NatNews

Oftentimes in life, individuals are able to endure challenging situations more easily when they have other people not only with them but also holding them accountable—and, let’s face it, sometimes some of those challenging situations involve exercise.

A friend, family member, coworker, or some other person in your life who can serve as an accountability partner when it comes to running, group fitness classes, or a number of additional training activities can prove to be beneficial in a variety of ways. For Dallas resident and White Rock Running Co-op admin Kevin Roberts, having workout partners makes a significant difference, especially with running.

“There are many times that I may not feel great, but if you have a dependable pal, you are not going to sleep in or think of a lame excuse not to run,” he said.

Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone recently joined a CrossFit gym with one of her friends, and she appreciates having someone there to cheer her on. The two of them carpool together, which creates an extra sense of responsibility for each of them.

“Having a buddy helps me actually work out because my friend Ashley and I trade off driving each other to the gym, so I have to make sure I’m awake on time because I don’t want to leave her waiting,” she said. “We always say that the hardest part is getting there, meaning that if you get up and get out the door, you have done the hardest part—usually, unless your workout just about kills you.”

Like Hone, Roberts has a buddy who helps keep him accountable and ensure that his workouts will be enjoyable. He currently runs with Dallas resident Shama Sattar, a longtime friend of his and someone he said is 100 percent reliable.

“I know I am not going to get that last-minute text saying ‘I didn’t sleep well,’ ‘my alarm did not go off,’ ‘I forgot about a last-minute work project,’ or ‘I have a headache.’ The conversation is also nice and helps the miles go by. To me, there is no better way to start the day!”

Dallas-area resident and Brooks ambassador Carolyn Macduff-Levanway said she joined a running group in the spring so that she can always have buddies for her long runs. Since doing so, she said it has helped her workouts become rather consistent.

“Running, especially doing long runs, can be really hard,” she said. “When you have people to talk to and keep you company, the miles fly by, you think about the amount of mileage less, and you can kind of get through the hard parts of the run together.”

It’s important to remember that accountability among workout buddies goes both ways—if others are going to hold an individual accountable, he or she must be willing to do the same for them. Macduff-Levanway said she serves as an accountability partner by holding herself accountable first.

“If you can’t even honor the promises you set for yourself, you can’t translate that to another person,” she said. “I always give my running buddies grace because life happens. I also have multiple buddies I run with, so if one of my buddies is busy, another one might be free.”

Regardless of what the actual workout is, the relationships built among workout partners can often become even more significant than the activities themselves.

“Having a buddy makes me do it,” Hone said. “I am way less hardcore by myself. I would say it’s more than having a buddy, though. Once you immerse yourself in a workout community of some kind (CrossFit, running, Orange Theory, etc.), people will expect to see you and check in on you if you stop going. To me, that makes it so much more enjoyable.”

If it takes you less than five minutes to fall asleep at night, you’re probably sleep-deprived. Ideally, falling asleep should take 10 to 15 minutes.

This isn’t exactly breaking news, but it’s still only June, and residents in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are already experiencing what some individuals have referred to as oppressive heat. The good news, though, is that there is a simple concoction of a treat that can help when it feels like you’re living in the actual core of the sun.

Snow cones have entered the chat.

Are snow cones essentially ice and flavored sugar syrups? Sure, that’s exactly what they are. But sometimes, as Dallas-area resident Megan England has discovered, that’s all you need.

“They are refreshing without being heavy,” she said.

Snow cones have been around since the 1800s, but they were first introduced at the State Fair of Texas in 1919 by a man named Samuel Bert, who invented the snow cone ice machine later in the 1920s. Now, snow cones are available at seasonal stands, from various food trucks, and at some establishments that offer them year-round. Dallas-area resident Karen Brinkmann isn’t too picky about where she gets her snow cones—she’s simply happy to have a way to cool off in the blistering summer heat.

“I don’t have a favorite place to go,” she said. “I’ll take a Bahama Buck’s or a sketchy seasonal pirate ship that shows up in May and heads back to sea in the fall.”

England, on the other hand, prefers to visit the Frisco Snow Cone Lady, a beloved favorite to residents in the Collin County area.

“I love the tradition and supporting local history,” she said.

Below are popular places to get your snow cone fix this summer (or during any time of the year at some of the locations).

Frisco Snow Cone Lady — Located at 6427 Elm St. in Frisco; open during the summer from Tuesday through Friday from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. and from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (closed on Mondays)

SNO — Located at 10455 N. Central Expy. #102 in Dallas; open daily from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. (opens at 1 p.m. on Sundays)

Shaved Ice & Funnel Cake — Located at 9185 Bruton Rd., Ste. A in Dallas; open daily from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Bahama Buck's — Various locations throughout the metroplex; open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. (opens at noon on Sundays)

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews’ official mascot, Dash, hopes that all of our dear readers have a wonderful week

Tuesday, June 27: National Sunglasses Day
Wednesday, June 28: Fall Out Boy at Dos Equis Pavilion
Thursday, June 29: Bryan Adams at Dickies Arena; Matchbox Twenty at Dos Equis Pavilion
Saturday, July 1: WRRC Saturday run at Taco Joint; Klyde Warren Park's Independence Day Celebration