Let’s be social: Instagram or Facebook

Let’s face it…I run a lot…we run a lot.

And you know if you don’t share it to social it “really didn’t happen!”

So we take quite a few “runfies” along the way and share them with our family and friends. Not to brag but to share in our adventures along the way. That is one thing the GF has convinced me to do…the art of taking selfies and even posting DURING a race!

So we have all these pics but where do we post? If we post to Facebook, it’s seen as, “oh there they go again another picture of running!”

Don’t get me wrong. I think Facebook, for what it was intended to do, was at one time a great thing. But i also think it has gotten a little “political” at least for me, and not supportive of us “runners.”

That’s where i believe Instagram fills a void.

The reason i started on Instagram was…well…for work. Being in PR, we are always looking for ways to reach out to our demographics. You have to go to where your followers are!

But it quickly morphed into something different. I was posting my own pics and overtime it grew. And that’s when it happened…more runners started following me. then i followed them. and that’s when Instagram became the place to post…if nothing else because of the support other runners were providing!

Interesting that Facebook has become the choice for political debates, what’swrong with the country, recipe videos, and the latest “teacher slapping a student” viral video. I can’t remember the last time i spent more than 10 minutes scrolling on Facebook. I have a few good friends that i want to keep up with, and of course, family as well.

All friends we have met via Instagram!

I think as runners, we are social by nature. And Instagram seems the perfect landing spot for us. It is not only the photos but the relationships you build.

The girlfriend and i have met a lot of people on Instagram first through posting and commenting on pics and then meeting in person! While some think this is creepy, we have formed some very close relationships with people we now think as friends.

and the lessons we have learned can be summarized as follows:

1. its all about the pics
2. its all about the #hashtags
3. its all about the relationships you build
4. you get to be yourself
5. you can connect with family and friends worldwide.

That being said, which do you prefer and why?

 

 

Bucket list part three

its ‘s time for the final installation of my favorite bucket list of runs. Again, the list is in no particular order, but i think you can tell living in Louisiana and Tennessee, this is where some of my favorite races have been.

so now we finish the list with a little lagniappe (see last post for the explanation)

5. The Great Smoky Mountain half marathon is without a doubt one of the most scenic races we have ever run. It was on the radar of the girlfriend so we registered not knowing what it would be like. Of course you say Smoky Mountains and you think MOUNTAINS!

The race takes place in the small city of Townsend, Tennessee about 20 miles south of Sevierville. We had been there once before to take part in the Santa Hustle half marathon so it was a great place to be based out of.

Townsend is located at the base of the Smokies so you don’t actually run through the park, as the roads are narrow and traffic just wouldn’t allow it. But i will tell you that the scenery you view along the route is some of the most beautiful you will ever see while sharing a run.

being that the race is in September and in the foothills, we didn’t know what to expect as far as temperatures. but we were pleasantly surprised. it rained a little but quickly let up by the time the bus dropped us off at the start. That’s right…another bus ride. so you ride 13 miles out, and run back. oh, and it warmed up to the 60’s!

starting out, we wound our way through some country roads while seeing the mountains all around us. creeks, trees, shear rock faces all around us! as far as the hills, well take a look at the course and you will see that it is basically all up hill.

She thought it was gonna be tough but actually it is gradual so you really don’t notice. this was the inaugural race and part of a destination series throughout some of the national parks across the county. it was well run and staffed as fair as volunteers. I will tell you that we found out the hard way (well the girlfriend did) that you need to pick up your feet when transitioning from the road to the trail as there is a slight rise between the two.she hit the lip and when down hard…really hard…so hard that she had a goose egg the size of a golfball on her head. the paramedics and police recommended that she stop but we were at the 10-mile point so she decided to keep going. I felt proud, scared and apprehensive all at the same time. She finished because nothing was going to stop her from getting the medal!

and what a medal it was! did i tell you she races for medals? more on that later. check it out!

two things that will always stick out to me about this race…well maybe three. The beauty of the park, how tough she is, and how through running we have met a lot of people! We met Carol (a.k.a. Shadowfeet31 on Instagram) and Judy Mick, (or The Streaking Runner on Facebook) people that we would have never met otherwise!

and finally when you do this race, PLEASE take the opportunity to hike the park! you will not be disappointed!

Grade: A

Medal: A++

Afterparty: don’t know because we (she) spent the first 20 minutes in the ambulance getting checked out.

and now for the Lagniappe race. Drum roll please….

the Gasparilla Michelob Ultra Challenge is a race we have been looking forward to for almost a year! while all the Princesses were over at Disney in their coordinated outfits running through the park, we were 60 miles to the west in Tampa running the Challenge!

Now by now you know she runs for the medals. she lives for the medal. she wants the medals. and if you complete the Challenge, you get the medals…a whole bounty of medals!

but you have to complete the challenge.

What is the Challenge you ask? how about 2 days, 4 races, 30.4 miles!

Day one and we get to the start line at 6 a.m. for a 6:30 a.m. start for the first race which is a 15K. the course is beautiful and takes you out along Bayshore and back to downtown and finishes at the convention center. the weather was perfect for the start and me and the girlfriend, along with 6,000 other runners, took over the street of Tampa. We had to hold back knowing that we had a second race…that’s right…a second race.

so after running a tad over 9 miles, we got a water, a GU and got back in the corrals to run a 5K with…14,000 other runners. the coolest part of waiting was we got to meet MEB! if you ever meet him, Meb is the most humble, quiet man you’ll ever meet. But i digress.

running with 14,000 other runners was not easy. we jockeyed for position and at one point, the girlfriend almost got knocked over! but we finished with two medals! granted, running with that many people took us out of our comfort zone but that what the challenge is about! adapt and overcome!

after a great afterparty that included a ton of food and a trip to the beer tent, we spent the rest of the day resting for day 2…the big day. the big kahuna. the RACE.

Sunday morning came bright and early and we were in the chutes at 5:30 am for a 6 am start. today’s Challenge started with a half marathon…13.1 miles…again through the same streets as the day before. only this time we got to head out to Davis island first before heading out along Bayshore…again…then back into downtown.

It was dark and a little spooky but we made it by the 7:30 cutoff so they could open it back up to traffic. let me say at this point the volunteers were amazing. water, gatorade…they were ready…and we took every sip we could get cause that’s the last thing we wanted…dehydration! so drink all you can!

anyway, we finished the marathon, had a banana and water and waited in the chutes one more time for the second race of the day. can i tell you we were tired? her feet started to swell and legs tighten up while waiting…i think had we just started running right away we would have been ok.

but after a 45 minute wait, off with 6,000 more of our friends for the 8K!

now to say it was a run is an understatement. we were tired. so we walked a little, ran a little until we covered the 5 miles. we were never so happy to be DONE!

but we finished. and it is a beautiful course, with a total of 32,000 runners this year! we were pleasantly surprised and i think we will be back for the … 2 days…4 races…30.4 miles and … most importantly for her…5 medals!

so the verdict? a definite A+

the medals? well you decide

this proved to use that we have what it takes to run an ultra…in fact she asked me this morning…”Wanna run an Ultra?” we’ll see…..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bucket list of runs part 2

There are so many races I run that have been memorable that it is hard to narrow it down to the top five. It’s kinda like picking the top five things you can’t live without. (Sounds like another blog!)

Started out with the Double Bridge 15k in Pensacola and the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge. We continue with a few more of the top five.

3.  The Country Music Rock-n-Roll Nashville is another must run if you ever get to the Music City.

WARNING: if you don’t like crowds, this may not be the race for you. This marathon and half marathon regularly draws a crowd of at least 30,000 runners!

Having lived in Nashville (well outside in Hendersonville but no one knows where that is) I figured I would be ready for the hills. Wrong! Train on hills before attempting this Nashville favorite.

Race day has runners lining the streets of Broadway. Of course you have to estimate your time for the corrals and the last time we ran it we were in number 22 so with a 7 am start, we finally started shuffling around 30 minutes later!

This is another beautiful course through downtown Nashville, around Belmont College and the west side of the city. Again hilly and crowded the first few miles because of the narrow roads through the neighborhoods. But be patient. Once the herd thins out you’ll enjoy the sights the city has the offer.

If your doing the half, you get to finish at Nissan Stadium (home of the Tennessee Titans) but if doing the full you run into Shelby Bottoms park where it is finally flat enough to keep a good pace.

Make a loop through the park and head back to the stadium. Of course being a Rock-n-Roll race, you know there are gonna be bands along the way! Don’t bother wearing headphones or you’ll miss some of the best bands Nashville has to offer.

The after party is done right. You finish and pick up your food, meet your family or loved ones, and head over to the beer tent right along the Cumberland and a view of downtown Nashville.

The medal always has a country music theme and won’t disappoint if you are into the bling like the fiancée. Here is last year’s!

Grade: A

4.  If you are looking for an off-the-wall type race in the middle of nowhere, the Moon Pie 10-miler could be just what you are looking for. Held in June in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, this race celebrates the birth of the Moon Pie (even though officially its birth place is in chattanooga) with 10 miles of rolling hills. and celebrates the perfect combination of marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker. everywhere you look, Moon Pies will greet you…in every flavor imaginable…but back to the race.

The population of Bell Buckle swells with all the runners from all over Middle Tennessee and beyond. It is a festival with a race! If you look at the disclaimer for the race it says rolling hills. WRONG! how about a lot of hills! in fact at one point you can see the hill you have to climb from 2 miles away. and the best part? at the bottom outlined in chalk is the word “hill.” DUH! while many people try to run it, most walk cause it is a beast. but after you roll through the countryside and back to the small town.

Along they way there are water stops but the best was one of the residents out with a garden hose. doesn’t get any more homey than that!

the best part of the race is the finish festival. you won’t be disappointed. who wouldn’t love an RC Cola and a Moon Pie after slugging through the swealtering middle tennessee heat in june! oh, and they have biscuits and gravy, fruit, popsicles and beverages…just what the body craves.

no medal with this race, but is is sure worth checking out, especially if you want a small out of the way adventure…and Moon Pies!

Grade: A

next up in part 3, the Great Smoky half marathon which gets it own post, plus maybe a bonus race, something we like to call lagniappe in louisiana!

 

 

 

five favorite races…or “bucket list” must runs Part 1

being a runner for so long (code for i’ve ben running since high school when you wore really short shorts and striped tube socks) i’ve had the opportunity to run races all over the country. Some have ben forgettable and others jump out and scream, “run me again!”

So here is a list of MY top favorite five races in no particular order…

1.  The Double Bridge Run 15K is a must if you like running over water, like hills, and enjoy the beach! Held every February, it is a fast course since there is almost always a tail breeze pushing you right along.

The point-to-point course starts bright and early at 7 a.m. . Runners are bused from the beach to the Bayfront Stadium so get there early. The route takes you from downtown Pensacola across two bridges (and one overpass they call the “hidden bridge”) over Pensacola Bay, through Gulf Breeze and over to Pensacola Beach.

Sounds fun, right? it is! The 8-mile mark is at the top of the second bridge and you make your way to a great after party complete with red beans and rice, jambalaya and if you care, adult beverages!

But the best take away is the medal! the past two years have been spinners!

The only drawback is if you are in a hurry to get back home, plan to wait in line to get back over the bridge since one half is closed for runners.

Grade: A+

2.  the Louisiana Marathon in my opinion and that of my fiancee, is THE best race in the south! held in Baton Rouge the second or third week of January, it is a race that captures the beauty of Louisiana, the culture and the food of the state, on a flat and fast course.

I have run this event for the past four years. having run the full three times and the half once. it was OUR first major race together so of course it has a special place in our heart.

but i digress. The race offers lots of options for runners. you can choose the full or half on Sunday, AND if you are feeling up to the challenge, run the 5k or Quarter Note (a little over 6 miles) on Saturday. This year we added the 5k to the mix and enjoyed running with a few thousand of our closest friends!

the best thing about this race..well is everything! from the course to the spectators lining the course handing out King Cake, beer, pancakes, donut holes and just cheering you on, you won’t be bored.

the scenery is picturesque starting at the Capital then heading to the LSU campus (Geaux Tigers!) around the lakes then into the surrounding neighborhoods and back to the River Front.

the after party is a celebration of Louisiana culture! the food is some of the best you will sample. Our favorite was the pork cheek with butternut squash and bacon jam!

and what does the medal look like?

pretty cool right!

Grade: A++

 

next up

3. The Rock and Roll Nashville

4.  The Moon Pie 10-miler

5.  Great Smoky Mountain Half Marathon

 

 

 

Life on the road…literally

Any one that knows me knows that i spend a lot of time on the road…a lot. Just last year i drove move than 60,000 miles to see the ones i love…that’s what i do. This month has been no different. Let’s start by recapping some of my road warrior trips!

It all started by my drive to Nashville to see my son. At 16 he is now turning into a man. Living in Pensacola, i get up there every chance i get to see the transformation in him, to remain a part of his life, and impart any dad knowledge i can. (although i don’t know how much is appreciated!)

Snow storm Jonas kept me away and postponed my trip. Originally they were calling for 2-3 inches of the white, fluffy stuff. Turns out they got 11″! if i would have tried to get up there, i would have been the tv shot they show of drivers stranded in a ditch somewhere! so i waited a week and up i drove a week later. What a surprise when i finally got there and there was not a single remnant of the storm storm that crippled the Music City!

Picked up the boy, we did dinner and the movies Friday night, then hit the NHL All Star FanFest Saturday. Not being much of a hockey fan, we didn’t know what do expect but we went anyway. It was enjoyable but not our thing, so we eventually left (after paying $20 a piece to get in!) and made our way to the Parthenon just to, in his words, “chill.”

That i think was the most enjoyable part of the trip…just talking, enjoying the warm sunshine and just being with “the boy.” I live for those moments. I hope someday he will realize that i am always there for him no matter the distance.

Next road trip….headed up to “the boot” and Shreveport, Louisiana to see the older boy and meet…dare i say it…my grandson! Conn0r is already 4 months old and the visit was long over do.

On my way, i kept telling myself, don’t cry, don’t cry when i finally met him. Ok so i get a little emotional but that’s just who i am. But holding him for the first time was the best! i didn’t know what to expect, and i kept thinking i was too young to be a grandpa or Pappa G as i am known. But let me tell ya…best felling in the world to see your children have a child of their own. I know i don’t tell him enough but i am proud of the older boy for the man he has become and the new dad he is. Fatherhood is the toughest thing especially with the first child but i think he and his wife are doing a great job!

Oh, and i also ran through the old neighborhoods (lived there for 14 years so my feet knew the path) and hung out with the older boy, his wife and the grand baby.

Soooooo while i was up in the ArkLaTex, i knew my daughter (affectionally known as “the girl) was in New Orleans on her way to Nashville. After two years in LA she decided she needed a break so her and her boyfriend made the drive cross country. They stopped in NOLA for her birthday with friends so i saw this as an opportunity to see her and the new boyfriend. (you know i had to check him out!)

the alarm was set for 4 a.m. and i hit the road running. We decided to meet at a small coffee shop on Canal Street, The Sacred Grind, for coffee and to catch up. After not seeing her for almost 6 months, it was great to hug her and just sit next to her if it was only for an hour. Yes, that what i do…i will drive 5 hours to see a person if for only an hour!

I listened to her past adventures, heard her dreams and plans, all thinking, she is quite the free spirit. And i know she has great things in store for her. Oh, and the boyfriend is ok too!

After a short visit, back in the car to head home to Pensacola. Was gonna try to make it to Panama City to see the fiancee, but i was exhausted as you can imagine. She understood and i love that about her. BUT, i got back in the car Monday night after work to head to Panama City to see her…if only for a few hours…because i love her.

Thank God for XM radio, Netflix and heated seats!

Until the next road trip!

Sharing the run…

by now you know i run…a lot. i have been running since high school (i graduated in 1978 so you figure it out) when i had to wear the “husky” jeans. My step mom was from the south and every night was like going to a southern “three meats and a veggie.” of course you had to eat it! so i put on some pounds.

I got tired of the way i looked and felt even as a teenager, I saw a copy of Jim Fixx’s Complete Book of Running and decided to hit the streets…alone.

I was a solitary runner. I loved the idea of running down the road with nothing but my thoughts. As i evolved as a runner, the runs got longer and my time on the road alone increased. It was my time to think, or not to think. I could map out my future or think about what to have for dinner or what’s on tv. i could think about my next run or laugh at people stuck in traffic as i ran past. it was my time.

and i raced. a lot. i loved the thrill and excitement of seeing how i could push myself and not so much judge myself against other runners but myself and seeing if i improved or not. but after 30 years it got stale like anything else. its like eating the same thing every day…after awhile you will get burnt out on it.

and that is what happened to me. somewhere i lost my passion for running and was just going through the motions. it wasn’t fun anymore.

but there was light at the end of the tunnel. i met her. she made running fun again.

oh don’t get me wrong it was a struggle at first! at races she wanted to stop to take selfies! “who does that?” i thought. certainly not me. She WALKED through the water stops. HUH? grab the cup and go!

and she wanted to stop to take pictures…of everything! cows, signs, Elvis, runners RUNNING!

but as i ran with her, it brought back the reason we run…to share, to be social and enjoy ourselves. SHE is all about the social aspect of running and has often told me, “if it ain’t fun, i won’t run.”

she has me hooked. in the past two years we have run everything from 5ks to marathons and have put a lot of miles on the road. and it has been fun. i have rediscovered my passion again…all thanks to her.

i know i won’t ever win a race time wise but she has made me a winner. every time we lace up i consider myself a winner because I’m with her…and it’s fun.

i think you never fully know a person until you spend five hours together on the road running a marathon. i also think all couples considering nuptials should have to run a marathon together. if you can get through that and finish with smiles, everything else is cake.

thank you Jodi for bringing my love for running back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chilly ride

The weather has been usually cool here in Louisiana for September. Should be in the 70s for lows and the mid 80s and humid for highs. BUT the past couple of days have been gorgeous! This morning it was 58 degrees, so trying to save on gas, decided to ride the motorcycle in to work. 

I’ve discovered that no matter how warm you dress, cold air is going to find its was into your jacket, boots, and up the pants leg. Even though it is only a 13-mile ride to the college, I spent the first few minutes trying to warm up the hands….what will it be like when it is really cold?

Also noticed things that you normally don’t when behind the wheel, listening to the radio, not really paying attention and just pointing the car. On a motorcycle, the elements are all around you…I noticed for the first time that the sun was rising behind me and was a huge orange fireball, while a full moon greeted me in the front. Passed by a few restaurants and could smell breakfast cooking….you know how good bacon and eggs smells when you are hungry?! I only have some chocolate pop tarts to look forward to (They are my daily staple).

Oh well, hopefully this great weather will continue for a few more days! Looking forward to the ride home!

City lights and smiles

I’m a small town kind-of-guy.

How do I know this? Well, I was recently in the “Windy City” for a two-day conference. The city of Chicago from where I saw it was a beautiful, vibrant and exciting city. The skyscrapers were something to behold…Chicago buildings are noted for their originality rather than their antiquity.

At night along Lake Michigan, the city is an array of colors, with colors of whites, blues and the constant streaming of red taillights. And running along the lake was one of the most beautiful places I have run in a long time. The paths were filled with runners, walkers, in-line skaters and the never-ending lines of bicycles.

But there are also 3 million people living in the city. For all its beauty, the large city also seemed a little impersonal. Everyone in a hurry to catch a bus, taxi, cross the street, and drivers trying to cut you off when you are waiting for the white light on the pedestrian light signaling it is ok to walk.  In the span of two days, I ran along the lake and by the Navy Pier…again beautiful, but I felt as if on another planet. Rarely did I see a friendly face acknowledging me running past…everyone was in their own world with ear buds in while listening to the latest download on their i-Pod. Even people walking along the street seemed disconnected, as they too wore headphones to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

I guess that is the one thing you can count on in a smaller city. Yeah we might not have all the fancy, upscale stores with the latest fashion trends, and on a Saturday night it might get a little boring….but that is ok. At least you can count on a friendly face, an slight nod or hand wave as you run or walk by…..and if stopped by a stranger….it is just a friend that you haven’t met yet.  The feeling of the small city or town is like a hand and glove….there is a connection and it just feels right.