Friends

What trait is most important to you in a friend? That is the question that came up recently at a gathering with friends. I said this Dr. Seuss quote came to my mind, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
I've said some pretty dumb things. Sometimes I'm just trying to be funny and other times it's knee jerk reactions. Many times it's just who I am. Those who may not agree with my thoughts but forgive me and stick around are friends worth keeping. I like to think that I also look beyond a friends comments or thoughts I may not agree with. If I feel they are truly genuine sincere caring human beings, they are and will always be my friends.
Speaking of friends. My friend Tony up in Colorado sent me an email a couple of months ago and suggested I run a half marathon near his home. He's registered. At 2800 feet of elevation gain, The half marathon is billed as the toughest race in the Rocky Mountain front range. For the past two years I have gone up to Colorado to run a 50 miler and a 50k. I fly in, crash at Tony's, run MY race and head back home. This time I am VISITING with Tony, running with him, and visiting some more before I return home. He's my friend. Best part of it is my niece Adrie, Tony's niece from the other side of her family, is coming with me. I leave all the traveling arrangements and hassles to her!
But up next is the Nueces 50 miler. I crammed all my serious training into the last two weeks. last week I ran 45 miles. this week I hope to get near 20. It's taper time. My old knees have been creaking but I think I'll be OK. At work today I walked up and down two flights of stairs about ten times. That's good training!
A question we did not get to address at our gathering, "If you live to be 100, would you rather have a sound mind or a fit body?"

I'm Young! In my mind.

Today I heard something very interesting, Mike Greer's 11 points of healthy ageless living.
Besides the obvious eat well and exercise points, what I found interesting was the advice to not hold grudges. I agree wholeheartedly. To harbor Ill feelings towards another person, no matter what the reason may be, only eats at us inside. It is better to let it go. No matter if "they drew first blood" Rambo.
We don't know what goes on in another's mind. What their story is. Everybody has a story.
My mother in Law put it best, "Every person is a different world."
The other point I agree with, and what helps me is to be part of something bigger than yourself. Belong to a social group or network. I manage our running groups email list. Sometimes it is over whelming but I make people happy by including them and it makes me smile. I smile when I meet new people and interact with these folks.
The point that I liked most was the "Mythical age." If you didn't know when you were born what would you say is your age?
I often tell people I feel I am 16!
Forget all that nonsense about getting old I've written about. I'm 16!

Love

"Se tienen que conocer mijo." That is what my mother would say to me in regards to knowing and staying in contact with family. "you have to get to know each other son."
My mom is one of 13 siblings! They were a very close and loving family. Their parents, my grandparents, were very loving. That love was passed on down to all in the family. We have always been a family that shares genuine hugs and kisses. But with such a large family it can be difficult to know everyone and stay in touch. "You have to try." Mom would say.
I remember my cousin Angie visiting us when she was about six years old and I was twelve. She was cute and had a funny west Texas accent. My mom's little sister Hope (Angie's mom) and her family live in Denver City Texas, way out in the Texas panhandle. Needless to say, we did not see them too often.
Many years passed before I saw Angie again. It was as adults 32 years later at my mom's funeral. As we said goodbye after the funeral, I said to Angie, "we need to stay in touch and get together." Another cousin said, "Yeah, that's what we all say, but it never happens." I vowed to make sure it would happen. It has. I call Angie now and then. Angie drives through San Antonio on her way to visit her Mom and every time she is in the area we get together.
This past weekend I visited with Angie at her home north of Houston,  I was in the east Texas area to help at the Rocky Raccoon 50 mile trail run at Huntsville State park.
As much as I love running trail races, I also love supporting friends and fellow trail runners reach their trail running goals.  I also enjoy hanging out with trail runner friends who enjoy the same. Sharing hugs, kisses, and love. They're  family too.

San Gabriel Mountains revisited

I ran into this report of my first mountain race. written before I started my blog.
Thought you might enjoy it. One thing I left out was how they ran out of water at the finish. It was really hot that day too. I had to settle for canned tea.
I returned to these trail in 2013 when I paced Lalo at Angeles Crest


Mt Disappointment 50K  Endurance RunMt. Wilson, CA
11 August 2007
by Tony Maldonado

It was a cool crisp morning on Mt Wilson in the Angeles National Forest north of L.A. The temperature was 62 degrees with a slight breeze. The beautiful sight of  downtown Los Angeles  down below was short lived  as clouds moved in and blanketed the city. At the starting line I talked to some of the other runners. George from San Diego was attempting his first 50 miler, Mike from Huntington Beach, and  Rennee from Santa Monica were there for the fun. Barefoot Ted was also there. The race began with a 3 mile descent on a paved road before hitting the trails. The southern California area has had only 3 inches of rain all year, thus the trails were dry and dusty. The dust being kicked up by the runners  rivaled the smog of L.A. I was wishing for the mud I had become accustomed to in San Antonio. At mile 4 a runner pulled of to the side holding his right hamstring. I asked if he was OK. He said “yes, it’s only a cramp”. Not a good sign at mile 4. As I reached the first checkpoint I decided not to stop since I felt good and still had enough water. The trail became shady and more wooded at this point. I met another local runner and we talked and paced each other for the next 10 miles. He asked about Sunmart, but lost interest after I told him the course is flat. At the second checkpoint it was time to refill my two bottles and take in some fuel. The first climb followed. Barefoot Ted passed us on the approach to the third checkpoint at the top of the climb. His feet were fine he said, but he was having stomach problems. By this time the temperature had risen and  I was beginning to feel the effects of the heat. Although it was getting hot, there was no humidity. Here in Texas I am reminded to drink by the perspiration caused by our high humidity. With no humidity it is easy to forget to drink.  The trail now became more difficult as it wound around the mountains. There were long stretches where the trail was only about 12 to 18 inches wide with tight switchbacks. It was very dry and Sandy in some parts. I found myself leaning into the mountain side. There were drops of several hundred feet with nothing to hold on to if you were to slide off the trail. A tree about 4 feet in diameter and 40 feet long had fallen across the trail. I watched as runners ahead of me stepped on a knot on the tree and pushed themselves over. Me? I straddled that puppy and slid over to the other side. The trail widened again and ahead some mountain bikers were taking a break. One of them noticed my shirt and yelled out, “ all right Hill Country.” “Are you near Bandera?” “yes” I replied “right down the road”  “great place “ he said. Approaching the fourth checkpoint at mile 21 I was not feeling good. My legs were strong but my heart and lungs were not providing help. Was it poor training? Was it the great L.A. Mexican food I had been eating the past two days? Or was it the elevation? Yeah, that’s it! It’s the elevation. I drank plenty of water, ate peanut butter on crackers, oranges and watermelon. Filled my two bottles and looked forward to the next 5 downhill miles. I found the downhill not as pleasant as I had hoped. Some sections were very steep. Not knowing the trail I was being cautious and my quads and mid back were taking a beating. At 5 hrs 10 min. I had covered 26 miles. Not bad I thought, only five to go.  Little did I know, the last 5 miles would take 2 hrs 14 minutes to complete. At the last checkpoint a runner had decided he had had enough and dropped. Others sat to contemplate the final ascent. 5 miles and 2600 ft to go. Again I drank plenty of water and took in some fuel, filled up my bottles with water and headed out for the final climb to the finish. The climb was gradual for the next two miles, then it seemed to go straight up. Again there were very narrow stretches and tight switchbacks. Now my legs did not want to play anymore. The good thing though was the shade provided by the tall pines. I don’t mind being passed, but it seemed like I was being caught and passed by the whole field. In some spots it was difficult to let runners get by, so I had to move faster than I wanted to. Two runners (walkers at this point) ahead were struggling and were low on water, as was I. The guy with the camelback was completely out! He took a drink from the others bottle. They decided to rest. I couldn’t. I was afraid it would be more difficult to start again. Help was sent to these guys from a finisher who had noticed them struggling. With ? mile to go and the trail still ascending sharply, I ran out of water. A runner/walker passed me and we began talking as he paced me up the mountain. I thanked him as we finally reached the top. But wait! The finish line was still 50 yards up to the visitors center. One more climb, just to make sure.

Nuts

Today a coworker asked, "hey, how are you?"
"ah, besides being nuts I'm OK." I responded.
"I know you're nuts." she said.
I said I was nuts because on my mind as she asked, was the Nueces 50 miler which is a month away. And I signed up! why? Because I love nature trails and how it makes me feel when I immerse myself in them.
Running on trails makes me feel connected to and a part of this beautiful earth.
25K may be too short. 50K is long but may leave me wanting just a little bit more. Besides, I want to prove to myself that I can still do it. Plus, my good friend Lalo tells not to let my age stand in the way.
I've said it hurts to run long distances and it may be taking it's toll on my body but I can't seem to quit running in them. It's like a drug, and I am addicted.
What may have prompted me to sign up this time was seeing some relatives at a family gathering this past weekend. Mario will be 67 yrs. old this year. He looks good! Mario has always been active playing softball well into his 50's, walking, traveling, and engaging in many carpentry projects at home. He's had health issues but has been able to manage them well with little to no medication.
Luciano on the other hand did not look as well. Younger than Mario and not as active.
I do not know details about his lifestyle now but my thoughts were, I want to be in a better condition than that in ten years. Am I vain? Maybe. Do I want to live forever? No. But I do want to feel good as long as I am alive. Will running ultras on trails extend my life? Probably not but they'll make me feel good while I am alive.

Yes, I am vain. I don't want to look old as I get old, but it's inevitable. In my mind I am still 17. I guess I can still think I look 17. Or maybe 15! Like when I was hanging out with these guys.

We got together recently after so many years of being apart. It was fun to recall our childhood antics. We had so much fun being nuts growing up together. We hope to make our group gathering larger and make it a regular happening. We are old (er) but we can still think young.
Now there is work to be done. Training! I lost over a week of training recently due to a cough and congestion. Dang that Hill Country Mountain Cedar pollen!

Wow, its been so long since I've been here it took three tries to get my password right.
I hadn't felt much like writing. I guess because late last year I hadn't felt much like running. Well I did want to run but my body just wasn't doing what I wanted it to. It was rebelling (I've said that too many times haven't I?) Or it may have been mental. Who knows? I didn't want to spend too much time trying to figure it out. So I just ran the best I could.
Here's a quick recap of my running experiences in late 2013.
In October of last year I was asked by my running buddy Robert if I knew anyone who wanted to run the 100 mile relay at Cactus Rose. Hey, maybe I want too. I recruited a co-worker who was new to trails and would take the third leg. He'd start late afternoon and end his leg in the dark. Daniel had never run at night for more than an hour and never alone. He enjoyed it. After it was over. He said he was spooked several times. The shadows play with your mind in the dark. Robert took the last leg. Kelli ran the second leg after I came in on the first. I wasn't expecting much but I think I ran one of my best 25 milers that day. Breaking 5 hours on this hilly, rocky course at 4:54 and change was a surprise. It does help knowing you're only running one loop. I was happy finishing knowing I didn't have to go back out. Having run the hundred and fifty miler at Cactus Rose I now have all the Cactus Hardware. Here I am finishing up my leg at that race.

Earlier that month I ran with my buddy Joe up in Indiana. I met Joe through running and we've become good friends. Joe lives in Chesterton, Indiana and runs "The Dunes" a National Park on the shores of Lake Michigan. I've always wanted to see one of the great Lakes. Beautiful trails here. I got to meet some of Joe's running group too and exchange race stories. Joe made some remarks that made me laugh, "these guys told me I'd slow down after fifty five. that the body can't perform like it used to after that." " I told them, yeah right, you're just getting lazy."  Then Joe said, "they were right."

Joe and I at The Dunes

Sometime between Running with Joe and Cactus Rose the San Antonio road Runners held a members appreciation run along the Guadalupe River in the Hill Country north of San Antonio. I am a member of SARR also. I have many friends in this group and enjoy volunteering as well as some of their races. Daniel and I drove up early in the morning to run this cool 10 miler along winding river road.

Daniel and I before the River road run

Fast forward to November and the San Antonio Marathon. "Let's run the SA Rock and Roll Marathon. We'll take it easy. It will be fun!" Said My good friend Lalo.

It was hell. Like running in hell anyway. The heat and humidity were the worse I have ever run in. The SA marathon was moved up to mid November a few years ago because early November is usually hot. In SA December can be HOT! 

I did like the new route though. Running along the San Antonio river south of downtown was nice but in the heat, the lower exposed areas were not. No wind! More humidity. This was also in the later miles. I would run to get under the overhead bridges so I could walk under them and enjoy the shade. Tanya, Lalo, Daniel, and I began together and stayed together through the halfway point. After that we all spread out as the heat and high humidity took it's toll. It was my slowest finishing time ever for a road marathon, 4:20 something. I'm just happy I finished before passing out. No kidding. My head began to ache at mile 20 and ached for almost two days.
"come on, it will be fun." He said. :-)

Before the San Antonio Marathon 2013

I was registered for the Dallas Marathon in December of 2013. Dallas has always been on my list. It is always held on my birthday weekend and after promising my brother for years that I'd go up and run it, I finally registered. Andy lives just north of Dallas. He was excited and said he'd drive me to the start. Andy likes crewing for me. I am reminded that he was the one who got me off my butt and exercising. I owe him so much. The Dallas area was hit by a terrible Ice Storm two days before the Marathon. The city came to a halt and the marathon was ultimately cancelled. Oh well. I'm automatically in for 2014 though!

Another run to remember was our groups run to Support Don and Helena at their tree planting ceremony at our favorite park in remembrance of the loss of their child. It was a very somber occasion. Chuck, a chaplain in our group, led a simple yet beautiful ceremony. Our group showed our love for each other that morning.

Training runs continued with friends at Government Canyon and Hill country State Natural area near Bandera, Texas. I really enjoy training runs more than racing. Having fun with friends is always a happier occasion. No pressure no clock watching.

Sub Freezing training run at Hill Country Sate Natural Area

Plans turned to our groups manning of the Nachos aid station at the Bandera 50 and 100K races held at Hill Country State Natural area on Jan. 11, 2014. We took over the aid station last year and apparently did such a good job race director Joe Prusaitus wanted us back. It is so much fun, and work, running an aid station and our Rockhopper group turns out in great numbers to help out. Many in our group run the races which makes it more fun as we see them come by. Joe wanted to meet with us before the races just to answer any questions we may have and tell us what to expect this year. We met at our favorite watering hole. Freetails Brewery. The talk was about the trail conditions, the food that would be provided and the aid station in general. The talk turned to us relating our race stories. Then Joe said, "I just can't run like I used to. My body has slowed down." I asked Joe when this began happening. "Oh, right about when I turned 55." Thats it! I'm 55 and feeling the same way. John laughed out loud and agreed. No wonder I felt that same way in the latter part of 2013! Or was it the fact that I pushed too hard in the first part of the year? Or is it because I feel I've run all the Ultras I want to? Or is it because I now want to enjoy the scenery and smell the roses? Ah heck I don't want to try to figure it out. I'll go with the turning 55 theory.

Our work at Nachos went well again this year. Here is a link to pics of the day. 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/+DonHauk/albums/5968226146695772737

After the Bandera races our group met at our favorite watering hole to exchange races stories.

Rockhopper post Bandera party

With all the stories and laughs about persevering I thought, I need to run another ultra! I'll run the Nueces 50K. NO, I'll run the 50 miler! After two days I came back down and thought, I'll sign up for the 25K. I can take it easy, enjoy the beautiful Nueces river in the hill country, be finished way before noon, kick back and enjoy being 55. Sort of like a training run.
Oh and by the way, I didn't get into Boston. My 3:40 time at Austin qualified me but due to so many people wanting to run it in 2014 and 6000 from the 2013 field returning to complete it, there was no room for me. No big deal. It was never one I felt I had to do.

No pressure

Well it's been awhile. I haven't been feeling much like posting anything. Sort of how I felt about running after pacing Lalo at Angeles. Actually I didn't feel much like running before that. After my run out in Colorado at the beginning of summer I fell into a funk. I started to question all this running and what I want to do. What next? I have run in many different places and have met many great people. Experienced runs where I felt great and others where I wish I'd stayed home. The experience with Lalo at Angeles crest was another I will always remember. And confirmed my thoughts that the best running experiences are those run with friends especially when a friend requests your presence. To be chosen to be with them when they are attempting a feat like an ultra is the most satisfying of all runs. Since that experience my running experiences have been up and down. No consistency.
I  have not been excited about running. As stated earlier, I have been wondering if running long distances is necessary. For me. In the black of my mind for a long time has been the thought of the damage I have done to my body. I know, I've said this many times before. Then I go out and run an ultra and think it was wonderful. 
I have been fortunate to not have suffered too serious an injury up to now. Not running anyway. I did break my elbow in a bicycling crash in 1994 and dislocated my ankle sliding into third base in 1996 but running its only been the standard plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, and lately my piriformis muscle seizing up on me. But what's going on or has gone on inside? I have to face it, I am growing old. I'll hit the double nickle at the end of the year. I know, there are many senior athletes older than me running ultras and doing triathlons but they are stronger than me. Or want to be stronger than me. Maybe I have not done any damage to myself but I don't know that.  My chronic eczema has really flared up this year. Is that because I'm running my immune system low? Sure I can eat better or fill up with more antioxidant foods but how much is too much of that? Or too little? Eating well has been something I've payed close attention to for many years now. Have I been eating too many healthy foods in hopes of keeping up with my sometimes grueling training regimens or not? This morning as I was rummaging around the kitchen pantry looking for a bag to carry my iPad and phones to jury duty I noticed one of my packs I used as a drop bag at an ultra a few years ago. My first thought at seeing that pack was, "it's too much trouble trying to figure out a fueling plan for an ultra."  I never did get it right. And I don't want to keep trying. I just want to run to have fun. 
So, I have made up my mind to not plan anymore ultras. Notice I said "plan." I will not say I will never again run an ultra but I will not pressure myself to have to run an ultra. And if I do ever run an ultra it will be no more than a 50 miler. OK, MAYBE a 100k. In the meantime I will enjoy training runs with my friends, share my running experiences with who ever asks and run races I have wanted to run like the Carrabbas half marathon I ran this past summer. And the Dallas Marathon I have wanted to run for years because it falls on my birthday weekend and my brother lives in the Dallas Area. Up next though is the Cactus Rose 100 mile relay. Team of four-25 miles each. Then Dallas and hopefully Boston in April of 2014 (I am registered but won't know if I'm in until Friday).  In between these I'll throw in some shorter races and have fun volunteering at the Bandera 100k in January 2014.
Now I'm excited about running again!