Mao Mao Speaks

This wasn't the post I planned on writing when I woke up yesterday.  Other than my run that morning, all I could think about was the post that isn't being posted.  I planned it out.  Every detail, every word.  It was going to be glorious.  You were supposed to weep.  Maybe laugh a little.  But instead you're stuck with this.   But, as in life, it's what happens while we're making other plans that weaves the complicated tapestry of our story.  It's in the beautiful mess we learn the lessons that should  make us stronger. It was crisp on this morning.   The weather was perfect and I felt great.  No pre-run poop but I wasn't going to let that worry me.  I mean Deb and I did eat at our favorite Mexican restaurant (El Gran Rodeo is where it is at) the night before so I was a little concerned.  Packing my stuff the night before was clutch as I woke up little late.  Here is the where the stack up of failures begin.  It wasn't life altering things but the litt

So guess what folks, I ran a 50k.  Not just any 50k.  Ooooh no.  This 50k was a 50k++.  Don't worry I didn't know what that meant when I signed up either.   The 50k denotes distance (kilometers) and those plus signs mean you gonna go ahead go further than 50k.  Which is nice.  You know, if you're into that sort of thing.  The thing where pain doesn't come easy or cheap.  A thing where soul crushing windchill hits them negative digits son!  The kind of THING you told countless family members you would never try.  You know, that kind of thing. All kidding aside (but just for a moment because I am kidder at heart) the 2016 Holiday Lake 50k++ was a special race for me and for countless others.  Holiday Lake enjoys the reputation of being the 50k you should start with when considering the Ultra lifestyle.  Mainly because the race director Dr. David Horton is not only an Ultra legend, he is a great story teller.  Whether you hear it through me or take the plunge yourself, y

The tiles on the bathroom floor were so cold.  Cold and comfortable.  And the feeling in my stomach reminded me of the benders I had been on during my days in sales.  Sick and empty.  But that floor.  Heaven. That is what I remember about my first 1 mile  run.  Whenever anyone asks me about how/why I started running this is what I tell them.  Why do I start this way?  Simply because it paints the beautiful picture of why runners run.  5kers, marathon (what?) speedsters, ultra beasts and casual pub runners all have the same drive.  All share an obsession.  That obsession is squeezing out every drop of the wonderfully sweet syrup life has to offer.  It starts with pain, but running leaves you enjoying the simple things so much more.  Water.  Plain water even tastes sweet. Now that we are getting to know each other I should let you in on a something all those that  are close to me know.  I talk...a lot.  So, of course the story of how/why I began isn't as simple as me laying on a