Zoo run!

ah, another Wednesday and another zoo run.  No surprise - it was hot.  Surprise - the Ceci-paparazzi was there (and not running) - heal, Ceci, heal.

thanks for the pics, Ceci!

Carrabbas HM video

Thanks to my buddy, Ceci - here's the Carrabbas HM Relay video.  I'm in there, holding the flag at the beginning - and at the end - drinking a cold beer!

No race weekend

Surprise!  I didn't run a race this weekend.  Instead, I hit Southtown Yoga Loft for Pose for a Cause (this time, for spay/neuter efforts in Southtown).  (I'm in there in the middle in lime green)

and the pose I'm good at...Savasana (corpse pose)

Then I attended the San Antonio Roadrunners annual party - where we give out scholarships (I'm on the selection committee).

thanks to Kristal and Tom for the pics!

Carrabbas HM Relay

For the Carrabbas half marathon relay, it was hot and humid, as it has been all Summer.  Oh, wait, it isn't summer yet - it's just felt like that since February.  Here I am before the race with my buddy Paige.

I was running the 4th and final leg, so I volunteered to cut off race chips in the exchange chute - but first, a little flag holding.  This would probably be a good time to remind you that my birthday is July 4th and you can start bringing me presents next week, when I will commence my month-log birthday celebration!

There were no actual ugly running pics of me from this run - my photogs were probably already enjoying chicken marsala, pasta, and salad by the time I ran (I don't blame them - that's the highlight of this run)!

I spent the rest of the day napping and trying desperately to rehydrate before today's 9 miler.  It kind of worked.

Thanks to Tom Lake from SARR and Ceci from www.iaapweb.com for the pics!

Instincts

in·stinct/ˈinstiNGkt/Noun


1. An innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior in animals in response to certain stimuli: "predatory instincts".

2. A natural or intuitive way of acting or thinking: "rely on your instincts".
 
For Gwen the pitoodle, instinct somehow means building nests

For me, when marathon training hits- it means sleeping every chance I can and making big batches of pasta salad out of whatever I have.
 

Here was tonight's dinner - if I remember right, shell pasta, bay scallops, fresh corn off the cob, cukes, bell peppers, red onions, sweet onions, hardboiled egg, slaw mix (free), fresh basil, fresh parsley, organic mayo, a little olive oil, wine vinegar, garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. 
 
I have a problem in that I usually don't feel hungry until my blood sugar crashes.  It's nice to have this around for those times and, since those times happen more often during marathon training, maybe, this time, I'm actually prepared.
 
Speaking of instincts - here is a Simba who is prepared to exercise them while I type.
 

Next up: Carrabbas HM relay in the morning

Another good cause you need to send money to

(Even though you may lose to Gwen or Dingo)

SNIPSA's 4th Annual Race for the Rescues will be held on September 24, 2011 http://www.snipsa.org/SNI/FaceofRace. Again this year we will be holding a contest for the "Face of the Race." Your dog could be chosen for promotional posters and online advertisements for the race. Close to 3000 copies of our poster are printed each year along with numerous newspaper advertisements and countless online postings. The winning pooch will also be featured on race day during the medal ceremony as a special guest. The "Face of the Race" will be selected based on photos provided. A photo shoot to capture your pooch will be arranged with SNIPSA.

To enter your dog please send one photo (will not be returned), an Entry Form, and a check for $25 made payable to:

SNIPSA
Face of the Race Contest
6338 N. New Braunfels #185
San Antonio, TX 78209

Or you can pay by credit card and register here on line

Proceeds from the contest will go directly towards helping homeless and abandoned animals in San Antonio as well as spay and neuter outreach. All entries must be received by August 1, 2011.

And this is how you do the crazy running chicken

First, you run 8ish miles Sunday.  Then, you do yoga for lunch on Monday in the vain hope it will make your calves stop cramping.  Then, you meet up with Muertitos buddies in the heat and humidity for an easy run.  It all starts out pretty fine - nothing too chickenish.

but then, you add 3 hot miles and twice over a bouncy bridge, and the crazy running chicken bursts forth

ah yes, vintage chicken.   most excellent.  Then, you relax with your buddies who don't care that you are a crazy running chicken

Thanks to Ceci (head Muertito) and Ro-hell-ito for the pics!

more running, of course

This weekend, I ran the Girls on the Run 5k fun run - no pics there, but a good fundraiser for the organization.  Just a reminder that you can still donate through me, too!  http://sallysuglyracepics.blogspot.com/2011/05/really-just-donate-buck.html

Then, today was the real start for marathon training, which meant trying to drag out of bed between 4-4:30 so that I could get in some miles before the training group started (their target marathon is later than mine, so I have to adjust the schedule).  And then, it was naptime.  And so it begins...

So, while I take a deep breath and jump back in, here are some pics from last weekend's Lavender 10k...

Thanks to Photo Wolfe
All the pics are here

Brackenridge Park running tour

Here are some pics of the running tour from a couple of weeks ago in and around my favorite park, Brackenridge --

Bushnell Apartments - less than a mile from my house

 Alamo Stadium - the largest high school stadium in Texas

Faux Bois Torii Gate by Dionicio Rodriguez - he signed it in two places and included 2 hearts (we found one) 

 Another Bushnell Apartments - it was kind of funny - the last tours were low-key, and this time, there was a pro fotog, following groups around in a car, like paparazzi.  I was highly amused.

 Looking large at Trinity University - apparently, the brick buildings (built on a hill) were constructed with layers of prelaid concrete in between the levels for stability.  My ex-husband used to lay concrete and worked on "flying tables," which always fascinated me.  So, it was strange to hear that these intermediate stabilizers were prelaid and lifted into place with cranes. 

 Lambert beach - old bath houses, repurposed as a playground

 DOWNHILL, finally (many climbs on this running tour, but back to the park is downhill)

 Trinity University

Lambert beach in the park - nowadays, swimming will likely get you arrested, but I haven't tried to push my luck on that...

Thanks to the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation (and paparazzi-esque fotog) for the pics - hopefully, they'll generate some more interest for the Woodlawn Lake/Monticello Park tour in July!

Lavender Women's 10k

Well, going out last night for the First Friday cruiser ride and hangin' at Sanchez Ice House was probably NOT the proper way to prepare for a hot, hilly 10k.  But it was good prep for some ugly race pics.  This morning, I headed an hour north to Johnson City to the Miller Creek Lavender Farm for this run.

It was a lovely location.  But, then, there was the run - and it was HOT. 

 fairly chicken-ish at the start

and - EXHALE - at the end.  I won't lie - I walked up a hill or two.

 but I enjoyed my just rewards - mimosas and cerveza. 

I especially love this pic with Sherry - I wear a long shirt to 'mask' my extremely short torso (seriously, my rib cage sits on my hip bones) - it didn't quite work here, where, due to my super sweat in the super hot, you can see my belly button, fat rolls, and lack of torso space quite plainly.  excellent.

Thanks to Ceci from http://www.iaapweb.com/ for the pics - she always does such an awesome job, even when she has to wake up even earlier than me!