February 2015 by On Your Left! Marketing & Events

Official Publication of

FEBRUARY 2015

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE

MEN & WOMEN TELL ALL: What they DON’T LOVE about Running Together

GET GOING! GET SOCIAL! L.A. FUESS Partners is on the Run!

YOU GOTTA LOVE SOMEBUNNY! Stonebriar Spring Sprint 5K Improves by Leaps and Bounds

NEWTRITION

VALENTINE VITALITY

Go All the Way after Just One Date!

Saturday, March 21

DOC IN THE BOX

HORSES AND ZEBRAS!

Your Tweets and Neighs are Answered

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LABOR OF LOVE

Doing our Job to get your Heart Racing → By Chief Running Officer, Eric Lindberg

I love my job. I believe it was Confucius who said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Now don’t get me wrong, we work and we work very hard. Like everyone else, we have good days, and, from time to time, bad days. But when I look at everything we have accomplished in seven years, the bad days don’t seem so bad. The best part of loving my job is that I fall in love with it over and over again. Let me give you a recent example. Roughly six months ago, OYL! was hired to produce the Extra Yard 5K for the College Football Playoffs. In my past life I was a partner in a traditional sports management company, The Sports Group, and what launched us was our first client, the Heisman Trophy. As you can imagine that put me in the position of getting to know and to work with multiple Heisman Trophy winners, attend amazing college football games and be a part of incredible media events. When I started a company in the running space I never thought I would be back at the table with college football elite. But last month there I was back in what felt like a familiar position, being a part of a new era and arguably the biggest game in college football history. And all because of running. Mind blown! I also love seeing all the event shirts that we produce when I am on a run at White Rock Lake or on KATY Trail.

“Know when you run one of our clients’ races that… there is a lot of thought, preparation and love put into it.”

SHARE the love. Be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW us by clicking over to facebook.com/OYLMarketing

OWNERS & EDITORS IN CHIEF Eric Lindberg ericl@oylmarketing.com

Sharon Lindberg sharonl@oylmarketing.com We take 15-20 nationwide events for ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer very seriously.

Just the other day I was running and saw a hat trick of shirts including Rahr Oktoberfest, Form Follows Fitness and Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon. Knowing we impacted those individuals just a tiny bit, makes me smile. As we prepared to fly to Orlando for the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk annual race directors conference I reflected on how one race in Arlington lifted us to working with 1520 events for ZERO. It has also been the largest reason for the change in our name from DFWRUNS to On Your Left! MARKETING & EVENTS. Last year we operated events from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic coast for this amazing non-profit. As a small business owner, I have a passion to spread the love and help other small businesses and individuals grow and achieve their goals/dreams. So know when you run one of our clients’ races that just like a home cooked meal, there is a lot of thought, preparation and love put into it. Oh and Happy Valentine’s Day too!

/OYLMarketing

@OYLME

WRITING & EDITING

Cherilyn Wilson cherilynw@oylmarketing.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Brandon Gillingham brandong@oylmarketing.com Paul Hutzler paulh@oylmarketing.com Jessica Kane jessicak@oylmarketing.com Elizabeth Jones elizabethj@oylmarketing.com

CATCH US! (IF YOU CAN)

MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP

WHO’S SHOUTING “On Your Left!”?

What's Not to Love?

MEN & WOMEN TELL ALL: What they DON’T LOVE about Running Together

e asked a few people what they DON’T LOVE about running with the opposite gender and here were their responses. When she’s faster than me!

The constant chatter. Sometimes I run harder just so they can’t talk.

– Lubbock Librarian

– Slowpoke in Seattle

I don’t love having to always watch When she squats in the my P’s and woods at the start of the Q’s when race. – Ima Running Whiz running with women.

– Toilet Talk Trackie

When she can spit better than me.

UPCOMING EVENTS

– Southlake Spitfire

Form Follows Fitness 5K Training Run – Dallas, TX Saturday,February 3, 2015 VIEW DETAILS

Nose blowers (yes, I do it, but I’m a guy)! Salty faces

Rahr & Sons Stoplight Social Run Ft. Worth, TX Saturday, February 7, 2015 VIEW DETAILS

(yes, my face may get salty, but I’m a guy)! White yuck around the lips (yes, I might get that yuck around my lips but, I’m a guy)!

Form Follows Fitness 5K Training Run – Dallas, TX Saturday,February 14, 2015 VIEW DETAILS

– Guy

Pub Run Social Run Dallas, TX Thursday, February 19, 2014 VIEW DETAILS

source of hilarity for me on the Katy Trail.

you are bloated and PMS’ing… ”hmmm… must – PaceMaker be the humidity.”

– BathHouse Bitches

– Endorphrodisiac

I DO love running with guys who take care of The heavy breathing people, like coming with through the mouth; staring. extra Gu in case someone – Bedford’s Breathless Babe needs it. And most guys are good listeners. – Hunger Dames A guy with a nicely shaped butt, with no shirt on, with a nice body running in I don’t love how my front of me. It’s distracting husband always thinks and causes me to lose we’re doing more than footing… because I catch running… because people myself staring too much. that have affairs usually – Katy Trail Tripper do it at 5 AM in running clothes? – Fast N’ Faithful Dudes always wanna be racing. Even when you know they’re 10 steps You can’t tell men the from a heart attack trying reason you are struggling to keep pace — a constant through a run is because

Form Follows Fitness 5K Dallas, TX Saturday, February 21, 2015 RACE WEBSITE

Rahr & Sons St. Paddy’s Day Run Fort Worth, TX Saturday, March 7, 2015 VIEW DETAILS

Men fartlek! I’ve never run with another girl and heard those bouncing fart noises!

– Machine Gunner Runner

I don’t love when women go running alone in darker hours. When men and women run together, I don’t love when men let women run on the outside (closest to traffic).

– Chivalrous Chauffeur

Women are much worse about sticking to the planned pace!

Get Lucky Fort Worth, TX Saturday, March 14, 2015 RACE WEBSITE

– ADPD

Stonebriar Spring Sprint Frisco, TX Saturday, March 21, 2015 RACE WEBSITE

MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP

We are out running with a female (or male) — what’s not to love!? We are out Running!

Get Going! Get Social! L.A. FUESS Partners is on the Run! → By Jessica Kane

atch out Dallas! L.A. FUESS Partners has brought back the 2nd annual Form Follows Fitness 5K Social Run Series presented by Blackson Brick! They have been one of our proud Tradesman sponsors for Form Follows Fitness 5K for several years and have gone above and beyond to give back to the architectural community by incorporating these events into our program. So, let’s dig deeper into the sponsor behind the social runs and how they got started. In years past, L.A. FUESS hosted intra-office happy hours at the Katy Trail Ice House. When the opportunity to host a similar event for FFF5K came up, they jumped on it. If they find events and activities that their employees are eager to participate in, they usually continue to put them on. Everyone within their office loves running in FFF5K, so hosting the social runs just builds more excitement around the event and helps to extend the “FFF5K Season” within the office. Hosting social runs gives them a unique foothold in the networking event schedule. This isn’t just another happy hour. It’s an excuse to get outside, sweat a little with coworkers and clients, and get to know people who are in their business environment. People seem to open up more when they’re running for some reason. You can learn more from talking to someone while running for 30 minutes than you can from spending a whole day with them in the office. First and foremost, L.A. FUESS Partners (LAFP) recognizes the importance of the built environment.

This 2014 bunch has lots of built-up excitement about the Valentine’s Day morning Social/Course Preview Run from Thomas Printworks!

As structural engineers, they play an integral part in the design process. Any way that they can celebrate this process and individuals they work with on a daily basis is a priority for them. They have a unique appreciation for architects, buildings, and the way that people interact with the architecture around them. The DCFA does a great job of doing all of this, and FFF5K is just another way that architecture can be promoted and celebrated. With the significant number of runners they have in the office, hosting an event like this was a natural fit. The Katy Trail is the “backyard” at their Uptown office, and several of them already use the trail before and after work for training and leisure. They are also big participants in the FFF5K, so the social runs serve as a kind of training gauge for LAFP as they gear up for the race in February. This is also a great opportunity to network with architects, engineers, and the general public. Don’t know what a structural engineer does? Ask them!

4TH ANNUAL

MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP

Craft Brew // Iconic Dallas Architecture Live Music, Food Trucks & More!

Klyde Warren Park

February

21 RUN THROUGH THE FINEST ARCHITECTURE IN THE WORLD The Dallas Center for Architecture has designed one of Dallas’ best 5K events to showcase some of the city’s most impressive architectural icons. Sign up today! The 5K includes a fantastic dry fit shirt (one you will actually wear that looks slick), food and local craft brew.

FormFollowsFitness.com /FormFollowsFitness

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

YOU GOTTA LOVE SOMEBUNNY! Stonebriar Spring Sprint 5K Improves by Leaps and Bounds → By Cherilyn Wilson

pring comes bounding in on the lucky footings of new life and growth, painting colorfully symbolic fresh starts and metaphorical pursuits. Whether you’re quick as a bunny, slow as his foe, just a spring chick or an old ol’ sole, it’s the time of year for getting active outdoors! But wellness isn’t a season or a measured event. It is a lifetime.

Download Spring Sprint 5K Couch to 5K Walk/Run training program HERE

BEGINNER

The 5K distance delivers the novice runner calorie burning adrenaline that is nothing less than any racing atmosphere can provide. In addition, a sense of community involvement is the key motivator which puts walkers, joggers and runners on the same ground.

REVIVIFY YOUR OLD WORKOUT REGIMEN!

The Stonebriar Spring Sprint 5K/1K is just under 8 weeks away which means you can still hop into a training program even if you’ve never done a 5K before! We encourage you to sprint into wellness for life. Check out this beginner walk/run regimen we’ve put together. The first step is to believe.

INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED

“For more experienced and even longer endurance runners, 5ks are a great way to assess real time running fitness through a yearly time trial. While racing a 5k is almost purely an anaerobic activity and a great marker of Vo2 max, the distance is still short enough not to require a prolonged recovery. This means it’s a great way to stay race ready and sharp amidst longer distance training programs that can last several months.” (meetyourrunninggoals.com)

KIDS & FAMILY

It’s a reasonable distance for kids participate! What a great way to spend some high quality family

time and introduce kids to what might turn out to be a long rich life of pursing running goals! That’s why we have Family Fun Packs available for both the 5K and 1K distance! Plus, any person age 18 or under gets in for only $15 bucks teeth!

SPRINT LIKE YOU’VE GOT SPRINGS IN YOUR SHOES!

Rabbits are built with strong back legs that are good for pushing off the ground. In fact, their legs are so strong they can sometimes move at up to 45 miles per hour! If you can go that fast, then put your lucky rabbit foot forward and challenge last year’s Overall Male finish time of 17:31 or Overall Female’s 5K finish time of 18:50!

SPRING BLING

Breaking records may or may not be your goal, but our goal is to bring people together whether to celebrate a sprint, a jog, or a great walk with friends because every athlete, regardless of their level, is continually growing. All 5K participants are rewarded for their efforts with a big, bloomin’ medal this year! Awards will be given to Overall Male and Overall Female finishers, as well as to Masters and the top three to cross in each age group. Exceptional fundraising efforts will also be rewarded to the team who raises the most in support of the race beneficiary.

SPRING INTO ACTION FOR A CAUSE

Proceeds will benefit City House to assist in opening two transitional homes in Frisco, one for

boys and one for girls. The number of neglected and homeless youths continues to grow in our area. When a foster child turns 18, he or she is released from foster care, and in many instances, these young adults are left on their own. The homes will be under the direction of City House, which has a proven system of screening candidates and utilizes a program that provides for a live-in house person, as well as counseling, mentoring, and case management. The immediate goal is to open up one home and a Resource Center that will offer case management, counseling, and life and business skills to the homeless youths in Frisco. For more information, visit www.cityhouse.org.

SIGNS OF SPRING

Beyond the obvious flowering earth, budding trees, extended daylight, and singing turtledoves, the biggest signs that the 5K is approaching are made by Stonebriar Spring Sprint’s top sponsor, Chandler Signs. We are talking neon signs, monument signs, reader boards, custom awnings, and much more. Since their start in 1978, Dallas-based Chandler Signs has established a reputation for quality, dependability and professionalism throughout the United States and many foreign countries. Small local businesses and national franchises alike recognize a clear sign of excellence when they see it. From design to installation, they are ready to run with your project!

CHANDLER SIGNS SAYS, “SIGN UP!” RIGHT NOW, a mere $25, gets you a dry-fit race tee, great food, beverages, and live entertainment and will transform the lives of homeless youth in your community. REGISTER NOW and pick up your race goodies early at convenient and friendly Run On! locations in Frisco or McKinney between 3/17-3/19.

QUESTIONS?

If you have any inquiries about our race, volunteer opportunities or sponsorship, give Jessica Kane a call at 214-339-7867 She’s all ears!

Never Have I Ever...

HAD A “NAP-A-LATTE” AT WORK! → By Paul Hutzler

t’s 10:19 AM and I’ve been at work for an hour now, and I must admit that I have been releasing some rather large yawns today. Normally I would just flock to the Keurig, brew a coffee and hope for a glorious caffeine kick to spur productivity, but today I’m having some crazy thoughts. I recently read in a Forbes article about different methods to boost productivity at work, the method that struck me as the most fascinating was a suggestion of a “napa-latte” in which clinical psychologist Michael Breus, known as the sleep doctor suggest drinking a highcaffeine blend of coffee very quickly, then napping for 25 minutes. Stating that when you wake up, the caffeine will kick in and keep you productive for several hours. Don’t mind if I do. It appears that many companies including Google are factoring in the value of naps at work and even designing their office spaces with nap rooms for their employees. NASA sleep researchers have found that a nap of just 26 minutes can boost performance by 34 percent. Another NASA study found that napping significantly increases “working memory,” the ability to focus attention on one task while holding other tasks in memory, which is critical

when performing complex work (spine-health. com). With that being said today I’m going to try a “nap-a-late” quickly drinking a coffee and taking a strategic half hour nap during my lunch break.

POST NAP –ALATTE RECAP

It’s 2:20 PM and I must say that I feel more awake than I did prior to my half hour nap and coffee. It actually feels like a brand new day, and I have found myself refreshed, alert and focused. I’d say the biggest difference between just drinking coffee and drinking coffee and napping is that my body feels refreshed and alert rather than groggy and alert. If you are wanting to try this and you work in an office with no nap rooms available I recommend going down to your vehicle, leaning back your passenger seat in the parking lot and catching some z’s. My final recommendation would be iced coffee, as hot coffee is not the easiest to drink quickly. Although I feel the “Nap-a-Latte” was helpful I don’t think that I will be turning this trick a normal habit, as I’m afraid I would fall asleep too long and lose my job. I could definitely see this combination being an effective game changer from the average cup of Joe.

Saturday, March 21, 201 5 Stonebriar Community Church – Frisco

What’s included? RACE ENTRY

Sp r in g to it ! Register early for the best price!

CUSTOM DRYFIT EVENT SHIRT TASTY FOOD SAMPLES BEVERAGES LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

sprinGsprint.net

/StonebriarSpringSprint

DOC IN THE BOX

HORSES AND ZEBRAS! Your Tweets and Neighs are Answered

→ By Holly Johnson, M.D.

NEW

YE AR NEW LO O K

he Doc in the Box is getting out of the box and is requesting you to be the co-author! Yes, you! Get off your duff, write in some mind-boggling health questions you’ve been meaning to ask and we will answer you questions right here in each issue of On Your Left! I have had constant inner thigh/ ¹ groin pain for some time and no matter how much I roll, or stretch, even or taking four weeks off, it didn’t seem to alleviate the issue. Is there some other contributing factor that could be the source? ANSWER ¹ When you hear hooves, you must first think of horses. When you eliminate the horses, it is then time to look for the zebras. This is one of the first things our physician mentors taught us medical students at Indiana University School of Medicine when we started our clinical rotations. In other words, when I first see a patient with the symptoms of a fever, body aches, cough, no foreign travel history, and it is flu season, I make an invisible list in my head of what I think the patient

“After self-treating and resting for one month and you still aren’t better, you should seek some help!”

has. Most likely, this patient has the flu, another viral illness, bronchitis or pneumonia – I hear hooves, I think “horses;” I certainly don’t jump to the conclusion that this is dengue fever or kidney cancer! Same with inner thigh/groin pain. You mentioned you are big into triathlons and ironman distance races, so you obviously know your body well enough to first treat the most common causes on your own. I think you did all the right things to take care of the most common things this could have been such as a muscle or ligament strain or

JOHNSON PHOTO BY: SPENCER FREEMAN

GET YOUR COPY NOW! WATCH VIDEO

PIck It and Flick It! By Holly Johnson, M.D.

PURCHASE NOW LEARN MORE tatepublishing.com

BE INSPIRED

They say that doctors make the worst patients. In Pick It and Flick It, Holly Johnson, M.D. affirms that it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be that way as she shares the emotional, spiritual, and physical reality of how she conquered a potentially devastating diagnosis and kept away the demons of hopelessness, uncertainty, and fear that commonly paralyze any person who is faced with a life-altering event. In this true story of doctor-turned-patient, she squashes her inner enemies with a hit of humor, a punch of grace, and a few temporary tattoos. Written just for you, Dr. Johnson shares her own prescription for healing that she wrote when her body staged a revolution so she could undergo an evolution.

twittter.com/DrHollyJohnson

LIKE & CONTACT

DOC IN THE BOX tendonitis. And you are also right that after selftreating and resting for one month and you still aren’t better, you should seek some help! Are you ready for this laundry list? The differential diagnosis of inner thigh/groin, lower abdominal pain also includes: an inguinal hernia, a stress fracture, and osteitis pubis. Osteitis pubis is a type of bursitis/inflammation caused by stress on the pubis symphysis and its surrounding muscle insertions. It is common in long distance runners and soccer players. This pain could also be due to an avulsion fracture in the pelvis which happens when a part of a muscle tears away from the bone it is attached to. Even less likely, inner thigh and groin pain can be due to tubal pregnancy, pubis symphysis dysfunction, or pelvic inflammatory disease in females. In males it may be prostatitis or prostate cancer. In both sexes, a urinary tract infection, osteomyelitis (an infection in the bone), bone cancer or soft tissue cancer (sarcoma), or ankylosing spondylitis (a chronic multisystem inflammatory disorder) are also possible. (FYI, this running soul was ultimately diagnosed with osteitis pubis.)

I have a recurring injury to my calf. It’s like a knot deep in the muscle. Do you recommend a MRI or a type of doc I should see?

ANSWER ¹ Calf muscle injuries have a much shorter list of a differential diagnosis. The “horses” (pun very intended) are a calf muscle strain (microfiber tears), a partial tear of the

muscle (more than microfiber), or a rupture of the calf (complete tear). These can all lead to pockets of scar tissue or even calcification of blood (hematoma) from the insulting injury. The “zebras” include myositis which is an inflammation of the muscle due to infection or rarely due to an autoimmune disorder. The other “zebra” is a soft tissue tumor or cancer of the calf muscle called a sarcoma. This is also very rare. If the knot is not gone after a month, have it checked out by your PCP, a doc at an urgent care center, or an orthopedic who may order an MRI to help confirm the diagnosis. (Go in sooner if you have a fever, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats, or other concerning symptoms.) PLEASE NOTE: The info in this article is not a substitute for medical advice from your own physician. Dr. Johnson and OYL! are not responsible for rubbing down your calf muscle or symphysis pubis. These differential diagnosis lists are not meant to be comprehensive, diagnostic, or fear-provoking. We are here, however, to hope and pray for herds of horses and no zebras.

Tweet your questions to Holly Johnson at @DrHollyJohnson and it may be published in the next issue.

Visit www.MonsterSeries.org to register!

NEWTRITION

VALENTINE VITALITY

Go All the Way after Just One Date! → By Cherilyn Wilson

eed a date for Valentine’s Day? SWEET! Here’s one that we’ll bet allows you to run all the bases. Not to be confused with the act of courtship by a couple, this non-attractive, wrinkled fruit could take your running to the next level and help you finish strong.

its outer appearance lays an attractive amount of magnesium which aids in protein synthesis, blood glucose control and muscle and nerve function in your body, all while helping to regulate blood pressure. Taking into account the sugar content in that full cup size which busts out 93 grams of sugar ALL IN THE PALM doesn’t mean it’s okay to cheat by substituting OF YOUR HAND a cup of Brach’s Candy The need for extra Conversation Hearts carbohydrates prior (approx. 66 pieces) to and often during a in for this significant long run or ride is well other. Trust NATURAL proven and the intricate Don’t be allured by fake sweethearts and pick-up lines. sugars are a treat as dance with this nutrient Only real fruit sugars treat your body rght. they beckon, BE MINE is carefully planned and and I’M YOURS because doctors and nutritionists tagged by athletes as “carb-loading.” Your body have also stated that your liver stores sugar also needs potassium to metabolize those carbs, from fruits (called glycogen), to build proteins and muscle, and to control your and the body needs a steady acid-base balance and, flow of sugar to keep glycogen lucky for you, a cup of stores topped off to endure long chopped Deglet Noor distances. Energy from sugar dates contains 110 quickly and efficiently fuels grams of carbohydrates your metabolism. As compared and 964 milligrams of to the typical gel packet potassium. While a kiss containing approximately under the porchlight 21 grams of carbohydrates, tops off a perfect 1 Medjool date packs a night out with your sweetheart, the pleasure of → CONTINUED competitive 17g carbs. this particular date doesn’t end there; beneath

“Energy from sugar quickly and efficiently fuels your metabolism.”

Once a Week Leading up to Race Day at 9 am February 7

March 7

April 4

RAHR & SONS “STOP LIGHT” SOCIAL RUN

RAHR & SONS ST. PADDY’S DAY SOCIAL RUN

RAHR & SONS HOPPY EASTER SOCIAL RUN

HAVE FUN WHILE GETTING READY FOR RACE DAY!

SEPTEMBER 27 TH

Run. Party.

NEWTRITION So as ugly, misshaped fruits and veggies are finding some love from marketers and consumers in this new year (sporting a lower sticker price in order to reduce waste), don’t discount the waste this ugly fruit could potentially induce in the end.

GOING THE DISTANCE

Ultra Endurance Nutrition Coach and Eat4Endurance Owner, Duhsten Freeman, tells us he has seen dates commonly used as a nutrition source among Ironman, ultra distance and short distance athletes alike. “As a general statement,” he says, “dates can provide a good source of carbohydrate while training and racing. However, the effectiveness of adequately supporting one athlete versus Duhsten Freeman, another, in order Eat4Endurance Owner to both perform at the athlete’s peak fitness level, and to avoid issues such as GI distress, can be an entirely different story.” With the total fiber in that same cup of dates equally 12 grams, it’s best not to get too much of a good thing. Just two or three dates can take the

place of a couple gooey gel packs on your long outings. “Using dates as a source of training and race nutrition may be a great fit for one athlete, but a recipe of disaster for another.” Freeman explains, “In other words, a good looking Valentine’s date for one person doesn’t mean it’s a perfect match for another. So the next time you think about heading out for a training session, throw a few dates into your nutrition pack to see how well they work for you. But, remember, whatever you do, don’t try your date nutrition experiment for the first time during a race, because this blind date just might not turn out how you expected!” Instead of taking out that tired, artificial little bag of Sodium Benzoate and Calcium Chloride on your next long workout, give this natural (not-so-pretty) beauty a go. So is it a date?

“Using dates as a source of training and race nutrition may be a great fit for one athlete, but a recipe of disaster for another.”

PLEASE NOTE: Overconsumption of high glycemic index foods can also increase your chances of type-2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Let’s make a date to put your brand on the market in the active lifestyle community. Call us sometime at 214-339-7867.

CABODEGA NIGHTS → By Eric Lindberg

“I picture my baby Jesus in a tuxedo t-shirt because it says I am formal, but I like to party.” Well it goes something like that… as many of you know I like to go to Cabo for vacation and of course to party! This past New Year’s Eve, Sharon and I spent it celebrating at the Cabo Wabo Cantina for an epic Sammy Hagar and Toby Keith concert. As much as the party was fun, I also have several running routes in Cabo, all varying degree of difficulty and how fun it was! This past trip I ran two of my three favorite routes. Typically we stay at the RIU Santa Fe, but for this trip we hit a new hotel in the Villa Del Arco which is a little closer to the marina than the RIU. My go to route at the RIU is pretty simple really, I just hit the beach and go left to the rocks. It is a short distance, just a little over a mile out and back, but if you know the sand on the beach of Cabo it is thick and not easy on your feet. It is very peaceful as you don’t pass too many people along the way. You see more beach vendors restocking their shirts, sunglasses and other trinkets. You also pass a horseback riding tour and maybe a few other brave walkers and runners. To put it into perspective I am a seven minute miler and this 2’ish mile jaunt takes me a good 25 minutes to complete. I love this run because of the spectacular view of the arch or Land’s End once you hit the rocks at the end of route. My second favorite run is similar, but instead of going left, I go right which takes you to the marina. It is roughly a mile to marina so you get a nice beach run before the familiar concrete of the marina. In total it is a 6’ish miles and you pass

all kinds of people, sites and sounds. Along the beach you cruise by one of my favorite places for a post run margarita, the Mango Deck. This spring break style beach bar is a blast and I highly recommend grabbing a couple of chaise lounges and a few afternoon hours soaking up the sun and people watching. Once you hit the marina there are all kinds of shops and restaurants, but the million dollar yachts are what catch my eye the most. I usually run all the way to where the cruise ships come in and then turn back. Going from beach to concrete and back to beach makes that cool ocean water ice bath totally worth it. Lastly, and when I am feeling challenged, I like to add a little hill work into the marina run and take a jaunt up Pedregal. Warning: this is not for the timid. Don’t get me wrong it is not a dangerous run, it is all paved and the homes are beautiful, it is just really steep. The climb however is worth it as once you get to the top you get sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez, Land’s End and the Pacific Ocean. Spectacular! Even if you are not a runner, I recommend just taking a walk up the mountain for the views, (just pack water and do it before it gets too hot.) More to come from Cabo too as Sharon and I toe the line for the inaugural running of the Los Cabos Half Marathon on February 7! If you join me, your first shot of Cabo at the Cantina is on me!

MARKETING // PUBLICITY // SPONSORSHIP

Jaunt Junkie

GADGETS, GEAR AND UNSOLICITED ADVICE

→ WEARABLES, WEARABLES — 2015 CES BREAKDOWN, BEST IN CLASS!

→ By Sharon Lindberg

did not attend the 2015 International Consumer Electronic Show (CES), in Las Vegas this month, but I do keep a watchful eye on the recaps and showstoppers that are coming into the marketplace that I can test out. Wearables made a huge entrance this last year and 2015 plans for more wearables and more features too.

MISFITTED BLING!

I wrote about wearables in a couple of previous articles, but one brand is ‘blinging it up’ this year. Misfit and Swarovski are teaming up and have created one of the most fashionable health trackers that are truly attractive to wear. This luxury version of the Misfit Shine activity tracker is aptly names

“Swarovski Shine” and was unveiled at CES. The new Swarovski Shine collection will be available in three sets, with a suite of jewelry and accessories that combine Swarovski’s iconic crystals and Misfit’s svelte Shine health tracker. Now you can track your sleep, your steps and overall activity with something you can wear out to a in a cocktail dress! Plus there’s more. The company has also claimed this to be “the world’s first wireless activity and sleep monitor” that does not require replacing or charging batters, the battery runs for over six months (as standard), but there’s also a violet Swarovski Shine model with integrated solar charging. Which (unless you live in a cave) technically, that won’t ever need a battery replacement as it is charged by solar power. It’s exciting to see brands like Misfit to be one of the first companies to deliver a truly attractive gadget and the first wearable startup to team up with a fashion icon like Swarovski while at the same time going green with the solar power option too. Well played Misfit! You can pre-order the Swarovski Shine Collection today in the US from Misfit’s online store, and they’ll also be available in Swarovski stores this spring.

FitBit is the market leader in the fast-growing fitness tracker category, but this year they are taking things ‘one step further’ in combining many features into one ‘super watch’ as some are calling it. Continuing on their mission to inspire people to lead healthier, more active lives, Fitbit extends its award-winning line with innovative Surge model. It’s a sleek watch like wearable that offers the best of GPS, continuous wrist-based heart rate, all-day fitness tracking and smartwatch functionality in one device, for people dedicated to reaching their peak performance. It features 8-sensor technology that deliver a GPS that tracks,

Does your product or brand belong in front of our huge active lifestyle audience? Email us: info@oylmarketing.com

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FITBIT SURGE “SUPER WATCH” – SURGE INTO 2015!

pace, distance/mileage, elevation (it has a built in altimeter), steps taken, split times, route history and workout summaries for smarter training. The battery lasts for seven full days too. Cross training? Yep — it records multi-sport activities for running, cross-training and strength workouts. And it tracks total number of calories burned and sleep quality too. The smartwatch features include caller ID, text alerts and even mobile music control all from your wrist! Currently the Surge is on backorder on fitbit’s online store, but can be found online through other retailers. Dean Karnazes, renowned ultra-marathoner was at CES this year; and one of the first to test it out. “I never stop trying to shatter my personal bests, whether it’s pushing myself to go longer distances, maximizing training through a variety of different types of workouts or quickening my pace across my usual routes,” said Dean Karnazes, world-renowned ultra-marathoner and Fitbit brand ambassador. “The new Fitbit Surge is ideal for fitness enthusiasts like myself. Having the multisport Fitbit Surge with me all day helps me reach peak performance and intensity through insights into my activity 24/7, so I have the information I need to train more effectively and efficiently.” Read more of Dean’s 3 Cool Fitness Trends at CES 2015. Next year I’m hoping to attend the CES show and get up close and personal with all the newest gadgets, if you want to sponsor my trip to CES let me know, because this girl needs a sponsor to get there!

TMI: TWO MINUTE INTERVALS

MICHAEL WARDIAN

Realizing your true recovery pace, racing consistency and having the mindset of a hard worker are the keys to his success → By Brandon Gillingham

EDITORS NOTE: Each month we get a quick peak into an athlete’s personal secrets. What would you like to know? Email brandong@oylmarketing.com

ichael Wardian of Arlington, VA is an American marathoner and Ultra-runner who owns many course records across the country. He is the winner and course record holder of the 2014 Cowtown 50k (3:00:21) and a father of two. His consistent racing schedule is driven with a positive attitude, his family’s support and miles to go before he sleeps. What is the hardest component (for you) in training for a half and/or full marathon that took you a while to get use to?

MICHAEL ¹ I think recovery runs, when I first started getting serious, I would try to do every run at 6/min mile pace and that is way too fast.

What races do you have sights on for 2015? Or 2016

MICHAEL ¹ I would love to come back to the Cowtown Marathon at some point, I am still figuring out my schedule for 2015 so not sure. I

do have some races scheduled/ confirmed for 2015 including, the Chevron Houston Marathon, the Tarawera 100K in New Zealand in early February and I hope the Tokyo Marathon as I would like to run the marathon majors in 2015 and set the fast known time for all of them. I am also doing a few big races in Australia the “Wings for Life World Run” and “The North Face 100K” and bringing Jennifer, my wife and our boys, Pierce (8 years) and Grant (6 years), going to awesome.

How does having a race (and win if possible) mentally prepare you for the big race? Has anything in your training and racing goals changed based off how well you’ve been racing this year? → CONTINUED

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TMI: TWO MINUTE INTERVALS MICHAEL ¹ I think anytime you win a race it is great for you confidence and ego but I am really more inspired by the races that don’t go well and I think I learn the most from those events. That said I think every run, race and experience has merit and you can gain something from everything and it is all about how you look at it and deal with things. I also think having a positive outlook on things really helps me stay focused and driven to achieving my goals.

What is that one season or year you always seem to refer back to as “the perfect season”?

MICHAEL ¹ I think that I had a great year in 2011, I was running really well and setting all kinds of personal records in all distances from 5K to 100K and I was doing anything I wanted...my training was terrific and I was able to push the bounds of what was possible and in 2012, I got hurt really bad as I didn’t slow down and was trying to do too much. I think 2014 has been another amazing year, I have had to build up from my injuries in 2012 and have really been able to compete and push myself and what is possible and have gotten to do that in all different types of races from road marathons to the North Pole, to mountain 100 milers and everything in between and I love that and hope it inspires people to keep pushing and never let a set back stop them from going after their dreams.

It’s race night and it’s time to go to the hotel now that dinners over. Some other runners head off to a pool hall or go to a movie to relax. What’s your pre-race ritual? What relaxes you the night before a race?

MICHAEL ¹ On race night… which happens a lot, I keep it pretty normal, if I am travelling, I check in with Jennifer and the boys and then I lay out my kit… everything, put my number on, get my Hoka One Ones out, and everything I need, it is a good way to see if you forgot anything and reassures me. Then I read or do social media, answer emails, coach, play chess, and normally I fall asleep pretty quickly. My pre-race ritual, is wake up 3 hours before the start time, yes, even with early races, eat, go to the bathroom, and get dressed, I also like to shower sometimes to make sure I am ready to go and I think it helps you understand that you are going to work and earn it out there. My family relaxes me the night before the race.

What motivates you on race morning?

MICHAEL ¹ I am completely and utterly determined to achieve whatever my goals are on race day and I am super motivated to do my absolute best and that is amazing. I do sometimes listen to music but mostly, I love to feed off the energy of the crowd and other athletes… there is such a buzz before a race.

FIST BUMPS & HIGH FIVES

ANNOUNCING CLIFF COUCH!

Whether you recognize his peppy pronunciations from the pre-race countdown or by the celebratory sounds at the awards ceremony, his voice among the running community is unmistakable → By Cherilyn Wilson

ou know that voice. That voice in your head telling you to leave the couch and get moving was most likely Cliff. After all, when you race, you have to leave announcer, Couch, behind or you’re still at the Start/Finish area! This month, we express immense gratitude to Cliff Couch for his continued dedication to the active lifestyle over nearly a quarter century. He has been your voice of encouragement for more than 22 years, at a minimum of 1,000 races and, lucky for On Your Left! MARKETING & EVENTS, he has faithfully sounded your accomplishments as emcee at most of our events since day one. Perhaps Couch’s communicable positivity stems from his old gardening hobby as he believes passionately in “growing people.” Couch explains, “I give them as much positive reinforcement I can, always commend them for what they are out there doing and hope to encourage them to keep on doing it.” When Couch has the mic, he not only welcomes and directs participants to the registration tent, the bag-check, and the start line, but never forgets to mention, describe, and thank the sponsors and volunteers for coming out on such a fine day; be it rain or shine, sleet or heat. He remembers your face. He

may call your name at the finish in a way that sounds different than you’ve ever heard it before — in a way that makes you proud it is yours. Couch was on the listening end for quite some time before taking the mic. He sped through many James Thurston races in his hayday with PR’s like 1:27 in the half marathon and another impressive 18:17 finish in the 5K. It was, in fact, his speed that lead to his first announcing gig. Being one of the first to finish, he always asked Thurston where he could help out while waiting for the rest to come in. One day, tech troubles had the race director baffled and Cliff was handed the sound equipment in hopes he would figure it out. Since then, Couch has been out there dark and early, iced black tea in his other hand, no matter the weather, cheering on and on. Monday through Friday, however, Couch’s race t-shirts are covered by suit and tie. That’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. After knowing his cheery demeanor, one might not peg him as a lawyer, but one must never judge. This Corinthbased attorney has been running his own practice specializing in business contracts for the past 11 years, but let’s hope you’ll only have to meet him at our next race. Look (er… listen) for Cliff at the Form Follows Fitness 5K and the Stonebriar Spring Sprint 5K and give him a fist bump or a high five!

SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 2015

HELP FIGHT PROSTATE CANCER

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SCHEDULE 6:30 am - Packet Pickup Opens (No Race Day Registration)

7:30 am - Opening Ceremony 7:45 am - Kids’ 1K Starts 8:00 am - 5K Timed run Starts

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8:05 am - 5K Timed run with strollers Starts 8:10 am - 3K Family walk Starts 8:15 am - 3K Family walk with strollers Starts 8:15 am - Refreshments Open (Post race party) 9:00 am - Awards Ceremony Begins

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RACE DIRECTOR’S BLOCK

RUNNER’S ETIQUETTE

We are not Talking Spit and Snot Rockets → By Brandon Gillingham

he sport of cross country recently held its “states” and championships weekends. The stories about so many teams’ incredible feats of the year and the humbling stories — from runners picking other teams competitors up off the ground and helping them cross the finish line, to the opposition letting the true winner of a race who was from a foreign country and didn’t understand that the actual finish line was a few more meters ahead cross first. This is the true definition of a great runner and participant. These people give the word runner a good connotation. Unfortunately, the racing scene isn’t always so upright. Sometimes good or proper racing etiquette isn’t exercised because we’re caught up in the moment of competing. Training for a race can take weeks, months, or even years depending on the event. “No one and no pain is going to stop me from crossing that finish line today!” That is the attitude of a lot of participants come race day and it is a great positive attitude to have, we still have to remember that feeling of respect we have for each other during the race. You know the energy I’m talking about, right? I was recently a participant at a race and I was being drafted. Drafted, in running terms, pretty

much means blocking the wind for a runner behind so he doesn’t have to use more energy. It’s a (fairly) smart tactic, yet is disrespectful racing etiquette. As I continued during the race, I wondered to myself “who else could this be happening to?” What else is there that runners can do that creates fury? Now, I promise, I wasn’t mad about this happening but I was concerned. How many people were cut off at a turn that day? How many missed the water stop because of congestion or accidentally being stepped in front of? I’ve learned that I need to treat my races almost the same way as when driving a vehicle: keep my music low and recognize my surroundings. Always look out for where the other guy is coming from. I’m not a perfect ‘driver’ either, but I strive to be! What are some things that distract you during a race? What “accidents” have happened to you that made you upset? Were you ever, for example, cut off at the start line and tripped? Send me a message at brandong@oylmarketing.com if you have any suggestions on race etiquette. If you have a story, let me know! I’m intrigued to learn how I can help you get across the finish line safe, happy and (hopefully) with a personal best time. Best of luck with your upcoming races and training this year! Catch ya on the roads!

THRILL OF THE GRILL 5K

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Sinne rs N' Saints

EATING WHILE TRAINING → By Elizabeth Jones

still do not consider myself a runner; I do not know if that comes with time, miles logged, PRs, or simply a state of mind. I jog, shuffle, walk, crawl, and maybe sit during my long runs, and sometimes even on race day, so I simply consider myself active. Nevertheless, I train using the aforementioned methods. Most times during training for a race, I think I need to be “healthy” and eat what the experts say is good for me. And sometimes if I ran 30 minutes straight, or did not stop to sit on the curb once, I think maybe I deserve a reward. There is a spectrum of training foods for me, from the good, to the bad, to the not-really-at-allbecause-it-tastes-so-good ugly, which certainly make me both a sinner and a saint.

THE GOOD

When it is training time, my snacks of choice are fairly standard. I eat a lot of cottage cheese, yogurt, bananas, and whole wheat English muffins topped with almond butter and honey. Pretty easy to open, or spread, when I am in a hurry, and apparently these snacks provide the things I need like probiotics, potassium, protein, and carbs. They are also light and easy on the stomach, so I can have a quick snack before I head out the door.

THE BAD

I have found a recent weakness for pizza. It is my current food of choice when I’m not in the mood to whip up dinner or I’m out with friends. I love everything on my pizza, and I like to believe I am getting all of the food groups when I eat it. Cheese

= dairy; all the veggies; pineapple = fruit; pepperoni & sausage = meat; crust = whole grain. I always put lots of veggies and pineapple on, and sometimes even anchovies! I try to “healthy up” my pizza, though sometimes, a good greasy cheesy pizza is just what I need. While pizza is not considered good for you, it is certainly not my worst sin.

THE UGLY

Whitey’s Ice Cream was recently voted the best ice cream in the nation by Condé Nast Traveler (September 2014). I happen to agree, considering it was founded in my hometown of Moline, IL, and still reigns supreme for ice cream in my world; and I have literally tried ice cream all over the world. Whitey’s is known for shakes so thick, you can turn them upside down and nothing will spill out . They also invent new flavors, have the usual holiday offerings, and do a thing called ‘the Boston’, which is a chocolate shake, topped with a chocolate sundae, including whipped cream, nuts, and cherries. Whitey’s is my true sin when I feel like I deserve a reward. And, as you guessed, it is not available in Texas. No, I do not fly up to Illinois to get some ice cream… I pay for it to be shipped overnight in a Styrofoam cooler filled with dry ice! For a fee, you can ship Whitey’s Ice Cream shakes, pints, and quarts anywhere in the continental US. Regardless of whether I’m considered a runner or not, I do know good food when it hits my lips. So whether I am being a saint or sinner when it comes to eating while training, I never feel bad about what I eat — because “I am not a runner.” Tweet us your sin or your saint!

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