Paesano's 8 mile trail run

At yoga last week, the message was to live in and enjoy the moment, instead of racing to the next thing or the finish line.  I took that to heart and ran the Paesano's 8 mile (really 8.5 miles) trail run today - s-l-o-w-l-y.  This is a pretty technical trail run - lots of rocks and roots and side-ways type running on the side of a hill.  Today, it was drizzling, as well, so some stretches of flat rock were like ice - I traversed by shuffling sideways while clinging to trees.  Needless to say, my finish time stunk, but I lived in each moment and did not fall down, which is quite unusual for me on a trail run.

(these pics, while ugly, are of the easy part)

Unfortunately, when I returned home, there were emergency vehicles parked along the block and in my driveway.  My neighbor apparently sustained a heart attack and was transported.  This is my neighbor who has mowed my grass (just to do it), retrieved my dogs when they escaped, watered my plants, and fed the stray cats who live under his house.  He's also the one who generally has a goat, which amuses the dogs and me very, very much.  I'm hoping he recovers - whenever I run around the neighborhood, he's always my 'finish line' cheering team, offering me a beer.  I like folks like that.

Thanks to Ceci and http://www.iaapweb.com/ for the pics and standing out in the drizzle!

butt kickers

Wow, I got my butt kicked at yoga for athletes tonight.  "Athletes" makes me giggle, much like the "competitve runner" category at some race does.  Next up is another butt-kicker, the Paesano's 8 mile trail run on Sunday.  At least getting my butt kicked quells my anxiety about possibly getting furloughed, a big butt-kicker.

Street2Feet 5k

Well, it was drizzly, but warm to start this race on Saturday.  Or, rather, to wait for a train to move to start this race (I swear, Union Pacific hates San Antonio runners). 

Once we got underway, this was a nice downtown race, which is rare, due to the expenses involved (closing down streets, permit, cops, etc.). 

Around mile 2 or so, a bystander near the bus station yelled me a marriage proposal (I'm considering it), and around mile 2.7, a guy had fallen and banged his head.  So, these two stops/distractions and the slick streets are going to be my excuses for my pathetic finish time. 

Next up, more excuses and an 8-mile trail run on goat trails.  Should be interesting.
Thanks to http://www.iaapweb.com/, SAMMinistries, and Scottydog for the pics

flashbacks

Today, I went to see "You say tomatoes" at the Cameo theater.  It was funny - especially with Judge Kazen portraying an uptight English recluse. On the way back to my car, I encountered two of my greatest fears in that neighborhood - child cheerleader competitions and trains. 

When I was training for the Dallas marathon, I had to repeatedly run around the Alamodome (1 mile each loop) - while they had a kiddo cheerleading competition.  There was a lot of hairspray and makeup involved.  And, at this past year's San Antonio Half Marathon, I was stopped by a loooong train that looked like this - just blocks from there. 

So, this is kind of my bermuda triangle of San Antonio.

(picture taken with my phone, while waiting ~5 minutes for the train to pass, with a bunch of kiddo cheerleaders)

Fuego 5k

Well, this was just a nice easy run in Brackenridge Park - this is me at the start with Sally #1, trying not to shiver.

(we were doing the 'legs' shot for Scottydog - thanks for the pic)

Today, I am suffering from football withdrawal, so I'm going to the "You Say Tomatoes" show at the Cameo.  Next up:  Street 2 Feet 5k on Saturday

Rodeo & Stock Show Stampede 4 miler

Some pics from my buddy, Scottydog, at the chilly, chilly race start

GREEN BAY!

Ah, what a game!  Here I was at Cowboy Stadium back in September, predicting the outcome:

 (marking the spot where Nelson needed to land for his 4th quarter TD)

(and showing the refs what they would be doing, repeatedly)

I retired the Favre jersey in favor of a Matthews one for last night's game.  My buddies did ask just how old my dusted-off cheesehead was (circa 2001, after I lost my first cheesehead in the divorce settlement).  But, after a rough season, my boys did it and brought home the Lombardi trophy.  And it was great. 

I've been getting messages from friends far and wide that they thought of me when they watched the Packers win.  I'm sure it's not because I'm an obsessed, crazed fan.  I'm just like all the other Packers fans - appropriately and vehemently obsessed and crazed.

Today at the dentist, the doc asked me where I was from.  When I said "Milwaukee, mostly," he said "you must be a very happy girl today."  Yes, I am!  And, he showed me his (properly date stamped and documented on Facebook) pre-game predictions: 

"Dr. Austin's Super Bowl XLV Pick...
Packers 33 Steelers 27. Take the over. Aaron Rodgers will be the MVP. Steelers will have 3 turnovers which will be the difference in the game. On the defensive side, BJ Raji will have a field day with the Steelers patchwork offensive line."

Other than Raji's field day, he was dang close!  As I deal with the end of another football season, albeit a wonderful one, I guess I'll just have to run some more races to fill my empty football spaces.  Next up:  Fuego 5k Saturday.

Stock Show & Rodeo Stampede 4 miler

Well, it was a frosty start (but at least I'd had a hot shower beforehand) for this 4 miler Saturday.  I couldn't feel my feet until about the 1.5 mile mark, rounding the Red Berry Mansion.  Then, it was back into the rodeo grounds for a finish of biscuits and gravy and Lone Star Lite.

(pic from Andy Bujanos Photos)

And today is SUPERBOWL.  For the first time in my lifetime, I get to watch the Packers play in the Superbowl in primetime (rather than at about midnight overseas).  I dusted off my cheesehead just for tonight. 

GO PACKERS!

Friggin' Brrrrr

Yes, I know I grew up in cold places.  That is why I live HERE, in the land of the smoking hot summers - so that I don't have to deal with winters.  Unfortunately, winter found me, beginning on Tuesday night.  We peer-pressured each other into running 6 miles in the chilly chilly wind, and I came home and forced myself out of my layers (I hate running in that many clothes) and into the shower.  That was a good thing, because the temperature plunged below freezing and stayed there for a few days.  And, on Wednesday morning, my 87 year old house didn't think much of winter, either, and my pipes froze, rendering me hot-water-less. 

So, as I boiled water for sponge baths and attempted to coax my furnace into heating the house to 61 degrees (the limit, apparently, during winter), I did not run much, waited for my frozen pipes to explode, and vowed to move further south. 

Alas, after work on Thursday, after a failed attempt to cram myself in the "crawl" (slither?) space under the house in search of frozen pipes, I simply turned on every applicance in the house, including the dryer and oven.  As the struggling furnace notched temps upward of 64, I turned to my dripping faucets and aaaaaaah - HOT WATER!  (I immediately thawed out the washing machine and jumped in the shower.)  Winter and 'urban camping' do not top my 'favorite things' list.

And then, it snowed.  In San Antonio.  Really.  It was even measurable - something like 0.6" - but it also iced, and shut down the city (highways and all) on Friday morning.  So, for the first time in a long time, I actually enjoyed a snow day - one of those where you wake up, look out at the snow, then call the office (busy), then call the office (busy), then call the office (WE ARE CLOSED) - and you go back to bed.  The best part was that, when I woke up, the sun was shining for the first time in days and it was a balmy 45-ish. 

Since we're enjoying this practically 'tropical' front now (it's going to be in the 20s this evening), I figure that I may as well get up to run the San Antonio Rodeo 4 mile Stampede before we leave the freezing temps by midmorning.

And then - it's SUPERBOWL.  Starring - the Packers.  This week has gone worst to best, no question.

GO PACK!

and it's on

Dear Sally,


Congratulations! You are now registered for Bank of America Chicago Marathon.