Houston's a Trip! Fun race...

I cruised downtown to do my part in the 15 mile,3-person relay, yesterday morning. Great running weather, great turn-out. And I got to meet Tiggs and Manny!



I was the 3rd and last to run for our team, so after the race started and commenced for a bit, I hopped on my bike and rode maybe a mile up from the finish line, locked the bike and ran with Tiggs to the transition, where Manny then took the ankle band that had our timing chip. I then ran with Manny back to the bike, then rode back to the transition so I could run my part of the race.



What I did garner from the run was, "I'm dead meat for running in San Antonio next weekend!". But then in an email, Sonya wrote, "relax, you still have 6 days to train!"



And due to differing post-race shcedules, breakfast at Le Peep didn't happen....So I settled for Rudy's on the way home...Yea!

Pre HMSA Race Check...

*** Leak Check***, A-OK (note to self, don't drink so much Diet Coke before running).

***Systems Check***, Marginally-Acceptable, but OK for tomorrow's 5 mile race.

I had an 'incident' 8 days ago. Contusion on stomach is much better, largely healed. Unlike a continuous scab that's 4 inches long, a healed area that's healing with small, not-connected scabs IS okay for running. Got it. (tmi, I know...but it's real)

Tweaked left ankle, uncool.
Three bruised ribs on my left side, uncool.
Screwed up left hand, uncool.
A big hit to my right shoulder, uncool.

But none of the aforementioned really entered the scene this morning (other than guzzling a bunch of diet coke on the way to the race...freaking dumbass). I was reminded of all of my current maladies, but I was surprised that I had no real show-stoppers.

I narrowly dodged a "no-running-for-you" bullet, big time! For that, I'm thankful! Whew!

I ran a 23:49, then went back to run with my sister-in-law. This is only her second running race, ever. I think I wrote 2 weeks ago, she "she just gets it!". I'm not having to prod her to the next race, she say's, "I'll be there next time". She just gets it! Congrats! Good times....

Great weekend for running! Beaut weather....

We've got the Run The Woodlands 5k tomorrow. I'll be doing a "systems check" of my ability to run (or not). My skeletal issues seem much better and the skin on my belly is healing well. The tummy healing being the biggest show stopper; it has been impossible to run due to the pain of the afflicted area flexing and bouncing, ouch!

Then Sunday we're off to the HMSA 25k run, where I'm a 1/3 team member for the relay. I'm teaming with Tiggs and Manny. With my uncertainty and Tiggs' illness, it kinda begs the question, "Hey Manny, can you run the whole 15 miles while Tiggs and I watch from the sidelines?" Just kidding, we'll pull it off somehow!

Following the race on Sunday, I'm thinking it would be great to share breakfast over at Le Peep, in Rice Village (MAP).

News Flash: Beer that fends off diseases!

This is in today's Houston Chronicle (CLICK for article):

Rice University students are trying to develop beer that could fight cancer, heart disease and diabetes

Hmm, who woulda thought?! And can you imagine defending your thesis or wrapping up a PhD for such important and timely work? Smart and forward thinking folks, these kids! Nice work!

As though my run training wasn't already bad enough...

I mildly twisted my freaking ankle. Where's my "rolling eyes" emoticon? I'm running in a relay this upcoming weekend and San Antonio 1/2 marathon the following weekend. I'm sure I'll do OK, but I really could have used some great running this weekend to bolster my training...sigh...

Got to thinking about my friend, Barry...

He's the guy I wrote about below. While he's been caught up in raising a family and building a fine homestead, he's HARDCORE when it comes to mechanical things. Barry and I see eye to eye on many things. He's a hardcore motorcycle drag racer. Here, he's refueling his dragbike on the dynamometer for tuning: (pics are maybe 5-6 years ago)



Just HOW COOL is Barry? He loaned me his "big tire" dragbike! No way! Loaning a dragbike is something that just doesn't happen in the real world! I made 4 passes on the bike at the drag strip. Talk about a RUSH! The thing launched HARD! I was doing the first 60 feet in 1.36 seconds (this pissed Barry off because my 60' times were slightly better [on this bike] than his and he's ridden for years)! :):) Here's my debut into the world of dragbikes:

Screwing around at the end of my driveway in Helotes:


At the race track, doing the 'burnout' to warm the big ole drag slick:


And THE LAUNCH:


I'll never forget that! The initial acceleration is off the charts...you best be hanging on when you let go of the clutch lever!

You "pin" the throttle wide open on the starting line, engine is screaming at red-line, on the rev-limiter as you wait for the starting lights to flash, when it's time, you snap your finger off of the clutch lever (no feathering) and you and the bike completely launch!

The acceleration exceeds the brain's sampling rate, you ARE somewhere other than where you started, before you realize where you are! It is GO TIME BABY!...Fond memories....Barry is top shelf folks...I'd do this again, big time!

Last Weekend...Great time, Great weather...

As I wrote earlier, I was going to cover up my running attire to sneak the Border Collie into the car and take her to the RTW5k race. Even in street clothes, both dogs KNEW it was weekend and both tried to jump in the car as I opened the door. Fail. Had to leave them both here...the American Bulldog would have scared folks at the race.

My sister-in-law ran her FIRST running race! Yea! I ran with her and pushed my young nephew in the stroller. She finished the race and did a fair amount of running, mixed with some walking. When she gets her running pace settled down a bit, she'll be able to sustain running. I then repeated the 5k after everyone was gone to get a brisk workout.


Next up, motocross at the track. Gorgeous day, perfectly groomed track, fun friends! Man, that set me up for the whole weekend! I just live for weekends! It was a productive day of riding. I short-circuited the track in a couple of places so I could work on turns and double-jumps that had been giving me some trouble. Practice, practice, practice! In fact, I have errands to run and a stop at the track is going to be included in a while.

Sunday had me driving round trip to NW San Antonio to score yet another load of my business stuff. I hauled a big U-haul trailer and filled it up pretty well. A couple more similar trips and I'll be out of SA!

On the way up, I stopped off visit my good buddy, Barry. He's worked his tail off building a new home near San Antonio and farming his 28 acres (I know where I'm headed when society collapses). Barry/Adorable Daughter/Beautiful home:





Had to stop at Joel's BBQ, in Flatonia, on the way home:

Switching Gyms? FAIL.

FAIL.

I ain't signing no freaking TWO year contract! Hahahaha!!

Gold's Gym doesn't have the FitLinx system, they have nothing.

Totally freaking queer music videos that have ZERO artistic value? Yep, they got 'em.

Ceiling fans above the treadmills and elipticals? Nope.

Swimming pool? Nada. Just how the hell am I going to do my cumulative 1/2 hour of swim training for triathlons next summer??

According to old running buddy, they can jack the price within the contract period.

TWO YEAR contract? You're out of your mind, shame on you!

Gold's Gym, FAIL!

The YMCA will welcome me back.

I'm switching gyms, funny jacking with the sales guy...

I'll join, the price is right. So anyway, I'm nearing the end of my 1-week free trial and the kid that's trying to sell me the membership comes out onto the floor when I'm stretching (YES, I actually WAS stretching!) and sits down on the rubber ball thing. He's angling for the deal.

On the way out I say, "I'll join, but I'll come back at lunch time when I have my debit card with me. And BTW, what's the term of membership, how long?" So he's quickly jotting down my name again, SCRAMBLING for the "best" phone number to reach me. Dude wants it NOW! He pushes the contract across the table and I reiterate that I have neither credit card, NOR reading glasses.....the dude was FREAKED that he couldn't close the deal! He's real concerned that I'll never be back!

Poor kid. I'm thinking I'd like a term no longer than 6 months. Think it'll happen?

RTW 5k, followed by DIRT BIKING is on! EDITED

I just spoke with Elisharose, it's a GO. Their son has been slacking in his studies and this has postponed our activities from last weekend to this Saturday. Apparently the boy has decided it's a good thing to study, as dirtbiking is at the end of the tunnel...weather will be great...If not this time, no sweat. Riding can happen on any weekend... :):)

See topic a few topics below this one....

C'mon out...grilling, riding, good times...

EDIT:

Apparently a key figure in this HUGE endeavor this weekend is already in the hospital! Even before riding dirtbikes with Ev!

Dude claims to have a kidney stone, in the hospital, and says "it hurts"....oh cry me a river, little man!! Good grief. WIMP!

Just kidding! DAMN, I'm feeling for you! Females who've had 'stones have said it was worse than giving birth to a child (where's my 'freaked-out-eyes-wide-open emoticon'??). Sucks to be you, rest up.

I'm going to SNEAK Tessie (pure bred Border Collie) out of here tomorrow morning to go run the RTW5k with us. EVERYONE just LOVES Tess! Firstly, I can't dress in running clothes because the dogs KNOW when it's weekend and get totally stoked when they see me in running attire. I really don't want Mackie to bolt if she sees me drive out with Tessie. Before Jazz disappeared, it was Jazz and Mackie who battled/played every morning. They didn't notice/didn't care when I took Tess to the RTW race, because they had each other. With Jazz gone, I'm concerned. I'm fenced, but a dog that wants out IS out of the yard.



So I'll dress nonchalantly and change clothes at the race....and Mackie will be out grazing in the yard, checking stuff out and I'll whisper to Tessie and she'll know EXACTLY what we're doing and will silently hop in the truck and lie down as told!

Mackie is an American Bulldog, the BEST dog on this earth! BUT, folks who live in The Woodlands and walk on the trail where the race is held WOULD MOST CERTAINLY submit complaints!! Mack's a big dog and old people with little dogs surely won't appreciate Mackie!

Running in the WG Jones Forest off of 1488:






Over and out....