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.

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.”

*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.

Harborcreek Township is offering a free runners clinic again this year and it starts next Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Harborcreek Community Park. It runs for 6 consecutive weeks. The goal is to train runners to run the Harborcreek Youth Services Fahey/Ferko Run on June 29th.

“Not only will Sandie offer weekly running tips, but will also pass on information including stretching, nutrition, setting goals, choosing correct equipment, and additional training options for the more advanced runner. In addition to all the knowledge you will gain from Sandie, the location of the clinic offers you many routes and surfaces to run on — from the 7/10 mile paved trail around Community Park to wooded trails that connect into the park. Participants should plan to gather near the Firman Road concession stand and picnic pavilion, using the Firman Road parking lot.

It’s free to participate and you can sign up the first night (or any night). Here’s a Q&A I did with Sandie about the clinic last year.

Need some inspiration? This Harborcreek blogger attended Sandie’s clinic last summer and started running (she had not run prior to attending the clinic) and she just completed her first half marathon!  Read all about it here.

You can do it. You are so much stronger than you can possible imagine.

Go!  DO IT. Try it. It can will change your life.

You all asked for races that aren’t at Presque Isle, and you’re getting them on Memorial Day weekend.

Saturday brings you a REALLY different race: A Race to Remember.  This is a dirt road in Albion. Might even get a Dirt Road Anthem going. It’s a senior project to benefit Alzheimer’s, which affects all too many in our community. Those of you who have participated in the Tuesday Night Racing League events over the past few years will remember this as the Albion 5k/5M course that brought a smile to our faces.

Monday brings you a variety. The Human Race — a 5K in Meadville, followed by the Tom McNally Memorial Kids Run. I ran the Human Race years ago and loved it. I’d be torn between it and the other race on the calendar. The Miracle Mountain Stampede in Spring Creek, PA is a hilly, road & trail, challenging course nearly guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The setting is absolutely wonderful. Bring the kids and look at all they have to offer. They offer an Open House so you’re free to look around.

Please, if you plan to run any of these events, register early so the directors can plan for you.  (And if you wake up on race day and decide to go anyway, please do register on race day.

— Jim

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?

____________________________
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.”

Jog ‘n Hog race directors recently revealed a twist to the already-unconventional run (June 15th):

“Will you beat the pig? Or will the pig beat you?” That’s the question Jog ‘n Hoggers will be asking themselves when they line up at the starting line this year.

Here’s how it works: A designated “Pace Pig” will jog alongside runners. Once the pig reaches the eating area, he will hang out for 15 minutes, pose for pictures, and do whatever else Pace Pigs do. Once his 15 minutes are up, he will run back to the finish line.

So the question is…Will you beat the pig? Or will the pig beat you?

Cute video on the Hog Blog here.

OK, I don’t know what is cooler (coolest? most cool?) about this — that a local gym cares enough to want to make difference, that this class is on the beach, or that it will totally help you train for the Beast on the Bay.

Here’s the deal: Eric Taylor from Best Fitness in Erie said the gym wants to help Erie get healthier and, they are putting their money and muscle where their mouth is.

You may remember that last year Best Fitness offered a free one-month membership to everyone and anyone. FREE. To, hopefully, encourage people to develop the exercise habit.

They also sponsored  Weigh-In Erie, the weight-loss challenge that finished up last month. Read an inspirational story about the contest winner here.

NOW….they are offering a free P90X class on Monday nights at Beach No. 1. It’s a HITT class — high intensity interval training — that includes things like jumping, push ups, squats, running on the sand.

But, don’t be intimidated by the name or the exercises, Eric is quick to point out that the nice thing is that these workouts are adaptable to ANY fitness level. This class is designed for anyone from uber-fit to just getting off the couch.  Note, however,that you must be at least 16 to participate in the class.

Class starts at 5:30 p.m. at Beach No. 1 (meet on the sand) and lasts about an hour. Workouts take place on the sand and using whatever else is around (perhaps jumping over driftwood, etc.).

The class started last week, so it’s going on right now through the end of the summer.  This is a “drop in” thing, you don’t have to commit to be there every week or anything (you do have to get there a bit early to sign a waiver though).

By the way — this would be PERFECT training for those who are doing the Beast on the Bay run…or any “adventure run” and…HIT workouts are GREAT cross-training for runners, in general.

How awesome is that?

Couch to 5K program coming!

WAIT….LADIES…it get better! Eric and Best Fitness are planning to offer a free (free, free, free) Couch to 5K program for the community and they’ll train women to run the Her Times 5K!  Eric is still working on the details, but they expect to kick the program off in July and will likely be meeting on Saturdays at the peninsula. He’s hiring a trainer to teach this course, so he’s actually paying for it (you’re not) and it’s just because he (and Best Fitness) want Erie to get healthier!

Eric & Best Fitness have a few other things in the works, too, including a Community Health Fair with the River of Life team and a Zumbathon at the Bayfront Convention Center on August 8.

Speaking of 5K training….

Harborcreek Township is offering their free learn-to-run program with Sandie Sweet again this summer, too. It starts in a couple weeks. Details to come soon!

Photo from GoErie Street View (Mike Conway)

The ERC’s Mother’s Day 5K had a BIG turnout with nearly 700 participating in the run/walk on Sunday, May 12.

Results here.

140 photos from GoErie’s Street View photographer, Mike Conway, here.

Top 3 male: Chris Marchant, 46, 20:24; Kevin Slagle, 32, 20:45; Joel Linebach, 14, 20:54

Top 3 female: Aimee Deyoung, 40, 21:41; Dawn Betza, 45, 22:17; Kayla Murphy, 17, 22:24

Also this weekend:

* Women’s Care Center 5K held on Saturday, May 11 drew 126 runners. Results here.

Top 3 male: Joe Eckendorf, 50, 19:18; Simon Deangelo, 19:43; Josh Eckendorf, 22, 20:27

Top 3 female: Dakota Sonney, 15, 23:50; Grace Domino, 24:25; Carrie Vandamia, 36, 24:36

* The Braves Mighty Miler on Saturday, May 11 drew 60+ 5Kers and 21 1K participants. Results here.

Top 3 male(5K): Draven Douglas, 13, 22:40; Tyler McMillen, 13, 22:43; Ron Krystek, 57, 22:57

Top 3 female (5K): Katie Kuttenkuler, 29, 19:43; Erin Trojak, 24, 28:18; Brenda Urban, 29:28

* Oil City YMCA Mayfly 5K on Saturday, May 11 had nearly 100 participants between the walk & run. Results here.

Top 3 males: Matt Peterson , 20, 19:38; Tony Ruth , 52, 19:51; Jason Woolcock , 40, 20:31

Top 3 females: Stacie Stevenson , 25, 20:55; Sara Lander, 19, 23:48; Emily Baughman, 17, 24:29