Tag: Austin

Taste of Ethiopia – take #2

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, News and Reviews, Writing1 Comment

When we have family gatherings, it almost always centers around food.  Whether it’s cooking, potluck or trying a new restaurant, we love food.

Months ago, when my daughter, Kat was visiting we tried a new restaurant in Pflugerville, TX, the Taste of Ethiopia.  It was wonderful!  The food was delicious and the atmosphere inviting, providing a full dining experience.  It’s not a large venue, managing to feel intimate but not crowded.

When Kat returned to Austin for a visit this weekend, she mentioned how delicious the meal had been and we decided it was time for a return visit.  This time my son, Rich accompanied us.

As before, once we reached our seats, our server informed us with a huge smile that we were to eat with our hands.  If you aren’t up to the full experience, utensils are available.  The meals are served on a special bread called injera which is used to scoop up the food.  20150814_133030

Meals are served family style in a woven basket called a mesob.  A large metal tray covered with the injera is placed into the basket and topped with the food.

We over ordered but wanted to try everything.  We started with Sambusa, Minchet Abish and Tomato salad for appetizers.  The Sambusa is a light pastry dough filled with your choice of beef, lentils or spinach.  On our first visit we had the spinach filling but today we chose the lentil.  Both were delicious.  Rich said the minchet abish reminded him of sloppy joe texturally but a much nicer flavor.

We ordered the Ultimate Combo of vegetarian dishes.  We had gomen (seasoned collard greens), fesolia (mixed vegetable stew with ginger and turmeric), yemisisr wot (lentils with traditional spices), tikil gomen (spiced cabbage, carrots, onions and tomatoes, ater kik (split peas in herbs and turmeric) and eggplant wot (eggplant with traditional spices).  If you’re thinking that’s a lot of food and Yum,  you are correct on both counts.  Even with three of us eating we left with several cartons of food.

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The mesob(basket) arrived at our table first, followed soon after with a basket of injera.  My mouth was watering from the smell of the buffet simmering in the back of the room.  When our food arrived, our server sat a large pan of injera inside the mesob.   He then spooned each of the entrees around the circle putting half on each side.

I think my favorites were eggplant, sambusa, and yemisisr, but truthfully, we loved everything we ate.

Kat and I ended our meal with a cup of traditional Ethiopian coffee.  The coffee was prepared in the back and then delivered to our table in a special clay pot called a jebena.  I’m not sure how they make it, but it was the perfect treat to end our meal.

It was a lovely experience which I hope to repeat soon!

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Where Oh Where has the Cool Weather Gone?

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Writing1 Comment

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The past couple of weeks the temperatures in Austin Texas hovered just under 100 degrees finally tipping the scales to peak at 100 degrees for more than 8 days straight.  The thought of slogging through the humid soupy air isn’t very motivating.

As the heat climbs, exercising outdoors becomes dangerous.  In Austin, the trails and roads are filled with all of us crazy runners, walkers and cyclist at all hours of the day.

Savvy athletes know you should always carry water if you will be out for any length of time in the Texas heat.  Even so I have occasionally found myself in the heat sans water bottle.  It usually happens when I intend to go a short distance and turn around but get caught up in the run and forget.  I’m certainly no expert on how to prevent or treat heat illnesses but running in Austin for 12 years, I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks on keeping your cool.20150609_192313

If you run in the downtown area, the Lady Bird Lake hike and bike trail has water fountains placed strategically along the course.  Much of the trail is shaded with large trees hanging over the path. I enjoy the shade on the trail, but it does get too crowded at times.  Dodging strollers, cyclist and pets often drives me to the pavement for my runs.

If like me you prefer to run the roads instead of the trail, downtown Austin offers wide sidewalks on many streets.  Drivers are accustomed to runners in the crosswalk, on the shoulder or occasionally in the bike lane.  Less traveled side streets commonly offer tree lined sidewalks which provide some shade.

If you find yourself in need of water, there is a public water fountain near Colorado on Cesar Chavez.  About a mile down Congress from Cesar Chavez you can access a replica water fountain located on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol Building.  The fountain was restored in the early 1950’s and has a foot pedal to pump fresh water to quench your thirst.  Warning!  Be prepared to get wet as you push your face under the falling stream for a sip.

Fountain

There are a few businesses who provide access to water for runners as well.  I personally know of a dry cleaner who leaves a hose out for runners so they can get a drink from his outdoor faucet.  I have also befriended a gas station attendant who has invited us to share the fountain in his garage any time we are out for a run.

On the UT campus there are public areas that offer cold water fountains for a brief respite for overheated runners.  In addition, Pease Park and Butler Park both have water fountains to refill water bottles.  I’m sure there are many other water sources but these are some of my “go to sources”  if I find my water bottle nearing empty on a hot day.

All things considered, if you have to train in the heat, Austin Texas is a great place to do it.

Jack and Jill

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Friends, Humor/Light Hearted4 Comments

fell down a hill….

Saturday morning, 4:30 AM and my eyes are open.  What’s wrong with this picture?   In the background, I hear the faint sound of the music from the alarm.  Grudgingly my feet hit the floor and I am semi-vertical.  To avoid the extreme Texas heat, our weekly running group meets at 5:45 AM for a 6:00 AM run.  We have to be in the car before 5:00 AM to arrive on time.

Pulling on my running clothes and grabbing a bagel for breakfast, my husband and I made it out the door and were on the road by 4:50 AM.  For some reason, I just didn’t feel like showing up, but shrugged it off.  I mean after all who would want to get up at 4:45 AM on their day off to go for a long run!

Driving through Manor, TX at 5:00 AM, the last thing either of us wanted to see were flashing red and blue lights.  A very nice man in uniform introduced himself as a county sheriff, and informed us our right headlight was out.  With a warning ticket in hand, I asked Ron if he was sure he didn’t just want to go back home and go to bed.  He just grinned at me and pulled back into traffic.

We actually made it on time and headed for a quick bio break at the restrooms provided by our running group.  As we walked toward them we were warned, someone had forgotten to lock them the prior night and they were so soiled they were virtually unusable.  Great!

Undeterred, we each found our running mates and lined up in the pre-dawn muggy heat, ready to do a 6 mile run.  I was scheduled for 14 miles for the day, so I was looking forward to an extra 8 miles after the group run.

We all synchronized our watches and set off, settling into an easy rhythm.  The first few miles went by pretty fast although there were a lot of uphills.  I told my coach I was ready for some downhills.  Pretty soon, every downhill someone would call out, “Here’s a downhill for Deanna!”  Around mile 4, we turned down a particularly hilly road where the slopes were quite a bit steeper.  I was enjoying an especially steep downhill, feeling like I was riding a Radio Flyer red wagon.  My right shoe hit a patch of gravel and suddenly I knew I was going down.  I’ve run a lot of years and have never fallen, but it was happening!

My right hand hit the asphalt first followed by my elbow, hip and knee.  As I slid a few feet down the hill, I managed to avoid hitting my head o20150729_214408r tumbling head over heels.  Completely mortified, I tried to jump up as blood dripped from my right palm and elbow.  Everyone gathered round and offered assistance as they returned my possessions.  Some one had my phone, another runner had found my Jawbone and someone else returned my water.  Everything had flown along with me and been scattered when I hit the pavement.

After the shock wore off, I walked a few blocks and decided I was not significantly injured and finished my run.  I actually caught back up with part of my group and finished.

This afternoon I still had swelling and bruising from my wrist to my elbow, so I ducked into an urgent care center for x-rays and a tetanus shot.  Good news – nothing is broken, only sprained.  The only down side is a splint and a late blog post.

20150729_214402Not too bad after all!

A Crazy May

On By DGThomaIn Family, Travel, Writing2 Comments

What a crazy May we have had.  At least the last part of May has been crazy hectic by my standards.  On Saturday, May 23rd, we left Austin, TX for Tulsa, OK to celebrate my granddaughter’s birthday.  The rain began as we arrived and increased in intensity quickly.

We checked into a hotel.  My daughter was due to fly in to Tulsa around 10:00 PM and our plan was to touch base on Sunday morning.  The heavy rain quickly turned into a dangerous situation, flooding a few areas around town and many of the outlying towns.

Local television stations ceased regular programming and provided constant updates of the flooding situation, including water rescues.  I was also monitoring the flooding situation in Wichita Falls, TX.  I have family in the area and was concerned with their situations.

By 9:00 PM, my daughter had telephoned to say she had been diverted to Wichita, Kansas due to weather conditions in Tulsa.  The main concern was the danger of wind shears.

Around the same time, my phone rang.  My sister was calling to say she was also in Tulsa.  She had come to visit a friend and contacted my daughter to let her know she was in town.  What an oddity to find ourselves miles from our homes, and both in Tulsa in the midst of storms and flooding.20150525_180516

My daughter finally made it in around midnight; my sister and I were safe in our hotels and the rain continued.   On Sunday, a little tired but excited to be together, we had a wonderful birthday celebration for my granddaughter which turned into a slumber party.  My sister and I stayed Sunday night with my daughter and had a wonderful time playing games, laughing and just having fun.  Early Monday morning we left Tulsa for Austin.  The weather cooperated until we neared Waco, TX.  I received a weather alert and text about the same time.  Apparently there was rotation 15 miles ahead and coming our direction.  My friend’s text basically said if you are in Waco take cover unless you’re at Twin Peaks, then keep driving!20150525_160803

With the radio warning we should seek cover immediately, we ducked into a Hastings.  Of course I would find a book store to take refuge!  When the rain lessened and the warning changed from a tornado warning to a severe thunderstorm warning, we decided to try to head home.  When we headed for Interstate 35, we discovered the access roads were underwater and raging.  Trying to avoid the flood waters, we turned away from the interstate and headed through a neighborhood, driving through a downpour and hoping we were moving uphill.  My son pulled out his phone and switched his maps to a topographic map to guide us to higher ground.

We made it safely back on the interstate a few miles down the road.  All the way home we were watching emergency vehicles working accidents, closing roads and rescuing underwater vehicles.

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When we finally made it home, we were relieved to find our roads passable although there was water running across the roads and the ditches were rushing with muddy water.  We pulled into the drive, opened the front door and discovered we had no power.  Since it was just before dusk, it wasn’t quite too dark to see.

A call to the electric company provided an update.  Electricity should be back on by 6:00 AM tomorrow morning.  Absolutely unprepared to return home to no power, we made a quick trip to Wal-Mart for flashlights, batteries, food, etc.

By 6:00 AM the power outage was predicted to last until 6:00 PM.  While we waited for the sunshine to rise and peek through the windows, we slept in.  We had to conserve our phone usage, live without internet or computers and try to keep our food from spoiling.

We had a forced night of relaxation, the water never made it over the porch and our drive didn’t wash out until three days later, but that’s a story for another day.  We were very fortunate.  It seemed we were able to avoid floods, tornados and lightning storms.  My heart and condolences go out to all the flood victims and I am extremely grateful we were spared.

Keeping Promises

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Humor/Light Hearted2 Comments

Keeping my promise to get serious about fitness this week, I attended my first “Power Yoga Class”.  What an experience!  I haven’t been to a yoga class in five years and my weekly boot camp class ended several years ago.  True to the description, this 45 minute class with Vinyasa flow sequencing and the addition of cardio bursts to get your heart pumping and your muscles moving, got everything moving!  Sweat ran in rivulets down my back, face arms, well, everywhere.

Not so much the next day.  Nothing was moving very fast!  I know it was good for me, but my muscles were grumbling.

Tuesday I scheduled a run to give my sore arms a break.  4.25 miles at 5:30 PM in Austin, TX meant lots of heat.  At 86 degrees even the ancient oak trees lining the streets couldn’t block the sun’s rays. At least my arms felt less sore!

Wednesday found me back in class for a Yoga/Pilates fusion class. One thing I didn’t learn from Monday night’s class was when to arrive.  I always try to be punctual and strive to arrive 15 minutes ahead of schedule to allow for unforeseen traffic, etc.  That put me front and center, directly facing the instructor.  Next time I will arrive on time and move to the back row!   This class focused on core strengthening to make my yoga practice stronger and my tummy trimmer. The intent was to tone, refine, and strengthen from deep in your core.  The first half hour was core focused and the second half hour Yoga focused.  That should have sent me running back out the door, but I blithely tossed my mat on the floor and prepared to tone and refine.

The first 15 minutes of the class went remarkably well.  We lay on our backs while we incorporated leg lifts, shoulders off the floor etc.  I patted myself (not literally) on the back thinking this isn’t too bad when we kicked into high gear.

I’m not sure which poses we did, but I dripped as I watched the clock and waited to transition to the second half of the class.

I don’t know why but I thought the second half would be a rest.  I was definitely mistaken!  I dropped into plank position while everyone else smoothly transitioned through plank and back into downward dog. 

I valiantly plowed through the rest of the class, slipping into child’s pose as needed for a quick rest.  After the class, the instructor seemed concerned as she watched me try to get feeling back in my arms.  As I attempted to fold my mat, she asked “Are you okay?” 

“Sure”, I lied and tried not to limp as I walked away. 

I stepped outside and realized it had started to sprinkle  so I pulled on my jacket.  My car was parked a few blocks away at the office.  As soon as we stepped from under the awning, the rain began to pick up.  A few more steps and we were starting to get wet.  Suddenly, I felt like a kid playing in the rain.  Wearing my sandals and carrying my yoga mat, I started running.  Rain soaked and laughing we made it back to the car at a sprint. 

If all workouts could only end with this much fun, I would work out every day!

Now I just have to keep the momentum going.  Wish me luck!

Meanderings…..

On By DGThomaIn Family, Food, Humor/Light Hearted, Travel, Writing2 Comments

My husband has been in search of a classic older pickup for years.  Recently he has become a bit more serious in his search.  His criteria is a bit loose.  Somewhere in the 1963 to 1972 range, preferably a Chevrolet, but he would consider a Ford.

We had an appointment in San Antonio on Saturday afternoon and while we were there we planned to look at a 1971 lilac pickup.  Yes, it was painted lilac, but it was the right price range and the right year model.  Then he discovered a 1969 blue Chevy in Waco.  The ad for the Waco pickup said, runs good and well it wasn’t purple.  So even though Waco is about 100 miles north and slightly East of Austin and San Antonio is approximately 80 miles south and slightly west of Austin, we decided we had time to see both vehicles.20150513_200720

We arrived at the dealer in a small town just outside of Waco a few minutes before it opened.  We wandered over to a Walgreens to kill time.  As we were passing the dealer we were glancing at the cars on the lot, when my son said, “Hey that Jeep has a bench seat on it.”  Literally, someone had welded an actual bench on the back of a Jeep.  Hmm, you don’t see that every day.

In Walgreen’s we roamed over to the clearance aisle, past the “as seen on TV aisle” and on to the toy and candy sections.  I took a minute to check out all the pens and pencils.  I love shopping for new pens and pencils but I managed to resist purchasing anything except an extra-large bag of M&M’s and some birthday and graduation cards!

Back at the car lot, we parked.  While my son and husband got out to look at the truck, I waited in the car.  I watched a pretty blond “girl” inside the building.  She was wearing cut off shorts, a black tank topped with an unbuttoned white shirt.  She stepped up to a mirror, gave her boobs an upward push while pulling downward on her tank top.  Smiling I watched her fluff her hair and saunter out to the pickup.  I’m sure she is very good at her job and knows a lot about cars, but she couldn’t quite get the hood to open and it wouldn’t start……   She wasn’t able to open the passenger door but she did have a beautiful smile.  After a few minutes, one of her male associates came to assist but still the pickup didn’t start.

About 30 minutes and more patience than I would have had, my husband and son finally said thank you and stepped away.  I asked if they were sure the vehicle had gas and was informed that yes, the plastic tank sitting in the bed of the pickup had plenty of gas.  Uh, oh my!  We left that pickup behind.

Bluebonnets in Bloom
Bluebonnets in Bloom

To get to San Antonio we took Highway 190 over to 281 which is a lined with beautiful Texas wild flowers and is much less congested than Interstate 35.  Along the route there is sign after sign proclaiming numerous ranches.  We briefly debated what is required to call your home a ranch.  Just outside of Kempner, TX a sign proclaimed miniature donkeys for sale.  When I commented, “Look, we don’t have one of those!”  My husband and son said in unison, “No!  And we don’t need one!”

As we passed through Burnet, TX we spotted a sign for a farmer’s market.  It was a small market with probably ten vendors, but it looked like it might be worth stopping in.  We started browsing the stalls when we noticed the wind was picking up.  Just as we stepped in front of the Texas Herb Company and Crafty Threads, a huge gust of wind lifted the canopy and flipped it upside down behind the tables.  Handmade soaps and other craft items were scattered all over the ground.  Everyone rushed up to help.  No one was injured and the table was righted with crafts stacked atop.  I was amazed no one was injured by all the flying products and was heartened how quickly everyone rushed to help. Still willing to try shopping, we wandered to the Sage Creek Farms booth where we bought a lovely mahogany rolling pin.  It turned out to be a successful stop after all.

When we got to Marble Falls we started searching for somewhere to eat.  I spotted a food trailer that looked promising.  Lee’s Food Trailer sported ads for a philly sandwich, gyros, catfish dinners and more.  It seemed as if I wouldn’t have any trouble finding a non-meat food option.

I had the Falafel gyro, my husband had the beef and lamb gyro.  My son had a classic philly sandwich.  Lee’s did not disappoint.  Everything was delicious!  As we drove away completely satiated, my husband proclaimed, you know if you ever wanted to double back there to eat, I would go!  High praise indeed.

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Somewhere along the backroads of Texas, I discussed my funeral plans.  All my nephews should be prepared.  I requested they all show up with 1980’s shorts, tanks and sweatbands as I am laid to rest in my running clothes.  Seemed fitting to me!  I also learned that if you are going to honk at someone, you should always use the Chicago honk or just don’t bother.  You should hold the horn down for at least 2 minutes.

We arrived in San Antonio finally, laughing and talking.  After our appointment, we checked in on the lilac truck only to find out it was not on the market anymore.

So we have to start over on the pickup search  but since it was mother’s day weekend, I was treated to a buffet at India Taj Palace where they have tasty dishes and serve warm from the grill naan bread made after you arrive and carried immediately to your table.

It was a wonderful day of meandering!  I look forward to many more days just like it.

Comfort Food…..

On By DGThomaIn Food, Musings, WritingLeave a comment

Everyone has a favorite go to restaurant, dessert or meal that makes you say ahhhh……

I have a variety depending on the situation, time of day or activity I am doing.  After a run, I like breakfast.  I normally run early in the morning, so that’s easy to find.   There are several favorites that serve breakfast.  I have a hard time only picking one.

When we travel, we almost always treat ourselves to a DQ blizzard.  That’s a tasty helping of soft-serve ice cream with blended mix ins, usually candy, nuts, or sundae toppings for those of you who don’t have a Dairy Queen nearby.

But when I am having a really stressful day at work, I go for Garden Enchilada’s from Magnolia Cafe on Lake Austin Blvd in Austin Texas.  I work about ½ mile from the restaurant, but anyone who has ever visited Magnolia Cafe knows it is always busy.  I rarely try to make it because I don’t have enough time to wait.  The sign in the front window proclaims “Sorry, We’re Open” and the lines to eat can be long.

Last week, I called my husband to lament a very stressful, meeting filled day and said I need to step away from the office for lunch.  His response was how about enchiladas?  I assumed he meant spinach enchiladas at La Feria, another favorite restaurant, but when he picked me up he said, “Garden Enchiladas?”

Sometimes he can melt my heart!  We drove the short distance to the restaurant, found a car backing out of a parking spot and swooped in to grab it.

So far so good!   When you get to the front entrance, you can go to the right or to the left.  There are two sections and you have to step outside to go between the two.  They are joined by the kitchen.  We stepped to the right, but didn’t see any tables available.  As we stepped into the left side, the first booth was available.  Hurray!  No waiting!  I did actually look at the menu as a courtesy since the waitress took time to bring it, but no change.  Garden enchiladas, please!

Garden Enchiladas
Garden Enchiladas

Garden enchiladas are corn tortillas filled with steamed spinach, roasted red bell peppers, onions ,and jack cheese.  They are topped with a lemon sour cream sauce, verde salsa, and chopped pecans.  Yes, my mouth is watering as I type!  Since I only get them a few times a year, I never get tired of them.  They are served with rice and black beans, also delicious but the enchiladas steal the show.

I’m not sure why munching on these yummy veggie filled corn tortillas melts stress for me, but it does.  I went back to work and started fresh.  I’m sure everyone at work really appreciated my relaxing lunch date.

Zooma Half Marathon 2015

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, News and Reviews, Writing3 Comments

Saturday morning Mar 29, 2015, the much awaited/dreaded race day.    Up at 4:20 AM, we needed to arrive at the Cedar Creek high school parking lot before 6:00 AM.  The shuttle buses would start running at that time to transport runners and spectators to the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort and Spa for the Zooma Texas 2015.  We were out the door by 5:10 AM and on our way.  We arrived at the parking lot by 5:55 AM and scrambled to make sure we had our watches, gels and sunscreen before boarding the bus.

The temperature was mild at 55 degrees with a light breeze.  By the time we arrived at the Resort, I was grateful to be wearing my jacket as the temperature dipped to 47 degrees.  The resort is beautifully nestled in a wilderness setting.  The run is not ‘a walk in the park’.  It is peppered with multiple hills from slight rises to steep grades.  If you plan to run this race, you should train on hills.

Mile 9!
Mile 9!

We arrived at the resort and moved inside where staff opened the door and welcomed us.  Inside additional staff were stationed throughout the building offering smiles, greetings and directions as needed.

For runners who are used to port-a-potties at the start of a race, it was quite a treat to have indoor, clean and warm restroom facilities.  It was wonderfully relaxing to sip a cup of complimentary coffee seated on a comfortable chair and visit with fellow runners.  In the lobby, I met Shonda and Lisa from Houston, TX where we joked, laughed and discussed race strategy.

As we lined up at the starting line there were a couple of llama’s on the sidelines to send us on the way.

The Llamas
The Llamas

Once on the course, runners were full of smiles and waves.  As I turned onto Highway 71, a school bus full of kids passed by.  With the windows down, they were all shouting ‘Run Forrest Run’! I smiled for several miles remembering their enthusiasm.

 

 

The last couple of miles were on the resort property, along a relatively flat only slightly rolling path on the golf course.  Mile 13 was marked by the resident longhorns lounging in the grass.

The golf course
The golf course

Ron 406

This is the third time I have run Zooma at the Lost Pines Resort.  It has not disappointed yet.  If you can forget about those hills for a minute, the scenery is lovely.  The run starts in the parking lot and continues to Pope Bend which is a county road.   The road is lined with wildflowers including Bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes and natural grasses.  There is a short leg of the course that takes you down the shoulder of Highway 71, but it’s relatively short and downhill.

The temperature and winds both rose as I neared the finish line.  The wind, although gusting at times, was a relief from the 70+ degree temperatures.

Bluebonnets in Bloom
Bluebonnets in Bloom

The Zooma race mission is to inspire women to live healthy, happy, & active lives.  The post-race celebrations included vendors, live music, food, and massages.  Sponsor Barefoot wines provided post-race samples and complimentary coffee was also available.

The race field the inaugural year 2009 was over 1200 women.  This year the event included a 5K and a 10K in addition to the half marathon.  There were only 362 runners in the half marathon, 162 in the 5K and 173 in the 10K but the celebration was just as entertaining.

Not my Chi…..Anticipatory Failure

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Family, Friends, Humor/Light Hearted, Musings, Writing5 Comments

On the journey to recapture my fitness, I am trying to remind myself to draw on my chi. Chi Running, defines chi (pronounced ‘chee’) as the energy that unites body, mind, and spirit.  How awesome is that.  If only I could learn to tap into that!

A few years ago, when we traveled to in San Francisco, CA for the Nike Women’s Marathon, my running partner and I purchased stones with Chinese symbols engraved on them.  We each chose a symbol that had special meaning for us.  We often trade them at the beginning of a race as a symbol of support for each other.  We call them our chi.2015-03-25 18.31.44

As fun things often do, they took on a life of their own.  On our training runs, if  someone just a little faster ran past us, we would challenge ourselves and pick up the pace, shouting “It’s our chi!”

If someone sprinted by much faster, we would look at each other and proclaim, “Not my chi!”2015-03-25 18.33.29

Those little engraved stones have become a symbol of support and companionship, but occasionally even they aren’t enough to push me up a hill.

Years ago, someone told me a secret to running hills.  You should visualize a rope at the top of the hill and imagine someone is pulling you forward.  It’s a great visualization and can help.  But it can’t really pull you.  You still have to move your legs and when you haven’t trained; well it isn’t as easy to make it up the hill.

Recently, I was out for a run with my two favorite running partners.  It was an easy and pleasant run and things were going well.  We were at the start of our training plan, so the run was short and not too aggressive.  Near the end of the run, we were faced with a hill.  The hill is about a 45 degree incline alongside a busy road. When I looked ahead and saw the hill I said, “I’m going to run to the bottom of the hill and then I’ll walk the actual hill.”  I was thinking I was already tired and would not have the energy to run up the hill.  Both my companions nodded and headed for the hill determined to beat it.

Hill no plate

I realized I had allowed anticipatory failure to keep me from making it up the hill.  No it’s not ‘rocket science’ but for me it was an eye opener.  I actually got it.  If you don’t start, you can’t finish is a real thing.  I ran the hill, huffing and puffing the entire way, but I didn’t stop until I reached the top.  Even if I had taken a break half way it would have been fine.  I wasn’t attempting to set a record, just keep moving until my body said stop instead of my head.

I have a half marathon to run in this weekend and haven’t trained as well as I could have, but I never do.  I considered switching to the 10k instead.  Then I remembered the hill and changed my mind.  I may not finish, but I will start and I will listen to my body not the anticipatory failure in my head.

Nature, miles and friends

On By DGThomaIn Exercise, Family, Food, Friends, Writing4 Comments

While much of the country has been dealing with extreme weather,  in my area we’ve been more fortunate.  Austin, TX residents woke Saturday morning to a mild 64 degrees.  It was a perfect day for a long training run. If you have to run long, you may as well run for fun! Bastrop State Park is a short 15 miles from my home.  Running in nature while I train is a great distraction.2015-02-22 15.34.35 (1)

A fire devastated Bastrop State Park in September 2011 along with many other areas of Bastrop County.  The fire destroyed many of the ancient pine trees.  It affected 96 percent of the park.  The fire was a tragedy, but it has been wonderful watching the rebirth of the park, aided by many volunteer organizations and their members.

Dez, Ron, and myself arrived at the park with two expectations; to complete an 11 mile training run and to enjoy ourselves.  We put no constraints on time or speed.  Dez and I kept to the trails as much as possible while Ron opted for the park roads.

The trails range from sand, gravel, or packed dirt and is easier on your body than pounding on pavement.  The steep inclines and declines work muscles not used in street running and compel careful navigation to prevent falls.  The combination is a great workout.

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We quickly realized that it was going to be a silly, fun day when we started laughing at everything.  We stopped along the way to take pictures, to view the blackened, fallen trees and to enjoy the newly planted baby pines.

Throughout the morning, park guests greeted us and we shared waves and greetings in return.  At mile 6 we found a restroom, which had been recently renovated and was sparkling clean.  While we were stopped, we visited with Ranger Carpenter and learned a few facts about the park rehabilitation.

We stopped at mile 9.25 to enjoy a bit of solitude at a pond hidden among the trees.  I had spent the day in search of the elusive Houston Toad.  We were pretty sure we heard one in the distance while we were at the pond.

The Pond!

The park ranger we spoke with encouraged us to find a tree and claim it.  He suggested we take our picture with the tree and return annually to document the growth.  So we each picked one and began a tradition.

Our final mile tally of 11.5 miles was full of fun.  After surviving  our trek through nature, we ate lunch and stopped by Austin City Wide Garage Sale.  This weekend the sale was being held in Bastop, Texas.  After an hour and a half of wandering through the maze of exhibits we were a few dollars poorer and a few items richer, and our energies had been fully expended.

We ended our day with sweets from  the Sugar Shack in Bastrop.  We each had two scoops of ice cream and I brought home treats for later.  It was a lovely day and the best one I’ve had in a while.  A special thanks to my cohorts today for helping me make wonderful memories!