No Matter Same Road

One of the least things I look forward to at work is the misplaced animals that show up from time to time. Some are dead somewhere in a wall or under a floor, road or sidewalk, some are alive and misplaced. They are raccoons, Cooper's hawk, lots of variety of birds, dogs, opossum, skunk and I must have animal control written on my forehead, cause I am always the go guy for it. I can spot trouble, and a few days ago there was another bird barely alive, and obviously not going to make it. I could find another walkway that wouldn't lead me pass the critter, but somehow it just sucks you in the void. So I have Boodini's kennel in the shop for her cooler weather visits and it becomes a triage for the helpless bird. Poisoned or bad wing, it wasn't able to find food or water and overnight a feral cat would have a tasty meal for sure. So in the kennel it goes, and has been for a few days. It is coming around, whether it's a success story or not is still yet to be decided. But it's alive. My hope is to get to a spot where I will release it with its buddies that hang out between the F and G buildings and join in the daily poop sessions that they enjoy having there. So you walk a different way but it always leads down the same road.

Just Goes to Show You

After fifteen years I take my happy ass to the dentist. Exactly what you think is what they said, or was it me telling the Lady stuck with the cleaning, Mann these X-rays look like I'm ready for the skull of Halloween. Ugly! Well after two separate visits in the last week, it's all on a clean slate, now just keep on brushing. The only reason this is even slightly important, besides Not going to any doctors, which at my age is Not a good thing, is I am just the procrastinator. Until it becomes an issue which it always does, then I suffer through what a little simple maintenance could easily handle. So it goes with running, after the last 60K a few weeks ago, I decided to take some time off, that's perfectly understandable at least in my eyes. I probably ran 22 miles since then, mainly cause Boodini has her 5K's to do every few days. She can't take any time off. So now next weekend I have the final 60K and looky here, what you got, a under trained, weak excuse going out to suffer through Inks lake type terrain, at night, another butt crusher. I have to finish this to buckle,  fourth in the series. At least now the summer is about done, which to me is not so much running in the 90+ temperatures cause I've been doing that. It's really knowing that it's not another day of 100's, and then no end of the 100's in sight. We are coasting now, and actually Boodini has been doing far too much of that.

Standing Still

This is when the tough get going, because things seem out of order. The weather gets hotter, but it can't last, because in a few weeks it will turn down a notch, but it seems oppressive enough now. Maybe a small furlough from running is a good idea, periodization, a chance to charge the system. With all the endless details that are frazzled, maybe out of sorts, the thoughts of diversion to something opposed to a quality choice are easily slipped into the format. But we're not that dizzy yet to lose focus and be misled. But temptations abound. It's just not going to happen though, because the energy is just not with either side of the direction ahead. It is a good time to get a grip, take a moment to reaffirm what really the goals are. Consciously look over where you have been with your deal, evaluate what you originally committed to doing, the plan is intact, and the fading energy to get it done is only temporary. It's a great time to count your progress as a good thing, after all, all things change, just don't lose your bearings and continue on if all be it slowly.

Happy Birthday Our Father

In words one might depict a person who is not easily noticed, but in the persona of being you begin to feel the spirit of calmness. It comes from his disposition that pervades with patience and humbleness. He carries his daily life with a demeanor of pleasantness and attentiveness, and you are the only important focus of everything in his world. At the same time you wish to imitate and understand how does he possess this magnetism that draws the good forward. There is never anything in his world that he gets upset about, so in turn nothing gets him distraught, his motto is "Go with the flow, Penza la salute". Always there, always ready to listen closely, with full intent, your problems he sees are all that matter when you run to him. When you are in his company you are safe and cared for. You might strive to model his example, but in actuality he doesn't care much for striving as much as just to be. He just is, you are unconditionally good enough in his eyes, you are always accepted just as you are.
Penza La Salute Pappa Tony! RIP. 1912-1995.

Deception Abounds

It might have seemed like any other race, no particular cause for anticipation, just a mind set to get started. Colorado Bend is 4660 up/down, in the daylight its a tough rocky, worthy challenge, add running it in the night and it is rugged in the ole west. It is 102 degrees, and running till dark thirty we are around 8 miles, thats when the rocks get real tricky, and there the climb begins to above Gorman Falls. The last five miles bring you to a hill with a steep climb, then down for 3 to finish the first 18+ loop. That wasn't so bad, so get the hell out of the sponges on my feet, fill up my stuff and move out. Back up the same hill and the body has no power, the thoughts are rolling in" how did I run up this 6 hours ago? Making it to the Lemon's aid I grab some soda, and ask about cutoffs, I am good for now, but coming back to finish through here I had 18 minutes to be timed out. I move forward as best as possible for another 5, keeping out the thoughts of reversing course back to the finish again. Now I am only twenty minutes ahead and Joe and crew are breaking down the aid station, I am the last tail on the trail. He tells me to keep moving, he will not give me a ride back. The last thirteen miles repeating the first loop has me passing four people, and the light of a new day crossing the finish, 11:38. The will to relax, forget about being behind the eight ball, and go as far as they will allow me got the beast done. I have been in this spot many times in the past, and it is well earned under the best and worst of circumstances. Three Karl's down, one left, another 37+miles and the summer is officially over. It will not be any walk in the park, and it will hurt.

Alright Then! I'll Just Go to Hell!

The more I pondered the situation, the more it seemed like the only smart and right thing to do, dump it! I didn't make a list of good versus bad, there was enough bad,lousy weather, freezing cold, thunder storms, it snowed one year the day before, setting up by myself, the mud, the lack of support. What list, it just seemed like another one of my brilliant ideas that end up dragging my few friends out to suffer along side me. It just wasn't fair, and certainly not fitting. So I wrote and sent the email that went to the tune of " I retiring from the race, I' m sick and tired of the vanilla ice cream, badgering sponsors back and forth, hoping runners would sign up and they just trickled in, I just didn't have the energy or the time anymore". Pretty simple, send it, I'm done, it was a lousy stinking race, crappy going round in circles, lousy web page, poor bling. I was sick of "well we're trying to raise money to help misfit poor dogs". I didn't even want to bring up Boodini who has totally destroyed my ultra career, and I could have been a contender. Ha!  Then the reply email came back. " Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, all the hundreds of owners and dogs that have gotten a handle on their lives and can stay together. The Schrodi fund would never have grown so big if it wasn't for our work, but hey we had six good years". As I read this I felt like I was at Angeles Crest or Massanutten, where all the bad had given me likely signs of the DNF card, but I said what the hell let's go as far as we can, and end up finishing. I got on the email and got two pledges from two sponsors, called Kyle and the timing was set. Then I sent the reply email, " so you break my heart, make me cry, and damn we will not end this here and now. The race is on for Dec.6th". Funny how things pass, mainly I guess when it's just me me me things do look bleak in a dark tunnel. But when you look about how just a couple of butt kickings, a little bit of effort, someone, somewhere ends up on the winning end. It's easy to forget, when you ponder just the bad. I guess that's when you just have to learn To Dance in the Rain! It may not be the smart or best thing to do.So alright then! I'll just go to hell!

When Is it Ever Enough

 Years ago it was easy to run a multitude of training runs and races with the same model of shoe. It was easy to just order a few extra pair and put them away until needed. Of course once and awhile this or that shoe was a trial and error, but they never made it to show time. Then Boodini came along, everything changed, and for some strange reason so did the shoes. Last year hokas went into overdrive, but they never ever really fit all that great, and the toes took a beating. This weekend I ran around clicking miles in the Altra Torin, nice less expensive, simple shoe. As Mark L called Altra's, "Earth Shoes". You don't remember them because it was back in the 70's, wide toe box, negative drop. So I did some reading and zero drop, and level foot, should equal toe to mid foot strike. Also be prepared for transition time until you get use to them. Some believers have now turned the tune holding them responsible for Plantar and other running issues. That I could see, especially if you were plagued with these before. I previously talked about how I liked the Olympus, I have used them for the first 18 miles of two of the Karl's runs, at which time I switched in to the Hoka Rapa Nui. The Big "O's" become like sponges full of sweat so off they go. Maybe when the weather is cooler it won't be so bad, but regardless I've got them. I will repeat this technique at this weekend Colorado Bend. Somehow I have pissed the run deities off, so now every shoe has it's Trojan horse. Like everything for everyone it is just never enough, one more shoe, one more run, one more beer, one more piece of clothing. Yes that is what I used to think the garage was for, a storage dump. Boy how I have been hearing differently on that subject. When will I decide that enough IS enough.

Crossing Over

Boodini bids farewell.Some 18 plus years ago at Spring Ho fair grounds in Lampasas this little kitten came up to us and moved about the crowds. The word was, she and a few of her brother and sisters were dumped there. We talked and said if when we came back around from the other end of the fair and saw this kitten we'd take it home. Well we did, I bet we looked more for her to make sure we found her, and we took the " Little Kitty" home. At that time we had Sadie who was a no problem at all dog, and they bonded. Whenever the other cats had a tussle, Sadie always had Misty, " little kitty's" back. She seemed to never be afraid of anything, and went about whatever she felt like. She never ran away from anything, and if nothing else, she ran towards whatever it was. She always had gone up to Boodini and just wanted to be friendly. Yet she was always the smallest of the bunch, but at the same time always in charge. Always mulling about, and checking out what everyone was up to, always affectionate. When you have little members of the family that rely on you for everything, you actually get a lot back. That's why it is tough when their short lives leave so very quickly. Yes, life is short, there is a lot to be happy and thankful about. So now Little Kitty may you be free of old age and sickness! Hope you and Sadie are playing again together! One day you will stop and listen, and you will see us coming your way on Rainbow's Bridge, we'll be together again, when we come back to the fairgrounds.