Back to Back races part I - the one in which I was beaten by the crazy running chicken

My running form often resembles that of a crazy running chicken.  Well, at today's Diploma Dash 5k, my universe folded back on itself, and I WAS BEATEN BY A CRAZY RUNNING CHICKEN!  Really.  Here he is:

  Sigh.  Since he already stole my look, I settled for just looking slow and tired.

My time wasn't actually quite THAT bad (chip timed), but it wasn't great.  As I walked from the finish chute, I was thinking "damn chicken stole my vibe."  [In my defense - Alfred was the runner under the costume and he's FAST without it on.]

Next up - Paesano's 8 mile trail run tomorrow morning.  I hope not to fall down, and I hope to eat plenty of pasta afterward.

Thanks to http://www.iaapweb.com/ for the pics

Next ups - Back to Back Races

Yep, I had to squeeze 5 races into February.  I was going to make it 6, but since none of these were comp'd, my wallet said no to 6 (which would have been the Eisenhauer trail run on the Double Trouble below).

So, this Saturday, I will be running the Diploma Dash 5k.  Nice and easy.

Then, on Sunday, I will run the Paesano's Salado Creek 8 mile trail run.  And then I will eat Paesano's pasta and drink a carb-loaded beverage or two.

And then, I will rest and be happy.

Guess who is getting sent packing?

Yep, Driver the fostercat's catdaddy has returned from more than a year's deployment in Afghanistan and is supposed to pick him up tomorrow.

Sigh.  I'll kind of miss his badcat antics.  And I wonder what critter will pop up next - 5 critters seems to have been the equilibrium around here these past years. 

Street 2 Feet

Well, it was a little drizzly for this morning's race - which obviously slowed me down since last weekend's race! 

Here we are at the start:

And my not-so-hot finish

Thanks to Brice M for the pics!

Next up

I'm looking forward to this one.  You can read about the Street 2 Feet training program at the SAMM Shelter here. 

Then I will work some overtime.

Next up - the longer version

You have registered for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon (2010)!

Almost Famous Again

Yes, I am a bit of a fame whore.  (not really)  But, if given the opportunity to jump from reality show to reality show or have my pics all over the tabloids for no good reason or accomplishment, I might take it.  I'd have to see where it fell within my race schedule.

You will recall that I was last 'featured' in a running magazine in the November San Antonio Rock N Roll program.  That was a picture but no photo credit.

Well, now here is the credit, but no picture (the interviewer asked me for a high resolution pic and I told her that I had none, ugly or otherwise)!

So here it is - another brush with 'fame' --

Yeah, this is not me on the cover.  But, here's page 26:

Still not seeing it?  Well here it is, in the left corner - "Fame - I'm gonna li-ive forever..."

Sigh.  I'll take it where I can get it.  At least I tried to be diplomatic in my approach, giving a quiet shout out to the San Antonio Road Runners, Bill's Run In Texas, Bart's Scallywompus, and RNR.  You're welcome.  Now give me some press!

I hate 4th place

Well, I ran the Fuego 5k this past Saturday and felt pretty good.  I even sprinted past a chick near the end who looked like she might be 35-39.  And, I was originally listed as #3 in the age group, just ahead of her.  Yippee!

Then, they realized that a fast gal was listed under the wrong age group, and she bumped me out of the medals.  Sigh.  I guess I should get in some more speed work.  Or, I could just sulk.  Yeah, I'll do that.

I do guarantee that none of those three chicks who beat me took glorious pale-ghost pics like I did, though.  So there, I win.

Photos by Alfredo Vazquez, http://www.morethanphoto.com/

Runners. Yeah, we're different.

Old ad campaign - awesome.

http://www.chayden.net/Runs/Adidas/index.htm

This is not about running - it is about Cheryl & Boca

Instead of running today (in the cold, yucky rain), I brought a bunch of dog food and personal items my buddies and I amassed to Cheryl and Boca, who are down on their luck.  Their whole story is here, or, more precisely, the story of the latest part of their life, which has been pretty crappy.  The short version is that Cheryl rescued Boca the dog from a shelter in Florida a long time ago.  Then, she recently moved them to San Antonio in search of a new job and future. When that fell through, she had an awful time trying to find any place to stay with a dog.  So, she and Boca slept in her truck.  Then someone stole everything from the truck (but not Boca).  Now, Cheryl admits she did not necessarily make the best decisions or plan well, but, as we all know, there is no rewind/redo button in life.

So, when she was about to just give up because life had become THAT HARD, she didn't, mostly because of her dog.  And it was because of her dog that her story went viral among the animal rescue community here.  She is still trying to find more permanent lodging and a job, but she is waking up every day with Boca, knowing that there are people who are willing to provide whatever hand up they can.  I'm going to drop off some business suits that I no longer wear and plenty of race t-shirts this weekend (two things I have more than enough of).  If you get a chance, read the article, think about contributing a buck or two, do something nice for a stranger, and hug your dog/cat/family member. 

Because, in the end, we ARE all in this together and any little bit you do to help another helps us all.

Cheryl and Boca

Next up

Fuego 5k on Saturday.  Overtime was cancelled, so I guess I had better break down and mop up muddy dogprints instead.

Rodeo Stampede 4 miler

no crazy chicken here - perhaps robot?  goose step? 

and afterward - cowboy breakfast complete with Lone Star Light beer. 

Photos from Andy Bujanos Photography

Quick race report

There should be some pics from the Rodeo Stampede 4 miler this morning, but they'll probably be delayed (not a usual race photographer).  It went well, though - I ran nice and easy and got to revisit the Red Berry Mansion grounds, where I was part of a wedding party reception several years ago.  That part was trail - nice and muddy.  As we ran into the rodeo grounds, the wafts of 'organic' material hit, and I saw a horse that REALLY wanted to run with us almost run over a runner.

Then, immediately after the finish (when my chip was being cut off), I got to feed some pigs.  At least it was a bit different for a race!  And, for those of you who don't know - the rodeo here is so big that it forces the Spurs (yes - championship basketball team) to go on the road so that the AT&T Center hardwood floor (where they play) can be covered in dirt for a couple of weeks.  That still amazes me.  Also, the #1 male ran the 4 miles in 19:34.  That's just sick!

Next up