A View from the Trail

Since our return from our vacay, I have been running with our dog Izzy on the trails near our house. This morning I spotted these tracks which I believe belong to a turkey. There were a couple of other prints but the trail disappeared. I wonder if he/she simply flew away.

If only running felt this good

I love watching my dogs run, especially Big Papi, our 1 year old shepherd mix rescue. He's hilarious and goes all out. I often think to myself I sure wish I could run like that. These days, I prefer walking to running and riding at a leisurely pace. I tend to do it more for the pleasure of it versus a workout. Of course, we all see the problem in that. No pain means GAIN 10 lbs. I WILL I WILL do it. Tomorrow.

Fire-breathing Kittens?

This picture sums up our ride and run perfectly yesterday at Slaughter Creek. A three-mile run does not feel good after a ten-mile mountain bike ride. I've got a long way to go fitness-wise to be somewhat competitive i.e. comfortable at the mid-May adventure race.

Now on to the fun part. My training partner and I are having the worst time trying to come up with a team name. I like funny girly names and she likes tough brutal or monkey names. Any suggestions for us?

On the Trail Again

I just need some Girltalk

Another good run Slaughter Creek trail today. Finished in 39 minutes - 1 minute faster than the day the coyotes were chasing me. Perhaps it was the music. I downloaded All Day by Girltalk a while back. It's a sweet mix to run to. It's also a continuous stream so I can't skip a song. Admittedly I tend to shuffle a bit when I'm running which can be a distraction. Today was a perfect run - I had the trail to myself, sunshine, and a cool breeze. I took this shot with my iPhone mid-run. I love the sun's rays. Next, I run a longer run on Friday. Time to step it up a bit.

Maybe I need the coyotes

I ran the same trail today that I heard the coyote on last week and finished a few minutes slower. I felt better on the run but I've got a long long way to go before I feel good. The trail really is nice - it's so close to my office and home and it's perfect for training. 3-mile loop, 5-mile loop. Run or Ride or Both. There was only one horse/rider and mountain biker on the trail today. So much better than Town Lake!

Slaughter Creek Trail

Ahhh I got to try out my new kicks today at Slaughter Creek trail. "The City of Austin Water Utility (City) owns and maintains the Water Quality Protection Lands (WQPL’s). This is not a park, but rather a sensitive environmental area that is preserved in order to protect and improve the quality of water entering the aquifer." The trails remind me a lot of Big Country near our house. It was a fun trail to run, great for a quick workout. I'm not sure how many miles the loop is but it's one of those that even though you're allowed to bike it, it really is too short. It is however perfect for introducing people to trail riding.

Anyhow, I ran the entire loop in about 40 minutes. It was a nice run. My shoes felt good. Toward the end, I began reflecting on my run thus far and wondered where the deer were. Usually deer are out and about just before dusk. About a minute later, I heard the howling of a coyote. It got louder and louder and I swear it was about 50 yards away at one point. Since this was my first visit to the trail, I didn't know how much further I had to go. I did my best to hold the panic at bay but those howls were eerie. I've never heard of a coyote attacking a person before but I sure didn't want to be the first! Needless to say, I picked up the pace and made it safely to the car. I don't think I will be out there at dusk again although my heartrate sure did reach anaerobic levels! ;)

New Kicks

Got my new trail kicks today! New Balance WT101. Beautiful, lightweight and fast. Can't wait to burn up the trails with these.

Artic Blast

The wind howled and the sleet beat against the windows all night last night. Needless to say, I was hard pressed to get up and run. But I did. I ran the trails for about 20 minutes with my pups. I had forgotten how much I enjoy running in the cold and they were especially enjoying it. Now that my runners are caked with mud, I'm motivated even more to find trail runners that shed mud more easily. Any suggestions?

Living in the Hill Country

I'm happy to announce that my husband and I just put a contract on our first home together! Our *new* house is in Dripping Springs and has the most amazing views. The photo above really doesn't do it justice. We have very few neighbors and will be able to hit the road riding and running. I can't wait to get my road legs.

Congrats to Grease Monkey!

A local company started by cyclists, Grease Monkey, appeared on the Shark Tank show last week. I love the Shark Tank, partly because I consider myself an entrepreneur with my law practice and also because of my marketing and business background. I think the show is phenomenal. If any of you have ever gone into business, you know how much it costs and you've heard the feedback from banks and investors when you apply for startup costs. It's all about the numbers. Numbers that are difficult to come up with when you've never started a business before. I love the sharks insight and feedback although from time to time I get frustrated with them because they rarely take a risk and invest in any of the guests who appear. However, two of the sharks decided to take a leap and invest in Grease Monkey. I'm so excited for Tim and Erin! You can read about their experience here.

If you haven't tried Grease Monkey, you should. You should also try Action Wipes. They're not the same product although somewhat similar. Grease Monkey wipes are used for heavy duty cleaning such as wiping grease marks off your hands or legs from messing around with your bike. You can also use them to wipe down your chain and tools after riding. Action Wipes are great after a run or a ride and there's no time for a shower or no shower nearby. I love both products and endorse them both. I always have both in my bike bag, car, and Action Wipes in my gym bag. Congrats again Grease Monkey!

A Very Merry and White Christmas

The weekend before Christmas, my husband and I stocked up on goodies at the Sunset Valley Farmer's Market for our Christmas feast. We bought cauliflower, apples, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and buttercup squash. I find myself getting more and more excited about preparing new and traditional dishes with whatever is fresh at the market. So as drove up to Dallas on Christmas Eve, I googled recipes and used the Whole Foods app on my iPhone for inspiration. Much to my surprise, it began snowing around Lorena and didn't stop until we arrived at my parents white lawn. White Christmas!



On Christmas morning, we began conjuring up our dishes and had an amazingly delicious and comforting meal. Smoked turkey, giblet gravy, my mom's cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, roasted butternut & buttercup squash (me), mashed cauliflower (me), sweet potato casserole with candied pecans (me), pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and my husband's apple pie.

After visiting with family, watching a town of movies, playing Wii, eating more than our weight, we headed back home yesterday. The traffic began backing up in Waco so we headed over to Cameron Park to enjoy the sunshine and crisp air and to treat our dog Izzy for being so good. She was in for a real treat!



There are over 20 miles of multi-use trails. We hiked on one of the running trails that wound its way through a Bamboo forest and along the river.



It reminded me so much of Percy Warner Park in Nashville. Twisty winding roads that you can run or ride on, mountain bike/running/horse trails, frisbee golf, picnic areas. It's a wonderful park. Next time, we're bringing the bikes!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday with friends and family!

How to avoid collisions with cars from RunnersWorld.com

I was contacted by Runner's World a couple of weeks to comment on legal and safety issues for runners who run on the road. What began as a small story turned into a major feature article in this month's issue - "Collision Course". You can click on the link below to go directly to the story. Lots of great tips and discussion on road running, safety, and the dangers of running in traffic. Watch for my "quote" on the Safe Passing bill here in Texas where I discuss the lack of advocacy on behalf of runners.

As I noted in the article, most running organizations are solely focused on training and lack representation on capital hill which is troubling because pedestrians account for the largest number of fatalities in collisions other than auto/auto. Pedestrian fatalities in pedestrian/car accidents far outnumber cyclist fatalities in auto/bicycle collisions yet there are many cycling organizations that advocate for legislation that protects cyclists and/or "vulnerable road users" on the road. I'm very happy that Runner's World picked up the need for runner advocacy and highlighted it in the story. I only hope that running groups and/or runners will begin demanding rights on the road or at the very least joining the efforts of other organizations who are working toward making the road safer for all users. If you're a runner, get involved - lead the effort - join forces - go to www.biketexas.org and find out how this organization is trying to get a Safe Passing ordinance passed in cities across Texas.

How to avoid collisions with cars from RunnersWorld.com

The Arbor Trails in South Austin

Each time I go to the gym, I see people running/walking/riding the trails that wind around the Shops at Arbor Trails off South Mopac and William Cannon. There's also a similar system at the retail shops on Brodie Lane complete with bike racks everywhere. I recall some mention of perhaps joining these two systems together so that there's like 35 miles of trails but I can't remember where I read that, who I heard it from, etc. Please comment if you're aware of this development plans or if you know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, yesterday I decided to try out the Arbor Trails and then swim at the gym right after. I parked at the gym, grabbed my iPod and water bottle and hit the trail running. It was well shaded near the gym but pretty soon the trail was splitting off and winding through retail shops, restaurants, and along Mopac. For the greater part of the run, I was in direct sunlight which is great in the winter but not so good in the hot Texas summer heat. I have no idea how long these trails are but they're soft and easy to run on and I would love to refer to a map so that I can plan a run. After a brief run (couldn't bear that heat for too long), I hit the pool and had a great swim workout despite the cloudy pool and broken clock. ;-)

Mountain Bike Proof Sunscreen and Action Wipes

I tried out a couple of new products this weekend while riding Walnut Creek - Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray with SPF 50 and Action Wipes.

Aveeno Sunblock Spray. I am happy to report that this product was sweatproof and easy to apply thanks to the mist. I recommend holding your breath while you spray though. Although it has an SPF50, the sunscreen lasted for the duration of my 3 hour ride in which I was sweating profusely and riding in and out of the sun and shade. As recommended, I probably should have reapplied it halfway through my ride just to be on the safe side. Still, I didn't have any splotches that usually occurs with sprays.

Action Wipes. Another product I used after the ride was Action Wipes. This wipe is meant to be used after a workout when you don't have time for a shower or you don't have a shower at the office. Action Wipes are much larger than your standard baby wipe and also it's good for your skin - all natural with tea tree and eucalyptus oils as well as the environment as you can wash them and repurpose them. After riding on Sunday, I used the wipe and am happy to report that I felt and smelled so much better. I even went out for lunch with my riding partners.

Please note that this review is an independent review as I actually bought these products and was not asked to review them. However, I can definitely say that I will continue to use these products unless you can recommend a better one. ;-)

Just do it

IT IS HOT here in Austin. The last two weeks have brought back to back 100+ temps. Although I'm supposed to be "training" for a half-marathon and the days are long enough so that I can get in a nice long run or ride after work, I find myself heading indoors to stay cool and avoid dehydration. This of course translates into running on the treadmill (which I loathe but not as much as running in 105 degree heat), spin classes, or swimming. It's been weeks since I've joined up with my running group - bad Jen! I have chastised myself several times for signing up to do another half especially when the bulk of the training is during the hottest time of the year. Why did I do that to myself!

On a brighter note, by incorporating swimming into my so called training regimen, I am becoming a stronger swimmer. This is a source of great pride and achievement for me because when I began swimming again 2 months ago, I could barely swim a lap. My form, if it could even be called a "form", was embarrassing and exhausting. With the help of my awesome swim coach (and fiancee), my form has improved drastically and I'm swimming for 45 minutes. Of course, I'm nowhere near joining a Masters group but at least I'm looking forward to each swim instead of it being a source of stress akin to panic. And I don't get too intimidated by the triathletes in the lane next to me.

Again, I'm reminded of an Eleanor Roosevelt quote: "You must do the very thing you think you cannot do." (Hope I got that right). I never thought I could be a good swimmer or even swim for as long as I have been swimming but I'm doing it. Is there something you "think" you can't do? (Besides running in this awful heat - you know you can do that - you just won't feel great while doing it!).

Training has begun

I still haven't decided whether I will train for the marathon or half-marathon but at least I'm training. It all started with a "placement run" on Saturday morning. Despite the early hour, it was still hot and it definitely affected my performance. I ran 2 miles in 19 minutes which is okay. However, I can't imagine maintaining that pace without injuring myself so I signed up for the 10min-11min group. Thankfully, the AustinFit training program builds mileage gradually with most runs during the week at only 20-30 minutes and the longest runs in cooler months. Yesterday I ran for 20 minutes along the trails at Barton Creek. I don't think trail running is in the program but I couldn't resist with the cooler temps and of course the scenery.



I saw this lovely flowering prickly pear cactus. Check out other beautiful flowering cacti at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center online. There are so many beautiful blooms! Who knew that cacti could be so beautiful and so prickly?

What a scorcher

AustinFit marathon training groups are starting up this weekend and I'm a bit nervous. Although it's far enough out to effectively train for a November marathon (or half), I'm still nervous. Why? Because I ran a half-marathon in February and after a scorching run today, I don't even have the base needed to train. I'm so frustrated that I have lost so much fitness and that I will essentially be starting all over again and struggling all over again. I know it's my own fault, hence the frustration. Not a good mindset to have when I'm signing up for an even bigger challenge in hot weather which means getting up wicked early to run and beat the heat. Did I mention I'm not a morning person? Still, I'm excited at the same time. I wanna push myself a little more and I need A BIG GOAL to keep me motivated to continue to run, push, work. I'm going to wait a litle longer to register for the San Antonio marathon just to see how my training and running goes. Hopefully it won't sell out before I decide!

Reflections on the Half-Marathon and Beyond

Well, it’s been two months since I ran and finished the Austin half-marathon. I injured my toe in the race probably around mile 9. Shortly thereafter, I lost a couple of toenails which really, really hurt and also prevented me from continuing to run as I couldn’t put any pressure on those toes. It really sucked because I was really jazzed about my time and I wanted to run more. It took a while to heal and recover but then it seemed like returning to a regular running regimen just wasn’t meant to be. Life got in the way. Storms blew through. Work.

But I yearn to return. I yearn to run faster, better, longer. I know now (and I guess I knew then too) that I did not properly prepare for the half-marathon. My toes are a testament to that and so were my hips the next day! I prepared for the half by running on trails and only doing a couple of long runs. I didn’t do any road running, weight lifting, or track workouts. Not good when you’re preparing for a long road race. As a former competitor in mountain bike racing, I knew better. But at the same time, I didn’t want to feed that competitive drive of mine because I don’t have the time to devote to that hungry beast. I just wanted to finish. I just wanted to prove that I could do it. I wasn’t thinking as a competitor but as a finisher. And I achieved a pretty darn good result. Can I do better? Yes. Do I want to? Yes and no. I want to achieve a better result as well as get in better shape. But I don’t know if I want to commit the time required to do my personal best. Maybe next year.

With all this floating in my head, I headed to Town Lake yesterday to test my feet (still no toenails) with a short run. I guess everyone in Austin had the same idea because the trails were packed with dogs, walkers, runners, and cyclists. It never ceases to amaze me how active the people are in Austin and it’s not just the young college types. I am constantly being inspired by folks older than me catching up with me on the trails. I love it! I hope I’m as active and inspirational to others as I grow older. Although it was a short run, I took it easy and just enjoyed being out there again. It was difficult to get back into a pace and my knees were not as welcoming in that first mile. But, overall I felt great and I ran pain-free. Now, I just gotta find a running group with fun folks that don't take themselves too seriously but who still push.

Springing forward

And there couldn't be a better day for it! It's a lovely 76 degrees in Austin with a nice cool breeze. The windows are up and the birds are singing. I can't contain how excited I am that the days will be longer now. Why? Well despite the obvious benefits of feeling like you have more day at the end of the work day and sunshine, it also means that I can rush home and ride my bike for a good hour before the sun goes down. I have enjoyed running but now I have more choices. Run or ride. Happy Spring everyone!