Friday, September 16, 2011

Midweek Runs

If you've been staying home and watching Wheel of Fortune on Monday and Thursday evenings, you've been missing out on some fun times. Weeknight runs are alive and well. No one melted in the heat this summer, and now with it getting back down to a more sane temperature at 5:30, it has been pure bliss running our 3-4-5-6-or whatever distance. In case you have a minor case of amnesia, we meet at the store a little before 5:30 PM, and around 5:30-5:35ish, Coach Kathy gives an inspirational speech. We recognize any runner who's ran a recent race, hit a milestone in their training, had a birthday, or any other cause for fame or infamy.
Here is a bit of fame on the verge of happening. Lyle runs marathons--a LOT of marathons. Since he started running around a couple of years ago, he has earned EIGHT STARS in Marathon Maniacs. That is a lot of weekends of travel, several doubles (1 marathon on a Saturday and a second the next day), and is well on his way to his 50 states. But that is not all--this Saturday, he will go to Wisconsin and run a trail 50K, which will earn him TEN STARS!! So the next picture of him on this blog will have him holding up a couple of extra fingers. If you see him, be sure to congratulate him. I think I am right in that he will be the ONLY ONE in the state of Oklahoma to have earned that honor.
Ok, back to this weeknight thing. If you are training for anything--a 5K, a half, a marathon, the Tulsa Run--you NEED to get in your mid-week runs. True, you can run in the mornings, run from home around the neighborhood. You can even get your miles on the---do I say it?---the dreadmill!!!!! But the most bestest fun you can have running is with your friends. If you don't believe me, just ask me!
If you missed the run Thursday, you missed Jennifer trying to duck to avoid having her picture taken and almost falling flat on her face. The paparazzi loved it!
Four miles will take you to the pedestrian bridge and back. Do a couple of bridge repeats and you can return to the store having run five miles. A few of our runners who will remain anonymous have been known to run to Elswood's north of 21st Street, and refule with a barley and hops flavored Gatorade. (One of the above mentioned actually prefers a wheat beer Gatorade.)
Our river is down--lower than I have ever seen it. But with the rain that every weatherman seems sure we will be getting in the next week, maybe we'll fill our lakes and rivers. But just because I mentioned rain, know this: we're still gonna be running. Running in the rain is awesome. But that's another post.

Monday, September 12, 2011

RunnersWorld Runners Tackle Two Events

This past weekend, we had several of our group racing in a couple of big and very different events. Tri-Tulsa (formerly the Tulsa Tri) was held at Heyburn Lake near Kellyville Oklahoma. Saturday, a kids and sprint tri was on the slate. From left to right, Kathy Price Moore, Misty Stanton, Guy Wolcott, Darcy Anderson Carson, Troy Moore, Sue Marolf, Tom Robinson, and Venus Woods Monyhan all did the training, faced the challenge and met their goals of finishing their tri. This was a first time effort for many of them.


A few other of our runners not pictured above are Erin Barnes (on the far left), Amanda Osterdyk (number 73), Lygea Welvaert (in the orange and black), and Lisa Chinn (in the blue.) I hope I am not leaving anyone out....

The next day--same lake--the Olympic Distance Tri was held. Stormy Phillips and Mitch Drummond represented RunnersWorld well in this event. Stormy had a busy weekend, and was out again Monday night for a recovery run with us. More on his other weekend adventure in a bit.

I'm not sure if this pic is actually from the Tri, but it is a accurate likeness of Mitch, always cheerful and ready for a challenge. Mitch is also just a week off of a tough adventure race.
(All of the above photos borrowed from Facebook.)

I mentioned Stormy being involved in another race this same weekend. It was the second annual Do Wacka Do Trail Race in Erick, Oklahoma. This event has a 25K and a 50K, as well as a 5 miler. Several of our group made the trip, and finished well despite some hot afternoon temps.
Charlotte Lindley and Caroline Glenn both ran the 50K. They wewre 1st and 2nd in their age groups. Susan Westmoreland and John Parris ran the 25K. Susan took home third in her age group.
Brynna Schelbar had the most fun volunteering and biking most of the day. Why didn't I think of that?

RockStar Ed and Kate Ellisor did the 25K and were happy and through hours ahead of me.

And me? I was DFL, and took exactly 100 pictures along the way.