A Recap of 2014

Another year of San Angelo fitness activities has come and gone.

Overall, the trends this past year were more people taking part in run/walk events, a decline in road bike cycling and fewer local cycling events.

There was increased participation in local triathlon events during 2014 with the primary increase being people taking part in the shorter ‘sprint distance’ events.

As noted above, running continued to be popular with most of the same events from 2013 taking place again this year. Several new events were held, including the West Texas half-marathon, the Christoval Vineyards half-marathon and 10K, and the Goodyear Race for Celebration.

Trail running continued to grow in popularity with the Shannon Trail Running Series, Dinosaur Trail Run and the Crazy Desert Trail Run being some of the popular running events during the past year.

On a down note, several of the running events that had previously been held on the Angelo State University campus either did not take place in 2014 or were significantly smaller than in the past.

Triathletes had three local events to enjoy during 2014, including the Lake Nasworthy sprint triathlon, the Goodfellow triathlon and the new San Angelo triathlon last August.

The San Angelo triathlon, which included a sprint distance event, team relays and an Olympic distance race, was a welcomed reincarnation of the former Wool Capitol triathlon that was canceled in 2013 after being a mainstay on the local calendar for over 20 years.

Organized cycling activities in San Angelo declined during 2014, continuing a trend that started several years back. As noted in a previous column published back on October 17, the 6-Hour Dinosaur mountain bike event and the small time trials put on by the local cycling club were the only competitive cycling events in San Angelo during the past year.

The ASUFit cyclocross series that was held on the Angelo State campus through 2013 did not take place this year, ending a four-year run for an event that attracted quite a few local cyclists and some out-of-town racers.

Smaller numbers were also evident this year for the twice-weekly Loop Group rides, with only a handful of cyclists showing up each week for what once was large enough to be jokingly called the ‘Tuesday/Thursday World Championships.’

More San Angelo cyclists opted for casual small-group ‘social rides’ on mountain bikes or in areas around the lake parks with fewer people venturing out to ride onto the busy area roads.

The increase in traffic on area highways, rough chip-sealed roads, the lack of in-town cycling infrastructure such as bike lanes and off-street paths and the higher cost of bicycles and related equipment compared to running shoes and clothing were all factors that impacted local cycling activities.

So what can we expect to see during the coming year?

All indicators suggest that the trends from 2013 and 2014 will continue with running remaining strong, triathlon growing somewhat and cycling remaining at about the same level as during the past year.

More cyclists will sift their rides to low-traffic rural roads or mountain bike trails, although the construction of the Red Arroyo trail may encourage casual cyclists to ride in town on the Red Arroyo’s paved routes.

Triathlon participation is expected to grow locally during 2015 with the growth being driven by having three local multi-sport events and also a strong social media marketing campaign by the San Angelo Triathlon promoter. There are also rumors that suggest an off-road multisport event such as a run-bike-run duathlon may be organized.

Remember — 2014 is about to end so it’s time to start training for 2015 events.


Upcoming Events
Now-Jan 4: Texas Cup cyclocross series: http://txbra.org/events
Jan. 3: Resolution Run: roadlizards.org/events/ecvfd-resolution-run-2015/
Jan 7-11: Cyclocross National Championships: usacycling.org/2015/cyclo-cross-nationals
Jan 17-Feb 21: Trail Running Series: roadlizards.org

Gift Socks For An Athlete

There are only a few more shopping days until Christmas, and you may still be unsure of what to get

Don't despair — just give those athletes socks.

Depending on their sport and the "style rules" your athletes adhere to, you can select from tall socks, short socks, bright colored socks, compression socks, wicking socks, windproof socks or socks that carry a printed message such as ‘dopers suck.'

Selecting workout socks was easier back in the day — you just went to Target, Kmart or Sears and picked up a six-pack of white "athletic" tube socks. Today's athletes are a little more choosy about what covers their foot, so you have to match the sock with the sport and the athlete's personality.

Let's start with cyclists. To make an intelligent decision, you'll have to determine if the person on your list is a mountain biker, road cyclist or a cyclocross racer.

Road cyclists are the most concerned about image and style, so make sure to select socks that won't damage their ego. In general, stay away from short ankle socks (too much of a tennis look), go with black socks only if they are a Lance Armstrong supporter, and above all try to color-match a road cyclist's socks with his/her team colors.

Mountain bikers are generally a more down-in-the-dirt group and thus don't worry about style as much. In fact, some off-road cyclists have been spotted wearing hunting socks from non-cycling vendors such a Cabelas and Bass Pro Shops.

Cyclists who train for and race cyclocross events usually have the most eccentric taste in socks. For this deviant breed, get socks that are tall, funky, garishly bright in color and — if possible — that have patterns to match the cyclist's leg scars and tattoos.

If you're still confused about socks for cyclists you might want to read "Fashion Trends in Cycling Socks" published by Cyclingtips (cyclingtips.com.au/2012/10/new-summer-fashion-trends-with-cycling-socks/).

Triathletes deserve a mention although they are not real cyclists since cycling events are never preceded by a swim or followed by a run. Most multisport athletes have serious love affairs with the tall calf-height dorky-looking compression socks that help squeeze blood from the lower legs back up to their brain.

The good news is that you can save money by just buying those athletes a pair of long varicose vein compression stockings from Walgreens or similar medical supply stores. They'll never know the difference.

Runners are somewhat picky about what's between their feet and their running shoes. In general, they'll prefer something ankle-high or shorter that looks fast and saves a couple of grams of weight. Long-distance runners may prefer socks that have a slightly thicker padded underfoot to compensate for the thinly padded ultralight distance running shoes they race in.

Trail runners are a different breed from normal runners and may like slightly taller crew-height socks that are pre-stained in trail dirt and mud colors.

To be honest, most of the difference between the various subcategories of cycling and running socks is the product of great marketing by sock companies.

When in doubt, just ask the salesperson at your cycling or running store. Believe everything they tell you — maybe.

Remember — it's important to select appropriate gift socks for an athlete.
for the athletes on your list.


Upcoming Events

Now-Jan 4: Texas Cup cyclocross series: http://txbra.org/events

January 3: Resolution Run, roadlizards.org/events/ecvfd-resolution-run-2015/

Jan 7-11: Cyclocross National Championships, usacycling.org/2015/cyclo-cross-nationals

Jan 17-Feb 21: Trail Running Series, roadlizards.org