QotD - August 24-28

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 25th
"I have to run just to stay in place."
-George Sheehan

August 26th
Anniversary Poem, from a OH Man to his PA Woman

Collards is green, my dog's name is Blue and I'm so lucky to have a sweet thang like you.
Yore hair is like cornsilk a-flapping in the breeze. Softer than Blue's and without all them fleas.
You move like the bass, which excite me in May. You ain't got no scales but I luv you anyway.
Yo're as satisfy'n as okry jist a-fry'n in the pan. Yo're as fragrant as "snuff" right out of the can.
You have some'a yore teeth, for which I am proud; I hold my head high when we're in a crowd.
On special occasions, when you shave under yore arms, well, I'm in hawg heaven, and awed by yore charms.
Still them fellers at work, they all want to know, what I did to deserve such a purdy, young doe.
Like a good roll of duct tape yo're there fer yore man, to patch up life's troubles and fix what you can.
Yo're as cute as a junebug a-buzzin' overhead. You ain't mean like those far ants I found in my bed.
Cut from the best cloth like a plaid flannel shirt, you spark up my life more than a fresh load of dirt.
When you hold me real tight like a padded gunrack, my life is complete; Ain't nuttin' I lack.
Yore complexion, it's perfection, like the best vinyl sidin', despite all the years, yore age, it keeps hidin'.
Me 'n' you's like a Moon Pie with a RC cold drank, we go together like a skunk goes with stank.
Some men, they buy chocolate for Valentine's Day; They git it at Wal-Mart, it's romantic that way.
Some men git roses on that special day from the cooler at Kroger. "That's impressive," I say.
Some men buy fine diamonds from a flea market booth. "Diamonds are forever," they explain, suave and couth.
But for this man, honey, these won't do. Cause yor'e too special, you sweet thang you.
I got you a gift, without taste nor odor, more useful than diamonds...
IT'S A NEW TROLL'N MOTOR

August 27th
Frustration is the first step towards improvement. I have no incentive to improve if I'm content with what I can do and if I'm completely satisfied with my pace, distance, and form as a runner. It's only when I face frustration and use it to fuel my dedication that I feel myself moving forwards.
-John "The Penguin" Bingham

August 28th
"When was the last time you did something for the first time?"
- Kobi Yamada from "Ever Wonder"

Are you signed up for YUT-C yet?

QotD - August 17-21

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 17th
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off of your face.
-Gatorade ad

August 18th
"It's elevating and humbling at the same time. Running along a beach at sunrise with no other footprints in the sand, you realize the vastness of creation, your own insignificant space in the plan, how tiny you really are, your own creatureliness and how much you owe to the supreme body, the God that brought all this beauty and harmony into being."
-Sister Marion Irvine, 2:51 PR and 1984 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier

August 20th
"The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized - never knowing."
-Jim Rohn

August 21st
A morning spent in the woods with friends is time well vested.
-Ben Franklin ( not really from Mr. Franklin, but I like to think that he would agree)

National Trail Runnning Day - August 22

What Is National Trail Running Day?

National Trail Running Day is taking place on Saturday, August 22nd and is a day to promote, celebrate, and experience the sport of trail running. Trail running is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States with runners taking to the trails of varying difficulties and distances to connect with nature and the environment, while also building strength and more technical running skills.

What should you do on National Trail Running Day? National Trail Running Day is a day for runners to come together and celebrate the sport of Trail Running. Everyone should participate and anyone can plan an official event for National Trail Running Day. Some of the events planned are trail races, group trail runs, or trail clean-ups.

MMD 50K

Last weekend, NEO Trail members Bob Combs and John Dewalt took part in the MMD 50K in New Hampshire. Many argue that the event is the most difficult 50K trail race in the country!

The course traverses New Hampshire's White Mountains taking runners over the Northern Presi’s before running over the Cats and Carters. The Presidential Range, pictured below (click to enlarge), is a series of peaks named after prominent figures and Presidents of the 18th and 19th centuries. Completing all the 4,000+ peaks from one edge to the other has become known as the Presidential Traverse.


About 15 runners finished the trail race, including Bob in just over 16 hours and John in 24.5 hours. For a detailed report of the day, click here for Steve Pero's report.

QotD - August 10-14

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 10th
There is no "Y" in running. Believe in the run.
-Nike ad

August 12th
When I'm 3/4 of the way through a tough ultra, wondering why I'm out here doing something (again) that at the moment really doesn't seem like any fun at all, I invariably end up answering the question gnawing manically at my brain by responding, "This is what I do.

This is who I am. That's why.

When running 30 miles+ isn't just something you do occasionally, but becomes part of your own self-image, then you can call yourself a REAL ultrarunner. And you won't need to tell anyone else and you won't care what anyone else thinks.

You really wouldn't want to know what they think about it anyway!
-Mark Swanson

August 13th
My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny.
-Elaine Maxwell

August 14th
It's not over for me though. I will be back. I will test my soul again. I will push my limits. I thank God everyday that I am still here to do that. I can't tell people how to live, how to train, what to take for nutrition, or what they should and should not do. I can tell you this. Don't wait until tomorrow to make the decision to do that something you have always thought about doing. Don't put it off any longer. Tomorrow your life my change drastically. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would be the one with a heart problem. But to be honest, I'm glad I do. Now I can really test myself and find out what I'm made of. What I am trying to tell you is this... If you are thinking about doing something tomorrow, do it today instead.
-David Goggins, while recovering from surgery after Doctors found a hole in his heart

Qotd - August 3 - 7

To be added to the QotD list, contact Jim Harris at james.a.harris@delphi.com.

August 3rd
The most sublime act is to set another before you.
–William Blake

August 4th
Good athletes train when they want to, great athletes train when they don't.

2009 Burning River 100

Starting Saturday morning bright and early at 5 AM, ultra runners took part in the 3rd annual Burning River 100 Mile Endurance Run. The event lasted into the night and ended at 11 AM Sunday morning. Runners were forced to deal with rain most the night and some muddy trails.

Mark Godale won the event this year with a time of 16:16. On the women's side, Connie Gardner won with a time of 19:21. An amazing total of fourteen NEO Trail members ran in the endurance race today. Members that participated include TJ Hawk, Nick Billock, Greg Murray, Kurt Osadchuck, Ron Ross, Brandon Russell, Courtney Baker, Brian Musick, Dave Peterman, Bill Wagner, Frank Dwyer, Mike Halkovich, Kim Love-Ottobre and Paul Lefelhocz.

Race Reports - Nick Billock, Greg Murray, Jeff Musick (pacer)

Nick Billock's Pictures in Video - BR Videos - Greg Murray

Official results will be posted on Burning River's website. Below is a video recap of the race.