trainwithbain, Author at Train With Bain

In Events April 4, 2014

Oakland Running Festival, 2014 edition

Technically I live in Alameda, but I work in downtown Oakland and consider the Oakland Half Marathon my hometown race—not to sound too much like Sarah Palin, but you see can Snow Park, site of the start/finish and after-party from my office window. Earlier this year, Runners World magazine featured a two page story about the Oakland Running Festival. The Festival is more than a half marathon. Runners can also choose a full marathon, marathon relay, 5k, or kids’ run (which is, as the name implies, for kids). New for 2014 there was also a “We Run The Town” challenge—run both the 5k and the half marathon, receive an extra piece of bling—for those ready to bump it up a notch, but perhaps not up to the full marathon. When I shared the Runners World photos of the Raider Nation guys dolled-up in their Oakland best to my running roommate Kirstin, she knew them! Already registered for the half and excited to run it again, I then committed to memorizing their names so I could surprise them as I ran by.

This should not have been a great race for me, since I had not run a single step since the Glass Slipper Challenge at DisneyWorld some four weeks earlier. (True story! Hey, work kept me busy and out of town and on airplanes most of that time, and I spent more time trying to figure out which time zone I was in than where I could plan to run.) There’s no way I was going to miss the race, but I did decline the inaugural “We Run TheTown” challenge…while anyone who knows me knows just how much I love my bonus bling, I thought it best not to press my luck, you know? Since I am currently on a much tighter racing budget than I was last year, I decided to go to the expo almost as late as possible. My thought was that there would be fewer temptations that way, both in terms of fewer things to eat and fewer things to buy. (Yes, it took all my willpower to NOT sign up for Santa Rosa at the expo—a race I’m pretty sure I’m going to register for later anyway—but I was afraid it would be a slippery slope!) Thankfully the half has a relatively late start, so I was able to semi-sleep in, drive into Oakland, and still find parking. This year there were multiple free lots, a nice perk for those used to running in San Francisco (where “Free Parking” only exists on Monopoly boards). I set myself up in the back of the pack, expressed admiration for a very pregnant runner, snapped a selfie with another Half Fanatic, and wondered if I was going to keep over mid-course from lack of training.

The first few miles felt great! I love that the mayor comes out to wave the runners through the starting line, and I love running through the mix of architecture that is downtown Oakland. After a few miles one of my GTR friends snuck up on me from behind, and with the assistance of her interval timer we played leap-frog until about mile 6 (first she’d run ahead, then I’d catch up and pass her, and when I stopped she’d run ahead). According to Nike+, my first few miles were great, and I broke my own PR for the 10k (which, incidentally, I set last year on the same course). Eventually my hammies yelled UNCLE! And around mile 7, I couldn’t see her ahead of me anymore. The course was very similar to the course last year, and was great for all of the reasons I wrote about on the Women’s Health Action Hero Blog (which, if you missed it, you can read here: http://whplanofaction.com/actionheroes/how-to-win-a-half-marathon/) The after party was just as much fun as 2013, with live bands, an assortment of food trucks, beer from 21^st Amendment Brewery (http://www.21st-amendment.com), and wines from Barefoot Wine (http://www.barefootwine.com). I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to sip on some sparkling California wine! But I’m getting ahead of myself. Along the 2014 course I was happy to grab an orange from the crew at The Brown Sugar Kitchen (http://brownsugarkitchen.com) which also had a DJ and other treats; and this year I had the forethought to throw both hands in the air while running under the arch of flames—literally, an arch with fire on it—set up by local industrial arts non-profit The Crucible (http://www.thecrucible.org) which also put out a dragon belching flames and a few other combusting delights. Raider Nation rocked the underpass with a DJ and high fives all around, but there was no sign of Azell Afrodesiac, Gorilla Rilla, or the Senior Raider (happy belated birthday, Sean!), all of whom were clearly playing hooky just to mess with me.

About midway through the half, the marathoners join the same course as the half-ers and we all finish the race together. My legs started to talk some serious smack at me around mile 7, and I was definitely dogging it for most of the rest of the race, humbled as a steady stream of marathon runners—people who already ran the length of my entire race and then some—passed on by. I started to see more and more pairs of runners, one older and one younger, in nearly matching shirts, eventually learning that they are part of Running For A Better Oakland (http://www.rboakland.org), an organization that pairs volunteer adult runners with kids for the race. Their Mission Statement:

Running for a Better Oakland (RBO) is a non-profit organization that encourages Kindergarten – 12th grade Oakland students to develop healthy lifestyles through running. By building confidence, setting goals, providing training and encouragement, RBO will give students the values for achievement and hard work that they can draw on for all areas of their lives.

Seriously, how cool is that? Very cool, until the middle school kids and their coaches start to pass me, two by two, on the loop around the lake!

I felt a little bit like the unicorn, solo and left behind as all the others made it back to the ark. For the last mile and a half, I played a slower, less methodical leap-frog with one determined running girl and her coach. The runner seemed to be maybe middle school or early high school age-ish, and by mile 11 was clearly SO OVER this race. Her feet hurt, and she was tired. Her coach was a peppy slip of a woman who still had more energy than Tigger, cheerleading and pacing a faux-fartlek from light post to light post. I learned that Runner was doing her very first ever half marathon (and at that point was sure it would be her last). I told her I was proud of her for training and starting, because so many people never even try to do a race. As the gap between us and the finish line slowly shrank, Runner told me she was going to wear her medal to school the next day. I told her once she crossed that finish line she would know that she can do anything, as long as she prepares and sets her mind to it.

The last little snip of the race course is uphill. Good times. (Not.) I broke it into three pieces: run, walk, run. Runner and her coach—and several other two-by-twos—ran right past me to conquer that finish line. Some photographers were posing them, with their medals, as I walked through the chute. I’ll never forget the transformation I saw in Runner between first meeting her at mile 11—pink in the red-faced and worn-out kind of way, dragging behind her coach—and the gigantic and genuine grin gracing her from head to toe as she posed with her medal: a new athlete with the entire world in front of her.

A new athlete? (obligatory post-race sweaty selfie) — A new athlete?
(obligatory post-race sweaty selfie)

In Reviews March 5, 2014

Skechers Go Bionic–own the trails!

So 2013 was my year of crazy running: between January 20, 2013 and January 19, 2013 I ran 31 half marathons. The magic number 31 landed me on Earth in the Half Fanatics club. Along the way, I learned A LOT about running. During 2013, Skechers generously offered to let Women’s Health Action Heroes choose a pair of shoes from their new Go collection of performance shoes. If you read any running magazines or health magazines (and you must, because you landed here, right?) you’ve probably seen the ads for the Skechers Performance line of running shoes, endorsed by none other than Meb Keflezighi. When I first saw these ads, I associated Skechers with skateboarders and those rocker-bottomed “toning” shoes, and was a bit dubious that they could turn out running shoes worth my time. (Running shoe design is more complicated than you might expect, and I’ve spent a lot of time poking at them and reading about them and trying them out to learn how they are put together and why.) Yes, just a year of running “for real” turned me into a bit of a shoe snob!

I was taught that accepting a gift honors the giver, so I set aside my preconceived notions about the Skechers brand and wear-test some shoes. At that time I was pretty much married to my running shoes, so I chose the Skechers Go Bionic, which are trail running shoes. Marathon Matt, the coach of my running group, had recently started Sasquatch Racing trail races, and Brazen produces at least two dozen trail races per year, so I thought the Skechers Go Bionic would be a great incentive to get me out and running on trails. I selected the Skechers Go Bionic in pink or purple (we even got to choose the color, isn’t that sweet?) and asked for a size 10.5 since that is what I wear in every other running shoe on the planet (despite the fact that I wear a 10 in regular shoes). Since most of why I love racing has to do with being outside, I couldn’t wait for them to arrive!

Not long after, a huge box from Skechers arrived. I immediately ripped it open and was puzzled to find two pairs of shoes inside (one pink, one purple) in sizes 9.5 and 10. The bottom fell out of my tummy for a moment, because I sincerely feared these adorable shoes wouldn’t fit my amazon feet. Surprise! Not only did the 10 fit fine, I could wear the 9.5 too! Since any runner who has ever run a distance race should tell you to NEVER race in a pair of new shoes, I wore them to work (hooray for a casual-dress policy!), varying the socks I wore with each. The 9.5 were best with Wright’s Double Layer socks (my one true love), while the 10s were best with slightly thicker socks or Injinji socks (the kind with individual toes).

Somehow I just didn’t make any trail runs. The one day I thought I’d go on my own, without a race, I ended up stuck in my office. Excuses, time passed, until I had to find a mere three races to finish my 31 half marathons in 365 days. There are not a lot of half marathons happening in the limited window of time I had available (basically Christmas to New Year) and the nearest options were all trail runs. Without thinking about it too much, I signed up for the Brazen New Year’s Eve (actually held on Saturday, not New Year’s Eve itself) and Brazen New Year’s Day—run both, and you get a cool extra medal linking the two races together. Troy’s Trail Run through Almaden-Quicksilver regional park (a former Mercury mine and surrounding environs) was the last race I needed to make 31. I figured it would be just like a road race, only with gravel and dirt.

Trail running, as it turns out, is NOT for wimps.

For the New Year’s Eve race, I decided to try the royal purple 9.5s with my Wrights. They got a little bit of an extra workout as I was literally picking up my bib when the gun went off. Oops. The Skechers Go Bionic had a nice ride for the entire run, which included several sections on blacktop, some on a pretty rough/raw trail with tree roots and rocks and all, and a few areas of well-packed trails (the kind you could easily push a stroller over). The best part of the shoes is that despite how amazingly sturdy the soles are—my hiking shoes have similar lugs–they weigh practically nothing. The design cleverly avoids two of my pet peeves with running shoes. First, the tongue is connected to the shoe so it can’t waggle from side to side while I’m running. Second, the top most portion of the tongue is pretty thin, so it does not bunch up and annoy me. As an added bonus, the laces are a bit wider at the second grommets than they are at the first or third, preventing me from over-tightening the laces and cutting off the circulation in my toes (which is, sadly, something I often do). The only problem I had was running downhill. Up was fine (let’s be honest, there was not much running involved on the uphill!), but on the downhill my toes smashed into the end of the shoe. Lesson: the 9.5s fit well, can be worn casually and feel great, and are awesome on all parts of the trails EXCEPT downhill. I decided to wear the hot pink 10s for New Year’s Day (and also to start in the hikers division—an hour early—because while I’m never first, I’m usually not quite so close to the end of the pack).

New Year’s Day I chose pink Injinjis to coordinate with the hot pink Skechers Go Bionic. (Note to self: buy black socks. Trail running is messy.) The course was the same loop at Lake Chabot, only in the opposite direction; this actually made the race MUCH faster for me (40 minutes!) but put the 10s over the same terrain as the 9.5s. About half way through the run, another runner complimented my shoes and mentioned she was looking for new ones. When I told her they were Skechers, she was surprised—she had skaters and rocker shoes in mind too—and we had a lengthy conversation about what makes good running shoes. (In the end, I think she ran off to buy a pair. Or maybe she’s just a faster runner than I am.) Unlike the 9.5s, the 10s were perfect for me on the downhill. When the hills are steep, there is pretty much no way to keep your feet from sliding a tiny bit in your shoes. Unlike the 9.5s, where my toes bumped the end, in the 10s my toes had plenty of room to slide forward without hitting the end of the shoe.

Overall, I’m tickled pink (and purple, for the 9.5s) that I had the opportunity to try Skechers Go Bionic, and plan to wear them for my next trail races in 2014. They are lightweight, well designed, rugged, comfortable, and cute (in the colors, at least). Despite the minimal non-running break-in period, I did not have any blisters or hot spots from the Skechers. The shoes got dusty and muddy, but nothing stuck to the soles and they clean off very easily. Bottom line: if you are looking for trail shoes, do not overlook the Skechers Go Bionic.

In Events February 27, 2014

Five Things I Learned While Carrying A Giant Orange Flower

In Events January 6, 2014

2014: I Run…Trails!?!…This Year

“Do as I say, not as I do” is the sure sign of a hypocrite, yet that’s my message to you about trail racing… Up until December 28th, I had not considered that running on a trail would be THAT much different than running on the road. They both have hills, they both have twists, I figured the main difference would be the many, many more opportunities to trip over a pebble and inadvertently re-enact the Mary Decker-Zola Budd fiasco of 1984 (only with at least a dozen more runners going down). Oh my sweet, ignorant optimism!

Before I get into the story, the backstory is two-fold. One, I’m on a mission to land on earth in the Half Fanatics. Two, I’ve signed up to run 1,000 miles through Run This Year. (If you haven’t signed up yet, go! Sign up! It is free, and there are sweet swagalicious prizes!)

Brazen Racing hosts a series of 24 trail races each year, all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Everyone I know raves about their races, so I decided to sign up for a pair: the New Year’s Eve (actually held on December 28) and the New Year’s Day. Those who finish both receive a pretty nifty triple medal. A great reputation with runners plus a pretty shiny equals a race I want to run.

So on December 28 I reported to Lake Chabot for my very first trail run: a half marathon, naturally. As the cheerful volunteer handed me my bib, the starting bell rang (exactly on time), and I managed to politely throw my gear bag at another volunteer as I darted off to the back of the pack, fumbling with my bib along the way. I wasn’t quite the very last to start, but I was close, starting up Nike+ and silently resolving to leave earlier for the January 1 event.

All was run, run, walk, run, walk, walk, run until the first climb. Since I ran the inaugural Tiberon By The Bay Half Marathon in 2013—Tiburon, meaning “shark” in Spanish, gets its name from the gigantic shark-fin shaped hill that dominates it—I am not afraid of hills. Well, I wasn’t afraid of hills until I hit the first one. It is not a good sign when I find myself gasping for air before I’ve hit the first mile marker. Oops.

Fortunately, I’ve adopted a Panglossian “I run in the best of all possible worlds” mantra, and laughed my butt off (or at least the parts of it that were not in major pain). Since my two favorite ways to describe my “racing” are (1) “I don’t run fast, I run cute. Play to your strengths,” and (2) “I’m not slow, I’m maximizing the value of my entry fee,” I just plodded along, running on the (very few!) flat parts, chugging slowly up the mountains like The Little Engine That Could, and stopping to pet the cute dogs I met along the way. I ran up to the first hydration and aid station, where I finally met the famous Endorphin Dude! Then I chugged up yet another mountain. I skipped and hopped over the suspension bridge because it was fun to make it go bouncy-bouncy. I lingered at the remaining aid station buffets, downing some electrolytes and Energy Bits, picking up some Jelly Belly beans to take along with me in a little Dixie Cup. The Brazen volunteers were all happy and encouraging, the weather was perfect, and the views of the park were gorgeous. (Yes, I stopped at the top of every hill—I EARNED that view, thankyouverymuch.)

Along the way, I learned that running downhill can be every bit as hard as running uphill. After considering the “gaiters” that some runners had on kind of dorky, I felt much less smug when I stopped to pick rocks out of my shoes. I managed not to trip on any pebbles, but I did stub the same toe on four or five different tree roots, and the eucalyptus tree bits tried to stab me in the ankles several times.

When I finally crossed the finish line, more than FOUR HOURS after I started my race—dude, people run WHOLE marathons in less than that!—I was pleasantly surprised to learn I was not the Dead Last Finisher. A cheer erupted as I crossed the finish line (really, people cheered!) and found several runners I’d met during the last year hanging out at the finish line. The Brazen Racing team had put on a post-race smorgasborg including coolers full of the It’s It ice cream sandwiches (the real San Francisco Treat!) and every manner of salty and sweet and carb-o-licious snack you might want post-run, plus bananas and juicy blood oranges.

After I got home, showered off, and put my pajamas back on, I was very glad I had already signed up for the New Year’s Day. At the time, I wasn’t sure my legs would let my fingers sign up for any more races! Fortunately, New Year’s Day ran the course in reverse. This turned several super steep climbs into downhill crawls. I took delight in the bouncy-bouncy bridge (this time crossing it by myself, so it took a little more skipping and hopping to make it happen) and shaved just about 30 minutes off of my New Year’s Eve time. Go, me! The trail racing adventures continued that week as I ran my third trail half on January 4 (for those counting, that makes 3 in one week), but that’s another story for another day.

Want to try running a trail? Check out Brazen Racing. They offer a variety of distances, great course support, and a volunteer program where your volunteer hours turn into race discounts or free race entries.

Have you ever run a trail race?

Trail Running is not for wimps! Read about Bain’s Brazen experience!

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In Uncategorized December 23, 2013

Eat More Kale! (the t-shirt)

Think of “Eat More Kale”

When you see the phrase “Eat More Kale,” what is the very first thing that pops into your mind? If you went to the website with that name, www.eatmorekale.com what would you expect to find?

Clearly, You Think of Chicken

Chick-fil-A, the $4 billion chicken sandwich specialists with over 1,700 stores across the United States, is certain you will be convinced that “Eat More Kale” has something to do with them. You read that right, Chick-fil-A believes you will think of Chick-fil-A when you read “Eat More Kale” and be confused because, well, Chick-fil-A doesn’t actually serve kale.

My Love Affair With Chick-fil-A

Before I explain, here’s a little background on my relationship with Chick-fil-A. As you probably know, I am a vegetarian and have been since 2001. What you might not know is that before then, I was an ardent Chick-fil-A supporter. The Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich is far superior to any other chicken sandwich out there. I liked it so much that when my parents came to visit me in Austin, TX I took them to Chick-fil-A to experience chicken sandwich perfection and some waffle fries. (I actually felt bad for them, because in Michigan they didn’t have any Chick-fil-A.) Despite its religious origins, I liked that Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday, guaranteeing that every employee has at least one consistent full day off to spend with family every week. The sandwiches are so good that back when Chick-fil-A was only available in shopping malls, I used to say that the path to being a millionaire was clearly in opening a free-standing Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A sponsors an NFL bowl game. They’re that big. They give away sandwiches to people dressed up like cows on Halloween. More recently, despite the company’s anti-gay marriage stance, I’ve found something else to admire about Chick-fil-A. (Regarding the company’s view on gay marriage, briefly: I no longer eat chicken, so I don’t have to take any action. As corporation, Chick-fil-A can choose to what to support; as a consumer, you can vote with your dollars too.) First, Chick-fil-A has been slowly phasing out artificial colors and trans fats. Second, Chick-fil-a is testing out new buns without high fructose corn syrup for a future roll-out nationwide, and is also testing out healthier alternatives to other ingredients. I admire this because I’m in favor of healthier, less-processed food with fewer artificial ingredients. I also admire this because Chick-fil-A invited a well-known food blogger who had criticized the chicken sandwich contents to address the company’s management and help educate them on what consumers wanted gone and why.

Chick-fil-A: clearly all about the chicken sandwiches. So much about the chicken sandwiches that their famous advertisements on TV and billboards feature spotted cows holding signs that say “Eat Mor Chikin.”

This Vermont Guy? Not About Chicken.

Enter a Vermonter named Bo. Bo Muller-Moore, aka “the ‘Eat More Kale’ guy.” Bo is an artist who makes t-shirts, by hand, with a tiny staff. He runs what you’d call a micro-business. Two farmers, Paul and Kate of High-Ledge Farm, asked Bo to make them some shirts, and so in 2001, Bo started to print shirts that simply say “Eat More Kale.” For a long time you could only get one at a farmer’s market or music festival. Then Bo paid a friend to make him a website, and people all over the place started ordering “Eat More Kale” shirts (and sweatshirts, and aprons). Why? It’s a great idea, and kale is the current media vegetable starlet, with as many articles on kale as on the latest Kardashain escapades. Kale is trendy. So trendy, in fact, the other people started to copy Bo’s shirts.

Like any smart businessman, Bo wanted to protect his interests and his business, and filed for a trademark on “Eat More Kale.” When someone files for a trademark, there is a period of time when anyone can challenge it for certain reasons, and ask the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to NOT issue the trademark. One of the reasons you can object to a trademark application is that the requested trademark—the name, short phrase, or slogan—is too similar to an existing trademark and would confuse consumers. For example, if I wanted to file a trademark for my store named “Wall-mart,” you can bet Wal-Mart is going to object. The proposed name sounds just like Wal-Mart and is likely to confuse people into thinking there is a connection. Similarly, I wouldn’t be able to trademark the phrase “all the news that’s fit to print” because the New York Times has been using it for decades, and people might be misled into thinking I have some connection to the New York Times. (Confession: I do not, but I’d like to!)

Chick-fil-A Wants To Stop Him.

When Bo filed for a trademark on “Eat More Kale,” Chick-fil-A stepped in to fight it on confusion grounds. To be fair, this isn’t Chick-fil-A’s first attempt to stomp out Bo’s kale shirts. When you own a trademark, you have to protect it, so trademark owners are obligated to ask you to stop when you either use their trademark (hence I’m not opening a vegan chicken sandwich shop called Chick-fil-A) or when you use a mark that is confusingly similar (such as Chickin-fil-A). A few years ago—five years after the first kale shirts–Chick-fil-A wrote what us lawyers call a “cease and desist” letter, telling Bo that he’d better stop making those kale shirts or Chick-fil-A would sue him. Bo got his own lawyer to write a letter back, basically explaining that no one who bought his kale shirts could possibly be confused into thinking they were affiliated in any way with Chick-fil-A. Because, you know, when YOU first read “Eat More Kale,” what did YOU think of?

Unfortunately, the USPTO took Chick-fil-A’s side, and is convinced that you and other consumers are too stupid to understand that “Eat More Kale” is not a Chick-fil-A slogan, and that you will be confused by seeing an “Eat More Kale” shirt. The USPTO has issued a “preliminary rejection” which means Bo is about to lose “Eat More Kale” as a trademark forever. This means two things for Bo. First, anyone can ride on the coattails of his work and make and sell “Eat More Kale” shirts. Second, Chick-fil-A can shut them ALL down. With the USPTO ruling that yes, consumers will see “Eat More Kale” and think it is related to Chick-fil-A, Chick-fil-A can claim consumer confusion and sue Bo (and anyone else making a t-shirt that says “Eat More Kale”). Most t-shirt guys are like Bo, small micro-businesses run by individuals and families, and many don’t have the means or support to fight Chick-fil-A. By claiming consumer confusion, Chick-fil-A’s lawsuit could force Bo to destroy all of his kale shirt inventory, pay Chick-fil-A a fat stack of cash (literally all of his profits for every kale shirt he’s sold in the last 12 years), and never make another kale shirt; Chick-fil-A can force Bo to take down his website.

Eat More Bacon?

Funny how Chick-fil-A hasn’t gone after the “Eat More Bacon” t-shirts, isn’t it?

What you can do

Go to www.eatmorekale.com and buy an Eat More Kale shirt, donate to Bo’s legal fund, and sign up for the Eat More Kale e-newsletter. Join the community page on Facebook.
Go to Sum of Us and sign the petition to ask Chick-fil-A to get a life and stop harassing Bo, because “Eat More Kale” does NOT confuse YOU. http://action.sumofus.org/a/chick-fil-A-eat-more-kale/2/5/?akid=3200.527922.s9fzcx&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=2
Then go read more at Care2 (the petition closed, sadly with few signatures): http://www.care2.com/causes/eat-more-kale-guy-fights-on-against-corporate-bullying.html
Go to Take Part and read more: http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/04/30/chick-fil-doesnt-want-you-eat-more-kale
Or read about it on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pete-mason/eat-more-kale_b_1469661.html
Or the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/us/eat-more-kale-t-shirts-challenged-by-chick-fil-a.html?_r=0
Tell your friends.

In Uncategorized October 8, 2013

Just Label It: Five Reasons To Label GMO Foods

Just label it. It’s not that hard. What is hard is believing that over 100 years after the creation of the Food and Drug Administration, I still don’t have the right to know what is in my food. (Melanie Warner’s book, Pandora’s Lunchbox, has a fascinating overview of the origins of the FDA, processed food, and food additives. Highly recommended, fast read.) The problem isn’t limited to genetically modified organisms, but it irks me that I can go into a store and buy some food without any right to know about literally hundreds of things that could be in it.

As a preliminary matter, educate yourself. You can read the entire text of the Washington state bill here: http://yeson522.com/about/read/ True, this is the “yes on 522” campaign page, but the entire text of the bill is on the website and there is a link to a .pdf version. This bill is different from the California bill that failed last year, in time frame, definitions, and requirements. If you live in Washington and get to vote on this issue, reading the actual text of the bill will inform you more than any ad or speech and you will not fall prey to misinformation. You can see the reasons for the bill, which are part of the preamble; you can also see the lengthy list of items that are exempt from the labeling requirement.

Why am I for labeling genetically modified food?

1. I don’t trust the opposition based on past bad behavior.

The loudest voice against the labeling law is a coalition led by seed producer Monsanto. Monsanto, in case you are unfamiliar, owns the patents to most of the genetically modified crops in the United States. According to the Associated Press, “five corporations and a trade group representing food manufacturers have largely financed efforts to defeat the measure, raising $17.2 million so far.” (See “Big money shapes WA GMO food label fight” at www.kgw.com, for example.) It is no secret that I am do not like Monsanto. I’m offended by their legal actions in the past decade. These include suing farmers who save seeds from crops grown from Monsanto seeds (seed-saving is a custom that dates back to the beginning of agriculture), and suing organic farmers whose crops were contaminated by Monsanto’s crops growing across the street (Mother Nature does not recognize property boundaries). As an attorney I understand the need to protect your intellectual property and contract rights, which arguable justifies suing the seed-savers, but suing the organic farmers is just rubbing salt into fresh wounds: first ruin their livelihood (GMO crops cannot be sold as organic, and after the organic farmers’ wheat was found to be contaminated several countries cancelled their contracts), then make them pay you for doing it.

1a. I don’t find the opposition’s arguments credible or persuasive. Personally, I’m not sure what real argument they have for NOT labeling genetically engineered foods. They openly state GMO food is safe to eat and has no health effects, and they are proud of their many products, so I’m not sure why Monsanto doesn’t want you to know which of your foods might have their technology in them. If the Monsanto argument is that a label is “fear mongering,” I’m not impressed. For one, foods are already required to state their ingredients on the label, including most food additives (many of which are already known to be dangerous). Those labels have not dissuaded people from buying foods with those labels. Second, Monsanto certainly has enough resources at their disposal to stage an education campaign to teach us just why we should not be afraid of genetic engineering in food. (Just look at how much they have spent opposing this campaign.) I would love to see widespread publication of all of the independent, peer-reviewed, third-party studies of genetically modified foods, so that we can all have easy access to the science.

As a final note on this topic, not all food manufacturers oppose this bill. Multiple food manufacturers, brands, and suppliers already support labeling genetically modified food. (A list of supporters for the Washington bill can be found on the Yes on 522 website.) Whole Foods has already adopted its own timetable to require all GMO-containing food to be labeled, and Chiptole has voluntarily undertaken to label any GMO food they use. I have not seen any information that indicates they are suffering, financially or otherwise.

2. It’s easy.

Food companies are constantly changing and updating their labels for all sorts of reasons—such as a change in the recipe of the product, or the addition of a new item to the mandatory allergens disclosures, or a change in status from non-Kosher to Kosher—this won’t be any different from any other label change. The bill doesn’t require companies to change labels the day it is passed, they will have plenty of time to make plans.

3. We want it.

Most Americans want a label. According to the New York Times poll taken in summer 2013, 93% of people surveyed want to know which foods are genetically modified.

4. Information wants to be free and available.

4a. These labels could literally save lives. One of my parents’ close friends is violently allergic to eggs. He is so allergic that when he once ate a sandwich that (unbeknownst to him) had been prepared on a grill that previously had an egg on it (but had been wiped down), he had such a severe reaction that he had to be hospitalized. Now the Washington law would not require disclosure of which ingredients are genetically modified or how, but if I had a severe food allergy I wouldn’t want to eat any product that might contain any element of the food to which I was allergic.

4b. These labels will allow people to make their own choices. Let me give you a concrete example: I don’t eat Twinkies. Why? Reading the label indicates that Twinkies may contain beef fat. I am a vegetarian. The information on the label allows me to make an informed decision on this point. A GMO label would allow me to make educated choices about my food.

5. I want to reduce pesticide usage.

Personally, I do not want to support the increased use of pesticides. Genetically engineered crops use more pesticides than other crops. As a result, there are more pesticide residues on those crops, and more pesticides pumped into the soil, water, and air. Part of why I choose organic when I can is to limit my personal consumption/usage of pesticides.

5a. Pesticides are bad for people who eat. Yes, pesticides are very helpful inventions that have allowed us to develop agriculture to the point where the earth grows enough food to feed everyone. In today’s world, there is no reason anyone has to starve. It wasn’t that long ago that people in the United States were literally dying of starvation. But even the most pro-pesticide person has to concede that pesticides are meant to kill pests, and are not intended to be a condiment for people’s food. Consumers have a right to know which produce is GMO so they can wash that produce extra carefully. (Not everyone can afford to choose organic, and organic produce is not universally available.) I’ll generally just rinse an organic crop with water, but I try to avoid eating pesticide residue on conventional crops.

5b. Pesticides are bad for soil, water, and bees. Consumers have a right to know so they can choose conventional crops (or even organic ones) that are in line with their personal environmental policies too.Pesticides end up on and I the soil and ground water. When it rains, pesticides from one farm wash into another farm, or even into my backyard. Just as the increased use of antibiotics has led to “superbug” infections that are antibiotic resistant and difficult or impossible to treat, use of pesticides leads to “superweeds” that are resistant to pesticides—requiring even more pesticides (either in quantity or variety) to control. Even if there are no additional pesticide residues on the resulting produce, pesticides applied to the crops end up in the soil and ground water. There is evidence that pesticides play a role in colony collapse disorder (the recent phenomenon of bees dying off in large numbers).

5c. Pesticides are bad for people who pick your food. More important, heavier applications of pesticides have a huge impact on the health of farm workers. I don’t know how many farm workers you have met, but every one I had met works very hard for long hours at this manual labor. Farm workers are generally paid a piece-work rate, which means they are paid for the amount of produce they harvest, not for the number of hours worked. Farm workers are unlikely to have access to health care for themselves and their families, many of whom live in farm-owned housing that is secluded from the nearest community. Farm workers are also frequently unable to afford child care, and as a result many bring their pre-school-aged children into the fields and orchards to work with them. Those children are already exposed to high levels of pesticides and fungicides, and don’t need an increased dose. You can go to www.ufw.org, the official home page of the United Farmworkers (which isn’t a union, because farmworkers do not have the legal right unionize), for links to information on farmworkers and pesticides.

What do you think? Why not just label it? Is this a health issue?

If you’ve found this post interesting or informative, please forward it to your friends (especially those in Washington State). I’d love to hear how many “no on 522” ads Washington residents are subject to on TV, radio, billboards, etc. and which organizations are sponsoring them.

Comments are welcome (even those opposed to the Washington bill) and are moderated. Civil discourse only, logic is encouraged, and please go read the text of the bill first.

Selected Resources

2011 lawsuit by organic farmers against Monsanto

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/monsanto-wins-appeal-tossing-patent-suit-by-organic-farmers/article_9f7a9fdf-9e7c-5030-a14e-1d913e1ef3b6.html (St. Louis Post Dispatch, story by Bloomberg News)

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/06/11/2133121/appeals-court-monsanto-not-sue-farmers/ (Think Progress, a political news source, but with links to other sources)

NYT survey results

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods.html?ref=science

NYT topic on GMO food, opinion, science, and food policy

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/g/genetically_modified_food/index.html

Google Scholar is a great resource for scholarly articles, studies, research, and papers. A search for “pesticide bees collapse” produced 13,000 results.)

In Science! I like it! September 5, 2013

Heat and Humidity and Exercise, Oh My!

Recently I’ve learned that while many runners and athletes can diligently recite what to do while exercising in hot and humid conditions (drink fluids, take it easy, cool down when done), they don’t have a firm grasp on the science behind the body’s reaction to humidity. Worse, they don’t know how to recognize the symptoms of heat-and-humidity-related illness in their friends, leading to delay in seeking appropriate medical attention. When you’re done reading this post, I hope you understand the science better, know how to prevent illness, and are equipped to seek help if necessary. A hot, humid environment is the most stressful condition for exercise.

The Science of Sweat. When you exercise, your body warms up and your body temperature increases. The body is amazing at self-regulating temperature, and when your temperature rises, your body’s cooling mechanism kicks in. The body re-directs blood from the deeper, more central parts of the body—like the internal organs and your muscles—and into the blood vessels that are closest to the surface of the skin. (The technical term for this is peripheral vasodilation) Also, you sweat. Sweat is the body’s main mechanism to cool the body. Sweat is made up primarily of water, with some salts (which play a role in the movement of fluids between and among cells in the body). The body produces sweat inside the body, which then exits the body via the pores in the skin. The water in the sweat evaporates from the water, which cools the underlying blood.

Even without heat and humidity, extended bouts of strenuous exercise will lead to dehydration as the body sweats to dissipate heat. Dehydration is dangerous because it impairs performance (as fluids are not circulating the way they should within the bloodstream) and can cause muscle cramps. It can also lead to other inconveniences and symptoms, which on the less dangerous end include headache and light-headedness, and on the more severe end include fatigue, confusion, lethargy, and an elevated body temperature.

The Science of Humidity. If the air surrounding the body is humid, sweating becomes a less efficient way to cool the body. The higher the humidity, the less efficient sweating is. If you’ve ever experienced humidity, you know how your skin stays wet? That’s sweat, sitting on your skin, unable to evaporate. When sweat can’t evaporate, it doesn’t cool off the body. The body keeps pumping out sweat, but the body temperature does not drop.

At this point, a few things happen. First, any exercise seems more difficult because the body is actively redirecting blood away from the muscles. The muscles are not actually working any harder—in fact they are working less efficiently, because the supply of oxygen has been drastically reduced—it just seems that way. (In fact, they are working the same as, or less than, they would be at a lower temperature. This is why “hot” exercise does not produce a higher calorie burn.) Second, the heart has to work harder to drive the circulatory system because (a) the blood is thicker and sludgier (as part of the water that usually keeps blood at the regular consistency has been lost due to sweat), and (b) it is being pumped through vessels that are further away from the heart (closer to the surface of the skin than usual).

At this point, it should make sense that humidity magnifies the effect of heat. If it is hot and NOT humid (a so-called “dry heat”), you will sweat but the sweat will evaporate and the body will be cooled. These conditions present their own dangers, as without a feeling of being sweaty, fluid loss might not be as apparent until you experience sudden or extreme thirst. What we call “heat-related illnesses” are often caused not by heat, but by a combination of heat (actual temperature) and humidity (relative humidity). The combined effect of the two is known as the heat index. For example, at a relative humidity of 70% and an actual temperature of 70 degrees F, the body reacts as though it is 70 degrees (apparent temperature). At the same humidity but an actual temperature of 80, the apparent temperature is 85 degrees, well within a safe temperature to exercise; at actual temperature 90 degrees the apparent temperature is 106, just over the threshold where heat cramps or heat exhaustion are likely and heat stroke is possible.

Houston, We Have A Problem. Heat and humidity lead to sweating, which lead to elevated body temperature, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalance. Sodium and potassium are two electrolytes. Electrolytes are compounds that become ions when they are dissolved into a solution, and they regulate the flow of substances into and out of cells. The regulated flow of things into and out of cells is crucial to muscle contraction, fluid balance in and out of cells, and nerve impulses. (Think of them as the traffic cops of the body. No traffic cops, and no traffic signals, and you get a traffic jam with all of the cars bumper to bumper with nowhere to go.)

Heat-Related Illnesses. There are three main heat-related illnesses: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat cramps are muscle cramps that occur due to heat. The cramps occur because the muscles are not receiving regular blood circulation. This means that the muscles do not receive as much oxygenated blood, and the waste products produced by muscular activity are not removed from the body at the same rate, as would occur in cooler and less humid temperatures. The resulting electrolyte imbalance means muscle contraction is not properly regulated. This is the least serious form of heat-related illness. The muscle might feel hard to the touch (just like a “Charlie Horse” typo of calf cramp feels). Heat cramps are the most minor form of heat-related illness. Rest and rehydration (including salts such as those found in electrolyte-type sports drinks) are the appropriate treatment.

Both heat exhaustion and heat stroke are potentially life-threatening and must be treated immediately. Heat exhaustion has multiple signs and symptoms, not all of which are present in any given case. Elevated body temperatures may reach up to 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

Heat Exhaustion Signs

Pulse that is rapid and weak

Low blood pressure

Fatigue, tiredness, general weakness

Headache, dizziness

Nausea

Pale, cold, clammy skin

Profuse sweating

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can become heat stroke. If you suspect that you or a friend have heat exhaustion, seek immediate treatment. Treatment for Heat Exhaustion starts with stopping exercise and getting out of the heat/humidity; if possible, move to a cool, ventilated area. Drink fluids—not just water, but also sports drinks (which contain electrolytes potassium and sodium). Remove any tight clothing and unnecessary layers, and any non-breathable clothing. Temperature monitoring is also recommended for heat exhaustion. If you or a friend suffer from heat exhaustion during a distance running event, contact on-course medical support immediately. Your race might be over, but your life will be safe; listen to on-course medical support and follow their advice.

More serious than heat exhaustion is Heat Stroke. If you compare the signs of heat stroke with those of heat exhaustion, you’ll notice many of them are opposites: cold, clammy skin (heat exhaustion) v. hot, dry skin (heat stroke); paleness (heat exhaustion) v. redness (heat stroke); and strong pulse (heat exhaustion) v. weak pulse (heat stroke). In heat stroke, the body temperature rises to or above 105 degrees F (41 degrees C).

Heat Stroke Signs

Hot, dry skin (not sweating)

Bright red skin color

Rapid, strong pulse

Mental status changes, such as confusion, irritability, anxiety, aggression

Labored breathing

Heat stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition. It can cause organ failure, brain damage, or death. If you suspect that you or another has heat stroke, stop exercise and seek immediate medical attention. Treatment for Heat Stroke is to stop exercising immediately, remove as much clothing as possible, cool the body in any way possible, give fluids to the person suffering, and get them to an emergency room immediately.

Risk Factors for Heat-Related Illness. Clearly, heat—or more likely heat AND humidity—are required for a heat-related illness. Other risk factors are more personal and include:

Dehydration
Obesity
Low physical fitness/poor conditioning
Lack of acclimatization (to the heat/humidity/elevation)
Sleep deprivation (surprised?)
Certain medications including diuretics and antidepressants
Sweat gland dysfunction
Illness, including upper respiratory illnesses (cold/flu/etc.) or gastrointestinal illness (severe upset stomach, etc.)

Prevent Heat-Related Illness!

Understand how heat and humidity affect your body; if possible, train in some humidity.
Pay attention to how your body feels. Take walking breaks if you are running, and otherwise reduce the intensity of other exercise.
Acclimate yourself by increasing exercise gradually in the heat. According to the American Counsel on Exercise, it takes a week to 10 days to acclimate to heat; ACE recommends exercising for short periods each day. Author and Coach Jenny Hadfield, writing for Active.com, stated it takes two weeks. (This is, I believe, a highly personalized factor.)
Choose lightweight, breathable clothing. At the gym, cotton is cooler; distance runners say “cotton is death” because the fabric’s propensity to retain moisture leads to blisters. Do not wear “sauna suits” or other deliberately heated clothing in the heat and humidity.
Choose light colors. White clothing reflects the heat better than dark clothing.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Drink a moderate amount of extra fluids prior to an event in the heat and humidity. During the event, consume small amounts of fluid frequently. Even if you do not usually carry liquid, consider carrying it with you on hot and humid days. If you carry fluid at an event, sip it between aid stations, and refill each time you are able.

Cooling the Body. Heat-related illness treatment requires someone to cool the affected body as well as possible. Here are some ways to cool the body—though seeking shade (getting the heck out of the sun and heat!) should be a top priority, if at all possible.

In hot but not humid weather, pour cool water on your head and body. This will act as a sort of sweat supplement, evaporating from the body and cooling it.
Similarly, wear a wet towel around your neck. There are specially designed cooling towels, as well as thin neck bands containing beads that hold water designed for this purpose.
Ice, ice, baby! Ice in the mouth melts to create cold water to cool the body’s core. Ice on the wrists, back of the neck, and top of the head will help cool the blood near the surface of the body faster.

THIS IS SERIOUS. For those who were at the Disneyland Half Marathon this past weekend, you may have seen a few unfortunate runners succumb to the heat and humidity. I don’t know those runners personally, and don’t know whether they were prepared for the environment (and I’m not rude enough to stare so I don’t know what they were wearing or whether they were carrying fluids). I also saw a few runners being treated for heat-related illness at the Santa Rosa half/full as well. Just so you don’t think it’s only me, I asked for some input from other runners.

A fellow member of the Half Fanatics (let’s call him Fellow Fanatic) wrote to me about a race his friend (Fanatic Friend) drove to, one that took place in a hot and humid climate. The drive prevented Fanatic Friend from hydrating as he would have—just like people drink less while traveling by air. While Friend carried water, he drank it instead of using the aid stations (the better thing would have been to sip it in addition to the aid stations). Fellow Fanatic observed Fanatic Friend as far out as mile 9, where he seemed to be doing fine; by mile 12 Fanatic Friend was talking to medical, but waived to Fellow Fanatic and told him to go on by. Not 15 minutes later another runner saw Fanatic Friend being whisked off to the ER by ambulance, as the on-course medical staff were unable to lower his temperature.

Here’s what Fellow Fanatic concluded:

Bottom line is: the humidity will hit you fast. You cannot be a superstar runner in the humidity, so do not push for a PR. Use those water stations before depleting your own water source. Do not be alone at a race. Make sure you have a plan with your family or a friend who you’re racing with on what to do if something goes wrong. Where to meet, text, whatever. If you are out of state or the country, make sure you know what your insurance covers and how your family/friend can help.

Be safe out there!

Sources:

ACE Group Fitness Instructor Manual, Chapter 1: Exercise Physiology, discussion of environmental conditions while exercising.

AFAA textbook, Fitness: Theory and Practice.

The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Precision Nutrition Certification Manual, second edition.

Multiple articles available via PubMed.gov and the NCBI, including but not limited to:

Coris EE, Ramirez AM, and Van Durme DJ. “Heat illness in athletes: the dangerous combination of heat, humidity and exercise.” Sports Med 2004; 34(1): 9-16.

In Uncategorized August 29, 2013

Bain is a Betty

Dear Kristin,

I’m your Betty. (Or at least one of them—I did spread the word to my ninja posse of badass women, so I hope you’ll pick some of them too.)

Mom died last year. (When she was first diagnosed with cancer I signed up to walk the 3-Day on the grounds that all cancer sucks and it didn’t matter she didn’t have breast cancer, and raised $5,000. The next year I did it again.) She wanted to die at home with her family and her dog, and that’s how she did it. When she started on hospice, I went home to hang out with her. Even though she was busy dying, we laughed a lot, and told bad jokes, and even when she couldn’t get out of bed she insisted I help brush her hair and put a little blush on her so she didn’t look “too scary.” It is royally unfair that Mom died before I got married, before my brother’s kid was born, before she reached her goal of 50 years of marriage to Dad (she made it to 46). I don’t get mad and refuse to be defeated. My response to Mom’s death was to run my fastest half marathon (which wasn’t very fast, and Dad beat me by over half an hour) and raise $24,500 for the American Cancer Society. (I would have raised more, but I only had July to mid-November to do it.)

I’m an instigator. I’m the one encouraging my co-workers to get out from behind their desks and sign up for the Warrior Dash or take a trapeze lesson. Last year I pushed the Detroit office of my firm to run the half marathon relay, which inspired one partner to keep running so she could run the entire half this year. This is my second year as an Action Hero for Women’s Health magazine, promoting the Run 10 Feed 10 events and raising money to feed the hungry through partnerships with the FEED Foundation. This summr I not only got Dad to run the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Chicago, I also convinced him to don an Elvis wig and pose with me–here’s the photographic evidence:

I’m versatile. My day job is lawyering; I know more about the linings of your bodily cavities, the proper way to post-tension a tennis court slab, and how to tap a sewer pipe than you have any need to know. My Monday-at-6-am-job is teaching yoga. (I’m not a morning person but I can reliably predict I won’t be in court or a deposition at 6 a.m. on Monday.) I’ve translated for a volunteer group building stoves in rural Guatemala and appeared on stage with the Italian National Opera Company, unpacked clothing at Macy’s and supervised the children’s wardrobe for the Oregon Ballet Theatre (both of those after law school). When I met my Brazilian mother-in-law for the first time, we conversed in French because it is the one language we have in common.

I’m tenacious. As of today, I’ve run 15 half marathons this year. (There are another 11 on calendar.) I started a blog at www.trainwithbain.com (I fought WordPress and won!). At age 15 I chaperoned myself on a trip to the national Scout jamboree in Finland, and at age 23 I chaperoned a group of eight Girl Scouts on the same trip. I’ve bagged a Munro, sang onstage with the band at Isolde’s Tower in Dublin, and drove on the isle of Harris. Next year I think I’ll learn SUP (better! SUP yoga!), try a long bike ride, maybe do a sprint triathlon? I’m also going to apply to join Race Guards.

I’m opinionated. I’m a vegetarian who will tell you how to poach salmon and marinate a turkey. I love to engage in a good debate, hear your experiences, and learn something new.

I love to cross the streams (and I’m really good at it). I work in a suit-wearing profession while cultivating a community of Mensa members, runners, Burning Man attendees, hackers, authors, PhDs, and yoga practitioners. I’ve lived in six states. My real purpose in life seems to be introducing people who need to meet each other but wouldn’t otherwise have a way to meet. My secret superhero power is to accidentally meet the most interesting person at the party. I’m licensed to teach PiYo, Zumba, RealRyde, TurboKick, and Piloxing.

So call me Betty. Or Elizabeth. (Just not Lizzie—I don’t want to have to kick your ass.)

xoxo,

Bain

In Events August 28, 2013

Santa Rosa: Every Run Is A Good Run

My running goal was never “to win this race.” I am fond of telling people that I look at racing this way: I’ve seen the Olympics, and at the end they give the people who win a big medal; every time I cross a finish line someone hands me a medal, so I must win A LOT of races!

A classic first-child/Type A/perfectionist/otherwise-driven personality, sticking with something that I’m not particularly “good” at (and frankly that I don’t know I like) is challenging for me. One of the ways that I have kept myself from getting crazy insane and overly serious about running is the Sparkle Skirt. It is pretty much just like it sounds–a skirt with sparkles on it. Totally ridiculous, as you can see:

On the left you can see me in the Sparkle Skirt (a commando model, since I like to wear compression shorts/tights) posing with my running buddy Kat and everyone’s favorite beagle after the Santa Rosa half marathon this past Sunday. (Santa Rosa, for those who don’t know, is the home of Charles Schultz. There is even a small Snoopy-shaped labyrinth.)

The Santa Rosa half marathon (and marathon and 5k) is in its fifth year, and it has hit a sweet spot that many older races can only dream of achieving. As you can see from the photos (credit to Kat, by the way, as they are hers), the race comes with a sweet spinner medal on a fat custom ribbon, and instead of yet another race shirt all runners receive a track jacket. (The jacket came in a men’s and women’s version–blue and pink respectively–and features reflective stripes and venting mesh. They run true to size, even in the women’s sizes.) Santa Rosa is also the only race I have personally attended where packet pickup takes place at a winery–with wine tasting. What’s not to love??

But wait, it gets better.

(You might want to sign up for 2014 now: http://www.thesantarosamarathon.com/ It will sell out again next year.)

Have you run the Santa Rosa Marathon? Consider giving it a go!

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There were so many porta-potties at the start/finish that I never had to wait in any line. (I never had to wait at all–I just walked along the line until I found a green/unoccupied indicator.) If you’ve ever been to a race and had to wait in line, only to find the one open potty has no paper or is already full enough to reek (or like me, you’ve waited in line so long you miss the starting gun) you know how important the porta-potty factor is. Nearby were two stands dispensing hand sanitizing foam. Best porta-potties ever. I wish I’d taken a picture, as it was unbelievable. This fact alone makes me bow in gratitude towards the organizers.

The start/finish was a combined area. As a starting area, there was plenty of room to mill about and warm up (note the total absence of lines for the porta-potties). Bag check had no line and was well-organized. Only a minimal amount of the street was closed off by barricade fences, making it easy to get around.

The course for the half marathon shared much of the course for the full marathon, and had some areas where traffic went in both directions (as part was out-and-back). Initially I was worried about (1) crowding, since I’m not the most coordinated of people and if there was a way to accidentally knock down the next Mary Decker my body would find a way to do it, and (2) figuring out which way to go, as Mom was directionally challenged (she literally got lost with a map and compass, after which the Girl Scouts wouldn’t let her lead hikes any more) and just leave it to me to run the course backwards or something. Neither of those was a problem, even with the marathon field looking about twice as big as the half field. The transition points were well-marked and staffed by volunteers, often with accompanying water/gatorade/snack stations.

The course was also pretty. Most of it was in a local/regional park with murals along the walls and/or greenery. The one thing I love about running, without qualification, is spending time outside. Blessed with gorgeous weather, the Santa Rosa half course was at its finest. I loved running alongside several vineyards, and seeing birds eating their breakfasts along the way.

Back to the start/finish, the finish chute was wide and the photographers were placed in such a way that even I couldn’t trip over them. Stepping off the course with my shiny new medal, I was greeted by volunteers staffing a fruit table stocked with cut watermelon (BRILLIANT!), oranges, apples, and bananas. Bottled water was plentiful. Stepping out of the immediate finish chute area, the park provided plenty of room for runners and their friends and families to enjoy the day. In addition to booths from the race sponsors, the finish line also had an inflatable “bounce house” for the kids, food trucks (including my favorite organic ice cream, Three Twins), a beer garden with pulled pork sliders for sale, live music, and a free pancake breakfast for the runners. My huge pancake, complete with butter and syrup, was just what I needed. After relaxing a bit and having some snacks, I walked the 2 blocks back to my car. Did I mention the organizers are smart enough to put the start/finish right next to several humongous mall parking structures? Booyah!

I will admit that initially my finish time–3:14–kinda bummed me out. Between January and July, I’d managed to whittle my time down below 3:00, but Sunday I was just beat. Was it the oncoming heat? A small touch of humidity? Oh wait! It was probably that on Thursday I donated double red cells at the Red Cross blood drive! (Somewhat ironically, the charity beneficiary of the Santa Rosa race was the Blood Centers of the Pacific.)

See you next year, Santa Rosa!

In Events August 22, 2013

Esprit de She: 5k Palo Alto 2013

Honestly, I had very low expectations for this event for a number of reasons: (1) Lifetime Fitness, one of the main sponsors, promoted and sponsored a “Commitment Day 5k” on New Year’s Day 2013 and not only was the San Francisco event cancelled, I was never notified of the cancellation and spent part of New Year’s Eve scrambling around the internet trying to figure out where I was supposed to show up. Also, still waiting for a refund. (2) The event was moved from its original location (Emeryvile, near me!) to Palo Alto, on a weeknight. Seriously guys, who plans a run for a weekday evening at the end of one of the major traffic corridors in the country?? (3) Originally the event had a 10k and a 5k, but the 10k was cancelled just a few weeks’ out.

That said, I had a fantastic time!

Pre-event: The customer service team was quite accommodating and offered to allow me to either cancel my registration with a full refund or switch to the 5k with a partial refund (the initial cost for the 10k was a little bit more than the 5k). Mad props to Stephanie Weber, the recipient of my initial email which included complaints about the cancellation of the Commitment Day run. One day I was pleasantly surprised by an email informing me I’d won a full box of Luna bars; as promised, a full box of 15 Peanut Honey Pretzel flavored Luna bars arrived at my door via UPS. Communication regarding logistics was adequate without being overwhelming.

Arrival: Parking locations were signed/easy to locate. Lots were close to the start! Check-in had a wait of a mere five minutes, with no waiting at bag check.

The course: A 5k out-and-back in a regional park (Baylands Nature Preserve) that will soon be closed to all events for several years, it had both negative and positive aspects. I was annoyed by the narrow passage in a few spots, and decidedly uncomfortable on the unpaved sections, where I was literally eating runners’ dust (and crying it out from under my contact lenses). On the bright side, it was a gorgeous day to be outside, the park setting was lovely, and the water station and cheerleaders did a great job. The two-wave start was a great idea. I loved seeing the girls from Girls on the Run smiling on the course (as they passed me in one direction or the other).

The swag and after-party: Decidedly great! Instead of a race shirt, Esprit de She came with a cute tank top and reusable yellow cross-body bag (think Chico Bag, but with a cross-body design and an internal pocket). The bag had sponsor samples, of course, and more were available at the finish line. After I had a mimosa and a glass of wine, I enjoyed a vegetarian sandwich (I’m a vegetarian–meat-eater sandwiches were also available) and other snacks accompanied by live music. I spent some time chatting at the Vega booth (more on that in a later post). I skipped the mini massages, manicures, and makeovers, in part because it was getting chilly as the sun went down and in part because I had an hour’s drive ahead of me. One thing I didn’t skip: entering the “text to win” by sponsor Athleta–I won a $50 gift card!

Conclusion: I’d definitely do this event again. For one, Girls on the Run (http://www.girlsontherun.org) is a worthy recipient of funds raised by this event. Second, there were a decent number of women who were running their very first 5k. The event accommodated both the faster runners (definitely not me!) and the super slow-pokes (that’s me). Finally, I had a great time even though only one of my running buddies was there. I’m looking forward to 2014.

For more information on the Esprit de She series of runs, rides, duathlons, and triathlons, visit http://www.espritdeshe.com