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Mid summer, and we have enjoyed 3 straight days of slightly cooler weather in which to RUN!
In July, any day that is does not make 90 is just AWESOME.
But, more seasonable weather is on the way, or so the darn weather runner guy says.
Monday night, after a fast run with Bobby's Bunch, a few of us who have been hanging around RunnersWorld for a few years had the pleasure of eating dinner with a couple who were once the body and soul of our group.
Mike and Diana Snyder used to be regulars in our Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday routine.
A couple years back, Mike joined the army at the age of 41. He thoroughly schooled all the 18 and 19 year olds in boot camp, and now does all kinds of top secret stuff that he says he would have to kill me if he told me what it was. Mike and Diana moved away to North Carolina, and now are in the process of moving to St Petersburg, Florida, and will have a spare bedroom in their house near the beach!! But DARN...we miss them!! The Snyders were back in town for the 4th to visit grand-babies and such, and we were thrilled to have dinner with them!! Yes, I said grand-babies, and yes, Diana and Mike have a baby on the way!! Rebecca Michelle is due in September.
Mike displays one of his acquired skills from Special Forces...baby tossing.
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This Saturday, TATUR is doing another Poker Run. You all are running anyway, right? And everyone enjoys a good card game. How about one where darn near every hand wins something. Of course, best hand gets the best prize, second best gets second pick of the prizes, and so on. Once, I got a nice tech shirt with a lowly pair of 5s! Last year, I walked away with some lemon lime GU for a hand that was one card short of a straight with a jack high. (T Z <~~~bad poker player!)
Here's the deal (A pun, maybe?) A $5.00 ante gets you a card. Run a mile, get another card. Run another, get another. After 5 miles, you will have 6 cards, and you will get a 7th when you finish. Best 5 cards make your final hand. Turn them in, and after all the players are through, the prizes will start flowing.
Now, one very important thing. This is an honorable game, and the game is Poker, and not GO FISH. Anyone caught exchanging cards will have to clip Brian's toe nails.
The mystery blogger has been sadly absent lately. During the prolonged dry spell, we have had....well....a hot dry spell. Is it really a good idea to train for a half marathon or a full when it is like over 100 degrees every day? Well, in a word....YES! It is a great idea. See, sitting around in the A/C eating that second dish of Ben and Jerry's is counter-productive to reaching that goal race on your schedule. Toughing it out in the heat will make sense especially this fall when it cools down and you are rocketing down the road like a kid with new sneakers...um...make that Running Shoes!
OK OK, enough about the hot weather. If you wanted to hear about that, you would be reading Dan Threlkeld's blog.
Good advice: right after "wear good shoes" line comes the bit about drinking. Thursday night, a long line can be found at the local drinking fountains on the river.
A lot can be learned from this picture. Tom is beating the heat by wearing a festive bandana. The bandana can be wet down and as it evaporates, it has a cooling effect. Also, you can wrap some ice up and tie it around your neck to really chill out. Jason has the look of one who has had a little too much heat. But not to worry...he always looks like that. Lisa totes an insulated bottle with a 24 ounce capacity. Good call, as long as she remembers to drink. T Z thinks Lisa is a little too hot and attempts to cool her down by dousing her with what remains of his backwashed water supply.
More good advice for running in the hot summer sun: wear eye protection. Rock Star Ed is no stranger to cool shades. In fact, he has been known to buy the cheapest dollar store shades available and magically transforms them to new heights of coolness.
Sloan Taylor, our guest registered dietitian, gives advice on proper nutrition and hydration during the warmer training periods. Sloan always brings a lot of yummy props, and never lets us EAT them. Hmmmph!
Despite the heat, our numbers have hovered in the 200s for our Saturday runs.
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A few pictures from the Bixby Corn 5K, courtesy of Christal Pellerin.
Nice job guys. Way to bring home the corn!
Our weeknight runs keep getting bigger and bigger. Thursday night, we had what, maybe 120 runners out for a 3-8 mile run to the river. Superstar Billy Woodruff was front and center, fresh off a weekend age group award. Billie races every weekend and seldom misses out on age group bling. His secret?
Titanium enhanced legs!
Another impressive runner is Cheryl. Cheryl has ran with us for a couple of years, and just keeps on chiseling off a few seconds here and there on her pace. She has gone from "pokier-than-TZ" speed to "faster-than-TZ" speed. My take....hill work is paying off.
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The exchange of rabbit house shoes, which is a usual practice on Thursday nights, went from Becky to her running buddy Terry. The bunnies had a nice leisurely week lounging around with Becky, but I hear rumblings that they may visit a tattoo parlor this coming week.
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Sheila joined us for the first time Thursday. I did not get to visit with her, so I am not sure if she is training for the Tulsa Run, or the Arkansas traveller, or something in between.
We will get acquainted though!
In trying to get acquainted with new people, I introduced myself to this trio. On the left is John, and then Gary. Then on the right is....um....a girl running with Gary....his daughter I am thinking he said. A better name will follow in a later post.
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Saturday's run....
Somebody (TZ) slept late, but rebounded by running the course backwards and taking 882 pictures.
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A sight along the way
Had the pleasure of chatting with Brad and Lilli, who are training for their 1st half marathon.
A bunch of geezers and a runner babe finish things up.
Finally, after not getting a picture last week of the 26dot2 Marathuners sign, I got it this week. 
Bobby will never win 1st place in a marathon, and will no doubt finish no better than second in a spelling bee.
An even hundred runners came to Helmerich Park Tuesday evening to run. Ok....it was hot...it was humid....but there was a good breeze so we had built in air conditioning!! YEAH!
(Oh shut up TZ....it was awful!)
Well, it made for great training. See, if you can go easy and get your miles in when it's a little warm, you'll be tougher for it, and this fall, running will be like playtime. Just remember to drink. And go a little slower. Unless you're doing speedwork, then you're on your own. (and hey, you...in the red shirt. I don't bite, just might nibble a little.)
Susan is coming back. It was good to see her getting a little exercise. 
I am betting she could auction the services of her bike to weary runners on their return trip. Might roust up enough $$$ to finance an eating club meeting...ya think?
ATTENTION!!! NEWBIE SIGHTING!!!
Lynna and Eli were out for the first time to run with us. Lynna is an old acquaintance of Cassy's, and Eli is her son. Lynna's son, not Cassy's son. (Did I get that right?)
Best ride in the house....
Piper hitches a ride on Mom's back. Erin definitely was in for some serious cross-training this evening. Turns out, Coach Kathy rescued Erin with a jogging stroller. Twas cool to have you all out!
One more new face:
Kelly joined us, and Stelly introduced me to her. Now if I can get a few more rhyming words, I might be able to make a "rap". With Mike, let's see....jelly? Belly? Oh, Kelly, don't let goof balls like Mike and me scare you away....although watch out for Mike's drooling problem.
Finally, a coupla pics on the run:
Rock Star Ed flashes some gangsta signs, while Heidi signals for a touchdown.
Roman, Sandra, and Bobby slow for a rare walk break.
See you all Thursday!!!
This past Sunday, we had the second running of the TATUR Estim8ur at Chandler Park.
There were slow runners, there were fast runners.
There were runners who just ran for fun.
Hope your training is going great. Drink drink drink! See you on the trails,
T Z
Tom Robinson shows up at RunnersWorld sporting a honkin big medal. Seems he found his way to San Diego and ran the Rock and Roll Marathon. Took a few tics off his PR as well. Nice job, brother!!
Another nice surprise was the return of Candice!
Candice is starting the road back to distance running, training for a half in the fall, leading a group of half marathoner wannabes, and promises to have little Nate out in a jogging stroller real soon. (TZ says DIBS on pushing it!)
And so it was, like most Thursdays, a nice easy run to the river was in order.
Nice day to catch a few rays. (Remember your sunscreen!)
But Saturday was the big day.
It was the kick-off of our fall training session. Two years ago, our training group had 30-40 runners who stayed the course. Last year, we soared way over the hundred mark. This session has over 300 runners committed to training for either a half or full marathon, or the Tulsa Run. I swear, I think this running thing is catching on!
Slowly, little by little, I will shoot pics of everyone if I can, but this post will focus more on the groups. We have recruited many more group leaders to help the runners in their training. Each group got to make up their own names and signs. There were some amazing names and even more amazing signs.
I will also run for food!
Like the name, although I wondered if it meant the group was fast, or is it ludicrous to call the given pace: "speed"? I would fit in if it were the latter.
It's an Italian thing. Tredici is Italian for thirteen, and of course, this is a half marathon group.
Interesting choice for a running team name. Good movie too.
My camera was shooting a lot of blurry shots, but Michael Stelly is a team leader, and his team name is Team Caliente. What is the heck does that mean? I went to Google, and the first two entries on Google were most interesting!!! Scrolling down, the 4th or 5th Google entry was Wikipedia, which defined Caliente as Spanish for "hot", and since Michael likes it when we call him "Firepants"', I suppose the name fits.
Simone gets the award for biggest sign, and an honorable mention for having the most scrigglies.
Short and to the point. The four hour pace group, 4 (hours) or BUST. F O B
Love love love this sign! Tatur Dave is all about speed. TD has organized some speed sessions and hill work on Monday nights. He really is an Ethiopian. Whitest one I have ever met.
Another very creative team name. This is an acronym using the first letter of each team members last name. Google does not yet recognize this name. let's check back after our marathon and see if that changes.
Long time friends Deon and Kim will head up Friends United For Fun.
Steve Martin would like this team.
Mike is wanting to download some Pacman music on his Ipod.
Lots of halfers this time around.
And lots of first timers as well. This does not refer to the Madonna song as much as it does to runners experiencing their first time running a marathon. But if you like the song, then just go with that.
Rock Star Ed will have the most fleetest group out there. That is if he can keep his focus when the sculler girls are on the river.
A few pics of our saturday morning run.
Brian and Tatur Dave lead the fast group, but Fast Freddie is the one pushing the pace.
The colorful team of "Toenails Optional".
Patty right on pace for four hours.
More runners speeding up the west bank.
Boomer shows proper panting technique.
Diana (left) and Teresa (right) are all smiles after the run.
More new people introduced, and a write up on the Tatur Estim8ur tomorrow.
I would love for ALL of you to join us this Sunday morning for a very unique race: The TATUR Estim8ur. This race has a lot of characteristics that you may never experienced. First off, it is at Chandler Park in west Tulsa. I betcha most have never ran at Chandler Park, and will be amazed at the awesome views of downtown Tulsa and the Arkansas River valley.
Secondly, the fastest runner in the race
is no more likely to win than the not-so-fastest runner.
In this contest, you run your choice of distances: either 8 or 4 miles. The course will be very well marked....no danger of getting off course. The course is accurately measured using a Garmin GPS device. The catch is, you have to estimate your finishing time before starting, and the winner is the one who finishes closest to his or her predicted time.
Click here to see who's registered and their predicted times.
Now so the sneaky overachievers do not do their "homework" and do some extracurricular preparation, the actual course will be kept secret until the morning of the run (7:00 am this Sunday).
Of course, no one will be allowed to wear their watch or Garmin. Also, cameras and Ipods will not be allowed as they often have a clock feature. (In other words, no cheating!)
If you are one of those who would FALL DOWN if you don't glance at your wrist every 4th stride,
we will allow you to take a sharpie and draw a watch on your wrist so your universe will not implode.
So you may ask: How will I know how fast I will go if I don't know what the running surface is? Good question! Below are pictures of all the different running surfaces you MAY be running on at the Estim8ur.
There may be a little mud (very little) some pavement (mostly asphalt) some grass, some leaves, some dirt trails, some dirt trails with rocks (very little of this, but the section is FUN!). Much of the race is on paved park roads. And yes, there are a few short difficult sections.
Gotta make it interesting!
So set your alarms this Sunday, eat your Wheaties, drink your coffee (or energy drink),
lace up those running shoes and join us. With a 7:00 am start, you can get your race in and make it to church afterward if you like. Bring a lawn chair or two, bring your Frisbee (there is a disc gold course at Chandler Park.) Take part in Tulsa's only estimated time race, get a great tech shirt, and maybe take home first prize!!
A couple years back, Mike joined the army at the age of 41. He thoroughly schooled all the 18 and 19 year olds in boot camp, and now does all kinds of top secret stuff that he says he would have to kill me if he told me what it was. Mike and Diana moved away to North Carolina, and now are in the process of moving to St Petersburg, Florida, and will have a spare bedroom in their house near the beach!! But DARN...we miss them!! The Snyders were back in town for the 4th to visit grand-babies and such, and we were thrilled to have dinner with them!! Yes, I said grand-babies, and yes, Diana and Mike have a baby on the way!! Rebecca Michelle is due in September.
Mike displays one of his acquired skills from Special Forces...baby tossing.
This Saturday, TATUR is doing another Poker Run. You all are running anyway, right? And everyone enjoys a good card game. How about one where darn near every hand wins something. Of course, best hand gets the best prize, second best gets second pick of the prizes, and so on. Once, I got a nice tech shirt with a lowly pair of 5s! Last year, I walked away with some lemon lime GU for a hand that was one card short of a straight with a jack high. (T Z <~~~bad poker player!) 
