Local Races This Weekend

Saturday, September 3
Celebrate Freedom 5K & 10K, Marietta

Sunday, September 4
Callaway Gardens 5K, Pine Mountain

Monday, September 5
Atlanta 10K & 5K Classic Road Races, Mableton
Big Peach Sizzler 10K, Chamblee
33rd Annual Avondale Estates Labor Day 5K/Mile, Avondale Estates

Wednesday Night Run 8-31-2011

Hello ORC,


This Labor Day weekend is the Decatur Book Fest so watch out for the crowds and traffic in Decatur Square. Here in Austin is the Austin Labor Day Triathlon. And we'll be driving back to Atlanta this weekend. The weather here (+100's) makes me miss Atlanta weather. So enjoy your long weekend and stay safe.

What is going on this weekend?

The biggest thing missing from the Labor Day race calendar is the US 10K Classic. But there are other 10K's to make up for it from Marietta, Mableton, and Chamblee for the Big PeachSizzler 10K. There is even a very close 5K in Avondale Estates.

On Wednesday night you will be running route 13. The route goes up the hard flat of Oakview and hits the hills of Spence/McDonough. The link to the route is at the bottom of this e- mail. After the run it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks and trivia.

Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

http://oakhurst-running-club.googlegroups.com/web/Route+13.pdf?gda=jmV0n0EAAABX1J9qhvqHbbbNJKzo8aYdNgR0jewEzH5J-6_lb7UAP9MauZfeP2VUhote_RWBRRRTCT_pCLcFTwcI3Sro5jAzlXFeCn-cdYleF-vtiGpWAA

Local Races This Weekend

Saturday, August 27

Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K and Fun Run, Grant Park
5K for Hope - RRCA Georgia 5K Championship, Decatur
Mustang Stampede 5K, McDonough
Lekotek Georgia 4M and 1M, Dunwoody
3rd Annual DI Dash 5K & 1K Fun Run, Marietta
4th Annual Rowdy Ralph Run 5K & Fun Run, Alpharetta

Fwd: Wednesday Night Run 8-24-2011

Hello ORC,

I don't know how people run in Texas but there seems to be a lot of runners around here.  The temps have been consistently in the low 100's.  And there are still folks running.  I will say that most are during the morning when the temps are in the 80's.  other than that, go see Roxie Watson at Eddie's Attic this weekend.

What else is going on?  Care to share?

There are 2 local races going on this weekend that really are close to Decatur.  There is the 5K for Hope - RRCA Georgia 5K Championship.  Presented by our friends the South Dekalb Striders at Georgia Perimeter College.  Also this weekend is the Adams Realtors Run for the Park 5K and Fun Run at Grant Park, presened by our friend Bill Adams.  Pick one and you can't go wrong for a race.

This Wednesday you will be running route 15.  It's the Katie Kerr run.  The roads and sidewalks seem runable but still take caution along South Candler.  There are some nice challenging hills and after making at all the way past the last steep hill and false flats, you finish strongly on the downhill to One Step at a Time.  It's one of the few routes that actually has a downhill finish.  You can see the map through the link below. After the run it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks, and trivia.

Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

http://oakhurst-running-club.googlegroups.com/web/Route+15.pdf?gda=N_Sa90EAAABX1J9qhvqHbbbNJKzo8aYdggyZzqEtvhxhj_cAVRFhA4BC5-HLSqExTGd9FarfPntTCT_pCLcFTwcI3Sro5jAzlXFeCn-cdYleF-vtiGpWAA

Run Tex

In Austin TX

Caution on Freedom Park Trail

I picked this up from our friends at the Cabbagetown Run Club and Creative Loafing.  The article is here.

Yikes. Woman claims hammer-wielding man chased her on Freedom Park jogging trail

Posted by Gwynedd Stuart on Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 3:41 PM

 

Just before 6 p.m. last night, a woman claims she was jogging along the Freedom Park trails in Inman Park when an unknown man holding something hammer-like threatened to rape her.

Here's the APD narrative (the victim's name has been omitted):

According to [the victim] she was jogging along the trail near Alaska Avenue ... when she was attacked by a white male. [The victim] said ... she passed the subject and he immediately began running after her. While running about 10 feet behind her, [the victim] says the suspect yelled, "I will rape and fuck you." She mentioned the suspect was carrying something that resembled a hammer in his hand. In order to avoid the suspect, she ran into a store at 670 Highland Avenue where employees called police. [The victim] described the suspect as a white male, six feet tall, shaggy hair, slim built, wearing a white T-shirt, dark colored shorts and sneakers. She was unable to say exactly where the suspect stopped following her.

There must've been some misinformation already floating around about the incident. In an email to the media APD Public Information Officer Kim Jones stressed, "Let me make something very clear: the woman involved in this incident WAS NOT ATTACKED, I repeat: SHE WAS NOT ATTACKED."

Still, according to the report, the crime is classified as simple assault/battery.

Wednesday Night Run 8-17-2011

Hello ORC,

Cakes and Ale is about to open in Decatur Sq and the growlers are coming at coming at Ale Yeah.  At Harmony Park this weekend is the 11^th Annual BBQ, Blues, and Bluegrass festival.  Gates open at 4pm and live music until 10pm.  In 2 weeks time is the AJC Decatur Book festival, if you are interested in volunteering contact Lee Ann Harvey at leeann.harvey@decaturga.com.  Piedmont Park is hosting a Summer Arts and Craft Festival this weekend.  For more Arts and Craft there is the Festival on Ponce Summer Arts and Craft Festival (I swear both events are named the same) at the Olmsted Parks in Atlanta.  Olmsted Parks is the string of parks along Ponce from Moreland/Briarcliff to Ridgecrest.  There are some other interesting tidbits about Frederick Olmstead but I won’t drone on.  Sweetwater Brewing Company is holding a fundraiser for the Busted Hearts team of the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast cancer.  If you want a movie night the Masquerade and Candler Park are both hosting movies.  Anybody been to the Wrecking Bar Brewpub; they are having brewery tours.  And for the multi-sport athlete or cyclist in all of us, this Sunday is the Grant Park Criterium.  Every time I go, there are always a number of runners there watching the races.

What else is going on?  Care to share?

There is a 5K in the Highlands to be run this weekend.  If you want something longer, how about a 10K in Hampton or a Half Marathon in Lawrenceville.  There are a couple of other races in and around the city this weekend.  The temps do feel like its cooling off a bit in the early mornings.

This Wednesday you will be running route 10.  I call it the Tupelo run because of the challenging hill on Tupelo.  The run hits Rockyford, Hosea, Tupelo, and the rolling hills of Spence/McDonough.  Watch out for traffic at intersections.  You can see the map through the link below. After this 5 miler it is off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks, and trivia.

Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

http://oakhurst-running-club.googlegroups.com/web/Route+10.pdf?gda=ovAxNUEAAABX1J9qhvqHbbbNJKzo8aYdJT8HiVPOUYFJ6fYbjnN-M9YTmJ10onBJPR398DLgjmhTCT_pCLcFTwcI3Sro5jAzlXFeCn-cdYleF-vtiGpWAA

Local Races This Weekend

Saturday, August 20

Free to Breathe Atlanta 5K, Virginia Highlands

American Legion 5K, Kennesaw

East Cobb 5K Road Race, Marietta

2nd Annual Music on the Mountain 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Kennesaw

The Pacemaker 5000 (5K/10K/Tot Trot), Hampton

Sunday, August 21

Rockin' the Lake Half Marathon, Lawrenceville

Ironlegs 5K & Fun Run, Sandy Springs

Closing the Gap

Found this interesting motivation article from Runner’s World online…

Closing the Gap

Paths may diverge, but good running buddies can always fall back into stride

By Tish Hamilton

"Hey, you crazy girl!"

As I neared the turnaround on Big Sur's out-and-back marathon course, my old friend lunged out of the stream of returning runners. We paused for a quick sweaty hug. "There you are," I said, "I'm so glad to see you! How are you? I'll catch you later."

Six months earlier, my friend had e-mailed me: "Let's do Big Sur!" We exchanged fantasy scenarios about training together, knowing it was nearly impossible given the 45 miles we lived apart. We had first trained together 20 years ago, for a hilly 26.2 in New York State. We went for long runs, then out for pancakes. Met up for bottle(s) of red wine. On race day, she went out hard, determined to qualify for Boston. Leery of the hills, I let her go. I caught up with her around the 17-mile mark, and we ran the rest of the race as hard as we could—me refusing to let her walk, her cursing me. We didn't get Boston that year, but we crossed the finish line together. Over two decades, we've shared major life milestones—weddings, layoffs, babies—often by running.

Read on here.

Drunk Jogging

From the Lehigh Valley blotter, Bethlehem area…

Bethlehem police blotter: Man accused of drunken jogging, others of being drunk

Published: Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 11:28 AM     Updated: Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 11:30 AM

By JD Malone | The Express-Times The Express-Times

Bethlehem police said a city man who was charged with public drunkenness was acting odd as he jogged at 2 o'clock this morning through Volksplatz, long after the polka stage had gone quiet.

Several others were arrested in and around the Musikfest grounds, police said.

According to police:

Brian Boorse, 24, of the 200 block of East Goepp Street, was charged with public drunkenness when police found him jogging at 2:07 a.m. through Volksplatz.

Read the full blotter here.

Suspected 'Burger King Bandit' shot in Buckhead

So I happen to click on the AJC article about the BK bandit being shot.  Why does this article get a mention on a running blog?  Further in the article, I read this…

Malani Massey was running on Peachtree Wednesday morning and passed the Burger King. She said concerns over crime have caused her to take precautions when she runs.

"You really have to be careful of your surroundings," she said. "Sometimes I run with my 9 millimeter [handgun]. Today I didn't.

"Sometimes I run down ... toward the Underground in the morning, and I just don't trust people down there," she said. "And some days I wake up and I decide to carry [the gun] and some days I don't.

"As we've seen on the radio and TV so often, it's happening all over the place. So either you carry your ‘9,' you have some divine protection, you say a Hail Mary or do something and you just hope it's not your day to go."

It gave me food for thought considering what has happened in our own neighborhoods.  Regardless of personal choice, please be safe while out running or any other activity for that matter.

Wednesday Night Run 8-10-2011

Hello ORC,

School has started.  I notice more folks out and about including more traffic in the mornings.  Watch out for more distracted drivers on your runs.  This Friday at Kavarna is Paper Anniversary, a celebration of WonderRoot’s literary magazine, Loose Change.  There is still more Jazz on the Lawn at Callanwolde.  There is a free movie at Atlanta Cyclorama.  There is a Breast Cancer 3day fundraiser at SweetWater Brewing.  ½ Street Market is at Atlantic Station.  MUFON is meeting at the Decatur Public Library.  Please take time to look up MUFON.  Big Mike Geier’s Elvis Royale featuring King Sized and Dames Aflame is playing at Variety Playhouse.  He is awesome to watch and if his empanadas/tamales are being sold; you are in for a treat.

 

What else is going on?  What events would you like to share?

On the race calendar this weekend the closest run is the ATC Grand Finale 5K at Chastain.  There are a couple of runs out in Marietta, Conyers, and Hampton.  There is even a run/bike ride in Peachtree City.

This Wednesday you will be running route 8, the East Lake Golf Course run.  The link to the route is at the bottom of this e- mail.  After getting out of the hill on Garland, the route runs downhill until climbing Oakview Rd.  Then the route continues to climb Howard to a quick downhill on College.  Then it's the climb on Wisteria, and a finishing uphill at the shop.  After the run, it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks and trivia.

Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

http://oakhurst-running-club.googlegroups.com/web/Route+8.pdf?gda=ZwcBnEAAAABX1J9qhvqHbbbNJKzo8aYdjbXVcYzWd7elSTFyjWc0p9hciAVYSlzgo6vUUDpmgC5txVPdW1gYotyj7-X7wDON

Local Races This Weekend

Saturday, August 13

6th Annual Dog Days Run 5K/Mile/Tot Trot, Marietta

Gridiron Trail Rush - Race to the End Zone, Conyers

3rd Annual Totally Running 5K for Team in Training, Cumming

Tour of Faith 5K & 10K Runs; Peachtree City

ATC Grand Finale 5K, Atlanta, Chastain Park

Flat Get It 5K & Fun Run, Villa Rica

Cross Fit Sports 5K & Kids K, Hampton

Sunday, August 14

Back to School 5K, Marietta

Mind Games on the Trails

From Running Times online…

Mind Games on the Trails

How mental preparation can maximize racing performance

By Max King

As featured in the Web Only issue of Running Times Magazine

As I write this I sit in the Steens Mountain Wilderness in far southeastern Oregon listening to a speech by Harland Yriarte, founder of Steens Mountain High Altitude Running Camp. This isn’t your normal high school running camp with all the amenities you might expect from a hotel or dorm camping experience. There is no running water, no electricity, sleeping accommodations are a roomy 1970s Army tent with 20 other campers and unless you brought your own air mattress, you’re on the ground. Sure, we do lecture on form, nutrition, the normal stuff, but this camp is more about teaching athletes that the mental edge is what builds better people, teammates, and champions in cross country running and in life. This is a mental training camp. The message out here at Steens is “Overemphasize to trivialize.”  We’ll come back to that.

Read on here.

Core

From Running Times online…

Build Running-Specific Core Stability

Great exercises to help you achieve true spinal stability

By Carla Cupido, D.C., Jon-Erik Kawamoto

As featured in the JulAug 2011 issue of Running Times Magazine

Picture yourself running hard. What do you see? Are your arms flailing all over the place? Is your trunk excessively rotating? Are your biomechanics breaking down? Or are your arms pumping like pistons back and forth with your legs powerfully propelling you forward with a strong, stable pelvis? The efficient mechanics in the latter scenario can be attributed to the integrated stabilizing system of a strong core. You've probably heard about how important a strong core is for good running, and you might devote significant time to strengthening your core. As American record-holder Shalane Flanagan, owner of an Olympic bronze medal and enviable form, says, "[This work] keeps my biomechanics correct during extended runs. With intense core stability exercises, I'd like to believe I don't break down in form as much as my competitors."

But when you're doing your core strengthening work, are you making the best use of that time?

Many runners know that the importance of their core far exceeds the look of a washboard stomach, and choose traditional core exercises, such as sit-ups and back extensions as their go-to core exercises. Unfortunately, these exercises and their variations result in excessive compressive and shear forces on the spine, which can result in significant spinal injury. In addition, these exercises don't improve the function of the core, which is to prevent excessive torso rotation, transfer force and stabilize the spine. To get a better idea of what exercises improve core strength, let's start by looking at why a strong core matters for runners.

Read on here.

Banishing Blisters

From Runner’s World online…

Banishing Blisters

Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes and foot abnormalities.

By Marlene Cimons

Published 07/12/2007

One podiatrist I know has a surefire way to prevent blisters during marathons: stop half-way, take a shower, dry your feet and change your socks.

Surefire, maybe. Practical, no. Fortunately, many other doctors and runners have developed several inexpensive, easy ways to prevent these nasty beasts. None involve a midrace shower. And all will help ensure blisters never ruin another race or training run.

Annoying and painful, blisters are caused by friction, usually your shoes or socks rubbing against your skin. Anything that intensifies rubbing can start a blister, including a faster pace, poor-fitting shoes and foot abnormalities, such as bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. Heat and moisture intensify friction by making your feet swell. That explains why many runners only suffer blisters during races, especially marathons. You're perspiring more, running faster and longer, sloshing through water stations and, if it's warm, pouring water over your head.

The body responds to the friction by producing fluid, which builds up beneath the part of the skin being rubbed, causing pressure and pain. A blood blister occurs when the friction ruptures tiny blood vessels.

While most blisters don't pose a serious health risk, they should be treated with respect.

"A painful blister can sideline a runner," says Letha Griffin, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in Atlanta, Ga., who is the sports physician for Georgia State University. But more importantly, "a blister also can get infected. And those infections can put you in the hospital," she adds. "A lot of people will pop a blister with a dirty needle, and the area will get infected. Then, all of a sudden, you've got a severe problem."

Read on here.

How Chocolate Can Help Your Workout

From the NY Times online…

August 3, 2011, 12:01 am

How Chocolate Can Help Your Workout

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

For those who worry that fitness requires nutritional denial, there is good news, with caveats. Auspicious new science suggests that chocolate can have a surprisingly large effect on the body’s response to exercise, although not in the ways that many of us might expect, and certainly not at the dosages most might hope for.

Researchers have known for some time that chocolate has healthful effects, and recent epidemiological studies have shown that people who regularly indulge in moderate amounts of dark chocolate are less likely to develop high blood pressure or heart disease or suffer strokes. But chocolate’s potential role in exercise performance had not been studied, or probably even much considered, until scientists at the University of California, San Diego, and other institutions gave middle-aged, sedentary male mice a purified form of cacao’s primary nutritional ingredient, known as epicatechin, and had the mice work out. Epicatechin is a flavonol, a class of molecules that are thought to have widespread effects on the body.

Read on here.

SKETCHERS signs Meb

I originally found this on Running Times online, it surprised me because I didn’t know SKETCHERS made performance shoes.

SKECHERS Announces Endorsement Deal with Former NYC Marathon Winner and Olympic Medalist Meb Keflezighi

Posted on 08/01/11 at 9:12am by Benzinga Staff

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)—

SKECHERS USA, Inc. (NYSE: SKX), a global leader in the footwear industry and the number two athletic footwear brand in the United States*, today announced that it has signed an agreement with distance runner Meb Keflezighi to endorse SKECHERS Fitness performance footwear and apparel in a worldwide multiple-medium marketing campaign.

Read more: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/b1821557/skechers-announces-endorsement-deal-with-former-nyc-marathon-winner-and#ixzz1TsWz1ICS

Bartcasts: Half Marathon Mania

Local Runs This Weekend

Saturday, August 6

Run for Wounded Warriors 5K & Mile, Kennesaw

Atlanta Finest 5K/1K/Fun Run, Atlanta, World of Coke

Rev. George Moore Stroke Awareness 5K Run/Walk, St. Philip AME Church (Memorial and Candler)

Wednesday Night Run 8-3-2011

Hello ORC,

Watershed is leaving Decatur, new location is to be announced.  It’s too hot in Texas for Kings of Leon to play.  Which coincidentally, we are going to this month and I heard it’s hotter.  So should we consider ourselves lucky to live in Atlanta where the temps go ‘down’ to the 80’s.  This is the first I have heard of the West End BeltLine Open Air Market is at SPACE on Friday.  This may have been going on and I have missed it.  At Angora Fields in Clarkston is The African Experience Festival.  At Onstage Atlanta Friday is Well That Explains It! A Benefit for Decatur UCC.  Women of Rock, (Caroline Aiken, Dede Vogt, Michelle Malone) are playing at Eddie’s Attic on Saturday night.  A youth art exhibition is showing at the Emory performing Arts Studio on Sunday.  Another market is the Sweet Auburn Curb market on Saturday.  Can I drag you out into the heat anymore?

What else is going on?  Want to share?

Some local runs this weekend, there is the Run for Wounded Warriors 5K & Mile in Kennesaw.  OK, this one is a little farther out than local.  There is also the Atlanta Finest 5K/1K/Fun Run by the World of Coke and the Rev. George Moore Stroke Awareness 5K Run/Walk at St. Philip AME Church (Candler and Memorial), both of which are in Atlanta.  There are probably a couple of long runs happening on Saturday too starting from the shop.

Wednesday you will be running Route 9, the Lake Claire run.  It's a nice run starting with the short hills going out and then the long hard flat coming back into Decatur and Oakhurst, along Ponce and East Lake Rd.  The link is at the bottom of this e-mail.  After the run it's off to Mojo's Pizza for food, drinks and trivia.

Enjoy your run Wednesday night.  Thanks for making the Oakhurst Running Club one of the friendliest running club in Atlanta.

Corny

http://oakhurstrunningclub.blogspot.com/

http://oakhurst-running-club.googlegroups.com/web/Route+9.pdf?gda=QYsaE0AAAABX1J9qhvqHbbbNJKzo8aYdLQgvWZeNwYbdNWMxdxpc85TvMIATZsyqg5akgzruj0RtxVPdW1gYotyj7-X7wDON