Mao Mao Speaks

The night before my first (and, for now, my only) 50k I was pretty nervous, excited, prepared, happy and honored.  Honored because I was hanging with some seriously hardcore and talented runners. These folks had become my best friends over the months training with them and having them mentor me.  I've written before about the bond you form with those you suffer with.  The ones that see you at your best and your worst, sometimes in the same day.  I have friends, great friends, outside of running but this night I was with these friends.  It was awesome.  Well not for Royce, he had to hear me snore all night but in general it was awesome.   For those new to my blog or want to remember who I am talking about feel free to visit  this  race report. The night before this race, I was in the same head space.  Mentally and spiritually.  However,  I wasn't hanging with them physically and I hadn't been running for about 2 weeks so my fi...

As I am making my journey to the 100  mile race goal, I get asked the same question.  I mean it comes in my forms but the core of the inquires are the same.  Why?  Why run that distance?   The answer always escapes me at the time.  But when I am out on the trails with my friends or eating donuts afterwards, the answer hangs there like a pregnant pause in a speech.  You can't put your finger on it.  Words can't define it.  But the answer is among those moments with them.  The moments with myself.  Racing. Training.  Those moments.  That is why.  And, yet...it is bigger than that. Suffering breeds a special type of hope.  Whether self induced or otherwise the growth from confronting pain head-on cannot be described or emulated.   I find myself inspired by those you have dug deep to face challenges they didn't know they were equipped for.  The strength, the hope, one has to have to go eyes open into a sit...

It is a feeling I have had before.  Many times, actually.  Yet I can't quite put my finger on what it is or what is causing it.  The feeling is something close to desperation mixed with a morose cloud that is overwhelming but still somewhat subtle.  Constant and buzzing in the background.  It starts in the pit of my stomach.  Washes over me in waves that ebb and flow during the day.  My head is clear but thoughts are jumbled.  It is sad.  It is maddening. It is depression. Recently these feelings have been building. There have been things that I have let get under my skin that have caused me to really be down on myself.  I have withdrawn from friends and family.  This is something I am just now becoming conscious of.  It is my way of giving the ones I care about a break from having to deal with me when I am in a mood like this.  It is selfish and I honestly don't know why I keep doing it.  I apologize. The first t...

The thought of it was the stickiest thought I had ever had.  It stuck in my brain like a cheap, sugary and chewed gum ball would get stuck in your hair.  Unshakable.  Completely wrapped into my thoughts from the moment the idea was first mentioned during another Bad Idea Club group run. I remember the first time it was brought up as clear as I can see me running in the race.  We were at a stop light waiting to cross Main Street and then head down into the Ellett Valley.  Brett turned to Trevor and said, "Bryce Canyon in 2017...Let's do it".  As easy as that.  Effortless.  Just simple words. Now I can't remember if I was invited or if I invited myself.  Can't quite seem to recall if I knew it was a 100 mile race either.  But, non-the-less, the mere mention of it struck my ears, rocketed into my synapses and traveled all the way down to my gut where it stayed for at least a week.  Like a loaf of sourdough,  that thought stayed ...

It is probably in my top 5 phrases I can't stand hearing.  In meetings.  On TV.  The news even.  "Low hanging fruit".  This  phrase conjures up so many less than ideal images.  Testicles being one of them. It is a phrase that is slung around any time someone refuses to admit they are being lazy.  It sounds  better than "we would have to work for anything else".  It ranks up there with "fast track" and "short cut".  A pseudo-intellectual way of saying....the other way is too hard. Now I have fallen victim to the low hanging fruit diet.  It happens. I mean the fruit is right there.  And if your hungry enough it can be the only way to survive.  The problem is it is also extremely addictive.  Low hanging fruit is much like any other drug or habit.  It feels good to eat the soggy flesh of low hanging fruit.  If your stomach is empty, if you are desperate, you may even believe that it saves your life. ...

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. ...

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 ...