The P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon gets all the press as Arizona’s premiere marathon. But if you’re more into running than hoopla, you’ll like the Lost Dutchman Marathon far better.
running
Want to Meet Women? Lace Up Your Running Shoes
A friend on Twitter linked to this Marie Claire article about where women can meet men. And I just cannot let this opportunity go by, even though it’s going to throw a monkey wrench into my editorial schedule.
Obviously, if Marie Claire is telling you about these places to meet women, you’d do well to heed their advice. But they left something out: the footrace.
You might not expect this, but from the middle of the pack back, a 10K race or half-marathon is ripe with opportunity for both genders. See, 5ks are no good. They’re over before you know it. A 10K or half-marathon lets you settle into a groove. You can troop along at a comfortable pace where you can actually talk as you run along.
Guys might expect that women are feeling to sweaty and gross to talk. But I haven’t experienced that – in fact, they seem more aggressive than men. I never ran a single foot race before getting into a long-term relationship with a marathoner who eventually turned triathlete. That means she takes me to the cleaners during most races, and I’m left on my own. Every single time I’ve run a 10K or half-marathon, I’ve gotten chatted up by a lone female runner.
I’d guess this is because mid-pack runners in these distances are feeling good about themselves, and they’re not overly concerned with snagging a winner’s medal. Their confidence is up, they feel less vulnerable because the guys aren’t trying to ply them with alcohol like [...]
Scottsdale Night Run for the Arts – Fun, But Too Chaotic
It’s getting to that time of year when running races in Arizona have to move to the ultra-early morning. The organizers of the Scottsdale Night Run for the Arts decided to chart a different course – move to the evening!
At 7 p.m. on May 2, the fun runners and walkers started their 3-mile untimed event. At 8 p.m., the runners hit the Old Town Scottsdale streets for their 8 K, or just less than 5 miles.
Getting There Not So Bad
Parking in Scottsdale for events can be a challenge, especially since this one is right smack-dab in the heart of the Scottsdale’s club district. But I was able to find a spot quickly in the parking garage near the Museum of Contemporary Arts, even though I arrived at 7:15. Just don’t try parking too close.
Check-In Too Much Like Voting
The check-in process was maddeningly slow. The line moved at a glacial pace. It looked like the organizers weren’t able to drum up very many volunteers. The ones they did find were friendly enough, though.
Same Ol’ Scene
There wasn’t much an expo area, though Honest Tea was giving away products and SRP had snazzy, battery-powered glowing necklaces. The entertainment supplied was a dreary & generic blues band. Snoozefest!
Windy Course, Lots of Wooing
The course was quite twisty, and the early stages took us past the club scene. More than a few supportive members of the $30,000-a-year millionaire brigade took time to give us a hearty “wooooo!” or two – I suspect that was mostly for [...]
My Recipe for Vacation Fitness – Preparing for Adventure
Adventure travelers can’t just hop on a plane and hope we’re ready for the rigors of wandering from the beaten path. When I became infatuated with the idea of climbing New Zealand’s Mt. Ngauruhoe, I concocted a training regimen that would let me enjoy climbing to 7,520 while carrying a fully loaded backpack rather than just surviving it. This active stratovolcano is not to be taken lightly – it stood in as
Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings for a reason.
Figuring out my goal (getting through the Tongariro Crossing and getting to the top of Ngauruhoe in 9 hours or less) was the first target, and it should be yours, too. Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can devise a plan to suit your adventure. Here are some of the components of my plan – borrow some ideas in getting ready for your adventure!
Push the Iron
I honestly do not enjoy lifting weights. But my weekly lifting session was essential for building upper body strength. I tracked my exercises, their order, the amount of weight and the number of repetitions. I also switched a few elements to keep my body guessing. I’ll probably add a second weekly session soon.
Pack in Some Training
The Phoenix metro area is silly with steep climbs, though none are quite as steep or loose as Ngauruhoe. Still, loading my backpack exactly as I would in New Zealand and climbing around local peaks helped. It also gave me a chance to dial in the fit [...]
