The Stubborn Tortoise: Recent Episodes
Donna Pazdera
People often ask me why I love trail running. It's all about the stories. You meet a different kind of person on the trails: connects with nature, doesn't mind slowing down if someone is in need, says, "Good job, runner." Trail runners are competitive, for sure. But it's also egalitarian. Seldom will you find the elites separated from the regular folk. Everyone gets lost at some point. Everyone falls. These are our badges of passage. This is my take on trail culture. Logo: Kevin Stich Music: "Our Sky," by Overland (via Free Music Archive)
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I've been doing this thing almost every week for close to five years. Admittedly, I've hit a wall: I'm not running, racing or volunteering like before, and it is getting to be a challenge to find weekly guests.
So, I'm going to not force this for a couple of months, or until I have some more stories to tell.
I do this as a labor of love, so it's not like it's a job.
Meanwhile, I am ramping up the training, little by little.
I've also got another podcast on a burner that I have been kicking around for years. It will be called, "Sitting at the Kids' Table," and is about being 40, leaving behind a successful journalism career to start grad school with the hopes of teaching journalism.
This notion got a nudge when I watched (and rewatched) Netflix's great show called "Baby Reindeer," which is created and acted by the amazing Richard Gadd. Our stories are personal, but his is written with a near-perfect dramatic arc.
I am not sure if my grad-school days are close to being as compelling as that show, but I do know both come from an authentic place.
Anyway, still working out how I will do this, but it won't be boring.
Looking forward to re-joining the trail-running community, getting more stories to tell, both personal and otherwise.
Until then, thanks for listening.
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This is such a fun chat with two of my RGV friends, Coach and Hundo. They drove 38 hours straight from Mission, Texas to Marlboro, Mass. on April 11. By the 13th, they were setting up 10-foot-long interlocking barricades that weighed up to 30 pounds apiece, alongside 70-something local women.
The RGV duo were not volunteers. They were paid $350 per day to work on the course and to do operations. The days were long and hard, but memorable as they worked behind the scenes at the world's oldest annual marathon.
Mendoza, a retired high school coach from Donna High School ISD, first began working behind the scenes as a volunteer in 2019. From there, he returned each year, but as a paid worker.
Mendoza gained experience to help him direct South Texas International Marathon, a point-to-point race that goes through cities along the US-Mexico border.
Montalvo is a retired high school science and engineering teacher who coached the Sharyland High School robotics team. He is also an accomplished ultrarunner.
Here is their recount of working behind the scenes at the 128th Boston Marathon.
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Robert Gonzales ran his first 50K about a month ago.
He is 74 years old.
He had a mishap during that race that later required surgery, but he finished the race in 8:47, well ahead of others much younger.
Gonzales tells me about his running journey, with credit to his coach, Christi Myers Faulk, and his daughter, Roxanne Lockhart.
He is not ready to stop at a 50K. He now has his sights on getting a 100-mile buckle.
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I had Easter lunch with my friend, Jessica. Over the course of our conversation, we agreed to do the Wild Hare 50K in November. We also agreed to hold each other accountable in our respective training plans.
Another form of commitment is that I am signing up to be the team captain for The Flying Chanclas relay team this year at Snowdrop.
I'm looking for a few folks willing to loop around a .69-mile course for a couple of hours throughout the 55-hour event. That would likely mean you would have three shifts, or be a masochist like I was a few years back when I did the whole six hours in one stretch. Not recommended.
Anyway, follow the link above for more info and let me know if you're in. C'mon, you know you wanna.
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I reached WAAAAAY into the archives and uprooted this old gem from the early days of this podcast. This is about the relationships you make while on the trails. It's fun, short and sweet. Enjoy!
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I have talked to my fair share of gritty runners, but Lisa Tuckwood may be the grittiest.
Maybe it's her background in the Army or maybe it's just how she is, but regardless, Lisa is one tough lady.
She's always been athletic, but didn't start running races until 2015 -- three months after back surgery.
Her record speaks for itself. No DNFs, but enduring some incredible challenges.
She's got a 200-miler this month in Georgia, followed by a couple of hundos later this year.
Feel inspired. I was.
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This week, I thought it might be helpful to offer advice and tips to those who are new to trail running. You generally won't see people holding signs and cheering for you in the woods, like you might on the road. I go over things like shoes, hydration, sports watches and more. I don't cover everything, but there are some useful tidbits if you want to hit the dirt.
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After years of running at Colorado Bend State Park at night, I finally got to see it during daylight hours. It's almost more gnarly because you can see stealth rocks that catch your toes, the narrow, terrifying rock ledges and tombstone-sized rocks.
I also found new parts of the park where I'd never been. I learned that you should never ignore the race director's pre-race briefing, where they go over the details of the course. Had I listened, I would have heard about the multitude of water crossings, like seven of them (I didn't count, but someone told me this).
It was one for the books for me and reminded me of why I do this stuff: it's all about the stories. It's also about strategizing where to put your feet and, sometimes, other body parts.
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Two of my San Antonio Off-Road-Running friends joined me this week to talk about completing their first 100K (62 miles).
What sets this effort apart from others is that they tackled it under extraordinary conditions: extreme water, mud and roots.
Huntsville State Park, on a good day, is challenging with its crazy tree roots cluttering the trails.
This one sounded insane: knee-deep water in sections, wet feet and MUD.
We talk about their experiences and background.
Plus, I recount a fairly epic cold/windy 10K I signed up for on a whim and lived to talk about it.
Oh, and here is my playlist.
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Steve Carter is a Michigan-born, San Antonio-based retired Air Force veteran. He is also an accomplished cyclist and ultrarunner.We chronicle his running and cycling career, including him crewing for Kenneth Anderlitch, who spent 19 days in 2022, running across Texas.Steve has some big ultra goals coming up, along with a couple of cycling events.Oh, and he finished Rocky Raccoon 50-miler this past weekend, with an impressive 10:19 finishing time.
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Kate Motsko and I share a common conceit: we've both received the Spirit of Dan Keitz award, the highest honor bestowed by Tejas Trails. I won it in 2022 (and had no idea that it existed) and Kate got it this year. It is well-deserved.
She has a storied career as an ultrarunner but also has sustained some epic injuries along the way.
She's taken up cycling in the meanwhile and has some ambitious goals.
Last fall she was the assistant race director for the inaugural Great Springs trail race in San Marcos.
She says she enjoys volunteering at the particularly long races because she can apply her hard-earned expertise to help the runners get through the tough parts.
She has an infectious smile and upbeat attitude. You should run a Tejas race to see her in action.
In other news, my washing machine saga continues. I had lunch with my birthday-month buddy, Jessica Kestermann and offer shout-outs to a few folks who tackled the Rocky Raccoon 100 and 100K this past weekend. It was a slopfest, based on what I saw.
Kudos to anyone who tried.
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Timothy Sneed, admittedly, dealt with addiction to stimulants, off and on, for years. He is finally clean and is living away from bad influences in Kerrville, Texas. He is wicked fast on 50Ks and loves the trail scene. I cajoled him into doing the Cactus Rose 100K next year and offered to crew for him. I love that runners are so suggestible. (I should know.)
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Meg Eckert, a native of Spring, Texas, began her running career seven years ago.
In that time, she has won a number of long-distance races.
Over the New Year's weekend this year, she set the course record for female runners at the Snowdrop 55-hour event, running 100 miles in 16 hours and 6 minutes.
She went on to complete 218.87 miles in hours - another record.
The middle-school special education teacher, who now lives in Santa Fe, NM., likes a combination of road and trail races, but likes mountain trails.
She is super upbeat and generous as a runner.
Photo credit: Susan Kretschmer Leining
Snowdrop 2023-24.
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In this episode, I give a buncha shoutouts. (You might be mentioned) I give big kudos to my friend, Sara Dudzikowski, who finally got to bring home that 100-mile buckle for completing Snowdrop last week. I also shout out to Meg Eckert (who will be next week's guest), who set the 100-mile course record, course distance record (218.87 miles -- forgive my error in the podcast as I said it was 212.) She finished first overall and garnered a few other accolades. On top of all that, she is an incredibly generous and kind person.
Band of Runners gets a shoutout, too, as I hope to have Phil Parsons, an attendee at this year's camp and who just set the FKT for the Natchez trail.
I also got to participate in a cool relay event over the weekend called Resolve to Row. (Hi Alison, Danny and David!) at EnergyX Fitness I love this place and the people. It's been my sanctuary for almost a year as I have recovered from a hip injury.
My team (four people) rotated in and out until we got 10,000 meters. I love relays because you get to work as a team to achieve a goal. Three of us had never done it before and mercifully we had Coach Nicole (hi) and her expertise to guide us through.
And finally, I am getting back to the running. I will continue working out at this studio but has resolved to run more this year because I miss it. I'll be up at Bandera on Wednesday to help set up for one of the biggest races of the year and am going back on Saturday to hand out food and drink at the Equestrian aid station for a few hours.
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This was a weird year: not much running, a lot of introspection, new gym challenges, new goals and dealing with the beast known as menopause. It's not kind, ladies.
Also, re-ditched a person who was incredibly selfish and unkind in my life. I don't know why I let myself put up with this nonsense, but I saw through it and stopped it.
Anyway, hoping to run more in 2024.
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I met Angela early on in the Wild Hare 10K at Bluff Creek Ranch. The reason I met her is because I heard this gutteral voice in the woods belonging to our mutual friend, David Salazar.
She invited me to join her crew, doing an interval walk-run, which I appreciated.
She is fairly new to the trail scene, but plans to do her first 50K next year!
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Robbie has been a friend of mine for a few years. (He made a shirt that I gave to Orville Peck -- long backstory) And, he has proven that he is there for us all.
He started out as a runner at a young age and later got into ultrarunning in his 40s.
He and his significant other, Ann Ludewig, have gone on many adventures.
For him, it's all about the love of running.
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I once had a colleague from Southeastern Kentucky who was a master storyteller. She's start in one direction, veer off into left field, go to center field, then right field and manage to tie it all up by the time she got to home plate. Weird analogy, but that's kind of where this episode goes.
I talk about staying consistent in November, interval joy, road bike riding (including a spectacular tale about a crash where I zoomed downhill at 30 mph and lived to tell about it.) Oh, and there are some assorted other bits. But stay with me. I think it's worthwhile.
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I ran my favorite race yesterday -- WildHare. I just did the 10K, but ran into a bunch of friends from the San Antonio Off-Road Runners.
Later, I watched a longhorn give birth (see photo) and a marriage proposal.
It was an uplifting day after a sort of dark one.
Hip feels good, so there's that.
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I was privileged to join the Band of Runners this past weekend in Leakey, Texas, for its annual Band Camp. It is a trail running event for veterans and their families.
I was a pseudo-mentor, chronicling the event but participating in a group's activities: meal cleanup, prep, yoga, running form, running various courses/miles.
I enjoyed it so much. I met so many inspirational folks and made lifelong friends.
Again, trail-running is all about the stories. Expect to hear many, many more.
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Today, I worked a couple of aid stations at the Hill Country Trivium in Marble Falls, Texas. I also got to hand out medals at the finish line. It was so fun to meet people, hear their stories and see them complete their first half, full or 50K.
Yesterday, I ran/hiked an 8K (5.2) out at Government Canyon. It felt pretty good, although the arthritic hip made me feel like The Tin Man.
Earlier in the week, I traveled to Atlanta and brought home eight national awards for Texas A&M-San Antonio's student magazine, El Espejo. I'm the adviser. It was super-cool.
But with the time difference and now the time change, my internal clock is at WTF o'clock.
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Christine Foster is only 29 but she's already tackled three 50Ks. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has always been active and figured doing ultras was a natural next step. She's eyeing 50-milers in the future.
Oh, and she said it was a dream to be featured on a podcast. I was happy to oblige. :)
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It took me a minute to come up with a themed headline that played off of the Javelina Jundred, but here we are.
Anyway, Brad and Pamela Toelle, of Kerrville, will tackle this race this coming weekend in Arizona. It will be Brad's first 100K. Pamela, who has finished the Rocky Raccoon 100M, will join her husband on a hike through some beautiful scenery with altitude. They hope to get it done between 21-25 hours.
Our conversation is giggly at times, as they've been friends for a number of years. Pamela and I have a friendly rivalry in the master's trail running arena, but she always bests me. That's OK. I have two years and less experience on her. :)
They're a great team. I enjoy talking to couples who run races together because they have a built-in support system.
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I had a great time volunteering on Saturday at the inaugural Great Springs Trail race in San Marcos. I was the person handing out medals. We got to witness the annualar solar eclipse and everyone finished! Good times.
Switching gears....I had an annual physical the other day and it triggered my eating disorder issues, big time. I was deemed "overweight," according to the BMI (my height is wrong and I was wearing more clothes than the last time.) The nurse-practitioner wanted to up certain drugs for cholesterol and blood pressure. No heed given to my thyroid being removed in 2015 and that I have been on the same dosage of synthetic thyroid since then. (narrator's voice: I think I should be on a higher dose, but my lab numbers are considered "fine.") I explained that I was concerned about post-menopausal weight gain and body changes, despite hard workouts, lifting weights and doing functional training and eating mainly plant-based. My words were ignored. Instead, she suggested that I go on one of these diet drugs that have become so popular. She said I would need to check with my insurance company to see what would be covered, and that the co-pay would be the equivalent of a steak dinner with wine.
I went into a tailspin. I still am. I have never been overweight, except for when I was 10 and a growth spurt slowed, so I eventually turned toward disordered eating.
Menopause is a bitch. I was spared most of the symptoms, but the shifting weight has killed my sense of self. I still feel like me, but when I see photos of myself or catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror, I want to die.
I have a lot of friends in the same boat, so that sort of helps.
It's just infuriating that when men can't get an erection, they're offered all sorts of options. Women, when dealing with a loss of estrogen are told to eat less and buy bigger clothes.
This can't be the way it should be.
This is a little heavy, but it comes from the heart.
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I'm still only running very little once a week, but am optimistic this will gradually increase now that the torrid heat has left for the season -- I hope. I look back on captaining an aid station after its anniversary popped up in my FB memories last week. Oh, and I managed to lock myself out of FB for two, long days after attempting to publish last week's episode, which ended up being deleted by me. This coming weekend, I'll be at an aid station at the new Great Springs half in San Marcos. Looking forward to that. Oh, and last week, a song on my playlist made me smile during a run and I feature it at the end of this episode, instead of the usual outtro. Hopefully, I won't get thrown in the penalty box for this.
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I discovered over the weekend that while I can lop branches from cedar trees, doing so in almost 100-degree heat with little shade is not my thing. I learned a few things and enjoyed myself, but once I became overheated, I realized I'm better off serving up drinks and sandwiches and encouragement at aid stations. It's a good discovery to make and it taught me to respect my limits.
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It's coming up on the nine-year anniversary of my first 20-miler, with my friend, Orly (aka Hundo). I look back on that experience and talk about the importance of having another person to mentally help you get through something hard. I've mentally Sherpa'd a couple of friends through 100-milers (doing a 20-mile or 31-mile segment -- usually in the middle of the night because I'm a talker.) There are also times, though, when you need to decide if someone you run with at a race needs your help or whether you need to run your own race. Sometimes, it's good to help someone through. Other times, you can give yourself the permission to run your own race.
Also, looking ahead to next weekend, I'll be heading up to Hill Country SNA (aka: Bandera) to help the folks at Tejas Trails build and maintain trails. I'm not especially handy but I do have a sweet set of Fiskars limb cutters (which I employed this morning after discovering that a HUGE tree part was in my side yard.) We'll be camping and eating and running/hiking at one of the most beautiful places in Texas.)
And, hey, leave a review, subscribe and all that jazz! It's free. If you want to sponsor this podcast, lmk.
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I didn't have a ton to talk about and then it hit me: why not share my Top 10 favorite places to run trails in Texas? This is highly subjective and limited to my experience. Hint: I'm not a huge fan of those gnarly, super-technical courses, so don't come at me.
The majority of these places are venues patronized by Tejas Trails races. BUT, there are a handful of small, San Antonio parks and some obscure spots that aren't on a map in the Rio Grande Valley. (From Mission to Sullivan City to outside of Rio Grande City.)
I count 'em down in reverse order, like any awards show. Ha ha.
Yes, there are places I still want to run: Big Bend and maybe some others in West Texas.
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Julie Haynes was having pain and sought help from her doctor.
"Just don't run," was the advice.
Haynes, like a lot of women, hear this sort of thing more often than we'd like. I've had a chiropractor mutter, "We'll see," when I mentioned that I wanted to run again. And, of course, there was a recent incident with an X-ray technician who pointedly and judgmentally wondered aloud if I "really" was a runner or if I'd just overdone it.
Haynes and I talk about this topic at some length. I went on a bit of a chat with her about my feral cat colony that I share with my neighbors.
Still, it is a conversation worth having and listening to.
I found this story from the New York Times that addresses this topic. (Women not being taken seriously by their doctors, not feral cat colonies.)
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Liz Casa Perez is sort of infamous in the Trail Racing Over Texas community because she occasionally puts up a canopy emblazoned, "You Are Not Alone."
She is also an accomplished ultrarunner, who currently lives in Victoria, Texas and loves the 100K distance. She recently attempted the 100M race at Habanero Hundred, but did not finish. Still, she is undeterred and ready to tackle it next year.
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I missed going to Habanero Hundred last weekend because two Interstates were closed and traffic was being funneled onto service roads, creating a ridiculous backlog of traffic. I was already cutting it close to arriving on time -- my theory is I didn't want to get there too early and then be stuck hanging around in the heat. When it became clear I would miss the start by over 30 minutes and maybe an hour, I turned around and went home.
In retrospect, it might have been fate sparing me a DNF because people were dropping out of the race because of the extreme heat. As it was, seven people didn't finish the 10K, so that tells you something.
In other news, I picked up a new phrase that describes what I do: Hogging. It's a combination of hiking and jogging. I rather like it.
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Things have been progressing regarding my stiff, injured left hip. Physical therapy is making a difference. (shoutout to Optimum Physio Sports) for being the one place that has accurately addressed my dang issue. I've been through another PT program that is famous and starts with an "A," along with a buncha sessions with chiropractors. The truth is, none of them solved the issue until now.
I go in twice a week and these folks put me through my paces: hip lift circles, bridges and much more. I count those days as a workout because, hey, I sweat and it's HARD.
Still, it is useful and the therapists are empathetic when I tell them that I love 50Ks and have tackled 50 milers and 100ks.
Today (Sunday), I managed to run a mile without stopping, which is HUGE. I didn't get winded or need to sit down somewhere.
I hope this lasts because I am sooooo ready to return to my Happy Place: trail running.
Photo: me and Maria, my friend, beating the Lady in Blue at a 10 K a coupla years ago. :)
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So, I did a thing last week.
I signed up for the Habenero Hundred on Aug. 12.
I'm only doing the 20K because I'm crazy, but not insane.
The real masochists are doing the 100-mile and 100K.
Here's the rub: the race starts at high noon for the big distances. For the rest of us, we start at 12:30. PM. In August. In Texas.
I'm hoping to not throw up because I am known to do that in the heat or if I ingest too much ice-cold water (but, oh, it tastes sooo good going down.)
Also big shout-out to Liza Howard for winning the Badger 100. Other pod-adjacent folks who finished the 100 include Jenny Gruber and Lydia Rios. And high-five to my buddy, Chris Prairie for crushing the 50K.
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I spent a few days in Southern Utah where I hiked at Zion National Park, sandboarded down a white-hot dune, soaked in a river and hung out on a pontoon boat with my sister and her family. Oh, and I saw this place that had haunted my dreams for years. It was a road that ran alongside a mountain. I knew it was out near California but wasn't California. It's in Utah. It's weird when you finally see a place that has been in your dreams. See photo.
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This episode is about the humble origins of this podcast four years ago to all about YOU listeners! And, stick around for a personal update involving self-esteem, the injury that hasn't gone away, image, and some embarrassing, yet helpful, information about why you should not use a debt consolidation settlement company. I'll be OK but it's been a tough week.
Here's to a happy new season of the pod. Please send any feedback to donnapaz@gmail.com. (No lectures, please. I get it.)
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Sarah attempted her first 100-miler in December/January at Snowdrop. She had some serious health issues and was pulled by the medical staff, two loops short of finishing. Unfortunately, the time cutoff was called and she couldn't go back out and finish. Fast-forward to June, when she traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and spent six days inside the Petit National Ice Center's track, and she got her hundo and a buckle!
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It's been a while since I've caught up with my friend, Orlando Montalvo (Hundo). This year, after finishing his fifth Snowdrop 100-mile race, he and his lovely wife, Kathy (Babe) are dialing it back this year.
We reflect on past races, talk about the future and more.
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Jessica Kestermann loves to remind me that she is exactly half my age. Ha ha. Still, we met on a cold, January morning a few years ago at Pedernales State Park, where we warmed up inside a mutual friend's Prius and got to know each other as our other friends finished their longer miles. Since then, we've tackled Rocky Raccoon half-marathon prior to the 2021 Big Texas Freeze. Later that year, I dragged her to Marble Falls to volunteer at the Trivium race. She is an ultrarunner, but considers herself a roadie at heart. I don't know about that.
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There's an old saw in ultrarunning that you shouldn't crew or pace your significant other. Too much potential drama, they say. Well, Karen and Manny Olivo have proven that to be wrong. This couple, married three years, support each other through 100Ks, 100-milers and more. Sometimes in the 125-degree heat of Death Valley in July. In a few weeks, Manny will take on that specific challenge at the Badwater 135, with Karen crewing for him. From there, they both will be doing the Berlin marathon in September and possibly trying to get into the Western States 100.
YouTube link to their channel
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Two friends decided to attempt the Cocodona 250, an arduous 5-day race set in the mountains of Arizona. Despite their best efforts to train appropriately, both were pulled by race officials on the first day. After processing this devastating situation, they stuck around and continued running/hiking parts of the course, while cheering on the remaining runners. Both admit to learning a lot from the experience and are determined to try this
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Gordon Montgomery, 54, is originally from Ireland and ended up in the US. He is a longtime rugby player who turned to trail running. He has a storied career as a runner and was sidelined with the need to replace both hips. He's on the comeback trail and pursuing his PhD in transpersonal psychology. He is a leadership coach and practices Transcendental Meditation twice a day. He recently moved to Virginia to be with his girlfriend.
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Bill Luttrell was told he no cartilage in his knee and that he shouldn't run.
Instead, he signed up for the Bandera 50K not long after. He made it 21 miles before he called it quits.
Undeterred, he signed up for it again the following year. A few months before the race, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
That didn't stop him, either.
Race day was a rainy, sleeting, snowy mudfest, just to add something extra to the mix.
Then, The Marine (William Kohmuench) joined him and made it his mission to get Luttrell to the finish line. They got into the Chapas aid station and Luttrell was hypothermic. The aid station crew, comprised of folks from "The Big Ass Runner" podcast, took over. Both The Marine and Luttrell finished the race. They went on for another adventure, running the Grand Canyon from the north rim to the south rim.
Luttrell, 65, has another race coming up in the fall: The Great Divide 25K in Colorado.
For him, he is at peace and says the important thing is to believe you can finish.
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Cyrus Walker lived a sedentary lifestyle her entire life. She left a corporate job after 24 years, lost 100 lbs with diet and exercise and found her true love - trail running.
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He started his ultra journey in 2019 completed a few 50k s, a 100k in Zion in 2021, and a host of other shorter races. In Oct 2021, he was injured training for a 100miler in Colorado, which resulted in knee surgery, followed by a bad septic infection that landed him in the hospital for a week and was in bad shape. Subsequently, he suffered five infections, gained 40 pounds, and was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. He has since lost 38 pounds and has Rocky Raccoon 100 on his radar for 2024.
I finished a 10K at The Flying Pig yesterday, which was an accomplishment.
Here is my kickass playlist
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James Boler is a lifelong Memphis resident who has had a lifelong love of being active.
He says he's always been an athlete mainly in the baseball world. He played competitive softball from age 22-38. After that, he started running, at age 40 .He made a bet with his wife that he could run a half marathon without training. He ran the race and regretted not training as had to walk pretty much the entire race. Once he ran the half he decided to run a marathon the next year but would actually train for it.
Since then, he's finished three hundred milers and tried a 200, but dropped at (only) 140 miles.
He will return to Cruel Jewel on May 19 and plans to conquer the Cowboy 200 in September, after last year's DNF.
He is going to be a first-time race director in November when he is in charge of the Mamba 100. There are shorter distances, too.
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Amanda Eaton has only done a few races, but she has won a few of them. Most notably, she won the Habanero Hundred in August 2022, along with her fellow Rio Grande Valley compadre, Art Hurtado. Amanda talks to me about her running adventures, wins and future plans.
I also talk about "active listening" and upcoming events.
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After the devastating loss of his longtime partner, Kenny Gardner got more bad news: he was overweight and diagnosed with diabetes. He had to change his habits from eating junk food as a comfort to finding joy in eating clean and working out. He's also returned to running and plans on conquering his first 50K this fall. As of this recording, he is down 47 pounds and counting.
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Aurora Kerr ran her first 50K in February at Jackalope Jam. She turned 11 in November. Aurora, who has the cutest giggle, recounts that race and what led up to it in her running career. She likes math and science and has some ideas about what she wants to be later in life. Oh, and there will be more 50Ks.
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Howard Avery suffered a stroke while training last fall. After a brief hospitalization, he was back at it. The only concession was that he dropped from the 50-miler to the 55K at Antelope Canyon race in mid-March.
He finished the race and is eyeing a flattish, warm-weather 50 or 100-miler in the not-so-distant future.
Avery, who hails from Memphis, will turn 74 in a few days.
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I'm trying to make a lot of changes. Some are going better than others, but I haven't given up.
One of the biggest realizations is the need to be grateful for something every day, no matter how crappy the day is.
This is hard for me because I am hard on myself and sometimes set unrealistic expectations.
But I'm getting there.
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Liza Howard is one of the kindest, most down-to-earth ultrarunners you will ever meet,. She wins races but is humble about it. She also coaches runners to reach their goals. She also has a couple of other hats she wears. Oh, and she has a family. On March 18, she will tackle Badwater Cape Fear.
Find her at https://www.sharmanultra.com/coaching
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Vincent Antunez was sitting on a mountaintop in Afghanistan when the idea for Trail Toes foot creme came to him. The accomplished ultrarunner was deployed there at the time and was devising ways to soothe the tortured soles and toes of fellow runners. At first, people thought it was just for the feet. But, it can go anywhere -- and he means anywhere. The company has evolved from one creme type to three and a fourth is on the way. He has also developed tire-dragging gear, sewn and created travel bags and even gear and cremes for dogs. Oh, and his day job is as a professor at the University of North Texas in Fort Worth. https://www.trailtoes.com/
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I spent six hours on Saturday running out .75 miles to a traffic cone that I named Bob and then back to the start over and over again. I was one of the slackers by comparison to some of my friends who spent 100 hours out there.
This madness was the Jackalope Jam, a timed event put on by Trail Racing Over Texas.
I found the experience uplifting, even though my left hip was hurting. (I'm going to start Airrosti therapy tomorrow to address this.)
It was great seeing friends, old and new, each time you went out and back because we were passing each other.
I liked it so much that I am doing this again next year. "Just" the six-hour version.
Below: Bob.
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Yeah, so today is my birthday.
It is marked by a morning spent helping at a road relay race.
Yesterday, I made some new trail friends.
Friday, things got heavy.
I had a therapy appointment on Thursday and the revelations from that weighed on me. That, and my job has become overwhelming.
I had to cancel a celebration with friends because of these things and I am sorry. I hope you understand.
The photo is from eighth grade and relates to my therapy issue.
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This past week's icy/wet/cold weather made me move my workouts indoors. I did some indoor cycling, yoga, Pilates and weights. I wasn't entirely idle. I did do a 5-miler on Sunday afternoon that wasn't too bad.
I think it's important to incorporate other practices into our lives because we can get bored with one thing or not see results.
All that said: I'm curious about the types of episodes you prefer:
A. Me, just talking shop
B. Master's Edition
C. Covid Recovery
D. Extraordinary People
E. Paz n Hundo.
You can choose as many as you like. I want to hear from YOU to make this appeal to a variety of folks.
Also, slide over to Apple or Spotify podcasts and give the show a rating. It means a lot. I don't mind constructive criticism; just not personal attacks.
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I am proud to say that had P.J. not accepted my invitation to volunteer with me at the J&J Trail Running Reunion in September 2016, he may not have become a part-owner of Tejas Trails. He immediately got it and fit in. Seeing him evolve into a race director has been an exciting journey. And he's only 29! He is one of my favorite people in the world and I couldn't be happier to call him my friend. I know. I'm biased. But listen this interview and you will get it.
Photo: He wanted me to use this one. It's of us volunteering at the Gobble Wobble event for kids in Brownsville in (I think) 2016.
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San Antonians Liza Howard, Thomas Bowling and Chris Russell join me to talk about The Band of Runners. This is a national group that caters to veterans and their surviving family members to empower them through trail running. It's more than this, but it's the simplest explanation I can offer for this group of folks,
www.bandofrunners.org if you are interested.
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My DNF at Snowdrop hit me harder than I expected. I think some of it is because I rejected what I'd done in training and just winged it. No wonder I was a mess.
It's a stupid mistake and one I have learned from. That said, I do not plan to do anything beyond a 30K this year. It's fine. I don't need to prove anything.
I did, however, finish a virtual 10K today in a decent amount of time (faster than usual). It was the "I Beg Your Parton" virtual race that benefits families in need.
I felt strong and good for finishing. Small steps.
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I still haven't run since my Snowdrop debacle, but that will change today.
I spent last week pondering the year ahead. I also spent Wednesday helping set up for the Bandera race. Let me tell you: it is a ton of work and takes a week to physically set up this thing. I tied pieces of caution tape, learned how to set up large tents, schlepped boxes and sodas in my little, red wagon.
Saturday, I volunteered at the YaYa aid station and got to see a bunch of elite runners blaze through. I also went into my "think for the runners" mindset for the "regular" folks. It's fun to suggest things to them that they haven't thought about. Later, they are thankful. And it makes me happy to help them.
I've got a few small goals so far this year.
One thing I am doing is meeting with a counselor to work through my DNF mindset as well as some other related issues. It's a little personal, but I wanted to share.
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I dropped out at Snowdrop after 23 miles. It's embarrassing and humiliating, but my mind wasn't right. I didn't feel like being out on the course for over two days, even though I knew what I signed up for. I was surrounded by friends but I felt lonely. I tried getting out of my head, which worked for a while and then the DNF Fairy would return, encouraging me to quit.
I learned that I am not cut out for these 100-milers. It's not my thing. I've been saying for years that I'm going to dial it back to the shorter distances, which are more doable, I think.
I signed up for a 6-hour race in mid-February. Some have questioned whether I should take on such an event so soon. I don't know, I feel like I need to do something to try to get my mojo back.
I may return to cycling, but I need a bike. Some have suggested mountain biking, which is slightly terrifying, but it still is trail adjacent.
That's the thing: the trails and the community are where I feel most at home. I can't bear the thought of losing that connection.
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Kenneth Anderlitch has had an audacious running career: he won his first marathon and took second in his first 100-miler. There have also been missteps but he has considered them learning experiences. Just after Thanksgiving this year, he ran across Texas. It took him 19 days and he covered somewhere between 840 and 850 miles. (He and his two-man crew are still tabulating the Garmin data.) The cause: Pay it Forward SA, a place that provides a link between recovery and sober living. Anderlitch used the agency's services when he was recovering from addiction and getting back on his feet.
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I think I just created a new subcategory.
Joe Schmal is an exceptional runner. He is humble about admitting it. He has won 100-mile races and used running as a way to overcome alcoholism. He now faces a new challenge: the effects of long Covid. Even though he had a mild case, the lingering aftereffects have impeded his ability to run the way he used to. This setback has him evaluating what is next. Well, he has plenty to keep him busy: two teenage daughters, a 3-year-old son and a newborn daughter, with his wife, Julie, who is a formidable ultrarunner herself.
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I went into the Brazos Bend 50-miler on Saturday with the best of intentions. I wanted to finish, I had my mind right and had more or less dealt with a cranky left hip flexor a few days before.
Well, I rode out the lows, which helped.
The hip was achy, which didn't.
The thing that I almost never get was blisters. Under my toenails and feet. I decided to drop.
Yes, I know this is my third DNF in a row, but this one had a purpose.
I realized I have a great, quickish hiking pace and my mental game was on.
My nutrition was spotty. But, at Snowdrop, I know this will be OK.
I am confident that I am ready to tackle my hundo. No looking back.
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Paz welcomes Hundo back to the pod for a chat about our upcoming races. The nerves and ghost pains are kicking in. I am more worried about the voices in my head and have some ideas about how to quiet them. We also debate the merits of bringing food to the race to eat between those 16-plus-mile loops. (There's three of them). We also debate whether my strategy of using timed intervals is wise versus going by feel: run when you can and walk when you can't.
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Fresh from a trip to South Florida, I am reminded why I can't live there again. Oh, how I loved that place. But now it has morphed from being the quirky-cool cat into a freak show of garish skyscrapers, generic development and paving over every darn last square inch. It's a real shame.
But, anyway, I suffered from Broken-Brain Syndrome on Friday and caved at the midway point at Wild Hare. Lots of introspection and too much living in my head. This is a consistent issue with me and one that is an ongoing struggle to overcome.
Still, I plan to grind out the next two races. Because I am the Stubborn Tortoise.
Title riffs off of Orville Peck's "The Curse of the Blackened Eye."
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I have a 50K on Friday and am a little worried because my training hasn't quite been there. But, over the weekend, I tapped into my mental game and reminded myself that the mental game is a big part of finishing. Looking ahead, I am worried about finishing the Brazos Bend 50-miler. The course can be soul-sucking with a lot of out-and-backs. On the good side, it is flat and the aid stations are great. I just need to remember to eat. From there, is the big kahuna: Snowdrop. I'm trying not to get overly worried and just keep putting one foot in front of the other. That's really all it is. I just need to block out the voices in my head. Oh, and it looks like I'm going to South Florida next week for a day or so. I'm supposed to be interviewed by Investigation Discovery regarding a case I'd extensively written about.
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David Infante is a bit of an outlier when it comes to ultrarunning. He doesn't necessarily use a training plan and goes by feel. He once ran a 50K fueling with one sugar-free Red Bull and finished in just over 5 hours. He doesn't sleep when he does 100or 200-milers. At one race, he and his companion had hallucinations but they saw entirely different things.
The Rio Grande Valley native now lives in New Mexico where the mountains are his friend.
Later this year, he is running Across the Years, doing "just" the 24-hour event. (There are options to run up to six days)
And next year, he will take on another 200-miler. Because he can.
Photo: Infante running the Superior 100, his second hundred-miler.
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Holy moly, I did not have getting stung by a swarm of hornets on my Mission Tejas race BINGO card.
But, that is what happened. I wasn't alone in getting surprise-stung, but I was hurting enough to choose to drop after 10K.
The course is beautiful, yet more challenging than expected.
Hats off to Cal Neff and Rob Goyen for quickly pivoting the course until the mad stingers were dealt with. (It makes me sad that they had to be killed because they were only doing what nature wants them to do.)
This DNF throws yet another wrench into my Snowdrop-100 training. But, as my mom would say, "Oh honey, everything will be all right."
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This year marks the 10th and final year for Patty Godfrey as race director for the Snowdrop Ultra 55-Hour Race and Relay, held over New Year's Eve weekend in Missouri City, Texas, outside of Houston. It is a fundraiser for scholarships for children's cancer survivors as well as children's cancer research. Godfrey explains the origins of the race as well as training tips, and insight into the food providers (you get real meals at mealtime.). While she will step away as RD after this year, we don't think she will be far for the coming years.
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So, I bailed on doing the Trailway marathon on Saturday because my allergies flared up and I figured spending all day in the woods was kind of a bad idea.
Unfortunately, I hadn't run much all week as I anticipated saving my legs for the weekend. The weekend runs were productive but not near the mileage I needed for the week.
This leaves me rather undertrained for the 50K at Mission Tejas in two weeks. I'll eke it out but Lord knows it won't be pretty.
Oh, and I am loving the Coros Apex Pro watch I bought a couple of weeks ago. Pretty simple interface and has some cool options like setting it to run, track run or trail run. I know other watches do this, but just not any I've used. It's two thumbs up for now.
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Brownsville native has only been running for about four years, but he has rocketed out of the gate, winning races and handling distances that many wait to do until they have more experience.
Hurtado, 37, just smashed the course record at the Habenero Hundred race in August, completing 100 miles in 18:57:16.
His experience working for the Cameron County Beach Patrol may have given him an edge because of the course's ridiculous amounts of sand as well as punishing heat.
He is a humble champion who nerds out with stats.
This is a guy to watch.
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After weeks of underwhelming mileage, I finally got super close to hitting my mark for the week. Months of training in ridiculous heat seemed to pay off when I did a pre-dawn 8-miler with my friend, Sara. We employed my 1:1 interval pace and with the exception of a couple of spots, stuck to it. The air was humid but much less hot than when I usually run. Well, starting just after 5 am versus 10 or 11 am, helps. Ha ha.
It was also during this run that I realized I need a new/different sports watch. For the most part, it seemed to read consistently, but then it would crawl to a 70-minute pace or speed up to a 7:40 pace, without my body actually doing anything different. It got really weird when we ventured over to Eisenhower Park to hike the Rocky Horror race preview. Even though I was hiking pretty well, the watch's pace indicator didn't register anything, like I was standing still.
I have too many important events coming up that I need a reliable watch to indicate my pace, heart rate and time.
After surveying some friends, I bought a Coros Apex Pro off of Amazon for $349 (my AmEx card is crying). The selling point was its 36-hour battery life with GPS, as well as the enthusiastic testimonials from Hundo and Babe, among others.
I get the new watch on Monday, so I will report back next week.
Meanwhile, I need to get with the folks at Suunto to find out about my options for the clunker I bought in February.
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My eye situation continued last week with being told that I needed to heal a little more before I could return to wearing contacts. While I'm grateful to be able to see, running with glasses is unwieldy and steamy. There were some other frustrating things happening.
But as I looked up an email address for someone, a three-year-old email from my late friend, Patricia, caught me off-guard. She sternly advised me to get out of a tenuous, pseudo-relationship. The words struck home.
I got to thinking about a number of things regarding this person and why I remained in touch even though we live over three hours away from each other. It made me think about other relationships with similar characteristics over the years.
In an impulsive move, I texted him and said I never wanted to see him again and that I want to be someone's primary person, not secondary. Not the best way to handle something but my emotions got the better of me.
This has led to some raw and emotional outpourings from me and also to the realization that I need to find a counselor. There is a lot of grief and low self-esteem going on here.
Some may say I shouldn't share all of this, but you know how I am. It's how I roll.
I'm ready to find a path to healing. It won't be smooth but I need to do this for me.
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It happens to the best of us: you are more or less nailing your training workouts and then -- boom -- something happens.
For me, I was foiled by some hydrogen peroxide contact lens cleaner that was supposed to be neutralized but wasn't. I tried mitigating the pain and sensitivity with water and clear drops, but it persisted. Long story short: I ended up in the ER and found out my left cornea suffered some chemical damage. Things are improving but I am currently waiting to find out when I can see an eye doctor for a follow-up.
Meanwhile, this set me back a little.
Me and Hundo talk about our training for Snowdrop at the end of the year. He is trying to wave me off from doing too many longish races leading up to the Big Event, but I worry I won't have enough mileage under my feet.
Oh, and he talked me out of going back to the hotel to sleep during Snowdrop. He knows me too well and is concerned I might just quit if I get too comfortable. He's probably right, but the idea of sleeping in a warm bed for a few hours before returning to the event, really sounded appealing.
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Lydia Rios has one of the most uplifting stories of anyone I've talked to. She came to the US from Zacatecas, Mexico when she was 12. Her father was dying from leukemia and passed at age 39. Rios' mother decided to keep the family in the US, despite having temporary visas. She started school in Pasadena, Texas, outside of Houston. She had to learn English quickly. She was a teenage mother and married the baby's father at 16. That relationship, marked by abuse, did not last long. After that, she met a charming man who became violent and controlling. They had three more sons -- including a set of twins who are non-verbal autistic. Her husband fled to Mexico when she filed abuse charges against him. This left her with few skills and four children to raise on her own. Rios turned to running to cope. She ran marathons, 50-milers, and 100-milers. When she DNF'd a mountain ultra, she vowed to return and do the 200-mile distance. And she did. Rios shares her tragedies and triumphs in equal measure. Lately, she has added college (she is studying communication!) to her busy life. Listen to this and you will understand why she will prove her doubters wrong.
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I volunteered at Reveille Peak Ranch Saturday night into Sunday at the final installment of the Capt'n Karl's Trail Race Series.
It was great to help so many runners reach their goals and help others who decided that goal was not to finish. No shame in that.
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Sometimes you gotta grind out those miles regardless of how ugly they may be.
I have found the best sports bra (for me)
And I got a sweet deal on some Altra Lone Peak 6 shoes...but make sure you visit your local shop to make sure which shoe is right for your needs.
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Over the last week, I had a minor seismic shift in how I look at things. Rather than immediately defaulting to the negative, I opted to be positive. It's been a game-changer. Whether it lasts, who knows? But I do know that I'm trying to be more present and mindful of how I react to things.
Also, I began my 50K training on Saturday and made a new friend. Turns out, she is doing Snowdrop at the end of the year! It's going to be a Big Party because there will be more friends joining in than previously known.
I made a game-day decision to run the 10K at the Capt'n Karl's nighttime trail race on Saturday because that race marked my 10-year anniversary of Big Boy trail runs. Had a great mental outlook, despite my toes catching every dang rock. PS: I didn't fall.
Photo: the 2012 medal vs. the 2022 medal.
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Brad Quinn, very quietly and without much fanfare, ran 26.2 miles (a marathon) every day for 400 days, beginning in 2019. He is a full-time occupational therapist, husband and father of four. Oh, and he occasionally was a race director for Tejas Trails. Brad talks about his running history, the marathon challenge and race directing. You can see him at Reveille Peak Ranch, at the end of August, where he will co-direct the final of the summer nighttime trail races.
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It's been almost five years since I left the RGV for San Antonio, but there are so many things I miss from that time: huge, group runs where no runner was left behind (TM), running at La Sal Del Rey, Mission Trails and more.
I am enjoying my group in San Antonio, but nothing will ever compare to where it all started.
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I went kayaking for the first time last week. After flailing around, getting stuck on every dang tree or root, I finally figured out how to paddle and it was fun. It reminded me of learning to drive and trail running. All are things people can learn to do but you aren't going to be great at first. I just seemed to have forgotten that part and was reminded.
I also returned to volunteer at the Captn Karl's Muleshoe Bend night trail race over the weekend. Was fun to see some old friends and make new ones and support my dear friend, PJ who was solo race directing.
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It's July and hotter than any summer I can remember. But for a few days, I am enjoying the 70-ish highs of Glen Arbor, Michigan. Hanging with my family, climbing dunes, biking, running and boating. It is glorious. This weekend, I will be back in the summer heat that is Texas where I plan to volunteer and run at Muleshoe Bend -- one of the Capt'n Karl's night races.
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After running 2 miles without stopping last week, I've been trying to emulate that by running a little slower and steadier each time. It hasn't been perfect but I think I am back onto something fundamental. To run consistently, you can be a speed demon every time -- especially for those of us not gifted in this realm.
And, hey, rate this 'cast on apple podcasts, please.
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This one is a bit embarrassing. It's about some financial stuff I've been handed this month. I am not asking for money. I will be OK.
But it affected my outlook and ability to push through.
But then, I had a couple of good runs and feel empowered.
Never Give Up.
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This episode includes a throwback to 2014 where I powered through and overcame my mental blocks. It is also about the ups and downs of the brain at a race.
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Billie is one of my new favorite people. She has this energy about her that draws you in. She is a frequent participant and volunteer volunteer at Tejas Trails races.
We talk about her running journey and I press her a little about how she got into a relationship with a narcissist. I think this will be helpful for a lot of folks who may be entangled in a similar situation.
Her words are empowering.
Photo: Billie after she won first place in the women's master's in her race at Spider Mountain in May.
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Oh, boy. This one is personal. Very personal. It's about depression, taking medication and an unexpected trip to a mental hospital.
This may trigger some, so just know this.
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Jenny Gruber is a tough woman. She has limped for miles on a bad ankle because she didn't want to let her husband and son down. She has tackled some tough races and persevered. Her latest challenge is bouncing back after contracting COVID-19. Plus bonus content of Hazel at the end. (Well, in the video version. In the audio, I try to describe it.)
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I'm making my second attempt to run 100 miles at the end of this year. The first time, I stopped at 100K because I hurt and my mind wasn't right.
Hundo, aka Orlando Montalvo, has completed more than a half-dozen of these beasts on different terrains.
He takes us through his journey and offers advice for you aspiring 100-ers.
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Getting older is inevitable. Having health issues as you get older is likely. You can try to outrun bad genes, but sometimes you just are stuck with them.
I found out on Friday that I have high blood pressure -- this runs on both sides of my family, so it isn't a huge surprise. I guess I figured being active and eating fairly healthy would help me outrun the bad-news gene pool. On top of that, I have depression and had to have my thyroid removed. All of this means daily medication to keep everything in check.
I found out a couple of my running buddies -- fit ladies who have run multiple 50-and-100-milers -- have high blood pressure. It made me feel less alone.
Still, I'm going to try and incorporate a few new things in the diet and subtract some of the problematic ones (bye, frozen meals, so long, tacos and burgers...) and see if this can be put under control.
The moral of the story is no matter how healthy you may seem, your ancestors may thwart some of that.
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I volunteered and ran at Reveille Peak Ranch this past weekend. It was two days of weather contrasts: cool, cloudy and breezy on Friday and blazing sun, hot and humid on Saturday. For me, it was a welcome relief from early March at Camp Eagle, where my face felt frozen.
It was fun to help out at the start-finish and get in a short 4-miler on Saturday. Got to reconnect with some folks and make some new friends.
This week is Orville Peck week: I see him in San Antonio on Wednesday, in Dallas on Friday and in Houston the following Tuesday. Just in case anyone was wanting to know. Ha ha ha.
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Sweet Jesus, I really beat myself up on Saturday at the Hippie Hill challenge.
We need to respect our bodies and what they are capable of, including getting a massage, using a roller stick, massage gun etc.
I sprang for a massage gun on Sunday after being debilitated by Saturday's challenge.
Folks, if you are even mildly serious about this sport, book a massage and/or get an implement to aid in your recovery. It will help you in the (ha ha ) long run.
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Ann is kind of a baby master's runner because she just turned 50. She is a mentor for the San Antonio Off-Road Runners. She talks about the ups and downs of her running career and shares some ambitious goals for the coming year.
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This is the first in a series of experiences chronicling my choice to sign up for/do things I would otherwise regret this year.
First up, the Vernal Equinox 8-12-24-48-hour race held at my childhood area of Batavia/Owensville, Ohio.
I did the 8-hour event. The most important part was coming in to see my family. It was SO worthwhile.
I also enjoyed introducing them to this crazy lifestyle of mine of trail running.
My sister started dropping jargon like, "drop bag," like a pro.
The race was a tad cool and muddy, but I managed almost 29 miles (despite what the official results say.)
The BEST part was seeing my sister, brother-in-law and 15-year-old nephew waiting for me at the finish line.
I've never experienced that and it was so worthwhile.
My sister greeted me with a tiara, which is pictured.
There will be more adventures to come.
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Paz and Hundo sweat. A LOT. We could run 10 miles and end up wringing out our socks. We know how to handle summer heat and humidity. And it's coming. So listen up and heed our advice.
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Today, I break down the evolution of this podcast, what it takes to do one (commitment, consistency and a common theme.) I also tell you what kinds of resources you'll need and where to get it published. I know I make this seem easy, and it is. But it does entail some work. Yes, you can make money from it but I'm kind of embarrassed to ask for sponsorships. If anyone wants to sponsor me in exchange for a plug, hit me up! I also go over my demographics, if that will help you target your audience.
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Well, it's mid-March here in south-central Texas and that means the weather is having a moment or five. Glory be, it was cold this weekend at the J&J Trail Running Reunion. The winds were gusty and filled with dust and pollen. I volunteered from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon and had some fun adventures helping runners.
Sunday, after springing forward into Daylight Saving Time (why can't it just always be like this?), I got up early and headed over to the Prickly Pear race at McAllister Park. I was doing the 15K, which started at 8 am. There is a story behind why I started over an hour late and I will share that mortifying story toward the end.
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This is the second in an occasional new spinoff where I talk to runners who overcome obstacles and reach seemingly unimaginable distances. Agatha Halekulani Kerr, a mom of two, with a full-time job, recently logged over 175 miles in 100 hours at the Jackalope Jam. The distance was achieved by running a 1.5-mile loop (.75 out and .75 back) on a grass-and-gravel ranch road. Two months earlier, she got in 125.66 miles in 55 hours at the Snowdrop Ultra.
She is one of the humblest and most supportive runners I know. She is now the head coach for the San Antonio Off-Road Runners and has been a mentor and assistant coach before that.
Agatha's enthusiasm for running is apparently contagious: her 10-year-old daughter, Aurora (pictured with her mom), ran 12 miles at Jackalope Jam -- setting a new PR.
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I got a really cool gift box from my sister called a Runner Box. I show you what was in mine, along with an update on my new Suunto 3 and its maddening learning curve. Finally, a shoutout to my friend, Agatha, who logged more than 175 miles in 100 hours last weekend at Jackalope Jam.
(Apologies for giving out the wrong number of miles when I recorded this. I was off by about 10 miles.)
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My sports watch is on its way to Electronics Heaven, so I had to buy a new one. I go over what I look for an offer tips on what you might need or not.
Plus, I got together with (most) of my girls to celebrate my belated bday and it was a reminder of how important friendships are.
Oh, and we agreed to train together to tackle Rocky Raccoon 100K next year.
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I celebrated my birthday by running a 50K. It was my first in three years. I wanted to quit three times but persevered. I also jammed my finger and banged up my left knee in a spectacular fall. The day before, I was given the highest award from Tejas Trails -- a huge surprise.
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Yes, it gets cold in South Texas. It's a humid cold. If you don't dress properly, you will be a sorry, sodden mess. Paz and Hundo, two veteran sweat-ers in both heat and cold, take you through their best tips. Paz also shares some offerings from her San Antonio-based running group.
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Vivian Montalvo of San Antonio is not only an accomplished runner but she also applies her experience to help other runners. She is there to crew people on long runs or just a quick Sunday morning run. She'll load up her Town and Country with coolers full of refreshments and be there to hand them out if needed. She selflessly drove us to Brazos Bend in December for Maria's 50-miler and my marathon. She and Maria just got back from Maria's race at Big Bend. Vivian is someone I am proud to call a friend.
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He's pulling back on the running, while I'm tapping the accelerator a little. Some background on why me and school buses did not get along in my early years.
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Ben Garcia lost his ability to walk after a devastating motorcycle accident. But, through grit and determination, he regained that ability as well as the aptitude for running long distances. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and is now a 12-year veteran of the San Antonio Police Department's downtown bike patrol. Running is Garcia's therapy and he uses it as a way to give back to the community. In the past few years, he ran a couple of 200-plus mile fundraisers for children's cancer as well as for law enforcement families. One of those was called from "210 to the 956," where he ran from San Antonio (the 210 area code) to Alamo, Texas (the 956), which is adjacent to his hometown of San Juan, Texas. This Rio Grande Valley native's story is upbeat and inspiring.
This is the third video episode and the first with visuals to accompany the intro and outtro music.
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This past week was incredibly stressful: starting the semester earlier than usual, a zillion Zoom meetings, prepping my house for Hundo Jr. to move into my spare room fro the semester (this was the least of my concerns) and my debit card being compromised and not getting a reasonable solution in a short amount of time.
I have depression. I have talked about this before. Last week was the lowest low I've had in years.
But, like an ultra, you have to persevere through to see the end. And that is what I am doing.
This is very personal. But it is also relatable, I hope.
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I rang in the new year as part of Team Wildebeest at the Snowdrop 55-Hour Race and Relay for children's cancer research and scholarships for children's cancer survivors.
A few of my friends: Hundo and Babe (Mrs. Hundo), along with Seresa, Tanya, Agatha, Don and others tackled the 100-mile challenge. The weather was like summer: mid-80s with wicked humidity. We were all struggling -- some with injuries, some with mental demons. But everyone did their best despite the challenges.
I was a Player to be Named Later for my team and ran as well as I could. My teammates were uplifting and suuportive.
If you get a chance, you should sign up for next year's race. It is a unique and satisfying way to see in a new year.
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Judy Shipway is humble. She doesn't like to talk about herself, but I managed to coax some great stories from this 67-year-old San Antonio native. She now resides in Austin and is a retired Travis County prosecutor.
She has had an on-and-off relationship with running but has settled into the trail scene. She is a force to be reckoned with in terms of placing in her age division (and it's a growingly crowded field.)
She is a great listener, as I tend to talk too much -- ha ha. But she gracefully shared many stories that I am sure you will enjoy. (I am still figuring out how to do my intro and outtro with the video episodes, so bear with me.)
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Paz n Hundo (aka Orlando Montalvo) discuss their best ideas for gifts for the runner in your life. This is our first video episode, so there are visual aids in addition to our expressions. Hope you enjoy this one. We loved recording this.
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It really is something to behold when you are a witness to a person's first trail race, much less their first 10K, marathon or 50K. But on Friday, I was fortunate to watch a number of folks tackle those benchmarks with grit and character. I was dispensing advice, cheer and sustenance as they passed through our aid station every 3.5 miles or so. It was uplifting to watch them finish.
On a separate note, I was very heartened to learn that this very podcast is so useful to people. I mean, it's not for the front-of-the-packers. There are plenty of shows about them. This is for regular folks -- especially newbies and master's runners. It means a lot when I get random, positive feedback. Thank you!
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I finished my first marathon on Saturday. According to my watch, it was 28.56 miles, so it was more of a 50K than a marathon, but who's counting?
It went well, despite my not-so-great training. Running at sea level is a wholly different experience and one that I prefer almost anytime.
It helped that we had an amazing support crew in Vivian and Rebecca. Vivian drove us, cooked for us, anticipated what we needed, while Rebecca flitted about, filling bottles, delivering food and drink and just being amazing. Maria finished her first (and possibly only) 50-miler with a smile on her face. I introduced my crew to Orly and Kathy (Hundo and Babe), who also finished the 50-miler.
The weather was wicked humid and unseasonably warm, which beat us down on the second loop. But, it was uplifting to see friends along the way during the out and backs, that it was hard to contemplate quitting (which I never did).
I am planning to tackle this one again next year because the loops aren't too long or awful and it's just an all-ou good time.
Photo: Vivian, Maria, me and Rebecca
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I apologize about last week's episode. Well, not for the content, but for the horrendous crackling of my mic cable. It has been replaced and I can almost guarantee you, this will sound 100% better.
I recapped my race at Wild Hare since I doubt anyone could listen to the entire previous episode.
In addition, this weekend I will take on my first marathon and I am horribly undertrained. On the good side, I have company in that my friend, Maria, is going to be on the struggle bus, too. She's going to do fine, I am sure. Me, if I can keep from dropping after the first loop, I should be good.
Send good vibes my way for Saturday.
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A lot of this depends on whether it's a training run, a self-supported race or a race with a bit of distance between aid stations. We share our favorite things and talk a little about packs. But the truth is: it's not the pack, but what you put in them.
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I volunteered this past weekend at the Trivium race, hosted by Tejas Trails. It is their only road race, but it is challenging with lots of hills.
I introduced my friend, Jessica, to the volunteer life, and she was a big hit with the crew. She also said she wants to do more of this.
At times, we wore costumes, rang cowbells, cut up fruits and put out snacks. In short, we had a great time encouraging others to reach their goal.
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Using hiking poles/sticks can be advantageous on technical, hilly trails. But, you have to weigh the pros and cons -- especially if your poles are like mine -- and don't collapse to fit into a pack.
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If you were a part of the Caactus Rose trail race, you had to quickly pivot from Plan A to Plan B. Runners had to adjust to a different course, cancel lodging and plans and make new ones. Behind the scenes, the setup had to be torn down at the original venue and set up again at the new one -- less than 48 hours before race time. I got a firsthand look at the course situation, as the race was canceled by the park manager on Wednesday morning. We grumbled but stoically set out to tear down and then set back up.
I had to shift my plan for pacing my friend, Seresa, when her Friday night pacer missed catching her as she looped through. We devised a plan and then had to change it again when our runner called her own race.
Being able to gracefully pivot under stress is a skill that can be applied to life, regardless if it involves running.
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We're not doctors but we play them on a podcast -- not really. But, as average runners, we have sustained a variety of injuries over the years. I think we agree the worst one is plantar fasciitis. We offer up tips and advice -- based on our experiences.
We also veer offroad and off-topic a couple of times, but it's all fun -- until someone gets injured.
Photo: Me, with a loud green wrap holding my freshly stiched knee after a tumble down Lucky Peak at Cactus Rose in 2015.
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Mary Kay Cooper is a triple-threat: swimmer, runner and cyclist. She didn't let a bout with thyroid cancer slow her down. She has a strong drive and enjoys trying new, unusual things, like a swim, run, swim, run, swim, run....where you have to wear your trail shoes for the swim!
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I discovered that Sept. 26 had a couple of significant memories in my running career: in 2015, I sprang back from a disappointing DNF and redeemed myself, even after the course closed. The following year marked my first time as an aid station captain at the inaugural J&J Trail Running Reunion. I brought a couple of young guys to Camp Eagle, from the Rio Grande Valley. Neither of them had ever participated in a trail race before. One of those guys, PJ, loved it so much that he has just become one of the race directors for Tejas Trails. I felt proud of that. :)
This week marked our first cool front and much better running weather. I was showing improvement and tenacity and discovered the joy of the 4:2 interval. Things are looking up!
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When you're doing a self-supported race or a long training run, you need to pack bags for sustenance. We offer tips for what and how to pack, as well as reminiscing about self-supported races. Also, Paz has some Breaking News about Cactus Rose. (Don't get too excited, but she will be out there in the middle of the night on Saturday.) If you have other tips, send 'em my way.
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If you have done Brazos Bend or Habenero Hundred, you may have seen Steven Monté out there dragging a 22-pound tire with his name on it or wearing a weighted vest. Crazy? Yes. But that isn't the point. Monté has reinvented himself in the last few years and has landed upon a certain freedom that lets him live out his dreams. Very inspirational.
In other matters, I talk about regaining that ultra mindset and have the joy of making like-minded friends. It has changed things for me. Plus, mentions of the B-52s, Joe Jackson, the Monkees and (surprise) Orville Peck. lol
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Since I moved from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio four years ago, I have had limited success in finding a running group where I truly felt comfortable. It's more to do with me and my insecurities about not being fast enough. When I lived in the Valley, my group was supportive of runners of all speeds and I started a rule where no runner was left behind.
I have made some friends within various groups and occasionally meet up with them. But, a lot of the time I hang back from joining because I feel like I'm slowing everyone down.
This past weekend, I think I found a group. We're all stubborn tortoises and we walk occasionally but it felt so good to actually hold a pace for more than a mile. I felt right at home with them and enjoyed getting to know them. I plan to do my weekend runs with them whenever I can. This is kind of a breakthrough and makes me pretty happy.
Photo: From back to front: Maria, Karen, Becky, me (in a rare instance of leading). Photo courtesy of Vivian Montalvo.
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Have you ever run a race and wondered how long it took for organizers to mark the course? For the Capt'n Karl's race last weekend at Reveille Peak Ranch, it took two solid days. I joined the crew last Wednesday and hung little flags from branches and other spots to guide runners. I'm hoping no one got lost. Other duties involved driving stakes into the ground and tying caution tape to them, to keep runners from going where they shouldn't. It was a lot of fun and gave me another bit of experience in my role as a volunteer.
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The title says it all.
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Even though I like to drift through a lot of things, adapting to whatever is thrown my way, having a training plan is a good idea. Sometimes, they're too rigid, sometimes too flexible and every now and then, they're just right. The big component is your willingness to stick to it to get the desired results. Sure, you could probably gut it out, but it might be nicer to work with a plan. My thoughts and experiences.
Here is my favorite 50K training plan. Probably going to dust it off for Rocky Raccoon 50K.
Also, take the poll!
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OK, this episode is light on the running thing but more on the philosophy/mental game of running: you have to accept who you are and respect that. Just because other folx do 100-milers doesn't mean you should.
Nonetheless, thank you, OP, for helping me reach a moment of clarity about life and running. :)
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Two of the Biggest Sweaters in Texas offer advice about hydration, what to take, what implements to use and more!
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It's funny, but I recorded one version of this earlier but deleted it because my dang allergies made me sound sinusy.
In between, a friend who offered to coach me for the Brazos Bend 50-miler emailed me and admitted that it would be too complicated to successfully see me through. It was then that I realized I've been succumbing to pressure (my own) to keep pushing the limits when I really don't want to go any further. There are other things I'd like to do or accomplish in the future. I love trail running but I think my ultra days are becoming fewer. I want to learn how to kayak, get better at shorter-distance running and just have more of a personal life.
This isn't to say that other people's goals are wrong, but I am finally leveling with myself that I don't have to live up to other people's goals.
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This week marks the third anniversary of The Stubborn Tortoise. What started as me reading previous blog posts have evolved into something more: my experiences, hearing the experiences of master's runners, how the community coped with the pandemic to advice episodes with my buddy, Hundo. I share a handful of clips from previous episodes. Here's to evolution!
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Four Austin-area guys in their 60s-plus, gather each week to run or hike together. They are all formidable runners but at this age, injuries can hinder their efforts. Still, they take it in stride (pardon the pun) and say they have no interest in ever "retiring" from the sport they love. Younger folks may want to heed their message as runners of any age look to the future.
Photo: From left: Henry Hobbs, Joe Prusaitis, Gabe Ayson, John Kuss and chair. The chair is part of the scenery for residents to enjoy an overlook, although there were jokes abound about someone carrying it in case any of them needs a break.
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In the latest installment of Paz and Hundo, we delve into the mysterious world of shoes and socks -- what works for us and what advice we give to you in your quest.
Also, I give a brief-ish recap of my race at Pedernales Falls over the weekend.
Photo: Me and Hundo wringing out our socks midway though a 20-miler in 2015.
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I have discovered that simply grinding out miles day after day is a good thing. I'm looking forward to it, even if it is insanely hot and humid. I may be acclimating. I am logging miles to virtually get across Tennessee (and I am behind, but determined). I also offer up some tips on surviving summer races. And (no boys allowed) I talk about the Holy Grail of sports bras for me. I found one a few years back and bought five or six of them. Then, the company went out of business and I have been swinging and missing the Ms. Right Bra ever since.
Photo: The Holy Grail bra: The Lucy High-Impact sports bra. I love the high neck, the compression, the racerback and how it lasts.
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Frank Arredondo is a friend of mine from the Rio Grande Valley. He is a pharmacist and became one of the first people to be hospitalized with COVID-19. He is doing great now, but he was on a ventilator for 10 days and given some experimental drugs. He was more or less of a guinea pig for doctors in the early days of the pandemic.
Frank recounts his gripping story, including the bravery and tenacity of his wife, Tyra Greene, who kept a journal that launched them into the national headlines.
His story is one to be appreciated regardless of where you are on the pandemic spectrum.
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In this episode, I talk a little about a training concept known as "Jeffing." It is a term related to coach and marathoner, Jeff Galloway. The concept is regardless of your ability, by incorporating walk breaks into your runs will ultimately prevent injuries, help your mental outlook and allow you to accomplish faster finishing times than if you just ran the whole thing.
I know this will ruffle some feathers, but I've been trying it for a few weeks and really enjoy it for training runs. (I haven't tried it yet on trails or at a race.)
I have linked to his website above.
I also talk about my solution to plantar fasciitis (roll those calves) and an unexpected upcoming trip to Iowa, of all places.
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On Saturday. four hardy souls toed the line for the Third Annual Ice Cream Challenge. Contestants have to eat a variety of ice cream treats and then run 1.5 miles in between each serving. It starts with a Chipwich and ends with a pint of ice cream -- unless you choose to go the Junior Varsity route.
I spectated and shot video of the festivities. No one threw up but getting through the pint proved to be the chore that it sounds like.
Photo: Ulises Marrufo, Thomas Bowling, Chris Russell on the "podium."
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Paz and Hundo are back with some strategies and tips for running in the wild. Bodily function stories ahead.
Plus, a bonus story about herding a baby goat back to its mama.
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Matt Martinez was one of my running buddies when I lived in the Rio Grande Valley. He is 55, more of a road runner and doesn't aspire to run beyond 25K - ever. And that's OK. I think too often we pressure ourselves into aspiring to crazy distances or paces.
Matt doesn't do that. He gets the run-life balance.
We used to call him "Mr. Selfie" because he would post , um, selfies on Facebook after his runs. He also nicknamed our friend, Tanya, as "Tanya One More Hill" because she always wanted to push the limit.
Here is a nice convo with a guy with average (read: normal) goals.
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Brian Sharp is an inspirational runner, not only because he has overcome disabilities or obstacles, but because of his positivity. He is someone with an interesting back story and has some audacious goals for the next year.
In my outtro, I talk about my GVRAT experience, making mosaic-tiled pots, do you want swag and more.
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Seresa eats 100 miles for breakfast. She has the ideal mindset and training discipline one needs to tackle those goals.
She shares her story of her running journey as well as what's ahead in her future: spoiler alert: she plans to log 150 miles this year at Snowdrop!
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Half of the adventure of doing an out-of-town trail race is getting there. In the first of a monthly segment, Paz and Hundo, aka Orlando Montalvo, will share stories and advice or worthless information (ha ha). Our inaugural episode is about travel. We share some of our favorite stories of being on the road, ranging from a deflated air mattress to a toxic-smelling hotel room to sleeping on the only available surface left: the floor. Sit back and enjoy the stories.
Photo: Hundo and Paz (with Normita blurred out) at Rancho Maravilla outside of Rio Grande City, circa 2016ish
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Mendoza, a South Texas native, has a compelling backstory about his upbringing, race and being first in his family to graduate from college. He coaches high school cross country and has seen his team win state championships. He raises money for his team to travel outside of the Valley by holding local road and trail races. In between, he coaches adults. He is a very accomplished runner in his own right. And no matter what your ability, Coach Mendoza always has supportive things to say.
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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Chris McWatters, the race director for Tejas Trails, was oblivious to what was transpiring. He was marking the course at Camp Eagle, site of the J&J Trail Running Reunion, which is notorious for having little to no cell phone access. His wife, Krissy, was trying to reach him to tell him that everything was shutting down and wondered how they were going to find toilet paper.
Fast-forward a year or so, and McWatters has learned a few things about race directing during a pandemic -- also thanks to Krissy for her creativity.
In between, Tejas Trails added a new race and has plans for some other new things. Also, there are plans for Big Races out of Texas, as well as out of the US.
Join me for the conversation with Chris McWatters.
Photo: McWatters as he ran the Grand Canyon in March.
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I returned to the Rio Grande Valley this past weekend to reconnect with friends and the place where my trail-running career began. The reason: the Mesquite Fire trail race. It was among the first "live" running events since Texas reopened after the pandemic closed the state.
I met up with a lot of friends and reacquainted myself with the sea-level, hard-packed trails. I got most of the "full experience" out there. You'll have to listen to find out.
The pollen made my eyes and nose run and the humidity ensured I was a sodden mess after 2 miles. I had planned to race the course as a measure of where I was pace-wise with previous attempts. I changed my mind when I caught up to my trail BFF, Louisa. She's the one who broke her ankle last year at Bandera. It has been more than a year since I've seen her. This was her first race since then. I decided that it would be a better idea to accompany her and catch up instead of racing (I use that term loosely). So, we finished the remainder of the first 7.5-mile loop, together and pretty much hiked the remaining 7.5. In the end, I was sunburnt and dehydrated but was glad I stayed with my friend. I can run by myself any time.
Photo: Me and Louisa after we finished. credit: Julio Montalvo
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I love music. I was a music writer in undergrad (not mentioned in this episode), which led me to a career in journalism. (that's another story.)
Music can make a run all the better. I talk about my obsession with Orville Peck, my love of Fatboy Slim, The Clash and GirlTalk.
And, as an added bonus, I have included my updated playlist from Spotify. It has something for everyone, I think. :)
El te que juro si! (I hope I didn't eff up the translato.
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It's probably not nice, but my friend Maria and I decided we didn't want to be beaten today by a woman in blue, whom we passed during our 10K at The Tangle. Ha ha.
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Orly, as I call him, is one of my favorite people. He has a big laugh, a big personality and a penchant for doing big races. He has completed six, 100-milers -- three with his lovely wife, Kathy. Yours truly tried to get him through his first Rocky Raccoon 100. That is a story in itself. His big accomplishment was finishing the beast known as Cactus Rose 100 in October. He was properly trained and was determined to get that buckle.
The high school science teacher by day loves food, metal and flashing disco lights. He even brought one for us to brighten his first Rocky 100.
This episode may evolve into a regular segment where we talk about traveling to races and other stories. This one has a lot of energy.
Photo: Orly sitting briefly at an aid station in the middle of the night at Brazos Bend a few years back. I was pacing him and sneaked this photo. It is his favorite.
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I volunteered and ran over the weekend at the J&J Trail Running Reunion. It was fun seeing old friends, making new ones and getting...creative with serving ramen. I ran a decent 4-miler and was happy to not be last for a change. I may be on a comeback. Maybe.
Photo: A still from a video I shot at the pavilion on Friday evening. Look how organized everything is!
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Thomas Bowling, soon-to-be-59, is a legend of the San Antonio running circuit. He has numerous ultras accomplished, with just a couple of races he'd like to do over. He is fearless about 100Ks to 100-milers. A counselor, he uses his own techniques to help himself get through tough, uncomfortable spots. Volunteering is another of his favorite ways to give back.
He also managed to subconsciously convince me to go through with this weekend's Salsa Walk.
Photo: Cunningham Gulch in the San Juan Mountains - part of the Hard Rock Course
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A recap of a crazy, horrible week, along with lessons learned and stories from the past. Plus, a recap (with an ending) from Rocky Raccoon, since my power went out as I recorded last week's episode.
Photo: my back porch on Feb. 15, 2021
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Seriously, we have 3 inches of snow on the ground and it is below freezing. Six days ago, it was 80. We got this nasty polar vortex thing and it won't let up until the weekend. Meanwhile, my power goes out every 30 minutes for 10 minutes.
Otherwise, I took my friend, Jessica, to Huntsville over the weekend for the Rocky Raccoon half marathon. We had a lost car key and found it. The wind chill was in the teens but at least it was dry.
She had a great time and now wants to do more Tejas races!
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I have a Big Birthday on Friday, which has churned up a lot of angst and sadness, but also some optimism. I talk about my ongoing struggle with depression and overcoming the stigmas associated with it.
I also give a few shoutouts, race updates and talk about the sundry items I collected during a trail cleanup on Sunday. Here is where you can sign up for Sunday.
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In an effort to demonstrate that I can be accountable, I ran all of the miles I was supposed to last week. Hey, it's a start. I also managed to run a 10-mile race and come in dead last in my distance. Baby steps.
To further hold myself accountable, I signed up for a couple of challenging events: The Salsa Walk, where participants walk from the Chuy's in Selma to the one in San Marcos, for the 50K, or if you're really crazy, you continue on to the Chuy's in Austin for 100K. I am only half crazy. Past participants describe it as super-dumb and sucky, but I have to find out for myself. That's on March 6.
Starting May 1, I will be participating in the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee, where participants cover 1,000K (620 miles) until you finish on or before Aug. 31. If you can get in 5 miles per day, you can do it. I am hoping to get in more miles per day by doing races -- including the Capt'n Karl's night trail series this summer.
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I met Pamela a couple of years ago as we both slogged through the Brazos Bend 50-miler. She saved me with her 30-30 timer, stories and a touch of Fireball.
Since then, she has racked up a bunch of ultras, with the most recent being a 55-hour virtual where she logged 129 miles!
She is super-positive and motivating. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
Photo: Pamela at the Alamo City Ultra in 2019.
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Being a single parent is a big enough challenge, but throw a pandemic into the mix and things get even trickier: it's not like you can leave your kids with a friend or distant relative while you take a little time for yourself.
Mayra Caamaño, of The Woodlands, and Hilda Ochoa, who lives outside of San Antonio, tell their stories, offer their coping mechanisms and talk about finding gratitude when our previous lifestyles are in the past.
Photo: Hilda Ochoa, left, Myra Caamaño, left. (Forgive my sad Photoshop skills.)
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Last weekend, I learned that there is more to volunteering at a race than handing out food and drink and medals.
I found out there is a lot of prep: ice, fruit, propane, pallets of bread and tools to be purchased and more. There are stakes to be driven, signs to be stapled to said stakes, caution tape to be strung.
On race day, there was blood, hungry folks snapping up mashed potatoes topped with ramen broth and a woman with a tampon jammed up her nose because she fell and broke it.
I chose not to run on Sunday out of a combination of fatigue, a desire to keep helping and an impending epic rain and sleet storm, mixed with snow. Yep, we got all three.
It was an epic weekend where I saw most of my friends from The Valley (it was like a parade) and got to be part of one of the biggest races of the year.
Hats off to the folks who stayed the duration, working day and night. I was merely a bit player. But it was worth it.
Photo: the view from The Boyles aid station around 9:30 am on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021.
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Happy New Year!
Like most runners, I am always learning new things about myself: mental attitude, nutrition, hydration, gear.
I got a new hydration vest -- the Nathan Vapor Howe -- and really like it. My former brand, Ultimate Direction, didn't live up to my expectations, so I switched. I also have been tweaking my diet and have added a couple of supplements, which seem to help. I also tried caffeinated Tailwind and, to my surprise, really liked it.
I had a couple of decent runs over the weekend. The second one, I did something that I haven't done in years: I ran a mile without stopping.
I know it sounds hilarious but it happened and made me feel better about my abilities. I'm going to keep at it so I can run more than walk. I know it won't be this way every time, but that is a new goal. In turn, I think I'm getting off the Struggle Bus.
Photo: Lucia Lua Ramirez
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This one is a year-end two-fer: I talked to Gary Trautmann, a San Antonio-based runner, who talks about COVID running. He's also a master's runner.
He talks about lessons learned during COVID and why it is so much better to run with a group, in terms of motivation.
He is training for his first 50K this spring: either Prickly Pear at McAllister Park in San Antonio or Brazos Bend outside of Houston.
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I met Kelly in January as we ran with our friend, Louisa, at Bandera. We were the witnesses to her breaking her ankle.
Since then, Kelly has run two trail marathons and is ready for the Bandera 50K on Jan. 10.
She is a cancer survivor, dedicated to her kids and grandkids and is admirably consistent in banging out those miles.
Prepare to be inspired.
Photo: Kelly's first 25K at the J&J Reunion at Camp Eagle.
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I joined a handful of folks over the weekend to volunteer at The Mosaic trail race, outside of Austin. It was a gig that occasionally got confusing: the course is a big Figure-8 and depending on the distance people were running, they started going in one of two directions and looping back and forth, again, depending on the distance of their race. People occasionally finished and didn't stop to pick up their medal or remove their timing chip, causing us to chase after people.
But, mainly, it was a lot of fun. On Friday morning and early afternoon, it rained. When we heard "Singin' in the Rain" pour through the speakers at the finish line, Charles, one of the volunteers, grabbed an umbrella and did an impromptu impersonation of Gene Kelly. (See photo)
Matt, my buddy from Austin, managed to keep his shirt on because of the weather.
Logan, the volunteer coordinator, kept us on our toes but also kept us laughing.
Race Director, Chris McWatters, was his usual, chill self, unflapped by missing timing chips or too few T-shirts.
Volunteering is fun because you get to see so many people, make new friends and witness people pulling a bad race out of the fire or revel in having a good one.
This was my last race of 2020. Good riddance! Let's hope 2021 is a marked improvement.
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This is a mixed bag of stuff.
We start off with my friend, Agatha Halekulani Kerr's latest adventure: a 600K (372) miles to raise funds for a church/school in Costa Rica in early February.
I wasn't planning on talking about this, but I decided to talk about how people get into a cult and reprised the tale of the Rev. Jim Jones, who lured 900 folks from the US to Guyana, in northern South America, in the late 70s. He promised them a place with no bugs, snakes etc. and plenty of food. That was a lie. He worked people 18 hours a day so they wouldn't have time to reflect on what was happening. After a California congressman visited "Jonestown" in late November 1978, he learned of the horrors of the place and was ready to return to the US to do something.
As they were readying to fly back, Jones' henchmen killed the entourage, including journalists.
Right after that, Jones assembled his flock and decided it was time to go to the other side. He gave them Flavor-aide, this knockoff of Kool-Aid, laced with cyanide. He insisted that they drink it. A tape he made documents the horrific details.
I bring this up because we have a number of people in this country who have literally drunk the "Kool-aid." (This is where the phrase, "drinking the Kool-Aid" came from.) And I worry about our future.
I know, this isn't about running, but this kept me awake the other night.
Finally, I recount my hilly 10-miler on Sunday in preparation for Bandera 25K.
I plan to volunteer and run at the Mosaic trail race this weekend.
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I happened upon Dickie Longo via my friend, Agatha Kerr, a San Antonio-area running friend. She is editing a book about Dickie by an Australian writer named Sue Oaks.
Oaks needed some additional interviewing to help flesh out his story. Agatha asked me if I could help. I was a little nervous parachuting into someone else's project, but I accepted the challenge.
Last Monday, I talked to this exceptional and generous 83-year-old from Louisiana. He gives away running shoes and (sometimes) race fees to those who can't swing the cost. He has since been given access to demo shoes by a local running store and gives those away.
He runs 6-8 miles daily, runs road races and has an admirable attitude toward the sport and life.
He told me this was his favorite interview, which thrilled my inner journalist.
Enjoy!
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Somehow, I thought it was a good idea to skimp on dinner the night before and breakfast the morning of a race. Even worse, I under packed my drop bags and didn't have enough food to sustain me through a 25K race.
My thinking was, "Oh, it's only a 7.5 or so loop with a stop midway. I'll be fine."
The humidity was 92% and the temperatures neared 80. I drained my little 12-ounce handheld before each way station.
By the end of the last loop, I was dizzy -- don't use one earbud for a long run, kids. It will throw off your equilibrium -- nauseous and a total wreck.
I threw up a few times but was mentally saved by a guy doing the 50-miler who was having his own issues.
His conversation with me kept me distracted enough through the last half mile that I managed a finish.
Motto: never underestimate a race.
Kick in a buck or a few for ALS
Photo: part of the catacombs at Bluff Creek Ranch
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Yesterday's 30K run at Jalapeño Hundred turned out pretty well.
My mind was right, I had my podcasts/music and the weather was great.
Loved the course, despite the sand (think: running in small dunes). I got a coupla blisters, but I was pretty happy to finish faster than usual.
Oh, and I prefer sand to rocks ANY day.
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If you have done any races with Tejas Trails, you have probably run across Nancy Marks.
She's got pixie-short hair, wears cute skirts and talks a lot. (Yes, even more than me.)
She just turned 60 and finished the Cactus Rose 150-miler last month. She didn't sleep. But she hallucinated, had her tunes, didn't eat much and just pushed herself to beat the cutoff.
She has a very consistent pace and a great mental outlook that I found inspiring.
She shares some of her tips as well as some war stories.
This is easily one of my favorite master's interviews.
Photo: Nancy with RD Chris McWatters, getting two 75-mile medals. She did get the buckle soon after.
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I wasn't planning to talk about how much I hate this time of year, but I did.
I hate Halloween. It's the last time I saw my mother coherent. We watched part of "The Fog."
Later that night, she was suffering. I had to make a call to give her morphine to ease her pain.
She died a few days later.
This time of year is crap for me and my sister.
This year, as a pandemic rages and our country seems poised on the brink of civil war, I am having a hard time focusing on running.
Photo: Clara Zmurk on the day she eloped with Don Pazdera, circa 1954 (I think).
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I struggled to find a way to inner peace as I set out to conquer the Cactus Rose 25 M on Friday. With virtually no one around, that solitude set the stage for a handful of plans to DNF, which I did.
I learned a few things about myself and my training.
Oh, also, the student magazine that I advise, won an award for being one of the best in the nation! So, there's that.
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I got an unexpected invite to join a Ragnar relay team early Wednesday evening. It was a group of ladies who I am acquainted with through the San Antonio (Off) Roadrunners. We would each run three separate loops at McAllister Park on Saturday morning, totaling 15 miles. The mileage sounded good and it sounded fun. The team was named Virtually Grounded, which is fitting.
And it was! It marked the first time I ran with a group since March. I was nervous about being too slow for them but I ended up not being too far behind, which was a confidence-booster.
By the time we finished, my legs were throbbing but it was a good kind of pain. And I got to add a new type of race to my running resume.
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Running has been pretty good, except that the weather has remained hot and humid.
I bailed on doing the in-person race, The Trailway, on Saturday because I wasn't feeling 100% and I had a bunch of grading to finish.
Saturday, I ran 6 and it felt great: it was cool-ish, but very humid. Nonetheless, my pace was slow and steady.
Sunday, it got hotter and more humid, just in time for me to finish my virtual half.
Normally, half marathons aren't a super-big deal. But this one led me to question myself about some of my upcoming races.
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Orly and Kathy Montalvo came up for a visit this past weekend. The plan was to run as many rocky hills to ensure his shoes and gear are ready to tackle the Cactus Rose 100 at the end of the month. He is.
I, on the other hand, came to the grim realization that I need to run more. It became abundantly clear that my spotty training has yielded crappy performance. I know what to do. Run more.
Photo: Hill Country State Natural Area
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Part of the fun of volunteering at trail races is watching other runners persevere despite the suffering they endure.
On Saturday, I saw a few people struggle through their races at the Texas Trail Running Festival. A few puked. But they picked themselves up and kept going to the finish. One guy was determined to quit and was ready. Then he sat in a chair, had a gel and some cold water. He stood up, looked me in the eye and said, "You know what? I'm finishing this thing." He had 3 miles left in a marathon.
My favorite finisher was Kelly, a friend from the Rio Grande Valley. She was doing her first marathon. She is in her early 60s and isn't fast. She knew it would take her a while. With each loop, she grew more determined to finish.
Watching people persevere with grit and grace inspires me as I approach the remaining races of 2020. I will hang onto those lessons and channel the strength of those I saw this weekend.
Photo: Social-distance selfie: Kelly Cunningham, PJ Izaguirre and me.
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Saturday marked the first time I've done a race since March. It felt good to see friends and participate in an actual timed event. The only difference is we had to wear a face-covering at the start/finish.
I employed an eclectic playlist to get me through the 10 miles, and still had a few songs to spare.
It was a great experience, and once again, it felt as close to normal as we can get at the moment.
Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, my goal race, The Snowdrop 55-Hour event, is postponed until next year. They're offering a virtual event (nope). My registration is now rolled over until next year, which means another awful summer of training.
I share my favorite parable as a means of how I try to look at life.
Photo: me and Kimberley Aubuchon masked up after the finish. She took fourth in the women's race.
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After seven months of not leaving my county, I headed several counties away to Pace Bend Park last weekend to help with the Mellow Trail Race, sponsored by Tejas Trails. It was pretty much how things have been in the past, with a few exceptions: face masks were required, no food at aid stations and runners had to take off their own ankle timing chip and pick up their finisher's medal from a table.
But in many ways, it was just like old times: meeting up with longtime friends, making new friends and watching runners accomplish their goals -- some against some odds.
In the end, it was a great experience. I get to do it again the weekend after next at another race.
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The long weekend was sort of a progression run over three days: the first day was kind of rough, the second and longest run day was better and the third day -- a virtual race -- gave me the incentive to push. And it showed.
Many thanks to my friend, Maria, for joining me on Saturday and being supportive and knowing when to push me.
Hoping for cooler weather and remaining optimistic.
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I discovered that if I have a plan, I can get through a long run a lot easier. Some days, I don't have a plan, which is a surefire way of it turning into a chaotic experience. Not having a plan has its advantages when you're required to be flexible. It doesn't help if you're committed to covering a fair amount of ground.
Volunteering and one of my favorite races are filling up my calendar for September. It will be nice to get out of San Antonio for the first time in seven months, even if it means I will be socially distant and wearing a mask.
Photo: the rolling hills of the trails at Sullivan City, Texas
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I have been battling the negative voices in my head for a while. I had chased away those demons years ago, but they have sneaked back into my psyche. The tipping point came when I got some very unexpected and negative feedback about something last week and it went downhill from there. My inner voice kept saying, "You're a loser. You're an idiot." This not only affected my self-esteem but I also let it affect my running.
I reached out to a group on Facebook for runners over 50 and got a lot of interesting feedback.
I'm going to incorporate some of that advice into my life and running as I continue this journey. Sometimes I forget to be grateful for the ability to run, much less how it makes me feel. Sometimes, you need to live in the moment.
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Longtime runner and ultra badass Lourdes Gutierrez-Kellam joins me to talk about her storied racing career. Long-distance races are her favorite. She's the type of person I would befriend at a trail race because she is easygoing and friendly.
Photo: Lourdes as she ran the 48K Skyline Trail in Jasper, Alberta in July. Yes, that is snow in those mountains!
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Yesterday, it took a few of us to get Maria through her virtual 50K. It was a little ugly at times, but she did it.
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No, no, no....not like that.
I have purchased a Big Boy microphone and can now record my podcast in my living room, as opposed to sitting in my bedroom closet with an iPhone.
It's kind of liberating.
My running needs some liberating as it has been in hiding most of this week.
I haven't been feeling it and have defaulted to riding my indoor bike, which produces some great sweaty workouts. But it's not a running substitute.
Hoping to get it back this week.
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This is an epic and entertaining interview with my friend and coach, Kimberly Aubuchon.
She is an artist, personal trainer, running coach and all-around badass.
I hope you enjoy our interview.
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I had a bit of a COVID scare last week. I purposely stayed off of social media until I knew the results,
On Saturday night, I found out I tested negative.
While most were supportive and upbeat, I had a handful of folks with unsolicited advice: I should be tested again because it was likely a false negative. Wow, way to throw cold water on you after an agonizing wait.
And while I know the advice came from a place of sincerity, that particular moment was not the time to hear this kind of news.
Eventually, I killed the post.
My unsolicited advice: think of how the other person will receive that news. Imagine you tell people you're cancer-free (not the most accurate analogy) and people pile on saying, "It's probably wrong and will come back."
A lesson for us all.
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On July 11, I. celebrated the first anniversary of this podcast. It was a crazy idea but seems to resonate with people.
COVID-19 concerns caused me to call off my plan to run at Muleshoe Bend this weekend. Instead, I will do it virtually.
Speaking of virtual races, The Flying Chanclas continue to be competitive in the Trans-Texas Virtual Run. We're battling with a couple of teams for fourth or fifth place out of over 190 teams.
Photo: from 2016 (I think). We were celebrating Orly's birthday with hill repeats.
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This week, I ramped up the mileage -- probably a little too much -- for a good reason.
My team, The Flying Chanclas, is virtually running across all 879 miles across Texas. I formed the team as sort of a lark -- something to do during the dog days and beyond. We started on July 1 and of this recording, we are in a dead heat for 4th-5th place out of 183 teams in the 5-person relay.
I had no idea we would be competitive but seeing that we shot up sort of quickly has emboldened my teammates and me. We will see. It's a long way to WallyWorld, Clark.
Nonetheless, I am stoked to have some motivation to get out of my rut.
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Trail running is all about the stories and adventures. My "bubble" friend, Maria, and I made one on a Saturday slog uphill to what seemed like heaven. (Not really, but it was a spectacularly steep climb).
Excited to start the Trans-Texas Virtual Race this week. But I am concerned about upcoming events later in the summer and fall because Texas has turned into a hotbed for COVID-19 infections and deaths.
It once again messed with my head, but I am planning to soldier on, regardless. That's all we can do.
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I ran my second virtual race on Saturday. It was a struggle because I haven't gone that far since February. But, I toughed it out, mentally, along with the company of my friend, Maria, for a few miles.
I'm getting better at running on tired feet and working on my mental game.
I signed up for a virtual race across Texas with four others, starting July 1.
Feeling great about being motivated, yet concerned that we might be locked down again, killing that feeling.
Stay tuned.
Photo from Saturday, at my car, Roo, which I used as an aid station.
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After months of lethargy and turgid running, I eked out 17.5 miles in four days. I know it's not record-setting, but it's a start. It felt good to run four days in a row. May shoot for a couple more days and then rest up before my virtual Sugar Badger half on Saturday.
Also, shuffle over to Apple podcasts and give this thing a rating and leave a review. It won't hurt. I promise.
If you're feeling generous, consider being a sponsor. Use the anchor link to do so. If not, no biggie, but I'd like to buy some real equipment at some point, so I don't have to sit in my bedroom closet with my iPhone. LOL.
The photo is Maria and me at Land Heritage Institute on Saturday. I had to use her photo because I left my phone in the car. Durr.
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This ultrarunner couple has navigated a couple of nights in jail (for quarantine), "sneaked" into national parks and have had a variety of adventures, including having the windows broken out at their hotel in Chicago (apologies because I said it was Dallas) during protests. They're professional runners traveling the globe with their super-cute dog, Smokey. They're living the dream -- experiencing adventures and running crazy distances. This is a special episode.
Cassandra's Instagram, Matt's Instagram
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Part 4 of our master's series. We meet Donald Flynn, a San Antonio-based runner who took up running to get out of going to gym class. He abandoned the sport for decades and picked it back up 5 years ago at the age of 60. He has finished three 100-milers and has his sights set on at least one more this year. He has some great stories to tell including when he "geezered" a young guy.
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I returned to running, a bit, this week. So far, so good. Had a social distance ride with my friend, Maria and got to have lunch with my very good friends, the Montalvos on Memorial Day. Yes, we social distanced.
Things feel a little closer to normal, but to be honest, as the US inches toward 100,000 deaths, I made a grim observation: as of April 24, we had 51,000 deaths. Thirty days later, we almost doubled that number.
Stay safe and manage your risk.
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After almost three months, I pulled the trigger and set up a "play date" with my friend, Maria.
We met up at Hot Wells ruins on Sunday morning and took a socially distanced bike ride.
It was so much fun and nice to have a conversation with someone in person and not feel like we were "cheating."
My ankle is officially sprained, which means running is on hiatus for a few weeks. This is going to be interesting trying to catch up on my training for big races at the end of the year.
Photo: Maria and me
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I am joined by Donald Flynn of San Antonio and returning guests, Kathy and Orlando Montalvo of Mission, Texas.
We talk about the complications of training for virtual races and whether the "real" races we're signed up for later in the year will actually happen. Flynn and the Montalvos are signed up for the Great Virtual Race Across Tennessee 1,000K. Essentially, you run 620 miles between May 1 and Aug. 31, or a minimum of 5 miles a day.
I really want to join in, but I'm already 11 days behind and -- guess what? I rolled my stupid ankle last week coming down the back steps. It's much better and probably able to handle some miles, but I am not sure I want to risk it.
Speaking of risk, I lash out at folks who act like the pandemic is over and they're all running and biking in groups without proper social distancing. Your actions matter. I live far from any family. I don't know if I will ever see them again. Yet, some folks just can't sacrifice a group run or ride.
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Trying to keep a normal schedule during this crisis is challenging. I miss working aid stations and wonder what they'll be like as we move forward. We used to joke about people drinking from the same cup or getting their hands in the snacks. "Eh, we're trail runners, this is what we do. " But I wonder about what they'll be like.
Running still remains something I want to do but I feel distracted or start too late and don't get in the mileage I wanted.
I will do my first virtual race today. Will report back next week.
Photo: Doing Pandora's Box of Rocks half marathon in 2016 at Reveille Peak Ranch.
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I have known Kathy for a while -- through her husband, Orlando -- originally. They are two of my dearest friends. Kathy is a newish runner, but she's done a boatload of ultras, including three hundos. She's a little new to the Master's scene, but a worthy contender. She's extraordinary in that she hasn't quit a race yet and just chugs along at a decent pace.
Photo: Kathy finishing her third hundred-miler at the Snowdrop 55-Hour Race in December.
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Not much running happening these days. It takes so much mental energy to get through each day that I feel spent. And when I do run, it feels stressful navigating groups of people. I reflect on the story of my mom and purple roses and try to be uplifting.
Photo: Mission Espada in San Antonio
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How do runners stay motivated to get moving when races are canceled and groups have disbanded?
I know this is a First-World problem, but it is something that the running community considers.
This is a Zoom call with Jeff Rhodes, Orlando and Kathy Montalvo and Sara Hernandez, one of my former students.
We managed to persuade Sara to come to the dark side and become a trail runner!
Photo: Screenshot of the chat.
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After two weeks of struggling with allergy-induced laryngitis, I have finally returned. I weigh in on how this pandemic is affecting me and I try to share some optimism, along with a rant or two. The best part of my days is when I get to "see" my students for class meetings, talk to my sister and friends. Had a Zoom meetup on Sunday afternoon and it went really well. Got to chat up my friends from the Rio Grande Valley. We'll be doing this on the regular.
The podcast is probably going to take a little shift in that there will be fewer of just me sharing thoughts and a few more master's edition interviews and maybe some of the audio from my group chats. If you want to be part of an upcoming group chat email me at donnapaz@gmail.com
Photo: A scene from Sunday's chat.
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This is the story of Lynn Hauka, 62, a master's runner living in San Antonio. She just placed first in master's at the Spider Mountain race last month and is fairly new to trail running. She will tackle her first ultra in November at Dinosaur Valley.
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Felt really good on Saturday at the Prickly Pear trail race. I ran much of it and felt great. Hilariously, I still managed to place last in my age group. Nonetheless, went back out there for 6 bonus miles. Starting to feel more confident about my abilities as I eye the Brazos Bend 50K next month. Ha, ha...I signed up for that last week. And I managed to crash the Alamo 26.2 during a run on Sunday.
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Drop bags are an important part of trail racing -- especially when doing ultra-distance races. Here are some tips I've gathered over the years to make creating your drop bag a cinch.
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This is the first in an occasional series about master's runners. My good friend, Louisa Escamilla, was picked as my first guest. She is a cancer survivor and recently broke her ankle on a descent at Bandera. She's healing up but is eager to get back at it. She is one of the toughest runners I know.
Photo: Sullivan City trails a few years ago.
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I literally had to pull this episode out of my, well, you know.
And it's a pretty important aspect of trail running, but not something discussed in polite company.
So, if you're offended by this sort of stuff, feel free to skip to the last three minutes.
Also, here is the link to my favorite 50K training plan.
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I finally had a great race -- probably one of my favorites of all time. I ran the half marathon on Saturday at the Rocky Raccoon 50 at Huntsville State Park. I LOVE this course. I did watch my step with the roots and made some trail friends, so my time wasn't super-fast. But I'm satisfied with how it all went. Great weather, vibe and course made it a great experience.
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Sometimes, you have to decide if it's better to set aside personal goals and help someone else. Plus an update on my intentions for Rocky Raccoon on Feb. 8. And I talk about plans for an occasional feature on master's athletes.
Photo: Carly and Javi.
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Injury or nagging aches and pains can really be a drag. I am on the fence about gutting out a 50K next weekend versus playing it safe and running a half marathon. I have an achy hip and don't want to be debilitated, so my decision will be made next week.
Also, I share an inspiring message from a fellow runner who just earned a beauty of a buckle at a 108K over the weekend.
Here is the link to Louisa's Go Fund Me.
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It really helps to have a training group, because if you're me, you will occasionally decide it's OK to not do what you're planning to do. It also helps to have a running buddy. In my case, it's Maria, who is about my pace and makes easy conversation.
I also ran my first 5K in about 5 years. It was surprisingly OK.
Also, I give y'all an update on Louisa, who broke her ankle last week during a fall at Bandera.
Here is her Go Fund Me link if you would like to chip in.
Photo: Me and Maria
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I ended up losing my friends at a race due to a handful of stupid delays/impediments on Sunday at the Hoke One One Bandera trail run. Those delays led to me being where I needed to be at the end after a friend got seriously injured during a fall.
Photo: Louisa, Kelly. and Vero.
Photo by: Julio Montalvo of Counterpunch Media
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I spent my New Year running (and walking) for six hours from midnight to 6 am for a good cause. It also provided an avenue to mend a fence or two, as well as provide some much-needed confidence. I also discuss my upcoming races, including one where I will travel to Wisconsin, of all places!
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I had some unusual mental demons haunting me at a race on Saturday: a couple of nightmares in the days before. That, coupled with being the caboose and a few other things had me battling the DNF Fairy the entire time.
I am, admittedly, in a bit of a slump. I'm working on how to break out of it. I guess this is all part of the deal with running.
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Since it's That Time of Year, I wanted to share with you some of my suggestions for gear for the runner in your life. Or, maybe yourself!
You are an experiment of one, so take my suggestions as just that.
If you have no ideas, a gift certificate to a local running store is always a winner. :)
Photo features Rabbit tank top and shorts and an Amphipod handheld bottle.
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I had an epiphany near the end of a run on Saturday. It led to facing past demons and the baggage that comes with it.
It may trigger some with eating disorders, so be warned.
This one deals with self-worth, self-image, a borderline eating disorder and depression.
It is also about not blaming people for the hand you're dealt. Ultimately, this is uplifting. I am good.
It was hard finding a photo for this episode but I chose this sunflower field that I shot in Garciasville, Texas a couple of years ago. Despite the darkness, there is hope. And also, I'm kind of like the main sunflower in that I stand apart from the rest of the field.
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It's easy to underestimate a race or training run when things have gone well for a long while.
Well, I learned that struggles can sneak up on you after a good streak. Pushing through and reminding yourself that things won't always be there tomorrow are important lessons.
Photo of me and Judith on the rock dome at Reveille Peak Ranch.
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Two super-cool things happened on Saturday: I got to run my favorite trail race of the year, and I caught up with some good friends from the Rio Grande Valley. This is kind of an homage to the RGV, the place where I first discovered trail running.
I also talk about a race I did over the summer in the RGV, which is held at my favorite running spot.
Oh, and a shout-out to a guy from Houston named Shawn, who recognized my voice as we waited to pick up our race bibs yesterday. That was one of the coolest things . in recent memory.
In the photo: Luly, Sandra, yers trooly, Hugo, Mary and Gabe. Love you guys!
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This is episode 20!!!! On Sunday, I rang a cowbell, filled up water bottles, made some sort of crappy peanut butter, banana and honey tortillas, all while encouraging the folks doing the Hill Country Trivium. It's a road race put on by Brad and Nyla Quinn, of Tejas Trails, but it's a hilly challenge. Two college seniors stole our hearts as they claimed their first marathon, accidental ultra and DFL..
I went back into the time machine and recalled my sort-of-similar experience at the Heroes 25K race in Brownsville, where you battle the heat as much as the distance.
Finally, I ramble on about my upcoming 25K this weekend at Wild Hare, my FAVORITE race of the year. It starts and ends in a horse barn on a ranch outside of LaGrange.
Photo: The Rio Grande Valley Trailrunners paying respect to our military wearing our Team RWB shirts, circa May 2015.
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This is a podcast about a podcast. Hence the Russian nesting dolls reference. I got to watch the recording of my favorite running podcast, "Ten Junk Miles," and meet its host, Scott Kummer. He shared a little podcasting intel at the end of the evening. I tried not to fangirl.
Inexplicably, I manage to work in a reference to my new favorite artist, Orville Peck, whom I also met a month ago. Peck has an incredible voice and his debut album, "Pony," is so listenable that I haven't yet tired of it.
Anyway, so yeah, that's about it for this episode. Lots of fun.
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Saturday's race was full of surprises: a race director dressed as a taco, a guy in a taco truck on the trails and pretty much everyone getting lost. It was the inaugural El Taco Loco race, held just south of San Antonio. I missed a section and made up for it by backtracking before crossing the finish line. Good race and experience.
Part two is about a themed event: the inaugural Die Hard on the Powerlines. This guy came up with the crazy idea that we could choose 6, 12 or 24 hours to run/hike San Antonio's famed Powerlines route as many times as we could. No finisher's medals or T-shirts, nor really any official timekeepers. But it still counted as a pretty epic day.
*There are one or two curse words in this, so I labeled it as explicit.
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Ah, the question for the ages: which do you prefer, trail or road?
Me, I think the answer is pretty clear. I'd rather be out in the woods than on a city street most any day. There are benefits to both and each is to be respected. I just ran a trail race with a bunch of predominantly road runners. I thought for sure I would get them on the gnarly sections. Instead, it was the other way around. They ran the whole dang thing. We trail runners occasionally hike through tough sections and uphill. Now I'm envious of those who can run well on both.
The photo is from my best of both worlds place: Pancho Villa, this 5-mile out-and-back outside of Rio Grande City. It's a road, but it's more of a caliche and rock trail out in the countryside of Way South Texas.
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Sometimes, you have to make a call to reset your expectations because the training isn't there. This happened to me this weekend as I decided to drop from 50K to 25K in two weeks. Life has gotten in the way and I'm afraid of reigniting old injuries by not training properly.
Some people can gut it out and my hat is off to them. That's just not me.
And earlier this year, I attempted a 100-miler. That didn't go as planned. But it was a good experience for learning.
The photo is me, Kathy and Seresa putting in the miles at Snowdrop.
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I have managed to get lost trying to find the start of a race, to adding miles to a race, to getting lost on a 1,000-acre ranch. Somehow, I've lived to tell about it.
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My first attempt at a 50-miler ended disastrously and with my quickest DNF in history. It included a trip to the ER with a super-caffeinated, fast-talking crazy man and four stitches.
The next time, a few weeks later, things ended much better, even though I had wet feet the entire time and got really cranky.
*There are a couple of curse words in this episode, which is why I flagged it as explicit.
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This episode chronicles my first three ultras: each one an epic mudfest.
The first was just a beginner's stupidity. The second one got VERY personal and emotional. The third, I wanted to quit but was inspired by a couple of guys who'd never run more than 6 miles. Yeah, they jumped from 6 to 31 miles and lived to tell about it.
Since then, I've had some "normal" races and am training for my next one in a month.
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Being on the other side of the table is almost as much fun as the race. This is a three-parter about some of my experiences providing assistance to sweaty, muddy, dirty trail runners. Many cameo appearances in this one! The episode photo is of Joel Olivares, David Zuniga, Bella Olivares, Victoria Olivares (no relation), Cris Guerra and me. We had a few others helping that day at the first J&J race, who aren't pictured. Grab a cup of Coke, Tailwind or a shot of Fireball and give it a listen!
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There are times when the DNF FaIry appears during a race and you have to ignore her/him. Had it not been for a new friend dressed like an elf, I probably wouldn't have made it through my second 50-miler.
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The DNF (did not finish) fairy was whispering to me hard at a tough weekend race....I had a couple of people inspiring me and I finished.
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Running would seem like an inexpensive sport...until you factor in the extras.
Also, if you're high maintenance, running is probably not for you.
I attempt to strike a lopsided balance between being a girl who loves Sephora and one who becomes a sodden mess after a few miles.
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I have no idea why people cheat at races, but they do. It's not a good idea.
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A handful of doctors said my thyroid had to go. I felt fine, but it was going to start affecting my ability to swallow, so I had to have surgery.
I was worried about what would happen to me afterward: would I be lethargic, gain weight, unable to run? As someone with a borderline eating disorder as a teenager, the weight gain part terrified me.
The episode title is from a Wilco song, "Pot Kettle Black." I take the refrain to mean don't put off what you can do today because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. It's one of my life's mantras.
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This one is in three parts: how one friend mentally sherpa-ed me through my first 20-miler, then I repaid the favor a few months later by pacing him at his first attempt at a hundred-miler. From that experience, I applied what I'd learned to help pace another friend through her first hundred.
This is a tale paved with success and failure -- but in the end, it's all about life: eat, drink, put one foot in front of the other and you'll have a great story to tell when it's over.
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Running along the US-Mexico border is full of adventures that most runners don't experience: Border Patrol agents flying above you in helicopters, agents looking for migrants and smugglers, and once -- being chased by a pack of agents who thought we were migrants. (Hey, somebody has to keep those agents in shape!) This episode is about my life's credo: "Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias" -- a life lived in fear is a life half-lived.
Link to the map showing you one of our favorite playgrounds.
Strictly Ballroom and one more clip. <3
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Sometimes, races don't go the way we plan them. In this case, I cut my losses early and was overcome with a variety of emotions: relief, self-doubt, self-flagellation. The good part is, there's usually another race to prove oneself.
In this case, there was redemption, but just not the way I'd imagined it.
Capt'n Karl's Reveille Peak Ranch race
Back on My Feet -- really great cause!
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This is a story in contrasts.
I start off talking about a guy who may or may not have unwittingly cost me a race with his negative viewpoints and attitude. (11/12)
But it ends well.
Next, I tell you about my "Best Summer-Camp Friend," a charming 11-year-old named Gabriel, who joined me -- along with his friend, Isaiah at Bandera in January 2016. It's one of my all-time favorite stories.
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This story is from August 2013. I'm publishing it now because the Capt'n Karl's nighttime race at Colorado Bend is coming up on Aug. 3.
This is about the adventures of a handful of runners from the RGV traveling six hours for a night race. We sampled pretty much all the food in town. Then we ran the race.
Here are some of the places mentioned in the piece: San Saba Olive Oil Co.
Wedding Oak Winery, Alamo Pecan Co.
Colorado Bend State Park
Larry's Corner Cafe
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Welcome to the first episode! I'm pretty much an average trail runner with above-average enthusiasm for the sport. These are my stories and I hope you enjoy them.
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