Latest Gazelles News
Fall Marathon/Half Marathon Info Session - June 2nd
May 7, 2012We can't believe it's almost that time of year again, but June is just around the corner which officially kicks off the Fall Marathon/Half Marathon training season!
Gilbert's Gazelles is the group for you whether this will be your first foray in to the 13.1 or 26.2 mile distances, you're trying to qualify for Boston and New York, or anything in between! The Gazelles are not just for fast people - although we do help you get faster while staying off the injured list. Over the past ten years, runners of all abilities and ages completed our training programs and clocked times from the 2:40's to over 6:00 hours in the Chicago Marathon alone! And that's not counting Portland, Steamtown, New York, San Antonio, Sacramento, St. George, Twin Cities, Grand Rapids...the list goes on and the opportunities are endless.
Join us on Saturday, June 2nd at 9:30 AM in the Gazelle Training Center at RunTex Riverside for information on training with Gilbert's Gazelles during the 2012 Fall Marathon/Half-Marathon season. Gilbert will cover topics such as weekly mileage, following the training calendar, pace runs, core workouts, and hydration.
Training under former NCAA Champion Gilbert Tuhabonye and his highly qualified team of assistants, you'll experience an exciting group dynamic and gain a broad understanding of training philosophy, race strategy, nutrition, and more! Our workouts include runs all over downtown and west Austin doing hills, intervals, pace runs, and long runs. All groups meet three times per week - twice during the week and on Saturday for the long run. Joining the Gazelles also means you get to enjoy the benefits of eight free weekly boot camp and yoga classes, nutrition and injury-prevention clinics, discounts and RunTex and on Gazelle apparel, access to on-site physical therapists, and on-going video analysis of your running form! For more information on any of our programs, please email info@gilbertsgazelles.com.
Gilbert Takes Cover of Austin Fit Magazine
Apr 6, 2012The slogan “Run With Joy” serves as the motto for the group, and Tuhabonye inserts much of his Burundian roots into the training. One can find his herd running all across town, sometimes singing African chants at the Austin High track: “The lion is coming; don’t let it catch you!”
His jovial personality and ability to immediately connect with individual runners has helped Gilbert’s Gazelles grow into one of the most recognizable brands in the fitness community. The company, which started out with just three women shortly after Tuhabonye won the Capitol 10,000 in 2002, will celebrate its tenth year anniversary in April 2012.
Read the story and see the pictures HERE.
Shelton's Put the Du in Duathlon, Take Top Honors
Mar 16, 2012Jeff and Liz Shelton, long-time members of Gilbert's Gazelles, traveled to Seguin last weekend for the Blue Norther Duathlon and brought home top honors. Their race report, courtesy of http://austintriathlonstore.blogspot.com/, is below:
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In early March, you can never be sure what kind of weather is going to roll in. But a race named for a weather phenomenon that brings a stretch of unseasonably cold, rainy days...well, that should give you an idea of what to expect. Hosted in Seguin on March 11, 2012, by the Seguin Sunrise Lions Club, the 22nd annual Blue Norther Duathlon was a success in spite of the storms and chilly temperatures.
For Jeffrey Shelton, long-time runner, the Blue Norther Du was a first experiment in multisport. Since his wife, Liz – a former All-American runner at UT who competed in the 2000 Olympic trials – had already participated in a handful of sprint triathlons, she offered him encouragement and race tips. But some things have to be learned the hard way. After all, what self-respecting man would listen to his wife’s sage advice?
Race Report by Jeffrey Shelton
Liz Shelton at Danskin The duathlon was a 5K run, 14-mile bike, and 5K run. It was 51 degrees and raining cats and dogs all the way to Seguin. Rain, my bike, and me aren't necessarily the best of friends. I really, really hate to clean my bike after riding in rain so I wouldn't have raced, but someone had paid our entry and if you know my wife, Liz, then you know she loves atrocious weather. It's just another challenge to overcome. Here she was saying, "I don't care if it's pouring, lightning, or hailing. Slick roads don't scare me.”
Meanwhile, in the back of my mind I was hoping the organizers would cancel or just turn the du into a 10K run or something. At least in a 10K I knew I'd be competitive in the Masters field. Liz asked, "You ready?" I had to just smile and as upbeat as I could feign, say "Yep.”
Well, much to my dismay the race director decided to hold the event. Liz was as giddy as could be as she racked her bike. I'm looking around to make sure I'm doing things right: placing my shoes, helmet, dry socks, etc. I felt like we were the only two "Freds" with road bikes, and we certainly didn't have aero helmets. At least Liz had some aerobars on her bike, but then she’d just had those installed by the shop the day prior and didn't want to use what I like to refer to as "death handles.” The only thing I could have done to be more of an oddball was wear running shorts, the short-short kind. ATC had recommended some good shorts that I could run in. I had tried to run in my cycling shorts, but it felt like I had a diaper on. What can I say, I'm not getting any younger and I want as much padding as I can get when on the bike, but I heeded their advice and got some tri shorts.
Something new for me was this whole marking the age on your calf business. My first thought was "c'mon, I know how old I am," but then Liz explained to me that if someone was in front of me in the same age group then I could see their age and run them down if I had enough left in the tank. Surprisingly, this bit of newfound knowledge paid off as I passed a youngster of 41 in the last 200 meters. I made sure he heard me coming and I looked over and told him "good job," but in my mind I thought there's only room for one Masters winner and I hoped that I'd caught all the 40+ dudes that had hammered past me on the bike.
The transition from run to bike was eye-opening too. Yes, I know I should have listened to Liz and practiced that because I was the third person back from the run and the seventh or eighth person out. I guess stopping to dry my glasses, put on some chapstick, and change into dry socks, and the fact that my road shoes have a ratcheting/tightening system, could explain my tardy departure.
Liz asked if I'd had a nice picnic after seeing my T1. Let's just say that velcro is all the rage and all the fast people and even the not-so-fast people have velcro this and that for quick shoe entry and removal. Meanwhile, I'm fiddlin' with the ratchet, "Click...click...click," and the clock is just tick, tick, ticking away. Now I know that velcro is much, much faster. Mental note: buy some all-velcro shoes if I do one of these things again. The one pro dude made it look easy as pie, or at least I felt like he must have been pro because he took out the whipping stick and put a whipping on us in the first run. I tried to look at his calf but his legs were moving too bloody fast. Liz warned me about the T1, but I failed to take heed. I guess I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm not the butter knife either.
The bike course was slick in a few areas, and this was my rude awakening to yes, those tri bikes, aero wheels, speedsuits, and even the "sperm" helmets make a difference, as I was passed by no fewer than eight people. Way back in the early ‘90s I could ride respectably, but until last year I hadn't touched a bike in 17 or 18 years. I felt very humbled as these tri guys just rolled me off the back like a carpet out of a truck. I've ridden with the ATC Saturday ride so I knew the tri guys are strong, but this was ridiculous.
I kept thinking about what my friend Desiree Ficker had said about the last seven miles and ratcheting it up and riding at my limit. She must have not known my limit was much lower than everyone else's; I tried, though. On the hills, or better said, on the slight rises, I was making up ground like a freight train off a cliff, but on the flats and downhills I could see people riding away from me, and they were making it look easy. I scooted as far forward on the saddle as the unmentionable area could stand and tried to pull on those pedals, but my engine wasn’t strong enough. I felt like I had a 4-cylinder and everyone else was a V8. I have my bike set up for relaxing long rides, and I don't own any aerobars to slap on, so it was like I was riding a chopper. Maybe next time I'll rent some aerobars or rent a bike for a few weeks if I do another one of these things. That's a big IF! ATC's Missy Ruthven on the run!
Liz's background is running, and I knew Liz would be alright as she was first onto the bike, but alas, she too said on the downhills she was losing ground. In the end, two women passed her, so she was third into the final 5K run. Yep, you guessed it, those ladies were on those crazy aggressive tri bikes, with skintight speedsuits and aero-EVERYTHING. Liz said she could hear riders with the disc wheels coming and roll right on by, and she couldn't do anything about it. Trust me, I know exactly how she felt. She said she kept looking for ponytails as she was concerned about getting caught by ladies. Liz saw Missy Ruthven come rolling by but couldn't maintain contact. She hung tough on the little hills, though, and kept it to what would be manageable on the run. She said she was focusing on Des' advice too. Thanks Des for the advice, but we're newbies – at one point I just wanted to finish without walking.
Don't tell Liz because I'll deny it, but I did take her advice about installing the elastic strings for quick entry into my running shoes, which must have helped in T2 because Liz didn't ask how my picnic went there. Coming off the bike and starting the run I think I was 11th or 12th but I focused on what Des instructed and thought about quick feet. I imagined I was running through hot coals. I don't know if that was for the quick feet as much as the thought of being warm, since I was chilled to the core and my Raynaud's syndrome was kicking into overdrive.
But quick turnover must have worked, as I passed almost all the guys who had passed me on the bike. Meanwhile Liz had lost something like two and a half minutes on the bike and had her work cut out for her. She passed the second-place girl in the first mile of the second 5K and would have to run her fanny off to catch the leader. Liz said that at one point she could see Missy and thought that the race might be over and that she had run out of road. Liz no longer has the 2:01 800m wheels but she still has wheels nonetheless. So much so that when it comes to a sprint I won't even step on the track with her. I've got a fragile ego and don't want to get "wifed" on the track so it's just safer for me not to toe the line against her in anything less than 800m. I knew she had a good chance if she could get close enough, but the finish line was approaching fast. In the end, Liz caught Missy with about 100 meters remaining.
The timing company had a few things go wrong and there were people confused about the posted results. Ultimately the timing company told everyone to just go home and they'd to sort it all out, which they did. For me as a newbie, the best thing was baked 'taters at the finish line. Yum, hit the spot. And they were hot, which finally warmed me up and helped to lessen the Raynaud's.
Last year Liz said, "I want to do a sprint triathlon,” which she did. Now she wants to tackle an Olympic Distance triathlon and has started training. She is excited to test herself and to do more triathlons. I'll be out there just cheering my heart out for her, wondering all the while how people can have such big engines and do these multi-discipline sports. Me, I think I’ll stick to just riding my bike as often as I can and running every once in a while with the ATC group and my good buddy Gilbert. That's how I saw it as a newbie.
Liz was 1st overall female and I was 1st Old Dude.
New Class: Tuesday/Thursday AM Friendly Gazelles
Feb 6, 2012Due to popular demand, Gilbert and his coaching staff have added another Gazelle Training Session. Come join the other friendly runners in a non-competitive atmosphere for a program which focuses on form, biomechanics, strength and endurance, which form the basis for the Gazelles training program philosophies.
Gilbert Tuhabonye is an Olympian and NCAA All-American, who believes that by transforming an athlete's biomechanics, running becomes a joy and the likelihood of injury is significantly limited. Gilbert brings his running and life experience to the training in an educational & inspiring format that stresses his love and commitment to the sport.
Participants have the option of choosing between the following three weekly classes: M/W at 7:30 or 9:15 AM or T/Th at 8:15 AM. Each Saturday the group meets for a long run with a bonus stretching session afterwards.
To register, visit http://www.gilbertsgazelles.com/training/view.php?id=3
Gilbert's Gazelles Garners 2011 Awards from Competitor, AustinFit Magazines
Jan 10, 2012Competitor Magazine South Region - Best Running Club
http://running.competitor.com/2011/12/features/best-of-competitor-2011_43777/1
Individuals from all across the state voted to select Gilbert's Gazelles as the top running club. Competitor - which owns the Rock 'N Roll Marathon/Half Marathon events - distributes more than 55,000 copies of it's monthly magazine publication in Texas and surrounding states.
AustinFit Magazine - Gilbert Tuhabonye Best Runner, Gilbert's Gazelles #3 Running Club
http://www.austinfitmagazine.com/Lifestyle/Reviews/2012/January/best-of-2012.html
From the magazine:
Gilbert Tuhabonye - Best Runner - 13% of the vote
No surprise here – Tuhabonye, head of Gilbert’s Gazelles and cross country coach for St. Andrews, grew up a runner, representing Burundi in the Olympics as an 11th grader. He was also a national champion at Abilene Christian University and has been a staple in the Austin road running and training scene.
Gilbert's Gazelles - 3rd Best Running Club - 19% of the vote
Beginner to elite runners train with Gilbert Tuhabonye, noted runner and author of “This Voice in My Heart.”
Congratulations are in order to some of our friends/partners:
Jack & Adam's - Best Bike Shop
Laura CaJacob - Best Nutritionist/Dietician
AustinDEEP - 2nd, Massage Therapist/Studio
Desiree Ficker - 3rd, Triathlete
RunTex - 3rd, Retail/Apparel
The Bar Method - 3rd, Barre Studio
Didn't Get In the Houston Marathon Lottery? Here's Your Second Chance!
Aug 25, 2011If you weren't selected in the 2012 Houston Marathon/Half Marathon lottery there's no reason to fret. This year there are 26 charities needing runners to help them raise money for their cause - and by doing this you get to register in the race! Simply visit http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/RunForAReason/index.cfm?SRed=1& and select your organization of choice.
The list includes a number of local non-profits including Marathon Kids and Presbyterian Children's Homes & Services. Don't wait to sign up before your second chance is over!
Austin/Houston Marathon & Half Marathon Information Session - Saturday, August 27th
Aug 13, 2011Mark you calendars for Saturday, August 27th at 9:30 AM to join us in the Gazelle Training Center at RunTex Riverside for information on training with Gilbert's Gazelles for the 3M, Houston and Austin Marathon/Half Marathons as well as our other monthly groups.
Former NCAA Champion and world renowned running coach Gilbert Tuhabonye will cover topics such as weekly mileage, following the training calendar, pace runs, core workouts, and hydration. Hundreds of local runners ranging from long-time veterans to those who just bought their first pair of running shoes have joined our tried and true methods and captured Gilbert’s philosophy of running with joy and staying injury-free.
Training under the Gazelles programs will provide you an exciting group dynamic experience while gaining understanding of training philosophy, race strategy, nutrition, and more! Our workouts include various runs throughout downtown and west Austin, incorporating hills, intervals, pace runs, tempo runs, and long runs while also building a strong core. Groups meet three times per week - twice during the week and on Saturday for the long run. Joining the Gazelles also means you get to enjoy the benefits of six free weekly core classes, a yoga class, nutrition and injury-prevention clinics, discounts at RunTex and on Gazelle apparel, access to on-site physical therapists, and on-going video analysis of your running form!
The start date for all of these programs is Monday, September 5th. Class time options are Monday/Wednesday at 5:45, 7:30 and 9:15 AM and Tuesday/Thursday at 5:45 AM/5:30 PM with all groups meeting on Saturdays at 6 AM for the long runs. For more information on any of our programs, visit www.gilbertsgazelles.com or email info@gilbertsgazelles.com.
Book signing on Saturday: Mile Markers by Kristin Armstrong
Jun 1, 2011JOIN US ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4th FOR A SPECIAL BOOK SIGNING BY KRISTIN ARMSTRONG. SHE'LL BE IN THE GAZELLE TRAINING CENTER AT RUNTEX RIVERSIDE STARTING AT 8:00 AM!
Kristin Armstrong has only been running with the Gazelles for about six months, but she's been sharing her writing talent with many for a number of years. On March 1st Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run will hit the shelves of a bookstore near you.
A veteran of numerous marathons and half marathons, Kristin pens her experiences weekly at RunnersWorld.com on her blog "Mile Markers: Marking moments on the road of life."
http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2011/02/labor-pains.html
Labor Pains
Kristin Armstrong
RunnersWorld.comI have a mailing address for my mail for two reasons. One is because I travel and it's never good to have an overflowing mailbox or packages stacking up on your front porch to alert crooks to your absence. The other is because my mailbox is kind of ghetto and off kilter and a nearby sprinkler head is cockeyed and sprays water into the back of the box. All my flyers, Costco coupons, and letters from people who don't know better are always soggy.
The mail place where I get my goods is becoming high tech and now I get email notifications when I have packages to pick up. Last week I got a beep on my phone and happened to be right nearby, so I pulled in and hoped it wasn't another godforsaken tax thingy.
Instead it was three big boxes.
Immediately I started to pit out and my heart rate spiked just like the beginning of a track workout before I take one step. I knew what it was, or thought I did, but had to open the box right away to be sure. I demanded scissors, ignoring the line of customers who were patiently and politely waiting. I yanked the scissors from the clerk, dropped to my knees, stabbed the box louder and more violently than I meant to (nerves), slit the top open, threw off the puffy packaging airbags and there they were. The rest of the store faded in my mind and I was a kid on Christmas.
I was holding a copy of my new book.
And so much for maturity, manners, or the blasé cool of an experienced author. I squealed like a third grader, hopped up, danced around, showed the copy to anyone who wasn't suddenly evacuating the premises or pretending to check their phones. Ric, the manager, was happy for me. Or happy to help me carry my boxes to the car so I could get on my merry way. I didn't care. I floated home and ran inside to brew a cup of coffee with vanilla soy creamer and sit on the sofa with my spanking fresh, hot of the press, copy of Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run.
Have you ever been in the middle of a move or cleaning project and come across an old box of photographs, an old journal, diary, letters, or papers and found yourself lost in them, still sitting there, hours later? That's how I felt that afternoon. Like I had dipped into my running history, our running history sweethearts, and lingered there, reliving moments–some joyful, some raw and painful–and I delighted in shedding both kinds of tears. I got to remember my kids when they were small, how my legs felt when I first started to run, and go back and watch my friendships as they deepened.
It was like an old married couple finding love letters from courtship, only the love letters are a correspondence between running and us. Sometimes passionate, sometimes disillusioned, sometimes working through something, sometimes purely grateful–but always intimate. We have history together of inside jokes and shared experiences. This book is my evolution as a runner and at the same time it's the evolution of every woman runner, every beloved sweat sister. My running group, my pack, is an extension of you and yours. Because regardless of how talented or devoted we are, we are all juggling the same things in different ways. We are a community.
In a world where time, schedules, busyness, competitiveness, and the demands of careers and motherhood could work to drive us apart running routes us back together. Ponytails, thrown on clothes, laced up shoes, good weather, bad weather, victorious workouts and finish lines, as well as miserable, bonking defeats: We are all in this together.
Giving birth to a book involves gestation and labor pains. But in the end, when you hold it for the first time, it's a beautiful beginning. A very fine Mile Marker, to be sure. This book is for us, my dears, it's for you. I hope you love it. (Wait 'till you see who endorsed it for me–are you kidding me??? I am so not worthy.)
Please preorder a copy. Get one for you, your sweat sisters, your daughters, your moms, for all your valentines. Get a copy for anyone who thinks you are a total nut job for all your crazy miles. Get a copy for anyone you wish would get up and go for a run. Get a copy for the precious men in your life who could use a window into womanity. If I had one dream for this book it would be that it would be both a tribute to all the women who get out there and try over and over to be someone better than they were yesterday–and at the same time, an invitation to women who have never considered the idea that a runner might be hiding on the inside.
Finally, I have to say two of the most inadequate words in all of language: Thank you. I know that there is no writer without readers. You have marked these miles with me, these pages have your footsteps all over them.
I am grateful.
K
Gilbert Speaks at TEDxAustin
Mar 28, 2011Our fearless leader was invited to TEDxAustin in February to speak at the all-day conference. Video of his speech is now available online, and have a box of Kleenex's handy because you're going to need them!
Check out why he received a standing ovation here: Gilbert Tuhabonye TEDxAustin
If you're interested in booking Gilbert to speak at your company or event, email susan@lenihangroup.com.
Upcoming Training - Boston Marathon and Spring 10K's!
Dec 1, 2010Gilbert's Gazelles will host an information session Saturday, December 4th at 9:30 AM at RunTex Riverside for those interested in training for the Boston Marathon. Annually 30+ Gazelles travel to the marathon of all marathons and in 2009 over 90% requalified.
In January our annual Spring 10K program will begin, focusing on speed and strength to get you prepared for whichever race(s) you choose to run.
For more information on any class we offer, please visit our classes page
http://gilbertsgazelles.com/training/classes.php or email us at info@gilbertsgazelles.com.
