The Stubborn Tortoise

Saturday marked the first time I've done what I call "Big Boy" trail races since last November.

I was not especially trained for the hilly terrain, but gave it a shot.

It was embarrassingly slow, included a downhill tumble, and I considered quitting a couple of times. Mind you, it was "only" a 5-mile (actually, 5.4-mile) distance.

I finished, humbled but determined to keep going through challenging things instead of giving up.

I'm signing up for races all over the place. I guess that means getting out of the house and actually running.

Strangely, a memory came up on Facebook the other day. It was a photo of me and Orly (Hundo) with Normita looking on as we wrung out our socks midway through a 20-miler. I mentioned that I went out later and got in 3 more miles. (!) Those were the days when I was training for a 50-miler.

I look back on that time and realize it likely won't happen again. But, I'm grateful to have...

I arbitrarily decided to start the seventh season of the podcast because...why not?

This week, I give some pro tips to beginners, share the experience of running my first trail race all year and why I think my two listeners (/s) like what I do here.

I did my first race of the year on Saturday. Wasn't great but wasn't awful. Emboldened, I've signed up for a few more races in the upcoming months.

It's about time.

Plus, a raccoon update and watch the video below for me doing "push ups" at Camp Eagle in 2016.

**photo shot in 2017 at Mission Trails in the RGV at my going-away run. I found some race flags and decided to wear them.**

Geez, Louise, it's been a wild few days. My car began vibrating like it did last year when the front control arm/bushing (listen to me talking like I know what I'm talking about) cracked. I fear that the rear version is faulty and did not feel great about driving up to Killeen for last night's Hill Country Strong race. Putting the car in the shop on Wednesday after my summer class (Podcasting!) ends. Meanwhile, I look back at another time when another car failed me on the way to a summer race and the resulting drama about that.<...

The Kerrville flood remains a horrific piece of Texas/national history. I have signed up for a couple of races to help give back to that community. I even kicked in some extra at HEB's fancy Central Market to help. I also signed up for a race in San Antonio next month called Poker 5K. I misremembered the name of the org benefiting from this.

Also, a big shout-out to my dear friend, PJ Izaguierre, for all that he is doing for the recovery effort. He had to move the Colorado Bend race to another venue, marked...

I have been gutted all weekend by the news of the floods in Hill Country, my playground. I weep for the families of lost children and my former police-reporter sensibilities kicked in this morning when I thought of all of the funerals and small caskets.

It's a little too much.

There are a lot of factors that played into this disaster.

Most are political, unfortunately.

I can only hope this unites us to work toward our best interests instead of those that benefit the few.

If you wan to...

I feel like I'm stepping into the confessional: "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. My last podcast was two months ago."

Ha ha.

I haven't really been running. Hiking, sure. I'm beginning to wonder if this is what my future holds. I'm determined to try running again. I signed up for a half marathon in December, so I have that on my radar. Contemplating doing the 25K at Wild Hare in November because I've "just" been doing the 10K the last couple of years.

I feel compelled to do one of the...

I've been making concerted efforts to return to running and volunteering, but sometimes life gets in the way. That said, I am determined to do the inaugural half marathon in December at the San Antonio Marathon.

I also take a little time to get political, if you will.

Not sorry. I am honestly concerned about what is happening and if you never hear from me again, I've told you why. Not crazy about the idea of being thrown into a prison but I am a childless Cat Lady who is outspoken and teaches journalism. I...

Tia Banks is a former professional flag football and basketball player. Injuries caused her to switch gears. She took up hiking and in 2021, summited Mount Kilimanjaro in six days. She was sick with an unknown illness but persevered. She has translated that experience into a career as a resilience coach: helping people of all ages to reframe their negative thoughts. Her story is inspirational. To contact her or read more, go here: https://www.tiabanks.com/

It's been a frustrating six or so weeks. Weather and arthritis in my hip and lower back are creating havoc for my return to running.

In the last week, I managed to hike 2 miles until my hip yelled at me to stop. Later last week, I returned to the ol' walk-run format.

It's a start, but not what I envision. Hoping to get back at it gradually until I can knock out a half or 25K without it killing me.

Also, some tales about why you should not let your...

A dozen years ago I happened upon a book in the middle of a dirt road surrounding a cotton field. It was a Bible. In Spanish.

I still wonder why someone who had likely carried it with them across the US-Mexico border suddenly dropped it and left it behind. Were they being chased by border patrol or some law enforcement agency? I will never know for sure.

But it got me to thinking about all of the random things trail runners find discarded in the woods, like they'll magically disappear.

A longish story about why I did not volunteer on Sunday at the Bandera trail race, plus some history. Also, why I won't be running Big Bend this weekend.

But the real story involves a terrific indoor rowing event at my favorite workout spot, overcoming mental obstacles and treating it like an ultra.

Oh, and I threw in a couple of journalism references, explained, along with a nod to my Documentary Film History class and the new Bob Dylan biopic.

I was reacquainted with some old friends from the RGV and made new ones during the Snowdrop 55-hour relay last week.

It was a great experience and I made new friends and supported a great cause.

Photo: l-r: Janelle Uroff, Silvia Garza, me, Shanty Rodriguez, Vicki Allen, Norma Lozano

Hey, it's New Year's Eve, and I am looking back a little on the year.

This episode gives you a very brief peek at Snowdrop, but more importantly, a look at some creeps from this past year.

The last of which I skillfully avoided at Snowdrop.

He does not deserve my time or attention, but here I am, outlining his creepy behavior.

For 2025, I only want to meet decent men who aren't social retards or who think they're my last hope for romance.

Yo: I'm good. I'd rather be...

As I ready to embark on the Snowdrop 55-hour relay event at the end of the month, I spent some time looking back at times when I needed to muster up my own resilience to help others reach their goals. It is a well I need to rely on for the coming year.

I ran my first race in almost six months. It went well, except for the men who decided not to alert me that they were passing me, or who scared the hell out of me when they passed, or who almost ran me over on the course.

I am a 12-year veteran of trail races.

I am accustomed to the "on your left," courtesy.

Or "good job, runner!"

Yesterday, I seldom heard this, as guys nearly mowed me over because they thought they were going to win a course record.

Essentially what the headline says.

You may not like the first half because of my personal views. But, I encourage you to stick around.

I'm baaaack!

Running/strong hiking is my new thing, which demonstrates that I am improving after a long hiatus.

Happy to be back.

Deepak Shukla has been a runner since he was a teenager. The sport comes easily to him, although he has had his share of finishes and DNFs.

The 38-year-old digital marketing manager did the Chicago Marathon, his first, in 4:40.

From there, he crossed over to the dark side: ultras. Rather than completing a 50K or 50-mile race, he opted for a 100K.

From there, he tackled the hundo, with mixed results.

In December, he will attempt his first 200-mile race: the Centurion Winter Downs, a single loop around the south of...

It's something that every woman will experience, yet we're left feeling overwhelmed, demoralized and confused when this life change hits.

It is especially challenging when you're an active woman and it feels like overnight you've got a swim ring around your middle and your pants don't fit.

Mironda Meyer, a Concord, Vermont-based coach, is one of the administrators of Facebook's Menopausal Athletes page. She has a great website full of resources.

This is an episode for both women and men.

I was fortunate to interview Kenneth Anderlitch in December 2022, shortly after he spent 19 days running 840 miles across Texas to raise almost $57,000 for Pay it Forward SA. This organization provides resources for those in recovery.

On Sept. 20, Kenneth embarked on an even bigger challenge: to run from Washington, D.C. to San Antonio. He expects this 1,800-mile journey to take about six weeks. His goal is to raise money for a new program called Families in Recovery, which allows families to remain together while they heal in treatment.

You can read about his journey, watch a...

I read ⁠an article⁠ about how running clubs in New York City are overrun (ha ha) with singles looking to meet others. The problem is, the subjects said, these clubs are almost as useless as dating apps.

It got me thinking about my own experiences. First and foremost, the trail community is my tribe. I unwittingly found a group of like-minded people who are altruistic, tough and don't mind getting dirty. I have had a few instances where I've met some guys whom I thought shared a connection, especially an aid-station volunteer I met at Pedernales Falls in 2...

t helps to keep things in perspective when you're beating yourself down. And other stories.

I have been attempting to recommit to running/power hiking for about a year and a half. This time, I am getting serious. I miss spending hours on my feet on weekends. I've been committed to running/hiking a few times per week and at least once on the weekend. I think I just needed the mental break.

Courtney Lumpkin Classen weighed 334 pounds in 2012. She had gastric bypass surgery and began walking, and then began to run...she has finished multiple marathons and her first 50K in March. She has her sights set on a 50-miler.

It's been a minute. I recap my trip to Florida. Despite my absolute love for where I used to live, I realized this week I can't go back. But, it will be a nice place to visit. Running on a beach is not what I remembered and it is dang hot.

I've signed up for the Big Bend 20K in January, which will be an adventure.

Just catching up.

Photo: the view from my back-row window as we finally left Miami on July 22.

My return to running is not the stellar triumph I'd imagined, but it's there. And I don't suck as bad as before.

Stories about the impending trip to Florida, smoke detector nonsense and the death of a bat. Not proud. But, I hope y'all can forgive me.

After six or so weeks, I am back at the podcasting thing. And the running thing, too.

It's been a nice break but I'm glad to be back. I have pretty much restarted running from scratch. (Like, I'm in a 10K walk-run training group.) It's humbling but necessary. I've been dealing with some aggravations in the hip and lower back but am trying to ease myself into it.

Oh, and there is talk of my YOLO summer, which involved seeing Orville Peck with my sister and a return to Florida mid-July to reconnect with some...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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!

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.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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.