TRY, TRY Again

I have made a blog entry from where Aaron posted a race report on the Warrior Dash that him and Kelly did this summer in Michigan.  Thanks Aaron!  That is the third, distinct, obstacle course race report that we've posted this year, so you all have some reference if you choose to seek an obstacle course in the future.  They seem amazingly popular, so they aren't going away anytime soon.

This week the weather is going to be chilly, but the long range forecast is calling for warmer weather next week, so this fall, extended TRY season, may last for a while.  We will continue to use the Onondaga Creekwalk, workout to be determined by attendees before we start.  We are meeting at 5:30, with the running starting by 5:40.

This week, we are meeting at a new place - in the Destiny, USA, parking lot off from Solar Street.  As you get onto Solar street off from Hiawatha, take your first right (the lot where the walking bridge connects to), then continue to the back corner of the lot, closest to Hiawatha.  There is Creekwalk access right there and this way we'll leave the homosexuals and their meet-up location alone.  It's tough enough being homosexual without a bunch of runners interfering.  Trust me.  I know.

Here is a map of where to meet for those who prefer visual stimulus:

Race Report: Warrior Dash

Reposted from Aaron's Facebook post - 

Lamest and latest race report ever:

Terry asked us do right up a report on the Warrior Dash Kelly and I did in Michigan this past summer. I'll spare you most of the details and share my general impressions. 

Rule #1 - don't worry about racing anybody unless it is your buddy in your heat. Lots of walkers. Generally, i'd say most people are just out for a good time (we were the third wave out and passed a ton of walkers)

Rule #2 - pay attention the blue laws when you sign up. Watching finishers is far more rewarding with a drink in hand. Sunday morning, we stood around for a while waiting for the beer tent to open

Rule #3 - wear crummy shoes. You'll donate yours to the shoe pile at the end. Use some runners that are on their last legs.

The race in michigan was pretty flat but they managed to find some short up and downs. Something worth considering when picking your race.

My expectation was for nonstop obstacles. We probably ran about a mile (5k total) before the first obstacle of 10, a series of under / over hurdles. The second obstacle involved a river swim that I think was pretty unique to the events. None of the obstacles were really terrifying unless you have issues with heights. Lots of photo ops but they failed to get any good shots of kelly and I together. They are taking thousands of photos so I'll cut them a little slack, just not a check. The fire jump seemed pretty tame and going early, there were maybe two sections with serious mud.

The crowd was clearly there to have a good time. Pretty commercialized with the big screens, loud music and expensive merchandise. A big plus versus some other adventure series was free admission for spectators.

All in all, a good time. If you want to do an adventure style race, I think that anybody who shows up at TRY could definitel finish a Warrior Dash.

If you are interested, I think there's a Cyber Monday sale going on. $35 for any of their races - includes a beer, shirt and warrior hat. Not too shabby.

TRY Overtime

In a first, at least officially, TRY is going to continue meeting this fall until lack of interest or weather dictate otherwise.

Join us Tuesday night, November 20th, at 5:30, at the Syracuse Inner Harbor, where we will check out the yogging conditions under the lamps of the Onondaga Creekwalk.  It's narrow, and perhaps something that a solo female runner would not feel comfortable doing alone after dark, but I think it will serve our purposes well.  The fact that it is lit up by lamposts, and closed to traffic will allow us to continue our group running season a bit.

We will meet at 5:30 next to the amphitheater parking lot, do a dynamic warm-up, and then start running at 5:40.  (Allowing people to have a few minutes leeway to find their way.)  I don't think it will work very well for speed work, so we'll have to feel our way this week and see how the creek walk works for a group.  Plan on about a 4-5 mile run, which would mean we use most of the path, but perhaps not all of it.  I don't like to ask for an attendance list, but since this is new and I don't want to leave anyone behind (because I'm not sure which direction we'll run first), please let me know if you intend to be there.  (No need to let me know if you will not be there.)

Here are some links for you about our new location:
A google map, showing the route from Destiny, to the parking lot next to the inner harbor amphitheater.  (Of interest here is that the trees shown in that block between Bear, Van Rensselear, and Kirkpatrick, are all gone.  The last time I went through there, that entire block had been completely flattened.)  Use Solar street because last I glanced Van Rensselaer was still closed off to non-construction traffic.

Here is an article from back in August explaining the work that is underway (and the flattening of that block).

A more recent article again explaining the future vision for the inner harbor region.

Those two articles overlap a bit, but glancing at the "master plan" in either article is worth a look.  If that plan comes to be, it will be an amazing transformation!  Does Syracuse really have the jobs, money, and need for such projects?  (Wait, don't answer that...it may be too depressing.)

TRY Local

Tuesday night - meet at 5:30 at normal place for a group run under Lights on the Lake.  There will also be some people walking.  There is a suggested (that is, optional) donation of $2, but if you are like me and never contribute to the park all summer long, you can use this chance to donate more to a park that we all get a ton of use out of.  I know my running career owes a lot to the convenience and utility of OLP, so I want to make sure that the park continues to be funded.

We will also have a dinner at Bangkok Thai Restaurant, starting around 7.  (This is a milestone outing for the just relieved "new" leader of TRY...so it should be interesting.)  I know the birthday girl from this past weekend has not been there...for her and anyone else curious, here is their menu to check out ahead of time if you want to.

Wednesday night - meet at 5:30 at normal place for a group walk under Lights on the Lake.  (Nothing else planned that night.)  I'm attempting to get Escalade's and my friend from the Tough Mudder who was paralyzed this spring to come out for the walk.  If the plan holds, her husband, son and her will be joining in...so please consider coming out to make her feel a warm TRY welcome as I help push her through.  (The more people that come out, the less she has to deal with me...so do this for her sake, people!)

Did you hear that November is "buy local" month in Syracuse?  It seems like this movement grows every year and the claim is that buying local has positive community and environmental impacts.  So, think about that as you do your shopping this holiday season and in general.

Next Monday night, the 19th, is the Third Annual Buy Local Bash at the regional market.  Tickets are $20 pre-sale and $25 at the door.  I want to go, but need a date.  Who wants to go with me?  Seriously...I want to go.  The previous link has some details, but a fuller list of participating local entities is at this site.  There will be music, drinks of all sorts and supposedly more snacks than you can shake a flabby belly at.  I hope at least of one of you will be my date...even if it ends up being Duerr!  (The Ace and Gary show lives on!)  But I also hope that a few of you decide to go as well.  It seems like a cause worth supporting.   For more reasons why buying local is good, check out Syracuse First and their list of reasons.

Thanks to a "distraction" tonight, that will not be named, this entry is not going to be what I wanted it to be.  (But if you assume that it's name starts with "J" you'd be off to a great start.)  I'm fighting through though to keep you entertained:

And now that I think about it, I won't blame it on the distraction, I'm going to blame it on the rain:



(I gotta blame it on something.)

Did you know that Milli Vanilli was recently used as a comparison to Lance Armstrong's fall from grace?  And you know what?  It is an apt comparison!  They had him out balled four-to-one and they were more than kind of a big deal.

Don't deny it, girl, you know it's true -



Ok, one more, in loving memory of Rob Pilatus who was taken from us way too soon.  (He died at age 32 back in 1998.  Wikipedia details here.)  Rob, we won't forget your number:



You have to admit, these songs are still catchy!  (Bah-bahp-ah-bah, bah-bahp-ah-bah-baby...)

Finally, last weeks teaser and the reason for the posts title: TRY Local.  I know most of you will find it shocking when I say that I think about things a LOT.  As in too much...I tend to over think things to the point of madness.  (Yes, I realize all this thought should lead to less controversial comments coming out of my mouth...but what would be the fun in that?  Thinking doesn't necessarily lead to action.  I can always overrule my good judgement.)  If you want a tactful running group, go run with some Mormon's.  (There I just did it again!)

So, when Fleet Feet started their numerous "learn to run" and "mid level running techniques" programs, I thought about TRY's place in the world.  Is TRY still relevant?  Is there a use for this when better groups are out there?  What can I learn from them?  How do they get such large turnout for a pay program?  I have asked participants and helpers how their programs are administered to compare and contrast what TRY is offering up.  Did you know that the helpers for Fleet Feet programs tend to be just ordinary runners with no more experience than a few of us?  And that they get paid for each program session?  (With sneakers and FF gift certificates?)  [Editor: Wait! What?  I could be putting in less time and thought and getting paid with merchandise multiple times a year?  Really?  I'm out of here.]


[Footsteps fading away...]


[Door opens and shuts...]


...


[Door opens and shuts...]


[Foosteps getting louder...]


[Kidding.  I was only KIDDING!]

OK, that was weird.  But let's just carry on.  I love you guys, I don't care that I'm flushing money down the toilet.

Another local group that has made me think too much is "Team Red, White, and Blue" or "Team RWB" as their shirts tend to say.  Why are they growing so fast?  Why does it seem like they are everywhere?  What are they doing that TRY isn't?  What can I learn from them?  Would TRY notice if I named a new leader and then I jumped ship?  (That's why the attempted new leader being such a baby has really saddened me and foiled my plans.)

At the Wounded Warrior Run two weekends ago I have to admit I was a bit jealous.  Team RWB had a big turn-out, did awesome things for their group members (I witnessed a first time racer get handed an American flag to carry the last 30 seconds), and seems really well funded.  Seriously, how cool is that to carry a flag across the finish line?  And at least one person had Team RWB compression sleeves on his calves.  I assumed they had them printed up, so I asked and his response was that they "had been sent up from West Point".  Huh?  Exactly how much funding to they have behind them?

As I thought about my jealousy and how long before TRY would be extinct I realized that Team RWB and Fleet Feet's team, while doing a great job, have nothing on us.  I thought about all that TRY has done for individuals who have taken part and for various local events.  We may not have the numbers or the funding of these professional organizations but we've had a big impact just the same.  Think of Paige's Butterfly Run and what we've done there.  Think of the Liverpool Relay For Life and what we've done there.  Think of our members who have done their first 5ks, 10ks, Boilermakers, Hymans, Marathons, and various lengths of triathlons with at least some tip of the cap to TRY.  Team RWB can hand a US flag to a new racer, but Team TRY can show up with dozen cow bells and perhaps even a cow, and let their bells be heard throughout the race course.  Think of all the races that TRYers have come out to cheer for other TRYers at...and the bells that every participant got to hear.  Think about the "cow bell alley" that got set up at the Iron Girl this summer that had to be impressively loud as the people on their running leg came through that small area being filled with the clangs from all those darn bells.  And think that TRYers have ran races on at least 3 continents with thoughts about TRY in their minds.  TRY has literally gone around the world.

I could go on, but you get the point.  And all of this was done for free.  No taxpayer or corporate funding.  No ulterior motives of training people to run with the obvious implication that they'll turn around and buy more products from the store training them.  Just a love of running and the willingness to help other people out, with no strings attached.  I hope you are as impressed by this as I am.  You've done great things!  Truly you have.  :-)

To put a bow on this, remember the photo I posted last week of "our" Escalade talking to "their" Shawn.  Very different paths led the individuals to that point in time and space.  And very different running groups had helped those individuals get to that point in time and space.  I believe I was sensing the weight of that meeting (even though I hadn't formulated a lot of the thoughts in this entry yet) as I got a little misty-eyed watching them smile at each other with smiles that the other couldn't see.  And overhearing, partially, the stories they were exchanging as they were catching up with each other.  Team RWB pimps out Shawn quite heavily (as they should), but once again, they've got nothing on TRY and our Escalade.  I tend to hold off on Escalade-love as I don't want her to get too full of herself, but there are other times that I feel I don't make a big enough deal about her and what she's done the last two years.  She could have done it with some other group, theoretically, but she did not.  She did it through TRY.   And the entire TRY membership has played a role.  All the help, either directly or indirectly, and all the camaraderie and enjoyment that you've provided is something that you should be proud of.  Shawn has received training at some prestigious places this year, I believe even at an Olympic training center.  But, for at least one race, her elite training had nothing on TRY's training...as Escalade crossed the finish line before she did.  Think about that.  A running group, with a joke for a name, started on a whim, does have a place in the world.  Perhaps even a bigger place than  I realized.  Thank you for that.

Here is the photo again...TRY meets World:

Holy History

Not since the shepherd fell into a cave at the Qumran site and discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, have such historic documents been unearthed.  And while my findings have a slightly smaller impact on the world as a whole than those findings did, there is major historic significance in the TRY Email Scrolls that I will share below...

(I actually updated the calendar for next week!)
Tonight is the final night of regular TRY for the season.  We are meeting at 5 PM.  I know this means a lot of people won't be able to make it, due to the "early" start.  Sorry.  Blame Sue.  We'll pick a workout at that point to suit the needs of the people that are able to attend.

Next Tuesday is the TRY celebration group run under lights on the lake.  In an attempt to get as many people able to attend as possible, we will meet at 5:30 at the normal place and we'll do a warm-up as usual to give people a few more minutes to get there.  It can get quite crowded by then, so you can also text/call as I will have my phone with me.  Next Wednesday is then the TRY celebration walk under lights on the lake.  Meet at 5:30 to walk the course.  (Last year we did a group dinner after the Tuesday night run...plan on that again...but I realize that attendance and participation are very weather dependent so I'm not going to do much pre-planning.  We will just wing it with the people that make it.)

Upcoming races that tend to be popular:
The Jingle Bell Run at Longbranch Park on Sunday, November 18th.  Registration is currently $25.  The race portion is 10 AM and had an annoyingly large turnout last year.  (But was still fun and festive.)



Don't make ChristmasMouse (ChristMouse?) sad by not taking part this year!
(LM Runners/Walkers - there is a team with federated fund backing, so your participation means an extra $50 each to the cause.)

Various Turkey Trots on Thanksgiving morning.  I'm not linking to them, since it depends on what town you are in with your holiday travels.  But locally in Syracuse there are at least two now.  A 5k/10k in Baldwinsville and something (I assume a 5k) in Manlius/Fayetteville.  Be careful at whatever Turkey Trot you end up at...there is a slight chance you'll run into a real turkey.



No amount of tryptophan will allow you to sleep after seeing that...am I right?  Right?

A glimpse at next weeks emotional rollercoaster of a blog entry:
After attempts at stalking both her and the "Team Red, White, and Blue" (Typically just written as Team RWB) since late April, Escalade and I finally crossed paths with Shawn again this past Sunday morning.  It was not planned and completely unexpected and as I stood there and watched the two women exchange smiles and stories like old friends (even though they've only met once or twice) I couldn't help but get a little choked up.  I hope they could "hear" the smiles on each others faces, because it was a cute and heartwarming reunion for the witnesses in that corner of the room.  (It was cute until Escalade purposely beat the pants off from her in the race, that is.)



Lastly, I am providing the historical proof of the very origins of TRY.  These TRY Email Scrolls were discovered as I was looking for the marathon, marathon story a few weeks back.  I haven't got them carbon dated yet to figure out their approximate age, so for now, all we have to go by is the exact date of their origin contained in the email headers.  Unfortunately those exact dates will have to suffice until we can get a much less accurate approximate date through some other means.

The first one is the very origin of TRY itself, which was originally proposed to be called TERRY.  The second one, which was sent perhaps decades (or centuries?) later (or more likely 9 1/2 months later if you want to trust the exact dates available in the emails) was the start of modern TRY, which is the basis for the version that still survives to this very day.  You can clearly see the differences in the techniques used back then, but also see the seeds for what has become the most influential yogging group that is known to mankind, that meets on Tuesday nights, at Onondaga Lake Park, and is not that other group that meets there now too.

Enjoy!  (Note that I am so motivational that the two people CC'd and PPS'd on the first email, still have not completed their "life goal" of doing the Boilermaker.  #epicfail on my part!  Also note that Tim "cock-block" LaRocque is the only person on either email that is still a regular attendee on Tuesday nights.  Congrats Tim!  You are the sole survivor.)

Exhibit A:

_____________________________________________ 
From:   Widrick, Terry  
Sent:   Friday, June 29, 2007 1:32 PM
To:     Bastian, Brian; Dunn, Allyson G; Stjohn, Brad; Caspari, Krista S; Oberlander, Lance R; Holmes, Amy; Bodnar, Brian J

Cc:     Ackerman, Douglas J; Williams, Tarra M
Subject:        Who wants to do TERRY this summer?

Hello peeps,

The concept of a one night a week running club was brought up 3 or so summers ago by Kelly Murlick but I was being anti-social with my running at the time and her and I never brought it to fruition.  It has been on the edge of my thoughts and talked about informally since then and I think I'm ready to give it a shot.

So, this email is to see who would be interested in doing Tuesday Evening Road Runnings and Yoggings (TERRY) for the rest of the summer?  (Yogging is jogging with a soft "j" as in Anchorman).  Hmmm…perhaps the name could still use some work?  Then again, it does have a nice ring to it!  :-)

I'm not sure how well this will work out logistically, but I won't know until I try.  My thoughts are that we'd meet at the Liverpool park somewhere near the Wegman's Playground around 6ish and then proceed with some sort of long run type paced run.  Pacing will be an issue but if it truly is a long run mentality then running too slow is not a concern and perhaps more people could pace together.  In order to encourage a common theme/goal (and since a few of us will be doing the ARC 1/2 marathon anyway) I thought it would make sense to make the Tuesday night runs be the long runs for the week as people build up for the ARC 1/2 marathon which is on the second weekend in September.  This would be tailored to the beginning runners who are just starting to build up their long runs, since that is most of the point of this -- to help and encourage them.  Plus it would keep all of us accountable to run on other nights so that we are ready for the group runs on Tuesdays.  People could run more or less as they deem fit, but I like the idea of the bulk of the group being on the same schedule to encourage comraderie.  I will come up with a real schedule and mileage plan once I see enough people want to do this.

Next week is a holiday week, so that is out…which would leave my first attempt at forming a group for the night of Tuesday, July 10th.  I just looked at a training plan and the goal for that week would be to do a 4 mile run.  Please let me know if you'd be interested in that and if this all seems like a good idea?  For people doing this, please invite other runners, especially new/inexperienced ones who could use some mentoring.  (I know I've been helped out a lot by more experienced runners on the way to doing my 2 marathons…so this is partially an attempt to be a nice person and pass on some of my experience to runners starting out.)

I'm hoping for 6+ people being interested which should mean 4+ people can make it on any given week…if it's less than that then it probably won't be worth while.  The worst case scenario for me is that Brian is the only person who shows up.  He's already been trying to get me to join his BBMRC which he claims is "Brian Bastian's Marathoners Running Club" but I'm more than a little concerned that it really is the "BrokeBack Mountain Running Club".

-Terry

P.S.  Lance -- I thought you, Laura and her running friends might be interested (even though it would be short runs for her).

P.P.S. Doug and Tarra -- I'm not sure if this applies to you this year, but if this is moderately successful and fun this year, I'm dragging you guys out next spring and I'd tailor the runs as a build up for the Boilermaker.  So, you are welcome to come out and do some of the runs this summer, but definitely plan on me bugging you to train for the Boilermaker next spring.  It's a lifetime goal of yours…so it's time to do it!

Exhibit B:

______________________________________________ 
From:   Widrick, Terry  
Sent:   Monday, April 07, 2008 7:08 AM
To:     'Aubrey Adams'; Bement, Kimberly A; Belfield, Mark; Chambers, Glenn; Cooper, Robert; Ackerman, Douglas J; 'Erik Palmer'; Hollister, Laura A; Leite, Joel E; 'Tim LaRocque'; 'Michelle_Palmer'; Murdock, Scott A; Ponto, Emily A; Wheeler, Lee J; Williams, Tarra M; Yoder, Gregory K; Zuccaro, Ron; Zalla, Arthur; Bouziden, Francis A; 'Rachel'

Cc:     Bastian, Brian; Dunn, Allyson G; Holmes, Amy; Oberlander, Lance R; Stjohn, Brad; Caspari, Krista S; Widrick, Terry

Subject:        Who wants to TRY the Boilermaker this summer?

If you are receiving this email, then either I know you have some interest in running, I have talked to you about running in the past, or you grew up in the central New York/Utica area, or specifically have interest in the Boilermaker road race, or else I just felt like bugging you.

The Boilermaker is a "15K" (9.3 mile) race in Utica. This year it will be held on Sunday, July 13th. Believe it or not, this is one of the premier races in the entire US and is something that I think all local runners should experience.  It has some issues (the worst being a poorly executed start corral system) but with the amazing spectator support and the top notch post race party, it really is something to be seen.  And something that even non-runners may want to do once since it is one of the coolest/most famous amateur athletic events in central New York.

So, if you've ever considered running the Boilermaker, this is the year to do it. The Tuesday night running group that I'm a part of ("TRY" -- "Tuesday Recreational Yogging" -- Yogging is jogging with a soft "J" ala Anchorman) is going to help you through a 10 week training program. Its not as hard as you might think...you need to be able to do a 2 mile run in the first week and then the long run slowly climbs up to 8 miles maximum. (with long runs of 2, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 4, 7, and 8 miles) Other than the long runs, the plan calls for two other shorter runs each week and some cross training if you so choose. The idea would be that we'd do the long runs on Tuesday nights at Onondaga Lake Park and you'd be expected to do the shorter runs on your own -- or set up some time with other runners to help you get through them and even make them enjoyable.

This program is based on a famous runner/writer/trainer Hal Higdon...you can (and should) read all the details here:http://www.halhigdon.com/15Ktraining/15Knovsch.htm

The Boilermaker website:http://www.boilermaker.com/

TRY:
The TRY runs are Tuesday nights at Onondaga Lake Park starting at 5. Last year 7 people were involved (the "cc" list in the email) and 2 newer runners followed a similar training program and successfully finished their first ever half marathon (13.1 miles). So we proved the concept last fall and I hope to be able to help some new people this summer.

If you want to TRY, let me know and I'll add you to the weekly emails. The "Week 1" run will be on Tuesday, May 6th...but I'd like to do a pre-week -- a "Week 0" run of 2 miles on Tuesday, April 29th. So, if you want to join in on the fun...plan accordingly and get out there and jog a few times before that day so that you are ready to do a two miler at the end of April. If you need any help running before the 29th, let me know and I can come up with something…I'm at the park multiple nights a week and can meet up with people.  Don't worry about your pace...whatever you can do is what you do. "The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running."

Any questions/concerns/advice needed, just let me know. I hope to see a few of you out there this spring/summer!
-Terry
P.S  If you are joining in, feel free to bring along cubemates/friends/spouses/whatever.  (I'm even allowing people named "Ben" to join if they want to!  Yes, this is truly for anyone.)

P.P.S  If you don't think you can run far enough to do the Boilermaker, you could still join in and do the first few runs, but stop building up when you reach your limit.  And who knows, you might surprise yourself.

P.P.P.S  For those of you that this seems to easy for…there will be an intermediate level training program going on at the same time…so you can tailor your training to whatever suits your needs.

P.P.P.P.S  "Do, or do not.  There is no TRY."  -Jedi Master Yoda  (Well, this goes to show you that Yoda didn't know everything…because there is a TRY now!)

P.P.P.P.P.S  I've never done 5 levels of post scripts before, so I was just writing this one to break my old record.  Ok, I'm done now.  :-)