“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

~Jack London

This past Saturday I arose before the warm glow of the morning sun to head out to what has recently become my favorite running grounds, Wyandotte County Lake Park. Last week it was for the Psychodelic 5K (Fire Version), this week it was for the Psycho Psummer 10 mile, 20 mile, and 50K. I was not to be a participant this time but was instead there to render service, to make a small effort to pay back a portion of the rather LARGE amount of joy I’ve received from the Trail Nerds organization over the last month.

For most of the morning and afternoon Shelter 11 (you can see my red truck parked out front) was my home, haven for weary runners looking for a quick recharge on their quest to conquer one, two, or three of the 10 mile loops. And, in my completely biased opinion, it was the most rockin’ aid station on the course.

Continue reading A Magnificent Glow →

Another week, another racing post. I can hear you groaning now gentle readers. I would apologize, but I’m ate up with running, particularly trail running, right now. If I’m not out running I’m thinking about running, reading about running, or watching videos/reading blogs for inspiration in my workouts and on my runs. Sunday, July 8th brought the latest, my second 5K in a week–and my second 5K ever!

Gotta admit that I was as worried about this one, taking place in broad daylight, as I was about last weekend’s night run. What had me worried? Oh, only the fact that the race page describes the race thus:

Beware: It’s the toughest 5K trail run in the Midwest!

Out and back course on rocky, rooty, and hilly bridle trails & single-track trails. These trails aren’t “sissy” groomed or paved trails; they’re the real thing.

and of course the slogan:

The PsychoPath of least resistance is uphill on the way back.

Having run two Trail Nerds events in the last month, both of which had hills that worked this newbie-runner over, I was expecting to get a real challenge in this one.

And boy did I ever.

Continue reading The Psychodelic 5K (Fire Edition) and some Personal Running Goals →

I don’t know about you, but this last week, the first full week of July, has been one busy and event-filled Summer week. We spent the week with temperatures near, at, or over 100 degrees leaving no doubt at all that Summer is in full swing. I am so thankful for my morning running routine as 6 a.m. is about the only time of day that it doesn’t take an active imagination to feel “cool”. I don’t generally do “week in review” posts but because of one very exciting thing, hinted at in the image above, I felt the urge to share.

Continue reading An eventful week, in review →

It is two weeks to the day since I finished my first official trail run, one of the destinations on the path of the fitness journey I have been on since the first part of the year. What first put the idea of trail running into my head was the image above, printed on a flyer at a local Gary Gribbles Running Sports while my wife was being fitted for shoes. Given my predilection for science fiction it is not all that surprising that a graphic with a spaceship, rocket, and moons on it would be the flame that lit the “I should try running” fuse. And I am so glad that it did. Not only has running been a significant contributing factor to my weight loss and improved health, I have discovered that I truly enjoy it.

Last night was the big night, my very first 5K run. And I was doing it in the dark. I’m not ashamed to admit that I had a degree of fear going into this thing. Running through the woods when you can clearly see is one thing. Running in the dark with only the aid of whatever light source you bring with you is an entirely different animal. It promised to be an adventure, a first-in-a-lifetime experience for me.

It was just that.

Continue reading Rockin’ the Night Away →