Less is the New More

It's hard not to be overwhelmed by technology. Your cell phone likely can accomplish more than your first computer could. There is not only 'an app for that,' there are probably 1000 apps. Web sites have so many bells and whistles that, well, they're noisy. Has it made your life any easier?

I confess that I recently acquired a Blackberry and I love what it can do. I'm not addicted, but I appreciate its horsepower. Owning it confirmed to me what I already knew: the way we use the Internet has changed dramatically, and it isn't going back to the old way. Gone are the days of poking around entire web sites, looking at everything they have to offer. Now I want to get in, get out and get going. The full features may not even be available to me if I'm on my Blackberry, so I'll never see them anyway. Sites like Facebook can easily be clipped for mobile use, as can many of your favorite sites. Old, clunky web sites just don't make the grade anymore.

That's a long introduction into the beginning of an evolution for the TSL Events web site. Our old site had become too rigid, and with a push from our web developer, Kirk Hoaglund of Clientek, we've slimmed things down. Now when you go to http://www.tslevents.com/ you'll find a handy place for the information you want, including a new wave of widgets.

For example, want a race map? We've embedded our map from the Map My Run site. Looking for results or photos? Kirk has created new widgets to easily display those in one spot. (Those clever widgets are also available for you on Facebook). Want to see what we're doing on Facebook? That's also available right on the home page. Soon we'll have a widget for race registration from our registration partner, ImATHLETE. The goal is to give you easy access to what you want, and ultimately to let you take it with you.

The new site isn't yet designed for mobile use, but we're headed that way. The old web model was to create 'sticky' sites that created multiple hits and clicks. Now, I'm only concerned that you can get what you want. If you want to do only one thing on our site, I want to make sure it is easy and accessible. It's still a work in progress, but I think we've taken some big steps.

As always, you'll be the judge. Let me know what you like and what you don't. The new format is much more flexible, so we can respond quicker to your feedback.

Less is the new more. Does it look good on us?

Turkey Time

I use running for exercise, competition, to clear my head and sometimes for transportation. One thing I haven't done is to literally run for my life, with the possible exception of crossing a few intersections. My friend Tom Turkey has made a habit of using his running to 'escape.' I caught up with him this week to check his pulse.

Me: Tom you are looking lean and fit. How is your training going?

TT: Very well, thank you. I had a few interval sessions last week training with this deer I know. She doesn't have much stamina but she's really quick on the short stuff. When that gun goes off, she's gone!

Me: What are your plans for the Turkey Run (Sun. November 21, Como Lake St Paul)?

TT: I think I'll go out hard and try to build a big lead. I really like to get out of sight of everyone who is following me.

Me: Have you been on the course yet this fall?

TT: I was there last weekend, but the snow made it pretty slippery. I still got up to my top gear and really flew.

Me: What weather conditions do you expect for this Sunday (Nov. 21)?

TT: There might some precip in the air, but I think the conditions will be good. The lake is looking pretty.

Me: This course is not hard to follow, but I hear you have a trick you use when you run a complicated course. Would you share that with us?

TT: It's a variation of the old 'leave bread crumbs' routine. I preview the course, dropping a trail of corn behind me. Whe race time comes, I simply follow the trail. It also doubles as a light snack, so I can usually skip the aid stations.

Me: We'll see if you've started a new trend! What's next for you after this race?

TT: I'll be laying low for a few weeks. I'm taking a trip to Chile to explore some underground caverns.

Me: So, no running?

TT: I'm bringing my shoes. I hear there is a nice three-mile loop.

Me: What do you think of the Turkey Run shirt design this year? It's artist Lee Jack Thao's imagination of you after winning the big race.

TT: I really like it! This is the first year I've been depicted with running shoes, and it makes my shoe sponsor very happy.

Me: Good luck on Sunday. I'll see you at the race.

TT: Thanks! It's my favorite event of the year. I like the fact that after the race I can get stuffed on cookies and bread and not worry about overdoing it. It's great to be a runner!

Rediscovering a Classic

When I moved to the Twin Cities in the late 1970s to attend college, I was amazed at the active running community. Coming from a small town where I once had beer tossed at me while running, the idea of running around a lake without behind hassled was intriguing. When I was introduced to Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, I discovered what thousands of runners before and since have learned: it's the perfect running lake.

I admit to being biased. I direct the Hennepin-Lake Classic, and each year since 1980 (I missed the first two) I've been down at Lake Calhoun very early on the first Sunday in August. Some of Calhoun's charms are obvious, and some grow on you:

• It is almost a perfect 5K around. That makes it a great loop to check your fitness or just relax and enjoy the sights.


• You always have a view across the lake. Unlike other lakes, you are never out of sight or around a bend. You can always tell where you are at Calhoun.


• You're never alone. Even those early mornings race directing, there is someone else at the lake. I'll run somewhere else when I want to be alone, but I'll go to Calhoun when I want to be part of the crowd.


• There is plenty of water available. There are multiple water stops on each loop of the lake, meaning you can refresh yourself on the hot summer days.


• The lake feel like a party. Running a loop around Lake Calhoun in the summer will bring you in contact with sun-tanners, sail-boarders, volleyball players, inline skaters, Frisbee flippers, dog walkers, archers, cyclists, and more. Calhoun is a lake that knows how to have fun!

• It is only a few steps from Uptown Minneapolis. If you are looking for food and entertainment, you don't have far to go after your run.


• The more it changes the more it stays the same. I've run the lake for more than 30 years, and the area has undergone some major changes. However, just plop in a video tape of the movie The Personals (if you still have a VCR), and you'll see a view of the lake circa 1980 that looks very familiar. As an added bonus, you'll also see the Hennepin-Lake Classic race with a cameo appearance in the movie.

If you haven't discovered the joys of Lake Calhoun, stop over see what you've been missing. If you don't mind sharing, come for the Hennepin-Lake Classic on Sunday, August 1, and you can run a 5K or 10K or even both (the DoubleHeader). After a lap or two (or three!) around the lake, you can judge for yourself if it's the perfect lake for running. You may even have a few reasons of your own to add to my list. And you definitely won't leave thirsty!

McLovin, Irish Pigs and O'Runners (Oh my!)

The year's Human Race Hero, Cynthia Schroeder Brochman, was someone you wanted on your team. From her college years at St Olaf to her days on Racer's Edge, Run N Fun and Baba Yaga, she knew how to do her best while encouraging and amusing her teammates. (More on that soon on Teri J Dwyer's TJ's Turf blog).

Brochman died last December after a one-year battle with cancer. She will be honored posthumously at the St Patrick's Day Human Race on Sunday, March 28. Her highly competitive Run N Fun team will be there, as well as dozens of teams of citizen athletes.

The event allows you to create your own team, so amidst the teams like Target Run Club and Cargill Club Run you'll find Dandy Long Legs, Team Bumble, True Players and The Heavy Breathers. There's also Team RED (Run Eat Drink) and Hot Sauce, The Fantastic Five, Run&Brunch and the A Team. A few team names reflect the St Patrick's Day theme, including McLovin, Irish Pigs and the O'Runners. Finally, the largest team so far is a group of work friends: Boogers and Bones. They all work at Regions Hospital, so their name, besides being fun to say, reflects their professional duties.

Some teams train together, others will only gather for this race. Each team has its own set of reasons why they exist. One common theme: teams add fun! Whether you race together or just meet afterward, being on a team raises the fun quotient.

Some of my most fun running experiences have come when I was on a team. From formal racing teams to pick-up teams for relays, I like being a part of something bigger than myself. The competitive side can be fun, but the camaraderie is the thing. I can't really say it any better than the team description for the O'Runners: "For our team name we had a difficult time deciding between O'Drunkards and O'Runners...most of us would consider ourselves better drinkers than runners so maybe we should've stuck with that!" Going with your strengths is always a good idea, but I think you'll be okay with O'Runners.

Got team? What's your story?



PS It's not too late to form your own team, and not all the good team names are taken. Check out our special contest on The Sporting Life page on Facebook.

Best Running Advice Comes From A Turkey

As a runner for more than thirty years, I've been on both the giving and receiving end of advice. Runners, in general, are both eager to help and easily overwhelmed by the volume of information available. Sometimes it takes a filter to help advice make sense. I've started using a 'turkey' filter for running advice.

Turkeys have been given a bad name in running. For example, 'turkey' is the term used to refer to unregistered runners, the bane of timers using the venerable chutes and spindles timing system. When these scofflaws cross the finish line they mess up the syncing of finish times and finish tags. The solution? Place a 'turkey tag' on the spindle. Chip timing has made that issue less common, but the term remains in use. In case you're not a hunter (or a turkey), you may not know that 'turkey tags' also refers to a hunting requirement that your harvest be properly labeled. This is not a popular term in the flock.

Most people don't realize that turkeys are quite good runners. We're used to the overfed, under-exercised fatties that end up on our dinner tables for Thanksgiving. Their wild cousins weigh half as much and can run 20 miles per hour. That's three minutes per mile, and they can fly twice that speed.

I've been reading Born to Run, a fascinating story about our true human capacity for distance running. I decided to check in with my friend Tom Turkey to see if we humans could learn something from our feathered friends. Tom was gracious enough to provide a list of helpful hints for your running pleasure.

Tom writes:

"Thanks for the opportunity. Running has been a big part of my life. I really think it has made me a better bird. I look forward each day to my run. Whether I'm going long or just running away, running puts a smile on my beak.

"I've compiled my seven favorite tips. I hope you enjoy. Have a safe Thanksgiving, and remember to go vegetarian!

1. "Shoes are for sissies. I don't know one turkey that wears shoes on a regular basis. Try barefoot running for an authentic experience. The Born to Run guy got that right.


2. "Forage on long runs. I prefer acorns and seeds, but you might go with gel or goo.


3. "Water means life. I wouldn't think of running without a stream nearby. If you don't live near water, or don't like to bend over and lap it up, bring a water bottle.


4. "Know when to peak. I'm always at my leanest this time of year, and frankly it has saved my life. If you're getting ready for a race, prepare like your life was on the line. Really.


5. "Strut your tail feathers. Okay, this one is more about getting a date, but it's good for your running too. If you've got it, flaunt it!


6. "Find a flock. I wouldn't spend winter without one. Find someone to share your runs, or at least listen to your stories.


7. "Don't stuff yourself. I also wouldn't let anyone else do it to you."

Think of Tom's advice as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year. One flock you may want to join, is the crowd gathering for the annual Turkey Run the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Tom will be there, though he keeps a low profile after the incident with the starting pistol a few years ago. You will find him on the race shirt, as usual. He's a big fan of tip #5.

From the Creative Minds of Runners

In my last blog I asked a question: what's missing from the local running scene? I threw out a few thoughts of my own: a relay, uphill mile or a fitness sampler event. Then I opened it up to you...and you opened up to me.

Your responses came back via E-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Some of you already had ideas and were looking for an opportunity to share. Others of you waited for a few posts to come in, then added your own tweaks to those ideas. After dozens of responses were received, I'm ready to make a report.

The responses can be grouped into a few categories:

"I never would have thought of that!"
The leader in this category is Katherine's idea about synchronized running. "Sync up the iPods, let spectators know what you're listening to, then run with the moves: hand gestures, arm movements, dance steps. I think it would be fun for everyone. It would draw attention to the sport, that's for sure." Yes, it would!

Others in this category were a pursuit race where someone was dressed up like a rabbit (Julia) and a Speed Disc Golf event (Elizabeth).

"I should have thought of that!"
Amy came up with this one: "I noticed that many of the larger races around the Twin Cities have a theme that they are centered around, and that seems to attract participants. I thought that it might be interesting to do a wine and cheese run (since there are already a bunch of beer runs that people seem to like)." You had me at cheese.

"Psst..."
The most secretive idea comes from Kristen. She has an idea regarding first-time runners. "Well, I have had this idea for quite some time, and since I'm not a race director, but know YOU , I was thinking of sharing my idea if you'd cut me in on some of the action;)" I can't be more specific because she swore me to secrecy, but I think it has potential.

Variations on a theme
Quite a few people like the idea of a trail or adventure type run. Sean, Dave, Kurt and Nick all mentioned the infamous Living History Farms event in Des Moines, Iowa where runners go through water, over fences and generally get muddy. MDRA has its Mudball event in April, but these people were suggesting something on a larger scale. Julia compared it to cyclocross. Nick and Bill suggested adding hay bales. Adam suggested adding beer to the concept.

Up
Several people liked the idea of climbing. From hills (Heather and Erik) to stairs (Jeff), the concept has its fans. Several Duluthians weighed in with their suggestions of hills.

"I like sharing"
The team concept was a recurring theme. Whether it was relays (Tim and Joe), adventure racing or synchronized running, people are looking for team events.

"Bring it back"
Those who remember running in the 1970s might recall events like a one-hour run (Evan) or last-man-out (Lori Anne). Not all good ideas have to be entirely new!

Now the challenge is to take these great ideas and make something happen. My next blog will invite you to help me with that. Until then, if you see me running in a rabbit suit with my iPod and a beer, you'll know I'm just brainstorming.

A Break from Tradition: The New Race

I like tradition. I direct four events that have been around for at least 25 years, and in a world that changes as much as ours, I'm proud of them. Sometimes, though, tradition works against innovation. The courses, dates and race lengths are part of the 'tradition' package. To break out of that mold, we're creating The New Race.

We now have incredible tools that promote nimbleness. Communication is quick, and with social media everyone has a chance to have their voices heard. Events have been a little slow to adapt. It's time for run/walk events to become user-generated. Rather than event directors, sponsors and municipalities calling the shots, why not open the process? Why not look for ideas that are new, fun and maybe even a little crazy? Why not create The New Race?

My idea is simple: find out what runners and walkers think is missing from the Minnesota running scene and create a new event. We're not going to worry about making it big or doing it more than once. We'll just take a good idea and run with it.

What event would you like to see? What venue would be perfect? What time of year is event-deficient? What premium would you love to receive? Give us as much or as little information as you want: race length, date, course, theme, whatever. Tell us why you think we should do it. We'll collect a handful of finalists, perhaps even mashing together a few different ideas, then put them to a vote.

Just to get you thinking, here are a few of my ideas:

• a one-hour relay on a track or closed loop


• an indoor event that allows you to sample different workouts: yoga, kettle bells, etc.


• an uphill mile


• a long relay that starts and finishes in the Twin Cities metro

Feel free to take and twist those or start from scratch. No idea is too silly or too challenging!

It's easy to submit your ideas:

• Go to our Facebook discussion page and post a comment;


• Send your comment to me on Twitter by using @cfullerrun and hashtag #thenewrace;


• Send E-mail to Chris.Fuller@TSLevents.com.

We'll collect ideas until 9/30/09, and then get back to you with the best. Ideas that don't make the cut for this event might find their way into other TSL events. The New Race is as much an idea incubator as it is an event.

Be a part of something new, something special. Help us create a new tradition of innovation. Help us create the The New Race.