For most of us COVID scratched the 2020 race season. There were a few early races that went off, as well as a handful later in the year in states that opened up or never closed (Way to go Bear 100!). But many of us haven’t raced since 2019 and are itching to get somethingContinue reading “2021 Race Picture”
Author Archives: Chris Smith
Urban Treasures
On a trip to visit family I found myself with an hour to kill in downtown Baltimore. Wanting to stretch my legs I consulted the map and saw a big square of green labeled Patterson Park. I was born in Baltimore and spent much of my life in the area but had never heard ofContinue reading “Urban Treasures”
The Hard Way
Modernity has created comfortable pitfalls that prevent most of us from reaching our potential. Most of us train in the expensive, complex, and easy way. Only a minority really trains the simple, hard way. What do I mean? I mean in every discipline only a small proportion of amateur athletes, usually the highest performers, trainContinue reading “The Hard Way”
Old shoes never die, they just fade away
Recently a friend new to running asked how often I replace my shoes. She had heard that they should be replaced every 250 miles and was surprised when I told her that some of my shoes last over 700 miles even though I do lots of running on rough rocky trails. Throw out any “replaceContinue reading “Old shoes never die, they just fade away”
Time for Real School
As a follow-up to my recent COVID post, this weekend I came across a survey database of infection rates at schools in the US. It strongly suggests that schools are not impacting the spread of COVID and that in-person schools are not an elevated risk for teachers. These data were collected by a company calledContinue reading “Time for Real School”
Its Time
Like everything else these days, reopening schools has become just another issue for political cultists to fight about. The lack of nuanced leadership based on an objective view of what we know and what we don’t is, and I say this with extreme understatement, disappointing. My family is re-engaging with most of the pre-COVID activitiesContinue reading “Its Time”
Patience
For something that is supposedly good for us, running can do a lot of damage. Our injuries rarely announce themselves with the “pop” of a tendon rupturing or the sight of a bone sticking out of the skin. Instead, running injuries are sneaky bastards. One day we are fine, the next a little stiff. ThenContinue reading “Patience”
In Praise of the Humble Pop-Up Camper
After six years of faithful service, we sold our old pop up camper last month. Pop-ups occupy the extreme modest end of the RV spectrum. Think of it as an awesome big mobile tent rather than an apartment on wheels and you will have an accurate picture. But for a family on a budget, aContinue reading “In Praise of the Humble Pop-Up Camper”
Pedernales Falls
The Pedernales (pronounced “Per-din-al-is” to you foreigners) river drains much of the hill country west of Austin. Arising in Kimble County, the Pedernales flows through Fredericksburg, the LBJ Ranch, Johnson City, and ultimately meets the Colorado River in Lake Travis. About an hour west of Austin, the river drops over Pedernales Falls. Over 4,000 acresContinue reading “Pedernales Falls”
Enchanted Rock
A playground in the Hill Country and a jewel of a park.
Vamonos Baby! 