a particular team, product or place.
I equate my love of ball caps to that of ladies’ obsession with shoes. I mean how many pairs of black heels can you own? Apparently a boatload. I can certainly relate.
Tokyo Giants… play ball!
As a little kid I loved to wear the ball caps of my favorite professional teams or whatever little league team I was playing on. And when my dad would go to Asia on business he would bring me back ball caps of Japanese baseball teams (my favorite was the Tokyo Giants). Fortunately, by the time I hit my teens I kind of grew out of them and showed the world my blonde locks uncluttered by headwear.
Then came college.
As a student at the University of Wisconsin (yes, those “Final Four” bound Badgers… woo hoo), my baseball cap addiction reappeared with a vengeance as I started collecting oodles of Wisconsin ball caps. Then when I went onto grad school at Florida State, the collection only got bigger with the addition of FSU hats to my already massive collection of UW hats.
Oh, it gets worse.
“PLEASE SIR, I’D LIKE (TO RUN) SOME MORE”
Like this, but with running.
Good afternoon Trippers. Just a quick post today as I’m off to cheer on my Wisconsin Badgers who have made it to the “Elite Eight” and square off tonight against Arizona for a spot in the “Final Four.”
So, this morning’s long run was doing double duty, as both a taper run for next Saturday’s Hollywood Half Marathon and a recovery run from last week’s 18-mile jaunt (preparing for the OC Marathon in May).
On the upside, instead of pounding pavement solo like last week, I did my run today with a trio from Team Roadkill. Jim, Jeff, Soozie and I met up at the parking lot for the LA Zoo in Griffith Park (in the “Camel” parking section or “Camel Toe,” as we lovingly refer to it). They too are prepping for the H’wood Half and also needed to “exorcise the demons” from the LA Marathon.
“AT LEAST I RAN” AND “HOORAY FOR 100!”
Hi Trippers!
It was either this or a “Walk of Fame” shot.
Another two tidbit day as I’m in the middle of a crazy deadline at work.
And the first “tid” directly relates to my “day gig.” Working in Hollywood often means some uber-insane hours and a schedule that at times throws everything (including caution) to the wind. In the past when crunch time hit, I would jettison much of my common sense in order to meet a deadline. The first two things that dropped off my “to do” list were exercise and proper eating. Working out and sensible meals gave way to being sedentary and surviving off of takeout. Deadlines were always met, but at the expense of many things, including my health and waistline.
HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO
Assemble… and run!
“Never say never” I guess is the lesson you should take away from my ramble today. That and I guess we all reserve the right to change our minds.
As you Trippers all know, I’ve been rather vocal about RunDisney’s “slightly inflated” race prices. And to say their race prices are slightly inflated is like saying that ingesting a half dozen Taco Bell bean burritos and washing it down with prune juice might cause “slightly inflated” gastrointestinal distress.
POWER TO THE PACKET…
Salty!
The other day I walked into a nearby McDonald’s.
Now in days past, I would have sashayed right up to the counter for a Chicken McNuggets super value meal complete with large fries, diet coke and an extra burger for good measure.
But these are no longer those days.
With the exception of a once a season Shamrock Shake (yum), I tend not to visit McD’s lest I have absolutely no alternative. Sorry Ronald, but please tell Grimace and the Fry Guys I said “hi.”
So, if not to stuff my face with the grub that made Morgan Spurlock a household name (still remember him), then why in the name of Mayor McCheese was I limboing under the Golden Arches.
18 AGAIN…
Good luck finding this in Redbox.
Hey “Trippers!”
And no, this post is not about the George Burns/Charlie Schlatter “body switching” Freaky Friday wannabe flick from the 80s. I’ll wait while you check out IMDB to see if this movie actually exists or if I’m just making this crap up.
Satisfied?
Anyway, yesterday I talked about doing my first “solo” long run (17-18 mile) of 2014 and few of my trepidations.
17 or 18 miles, what was it going to be?
Well, for those of you wondering (and if you were truly wondering, thank you, but you really should consider a different hobby), today was indeed an 18-mile jaunt around Burbank and in Griffith Park.
GOING IT SOLO
On the road again.
So between work being uber-crazy and constantly watching “March Madness” (Go Badgers) in my peripheral vision, my day has been rather hectic.
But tomorrow morning I’ll be up at the crack of dawn (funny, whenever someone says or I write “crack of dawn” I hear an imaginary rooster crowing in my head… weird). As I was saying, I’ll be up at the crack of dawn (there it is again… sorry) to do double duty on a run. It’s my last long run before the Hollywood Half Marathon on April 5th, but it’s also a training run to stay in marathon shape for the OC Marathon on May 4th. So, I’ll be doing 17 or 18 miles in and around Burbank. No big deal right… I mean I just did 20 & 23 mile training runs with Team To End AIDS back in February. One difference…
I’ll be running solo.
And it’ll be a little weird.
THIS AND THAT…
“Bon appétit.”
Hey “Trippers!”
(BTW, how’s that for a nickname for people who like the blog?)
Things are uber-zany at work this week so I only have time for a quick post today.
It’s the writing equivalent of when you don’t have time to get to the grocery store, don’t want to order a pizza and are determined to make dinner from whatever is left in the fridge… in my case a diet coke, some margarine, three types of mustard and some spinach lettuce. Oof.
PB&J anyone?
MY FAVOR…
Vote “Scott” for ARC Ambassador March 19th and 20th.
Hey everyone.
I hope you’ve been enjoying “Tripping The Kenyans.” I’ve really had a blast rambling on about my runnings and I love the comments from everyone who has decided to follow it or stop by for a look see.
Well, today I have a favor to ask of all of you.
I submitted my running story to a popular LA running store, “A Runner’s Circle,” and as a result I’ve been chosen as a San Fernando Valley finalist for their “Running Ambassador” program. It basically means that I’d be sponsored by the store (provided with shoes/clothing/gear) for a year’s time in exchange for doing what I like to do already… go to races, talk about running and of course mention their store (which really is a cool running shop… I’ve been going there since “day one” of back in fall 2008).
GOING “GREEN” AND PUB RUNNING…
Bright future= shades.
On any other day of the year, “green” references have to do with being ecologically friendly and helping the planet.
But on March 17th, everything GREEN is about “St. Patrick’s Day.”
From shamrock shakes (yum) to corned beef and cabbage, to four leaf clovers and wearing green (lest we be pinched), one day each year we let our inner-leprechauns run free… and we’re definitely not in search of a marshmallowy breakfast cereal.
In the tradition of getting a little “Luck of the Irish” (which could be considered a euphemism for drinking) I did a pub crawl last night with a twist.
Last night I did my first “pub run.” It will not be my last. Read the rest of this entry
WARNING SIGNS OF A HAPPILY OBSESSED RUNNER…
WARNING SIGN #20730
“SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL”*
An earthquake strikes while you’re getting dressed to run and after everything stops shaking, one of you first thoughts is…
“Jeez, I hope this doesn’t screw up my workout.”
In SENSURROUND!
*NOTE: Yup, I woke up to a 4.7 earthquake this morning (centered about 5 miles from where I live). It shook for several seconds, knocking over a few pictures and making my marathon medals clang. It was certainly enough to get my attention… no caffeine needed this morning. But all is currently well in the “City of Angels.”
Run on!
THANK HEAVEN FOR 11 (MILES)…
Got Garmin?
Just a quick post on this Sunday, as it is a beautiful day outside.
One week removed from the LA Marathon and I went for my first long run this morning. I would have gone yesterday, but since Friday night was my birthday and the libations were flowing freely, I opted to sleep in on Saturday morning and shift my weekly long run one day (I’m sure you approve).
I was wondering if I’d feel fully recovered or if there would be lingering stiffness with my legs (I was still feeling it a little on Thursday). This was also going to be my first solo long run of 2014, now that the T2 training program is done until October. Now for those of you wondering… YES, I signed up for the 2015 LA Marathon and the T2 training program on Tuesday, right after they put up the notice. And I’m clearly not the only crazy one as several of my T2 brothers and sisters have given their “thumbs up” to training again in the fall too.
LA MARATHON… A LOOK BACK
Last Sunday I was busy traipsing along the streets from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica running the LA Marathon. Tomorrow, it’s back to business as I do my first long run (11 miles) since M-Day. Less than three weeks until the Hollywood Half Marathon and under two months until my next full Marathon (OC Marathon) and another crack at the 5-hour barrier.
But as I look ahead and start planning for my upcoming races, I wanted to share a photo gallery from last week’s fun race. Enjoy!
Run on!
45 CANDLES AND A WISH…
Wishing for a PR!
It’s my birthday today. Another year older, another year wiser… or so they say. That remains to be seen.
Birthdays are a big deal to me. I do it up right for my friends, as well as anyone I’m dating. It’s also the only day I unapologetically say, “Feel free to spoil me.” And it’s not because of presents (although those are nice too). To me a birthday represents your day, the one day of the year where everyone gets the chance to remind you that you are special to them. Of course, whether they do or not is another matter.
BACK ON THE BELT
Brains!
This morning my alarm went off at 5:55am (remember my love of the number “5”) as I set it for that time each and every day I work out.
As my I wiped the sleep from my eyes and my body started to roll out of bed, my brain decided to have a frank conversation with me.
Brain: What are we doing?
Me: We’re going running.
Brain: Yeah, we just did that on Sunday. We ran a marathon. Remember? 26.2 friggin’ miles in a friggin’ sauna. You beat the ever lovin’ shit out of us.
Me: I know. But now that you’re healed it’s time to train.
Tripping The Kenyans 