Missed out on Testosterone Tuesday

As most Tuesday’s tend to be the crew in Team Rogue tends to get a little carried away on the run. I was fortunate in I planned to run 10 miles and not the 14 everybody else was running so I didn’t have to deal with real pushing of pace Mike described.

Asia, Jim and I ended up running 10.5 miles around a 7:15 min/mile average pace. You can see from Mike’s post it was a hilly run so that’s not too shabby. I guess every Tuesday will have some element of people pushing a little so we’ll have to see how things work out.

Test of the leg … give myself a “C”

Today was a 11 and half mile run to test out my leg. Kind of annoying but I can’t complain. I had no problems from April through the race in Portland and then hurt myself during the race in my plantar. That seemed to clear away but my posterior tib has been tight and the tendon and insertion point have been inflamed. Last weekend the 16 mile Saturday run was my test of the issue, if I was in pain after the run I decided I’d take a week off so that’s what I did. Today was a little over 11 miles to test the leg out and it feels better … need to take it easy though to keep it under control.

One thing I did notice (which is hopefully a good sign) is that I didn’t have any discomfort when I started in the insertion point. The last few weeks it would take a mile or so to warm up before that happen. I also didn’t feel like I was changing my form as much so hopefully on the right track … only time will tell.

Taking action on homelessness and high health care costs

Today, in commemoration of National Homeless Awareness Week, Green Doors‘ supporters, homeless advocates, city government officials, agency leaders, teachers, and residents of Green Doors’ homes launched Green Doors’ 2nd video in its Tex S. Taxpayer Series.

The purpose of the video is to move the public, the Tex S. Taxpayer — you, me, all of us — to take constructive action on the issue of homelessness. The series of video shorts illustrate how individuals and families end up homeless and demonstrate the price we all pay if we do not adequately address the issue. This 2nd video focuses on the high health care costs that all of us share when we, as a community, don’t address homelessness comprehensively.

After a full day of educational outreach on the street corners of Austin, tonight, we’re inviting you to visit the Holy Cross Lawn at St. Edward’s University at 5:30pm today for a free screening of the 2nd Public Service Announcement in the Tex S. Taxpayer Series and hear a special address from Frank Fernandez (Executive Director of Green Doors) and attend a public screening of Hollywood film, The Soloist.

Watch the video »

Team Rogue Elite at the San Antonio Rock ‘n Roll Marathon

Allison, Darren and Kyle at the R after the race. Allison finished 2nd Texan Female! Darren and Kyle were out for a progressive training run … more pictures to come.

Meet Rogue at the R at the San Antonio Rock ‘N Roll

And this is what some peope call a workout

The Brooks Launch really does rock

John reviewed the Brooks Launch recently. Before the Portland marathon I posted that I selected and why (John has a much more succinct review). It’s the first time I’ve opted to run in Brooks, and I wore the Launch for the Portland marathon as well and still have the same positive opinion as when I tried them on at the store.

To take ibuprofen or not?

There was an interesting article from the NY Times referenced on the Rogue site on the effects of using ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs). I guess all that pill popping isn’t such a great idea. Looking back at my training I think I took a total of 12 pills training for Portland (which went really well) and I’ve never taken any before or during a race in over 4 years … so without any scientific backing I guess I managed to do the right thing …. at times at least.

Strong showing from Rogue at the 10 Miler

As I was reading Wish’s article I was taken back by the number of Rogues mentioned (well not as Rogues but the names were of Rogues). The first group were Team Rogue Elite, a new group or runners that are being coached by Steve Sisson through a non-profit (Team Rogue) for post-collegiate athletes. Overall women’s winner Shauneen Garrahan is part of Team Rogue Elite, as are Darren Brown (2nd) and Kyle Miller (3rd). Let’s not forget Carmen Troncoso (masters winner) our Rogue Coach extraordinaire and the outstanding performance of her Tronky’s yesterday.

As a disclaimer and in the interest of openness I recently volunteered to be on the board of the organization to help get it started on its mission to help build an Austin based team that can compete at the World and Olympic stage as well as foster running and provide it’s benefits to the youth of Austin.

Supporting races and the marathon in Austin

Wish had an article after his latest Chicago Marathon race this year where he discussed how Chicago as a city get’s behind the marathon and that the way it’s done is something the city of Austin and it’s leadership should look at. I have to agree with him and I’m glad he brought up the topic of races in Austin which has been dormant since the City Council passed the new events ordinance. During the course of the Task Force and city council meetings I had a few blog posts, multiple e-mails and also we had the keepaustinrunning site up with updates.

One of the things that I still don’t understand is why the office of safety in Austin has standards in place that no other city seems to think are necessary. The number of cones, their spacing, their height … triple barricades instead of single, amount of use of officers … we’re way overboard compared to what other cities do and that has a number of negative consequences:

1. It costs more. Yes, go figure having a cone, that is bigger at more frequent intervals makes it more expensive. Having a policeman and a barricade makes it more expensive than just having one of those.
2. Roads are closed longer. It takes longer to put bigger barricades out, it takes longer to put more cones out … it also takes longer to take them off. This means the rules we have (which other cities seem to do without very well) are part of the reasons people get annoyed by races.

Since last December I’ve run two marathons. The California International Marathon and the Portland Marathon. Two different states and two different cities, and both of them had no trouble closing fully or partially large roads, in Portland a lane was closed on what was pretty much a highway and the number of cones there per 100 feet was less than we have on a city road in Austin. I was safe with an 18 wheeler there but am not with a Prius here … it’s just unnecessary but we have an office in the city that get’s to make the rules as it sees fit without any citizen oversight. I’m looking forward to some of the City Council taking up the health initiatives the city is promoting and going out of Austin and running a half marathon or marathon. Maybe then they’ll see what Austin can do to make marathons a great experience for the runners, for the residents of Austin be reducing the inconvenience and a more effective fund raising effort by reducing the unnecessary costs some city staff are imposing.