Author Archives: Scott D.
THE SURF CITY EXPERIENCE: “BIBS & SWAG”
Greetings from Huntington Beach and The Surf City Half Marathon 2014.
Spent some time at the Expo today getting my bib and a few goodies along the way.
Bibs and goodies await.
THE SURF CITY EXPERIENCE: “ON THE ROAD”
They always say the most important night of sleep before a race is two days before. So, today should have been my day to sleep in. Apparently someone forget to tell my brain that little tidbit as I woke up on my own at 5:00am. Of course I’m typically up this early on Saturday to run anyway, so no biggie…
Let’s get up and at ‘em. Time to head down to Huntington Beach and brave The Surf City Expo.
So bags are packed, hydration continues and it’s time to tally ho, sally forth and all that jazz.
More to come…
Run on!
WARNING SIGNS OF A HAPPILY OBSESSED RUNNER…
WARNING SIGN #14431
“RISE AND SHINE”
The obsessed runner will strategically place numerous alarm clocks around the room guaranteeing they won’t oversleep for a race.
Wake up!
I said, WAKE UP!
THE SURF CITY “EXPERIENCE”
Today marks the 1-month anniversary of the launch of “Tripping The Kenyans.” Thanks to all of you who have stopped by to give it a gander (and be sure to tell all of your friends). I hope you’ve had as much reading about my hobby, sport, obsession as I have had writing it. And please keep your comments and suggestions coming.
And now for a new ongoing feature as I will give updates for each race I run, chronicling the days up to and including the race, culminating with a “Post Mortem” and a formal review.
First up: Surf City, the site of my very first half marathon (back in ’09).
So, I’ll catch all of you tomorrow as I head down to Huntington Beach and some fun in the sun.
Until then… run on!
RUNNING NUGGET: BRING ON THE BRRRR…
On Saturday I wrote a “Running Nugget” about re-using a Mylar blanket as a way to stay warm before a race. Given last week’s winter storm that blanketed a good portion of the country (and the deep freeze this week that stopped the South in its tracks), I realized there’s plenty more to cover on the subject of dealing with cold weather (before and during a race). So I decided to quickly re-visit the subject. This is a bit of a follow-up or epilogue to the “Friend of Foil” post.
Not so photogenic that day.
Back on Thanksgiving Day I ran the Atlanta Half Marathon (earning my Turkey). Unfortunately, the weather in the Big Peach can be a crapshoot that time of year. In 2012, I ran the race in shorts and a T-shirt as the temperature was well into the 60s.
For 2013, winter decided to come early to the South. Predictions for race morning were for 20 degrees with a wind chill in the low teens. It would be the coldest race I had ever run (previous coldest for me was the Chicago Marathon in 2009 when the weather was a “tropical” 28 degrees).
So, how do you deal with the cold weather on race day?
Every person has their own tolerance for cold conditions and having grown up on the East Coast and Midwest (Wisconsin winters can be brutal) I’m no stranger to frigid conditions. You need to decide (probably through trial and error) what your limits truly are.
WARNING SIGNS OF A HAPPILY OBSESSED RUNNER…
We all know an obsessed runner when we see one… and I happily count myself amongst the many. In this ongoing feature, we’ll point out some of the countless crazy characteristics of those runners who love to run. I mean really really love to run.
WARNING SIGN #6724
“WASH DAY”
The happily obsessed runner has a clothes hamper just for their running/workout clothing. And they have a second hamper for that “other” stuff.
Wash & Wear
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST…
This Sunday I lace I up my shoes to run the Surf City Half Marathon for the just second time. I’ll be joined by almost 20,000 other runners as we pound the pavement along Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. It truly is a beautiful vista to behold and should be a great time. Of course, I’m a bit biased as Surf City holds a special place in my heart and it has nothing to do with the surfboard finisher’s medals (which are really really cool).
You see, Surf City was my first.
On you mark…
Let’s turn the way back machine to early January 2009. I was three months into training with T2 (known then as AIDS Marathon) for my first Los Angeles Marathon. I was still quite the newbie and at that point our biggest run had been 12 miles, which was also the longest distance I had ever run in my entire life.
The Los Angeles Marathon had originally been planned for February 16th (President’s Day), but due to a convoluted scheduling snafu, the race date was forced to move to May 25th (Memorial Day). It was like finding out on Thanksgiving Day that Christmas was going to be pushed to March. Bummer.
THE FREAKY FOOT CHRONICLES: CHAPTER 1 (PART 2)
So you weren’t too put off by my tale of piggybacking piggies and socks that fit like a glove? Okay, then. Where were we?
CHAPTER 1: TOES- PART 2 “OLD MAN TOE”
Medicinal tic tacs.
When we last left my toes, things were hunky-dory. Injinji socks had solved my problem. Little did I know, yet another problem was waiting just around the corner. Or should I say on the back of a truck.
But like a Tarantino film, let’s throw linear story structure out the window. We’ll start in the here & now… or how about November 2013. I was at the podiatrist getting fit for new shoe inserts. As part of the check-up, they took x-rays of good ‘ole lefty and righty.
So, my foot doc took a look at my right foot x-ray and said something that no one wants to hear roll of their physician’s tongue. “Oh, that’s not good.”
THE FREAKY FOOT CHRONICLES: CHAPTER 1 (PART 1)
Ever since I started distance running back in the fall of 2008, I’ve come to the harsh realization that my feet are a bit of a mess. How big of a mess you may ask? Well, enough that I feel the need to break it down into chapters. Fortunately, they’re fairly tame… no rampaging fungi stories or pics, I promise.
So now that you know you won’t have to suppress the gag reflex, let’s talk about my feet.
CHAPTER 1: TOES- PART 1
Piggies unite!
(Yes, there will be two parts on this… kinda KILL BILL-like)
Toes. We’ve pretty much all got ‘em. Typically ten of ‘em. They aid us in traction, balance and help keep pedicurists gainfully employed. They feel like the less useful and less attractive cousins to our fingers. And other than stubbing your toe, which painfully reminds us they’re present, toes typically stay hidden in your shoes and fly under the radar.
For the most part, my toes are pretty typical. Five on each foot. My second toe is a hair longer than my big toe, which is not uncommon. There are stories that people with a slightly longer second toe have Celtic origins or descend from royalty. I’m cool with that. If Arthur can be hailed as King of Camelot by pulling a sword from a stone, why can’t my long toe at least earn me a knighthood?
But all is not well in the kingdom of Scott’s toes.
THE CHANGE
“Change comes from within.” -Anonymous
Change is good!
Change is hard. Change takes time. Change hurts. Change is to venture outside your comfort zone and into the great unknown.
Let’s face it. Change is scary as hell.
We often will tolerate bad jobs, unfulfilling relationships and unsatisfactory life situations simple because we’d rather deal with that damn devil we know as opposed to put forth the effort to do something about it.
“What if we fail?”
“What if we make things worse?”
To that I say, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
RUNNING NUGGET: FAN OF FOIL
Mmm mmm mmm…Toasty!
For those of you out there who haven’t noticed (or are living in SoCal where it’s beach weather in January), it’s still winter out there people. That means cold mornings before the sun comes up (and sometimes after). And while we all know the downside of wearing too much clothing for a race, it can be downright nippy waiting an hour for your race to start… especially when it’s 48 degrees and you’re standing around in shorts and a T-shirt.
There are many ways to keep warm prior to a race, from wearing “toss away” thrift store clothes to the ever-stylish garbage bag. Well, here’s a little tidbit that will keep you warm and not looking like a garbage bag with legs. And better yet… it’s FREE.
NIP IT IN THE BUD
It’s kinda like that. Ouch!
RUNNER: “Your nipples might bleed.”
ME: “Can you say that again?”
RUNNER: “Your nipples might bleed.”
ME: “My nipples might what?”
RUNNER: “Bleed.”
ME: “Bleed?”
RUNNER: “Bleed.”
ME: “$%#@”
That was me just before my first 8-mile run back in 2008 when I was told that I should probably get some kind of nipple protection. I was thinking, “What the hell kind of sport am I getting into where my nipples might start dripping blood like a pair of synchronized leaky faucets.” Got a mental picture, didn’t you?
FAST FACTS: NY MARATHON THEN & NOW
Today’s fast fact has to do with the annual fall pilgrimage through New York.
Run on!
MY “OTHER” GIRLFRIEND
Me and Becky.
If you ask any lady who has ever dated me, after rattling off my many “endearing” quirks (at least I think they’re endearing) they’ll probably describe me as dependable, loyal and trustworthy (damn, I’m making myself sound like a dog). I’m not the kind of guy who would ever go behind their back and fool around.
Well shocking truth be told, I actually have been involved with another woman for the last 5 years and I’m proud of it.
Scandal!
She and I spend an intimate few hours together every Saturday without fail. I’ve taken her on trips around the country. She’s seen me at my best and at my worst. And whereas other women may come and go in my life, she’s always been by my side (or should I say on my wrist).
Her name is Becky.
And she is my Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver.
RUNNING NUGGET: THE BEST ICE PACK MONEY CAN BUY
As runners we all know about sprains, strains and sore muscles far too well. And at some point we’ve all had to have a heaping helping of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Well, today’s nugget is brought to you by the letter “I.”
I’m going to give you a little insight to help you in a post-race pinch and probably piss off the manufacturers of sports ice packs in the process. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve used many types of ice packs and they all basically work… it is pretty hard to get cold wrong, isn’t it?
Wear your vegetables!
I’m here to tell you about the best ice pack value for your buck and it’s not at the sporting goods store, running specialty shop or on-line.
It’s in your grocer’s freezer.
Let me tell you a story. After a recent race, I was driving a friend home and she was in pain. After limping the final mile of the race, her knee was sore as hell. She said she either needed some Advil ASAP or a samurai sword to commit Hara-kiri.
Tripping The Kenyans 