Gordo Running

FINALLY!!!!  For the last 2 months I've been in a writing-intensive class that kept me away from blogging.  Don't worry, I did well and I haven't stopped running. couple things going on in my running world - Tomorrow is the RRCA Regional 8K championship here in San Angelo.  I'm "off season" but I'd still like to run well.  fingers crossed for no lightning! I signed up for my first 50 miler - the Wild Hare in Warda Texas in November.  I've got Jason and Anne coming to run it with me and maybe a couple of folks from here in San Angelo too! Now, I've got some spare time (no classes until July) but I can't just relax.  I'm also a numbers/rankings nerd.  My database of UFC and Bellator records is in maintenance mode so I gave myself a new project.  I'm working on a ranking schema for runners here in San Angelo.  I'm using all the results that I can find from races here in San Angelo since 2015 to figure out who the top 100 runners in...

Looking back on the posts I've written over the past year, I'd say that there is a common theme in my blog.  It's been unintentional but, really, unsurprising.  Running is rarely about using your legs to quickly power yourself from one point to another.  Whether it be a personal challenge, time with friends, or a way to explore an area, running (for most recreational runners) means something more. I'm sure that I'll continue this theme for as long as I keep rolling on this blog.  I already have some partially thought out entries based on MMA analyst Robin Black's thoughts on fighting.  There's only so much you can write on tempo runs, time splits, and the technique of running.  Plus, it's not like I'm the expert on those things. Yesterday was a prime example of "running is not just about the actual run."  Across the nation was the Run As One, hosted by Team Rubicon ( teamrubiconusa.org ), Team RWB ( teamrwb.org ), and Mission Continues ( ...

So, we don't have that many roses here in San Angelo and I never have wanted to get close enough to smell a cactus.  What I mean though, is sometimes runs are for something other than working out.  I have talked about running in the morning for the views ( Running the sun up ), not taking your training so seriously that you miss out on good times with friends ( You'll never get out alive ), and I've broken down how I'm training ( Training update ).  Sometimes, however, it's just good to get out there.  I think that the best example of that is our local San Angelo Road Lizard Tuesday night runs.  If you're showing up looking to get in a fast, hard run, you're in the wrong spot.  Typically on Tuesday nights we go to a local park, Middle Concho Park, and wander around the trails.  And, when I say wander, I mean, we'll sometimes get to a high point and try to figure out where we are in respect to visible landmarks.  Some of the more experienced area r...

Wow, last week was a busy one.  Between Saturday and Saturday, I ran 2 races, a PT test, and a fun "race" with Mila, I'm a bit sore (achilles and right hip, specifically) but hey, it was worth it! On Saturday, March 11th I ran Trail Racing Over Texas' Crazy Desert Trail Race 5k.  They also had races ranging from 10k-100k.  Plenty of my fellow Road Lizards ran the half marathon and even the 100K, but I couldn't go that far due to the PT test on Thursday. photo taken by Trail Racing over Texas After a poor showing at  Shannon Trail Series 3 , where I went out too fast trying to catch up after having to retie my shoes, I was determined to run better.  Again, in trail races, it is hard to gauge a race based on time as courses can vary so much..  So, I had to measure how well I felt about my run.  Turns out - pretty good.  Since it was a chip timed race, I didn't push my way to the front.  I stayed in the back to make sure that my sho...

What's your favorite course?  The most scenic race I've ever run would have to be the Newport Rhode Races half marathon in 2014. The course took us between early 20th century mansions and the coast and our warm up run looked like this But, I wanted to write about those hometown favorite courses.  If you've got a visitor coming to town, where are you taking them to run? My favorite course in San Antonio also has to do with the time of day I typically ran it.  In  Running the Sun Up  I talked about running on the touristy section of the San Antonio Riverwalk early on a Sunday morning.  The city wasn't quite awake yet and the church bells were going.  Only a couple hours later and that section is hard to walk through, much less runnable. We've been here in San Angelo now for nearly a year and I have explored much of the city on foot.  At least, the parts that seem safe to run through.  There aren't many miles of sidewalk here in town. ...

     I didn't run track in high school.  I've probably written that in here once or twice but people are often surprised when they meet me as "that guy that runs a lot."  My junior year of high school some guys I knew on the track team asked me to come out, as I was the fastest non-varsity letter winner in gym class.  So, I was the fastest not good athlete.  I took a hard pass on that.  I did go to a few of Andy's meets and even watched Scott try his hand at the pole vault.  (Pause to imagine that)  But, it really wasn't until I started running a lot that I started paying attention to the wilder world of track.  My DVR is set to constantly seek out track and field meets.  I paid particular attention to the lead up to the 2016 Rio Olympics and I plan on making the trek to Hayward Field sometime in the next couple of years to watch the NCAA finals and maybe the 2020 Olympic Trials if I'm lucky.  I have already mentioned trac...