Friday, February 27, 2015

McFarland USA - review

McFarland USA can be summed up in one word - formulaic. It can be, but maybe it shouldn't be. Because while the storyline is your typical 'little guy overcomes obstacles in order to  achieve greatness', there are other elements to the film that make it worth a watch.

The story revolves around a failed football coach who finds work in dreary, end-of-the-line McFarland, California. Coach White is a fish out of water in the heavily hispanic school where he teaches. There are cultural misunderstandings between the new teacher and other staff and students that are predictable as the coach, once again, gets removed from the football team before deciding to start a cross country team. The kids on the new team are from farm families - 'pickers' - who toil in the fields before and after school (as well as on weekends) in order to help their families.

Basically, as the characters and coach spend more time working and training together, they gain a mutual respect. Cultural and economic divisions melt away, and they begin to rely on each other. Trust, family, community, and pride grow throughout the film.

Since McFarland USA is a Disney product, real examinations of poverty, migrant worker exploitation, racism, alcoholism, etc . . are all but left out of the film. Problems exist, but are quickly passed over in favor of scenes that will continue to strike an emotional chord with the audience.

Still, despite the film's shortcomings (and there are many more), McFarland USA has some strong points. The film treats hispanics as real people, not caricatures. The foods, holidays, fundraising events, automotive details, and dress are all presented as things to be admired. The characters have dignity, real feelings and thoughts, and their own traditions to uphold. The kids on the team realize the tension between needing to do things to advance their lives (like school and cross country), while simultaneously having to help their families in the fields in order to survive. It is that tension that ultimately allows them to become stronger and compete well.

I hope that the film will at least raise awareness of the humanity of the people working as pickers in the fields. Most of us simply drive by on highways without giving them a passing thought. The film does show that the people in those fields have hopes, dreams, and families like the rest of us. They are 'picking' due to economic necessity, and should be afforded dignity and respect.

The running scenes in the film, to be honest, weren't that great. I have a feeling that the real McFarland runners on the team in 1987 looked a bit more . . . um . . .  like runners, than did some of the actors in the movie. And the actors in the film who actually did look like real runners were not the best runners on the movie team. It struck me as strange. The races shown simply didn't ring true. Still, though, since it is a Hollywood film, I checked a bit of my skepticism at the door, and, after a while, stopped mentally arguing against the hard-to-believe racing scenes.

I was pleasantly surprised when one of the races took place running up the hills to the Griffith Park Observatory in LA. The route they ran is the main running route that I run each time I'm in the area. It is actually one of my favorite running routes in the US. If you ever find yourself in LA, start at the base of Griffith Park (find a snack shack called Trails and use it as your start and finish point - great food and coffee) and follow the curving roads 2 miles uphill to the Observatory. Then turn around and run 2 miles downhill. Enjoy the stunning views along the way. At times you'll feel as if you are in the countryside.

OK - back to the film. Predictable storyline. Formulaic. Running scenes not as well done as they could've been. . . But still, I laughed. I cried. And ultimately, I really liked this flawed film. I liked the story, and its earnest belief that we can do better, and that we can all get along. There is a very moving montage during the playing of the national anthem before a meet. I bet there was not a dry eye in the theater, including mine. I also am glad that there is a movie that chronicles the story of how running elevated the team, their school, and their community. Runners should like this movie. It is not as good as some, and better than others in its genre. If you can check a bit of disbelief, you will come away with a good feeling and some thoughts to ponder.

Here's and IMDB link if you want to watch the trailer - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2097298/?ref_=hm_cht_t3

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Get a Copy of RUN


 A Copy Of RUN.

The novel RUN takes place in the fictional city of Westborough. The characters all compete for the Westborough High School Cross Country Team, the WHS Woodchucks. Westborough is an amalgamation of three cities. Eastborough, KS (a suburb of Wichita) and Indianapolis, IN comprise small fragments of Westborough. A third city serves as the actual grid where the training runs, practices, and daily life of the characters occur. I am looking for someone who can figure out what city serves as the main location for RUN. I'll take the name of the city or the suburb.

HINT: Westborough is a relatively affluent suburb of a larger city in the upper Midwest. There is a University in the City, and a river runs through it.

The first person who can Tweet the correct answer (or closest to it) by March 1, 2015 will get a copy of the book. Tweets must be made to @alevine785. If several people get the correct answer, I may send out a few copies. The copy(ies) will be sent by US Mail (with as cheap a rate as I can find).

Super friends who actually know the answer because they know me are discouraged from submitting and undermining the fun (although they are otherwise always encouraged to Tweet at me anytime). 

To win, you must live in the 48 contiguous (lower) United States.

If you don't have a Twitter account, you can submit an answer in the comment section here, or on RUN's Facebook page www.facebook.com/RunTheNovel.  Please note: I will get a copy of the book to the first person I notice who gives the correct answer on Twitter (preferred), Facebook, or Blogger/Blogspot. 

This quiz is only for fun. There is no money to be won. 

If you don't want to wait, you can always get a copy or Kindle version here for as little as US$2.99: http://www.amazon.com/Run-Allen-Levine/dp/1497449146/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424790284&sr=8-1&keywords=Run+Allen+levine 

RUN is also available to borrow for Amazon Prime members. It is free to KindleUnlimited members.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

The Takeaway? Winter Sucks.

So it is a cold and blustery day. Actually, I knew it would be because I live in the 21st Century. In fact, I can (with some reliability) give you a 10 day forecast if you really want to know. Still, though, I awoke and felt a real need to get out the door and run...

Yesterday I planned to do 16-20 miles. A wintry mix the night before had left the trails and levees covered in sheets of ice. Yet I managed to make it out and run on a slick, but rapidly slushifying (not a word, but you know what I mean) surface. At 3 miles out, the ice had completely turned to slush. At 4.5 miles the slush turned to full-on mud. Instead of turning around on the levee, I popped off the end and onto country gravel roads. These roads were also muddy... really muddy... but still better than the surface of the levee.

An interesting thing happened as I ran - and here I use the word 'interesting' because other words I could insert in its place might cause the MPAA to rate this post as unfit for children. So I was slogging along and a large white van approached. It slowed as it passed and I waved to thank the courteous driver. The road, however, was so waterlogged and muddy that a very fine mist of mud (which had been imperceptible from a distance) was being raised by the vehicle's tires. This 'fine mist' completely coated me from the tops of my shoes to the lenses of my Tifosis. It was literally almost worse than getting splashed.  The sensation was incredibly unpleasant.

So I completed the run. Well, really only ten miles of the run. I was done at that point - tired of feeling dirty and tired of fighting mud. I drove home and threw all my clothes (including the Kansas 2010 Marathon ball cap I had been wearing) into the wash. When it was time to transfer my clothes to the dryer, I realized that I had left my iPod Shuffle in the interior pocket of my tights. I pulled it, and the attached earbuds, out and it worked! But that was for about 10 seconds. Then it faded. I let it dry out the rest of the day. I'm trying to charge it right now, 24 hours later. I don't have a lot of hope for the device. In fact, I have so little hope that yesterday afternoon, I cashed in some never-used banking rewards points and ordered a new one. Worst-case scenario, I'll have a new one in a few days. Best case, I'll have one Shuffle for music and one for audio books and podcasts. The experience did teach me the lesson about checking clothing no matter how tired I might be. And luckily, Shuffles aren't ridiculously expensive.

Anyway, as I sit writing this entry, the wind is actually howling, and chances of an outdoor run today are dissipating. I feel that, facing a Hobson's Choice, I will likely be relegated to using my treadmill anon.

That is all about running today. There is no takeaway from this post, other than keep running even when all seems to be conspiring against you. Running will rarely let you down.

On another topic: If you want a great book to read, check out George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. It is some of the best writing I have ever encountered. I always like Orwell, but he was never a favorite until I started this fantastic little novel.

Have a great week.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

What I Run In. Road and Trail Shoes Quick List.

Where's Imelda Marcos when you need her?

I write about my running shoes with relative frequency. Over the years I have run in many pairs of Nike, Asics, Merrell, and Saucony. My first pair of shoes ever were Nike Waffle Trainers - IMO still one of the best and simplest pairs of shoes ever put out by a running company. But for today's blog I thought I'd put up a picture of the pairs that I am currently using. Almost all of my shoes have well in excess of 300 miles. Two pairs have closer to 700. Starting in the lower left side of the photo and going counter clockwise I'll mention each pair and a quick plus and/or minus. You will note a big preference for two brands, Mizuno and Salomon. While I am always willing to try our other brands, the two that dominate this post are my tried and true, go-to shoes for trail and road. 

The blue shoes on the lower left are Mizuno Wave Inspire 10s. I absolutely loved these shoes, though never ran a race in them. They had much more road feel than previous iterations. The decals were ironed on instead of sewn - also a great idea. But the bad news was that the upper fabric wore out at a faster rate than any shoe I've ever owned. I now use this pair for muddy rounds of disc golf instead of running. 

Black and green are next. This is an older pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 8s with a permanent stretch lacing system that I bought at Garry Gribbles. This pair has held up much better than the newer 10s. I ran a 50k in these in 2013 and still use them on runs today.

The blue and yellow shoes in the center are Mizuno Wave Rider 17s, and are my newest pair (about 10 days old). I bought these because Running Warehouse was having a huge sale on last year's model. I did not particularly like the feel when they arrived. But of the 44 miles I did last week, 30 were done in this pair. No slipping, blisters, or discomfort. So they are now in the rotation.

The yellowish green and blue shoes on the upper right are Mizuno Wave Ascend trail shoes from 2011 or 2012. I have done two trail marathons in these and a ridiculous amount of trail training runs with no issues to report. They are finally starting to show their age. I still use them for hard, dirty runs on a regular basis.

The blue and white shoes at the top are Hoka Mafate trail shoes. I like the way they feel when I wear them. They do seem a bit heavier than my other shoes. They also, disturbingly, change my gait - according to my running partner who I pace in ultras. While I have run a lot of miles in these, lately I have taken them out of  my running rotation, and now wear them as insanely comfortable all-around shoes. I find that the weight and gait issues were a bit too much for me to keep using them on long distances.

The black shoes and the green and white shoes in the upper left are both Salomon SpeedCross 3s. I've mainly loved these shoes. They don't have a lot of front foot padding, but the ride is adequate, and the grippiness is phenomenal. I have done my longest jaunt - a 36 mi stint of pacing on dirt and gravel - in these. I also did a relatively technical run in Bryce Canyon in the black pair last summer. No slipping or blisters on very steep terrain in very hot weather. 

Not pictured (because I never use them, but listed because I still have them) Brooks Cascadias from 2011. I got lots of blisters and experienced too much foot movement. I used them, but never really was in love with the feel. Also, the soles did not have as deep profile tread as do the other trail shoes I prefer. Cascadias are a lot of people's favorite trail shoes. Feet are different. As are preferences. 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Reading While Running - AWOL on the Appalachian Trail

The following 2 paragraphs are a review of a book I posted on GoodReads. If you are looking for something to listen to (on your iDevice) as you run, AWOL is a good choice. Here then, is my review:



Instead of reading this work, I did something that I found more in keeping with the topic - I listened to the audio book as I ran. As a reader and writer who runs, I am always looking for audio-books, blogs, podcasts that I can listen to while running. It is a bit harder to find good listening material for training runs than one would think. For instance, works by Michael Chabon (a writer I love), are terrible to use in long runs. Why? Because the require listening on a different level. Sometimes not a lot happens. There are too many characters. Descriptions are too long. In short, books that require too much focus get lost in the distractions of thoughts, pains, pacing, and scenery that accompany a run. Books that work well usually feature few characters, a lot of action, or, conversely, a simple zen-like meditation. Jon Krakauer is probably my favorite author to listen to while running. Man climbing mountain. Man surviving in nature. Those seem to be good, easy concepts that can hold the attention of a runner, and blend into his/her thoughts as physical and mental exertions compete for primacy. 

Awol (aka David Miler) On The Appalachian Trail, is a beautifully written book. It moves along at a hiking pace. As he progresses along the trail, he shares his growing knowledge of trail etiquette and equipment needed for a successful outcome. As a reader who runs, I fell into his mindset, putting away my iPad shuffle after each run, only to pick it up early the next day and head out the door - just as Awol did - to face many more miles. The book was much more than a light diversion, however. Miller's accounts of what could have been mundane - a nod from another hiker on the trail, blister treatment, a ground-nesting bird, finding 'trail magic - are actually the highlights of the story. Like good running books, he makes the hike so much more than right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, the end. As a reader/listener, I finished the book wanting to go backpacking, and hoping to have even a glimmer of Awol's experiences (both good and bad) on the trail.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Mizuno Wave Rider 17 - Report and Review

New Wave Rider 17s.

For the first time ever, I tried a different model of Mizunos. For several years I have run in the current year's model of Wave Inspires (I use Salomon Crosstreks and Mizuno Wave Ascends for trails). But as I looked to replace my Wave Inspire 10s, that hadn't lasted quite as long as I thought they should've, I came across a sale on the Wave Riders.

While I have no need of support (no pronation or other form/mechanical issues), I have always loved my Inspires. The large toe box, the shock absorption in the heel, and the road feel in the forefoot, always have served me well. I even ran an ultra in a pair of Inspires. 

I had done a couple of 40-60 min treadmill runs in the new Riders to get a feel for them. On Saturday, though, as the winter temps would become an unbelievable 60+F, I knew I was going to give the new kicks a real test. I took them out for a 15 mile run that included asphalt, concrete, mud, gravel, and dirt. The extremely hilly route consisted of nine miles on hard surfaces, and six on softer (gravel, mud, dirt). 

The results? I have to say that the shoes performed beautifully. The cushioning was adequate, not plush, and allowed enough road feel through to keep me satisfied. In spite of the many short, steep hills (some paths with even a bit of a sideways slope), my feet remained secure. I had nary a blister or hotspot to report at the end of the run. 

The only drawback to the shoe is something that happens with most Mizuno shoes when running in gravel and mud. The U-shaped heel cutout packs up with said gravel and mud. You can see in the picture above what I'm talking about. There is a good-size rock in the undercarriage of the left shoe. The right one, which does not show the sole, is also completely full of mud in the U section - trust me. Again, this happens in most Mizuno road shoes when taken off-road. The Wave technology used in the shoes likely requires this design. And the design generally works well. It does not, however, lend itself to all surfaces without some issues. The trail shoe, Wave Ascend, eliminated this problem by not having the U shaped sole.

The only other ding I could give the Rider is that its toe box is tighter than either the Ascend or the Inspire. It is my personal preference (or perhaps, simply familiarity), but I like having slightly more wiggle room in the front. 

But again, all in all, I was thrilled to take a new pair of shoes on a long run on varied surfaces and have an almost fully positive experience. I would recommend the Mizuno Wave Rider line for any runner with good mechanics looking for an everyday shoe. 

I'm going to head out with them again after posting this for a 5 mi recovery run. And I'm looking forward to it.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

More Self-Involved Verbiage About Running (of course!)

Coleen wrassilin' a gator lying next to the trail.


The week of running has been challenging and fun. I've gotten in a couple of near 10 milers (which were both supposed to be over 10, but were cut a bit short due to measurement in the first case, and mud in the second). The highlights were a seriously strenuous run that got faster each mile (run with my buddy, Adrian), and a Tuesday run with the indomitable ultra-runner, trainer, and coach, Coleen Shaw-Voeks (Voeks rhymes with cakes). 

I hadn't run with Coleen in quite a while. We set off to do the full loop on the River Trails with the sand/sugar loop added. I was stoked for the run in the middle of the afternoon. What we encountered, however, was mud that was too much to deal with on a 10+ mi route. We didn't want to damage the trails - there were huge ruts where cyclists had gone through - so after taking the bailout on the sand loop (about 4 miles in), we crossed the field that lays between the out and inbound trails and popped onto the nearby levee. The top of the levee was the muddiest I'd ever seen it as well. So we each took a side and ran for another mile or so in the heavier gravel that lines the edges of the levee's surface. At the end of the levee, we exited onto the gravel road, and ran that back into town. All in all, it was a good run. We were both surprised by the amount of mud we have to slog through. The run included a couple of stops to lose some clothing and to take pictures with an odd, and new wooden alligator that someone had left next to the trail. It is always interesting to see how the trail changes. And the gator is a welcome addition that I hope will remain for a long time.

On Wednesday, snow fell and the winds howled. My plans for a day of rest were co-opted by my disc gold buddies wanting to play a round in the white stuff. Hmmm... didn't sound very smart. So, of course, I joined them. And, of course, there was no one - literally no one, else on the course or in the park. It was cold and blustery. A couple of us had our discs fall into streams. They immediately turned into blocks of ice. I wish I had a picture of the excursion. If (or rather when) we do it again, I'll make sure to get a record of the event.

That's it for now. 

Sunday, February 1, 2015

Weather report: Today it'll be hot and sunny with freezing rain and snow . . . Maybe just read a good book.

Ornamental Grass in my back yard being buffeted by 30 mph gusts today.

Nice week of running. The weather was, for the most part, in the 60s and 70s. For late January in Kansas, that is pretty good - thanks global warming. While it was wonderful to run in shorts on three separate occasions, the best runs were done kitted out for rain and snow. Hey it's Kansas, so the weather changes. Yesterday, for example, it started to feel like winter again. I donned tights (actually they're kind of loose), a couple of long-sleeve shirts, and a waterproof jacket, and hit the pavement with my normal Saturday running buddy, Adrian. We cruised on asphalt, pavement, chip and seal, and pavement until we got to the north end of the SLT pathway. On the return we popped into the trails behind Rock Chalk Park to add just under 2 miles to the run. I should've said 2 really hilly miles. The trails at RCP are amazingly short and steep. And there are a lot of them. Once you do a circuit of the outer loop, you have done at least 7 crazy steep little hills that mandate a slowdown to overcome the oxygen debt that you're now in.

Anyway, we finished soaked to the bone but with a pretty solid time. An afternoon spent watching Jayhawk basketball with Adrian and his wife, Tara, drinking a couple of bourbons and Coke Zeroes, went a long way toward our run recovery.

Today I took a short recovery run in the snow (no bourbon afterward). As I ran north and west, it was hugely unpleasant, with flakes slamming into me in a sustained 20 mph wind (with gusts up to 30 mph). But, like almost any run, I found the simple act of running in the elements to be invigorating. I was listening to the book, AWOL on the Appalachian Trail. The author was nearing the end and the part I was listening to involved hiking in the rain, and being cold and underdressed for the summit of a mountain. While I was not underdressed, I could certainly relate.

In other news, books... I finished reading Carl Hoffman's, Savage Harvest, a historical account, told by an anthropologist, of the demise of Michael Rockefeller in New Guinea in 1961. It is an interesting story. Rockefeller was killed and eaten by cannibals, where it was claimed, there were none. The story begins with a description of the murder. I found it so difficult to stomach that I almost put the book down after the first chapter. I'm glad I did not. Because by the end of the narrative, I felt very differently about what had occurred. It was a terrible tragedy for the Rockefeller family, but what happened can't be viewed only in terms of our culture, our norms, and our basic understanding of the life and of how the world works. Much like Jeremy Narby's Cosmic Serpent (se earlier blog post), about understanding a different culture in the Amazon, Hoffman's Savage Harvest does a good job of explaining how the terrible incident could've taken place, and how the people who live in the region viewed it (and view it to this day).

Finally, I signed up for the Rockin' K trail marathon in early April. I have enough friends who are doing it that it should be a fun day spent running in the sticks (and I truly mean that respectfully - rural Kansas can be beautiful). I've been averaging 30+ miles a week (35 for the past couple). I plan to move that up to forty starting next week (this week may simply become to cold or icy to log decent miles). By April, the Rockin' K will be a good base to have for solo runs I am hoping to do in the western US this summer.