The Stubborn Tortoise

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 educat...

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...

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.

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!

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.

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 spectacu...

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.

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 life...

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...

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. :)

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 b...

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 i...

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 del...

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.

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...

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...

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 judgmentall...

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...

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 ma...

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 unti...

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 t...

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 f...

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 s...

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 g...

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.