Maybe you're a jackrabbit runner, Walter? Also, you had me at creosote bush! my Hopi friend, also named Walter (not by his parents' choice, but his "Christian name" given at Indian School), was a member of the Greasewood clan, which I never realized was creosote bush until many years after he'd passed. He whittled for me my own greasewood digging stick, which, on the days I'm homesick for the desert, I hold to my nose.
I love getting to see through your eyes in these essays.
I used to bring home bags of creosote bush leaves and twigs so I could sniff them now and then and be reminded of the desert. I brought them for friends too. Thanks for your encouragement too.
As a long time runner, only a comparatively ittle younger than you, I really appreciate this essay.
I was a compulsive runner..I just had to get my miles in every day. When I was at a conference in Orlando, I would rise early in the morning to get my five miles in. I can't believe how unpleasant it was to run in that muggy heat. I admire you for even trying!
I was a distance runner who delighted in the marathons and ultramarsthons, my usual pace was about a 9 minute mile. As the guy said, if they threw me out of a plane, I'd fall at a 9 minute mile! My motto was Start Slow and Then Taper Off! I developed many injuries that dropped me below the distance stuff, but I could still do halfs and 5ks and fartleks although my dash speed was more like an 8 minute mile! Previously a last place finisher, I now started finishing in the top three simply because I had outlived the competition!
Covid ended all running as I was left with breathlessness that lasted almost three years and severe arthritis in my left foot kinda made running too painful past a few blocks!
Now I have a closet with two dozen running shoes, several boxes of camelbaks and hydration systems, and handheld water bottles. I still have my posters if Scott Jurek and Ann Trason and more good memories than you can shake a trekking pole at.
All if which your writing brought back. Thank you, Walter.
I admire real runners. It just wasn't me. I had a high school classmate who could run, mostly to outrun the bullies that picked on him. It seemed like a good reason to be fast.
You are amazing and inspiring, running so fast at age 80. Congratulations! It shows the grit I associate with you. You are like the cartoon roadrunner, impossible to catch. Beep, beep.
It was a treat to witness your 80th Birthday dash and now to learn about your discipline and diversionary tactics that help you run across the hot and beautiful vistas of Borrego.
Thanks for sharing! How did you like visiting the Veromessor versus your Pogonomyrmex harvesters in Florida? What sorts of things do they do in common?
Maybe you're a jackrabbit runner, Walter? Also, you had me at creosote bush! my Hopi friend, also named Walter (not by his parents' choice, but his "Christian name" given at Indian School), was a member of the Greasewood clan, which I never realized was creosote bush until many years after he'd passed. He whittled for me my own greasewood digging stick, which, on the days I'm homesick for the desert, I hold to my nose.
I love getting to see through your eyes in these essays.
I used to bring home bags of creosote bush leaves and twigs so I could sniff them now and then and be reminded of the desert. I brought them for friends too. Thanks for your encouragement too.
As a long time runner, only a comparatively ittle younger than you, I really appreciate this essay.
I was a compulsive runner..I just had to get my miles in every day. When I was at a conference in Orlando, I would rise early in the morning to get my five miles in. I can't believe how unpleasant it was to run in that muggy heat. I admire you for even trying!
I was a distance runner who delighted in the marathons and ultramarsthons, my usual pace was about a 9 minute mile. As the guy said, if they threw me out of a plane, I'd fall at a 9 minute mile! My motto was Start Slow and Then Taper Off! I developed many injuries that dropped me below the distance stuff, but I could still do halfs and 5ks and fartleks although my dash speed was more like an 8 minute mile! Previously a last place finisher, I now started finishing in the top three simply because I had outlived the competition!
Covid ended all running as I was left with breathlessness that lasted almost three years and severe arthritis in my left foot kinda made running too painful past a few blocks!
Now I have a closet with two dozen running shoes, several boxes of camelbaks and hydration systems, and handheld water bottles. I still have my posters if Scott Jurek and Ann Trason and more good memories than you can shake a trekking pole at.
All if which your writing brought back. Thank you, Walter.
I admire real runners. It just wasn't me. I had a high school classmate who could run, mostly to outrun the bullies that picked on him. It seemed like a good reason to be fast.
You're a real runner as far as I'm concerned! And your class mate- that's as good a reason as any to be fast!
You are amazing and inspiring, running so fast at age 80. Congratulations! It shows the grit I associate with you. You are like the cartoon roadrunner, impossible to catch. Beep, beep.
Indeed! Beep beep!
Once again, thank you for sharing all of these interesting personal stories.
You are most welcome!
It was a treat to witness your 80th Birthday dash and now to learn about your discipline and diversionary tactics that help you run across the hot and beautiful vistas of Borrego.
Run, Walter, run!!
It gets harder year by year.
Thanks for sharing! How did you like visiting the Veromessor versus your Pogonomyrmex harvesters in Florida? What sorts of things do they do in common?
Well, they both harvest seeds and make conspicuous nests, but Veromessor are far more common than Florida harvester ants.