Summer Running Guy

He's got my legs!

I suppose it's time for the requisite "Holy S***, it's Hot" running post.

Holy S***, it's Hot.


I mean, 83 degrees with 75% humidity at 5:30 in the morning?

Really?

I will never...ever...snark about anyone that's running.  Well, OK, I'll take some jabs at other things about them, but not the fact that they're running.  Fat, thin, slow, fast, young old, tall, short, attractive, ugly, etc.  I draw the line at the Irish, though.  Don't ask.

Anyways, I was running this morning and noticed "That Summer Running Guy". It was already 6am and this guy looks like he has one Mizuno in the grave.  Just like the rest of us, his entire body is drenched in sweat, but he has this look of grim death (see right).  I hope my running never comes to that. To the point where I'm desperately looking for another runner to put me out of my misery. (Although, from the picture, you can see that I was at that point during my last half marathon.)

Then...THEN...about a half of a mile further, there was an older woman running in her blue sequined butterfly shirt and matching blue windpants.

Windpants.

And here's the thing:  She looked perky as the dickens!  I assumed that she just started running and that Summer Running Guy and she were going to be mentioned on the 10pm news as Two Runners Who Succumbed to the Extreme Heat Whereas the Healthy - and Attractive - 38 Year Old Managed to get a Strong 5 Miler In.

Kind of a long lead/headline, but you get the point.

Stay cool, fellow runners.  I'm giving serious thought to moving all of this week's runs back to the gym.  I returned...don't ask.

*note - I "borrowed" the picture from a 70 year old guy that ran Badwater.  He's not That Summer Running Guy.  He's just insane.

SSTIFY

This week's Song Stuck In my head FridaY has everything you want in a musical earworm:

• The song sucks
• The song is repetitive

That's pretty much it.  Everyone have a good weekend!

P.S. - Much like Adam over at I Am Boring, I am wrapping my head around Google+.  It's limited right now, but I think it has potential.  It's not...I repeat, NOT going to be a Facebook killer.  It's just different. Less bloated, less annoying, more simple.

Odds and Ends

Ramblings and musings since we last saw each other.

• Last week was a big FAIL in the goals category.  I only got 3 runs in and 1 cross training.  My goal was 4 runs and 2 X-Training.  
• I've started a "High School Journalism Teachers" running group on Twitter (#runningondeadline).  Strangely enough, it's been quite the motivator for me.  Some of these teachers are hardcore!
• Calliou is a really annoying show.  That kid needs to grow a pair.  His parents need to smack him up side the head and say "deal with it".  He is now banned at our house.  Back to Phineas and Ferb!
• I may have to casually go into my local running store and donate yet another pair of old running shoes.  From there, I'll just casually stroll over to the new shoes.  "Oh, I see you have (insert shoe make/model) in.  What have people been saying about those?  Can I try some on?"  The courtship begins....
• Google+.  Meh.  I'm not giving up on it yet, just need a wow factor to keep me engaged.  So far, #notsomuch.  Feel free to put me in your "Hilarious Running Bloggers" circle when you have a chance.
• My iTunes library is sorely in need of an upgrade.  Thank God for Kristina.
• Speaking of iTunes...Nike+?  Anyone?  Thoughts?  
• I really need to get to work on some school stuff.  Really, I do.  Teachers don't take their entire summers off, you know.  Well, we kinda do.  We just do our work sipping Starbucks and in between aforementioned Phineas and Ferb episodes.
• Debating whether or not I want to play in another basketball league this fall/winter.  I've been told that the Old Man League I'm considering is much more laid back and that most of the guys just do it to spend an hour away from their wives to get some exercise.  

Price Check, Aisle 3

$199 for these?

I was scrolling through my Facebook feed the other night and Mizuno Running had a post about some new shoes.  I know, I know, I was a little harsh on their Wave Rider 14s because, well, they suck but I'm always a sucker to see the new shoes out there.  I clicked on their latest shoe, the Mizuno Wave Prophecy.
$199.99

Whoa.  To be fair, I've never seen these shoes other than on their website, nor have I tried them on in the store.  They may be the Greatest Shoe Ever Made (doubtful), but $200?  Yikes.

I went back and looked at the average price I paid for running shoes.  The average was just a smidge (accounting term) over $100.  The most I paid for shoes was $130 for Nike Vomeros and those were the worst shoes I've had.  Too soft and my heels hurt like hell the next morning every time I ran in them.  The least expensive were a pair of Asics when I started out.  Those were around $85.  Not great shoes, but they were serviceable and held up pretty well.

We all know the "different shoes for different runners" prophecy (pun intended).  So too do we know the risks of shelling out a lot of money for shoes that suck.  When you do find the shoe that fits, however, it's pretty awesome.  I would also venture a bet that that's why most people stick with one specific brand of shoe.

But $200?  I have to wonder if, since we're in a new Running Boom, the Mizunos, Nikes, et al., might be taking advantage of that just a bit?  Maybe?  A little?  A smidge (literary term)?

What's your price point where you say, "Nope.  Too rich for my blood.  I fold."?

Not That It Matters....

...but here is the reason that I was on practically every blogging format out there. Rest assured, I'll stay on Blogger and - whether you like it or not - ROATM will stick around.

Tumblr vs. Blogger – Tale of the Tape | jeadigitalmedia.org

This is the Month

First off, I hope that everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July. All of the Razz Family's digits are intact, so that's always a plus.  Now, it's back to work tomorrow.  Ohhhh, that's right.....suckers.

Not only have I become Mr. Mom since June 1st, I've also spent more time at the pool than I have on the road. Yeah!  Razz is swimming!  Uh, not exactly unless you consider going underwater to fetch the 5000 dive sticks my kids have acquired.

*Grumpy Old Man Side note - What the hell is with all of the pool toys?  It's like a wet Toys R Us out there.  I'm one more errant-thrown pool ball away from launching it over the entrance.  Go get it, Fernando Valenzuela, it's by the Honda Odyssey.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, I don't swim.  I can swim, I just choose not to.  Nor do I take advantage of rest breaks.  Remember those? You all had to pile out of the pool for 10 minutes so you could gorge yourself on candy and ice cream at the snack stand and then go back in the water.  Good times.  Anyway, now that I'm an adult (loose term for me), I could stay in the pool and do some laps.  Or, I could stay in there, enjoy a nice beverage in a coozy and call it a summer.

This past weekend, a couple whom we know actually began swimming laps in the pool during rest break.  Honest to God, length-of-the-pool laps.  To top it off, they raced each other.  My reaction?  "I really need to get back into shape."

Mind you, I haven't completely given up running, but I don't consider 2 to 3 times a week "working out", either.  Therefore, it is my goal to do the following for the month of July:

• 4 runs per week
• 1 of those runs will either be a fartlek (snicker) or an interval
• 2 days of cross training
• Get my average on 3 or 4 milers to be under 8:00.  

That last one is my ultimate goal and I think I can do it.  I'm currently hovering around the 8:05-8:15 range depending on how god awful the humidity is.

Can it be done?  Will it be done?  We're going to see.  Wish me luck.

Off Track: Can the Huskers Come Out and Play?

"ESPN: What would it mean for Nebraska to compete for a Big Ten championship in Year 1?

BO PELINI: We expect to do that. That's what our expectation is, so if we don't, we'll all be disappointed. It's not going to be easy; it never is. It'll be a fight, but as long as we continue to do the right things and keep getting better each day, we'll line up and be ready to go come September."

It's official...Nebraska is part of the Big Ten now.  Everyone 'round these parts have written about the Huskers' big move to their new conference.  And look!  I'm not going to be any different.

Here's what I'm going to miss:

• Missouri - I'll miss nothing about them.  Nothing at all.  I will enjoy the fact that they openly hiked up their proverbial skirt to get out of the Big 12 (and then denying it) and the B1G chose us instead.
• Texas - Everything is bigger in Texas including the egos.  Just keep telling the other 9 teams that your own Longhorn Network will benefit the rest of the conference.  
• Oklahoma - Guys, you  made your bed when you decided that the UT/OU rivalry was more important than the NU rivalry. Translation:  you are now Texas' whipping boy.
• Colorado - You guys were so cute.  You took your best shots at the Big Red and, once in awhile you came out on top.  But, c'mon guys...really? Rivals?  I must admit, it was kind of fun to see Ian surrounded in red for the last Big 12 game at Memorial Stadium.  Yes, that really happened.
• Kansas State - You'll always be Nebraska's pesky little inbred brother.
• Kansas/Baylor/Oklahoma State/Texas Tech/Texas A&M/Iowa State - Meh

Here's what I'm looking forward to:

• Iowa - Being a proud Hawkeye alum, I've had November 25th, 2011 circled on my calendar since last year.  It's freakin' on.
• Michigan/Michigan State - I'll hate both because I'm pretty sure Nitmos roots for both of them.
• Ohio State - Everyone in Ohio roots for these guys, right?  I mean, have you ever heard of a die-hard Bobcats fan?  For that reason, I plan on giving Viper a hard time - Buckeye fan or not.  It will be good for my soul.
• Wisconsin - Nebraska Light.  Same colors.  Same rabid fans.  Beautiful campus.  Their AD was the starting fullback for the Huskers in the 70's.  And this little tradition.  Freakin' awesome.
• Penn State - I hate Penn State.  No, you didn't deserve a share of the '94 National Championship.  Why?  2 reasons:  (1) You weren't even close to the level of Nebraska and (2) Karma is a bitch.
• Minnesota/Indiana/Purdue/Northwestern/Illinois - Meh

Can't wait for college football to start.  Can't wait.