![]() | TEQUILA SUNRISE:December 2001 Fat AssBy John Dodds |
It was just another tequila sunrise, and I was running down the road tryin' to loosen my load. Spying a log, I soon had a peaceful easy feelin', and from then on I was just tryin' to take it easy. It's amazing how whatever you need to say can come from the lyrics of old rock 'n' roll songs. What is a Fat Ass? The official definition seems to be a run characterized by the following slogan: "No Fees, No Awards, No Aid, No Wimps." Now we have to ask whether the Nui Loa Okole 50K was truly a Fat Ass? I think not. First, there was plenty of aid. Second, there was a wimp. One person fell and broke his arm and decided to let the rescue trucks take him to the local hospital for treatment rather than continue on with the run. I mean it's not like he broke a leg.
The Run. Trail conditions were great, weather nice and cool (but we could still wear shorts and short-sleeve shirts even in December), and great company. A picture perfect day all around. Almost hard to imagine a better day. It was a super run for me because I caught up to Amy along the river just before the last climb up to Hemlock. She was walking with Seth and asked me if this was the right way. Rather than send them both farther upriver, I told her to follow me. So, we finished together, the thought of which I'm sure (and hope) will haunt her for a long time to come.
Post Run. This is the time for runners to get better acquainted with each other. Sometimes, people carry this too far. For example, Amy was telling me and Gary about a fall she had taken on Dickey Ridge and ended up in the Front Royal hospital. I asked her if she would show Gary the place where she had stitches on her elbow, and she pulled up her sleeve. I asked her if Gary could see the spot on her hip, and she pulled her pants down to show us. I said Gary couldn't see the spot all that well, and I reached over to pull them down just a tad more. Can you believe that Gary? I don't think he was really interested in her injuries because when I asked him if he wanted me to show him the scar on my knee where I fell down in the 9th grade, he said no. And as if that weren't enough. A group of us were talking, and Gary got ready to leave. He looked at Kerry, and said, "Good-bye, Mary." She was a bit perturbed after he left. I told her that Gary can run with someone for 4 hours and ask his/her name 35 times, and he'd still forget it. "At least it rhymed," she muttered. Now, do we really think that he can remember the names of 45 wildflowers? I think I've answered that question before. In case you're wondering if there's Something About Mary, I mean Kerry, there is: she's a geeky patent attorney who apparently runs a shelter for homeless runners. My guess is that she runs ultras to add some normalcy to her life. Some of you may be thinking that I will print anything people say. Not so. I do have standards, low as they may seem. For example, I was hiding, I mean I was standing behind someone when I heard Jim Moore and Gary exchange words and then both laugh uproariously. They sure were surprised when I stepped out. But you won't read here about what they said or hear me talk about it. That's because they've both agreed to supply me with post-run Yoo-Hoos for the next year. Final note. A lot of people are already talking about BRR50/MMT100 and planning their training runs. On behalf of the VHTRC, which did not sponsor the Nui Loa Okole and which I'm not authorized to represent, I would like to say good luck and HAPPY TRAILS! Virginia Happy Trails Running Club |