Waffle House Madness

There's this fun Grand Tour going on called the Waffle House Grand Tour, which entails getting photos of the bike with the Waffle House Grand Tour flag in front of - you guessed it! - Waffle Houses.  It runs the full 2012 calendar year and awards are earned for grabbing the most Waffle Houses, riding the furthest from home for a Waffle House photo, getting at least one Waffle House photo each month, just to name a few of the competitions within this Grand Tour event.

Since I don't live in a Waffle House-dense area, there's no point trying to compete for greatest number of WH's with those Southeastern boys, who live in Waffle House's home state of GA or one of the adjoining states.  So I'm not killing myself to collect them, just making sure I get at least one a month. 

However there are other contests within this Grand Tour that I can compete for.  Working with the IBA, Michael Hickman - brainchild behind this Grand Tour - is also offering the riders a chance to earn an IBA ride certificate.  I thought about this and realized that there are a few opportunities to do one or more of these as I ride to and fro to various upcoming events.

The first such opportunity is my trip across I-10 to Jacksonville for the annual IBA party.  The distance is around 850 miles (give or take) and I usually make this trip in one day, anyway.  So why not tack on another couple of hours of riding and do a Waffle House SS1000?  Even better...why not do a 1,000 mile loop west out of Houston, stop at the house overnight then head east for another 1,000 miles to Jacksonville.  This would make it a Waffle House SS2000.  And of course there's the trip back home, where an easy detour past Houston to Columbus TX and then to home will turn this into a SS1000.

Waffle House SS2000 route to Jacksonvulle

Waffle House SS1000 returning home from Jacksonville

Maps are routed to include the requisite Waffle Houses at the start and finish of the rides and the 10 Waffle Houses along the way for the SS2000 and the 5 Waffle Houses along the way home for the SS1000.  These will all be unique Waffle Houses - no duplicates - which is easy enough to do, given the wealth of these little yellow and red boxes along I-10 and I-12.

I have the routes loaded into my Garmin 550 and am pretty sure I'll be doing this trip on the FZ6.  I've checked her tires, moved the Garmin cradle over to her, and am staging things in a pile on the kitchen counter as I get ready. 

I have collected Waffle Houses in two states so far, and will add another four on this trip.  Let's see how many more state flags I can pin onto my rally flag before this thing is over.

50 States Marathon Half-Marathon Challenge

Without specifically planning for it, I now find myself the proud owner of  marathon and half-marathon finisher's medals from several U.S. states.  I was aware of the 50 States Marathon Challenge, but only recently learned that there was a similar challenge for half marathon runners.  I knew I'd never accumulate full marathons in all 50 states, but half marathons?  Now that's entirely possible! 

So for 2012, I've changed my focus, and am looking outside of the state of Texas, rather than repeating the same Texas races year after year. 

I've completed Marathons/Half Marathons in the following states so far:
Hawaii, California, Texas, Arkansas, Ohio, Michigan.

But the year's not over yet!  I have a few more half marathons on the schedule for 2012.  I'll continue to update my blog...and this map....as I add more states to my collection.

Little Rock Half Marathon - A great Experience!

Brilliant sunshine and a starting temperature for the race of 45 degrees is just about perfect!  However, I did agonize over what to wear.  Should I wear the cropped pants or the shorts?  Will the while long-sleeve shirt be warm enough or will it be too warm?  When I worried that I might be too cold at the start, I made a quick dash back to the fitness expo to purchase an inexpensive long-sleeve top to serve as a "disposable" jacket. 

In a quandary, I consulted the handy "what should I wear?" tool at the Runners World website.  I like to be a little on the cool side when I run, and that site recommended a short-sleeve top and shorts.  Well, I didn't bring a short-sleeve top so the white long-sleeve top I brought will have to do.  I brought gloves...and I wore them at the start of the race, but really didn't need them and ended up carrying them in my left hand for much of the race.

I walked out of the hotel at 7:35 AM, turned left and headed the three blocks to the start line.  This brought me into the back of the pack - the "open" corral - which is pretty much where I belonged.  Ample banks of porta-potties sat in a small parking lot immediately to the right of the open corral and even though I really didn't need to go, I did anyway.  Standing in a corral, waiting for a race to start always get my heart rate going.  I try to connect with some of the runners near me, making small talk.  This morning I connected with a couple of gals standing behind me, as we listened to Bart Yasso pump the crowd.

The wheelchair competitors started at 7:55 AM and then the countdown began for the start for the rest of us.  Bart Yasso, noted long distance runner and staffer for Runner's World, sent us all off with some great commentary, as he singled out various folks in the crowd - the gals in the tutu's, the back-of-the-pack runners, made comments to pump up the group as we ran across the start mat and under the start-line arch.

The half marathoners, full marathoners, and 10K runners were all lined up together at the start and we all stayed together as we ran straight down Clinton Blvd to the Presidential Libary, then turned right, then right again, and then right again to cross over the bridge spanning the river and into North Little Rock.   At around mile 3 a really terrific Christian Rock combo with male soloist was entertaining us with a beautiful song.  They were set up on the lawn of the North Little Rock Friendship Church of the Nazarene.  They get my vote!

It was warm over here on this side of the river and I was concerned, just 4 miles into the race, that I was overdressed in this heavier weight long sleeved shirt.  I shed the neck kerchief I was wearing, and that helped some.  But actually, once over the river and into the shady downtown and residential areas, it was cooler and I was okay with what I was wearing. 

The Half Marathon Route:
Uphill stretches indicated by red arrows
Downhill stretches indicated by yellow arrows

The bridge itself was an uphill on the approach in each direction, but really, the hills started in earnest after mile 6.  The route zig-zagged us south, then north, then south several times, with each south zig taking us uphill and each north zag taking us downhill.  It seemed sadistic to me, but at least the route was scenic, taking us past the governor's mansion, the performing arts center, nice residential homes and, at one point, a great view of the capitol building as we ran up the hill on Capitol Street. 

Just a few tenths of a mile from the finish line, L'Oreal Cosmetics (one of the corporate race sponsors) had a table set up with volunteers handing the female runners tubes of lipstick.  How unique! 

Bart Yasso was standing down at the finish line high-fiving all the runners as they came in.  Such a nice, personal touch!  He is such a great guy!
 

I was pleased with my time...one of my better times, better than many of my more recent race times.  One of my best continues to be my 2010 Flying Pig Half Marathon time, a surprise since that course has a couple of bridges and one giant 2-mile uphile stretch.

I hurried from the finish line to the hotel, took a quick shower and checked out.  I had a long drive back home.

In Search of Coffee and Clinton

As I watched the 5k race participants run under my 10th floor hotel room window this morning, I realized that what I really wanted was to go find a cup of good coffee.  I lingered at the window to watch not only the lead male runner go by, being led to the finish line by a police car, but I stayed at the window until the "back of the pack-ers" passed by 60 minutes later.  Now it really was time to get that coffee!

Just a few short blocks away from the hotel is the River Market, a format so popular in other cities:  A warehouse-like structure housing food concessions along the walls and with seating in the middle.  From Boston's Haymarket Square to the River Market in Lansing, there's always something fun about these buildings.  I found a counter serving cappuccinos, ordered mine, and then, with coffee in hand, went in search of a likely table of folks to join. 

As it turned out, I joined a group of race volunteers, identified by their white long-sleeved shirts with the words "volunteer" running down the sleeves.  It was a very nice husband-wife team and two other men.  The husband-wife team have been volunteering for 10 years and in fact her husband was the Volunteer Coordinator for many years before stepping down.  One of the other men is currently the "boss man" of volunteers, with his red jacket and microphone headset.  They were on lunch break and were glad to have me join them.  I pumped them for details, tidbits, and race history factoids for nearly an hour. 

I told them I wanted to walk on down to the President Clinton Library and they encouraged me to do so.  It was the perfect day to take a little walk!

The library sits right on the river and is nicely situated to take advantage of the views.  I spent an hour or so taking it all in, then headed back toward the hotel in search of a light lunch.  That cute little place, 4Square won my lunch business and I had a small cup of corn chowder and some hummus with pita chips.  

On my way back to the hotel I stopped back in to the Fitness Expo and bought an inexpensive long-sleeve shirt to wear over my running outfit tomorrow morning.  I didn't pay too much for it, so won't regret peeling it off and abandoning it somewhere along the route as the temperatures warm up. 

While I was there I got to shake Bart Yasso's hand again.  I met and chatted with him back when I did the Runners' World Challenge at the Cincinnati Flying Pig marathon for the first time in 2010. 

When I got back to the hotel I decided that I'd not had enough to eat and stepped inside the hotel restaurant for a half sandwich and cup of chili.  Now I'm full!

This evening was the Pasta Party and as I headed down to the ballroom, a fellow got on the elevator...he was alone, so I invited him to join me for dinner.  He was from Atlanta and when he learned I was from Houston, mentioned that he was there in January for the Houston marathon.  We found a table with a couple of open chairs and spent a delightful evening with three folks from St. Louis and five women from Dallas.   We shared info about past races and what races were up next on our calendars.  There was live entertainment and, at one point, Bart Yasso took the microphone and talked to the group about running and his exploits and then got some audience participation going by having first-timers raise their hands, and then he introduced a few folks who had accumulated some remarkable running stats. 

Now I'm in my room, feet up, relaxing in front of the movie National Treasure and hoping I'll get at least some sleep tonight.  Start line is three short blocks from the hotel...all I have to do is step out the front door, turn left head down the street until I run into the back of the pack, then wait for the start gun.

Rockin' in Little Rock Today

A very uneventful drive brought me to Little Rock, Arkansas today, although it did take a couple of McDonald's stops to finally get that desperately needed Latte.  The first feasible McDonald's was in Porter, but I decided it was too soon, so I pressed on to Livingston, which I shall rename "Living Hell."   As soon as I saw the empty school bus in the parking lot and the long line of cars in the drive-through, I should have just kept on going.  But, no, I pulled into a parking spot, thinking that often at this hour of the morning drive-thru's are busy.  Besides, I needed to use the ladies room.  I had to fight my way in the door and squeeze past dozens of high school kids who were mobbing the order counter and apparently overwhelming the staff.

Okay...on to plan B.  The good news is that I drive or ride US 59 so often that I pretty much know where to find gas and food.  I knew that the next McDonald's would be on the south side of Lufkin, on the right side of the road, just past a Shell gas station.   Ahhhh!!   Perfection!!

Of course, the downside to consuming a large latte - or any other beverage for that matter - becomes evident within an hour.  Good thing I'm in the SUV and not on the motorcycle. 

The drive up 59 to I-30 and on to Little Rock was smooth and the weather was stellar.  I found myself pulling off the interstate and into downtown by 1:30 PM.  Checked into the hotel, I walked next door to the convention center where the fitness expo was being held.   I picked up my race packet and browsed the merchandise.  I was impressed at the relative size of the expo, a good indicator of the success and participation of the race itself. 

Browsing done, I went back to the hotel, had a light lunch and asked the waitress if there was a place within walking distance where I could pick up some snacks to have in my room for the weekend.  She sent me a few blocks down the street to a little cafe/market called 4Square.  Adorable!  The sweet woman behind the counter told me that her husband runs the 1/2 marathon and that the shop would be open at 6 AM on race day morning.  I noted that they had stocked some GU products near the cash register and had a bin filled with perfect bananas and another filled with bagels.  Smart marketing and I made comments to this effect to the woman behind the counter; no doubt she and her husband are the owners. 

My sweets and other items purchased, I headed back to the hotel to return a call to MTF friend Russ Dickerson, and we had a long chat about another fellow MTF member, Bill Ouellette, who was attempting an extreme IBA Waffle House ride:  A 50 WH SS1000.  I quickly got my laptop booted up and logged into Bill's SPOT page so that I could discuss his progress with Russ in "real time" since he wasn't in front of a computer at the time of our call.  Russ and I talked about Bill's route, conjectured on his arrival time back into the Atlanta area, and worried about the band of severe weather on a collision course with Bill's route.  I wish Bill God-speed and hope he somehow manages to skirt this severe weather - weather that has spawned over 70 tornadoes today - to successfully complete this ride and make it safely home.

T Minus 6 'Til Little Rock!

Yep!  Less than 6 days from now I'll be lined up at the start for the Little Rock Marathon/Half Marathon.  I've been watching the weather forecasts, mentally packing for the possible weather contingencies, and worried that my last long run a week ago won't be enough preparation.  And convincing myself that I'm being ridiculous about this.  I did, after all, just run a half marathon 3 weeks ago and, in any other circumstance, this period would be spent in taper-down mode for the upcoming race.

I'll leave Friday morning early, to get ahead of the morning rush hour traffic, since I'll have to traverse Houston from south to north, driving straight through the heart of this congested city.  Then, when I arrive in Little Rock sometime that afternoon, I'll check into the hotel and walk next door to the Fitness Expo to get my race packet, browse the wares.

Saturday I'll go in search of some nice lunch and might even walk the short several blocks to the Clinton Presidential Museum.

Sunday morning I'll do the race, clean up afterward and check out of the hotel, then stop at the first McDonald's I pass, to get a cappucino to go before hitting the road for home.

Gosh!   Reading back over what I've just written makes this all sound so routine, but believe me!  It will be far from routine...a race in a new-to-me city is always exciting!  I'm really looking forward to doing this race, its route taking me across the Arkansas River twice and then winding through several of the historic neighborhoods and past the Governor's Mansion in this architecturally interesting city, before returning us back to the Arkansas River and to River Market and the finish line. 

Running a half or full marathon is certainly one way - and a really good way - to get an intimate view of a city.  Don't you agree?

Avoiding "Mom Jeans"

After reading this most hilarious blog about How to Avoid Mom Jeans, I decided that I needed a jeans wardrobe overhaul.   No woman in her right mind willingly goes through the agonizing and frustrating process of trying on jeans.  Only when her current jeans collection no longer fits or has become so raggedy she looks like a homeless person or a pop singer, will any woman subject herself to this torture.

I've struggled for years to find jeans that I liked.  It used to be so easy.  Stone-washed Levi's in a classic traditional fit.  Buy two pair, wear until the bottom hems became hopelessly frayed and the rivets at the pockets started to pull holes, then go buy two more new pair. 

But times have changed.  Fashion has changed.  Fit has changed.  And truth be told, my good old-fashioned go-to Levi 550's are dangerously close to being "mom jeans." 

Today was the day.  There's a good-sized Levi's store in the Katy Mills mall and that's where I headed.   A few years ago I drove to that store, bought a couple of pair of Levi's in a style that was at that time new to me.  I brought them home and they languished on the shelf in my closet, with the tags still on them, unworn and unloved.  I just couldn't bring myself to wear these new-fangled lower-cut jeans!  I thought they made my butt look big.  Little did I know...that's apparently a good thing.

But that was a few years ago.  Since then, as I've purchased new pants, shorts, and running shorts, their fit has crept lower and lower until they now sit well below my belly button and I've come to appreciate - even love - that fit and look.  So I felt confident that I could re-visit that Levi's store and walk out with a couple pair of new jeans, styles that were "hip" and that weren't "mom jeans."

A lovely woman about my age, her name was Bea, swooped down on me and with some measuring tapes specifically designed to help the customer choose the right "fit," determined that my shape is "demi-curve."   On a scale of 1-5, it's a "2" in terms of voluptuousness.  I guess it means that while I have a definite waist, I'm not as curvy as other women.  We picked out a couple of pair of jeans in the "demi-curve" Classic straight leg category, and she bundled me off to the dressing room.   I also took a pair of the "demi curve" Modern straight leg category to try on, as well.  "Classic" sits just below the waist, and "Modern" sits about an inch lower than the Classic.

When did jean cut/size/style selections get so complex?  But I gotta admit, Levi's has definitely got this figured out!    They fit me like a glove!  I even was tempted to go with the Modern cut, but in the end opted for the Classic.  I bought two pair:  One pair in a scrubbed, whiskered color (don't ask - I have no idea what this means!), the other pair in a dark denim color with some scrubbing on the thighs. 

When I got home, a few pairs of "mom jeans" went into the pile of donation clothes.