Back Talk Lakewood/East Dallas

Marines go the extra miles

A couple months ago I wrote about some Marines stationed in Okinawa, Japan who would attempt to run the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon ... in Japan at the same time we would run it here in Dallas. For further explanation, read the story here. The whole platoon ended up running it, and the DRC has posted an update.

For those of you complaining about the 70-something temperatures out there the day of said race, you really need to read about the Marines' experience. Here's a sample: "...the Marines ran something around 13.1 miles with no plan, no water stops, no food, soaking wet, on short warning, on a darn-near empty base, with nothing at the end except protein bars from a convenient store, some fast-food, and beer...one Marine stopped after cellulitis in his knee burst and the pus started draining down his leg. Another Marine with some berthing crud couldn’t stop throwing up so he stopped as well. Everyone else finished."

Read more pleasantries here.

Also, be sure and click on the pic to see a larger version — 2nd Lieutenant Ryan Bintz sent it to me, but it got here a little too late to be included with the printed version of the story.

Doctor's Hospital signs on with White Rock Marathon

Doctor's Hospital at White Rock Lake is getting in on the White Rock Marathon weekend (Dec. 12-14) — they've just signed on as title sponsor for the marathon's two-day health and fitness expo. Organizers are still seeking the top-dog title sponsor for the marathon. Hmmm, I can see it now ... The Advocate Publishing White Rock Marathon ...  what do you think, Mr. Wamre?

While I wait to hear back on that ... the aforementioned fitness expo sounds like a pretty cool deal, with more than 100 vendors demonstrating, peddling and promoting all sorts of stuff — clothing, jewelry, shoes, athletic gear, food and supplements, upcoming events and good-to-know-about services, to name a few. Plus, if you are running the race, you have to go to the expo to pick up your packet so you might as well take it all in while you're there.

I don't know exactly how the Doctors Hospital sponsorship will affect race participants — I don't think very much. But sponsorships, from what event chair Chuck Dannis told me a while back, help absorb costs of putting on such an enormous event and allow organizers to donate a larger sum to the benefiting charity, Scottish Rite.

Also, if you are training to run the marathon and you're getting antsy, you are eager to read anything and everything there is to read about the event. It's just five weeks away and I can't get enough of stuff like this, from the Dallas Morning News Fitness Blog.

Stinky spot along White Rock trails

We’ve discussed this before and I’m sure it’ll come up again but the topic of the so-called "putrid pathway” at White Rock Lake keeps coming up — probably because it’s starting to feel like winter, which is when it gets really bad ...

Many of us who use the lake have come to accept the area along its trail, past Mockingbird bridge near the West Lawther curve, that stinks — and when I say STINKS, I mean that it makes the dog park smell like roses. It is the spot where the fish-gobbling double-crested cormorants roost when they migrate here for the winter. They live on fish from the lake and they poop a bunch, at least that’s how it’s been explained to me.

Wanna hear what they sound like? Check this out.

Anyway, I received an e-mail from a reader last week urging us Advocate editors to “get some commotion stirred up about those nasty birds (a.k.a. water turkeys) on the northwest shore of the lake, right before you get to Mockingbird … their pooh all over the tree's emits a retched fishy odor and it is slowly killing the tree's because the leaves can not absorb any sunlight,” he wrote.

I don’t know that I can do anything to rid our walkways of the dirty birds. But I suppose I can do my part to raise awareness. Here’s my advice: when you come upon the area in question — oh you’ll know when you are there — step off the path and up on to the road for a few feet. It’s just a slight detour. Or just hold your breath and run real fast through the section. Whatever you do, don’t look up. 

More lights no good for White Rock Lake

The latest National Geographic features a piece about light pollution and its toll on wildlife, pertinent to the situation we have here with the proposed White Rock Lake lighting project (more here, and here). The aforementioned article backs up the idea that by making do without all the artificial lighting, we will not only preserve energy, but also protect animals whose biological rhythms can get screwed up when you pollute the night with that “luminous orange glow”.

"Wildlife species have evolved on this planet with biological rhythms—changing that has profound effects," said Travis Longcore, a biogeographer with the Urban Wildlands Group in Los Angeles, who with colleague Catherine Rich, co-organized a conference last year on "Ecological Consequences of Artificial Night Lighting."

Since the nights have started falling earlier, I’ve gone out running around the lake in the pitch dark. I can understand the idea behind installing lights — you have to smartly navigate the roadways and paths at night to avoid collision with fellow pedestrians, cyclists and cars. But that’s doable if we just use common sense (I know, it’s a lot to ask for some of us).

The atmosphere at the lake in the dark with just the moon’s glow spilling onto the glassy water — well, it’s just irreplaceable especially here in the city. It was the other night out there in the dark —even as I was forced into a muddy roadside pit by a non-observant motorist —that I decided how I felt at lights around the lake. And that was before reading the National Geographic story. I know the lights advocates have good intentions, but we are already doing so much out there to make it more user friendly. Let's let nighttime be nighttime.

Runner in ICU following accident at DRC Half

We have a little more news about one of the runners hit by a car following the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon. The Advocate received an e-mail via the Lakewood Service League from Colleen Nelson, wife of Eric Nelson who suffered severe injuries in the accident. According to Colleen, he is in ICU in critical but stable condition. The injuries are bad — head injuries, two broken legs, broken bones in his face, ligament damage around his c-spine — but she says there has been improvement from day one to day two and that doctors seem optimistic. Colleen was walking alongside her husband when he was hit. "I still can't quite wrap my head around the accident," she wrote.

It's tough to imagine what this family is going through — one minute you are finishing up a challenging half-marathon race, and moments later, your body is in shambles. Considering the severity of the accident, though, it is a wonder that all of the victims are alive. We will let you know if we get more news.

Three people hit by car near Flag Pole Hill

Three pedestrians were struck by a car following the Dallas Running Club Half Marathon Sunday morning. It happened at about 11:30 a.m. The race was over and the victims were waiting to cross the road, probably returning to their cars parked at Flag Pole Hill. I left the race grounds around 10 a.m., went out for coffee, and returned home via Northwest Highway. We passed the accident scene probably only moments after it happened — there were several police cars and several ambulances, and my husband and I guessed that something pretty terrible must have happened. Initial reports say a driver lost control of her car and that she, along with the those she hit, were hospitalized. I'll update if I get more info in the morning.

DRC Half Marathon registration hits capacity

The Dallas Running Club has closed registration for the DRC Half Marathon this Sunday, Nov. 2. That means 4,000 runners will be stampeding through your neighborhood early Sunday. (Good thing you'll get that extra Daylight Savings Time hour of sleep.) Did I say 4,000? Make that 5,000. I forgot to add the 5K race that caps at 1,000 runners, which by the way, you can still sign up for at Run On!, Mockingbird.

If you're registered to run The Half or the 5K, you can start picking up packets tomorrow at Run On!, and organizers say get 'em as soon as you can or they are liable to run out of the goodies that get dropped in said packets ("we could not have anticipated such a large amount to register so vendors only provided enough samples and flyers for 4,000 packets", according to a DRC newsletter).

I'm sure all the folks at the DRC are pretty happy about the race's impending turnout, but the success might cause stress for some neighbors — especially churchgoes or anyone with a Sunday-morning commute. Yes, if you live anywhere near the race route, be prepared for crowds, noise and traffic issues — I can imagine this would be terribly annoying for those who aren't into this sort-a thing. But, be a good sport! Grab your morning coffee, wander over to the lake, and cheer on all those crazy runners (and be glad you aren't out there busting your hump on a perfectly sleepy Sunday morn). I'll be the one wearing an Advocate cap.

Free Dallas Stars tickets for tonight's game

UPDATE: Apparently we have some Stars fans in the neighborhood, because the tickets already are gone.

I have 2 tickets to tonight's Dallas Stars - Nashville Predators game available to the first blog reader who sends an email to [email protected]. The tickets are in the front row on the glass of the upper level, directly behind the net Marty Turco defends in the first and third periods. You'll have to pick up the tickets at our office, but if you're interested, let me know...

Friday, Oct. 17: Golf for good cause

Golf, anyone?

It’s not too late to enter the 16th Annual Maggie’s House Golf Tournament — it’s on Friday (10/17) at Sherrill Park Golf Course, 2001 E. Lookout Drive in Richardson. It’s $100 to enter and $400 per team and the proceeds go to this wonderful place called the Maggie’s House (officially, The Magdalen House), a foundation unassumingly located right here in the neighborhood that offers free shelter, programs and referrals to women trying to overcome alcoholism.  Learn more about Maggie’s House here … plus, forecasters are predicting a beautiful Friday, so play hooky and tee off for a good cause. More about that here.

Pop Culture: Cowboys lose Romo, get Jonas Bros

Just as the black clouds settle in over the Dallas Cowboys … the day darkens. The details are still shaky, but it seems QB Tony Romo is out for four weeks, due to a broken pinkie finger. The finger broke during the first play of overtime during our loss against Arizona yesterday (so the injury can’t explain away the disappointing performance). As hard as Romo was repeatedly hit yesterday, it’s a surprise he didn’t suffer more. I am sure we will hear extended details soon (the Ticket radio usually has the first word on Cowboys issues). Meanwhile, expect your starting QB to be 40-year-old Brad Johnson who hasn’t started a game since 2006 in Minnesota.

Let’s see … we’ve lost Terrance Newman indefinitely. We have another cornerback who might self-destruct the first time his baby sitter bodyguards turn their back. We can't get the ball to TO. Our Jedi of a QB sinks to mediocre status before getting knocked out for a rumored four weeks. Can you say, ROUGH WEEK?

There is some good Cowboy news … if you are a TEN-YEAR-OLD-GIRL, that is. Jerry Jones has secured tween sensations the Jonas Brothers to play halftime at the Thanksgiving game. That’s just wonderful, Jerry.  Now ... where am I gonna get a Brad Johnson jersey?

(I understand this is no joking matter. But what am I going to do, cry?)