Almost famous

We've got some great trails for running and riding just south of us. I spend lots of Saturday mornings back there. This Saturday I was trying to put together a particular loop and link some trails together instead of doing an out and back. I bumped into two kind ladies who let me follow them for a bit so they could show me how make the connections I wanted to.

After we parted ways I came across three guys who were heading up the hill I was coming down. They stopped me and said, "Who are you?" Their tone wasn't hostile, it was more one of -- we know everyone who runs back here, but we don't know you. The ringleader of the three was Luis Escobar. He's got a website here. After chatting and ensusuring me I wouldn't slow them down, they let me follow them. It was pretty fun for me. Almost like being able to ride a bike with someone from the Garmin Chipotle Team. Not necessarily world famous, but definitely well known in certain circles. I got to find some more new trails, and they invited me back out. I don't know if I'll make it out much with them though. They are almost constantly training for something loooong. I like riding my bike too much to run as much as they do.

A grievous oversight

In one of the original posts on this blog I mentioned some people who ought to be posting on this blog. (I'm still trying to work the logistics out on that one and open to suggestions.) Some of those folks received the distinction of being the founding members of the Montana chapter of the Syndicate. The Ransoms originally didn't get their asterisks. They certainly earned them, and the oversight has been corrected. The college intern the Syndicate hired from Missouri responsible for that oversight has been fired, and replaced with a much more capable intern from BYU.

Represent yo!

Congrats to Ezra who threw down in the Navigator Sprint Triathlon. Reds killed it, placing second in the Clydesdale division. Way to fly the team colors east of the Mississippi!

A Do and 3 Don'ts

First the do:

When I was in Georgia I got to run in the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. Some of the best trail running I've ever done. I'm fortunate that my folks live right next to it. If you're ever there make it a point to run on those trails.

Now the don'ts:

Don't run 16 miles in a new pair of shoes that only have a 5k in them. 5k is not enough to break in a pair of shoes.

Don't think you can introduce the weight of two bottles of water and the associated hip/lumbar holder into a training program without kinks. I'd recommend running the shorter distances with empty bottles, then filling them halfway for middle distances, and then topping them off for long distances. In other words ease into the extra weight. Your joints and muscles will thank you.

102 degrees is too hot. If you didn't make it out before the heat of the day wait until the sun heads down.