Potpourri for $1000, Alex

This is going to be a hodgepodge post.  Lots of thoughts swirling around in the mind of Scout to get out.  Things past, present and future, but in no way Christmas Carol-y.

Scout and Squirrel ran at Pineland almost two weeks ago, our obligatory-during-deer-hunting-season run.  Long ago, the TMR Saturday group runs switched to Pineland from Bradbury during November.  I always badmouth Pineland, say how much I hate it.  That's really not the whole story.  And after reading Squirrels blog about our run and her memories of the Land of Pines, I have to confess to maybe having positive feelings for Pineland after all.  

I ran my first ultra at Pineland.  It was the Pineland Festival's first year also, 2006.  It wouldn't have a 50 mile option for the first two years. 50k seemed so crazy back then.  I didn't know anything about training for it and just used the same plan I had for a marathon. I wish I had been blogging then.  I didn't save my running logs (just threw out years worth when I was cleaning out the back room this past winter).  I think I did well despite having IT band issues. I think the 2nd year I earned the 3rd woman award.  Then, when Pineland opted to add the 50 miler, I decided I would too.  I guess I cut my teeth at Pineland.  Scout and Squirrel had become a duo by my 4th and last 50 miler there.  After Mindy did her 40 for 40, we moved on to grown up 50 milers.  

So when Mindy asked me where I wanted to run this Friday, I guess it shouldn't be that big of a surprise that I said Pineland.  Well, the fact my feet were really angry at me for a 22.6 mile run on rooty, rocky terrain two days before, also led me to see Pineland favorably.  The wide, smooth dirt and grass trail sounded exactly what my feet wanted.  Oh, and feet, HtFU!!! We did our normal run, ticking off the agenda items that accrue between our s&s meetings.  The only time running is on the agenda is in regards to our races.  Lots of race director meetings take place on the trail 💚

Since it's a potpourri post, I will take this opportunity to share an amazing sandal.  I don't even understand how they can, but my Chaco's Chillos have been saving my feet, especially my ultra-angry right foot.  I have had plantar fasciitis before.  It has some elements of that, but seems to be more towards the side of the foot than right in the middle at the place where the heel meets the arch.  Still, much of the same intensity and that it can lessen as you warm up.  After the long run, that my training really didn't support, they were as angry as they have ever been.  I could barely put any weight on it to hobble to the bathroom.  That's when I started wearing the Chillos around the house.  It was almost immediate relief.  After a few hours of wearing them, I could walk without them just fine.  I won't lie that I felt no pain running at Pineland, but we did 7 very comfortable miles.  I immediately switched to the Chillos and was back to pain free.  I'm very lucky I ran into Emily Rose after, or maybe before, one of her virtual dirt series races.  She had a cool rainbow pair that were cute and comfortable looking enough to make me follow through on buying a pair.  I wish they made running shoes, or, at least, inserts.

Cracked

While I'm promoting products, I dropped my phone (practically threw it on a rock) during my long run.  I was so bummed cause the screen had shattered.  I had just gotten the phone a month or two ago (who really knows since time no longer makes sense?).  When I was finally home, warm, and beer in hand, I remembered I had a screen protector.  I peeled it off to discover that it had done its job.  The screen was intact!!!  

Now, I also have a rant about scientific theory versus theory in the vernacular, but I'll save that for a post just dedicated to it.  I can't say any more or I won't be able to stop.  

Saturday was a short run from the house.  Sunday was OSGR, of course.  Just 3 folks braved the sloppy conditions, but it was a great little run.  Feet were wet and cold pretty much instantly.  

Monday!  Somehow the day frittered away.  I was just getting ready to get my running gear on around 3pm.  Xar texted.  Had I run?  Nope, but was getting ready.  IRS?  Fuck yeah!!!  I switched from getting ready to run to getting dinner going so Rick and I would be done earlier than usual.  IRS was set for 7pm.  Piper nearly lost her mind when she greeted Xar on the patio and then, again, when we finished our run.  

How sweet is it to have someone who will come to your house at night to run.  IRS is always special, even when we did it weekly, but the return was...very IRS-y!!  The only things that were missing were the guardian deer.  Maybe they are too busy being guarded themselves.  Hunting season is not quite over.  We tramped over the hill and into the back.  The little stream was too big to cross so we ran around the field.  I went through some ice and promptly fell.  We found ice caterpillars and talked about everything.  Yup!

That brings us to Tuesday (yesterday).  I had all kinds of errands and the day got away from me again.  Rather than having a late dinner where Rick almost has to go to bed right after, I chose to run when he went to bed.  It was hard to get dressed, but it's always so worth it.  The night was beautiful.  I saw no glowing eyes, no animal sounds, just the cold, clear night sky.  The snow wants to be hard enough to run on top, but it only is for short stretches...just when you let your guard down, you're plunging through.  At least it's not deep enough to call it post holing!  It just makes the run more of  a work out.

That brings us to today.  Will I run in the daylight...based on the rate of day frittering, not likely.

 

 

Of Course :)

When you ask Bucky, "Do you have time to do a dangerous mission with me tomorrow around 10:30 or 11?", and you get the reply you expect, "What's the mission?  I believe I have time."  💖😎

So, yesterday, Rick and I had walked out to the Ledges Trail in Riverlands to leaf blow the trail.  When Jedi and I had been out there two weeks ago, the oak leaves and acorns made for a very treacherous down.  This would make any fall runs much safer and give us a head start on the trail maintenance for the race.  

I don't know why I wore my glasses.  Leaf blowing on a steeper up section, the debris was more than I wanted to breathe in, so I pulled up my mask.  My glasses promptly fogged up so I stashed them in a pocket of my vest.  Rick and I switched on and off with the blowing and hauling duties.  At one point, he took the blower and told me to put my pack on straight.  When I'd taken off my hoodie, I hadn't secured the straps; it was sort of dangling off of one arm.

Fast forward to our trudging back the ATV trail.  I felt for my glasses in the pack.  Shit.  Shit.  Shit!  We were probably a mile and a half from where they were.  As it was we were going to be racing the dark, no time to search for them.  They are expensive progressives and I don't have a spare.  I told Rick I'd go back the next day to look.

 I don't really ever run where there's deer hunting during rifle season.  I decided if I went around 11, the early morning hunters would be leaving and the afternoon hunters wouldn't have started yet.  It made me feel better.  Still, I wanted some company.  Two people wearing orange and talking are much less likely to me mistaken for a deer.  Of course I thought of Bucky.  I don't know if he knew what the weather was supposed to be.  I didn't realize the night's rain was going to continue most of Monday.  Or that it was going to be hard rain.

As the rain pounded on the roof while I was trying to figure out what I was going to wear, I heard the rumble of thunder.  I feel like I could have sounded like Boromir when they were in Moria, "They have a cave troll."  And we have lightning.  Now, there are more pleasant runs than 35 degrees and heavy rain, but that adds to the adventure.  Lightning?  I could do without, but I didn't even think once that Bucky would back out.

I pulled into the empty Riverlands parking lot (I always think Start/Finish area) followed right behind by Bucky's truck.  I dug into my bag looking for the orange rain jacket I had decided on.  Throw every thing out of the bag, no jacket.  That left me with a short sleeved shirt.  At least it was a crazy pink (probably as good as hunter's orange).  The thermometer said 35.  The rain said it would feel colder.  I decided I would wear my hoodie till I warmed up or it got to soggy, which ever came first.

I got out to tell Bucky about not having a jacket.  He just had a light windbreaker, also not orange. And he was wearing shorts and didn't bring gloves.  Oh, yeah, experienced runners, but not showing it. 😂 At least, the no other cars in the parking backed up our theory there were no hunters out in this weather.

The rain stayed at medium to hard throughout.  And we did have the rumbles of thunder, but it didn't feel close.  At least we weren't exposed up above timberline.  As we ran along, I was compelled (compulsed?) to work on draining the large puddles.  Bucky joined in.  It really is fun and rewarding when you successfully get the puddle to drain.  Trail running is for big kids!

About a mile before Middle Earth, we started to pay attention, looking for my glasses, which, of course, are a very pale, sage green, but I was pretty sure it was on the Ledges where I'd let the pack dangle off me.  When we reached the stairs,  I started up first because Bucky needed to pee.  As I was scouring the ground, I decided on the way down, we should each take a side to focus on.  I turned back to tell Bucky.  He was going slowly looking intently for my glasses.  It made me smile.  

Finally we were on the last up, the steep stairs to Ridge.  Almost to the top, I shrieked in delight!  My glasses!!!  I was glad that Bucky was then in the lead on the way down so he was able to enjoy a quicker pace.  It was good we were able to pick up the pace.  The walking while searching allowed us to get cold.  I was surprised by how cold my wrists could be.  

I told Bucky about a Norwegian saying that goes something like, "There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing."  And we had bad clothing, for the weather any way.  Oh well, we were having fun, still playing in the puddles on the way back.  

At some point, I did say my toes were finally cold.  Bucky, rightly, told me to harden the fuck up.  Yep.  Although, there is a difference between complaining and stating a fact ;)  I also had to stop to empty my shoe.  All the puddle maintenance had allowed a lot of shit to get in there.  

Bucky commented that he did wish he'd have been the one to find the glasses to feel like he was needed.  I assured him he was.  I would have braved the weather, but probably not hunting season by myself, so, in essence, he's the reason I have my glasses back!

In the parking lot, my Coros said 6.9 miles.  Bucky said as much as he enjoyed my company he was getting into his truck and changing into dry clothes.  I was not offended.  In fact, I needed to do the same, well, in my car.  Unfortunately, the hoodie I was going to put on after was soaked.  That's ok, the dry shirt and pants with the heater on high warmed me up mostly.  Although, somehow that chill set in about 15 minutes from home.  I think it was my profoundly wet hair.  I went immediately into a hot shower.  That did the trick.

Great run.  Thank you, Bucky!!!

Puddle work

The beginning of Ledges

Eureka!

And it continues...

I'm totally amazed that the Republican leadership values our democracy so little.  So they can say that Trump has every right to pursue all legal avenues, but they need to call him out on his inflammatory rhetoric.  Are they that afraid of him?  Do they value party over country?  Trump was sewing seeds of doubt in the election since 2016.  If he's not elected, it's only because of fraud.  Without evidence, he has been planting scenarios in the brains of his followers, who ironically think wearing a mask in public makes you a sheep.  This really is the stuff of 1984.  If a leader in another democracy was acting like Trump, the US would be calling him out.  We would see it as a power grab towards autocracy.

When people are caught up in the schemes of snake oils salesmen, it's sad.  They may be risking their health and money, but at least it just affects them personally.  When the snake oil salesman is the president of the United States, that's a different matter; their choices affect us all.  We need the electorate to be educated.  I'm not saying that everyone needs to go to college, but that we need to value education and learning.  People should have a basic understand civics and of science, with a real handle on some basic mathematical principals.  We should not be so easy to hoodwink.

And while Trump whines, stomps his feet, and sends out another toxic tweet, the pandemic rages.  Pay no attention to the man behind the tweet storm.  At least the wizard was just a phony, not a truly bad person.

To have some normalcy, I keep running.  Well, I keep running because that's what I do.  A week ago, Bucky and I did a tiny Thorncrag run squeezed between appointments and obligations.  I topped that with solo miles at Brad before an afternoon walk with Squirrel.  Wednesday was a night run from Scoutland.  Why was Thursday a day off?  I can't remember.  Friday I shared a 10k at Brad with John K.  Saturday, I did household chores, no run.  Sunday, OSGR went to Riverlands for an out and back of the last half of the race course.  For November, it was a pretty perfect running day.  My hip/butt complained for the last 3 miles and continued to grump for most of the day.  I was surprised to wake up painfree on Monday.  I ran another night run from Scoutland without any grouchy parts.  I don't understand me.  Tuesday, another night run with a truly beautiful sliver of a moon.  Today, it was back to Thorncrag with Xar.  We played a lot on our 6.62 miles.  Just what the doctor ordered :)

At Brad with John K

Dead mouse on the trail - Riverlands

Getting dark

Spectacular moon

COVID statue

Milkweed Thorncrag field

Apple tree parkour

What a long strange week it's been

And unfortunately it continues.  Obviously, none of the previous Trump supporters recognized his threat to democracy.  And now the Republican party and leadership is feeding into it by not acknowledging Biden's win and our peaceful transition of power.  

Remember the Simon and Garfunkel line I quoted before, "A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest..."?  Well, now it's even worse.  Don't like that Fox News stopped showing a Trump speech when he was saying baseless, inflammatory rhetoric?  Just switch to a "news" source that will only tell you what you want to hear, maybe Newmax.  After that, maybe you'll need Britebart or Alex Jones.  Soon you'll be ready for QAnon.  We're fucked.  FaceBook putting labels of false on some of what you want to believe or maybe not letting you yell fire in a crowded building (metaphor, folks), move over to Parler, say whatever shit you want.

I want to rejoice in the spontaneous celebrations that broke out with Biden's win announcement.  So much joy and relief.  Then his speech talking about healing our country, both from the pandemic and the division.  It was beautiful and hopeful.  Did anyone who didn't vote for him listen?  Sigh.

Jedi at Riverlands

My running was welcome relief as always, but made harder by some nagging pains, wearing masks on public trails, and hunting season.  Ok, let's look at the good.  One run was a birthday celebration for two good friends.  A Riverlands run with Jedi.  A short run with Bob P at Thorncrag hashing out goat shed plans.  Several were night runs because of hunting.  I really do love the night.  That slight little fear that's there, but you're out there anyway.  The glowing eyes.  A porcupine, a raccoon, mama and young deer, and even a shooting star.  Sigh (a good one).

Always happy to see jeweled eyes

Happy 38th!

Happy 50th!

Raccoon!

Raccoon in Tree

Mama and Baby

Les Jeux Sont Faits

It's a hard day.  I have so much hope and so much fear.  I truly believe that Biden will win.  And with that hope comes the fear that Trump will whip up so much unrest that we see mobs and militias of the crazies take to the street with his blessing.  Shit.  I never thought that would ever be a possibility for us.  Please let me have to laugh at that thought.

In an hour I'll be making calls to get out the vote.  It's probably a futile task.  People don't answer the phone.  But, it's something I can do in these last few hours.  

I'm saving my run for the dark so I can run without hunters.  And it will be a good way to wash away some of the day.  We're going to do take out from DaVinci's for good comfort food for supper.  Better pick up some beer on the way home, too.

A Plea to Folks Who Voted for Trump in 2016

 

 I wrote the following four years ago, just after the 2016 election:

I don't usually feel a need to write. I do feel a need to run. While I run, I can think better than any other time. My ideas come together and my words are focused. I hope I can get down the thoughts from today's run. It is important for me to try to explain the state of me and many close to me after the events of 11/9.

My Sam texted me on election day morning, “I wonder if today feels like 1934 Germany at all.” I told Rick, who replied, without hesitation, “Not at all since Trump isn't going to win.” The next day, when I woke up knowing that Trump had indeed won, I felt very much the same as I did after the horrific tragedy of 9/11.

I know that offends some people. I know thousands died. I cried along with the country. The United States of America had been attacked on its own soil by terrorists. Our nation mourned together and rallied together. But my reaction is not merely about the loss by my candidate. I've voted for the loser plenty of other times and would never say it was a tragedy or evoked a visceral reaction.

I see this as the potential for the loss of our democracy. And it won't be at the hand of a foreign invader or terrorists, but handed over by its own people, good, patriotic people (and this is not said in a sarcastic tone at all; I have friends I love, and know to be good people, who voted for Trump) along with the “deplorables”, the KKK and other hate groups. Trump has many of the characteristics of the other authoritarians that rose to power by pandering to fears, real and imagined. He is a narcissistic, bully that cannot tolerate criticism.

I have to hope that the US government's checks and balances are strong enough to prevent it, that the members of Congress, including the Republicans, have enough (balls)* strength and integrity to protect our way of life. That the rights of everyone will be protected. Putin likes Trump and cheered on his election. This should give a clue that Trump is not good for the democratic way of life. Putin would love nothing more than to see our country in ruins, for the west to fall. There is nothing worse than I can imagine. The violence and intolerance that would have to go along with the fall, beyond my comprehension.

If the worst does not occur, I still foresee a period of unrest and injustice. I cannot respect a man that respects no one else, one that disrespects many. We hear all the time that we have become too concerned with political correctness. I have said it. We can’t use the term Freshmen; it’s First Years. Really?! It is the huMAN race. OK, well, so what? If we have to be careful, that’s not so hard. It’s easy to think everyone else is being overly sensitive when you have never been in their shoes. Someone I respect shared a link that explains why microaggressions become so intolerable. Being understanding, being respectful, being kind to others is a good thing. Civility.

But this isn’t just about microaggressions or political correctness. I fear people of color are going to be fair game to racists. LGBT people will be fair game to haters. Wow, this is the lesser of the evils I fear. Scary.

I so so hope to be proven wrong. I love my country and our democracy. I believe in the rights of all people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It may be the only time I will enjoy being wrong.

*I will no longer use the term “balls” to represent having strength, courage, guts, or bravery. Words matter. I will not link male genitalia to strength. And pussy means the opposite. Really? Really?? Some of the strongest, bravest people I know are women. Balls have absolutely nothing to do with it. Have pussy, hear me roar.

This isn't going to be an I-told-you-so post. This is going to be a plea to anyone who might have been one of the good people who voted for Trump, hoping to drain the swamp, try a business man as a president, or just sticking with your party. Please, don't feel bad about your vote or try to justify it. It is done. Please suspend any of the very human tendency to try to rationalize. Like the Simon and Garfunkel lyric says, normally “a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”. That isn't what we need now. Look around. Look hard. Listen. Really, really listen.

Do you think Trump is an honorable man with the country's interests at heart? Do you think Trump has any qualms about lying to the public or anyone? Do you think Trump should undermine the credibility of our top infectious disease specialists during a time of a pandemic? Do you think Trump respects anyone? Do you think the president of the United States should have any hesitation denouncing a conspiracy-theory terrorist group? Do you think Trump is really a Christian?

Have you heard Trump apologize for anything? Have you ever heard Trump take responsibility for anything that he didn't deem the greatest or biggest? Have you heard Trump express any regrets for anything he has done? Ever? Has he ever behaved in a way that would make you hold him up as a shining example for your child to emulate?

If you always vote Republican, do you think Trump represents real Republican values? Do you think he has a deep understanding of the Republican party? If you are deeply religious, do you think Trump exemplifies any of your religious values and virtues? The three-time married, pussy-grabbing, liar, cheater, and bully does not exhibit anything I can recognize except, maybe, an example of most of the deadly sins.

Please, if you cannot vote for Biden, leave it blank or write someone in.