Too Many Questions???

October finally is here, which means it’s time for me to get serious about training for the 2008 Coastal Challenge –  and to start debating whether to dress up as Tinkerbell, Pikachu or a Keebler elf for Halloween.

I swear, it’s getting harder for me to take this running thing seriously. I mean, what’s wrong with us wack-job ultra-runners? Recently, in the span of a few days, two of my trail-running pals insisted on continuing to get all medieval on the trails, when lesser mortals would have caved, called it a life, and decided to write about running or something comparably inane.

Runners in the inaugural Noble Canyon 50k in San Diego County (Sept. 29) who were unlucky enough to be huffing it behind Coach Charlie ended up having to part his Red Sea, as a water-deficient Chaz battled a bruised bladder and blessed the dirt with his crimson tide. Did Coach Charlie DNF? Hell no. Why not? Because he’s funny that way; we use funny and stupid in the same context.

Meanwhile, up in Lake Tahoe, Jennifer Forman was on day three of a triple whammy of a run: two back-to-back marathons, followed by a 72-miler. During the 72-miler, Jenn continued to run despite feeling the ill effects of a shin stress fracture (which she had been running on for weeks). She eventually had to stop at mile 40 for a totally wimpy three-day total of 92-plus miles. Not content to simply return to Orange County and rest, Jenn blubbered to her hubby on the drive home to take her back to Tahoe so she could complete her 72 miles. Her hubby, a wise man, refused.

I love these people. They exemplify the drive and sheer degree of nuts one needs to have to run crazy mileage in the wild.

Which brings me to the 2008 Coastal Challenge (this post is starting to feel like a freaking 50-miler, sorry).

My girlfriend, Wendy Primary, has decided to accompany me to Costa Rica (yeah!), and that is just a totally rad and hot and a cool thing, ya know, but it got me thinking:

Is sex a good thing during a six-day stage race?

Is sex a good thing for runners, period?

Is sex all alone really sex? Oh, I think soOOOooooOOoo!

Callers are standing by. I need to know. I’ll tackle that subject in a future post –  I just wanted to get the proverbial juices rolling.

I need to tell you, briefly, about a decidedly unsexy “run” that should serve me well in the steamy jungles of Costa Rica.

A couple of weeks ago, I paced Robert Schipsi as he tackled the fabled AC (Angeles Crest) 100, from Wrightwood to Pasadena. I met Robert at a bar. Oh shit, wrong blog. I met Robert at 10:30 p.m. at mile 75 for the 25-mile “run” to the finish.

Well, we walked 23 of the 25 miles. It took us more than 10 hours to cover what normally would have taken about 4 1/2 hours.

Irritation can be a good thing, as long as it’s not in the form of chafing around the delicate Gen Italia region. Viva la Generation Italia! So, I got real irritated during our 25-mile walk –  not with Robert, poor guy, who was in pretty bad shape but still managed to finish the very demanding AC100 in less than 29 hours.

I got irritated with the world, although I’ve never been farther from “the OC” than Barstow.

I suspect that in Costa Rica-havoc on my legs, when things aren’t going well, I will have to learn to suck things up and just plow ahead –  sort of a fitting description for my first (and only) failed marriage; my only DNF.

Anyhow, pacing Robert reminded me that ultrarunning isn’t always about the highs, but the lows. I should recall this pithy phrase from my free-basing days, but it’s been a while since I’ve smoked cracked or snorted AJAX. (Note to self: RSVP Halloween party at dealer’s meth lab in Barstow). OK, Silverado Canyon so give me a break!

Greg

CLICK HERE FOR GREG'S COASTAL CHALLENGE DAY-BY-DAY COVERAGE

Comments

[socaltrailrunning]

Yes I think sex is good for running and running is good for sexing. It goes both ways. Just like Tila Tequila (you can thank me later for the blog hits you'll get from that comment ;)

[Wendy Primary]

Just for the record folks, that's not my behind in the picture.

And to answer Greg's questions: Yes, yes and yes, in a pinch.