• Home
  • About

A Runner's Story

A Runner's Story

Tag Archives: Austin

Zilker Park

24 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Britt&Eric, Running

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Austin

IMG_3990

I ran my all-time favorite trail this morning – the Greenbelt that follows Barton Creek for seven miles upstream from Zilker Park.  Ryan, Brittany and I ran up three miles before turning around for a six miler, while Eric and Dan got in eight miles.

IMG_3984

Deep in the heart of a city with a million people, we saw less than a half dozen other runners and bikers on the trail.  The 45° might have been too cold for most Texans.  One biker was dressed up for the North Pole.  I could have used my gloves for the first mile, but it warmed up nicely.

IMG_3986

I used to run the Greenbelt almost daily when I last lived in Austin.  Eric found a stretch today where Lance holds the fastest time on Strava.  His college running buddy Dan recently ran a sub three-hour marathon.  The two of them have a shot at beating Lance, so I’m guessing we’ll return later in the week.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

SXSW

04 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Storytelling

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Austin

IMG_1776Hah, fooled you.  This is not a blog covering the digital creatives that descend on Austin in March.  I am however in Austin.  I realized my mistake upon arrival at ABIA yesterday.  Conditions inside the terminal were claustrophobic.  Thank God I didn’t try to rent a car.  Still not sure how I scored a ticket on Southwest for under $100.  Must have beat the real crowds by a few days.

DIA was packed too, with home-bound skiers.  As bad as I’ve ever seen it.  Southwest maintains a seemingly random pattern of kiosks in front of the ticket counter for travelers to claim their baggage tag.  People didn’t know how to queue up efficiently.  It didn’t help that an agent walked around barking out instructions that there is no line.  No idea what she meant by that.

The lady directly in front of me panicked when her turn came.  She fumbled around in her purse for identification or her smart phone.  Her bag didn’t just spill, it literally exploded its contents onto the floor.  Apparently stressed, she shrieked like a banshee out of frustration.  Like in a scene from Home Alone, a hundred travelers all hushed themselves to stare at her as she sunk to her knees, sobbing, to collect her belongings.

After all this, my flight wasn’t full and I was able to spread out with my newspaper.  My brother picked me up and we stopped for lunch at some pub in the Domain.  I quaffed a 512, a locally crafted IPA.  Pretty tasty.  Looking forward to some more local food and beverages, and hopefully a few trail runs, over the next several weeks.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Bluebonnets & Cactus

24 Saturday Feb 2018

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Austin, LoBo Trail

Feb 24 2018

After a brutally cold and snowy week, today’s near freezing temps felt fine for a seven miler on the LoBo Trail.  The warm Colorado sun helped.  The wind picked up at one point alongside a harvested corn field, and I put my jacket on.  I was able to tie it back around my waist again after turning around.  What were once head winds carried me home.

This could be my final frigid February run of the year.  Next weekend will be March and I’ll be in Austin.  Wish I hadn’t gained so much weight this past year, otherwise I’d run some races down in the Texas springtime.  I’ll visit some of my favorite trails though, limestone paths through Bluebonnets and cactus.  Perdernales Falls will be on my list, along with the Austin Greenbelt.  Maybe I’ll get back into running this spring.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Last Day

26 Monday Dec 2016

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin, Cyber War I, Hyde Park Bar and Grill, Lady Bird Lake, Matt's El Rancho

hyde-park

This is my last day of the holidays in Texas.  Driving home tomorrow morning.  These are some highlights.  Eating out is always one of my favorites in Austin.  We’ve been dining at the Hyde Park Bar & Grill for thirty years.

book-for-mom

It’s so hard to shop for your parents when they already have everything they need.  I simply wrote a book and wrapped that up for my mom.  Writing a novel this year didn’t make me exceptional in this crowd.  I enjoyed the discussions with Mark and Paige on their novels.  Paige has published several and Mark is still editing his first.

papa-reading

It’s a tradition that Papa always reads for the girls on Christmas Eve.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0012.JPG

Brit, Ellie and Rachel dressed up fancy on Christmas day.  Ellie and Brit ran every day too.  They ran a ten miler one day, to counter the extreme eating.  No matter how many times I got them down to Town Lake, Brit would run past the bridge where she was supposed to cross, running farther than planned.

bnw

The fancy dresses didn’t last long.  I recall seeing them mostly in their pajamas.

santa-gift

I always get the best gifts from my brother-in-law Chad.  This package included a Batman onesie and even funnier coffee cup.

grandkids

Each year includes a photo on the stairs of the Collier-Mahoney-Campbell grandchildren, from Brit the oldest to Liam the youngest.  We’ll end today with some laser tag and dinner at Matt’s El Rancho.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Ellie’s Last Days of Summer

28 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Ellie Rose, Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin, Barton Springs, Lake Travis, Mt. Bonnell, Willie Nelson

south congress 2

Instagram is Ellie’s social network of choice, as I believe it is for many 14 year olds.  And a picture says 1000 words.  Ellie sent me these pics from her final days in Austin, saying 1000 words, and then some.

south congress

She knows how to capture the best of Austin, and the fun she is having wth her cousins.

mt bonnell

I remember the first time I climbed the million steps up Mt. Bonnell, and saw this same view, in the late ’70s.  Ellie’s photos are making me truly nostalgic.  I have so many good memories of this hill, and Barton Springs below.

Barton Springs

It’s so nice to see Lake Travis completely refilled from the rains.

Lake Travis 4

Ellie is totally up on politics and has her own views.  This is from South Congress.

willie

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Ellie Update – Austin Summer ’16

25 Monday Jul 2016

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Ellie Rose, Storytelling

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

11th hour escape, Austin, Top Golf

Ellie n Rachel

Ellie is in the midst of her cousins for nine days.  She is pictured here with her older cousin Rachel, visiting Austin from Eugene, playing Top Golf.  Ellie says she sucks at golf.  I told her that’s how you know you are golfing.

Ellie n Liam

Liam is the baby of all the cousins, so he gets special treatment.  He doesn’t appear to like Ellie picking him up much.

cousins

I’m told they made their escape with 10 minutes to spare.  Ellie said they work well together as a problem solving team.  Team work.  Let’s check back in with them after a few more days.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Christmas Drive to Texas

21 Monday Dec 2015

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Amarillo, Austin, Christmas 2015, wind farm

Ed xmas 2015Christmas this year begins with dropping off Millie & Meeko at the doggie ranch.  Not having to listen to Meeko’s high pitch bark for ten days will be the greatest gift of all.  Four dress shirts from Brittiboo and new house slippers from Karen rate a close second.  We open our gifts Saturday night before the thousand mile drive to Austin.

Ellie xmas 2015

I suspect Ellie is pretty happy with these bindings for her snowboard.  The drive Sunday goes well in the Honda Odyssey.  Brit and Ellie play the ukulele and work on their harmonies singing non-stop, making the drive not much different than sitting around the house.

 

The winds increase in southern Colorado and persist through the Texas Panhandle.  We have the wind at our back through New Mexico.  Massive wind turbines are pervasive along the road, harvesting the wind in Colorado and Texas.  I know people complain about how these wind mills scar the landscape.  I’m in awe.  I see them and think about how humankind is leveraging technology to generate power.  So cool to view these up close.  We spend Sunday night in Amarillo where the girls become infected with the Santa Zombie virus so common this time of year.

Brit and Ellie work on a new song on day two of driving.  Brit already had a line or two and some chord progressions on her ukulele.  Together, the girls come close to completing it.  Play the video.  We eat lunch in Breckenridge along Hwy 183, and arrive in Round Rock by 4 in the afternoon.  Home for Christmas.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

For the Hellth of It

20 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Austin, Austin Marathon, diversions, finisher photo, race strategy

Mile 5 by the Hyatt HotelRunning marathons is probably on par with bolemia or similar health conditions.  Lucky for me, running is perceived as a healthy habit.  Run Forrest run. My insurance provider would even grant me a $100 rebate if I put a hundred hours into tracking my activities on their senseless web site.  I’ll try that again when I wear an Apple Watch with an app to automate the upload.  I do believe running is good for my mental health.  Some athletes curl stones across the ice.  Pick your diversion.

I can tell you that I felt great after the Austin Marathon last Sunday, and recovered well enough to run the next day.  I didn’t run the next day because the weather sucked and I was busy, but I could have.  My post-race massage deserves credit for much of my muscle recovery.  I think the point I really want to make is I didn’t hurt myself.  There were no marathon-related strained muscles.  I was a bit concerned I would make my cold worse, or develop allergies from the high mold count.  My cold did feel worse that night but mostly cured by Monday, and no allergies.  I dodged a bullet.

finisher photoThat I recovered so quickly hints that I am in fact in shape to run a marathon.  I usually know when I am but I don’t always know when I’m not. I think my slow down on the final 10K was only partly due to the hills in Tarrytown and the warm temperature and humidity.  The biggest factor is running the first 10K too fast.  The trick to running Austin well is a slow start, made difficult by the long downhill stretch on South First Street after 3.5 miles.  The photo above is in front of the Hyatt Hotel between 5 and 6 miles.  If I run this next year, I’m running super slow the first six miles.  Or I might just switch to the half marathon.

I picked up my sister Sandy from Austin Bergstrom at midnight Wednesday. She’ll visit for ten days. My mom now has a full house and I’m sleeping on the couch. I started running again Wednesday but have no race plans. Normally Moab would be next but I have yet to commit to that.  I’ll keep my runs at an easy pace and distance for the next few weeks to promote recovery and stay healthy.

Like this:

Like Loading...

Texas Road Trip

27 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running, Storytelling

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Austin, Doctor's Mob, Town Lake

ArmadilloGot in a final nine mile jaunt around Town Lake today.  Fixin’ to dine at Molcas – a really nice family run Tex-Mex in Northwest Hills – for our last supper in Austin.  I should mention we dined last night at Hyde Park Bar & Grill too.  We always make an effort to visit our favorite eateries in Austin.

We’ll be driving early tomorrow morning to Dallas to visit long-time family friends and then head out west on 287 for as far as we can.  I hope to make it past Amarillo but don’t expect to cross the Texas border into New Mexico until Sunday.  As long as that sounds, it’ll be better than the trip down.  I thought I’d re-post this armadillo pic because I saw one cross the road on the drive down at night between Childress and Abilene.  It was as big as a baby black bear.

Actually just returned from Molcas.  Couldn’t finish this post first.  So I’m almost too stuffed with cheese and Bohemias to type.  Papa is playing his victrola for Brittany.  Some WWI era 78 rpm tune.  Brit is pursuing a music degree and is interested in such things.  Her Papa gave her a turntable earlier and she’s been playing 33 rpm vinyl records all day.  Some U2 War, Roberta Flack and her Uncle Steve’s Doctor’s Mob album.

Karen and I just made the decision to not pack the minivan tonight.  Grandma Barbie is dancing the Charleston.  Molcas serves decent frozen ritas.  I wonder how much gear we’ll leave behind when we leave.  I’m guessing multiple iPhone/iPad chargers and some really important jewelry.  See you in Colorado.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Fat Face

20 Friday Dec 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

23andme, Austin, Eagle Trail, Mr. Gumby, running form

profileMy fat face might not really show here unless you click on the picture to enlarge the view.  Honestly, I feel as trim as I’ve been in twenty years.  I can’t explain that fat face.  I was in a conversation with Susan at our Christmas party the other night and she made the statement that I don’t have a runner’s body.  I forget where she was going with that.  I probably didn’t let her finish.  I remember my response.  I know my leg length is less than optimal.  Oh, and I have a bit of a paunch.  But I have 40 years of experience that gives me good running form.  My college track coach used to film me running quarter mile intervals for his Kinesiology class because he believed I had perfect running form.  My calves are oddly large – a product of running on my fore foot.  And my cardio system might have a predisposition for aerobic sports.  Not only is my resting heart rate under 50 beats per minute, but my 23andme DNA results suggest I’m a natural aerobic athlete.

I guess the fat face and double chin just come with age.  That’s fine.  So is the paunch.  The last thing I care to look like is a malnourished Mr. Gumby.  I know I don’t have the perfect runner’s body, but I feel like a runner.  I am a runner.  I read lots of running blogs and some writers suggest what a runner is and who isn’t a runner.  I’m no different, I too have a definition of a runner.  If you run, and it’s more than just a workout but something you rather enjoy – then you’re a runner.  I’m still ecstatic that I got back into running 5 or 6 years ago.

Ran today on the Eagle Trail in 27° and zero wind.  I totally over dressed.  It was well below 20° earlier in the day but warmed up once I hit the trail.  That kept me from running faster and farther but it still felt so nice to get out of my basement and off the elliptical.  There’s so much more gravity in the real world, my legs felt the difference in impact.  Two day drive to Austin tomorrow so today will be it for awhile.  Looking forward to running some of my favorite trails in Austin.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

All About Ellie

14 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Ellie Rose, Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin, Chautauqua, Ellie Mahoney, Mesa Trail

Folsom Field

It’s all about Ellie this week.  We fly down to Austin today so she can join her Papa on a trip to NYC.  They have tickets to a couple of plays and her cousin Rachel from New Mexico is also going.  It was quite the girl’s night last night as Karen and Brit helped Ellie pack.  I’ll work the week in Texas and fly back home with her a week later.  Austin is expecting a high of 104° this weekend, with humidity to match, so running will be a survival event.  Regardless, I’ll find a day (maybe next weekend) to sneak down to the Greenbelt for a trail run.  The Save our Springs Alliance is selling this pretty cool map of the Greenbelt online and at area stores for $6.  Maybe I’ll take a dip in Barton Springs to cool off.

I ran 10 miles on the LoBo Trail Saturday and another 10 on the Mesa Trail today.  Twenty miles in two days.  It’s nearly as hot this weekend in Boulder as in Austin.  I ran early this morning to escape the heat, because yesterday’s noon-time run wiped me out.  Today’s run was further enhanced by a Bloody Mary at the Chautauqua Dining Hall, along with my après-run brunch of a Caprese Omelet.

Yesterday’s run was miserable.  I even walked a bit on the return.  Today though was nice.  You can’t not have a great run on the Mesa Trail.  Keith, Steve and I left Longmont for Boulder at 6:30am to beat the heat and allow for our day schedules.  I still have to pack for my 5pm flight.  We met up with some other teammates who plan to run the Epic Relay with Keith and Steve next weekend – Brian and Kevin.  Both strong trail runners.  Kevin has to be because his wife Beth publishes Boulder County’s most popular running blog, Shutupandrun.

Launching from Chautauqua Park at 5700 feet, the trail rises unrelentingly to 6292 feet in the first mile and a half.  To figure out the grade, convert everything to the same unit of measure.  Let’s go with feet.  The rise was 592 feet.  Done with the rise.  There are 5280 feet in a mile so the run was 7920 feet.  592/7920 gives a grade of 7.5%.  That’s a decent incline, but one that most runners are capable of running – assuming they are acclimated to running at an elevation one mile above sea level.

I’ll spare you the math from here on out.  The next eight tenths of a mile is down a 5% grade and then back up a 10% grade over the next three quarters of a mile.  This is the high point of the run – assuming you turn around after 5 miles like I did.  The trail has a couple more 150 foot drops followed by intense 10% inclines (reversed on the return); otherwise it smooths out for some nice running.  There are a number of trail intersections.  The signs either say Mesa Trail with double arrows or have a single arrow pointing to South Mesa Trailhead, which is about 7 miles from Chautauqua.  This is my first run on Mesa Trail since the mud, snow and ice of the spring.  Great trail conditions now.  Get out there.

40.137598 -105.107652

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

3M Half Marathon

13 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

3M Half Marathon, Austin, Farmers Insurance, Kenneth Hausmann, Kerbey Lane

finsh lineWoke up at zero dark thirty to a cold Austin for the 6:45am start to this half marathon.  Can’t complain considering the temperature back home is closer to zero° and ice.  This wouldn’t be bad running weather if not for the 15 mile an hour wind that makes 40° feel like 33°.  I loaded my gear bag with tons of dressing options – expecting to wear the gloves – and dry clothes to change into after the finish for breakfast.

In terms of expectations, I know I’m not in the same shape I was in at the end of 2012, but I was hoping to run under an 8 minute pace.  Since my return to road races I have yet to do that in a half marathon.  I generally just run these things like any other workouts but woke up today feeling a bit edgy.  I think it might be from hooking up with a college buddy, Kenneth Hausmann last week to watch a bowl game.  Ken has an awesome house on Lake Austin.  Oddly enough I think he’s more into his houseboat.  His funniest joke of the night was when he said he should probably have it insured as he gave me a tour.  Ken owns a Farmers Insurance agency.

Ken’s wife Debbie made us a nice dinner and I met his youngest daughter Mia whom they adopted from China.  She’s totally deaf but can hear fine due to some amazing technology that incorporates implants and magnets.  Mia looks as happy as she is beautiful.  Part of my tour included Ken’s trophy collection.  Apparently while I was raising kids and building a career, Ken squeezed in twenty years of road runs.  He’s run Boston several times and has never missed the Capitol 10K.  When I say he has a mountain of trophies, I mean he has hundreds piled up on a workbench in his garage.  Some are traditional trophies, others are medals, or plaques, or plates – even a couple of dog bowls.  Many of them 1st place.  And all I’ve thought about since is how cool it would be to run a half marathon time today – in Ken’s backyard – that will make him feel slow and old.  Because we’re friends.

Fortunately it never rained.  The only cold part of this event was standing around before the start.  Because my brother dropped me off, I only had to stand around for a half hour or so.  Steve also shot some video around ten miles in front of the Hyde Park Bar & Grill.  I wore two shirts, neither heavy, but covered with my North Face shell to break the wind.  I also wore a pair of running tights that are thin enough to wear in the summer, some gloves and a runner’s hat.  I would say I geared up perfectly.  I pocketed the gloves after four miles, and I would have been fine without tights – but they made the start much more comfortable.

Every two miles displayed a pace clock and I appeared to be running on target for an 8 minute per mile pace.  I typically like to warm up with a 9 minute pace for the first few miles, but my goal to break 1:45 would require starting out faster and holding it.  My stretch goal was 1:40 and my fantasy was 1:30.  A boy can dream.  But even the 1:45 would be a PR and would require some racing tactics.  Starting out slow is smart for warming up, but presents a risk if I don’t have the energy or drive to pick it up.  Starting out too fast risks building up lactic acid and not being able to recover from oxygen debt.

Kerbey LaneI lined up behind the 1:45 pace group and suspect I passed both them and the 1:40 pace sign in the first mile when it was too crowded to notice.  The wind was in our faces the first half mile but wasn’t noticeable as we turned east on Kramer.  There were only a few short streets later in the race where we ran into head winds and it was never a big deal.  I don’t think a 15 mph wind has a big impact on time but it would have made today colder if we were running into it.  I do suspect the 400 foot drop in elevation over the 13 miles is helpful.  Not to the point it affects the course’s USATF legitimacy, but it sure beats a 400 foot elevation gain.  The combination of the elevation drop and the wind at our backs likely lead to a number of runners doing well.  I don’t know my official chip time yet but the clock said 1:37.  We ate breakfast at one of my favorite Austin eateries – Kerbey Lane.  Not a bad way to start a new year of running.

40.137598 -105.107652

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Last Run

31 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin, Boulder, CPTR, Heil Valley Ranch, IPR, Moab, Stevie Ray Vaughan

stevie rayFor my last run of the year – Lady Bird Lake in Austin.  The old Town Lake setting is always enjoyable and a great venue to end another year of running.  As I think back, these are my coolest runs of 2012.

Moab.  If you haven’t run Moab, or hiked the area, or mountain biked on the slick rock, you’re missing out on one of this country’s premiere outdoor locales.

CPTR.  The 25 mile Collegiate Peaks Trail Run is such a nice experience.  The views don’t get any better.  But I think it was the friendly participants and general atmosphere of Buena Vista that make this event worthwhile.

IPR.  I’ve run the Imogene Pass Run twice now.  At 17 miles, it appears more doable than a marathon.  More like a half marathon.  But trust me, your time will be slower than what you can run for a marathon.  This run only has one hill, but it’s ten miles up and seven steep miles down.  Easily the most challenging trail I’ve ever run.

Barton Creek Greenbelt.  I just ran this trail the other day for the first time in over 20 years but used to run it regularly.  I’ve yet to discover a comparable inner city trail run.

Boulder County.  I’m lucky that I live here.  I’m partial to the East Boulder/White Rock trails and Heil Valley Ranch but there are countless trails in the foothills of the Front Range.  And I’m fortunate to have the LoBo Trail out my front door that I run to Niwot and back on most days.

40.137598 -105.107652

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Mayan Apocalypse

19 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Running

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Austin, Southwest Airlines, SWA

colder bolder 1This coming Friday marks the advent of the Mayan Apocalypse.  I don’t personally believe in any end-of-the-world scenarios, but it will in fact be the start of winter.  That’s dramatic enough for me.  The Colorado Front Range doesn’t experience the extreme cold common in the Midwest (I was born in Iowa) but it does get a few cold waves.  So I intend to winter in Austin.  Boarding a plane Friday, and assuming no massive tectonic plate shift happens below, I’ll land 1000 miles south.  I’ll ride out the apocalypse there for the next 4 weeks.  This means I’ll be able to continue my running in relative warmth.  I should mention that as I write this it’s currently 10° outside.

I find it ironic this week, with the pending doomsday, that I’ve read more Facebook posts defending 2nd Amendment rights than discussing the horror of Sandy Hook.  I’ve entered some of the discussions – fortunately civil debates.  So tired of some of the recent election passion.  Of course the odds are more likely I’ll die driving in a blizzard than any other scenario.  I nearly did wreck my car on I70 driving in a blizzard through Kansas last Christmas.  Relieved to be flying this year.  Karen found tickets on Southwest for $250 round trip.  Can’t beat that.  Although, actually I did.  I decided to delay my return to late January and saved another $65.  Of course, SWA has no change fees.  This is why we love Southwest.

Because I won’t be in Austin during February with this change of plans, I won’t be running the Austin Marathon.  I’m not too disappointed because I hadn’t yet registered and was considering signing up for the half again knowing I won’t be in shape enough in the winter to run a strong full marathon.  Tried that in 2011 and didn’t fair so well.  Maybe I’ll find a cool run in Central Texas while I’m there.

40.137598 -105.107652

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Travel Day

04 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by Ed Mahoney in Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Austin, barrons, bloody mary, marshall iphone headphones, retirement, safety net, WSJ

The blizzard Friday didn’t change my day much.  Weather doesn’t impact a basement commute.  But having Ellie home from school all day sort of made it feel like a Saturday. I laundered clothes throughout the day and started packing after dinner.  I don’t travel much anymore but I’m still fairly efficient at it.  Except I couldn’t find my Garmin or my Nikon’s mini USB cable.  I did find my IBM badge.  Could have used that for my Wednesday afternoon meeting at the Diagonal data center.

I lost my focus packing and gave up once I had all the clothes cleaned and folded.  Figuring I had time in the morning to pack, I sat down to listen to a Diana Krall playlist with Karen.  We sat until about 11:30 in front of the fire while the snow continued to fall – Karen sipping her white, me quaffing my red.  600 flights had been cancelled out at DIA but I assumed I’d be good to go in the morning.  The shuttle was scheduled to pick me up at 8am.

I had time to read the Journal in the morning before the van showed up at the curb.  Karen woke up to send me off with a hug and kiss.  She’ll be a single working parent for the next three weeks.  Today even she’ll be driving Ellie to an activity in Boulder at 11am, which she’ll do every Saturday while I am gone.  Ellie’s activity is 2 hours and Karen intends to go to the studio to work on her Zumba routines.  She’s teaching now a 30 minute class every Monday-Wednesday-Friday in Louisville.  She only has a few students to date but expects the class to grow quickly.

The shuttle driver was talkative.  I’d guess him for about 70 years old.  He had no reluctance in asking all about my trip.  Told him I was visiting my mom and he wanted to know her age, then her health.  Guessing this guy isn’t in tune to HIPAA.  The only way to keep from giving up my SSN and bank pin code was to start asking him questions. Found out his brother is 79 and a long haul truck driver for 40 years. Maybe I’m just more in tune to old people right now, but this guy is old and working.  His brother is older and working.  I stopped by McDonalds as the van exchanged me to the bus and a lady easily of retirement age served me at the counter.  Are old people refusing to retire or am I just overly sensitive given my trip to visit my mom?  They must be hedging their bets in case Romney gets elected and takes away their safety net.

I rode on a bus from the Interstate the rest of the way to DIA.  I was surprised to discover this bus had wifi with a great signal.  Nice.  I took full advantage using my iPhone.  My next surprising observation was as I sat down at the Southwest gate.  Absolutely everyone within sight who had a laptop had an Apple MacBook.  Hmm.

Seating on Southwest is a free-for-all and I got the aisle seat in the first row and no one took the middle seat.  I ordered a Bloody Mary and finished my Saturday edition of Barrons.  Then I started a new piece of fiction on my Kindle – Fear Index.  Good read. After reading 15%, I set it aside for a song writers’ genius playlist and listened wearing my Marshall headphones while drinking a second Bloody Mary.  I was relaxed and feeling pretty good by the time the flight landed in Austin (ten minutes late) and my brother picked me up outside the baggage claim area.  The weather here is cool and comfortable.  Karen called me to let me know I should crash my brother-in-law’s Super Bowl party on Sunday.  Sounds like a plan.

40.137598 -105.107652

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...
← Older posts

Search this blog

Categories

Buy Full Spectrum Cyberwar at Amazon

Buy Cyber War I at Amazon

Buy on Amazon India for ₹99

Buy on Amazon U.K. for £2.27

English Edition on Amazon Germany

Buy on Amazon Brazil for R$11.29

Archives

Blog Stats

  • 115,368 hits

Girlfriend Cult

Recent Comments

Ed Mahoney on The Passing of Connye Fay
Ed Mahoney on The Passing of Connye Fay
Anonymous on The Passing of Connye Fay
georgeschools on The Passing of Connye Fay
Jed Perkins on The Passing of Connye Fay

Recent Posts

  • The Passing of Connye Fay January 18, 2021
  • Cozy Bear vs Fancy Bear December 20, 2020
  • the day TCP died December 5, 2020
  • The Covid Twenty November 28, 2020
  • Shanahan Ridge October 30, 2020
  • American Soap October 3, 2020
  • On Reading – the Woman’s Edition September 19, 2020
  • 112° August 29, 2020
  • Go Bag August 23, 2020
  • Ouray August 2, 2020
  • The Graduate July 26, 2020
  • Second Edition July 3, 2020
  • Saharan Dust June 28, 2020
  • My Day June 21, 2020
  • We are the Media June 11, 2020
  • The Hot Runner June 7, 2020
  • Lily Mountain Trail May 23, 2020
  • Runner’s Pandemic Etiquette May 17, 2020
  • Keurig Runner May 10, 2020
  • Guitar Hero April 18, 2020
  • Snow & Rain April 2, 2020
  • The Morning After March 14, 2020
  • Running Through Sadness February 22, 2020
  • The ATX Half February 16, 2020
  • Digital Tracking January 24, 2020
  • Winter Secret January 5, 2020
  • I Used to Run December 27, 2019
  • Zilker Park December 24, 2019
  • The Gift of Glove December 21, 2019
  • The Trail Conspiracy December 7, 2019
  • Writing Naked November 23, 2019
  • In a Fall’s Winter November 2, 2019
  • Running Errands October 19, 2019
  • An October Run October 13, 2019
  • Argentine Trail October 6, 2019
  • Fall Weekends September 28, 2019
  • Mount of the Holy Cross September 22, 2019
  • The Wedding Performers September 8, 2019
  • The Wedding Hike September 1, 2019
  • Brittany Noel Got Married August 30, 2019
  • Cybersecurity is Complex August 19, 2019
  • Part III: Water, Rock, Man August 13, 2019
  • Aspen August 11, 2019
  • Thirty-Two Years August 3, 2019
  • Box Sets & Writing Conventions July 20, 2019
  • Flattop Mountain July 14, 2019
  • Mr. Sandman July 6, 2019
  • Two Girls Eating June 30, 2019
  • My Cozy Trail June 23, 2019
  • Foot Bridge June 15, 2019

Colorado=Security

Blogroll

  • Alohawk's Blog
  • Barbie's Blog
  • Boggy Creek Lumpster
  • George Schools Blog
  • I, Cringely
  • Prostate Chronicles
  • Shut Up + Run
  • Sustainable Sunrise
  • The Rogue Botanist

Web Sites

  • Amazon Author Page
  • Austin Marathon
  • Bolder Boulder
  • Brit's YouTube Songs
  • Colorado Marathon
  • Colorado Runner Magazine
  • Colorado Trail
  • Girlfriend Cult
  • Lobo Media Ltd
  • My YouTube Site
  • Race Pace Calculator
  • Shoes & Brews
  • Trail Runner Magazine
  • Zaremba Graphic & Web Solutions

Goodreads

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Passing of Connye Fay
  • Foot Fetish
  • Cozy Bear vs Fancy Bear
  • Performance Enhancers
  • Telephone Pole Intervals

Top Clicks

  • edmahoney.files.wordpress…
  • edmahoney.files.wordpress…
  • gravatar.com/false
  • edmahoney.files.wordpress…
  • legacy.com/us/obituaries/…

RSS Feed

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
%d bloggers like this: