After the Gold Rush

She pulled all her belongings and just a sign to display her plight for all to see, a survivor nothing more and much less good from the wear of it all. That's when we were thinking much was going down, sure could see the sinking, and little mattered anymore. But the wheels touched ground, and then things began to turn around. Wanting something better, looking for what would be new, so thru the town she rolled. Broken Hearts do mend, and this is our beginning, wishing for something beautiful and something true. Chasing dreams always lead to catching up to angels and getting things right. So it is, with a persistent enduring effort and all the determination to see it through, the devil always get left behind. Don't look now but your flying and I believe that's OZ up ahead.

Lovey Dovey

The clock says 4:15 and the start is 6, still show 2mins. late. Running the Belt with Mr. Mama himself is the Dream, and moving thru the Grotto and on to Shan's leaves a phone ringing and Dovey  on the ledge at 360 with clothes unpressed but is this a dream. Looking to the sky to save us, and all this time we 're making our way home to the Hill of Life, when we learn to fly. 12 mile we call, the back is OK and who would have thought, these three muskateers would be looking time and time again, learnin to give and give again.Livin the Dream, love and dove again!

Running the Course

You can be sure that now the dog will blaze thru the agility practice with speed and detail most of the time showing the other canines what time it is. In the beginning and for awhile just getting to stay on track was an accomplishment. Then there was blatant distractions and total lack of attention to what we were doing, running an agility course. Tunnels, A frames, chutes, jumps, weaves, serpentines, and threadalls the components of running the course. Lee taught this discrimination and away stuff that basically brought a real edge to the game. Now I point at the obstacles and away she goes and maybe we would consider going to some Trials. For now it's fun and  probably a great form of mental exercise. But Boodini will do well as long as there is work or a job to be done.

Stretcher Police

So what I decided to do was test out the Hokas at the Hilll of Life and into the 3rd descent about two thirds of the way down I noticed two gals and a guy carrying something in a towel as in a stretcher. We have all seen the folks coming up from their outings and dip in the cool water we are blessed to now have in the Belt. Sometimes you can tell they've had a bit of the swirl and you might say Swillary( a pun for our Sec. of State). So I figured was someone being carried up? So Wrong. Getting to the bottom and heading up I needed to know ... and as I grabbed the corner side of the towel I heard thank you's and relieve sighs from the weight of this 80+ lb dog. It was immobile and had been bitten by a snake, and spots of blood were on the towel. We towed this guy up to the top and got Moxxie into the car and hopefully she made it to the ER in time to make it OK...makes me think. So I contemplated and did two more roundtrips up and down, and thought on the drive home ...am I prepared for that....what about Boodini?

Do you think it was a 50K?

Last weekend I completed another 50miler, since the halloween weekend end of Oct. til now, 5months, this would make 3 50M, 1 100K, and two marathons. At Hells's I decided to try two new things. The first being the Hoka Mafates, and the Nathan water vest 020. Out of the box I laced a size 11( normally I wear 11.5, and the sizing reviews recommended this1/2 down size) and was planning to run one of the three 16.65mile loops to see how they ride, ready to change out to another shoe after. Likewise the Nathan pack would take care of water and with pockets I could haul my powder mixes, gu, salt all things neatly in their place. This all worked really well and had a very non irritating loop cause it just fit. I took off on the second loop and didn't change a thing, and actually ran the 50 with both newbies to satisfaction. After, I had a blood blister at the tip of my right foot which makes me wonder if the 11.5 hoka would have been the way to go, nothing like having many sizes of the same shoe around, but it functions well over any terrain. I will have to wear them in to build up my ankles, cause I have rolled them once or twice, and the reviews  mentioned that stuff  happening. Great pair of shoes that actually ride over rocks, flats, and do have a great grip. I would say I think I had less leg soreness afterward as well. The Hoka Bondi B is the road shoe version that I ran the road marathon in and this shoe fits true to my 11.5 size and is real nice for me. I also feel like it is still important to use different shoes, Montrails, Brooks, Asics, what you like, so your foot just doesn't know Hokas, as these shoes are the opposite end of shoe philosophy, that being, cushion vs minimalist.The Nathan pack all I did was pull the bladder they give you and put in a camelback bladder, same size and good to go. Got warm the last loop and lost money in the bank from feeling the funk, so overall though it was good to have a tough finish, cause it is a good lesson in pushing thru and digging to get it done. In a few weeks, throw it all on the line at Massanutten 100M, love that Virginia, and that race rocks! We are blessed to be still able to run.