What is the weirdest/strangest/most shocking thing you ever saw laying in the road/trail on a run?

A fat raccoon ….. the biggest that I’ve ever seen. I was running on the multi-purpose trail on the bay side @ Presque Isle and it was sitting there just off of the trail, and showed absolutely no fear of a human running so close to him. — Ramon Patron, Jr.

You asked, so…. the weirdest/strangest/most shocking thing I saw was a (presumably) used condom. — Mike Lawrence

A raccoon with a helium balloon tied around it’s waist, earlier this week on Norcross Rd. — Patrick Dwyer

At the Cleveland Marathon, I saw a woman just off the side of the road, peeing standing up. It was just weird. — Dan Cass

A giant man o’war swimming along side while running on seven mile bridge in the Keys. We maintained the same pace for more than a mile. — Paul Bressen

Dead red fox next to sidewalk at PI before ranger station pond, looked healthy, told ranger. Never saw one before. — Tom Twohig

A lynx, right in the middle of the trail a couple miles from the house…beautiful animal! — Michael Morris (who lives in Alaska)

I once found 17 pairs of bras and panties spread along RT 97 between Waterford and Pennbriar. They were obviously tossed out by someone trying to make a point as they were pretty evenly spread out. Also, when laying a hash trail one time, we found a dead guy in a car. — Chuck O. (OK, you win with the dead guy, Chuck!)

I’ve seen plenty of disgusting things, but the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen was a porcupine on U.S. Route 62 in Warren. It was dead, so I spent plenty of time looking at it….and then felt really weird about examining roadkill.

Have you always wanted to learn the pose method of running? Perhaps you’ve tried to teach yourself?

If you have absolutely no idea what I’m taking about, read this. If you don’t have time for that, watch this:

OK…..now that were all up to speed, the good news…..drumroll, please…..

You can learn it right here in Erie. Erie runners and trainers Julie Robinson and Sean Donachy have formed a business called RunErie to teach local runners how to improve their form, which will result in better race times and — most importantly — fewer injuries! Yay!

They’ve already taught two classes and they are offering another on Saturday, May 25 at 8 a.m.  CrossFit FBO at 1311 Chestnut Street. Cost is $10 and space is limited.  Details here. Contact them on Facebook or call 450-7786 for more info or to RSVP.

Chi vs. Pose Method

You may have heard of Chi running before, too. It similar, but there are some differences as well. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about Chi running versus Pose method, but, if you don’t have time for that, here’s the short version:

“Pose running puts more demand on the legs, using muscle control to maintain proper positioning. ChiRunning teaches that the leg below the knee should be relaxed, taxing the muscle very little. The primary focus of ChiRunners is core strength and the belief that energy can be redirected from the trunk to the extremities. Another key difference is that pose running uses a short stride while ChiRunning extends the stride, again to alleviate the effort on leg muscles.

Probably the most distinguishing characteristic between these two approaches is that pose running is primarily focused on the physiological elements of running. ChiRunning on the other hand, is steeped in Eastern philosophies that, while may be perfectly valid, Western runners may have trouble applying.”

 Worth Reading

*Big Brother Fitbit Flex is watching tracking you. If you’re looking to get a handle on exactly how much exercise you’re getting every day and are considering strapping on a fitness tracker (think those armband things you wear that meausure your activities, calorie burn, sleep, etc.), word has it the new Fitbit Flex is the cream of the current crop.

* Should you eat before a morning workout? Probably.

* Too busy to train for a marathon? Here’s one that anyone…and I do mean anyone…can finish.

* The real cause of muscle cramps (it’s not what you might think) and how to avoid them. (I can vouch for this…learned it the hard way)

Video of the Week

Leave it to SNL to do the best parody commercials ever. This New Balance commercial is hysterical:

T-shirt of the Week

In honor of tonight’s final episode of The Office, the classic Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race For the Cure race T-shirt:

Available here for $16.95.

We’re five miles into an mostly-downhill 12-miler in the drizzling rain on Saturday when I know I’m screwed.

We weren’t running too fast. It wasn’t too hot. I was well rested (hadn’t run since Monday). I ate a banana that morning. I mapped the course, carefully picking the easiest Point B I could find from my house (Point A).  And yet…my legs felt like lead and, after less than an hour of running, it was clear I was out of fuel.

Previous issues with calf cramps inspired me to carry a water bottle — figuring the cramps and the lack of energy was due to dehydration. It didn’t seem to help me Saturday (though carrying it did give me a good shoulder workout and I switched the thing from hand to hand for miles on end).

Dan was turning at 5 miles to head back home — adding on the 3 he needed to get his 8 (he’s doing the Cleveland marathon on Sunday). Then he was going to shower & pick us up at the beach.

I can’t even tell you how desperately I wanted to run back home with him.

But, I had invited the girls on this run. I mapped the damn thing and I actually needed 2 miles more, according to my marathon training plan. I thought maybe I’d add on at the end, or have Dan drop me off a couple miles from home. I knew at 5 miles that I was going to be good with 12 that day. Screw the plan.

I struggled for the next 7 miles — fighting both fatigue and that negative voice in my own freaking head.

I am doing the half marathon at Cleveland on Sunday and I wonder if I can still switch to the 10K. I can’t run a half on Sunday. Not like this. I immediately dismiss the thought though. I don’t quit that easy. Ever. This is not me.

But, I’m so damn tired.

This is not me. This fatigue. This absolute lack of strength. Walking up hills. Praying for a red light so I can stop. It’s only 12 freaking miles. Oh. My. God. What is wrong with me?

I ate all the 4 Sport Beans I had brought with me. They were a last minute grab-and-go that I was grateful to have grabbed even though I was both irritated and embarrassed that I would need energy crap to get through a downhill 12 miler.  I don’t know that they helped anyway. This muscle exhaustion is deeper than Sport Bean level.

How will I ever run 18 and 20 milers if I’m struggling to get through 12?

Almost as soon as we reach the beach, Dan pulls in. Thank God we don’t have to wait in the cold. I climb up and into the front seat with some effort. He hands out water bottles (Yes, I am lucky, I know) and we talk all the way back. But, in my head, all I can focus on is the fact that something is very wrong.

I am stiff and sore for two days. From 12 miles…downhill…at a relatively slow pace.

I Google about a million things, trying to self diagnose. (What did we do before Google?) The only thing that has changed in the time that I’ve been having trouble (the last month or two) is that I’ve added the speedwork. I have not yet really increased mileage.

I email a friend, a top runner in the area who also happens to be a dietician. I explain my symptoms — sluggish runs, calf cramping, zero energy, extreme post-run soreness — and mention that I’ve been eating the paleo-type diet (i.e. very few carbs). I’ve been eating that way for more than a year now. And, last summer, I set PRs eating that way.

But she explains how and why the low-carb thing isn’t working for me right now. She thinks it does have to do with the interval training and my stubborn (my word, not hers) refusal to replenish carbohydrate stores afterwards. (Truth: I often never ate before or after interval training because it upset my stomach.)

15 years of running ….you’d think I’d know better, right?  Clearly, we’re never too old to make rookie mistakes. Never too experienced to know it all.

And, thankfully, never alone because we (meaning you and me) have a whole running community to lean on, whether what we need is a much-needed mid-run pep talk (thank you, Heather D.) or a  dose of honest runners-really-do-need-carbs advice (Thank you, Sandie).  Aren’t we lucky?

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About Just Write
“What ends up revealing itself when free writing is that everything has meaning. That is a magnificent gift of writing. If we write from a free heart-gut place, our souls start speaking.”

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Here, according to Outside Magazine, are the best cities for runners.

I can vouch for Minneapolis. One glaring omission, in my opinion, is Chicago, which is an awesome city for a runner to visit — you can run the Magnificent Mile …and then head toward the lake where you’ll find a paved jogging trail that runs along the lake for 18 miles or something.

I also really enjoyed running in New Orleans, particularly down Bourbon Street and through the French Quarter early in the morning (but.. this is one city you want a running partner to go with because parts of New Orleans are not safe and you can run into one of those areas very, very quickly).

I asked other area runners to tell me the best city they’ve ever run in and, um…well…y’all were uncharacteristically quiet on this one. If you want to add on to this little list, feel free to post a comment or send me an email and I’ll add your favorites, too.

“With out a doubt Maui, running along the ocean with the breeze from the ocean, there is no comparison." — Amy Cronk

"San Francisco! They have a place called Lands End you can run there on the trails and you have great views of the Golden Gate Bridge! — Jessie Zahner

“Austin and Houston, Texas,” — Tom Toale

Worth Reading

 * Ready for a new challenge? Try reverse running.

* Outside magazine puts Tough Mudder’s First Death Into Context.

* Beautiful with brains: Why the whole concept of a bikini body is bunk.

* The running racket: How big business wrecked the marathon. “The average entry fee for the top 25 U.S. marathons has gone up 35 percent since 2007, to $112—three and a half times faster than inflation—according to the industry association RunningUSA.”

Video of the Week

Friend and fellow runner, Rob Frank, and his crew — including runner Matt Kleck, filmed this awesome Beast on the Bay promo video during the 3-mile trial run:

HOWEVER…..there’s an even BETTER one of Matt Kleck doing a total face-plant in the lake. His “friend” Robb slowed down the video and added sound…it’s hilarious.  If you know Matt or Rob or work out with Steve Krauza and his Team Adrenaline gang, ask them about it, and I’m sure they’ll share it with you.

Here’s a screen grab:

Poster of the week

FACT:

T-Shirt of the Week

Available here in various styles starting at $14.99

So….a reader requested a list of area adventure & fun runs within a 2-hour driving distance and, I was like…sure, no problem. Then I spent like four hours compiling this list because there are so many! Who knew? Now we all do.

Whatever trips your trigger (mud, color, girls-only, seriously tough, etc.), there’s a race for you nearby. Heck, there are 5 cool ones right here in Erie!

BTW — there are many more races in PA, Ohio & NY…I just stuck to the ones that I felt were within an easy driving distance. If I’ve left any off the list, comment below or email me at zipdang22 at aol.

Erie

* Jog ‘n Hog — Presque Isle State Park – June 15  (Run 2 miles, eat pepperoni balls, run back 2 miles)

* Erie Day School Fun Color Run & Walk — Camp Notre Dame in Fairview — June 15 (color run/walk, not timed, very family friendly)

* 3 Mile Isle – Presque Isle State Park – July 27 (Three-mile obstacle/adventure run)

* Beast on the Bay - Presque Isle State Park – September 7 (Erie’s biggest obstacle course — 4, 6, 8 and 12-mile options)

— Join the ERC Beast Team

* Zombie Run (this is LAST YEAR’s info) — Frontier Park – Date TBA (I think it’s 10/12) — 5K Zombie Run put on by the Erie Playhouse

Pennsylvania

* Mud on the Mountain — Seven Springs, PA — May 11 (7.7 mile/26-obstacle mud/adventure run)

* Dirty Girl 5K — Pittsburgh, PA — June 8 (5K mud run that caters to women)

* Project Mud — Wampump, PA — July 13 (5K mud run)

* Run for Your Lives —  Wampum, PA — August 3 (5K obstacle/zombie course)

* Muddy & Messy 5K — Conneaut Lake, PA — July 27 (5K mud/adventure run)

* Warrior Dash — Long Pond, PA — Aug. 24 (3.32-mile mud run)

* Gladiator Rock ‘n Run — Export, PA — Sept. 7 (5K mud run)

* Savage Race — Albrightsville, PA — Sept. 14 (4-6-mile mud run)

* Hardcore Mud Run — Phillipsburg, PA — Sept. 28-29 (6.5-mile obstacle course with 18 to 20 obstacles -hardcore)

Ohio

* Warrior Dash — Butler, OH — June 1-2— (3.2 mile mud run)

* Cleveland Challenge Urban Adventure Race — Cleveland, OH — June 8 (5K “Amazing Race” style scavenger hunt race)

* Dirty Girl 5K — Cleveland, OH — July 20 (5K mud run that caters to women)

* Color Run — Cleveland, OH — Sept. 21 (5K “color run”)

New York

* Kiss me Dirty 5K — Kissing Bridge Ski Resort — June 1 & 2 (5K mud run  for women — men can race in drag!)

* Holiday Valley Mudslide — Ellicottville, N.Y. — June 15 (3.5 or 5.4- mile mud run — no shocks, no fire, no barbed wire)

* Color Me Rad — Darian Lake, NY — June 22 (5K color run)

* Tough Mudder — Andover, NY — July 27 & 28 (10 to 12-mile obstacle course – hard core)

* Color Run — Buffalo, NY — Aug. 17 (5K “color run”)

* Hardcore Mud Run — Swain, NY — Aug. 17 (6.5-mile obstacle course with 18 to 20 obstacles, hardcore)

* Run For Your Lives — Batavia, NY — Aug. 17 (5K obstacle/zombie course)

* Tough Mudder — St. Clairsville, OH — Aug. 24 & 25 (10 to 12-mile obstacle course – hard core)

* Dirty Girl 5K — Buffalo, NY — Sept. 7 & 8 (5K mud run that caters to women)

* Muddy Viking — Bemus Point, NY — Oct. 5 (Four-mile mud run)

The Fifth Annual North East Youth Triathlon will be held on June 1st at the North East Elementary Center.

The race distances are based on age (see application) with ages 7-16 racing individually and ages 16-18 (and still in high school) in teams.

Registration begins at 3:30 p.m., first race at 5:00. There will be a mandatory meeting for all racers at 4:45.

Cost $18.00

More information and the registration form can be found here.

Worth Reading

* Genetically Modified Foods: 7 Things Every Shopper Needs to Know

* If you haven’t had a tick on you yet….it’s a matter of time, especially for those of you who run trail…(If this doesn’t make you itch, I don’t know what will): The Rise of the Tick & 9 tips for Avoiding & Treating Tick Bites

* Former Pittsburgh Steeler, Hines Ward, is not done being a bad#@$. He’s training for an October Ironman triathlon! Find out how his training is going.

* Runner’s World: Do Ice Baths Reduce Muscle Soreness?

Video of the week

T-shirt of the Week

This has absolutely nothing to do with running, but…man, don’t you miss Hills?

Available here for $20 (but it would totally be like $6 if you could still buy it at Hills…and you could spend $1 on an Icee and popcorn on the way out).

Hey, all you mother runners…..Don’t forget about the ERC’s Mother’s Day 5K.  I signed my girls up and said: No whining…this is your gift to me!

The race is on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12 (yep….mark that on your calendars now, guys!) and it starts at 9 a.m. at Beach 1 at Presque Isle State Park. There’s also a non-competitive 1/2 mile run/walk at 8:30 a.m.

Proceeds benefit the Erie Runners Club Scholarship Fund, The Beach 1 Pavilion Fund and the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Foundation.

Registration is $20 for ages 13 and over and $15 for ages 12 and under. Online registration (no additional fee) will close Tuesday, May 7, 2013.

More info on the race later…and, hopefully, a preview of the shirt, too! Reportedly, the shirt has a special feature that will allow you to personalize it with the name of a person you want to honor.

P.S. I’d love to talk to some mother runners….have you always done this race with your kids…or your mom? post a message or email me at zipdang22 at aol.