Michael: That Damned Whitlock

Many a spider
Are compassionate enough
To poison their mates.

Friday, December 30, 2016

Along with many others, I’ve been thinking about what changes I should focus on in the new year.

Actually, for quite a while I’ve been pondering how I’m going to tweak my workouts so I can become an age group phenomenon at age 60, which is a year and a half away. This coming year, 2017, is kind of a stepping stone year on my way to 2018.

And now, just as I’m dreaming of age group glory along comes news from that infamous Canadian party pooper - Ed Whitlock. The damned bastard holds the age group record for being the only person over 70 to have run a marathon in under 3 hours. And just the other day, at 85, he ran a marathon under 4 hours. I’ve never run a road marathon, but I know that even now an under 3 hour marathon would be a struggle.

I realize age defying wonders like Ed are suppose to serve as inspirations for the rest of us in the AARP nation, but I feel it’s sometimes best to block their accomplishments out of my mind and just focus on where I’m at  where I can go from here.

Michael: Socks and SHOES!

The rage of the wind
Gives way to a few moments
Of calm at sunrise.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Breaking up is hard to do. The hell with that; piece of cake compared to cutting back on running shoes.

Over the past couple of years I’ve been trying to wean myself off my running shoe addiction. I’ve gone from a consistent 6-8 pairs a year to just four last year, and this year I’m cutting back to two pair.

Two pair? That just has such an unnecessary sacrificial vibe to it; like I should be starring in some runner’s version of The Mission and I’m in the Robert DeNiro part and I have to lug all my running shoes to the top of the waterfall then empty that stuffed canvas bag that’s been strapped to my back and watch all my shoes crash into the turbulent waters below then slowly float out of sight. Dammit, I’d be crying like a baby just like DeNiro.

But two it is. Now for which two? I’ve decided to go with opposite ends of the trail running spectrum; one pair of light ninja warriors and one pair of all terrain tanks. The ninjas are the Asics Gel Fujilytes and the tanks are the Saucony Xodus.

I’m hoping the Asics will work for up to 50k trail races. For the two 50k’s I did in Costa Rica this year I used the Inov8 235s in the first and the Hoka ATR 2s in the second. The Inov8s are light and grippy but don’t have much cushioning. The Hokas are well cushioned but a bit heavy and just fair on slippery terrain.

Is the Asics the baby bear treads of trail shoes? After their break in run on the Quetzal trail (3 ½ hours) I’d say their prospects are promising. It gripped like the 235s but didn’t leave me tip toeing over a long rocky trail section and a few miles on the road at the end of the run. That’s exactly what I’m looking for.

The only slight difficulty to keep my eye on is I did feel a little looseness in the heal pulling out of mud a few times. That may be resolved by using a runner’s loop through the last shoe lace eyelet but the tongue on the Asics is pretty short and it also has no cushioning, so I’d rather not go that route if I don’t have to.

I’m hoping to tuck the Asics away and only use them for special adventures and trail races. The Xodus I really got for the rainy season when things can get pretty treacherous out there, though I’ll take them out on a break in run soon.

I still have quite an array of trail running and road shoes in my quiver and I suppose most of them will die a slow and natural death as opposed to being thrown down any nearby waterfall, and I’m not really one to cry like that pansy DeNiro character in The Mission, but I do empathize with the poor bastard.

Michael: Another Parade?

The silky black night
Covers us in a blanket
Of frosty silence.

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

A couple of Sundays ago when we were returning from a trail race in Costa Rica our bus was diverted from the main road because there was a horse parade. It seems starting in November there’s always a parade of either three types going on in Volcan; a marching band parade, a horse parade, or a funeral procession (maybe a death caused by being overly stimulated by so many parades).

One interesting observation we’ve made is that while these celebrations include a girls and women (though very few of either in the horse parades), they seem to exclude the two predominant minority groups; the indigenous and Chinese. I’ll state this with the proviso that I’m going to pay more attention to the marching parades, but the horse parades definitely lacked any ethnic diversity.

 We don’t know the culture well enough to discern why this is. I’m sure much of it stems from a long history of horses being part of the Hispanic culture. Yet, we do see many indigenous people using working horses. I’m not a horse person, so I wouldn’t know if there are distinguishable types of horses that are acceptable parade material, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. Just like if I showed up at a classic car show in my old Ford Maverick, I’d probably get the boot.

I’m guessing it’s pretty much like it is in the states. I’ll use surfing as an example. Throughout my many years of surfing at Old Man’s in San Clemente I can’t recall meeting any African American surfers. It is overwhelmingly a white culture past-time. And just like surfing, the predominance of whites surfing relative to African Americans was an economically enforced division. Whites had the time, money and inclination.

I’m guessing that’s pretty much how the parade scene works here. But I’m curious to find out more and will have to test out my Spanish to see if I can get some Indigenous people and people of Chinese descent to tell me their thoughts on why they don’t participate in these events.

Kimme: Two Grown Men and Their Moms

Michael hates to use the word “closure” but that is what it felt like to finally get Michael’s favorite pack back.  We have so many running packs that I wonder why Michael loaned his “favorite” pack to his new running friend.  But that is the way he is.  Just weeks after I first met Michael I was going on backpacking trip with some friends, before I asked, he got me a book on ultra-light fast packing and talked me into taking his lightweight tent designed by a specialty tent maker, an elephant foot sleeping bag and his favorite ultralight down sweater,  plus many other hard to replace things. He loves to share his toys.

Because he loaned out his largest capacity pack and the pack that he uses on our weekly long run, I had to watch him struggle at least once a week to cobble together different systems to be able to carry enough water for the day.  At some point during that day, when his new system did not live up to his old pack, I would be reminded that we still had not heard back from the guy that he loaned his pack to.

After a couple months, when he realized that he would not be getting the pack back anytime soon, Michael had to order a new bag from the states.  Since there isn’t a formal postal system in Panama all of our shipments go through Michael’s mom in the states.  I just had to laugh when I overheard Michael (58 years old) having to explain to his mom why he had to order yet another bag because he loaned it to a friend who he has not heard back from. It sounded like a child telling his mom that he needed a new lunch pail because he lost yet another one.

Of course, Michael decided to use this an an excuse to try out yet another new pack. Well for some reason Michael’s normally good judgment in choosing bags was a little off and he ordered a bag that just looks weird to me.  So now every week when he uses this new bag that aesthetically bothers me, I am again wondering what happened to his running friend.  As local races that they had talked about came and went we would wonder what happened to him.  Every time, we went by his farm we wondered what happened to him.   So when I finally saw him on a trail, 6 months later, I was super curious to find out what happened to him.    He looked well, he had just gotten back from a trip to the states, saw friends, got engaged, found himself a pack that he was happy with and even got the rower that he had mentioned being excited about. This was his first trail run since he got back.  He wanted us to see his new rower and he wanted to get Michael’s pack back to him because the pack was getting moldy from the humidity so he drove us to his place to pick up the pack.  In the car, on the way there, I just could not believe we were finally getting closure on something that had inadvertently left us hanging for so long.    When we were at his house, it turned out that his parents were in town and his mother came out to say hello.   I wonder when we left, if he too had to explain to his mom why her son had brought people over early in the morning to pick up a backpack:)  

Michael: Christmas Wishes

The indigenous
Gather at the local bar
Early Sunday morn.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

What goes round comes round less and less frequently as I’m getting older.

Oddly amusing though has been my almost continuous desire for a new bicycle just about every Christmas. I’m sure those early Schwinn stingrays set my mom back a great deal, and I know I wasn’t nearly as appreciative as I should’ve been given the number of times I left them unsupervised and had them stolen. Sorry ma.

And wrecking the first ten speed she got me (can’t remember if that was for Christmas or a birthday), a beautiful lime green Schwinn World Traveler within a week of getting it, along with my advancing years was, I’m sure,  the beginning of my taking over all of the financial responsibilities of  cycling.

That has led to less frequent bicycle purchases over the years; particularly as other interests (women, motorcycles, shoes…) came into play. But I’ve always managed to get a new bike about every five years.

I’m almost positive the last motorcycle I had was my last motorcycle. I got out of the saddle after 30 years of driving in one piece and was at the point where the fears of driving were interfering with my ability to drive safely. I haven’t reached that point yet with bicycling. But my next purchase cycle (pun intended) I’ll be around 65. I’m hoping that I’ll still feel confident enough in my skills to get out there and push a racing bike around, but who knows. Either way, I’m going to be highly selective about that next purchase as it could be the last time Santa leaves a ribbon around a bicycle for me.

Michael: An Unexpected Gift

The rose colored ghosts
Stretch out their old gray fingers
And reach for the moon.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

About 6 months ago I loaned out my favorite trail pack to a local runner. We’d run a few times together and as trail runners do we talked about equipment. He was in the market for a new pack and I told him how much I loved my Osprey Rev 1.5. I was going to be racing soon and using a smaller capacity pack for that purpose so if he wanted to try out the Osprey he was welcome to give it a go.

We met up shortly after the race and I told him I was going to start going on long runs again. I asked him if he was done testing out my pack and he said  he’d like to keep it a while longer. I suppose at that point I should’ve been  more direct and just stated that I wanted to start using my pack again, but I didn’t. I’m not overly keen on all that introspective psychology stuff, so I’m not going to delve into why I was so reticent and indirect. But  this reluctance has bit me in the butt before and I do need to work on this character flaw.

I waited a few months and when I didn’t hear from him, I called a couple of time and sent him several e-mails asking how he was doing. I never heard back from him. I figured maybe something happened to his parents in the states and he had to go there to help them out. I ordered a larger pack and had my mom send it to me.

Then last week Kimme and I changed our usual running schedule and did our short trail run on a Thursday instead of Wednesday. As I was returning to the bus stop, just up ahead on the dirt road was the culprit who had borrowed my pack. His parents were fine, though he been in the states on a vacation from his farm duties in Panama.

He had also gotten himself engaged, bought a Concept 2 rowing machine, tested out several packs and settled on the Ultimate Direction Peter Browning pack.

He still had my pack but somehow it had slipped his mind in all his busyness to respond to my inquiries and let me know I’d get it back. If I were a better person I’d say that my first reaction upon seeing him was relief that he was okay, but that wouldn’t be accurate; more like I was curious as to what he’d been up to. My disappointment with both him and myself wouldn’t come until I had some time to mull it all over.    

Needless to say my pack hadn’t fared very well left to it’s own devices in the Panamanian humidity. I’ve since cleaned it up the best I can and am happy to have my old Osprey Rev. 1.5 back in the trail pack rotation. Now I have three great trail running packs; two for training and one for racing. The Osprey and the slightly larger capacity Gregory Tempo 5 for training runs and the Ultra Aspire Revolt for racing.

As far as the person who left my pack to rot goes… I’m sure if I happen to run into him again, I’ll try to be cordial. I do hope he’ll mature and won’t be so discourteous to others. In all my years of trail running I feel incredibly fortunate to have met so many wonderful people out there. I’d also like to be the kind of person that’ll make it a positive experience for anyone who happens to run into me out there.

Michael: Christmas and Play

The churning river
Seems to eternally move
While standing quite still.

Monday, December 26, 2016

One of the great things I remember about being a boy was coming home from church and getting out of those goofy church clothes, putting on some jeans and a t-shirt then meeting some friends to break in whoever’s new football, preferably on a muddy field.

Getting together to play; that should never be lost, particularly on Christmas, no matter how old you are.

At nearly 60 it’s been quite a while since I held a football and being in Panama, away from family and friends, I really don’t have any one to play with outside of Kimme and I know she’s not keen on football anyway. I’m not really anymore either. I fall enough on my own now without any  deliberate assist from friends.

But I still did manage to get outside and get muddy for a few hours yesterday jogging and hiking the Quetzal trail. Now I make an effort not to fall or take anyone else to the ground with me. But if it happens, it happens. I might get a little more upset than I did when I was a kid, but there’s still a bit of a sneaky childlike joy in playing in the mud that I hope I never lose. And at least now I don’t have to worry about mom getting annoyed because she’s going to have to patch my jeans.

Michael: Why Hand it to Me?

The blackbird crackles
Like a broken down robot
From a sixties show.

Thursday, December 23, 2016

The world is a serendipitous place. And though that may be frightening every once in a great while, for the most part it affords mildly unexpected and amusing moments.

Take, for example, our experiences on the bus just last week. We walk or take the bus all the time, usually without incident or nothing worth journaling about. But last week I experienced a weird cluster of people handing me things to carry. And in our two years as passengers on the bus this was a first and a second.

The first incident occurred as we were returning to Panama from Costa Rica. When the bus assistant went to load our luggage on to the top of the bus he handed me his change belt dispenser.  That put a shine on my soul to believe that this guy thinks I’m trustworthy.

A couple of days later an old man with a satchel boarded the bus and handed it to me while he dug through his pocked for cash to pay his fare. All right; I’ll play along.

And just yesterday, though this doesn’t have to do with my being asked to hold anything of value, a bus assistant saw us with a gas canister waiting for a taxi to take us home and waived us to get on the bus. It’s suppose to be against the rules to bring gas on a bus, but he must’ve recognized us and knew that we’d be getting off just up the road so, out of kindness, quickly decided to waive the rule and help us out.

I enjoy that in so many ways life is a role of the dice and sometimes you get a cluster of fours or whatever. That’s probably why I don’t gamble. Why play to pay when you’re always playing anyway?

Michael: Odds and Ends

The far away dogs
Answer the roar of the wind
With confused silence.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Two little quirky notes to end our short foray into Costa Rica on:

One, there bus/rest stops, at least along Highway 2, are great. I wish they had ones just like them in the states. Not only do they include the usual snack shop, but it’s also typical that they have a pretty decent produce market and a clean cafeteria with a wide variety of entrés and sides for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Much preferred over the fast food stops that dot U.S. freeways. Kimme wants me to punch this up by saying they REALLY have a wide variety of snacks and the cafeterias have ALL kinds of breakfasts and lunch choices, but I think she was just hungry and thankful she could find so many things to eat. She’s kind of picky that way. But the rest stops, though not worth a trip to Costa Rica in and of themselves, are much better than decent.

Two, we found a classical music station to listen to as we drove and discovered that the announcers have that exact same smooth, slow tone that U.S. classical station announcers have. The announcers’ pronunciation were so clear and comforting that we’ve decided to try and find a classical station we can pick up here in Volcan. I think it would be kind of cool to learn Spanish and then talk to everybody in the same tone as classical music station announcers do.

Michael: Lessons Learned

The strong summer wind
Snorts and stomps down the mountain
Like an enraged bull.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Assessing the rights and wrongs of an event before gearing up for the next challenge is always a good idea. So here goes…

Renting a car and staying both the day before the race and the night of the race instead of trying to rush back home afterwards was a plus. Leaving another day earlier so we would’ve had a day to relax and work out the kinks of a long drive would’ve been better, and we’ll throw that in the next time if it’s an affordable possibility. Always a trade-off between rest and finances. I don’t think it hurt us all that much, but we’ll only find out if we take the extra day off beforehand on one of these destination races.

All the clothing and equipment I chose worked well; not perfectly, but well.

For shoes, I went with Hoka ATR Challenger 2s. They’re not the grippiest shoes in the world so I did slide a bit, but for a race that featured a decent amount of fire road and ended on a long downhill, I wanted the extra cushioning they provide. I did fall one over the mandatory three knockout limit, but I don’t hold the shoes completely responsible. It was a tough course and a lot of people were taking spills with all different kinds of shoes on their feet.

The day following the race I felt fine so the Hoka’s overall worked and I plan on using them again for similar long events, though I wouldn’t mind giving the Speed Instincts a go and I do have the Asics Gel Fujilytes on my Santa List. If the Fujis can work their way through a 50k, I may go with those because they’re both lighter and have what seems to be a better tread for technical trails. All that testing and play is part of the fun of running.

The Ultra Aspire Revolt race vest was ideal for the race. The course had aid stations spaced approximately 5 kilometers apart so the 20 oz. flask was sufficient. It also carried two gel flask and a jacket. I could’ve put my small canister of salt tabs, headlamp, or small first aid kit in the front zip pocket, but chose instead to carry each of those in one of my short pockets.

As far as nutrition goes…the two small flask I carried were loaded with my home brew of chia seeds, honey, peanut butter and a touch of cinnamon. Outside of a small faux Oreo at the top of  Cerro de la Muerte, that saw me through without any stomach issues or lightheadedness.

Since it was cool I only drank about 100 oz. of water total. Slightly under the 20 oz. per hour I’d like to get, but I don’t feel that hurt me. As a precaution, I’ve also started using salt tabs every hour after the first three hours of running. Not sure how much they’re helping, particularly in a cool race, but they’re definitely not hurting. Won’t be until a warm race to see how effective that strategy will be.

One goofy thing about the race that had me worried was my watch. A couple of nights before the Indiglo feature on my Timex Ironman began to fade. That indicates a low battery. I was worried that the alarm and the timer would fail sometime during the trip, but they didn’t. Not sure I’ve seen back up watch battery on anyone’s checklist, but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to have one handy. Though I’ve done some training runs without my timer going off every 15 minutes to remind me to eat or drink, if I’m going to do that during a race I’d like to make that decision instead of my failing technology thrusting me into going au natural without any forethought.

This race, like the last race in Costa Rica and on my weekend training runs, I’ve become more accepting of walking during certain sections of ultras. I’d still prefer not to, but it no longer completely takes the wind out of my sails, and that should be a big help on my revenge tour of the states when I go back and try to complete races I’ve dropped out of in the past.

Otherwise, all was good and I’m hoping we’ll make it over the border more often to race in Costa Rica.

Michael: Cerro de la Muerte

Crazy animals
Running through the wild forest
For no good reason.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

The North Face Ecogreen Cerro de la Muerte trail race was a great way to end the year. The race is run on a beautifully diverse and challenging course in the cloud forest just south of San Jose, the capitol of Costa Rica.

The 50k course (actually just a little short at about 48k) is set up as a double out and back, heading out 14 kilometers then coming back to center then heading out 10 kilometers in the opposite direction then heading back to the center point to finish. The 21k, which Kimme did, was the second half of the 50k course, which was kind of fun as we got to see each other twice during the race.

The first half was a rollercoaster jungle ride of mixed single track and fire road, which included a bit of everything; slick roots, rocks, a little slick mud (though thankfully not that red clay sink up to your ankles kind we’ve experienced elsewhere in Costa Rica), small stream crossings, and even an assisted rope climb over a very large downed tree. It was suppose to be the easy half of the course leading up to the second part; the long climb up to the 10,000 ft. altitude of Cerro de la Muerte. But that climb was very straight forward and very runnable. My splits; I did the first section in 3:30 and the CdlM section in 3:50 which would suggest that it was the more difficult section, but my legs were cooked by the time I started the climb and therefore I walked a good portion of it. I ran all of the downhill to the finish and under fresh legs could’ve run all of the uphill as well.

We were also fortunate to have perfect running weather, clear and in the 60s. We were required to bring a jacket and at the CdlM peak it was open, windy and cold, but as soon as we dropped off the peak and began to descend, it was fine so the jacket was never needed. I’m sure there have been years when it’s been much colder and if it were raining and you were running late, a jacket would be essential.

As an aside, right before the race start as I was standing in line to use the bathroom (I was the last one to go before the race started. There should be an award for that.), I noticed a fellow American wearing Hoka Speed Instincts, a shoe I was interested in. He told me he was from Utah. Turns out I was taking a dump right after trail running sensation Hayden Hawks who two weeks ago finished 2nd in the TNF 50 miler in San Francisco. He won this race in course record time. He said he really enjoyed the course though he thought he would’ve enjoyed it more if his legs weren’t a little dead from the 50 miler two weeks earlier.

Michael: Getting There

The blended edges
Of white foam and blue water
Surge towards the shore.

Monday, December 19, 2016

This past weekend was our second foray into Costa Rica for a North Face Ecogreen trail race. The last trip was a 50/50 swirl of successes and failures. This time out we were much more prepared, and though we made a few goofs, the trip went much smoother.

Much of the ease of the trip involved Kimme guiding us through the immigration process which first involves a visit to the Panamanian Immigration office in Paso Canoes to exit Panama, then a walk down the street to the Costa Rican office to enter Costa Rica.

The only unusual part of that process is that for some reason,  even though we each had a bag, neither country asked to check our luggage. When we got to the Alamo rental car office, we asked the clerk there and she said that people driving across or were taking a bus over are far more likely to have their bags inspected. Makes little sense to me, but it sure did speed up the process.

We were stopped shortly down the road at a customs checkpoint where we were asked for our passports, but again our luggage wasn’t looked at.

I was a bit reluctant about driving, both because I haven’t driven in months and because I haven’t driven in a foreign country in years. But it was a piece of cake. The roads in Costa Rica are great, even though some of the drivers are as crazy as they are in Panama; passing on blind turns even, at times,  with fog thrown in as a bonus challenge.

They also have similar lane paintings as in the states with a dashed line next to a solid line I presume indicating a safe passing zone, though I did notice that two solid lines rarely inhibited people from passing. Next time out we’ll have to ask whether those solid lines are more like a strong recommendation not to pass or whether passing through those zones would be a ticket worthy offense.

Because we had to buy the additional collision insurance the two day total for our Toyota Yaris was approximately $110 not including gas. Since our drive was measured in kilometers and the gas is filled in liters, I’m not sure what our mpg was but for a long two day drive we spent an additional $45 for gas. So the rental experience was well worth it and something we‘ll do again if we intend to travel off the main bus routes. This time, with excursions to the packet pick up and a very early morning drive to the race start, taxi arrangements would’ve been a hassle and probably just as, if not more, expensive.

Now that we’ve knocked that one out on our own for the first time, I’m sure that’ll ease the stress of going through customs and renting a car next time we cross over to race in Costa Rica.

Michael: Something New

Afternoon sunshine
Leans in through the west window
And keeps our house warm.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Every blog, article or podcast about running will warn runners not to try anything new during a race. Generally, I’ll heed that advice, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t already thought about new things I’m going to try right after this weekend’s race.

Before races, I use to stretch; but then it came out that stretching prior to a race was shown to be detrimental to performance. Instead, I switched to walking, jogging and maybe a few pick ups before speed work or races. But now I’ve been reading certain types of dynamic stretches are being recommended, so starting next week I’m going to try and work out a routine I’ll be comfortable with again.

I also want to try out some plyrometric and balance exercises. I’ve done some plyrometric exercises in the past and don’t know why I stopped. Exercises aimed directly at improving balance I’ve never tried, but I feel I’m reaching an age where best to get out in front of it before it does become an issue.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll end up tweaking a few other mental or physical issues after I’ve had some time to digest whatever occurs involving Saturday’s 50k race. Races are great teachers, even if I’m not always bright enough to figure out what lessons I should be learning.

Michael: Over Tapering?

The rains are ending
Yet already the warm wind
Is bending the trees.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

We’re now just two days away from boarding the bus to begin our journey to our second trail race in Costa Rica, so it’s time to start looking over the checklist and itinerary and packing up.

Of course this is all suppose to be proceeded by a solid training cycle and a well thought out taper. Oops, not very confident I can give either of those boxes energetic checks.

Rain was a little heavier and lasted later in the year than last year limiting my opportunities to get out and ride off some fat. Though maybe this is a plus on the taper side as I did get more rest in between runs.

And speaking of tapering… I’ve laid off much more than usual the past two weeks; though I always feel like more of a slacker when I cut back then a sophisticated athlete doing what’s best to heal and bring strength into my semi-well trained muscles. I suppose this will be a test of a long taper versus my usual one week job.

It’s silly, but I’m even struggling with what rain jacket to bring (It’s a race requirement.). Should I use the faux rain jacket that weighs in at 3 oz. but won’t keep my dry at all, or go with the more heavy duty job that’ll stop the rain on the outside but could have me sweating like a sauna on the inside? Goofy that the weight of these items wears on me when I’m a good 4 lbs. over my ideal race weight.

And to top it off the race organizers just sent an email out this morning warning that it could take 2-2 ½ hours to get from the highway to the less than 10 miles off the highway race start. Really? The race starts at 5:30. That means we’d have to leave our hotel before 3 to get there. That’s got to be wrong. Well, at least will get to figure that one out the day before when we go to packet pick up.

I was hoping that this would be an A race that would pump me up for races later in the states this summer, but instead its become more of a baseline from which to use to develop my next training phase.

My plan now is to cruise through the first half of the race, give it all I’ve got on the long 8 mile climb up to 10,000 ft., then see what I’ve got left for the turn around downhill. Kimme should be somewhere behind me and hopefully that’ll push me through any little grumpy patches I hit along the way.

Michael: Group Dynamics

The abandoned dogs
Searching for a group to join
No longer work here.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Kimme and I are pretty much homebodies for a reason. We don’t really like to attend social functions very often and to be honest we’re not really invited to many either. However, yesterday we did go to a very nice couple’s home to view the Spiritual Cinema.

I’m not going to don my movie reviewer hat and talk about the films we saw. Instead, I just want to make note of what a strange arc my life has taken in regards to being part of a group.

Up until a few years ago I was an elementary school teacher which is a very unique gig. All day I was surrounded by 20 to 30 kids who all were growing at a pretty rapid rate while I was pretty much unaware of my slow decline until my last few years of teaching when I really began to feel the energy drain. And even then, I didn’t feel that my struggles were age related.

Yesterday, there were about 15 adults at the gathering and outside of Kimme’s 46 and the daughter of an older woman, I was the youngest person there at 58. Going from the proverbial old man in the room to the youngest of the old men in the room is kind of freakish and I still don’t know what to make of it.

Most people there, though you can see their decline, still have quite a bit of enthusiasm for life. Yet you can also sense some of the wind has been taken out of their sails. For me I could definitely sense a huge difference in the energy of a room filled with children and a room half full of old people. I’m not sure I could or would want to go back to being with kids all day, but I can’t say at this moment I’m looking forward to pulling up my chair at the bingo table either.

Michael: Too Much Credit

The operatic
Roosters warm up before dawn
Outside our window.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Kimme and I were discussing what it says about people that so many of us are willing to buy into conspiracy theories. She believes it shows a negativity of spirit. Why not, she says, instead of believing in dark forces conspiring against, believe in positive forces trying to help us?

I tend to believe two main factors lie behind what motivates people to become conspiracy followers. One, they seriously overestimate how much intelligence there is in the universe. They believe if bad things are happening or are about to happen, it’s because some malicious intelligence - either human or alien - is conspiring against us. They don’t want to believe, as I do, that most of our problems are caused either by our own shortsightedness, stupidity, bad luck, or a combination of those qualities.

Secondly, I believe conspiracy people are missionary wannabees. Some people like being part of a social network and recruiting others into their network. Some people are Jehovahs, some are Cowboy fans, and some are chem. trail/United Nation black boot believers. And some people, God forbid, are probably all three.

Michael: The Bird in the Mirror

The wild parrots squawk
Like a group of country boys
Drinking at the bar.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

You know you have a little too much time on your hands when you google things like, ‘What are birds thinking when they look into mirrors?’ Hey, hold on just a second, I have a good reason for doing that.

Yesterday morning I heard a knocking sound and went to investigate. It turned out to be a small chickadee pecking at a mirror we had taken outside  because it had mold on it. We had turned the mirror’s back to the sun to attempt to kill the mold. For some reason, this little bird squeezed between the leaning mirror and a wall and got a glimpse of its reflection. When we walked out there it would hop away into the garden, but as soon as it thought it was safe it went right back to the mirror. It did this all day.

I figured either birds are goofy narcissists that are trying to woo what they consider a very attractive prospect, or they’re just the opposite, and find this mirror bird to be utterly repulsive and resent it showing its face in their territory.

In my search through the online bird psychology curriculum I did learn that mirrors are not recommended as accessories for pet birds. If you’ve got the time and inclination, feel free to do the research yourself. I’ll admit it, it was kind of interesting.

Michael: A Slow Burn

The cacophony
Of dogs, cows, chickens and trucks
Is never ending.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

In college I once had a professor that told us his story of coming home to his house that had been destroyed by fire and walking into his well stocked library to discover a neat row of ashes. He said it was a relief to have that burden of maintaining a home for those books lifted off his shoulders.

We’re beginning to understand that a bit more though our fire is self lit and much more slower burning.

We had a large container to pack from the states so we didn’t feel a vital urge to cut back that much on what we brought over here. But now that we’re here much of what we brought we no longer feel a need for. Also much of what we brought, particularly paper goods, are subject to mold. Some of it can be saved, but much of it will have to be destroyed.

Either way, we both feel this is a good opportunity to take our time to sort through our accumulated goods and decide which to throw into the bonfire and which to allow the sun to try and salvage.

Michael: Armageddon and the Housing Market

A blanket of clouds
Lies between the earth and stars
On this dreary morn.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Sadly, because so many people who believe in insane conspiracy theories can both appear perfectly normal and start conversations off on a relatively mundane path, it’s easy to get trapped into a long conversation where you end up quietly nodding your head to complete lunacy. That happened to Kimme and I today at the Friday farmers’ market.

Somehow starting with my mentioning a visit to Michigan next year we ended up in an abandoned Walmart that has been turned into a detention camp for protesters after martial law is declared in the United States.

This same person who warned us about the FEMA/Walmart detention centers, said he was looking at buying property in Michigan because there’s a lot of homes and land for sale there at very good prices.

Holding both of these beliefs at the same time seems somewhat puzzling to me. Why would a person want to buy property in a country where the government is preparing to forcibly detain people indefinitely in a Walmart? Hell, the U.S., intentionally or not, has already forced many communities to submit to shopping at Walmart, how cruel and diabolical of a government is a person willing to tolerate if they believe the government wants to keep people wandering through a Walmart indefinitely?

Michael: Slow Motion

The red morning star
Flickers in the eastern sky
Behind a dark brow.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Based on my experience today, I no longer believe that I’ll see my life flash in front of my eyes right before I die.

Today our neighbor/landlord was kind enough to take us to the Price Smart in David in her old Toyota Landcruiser. The way there was bright and sunny and warm, but by the time we turned around it became apparent we weren’t going to beat the afternoon rain.

As we slowly progressed up the snaky road to Volcan from Bugaba the rain started coming down pretty hard. Almost to the point where looking at the road through the windshield was like snorkeling in gray murky waters.

But the topper was when our neighbor turned on her one small windshield wiper and it progressed across the glass at a comedic, ineffective and hypnotically slow cadence. And that’s what I believe is one of the distinct possibilities of what could very well be my last remembrance of life; staring out the windshield at some gray distorted landscape focusing my last few moments of consciousness on a numbingly slow windshield wiper.

Michael: Plain Old Peanut Butter

The tire chasing dogs
Of Nueva California
Are always on time.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

There are a few grocery items I really miss here. Kimme reminded me of one when she asked what I’d like to get at Walmart when we visit her mom in Michigan this summer. I couldn’t imagine missing anything from Walmart, but she reminded me that we could buy large containers of blueberries there. Ahhh… I do miss blueberries.

Another item I miss, though I’m not sure it’s available at Walmart, is plain peanut butter. They do sell what they call “natural” peanut butter here which contains peanuts, sugar, palm oil, salt and molasses. And I suppose since those ingredients are all less than two syllables and might be readable and recognizable to most third graders, the claim of being “natural” may have a bit of legitimacy, but I don’t see why if they’re going to go to the trouble of importing a nut butter why not go all the way and just bring over the peanuts and salt and that’s all variety.

Well now the have. So I have one less thing to be grumpy about. But I guess I’ll still have at least one reason to be excited about visiting a Walmart in Michigan.

Michael: The Active Tourist

The mountainside ghosts
Glide slowly around the crown
Of the volcano.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Now that summer’s here I’m sure we’ll see a few more tourists out and about. And if I were one on of them and I were blitzing through the Volcan area as part of a tour through Central America, this is what I’d recommend:

If you had only two days to spend here, I’d start in Boquete and take the Volcan Baru trial over the highest point in Panama then down into the small hamlet of Bambito where I’d catch the bus into Guadalupe and stay at the Quetzal Lodge. The next day I’d hike back over to Boquete via the Quetzal trail. That would be a very challenging two day excursion on the two most famous trails in this area.

If I had any more time to spend here, I’d break up that trek back into Boquete with a few days stay at the Totumas Cloud Forest Lodge. It’s a stunning place with various trails in a secluded new lodge with very amiable and knowledgeable proprietors.

If Costa Rica were also in my itinerary and I was already in Volcan or Boquete, I’d consider taking the bus over the border via Rio Sereno and then take the short bus trip into San Vito and visit the Wilson Botanical Gardens. San Vito is a very enjoyable town and there are many fine B&Bs there. We really enjoy Casa Botanica, which is only a short walk away from the Wilson Gardens. The owners are great and have no problems preparing a delicious vegetarian breakfast.

I’m sure there are other highlights in the tourist guides out there, but these are the places we’d find ourselves going to again and again.

Michael: Ex-Teacher Kicked Out of School

Only the crickets
And the swirl of a lone truck
Break the night’s silence.

Monday, December 5, 2016

For the past month on Mondays Kimme and I have been heading over to the nearby school to play Frisbee on their field. I was surprised that the school didn’t seem to mind because in the states we wouldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes the first time we tried it.

But it turns out the schools here do mind, it just took them a little longer to shoo us away. Today a woman I presume was an administrator of some type very cordially told us we were welcome either before school, after school, or any time during vacation which will begin in two weeks.

Not a problem. In two weeks we’ll return and play there for the next three months. That gives us three months to also scout around and find some place else to play once school’s back in session in March.

Michael: Rain Rain Go Away

An armadillo
Clad in its gray armor
Is ready for war.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Yesterday I went for my first fairly long ride in three weeks. I thought that would be a great way to inaugurate, at long last, what I thought for sure was the beginning of the dry season.  It did rain a touch long after I got home but that’s not unusual.

But this morning the weather gods warned me that they can be rather fickle this time of year. We were just about headed out the door to go on a 5 ½ volcano jog/hike when clouds quickly appeared and it started sprinkling. We instead decided to go out for a leisurely Sunday breakfast.

It seemed to be clearing up and we felt a bit foolish for not venturing out like we had planned, but shortly after we got home it started pouring, and it’s been pouring ever since. Just like a typical rainy season day, which maybe we’re still in. But tomorrow’s another day - hopefully a warm and sunny one, that will be truly be the first of a long string of warm sunny days.

Michael: Altitude Vs. Heat and Humidity

The indigo sky
Sprinkled with sugary stars
Is a midnight sweet.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

In Los Angeles, where I spent most of my life, it could get very hot in the summer and when training for an ultra it could prove to be very prudent to throw in a little heat training. If I had enough fuel and water I actually kind of enjoyed running in the heat.

Here in Volcan, heat isn’t a problem. During the dry season it might get into the 80s tops. Here it’s all about altitude. Volcan sits at about 5k and the nearby trails provide opportunities to run up to 11k. Now that I’ve been here for two years I don’t give the altitude a second thought, except to wonder if I’d do better at lower elevation races.

I could find out fairly easily if I so chose by heading downhill into David and running there, but that place is Hell. It’s both hot and humid. In L.A. I never experienced that combination, and I have no desire to ever re-locate to an area where that occurs on a regular basis. During races here, sometimes runners will come up from David to race and I wish  my Spanish was good enough to ask them what they think of running up in the cool hills versus the misery that’s David or Panama City.

I also wish there was an online index that compares heat and humidity training to altitude training. I would hope that altitude would win out, but even if it didn’t, I’m staying up here where it’s nice and comfortable. On one of my bike rides I dip my toes into the sea level altitude, but I don’t hang out there and head back up into the cozy climes of the hills as quickly as my spindly little legs will carry me.

Michael: And Speaking of Diet

The blended edges
Of white foam and blue water
Surge toward the shore.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Kimme and I are two weeks away from our very challenging race in Costa Rica; the TNF Ecogreen Cerro De La Muerte. And for me, even after 40 years of racing and nearly 10 years of doing ultras, race nutrition is still a puzzler.

Recently, there seems to be at least two conflicting theories making the rounds. One is to cram as many calories (still predominantly on the carb side) into you that you can comfortably digest during a race to stave off glycogen depletion and shut down. This theory posits that unless you keep stoking the fire you’re bound to run out of muscle glycogen and then you’ll come face to dirt/pavement with the dreaded bonk monster.

The other theory is to eat as little as you can so as not to divert vital oxygen carrying blood away from your muscles and into your stomach. This theory holds that you don’t really need all that much glycogen to keep you going, fat’s there to do that job at endurance pace.

Theoretically, I tend to side with the latter, though under race conditions I’ll  sometimes get nervous and over indulge.

Moreover, I subscribe to this theory not so much because of the muscles’ glycogen requirements, but because I believe that selfish bastard, the brain, is behind the glycogen demand and if it senses that it’s sources are in jeopardy or it won’t be able to spur the muscles to make a run for it in case a perilous situation arises (And isn‘t running already a stimulant that something‘s up?), it’s going to slow the whole operation down and send signals out that it won’t allow the body to pick it up again until it can trust it’s transportation device to get it some food.

Naturally, training is a great place to test this out and see which end of theory your body handles better. Also, the evidence out there is mounting that the brain can be tricked, up to a point, and that just taking something that leaves a sweet taste in the mouth will satisfy the brain that it’s sugar demands are being met. I personally, haven’t pushed this placebo effect to the point of using nothing but sugar free candies or a sweet tasting sugar free drink like Nuun, solely as fuel on runs over two hours, but I am trying to take in less as opposed to pushing the maximum I can into my gut while I’m training or racing.

Michael: The No Car Diet

A brow’s deep furrow
In the green hilly farm land
Holds a tear for us.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Here are the keys to the No Car Diet.

1. Don’t have a car.
2. Buy just enough of a treat to allow for a decent portion size once everyday.
3. Live an uncomfortable walking distance away from any convenience store or coffee shop.

That’s it.

This diet has no studies supporting it nor was a great deal of research put into its development.

It was frustratingly developed through the life choices that brought me here where I now have nothing to eat but a couple of pieces of fruit or vegetables and my 4 small squares of chocolate which I’ll eat after dinner.  

Michael: Marching In/Marching Out

Sitting with her hen
Like it was an old pet dog
She pats its small head.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Today was the 4th holiday of the month; Volcan Founding Day, which means the last parade has marched into the horizon and tomorrow hopefully the dry season will quietly walk in wearing a big sunny grin on its face.

Finally, after a very dreary month, we got a good indication that sunny days may be here again. For one, it was clear and warm this morning. When the clouds are behind the Volcano, like they were at dawn today, it’s a pretty good indicator that there won’t be any rain until at least noon. Which was  right on the money.

And at that it only rained off and on for a few hours before clearing up again. That’s not quite a bright warm typical dry season day, but it’s as close as we’ve been in quite a while.

Which means tomorrow, for the first time in three weeks, I’ll probably go on a bike ride. After a few weeks of miserable rain, I’m hoping not to round a sharp descent and come across a sink hole in the road. For that reason alone I’m sure I’ll be a bit nervous until I’ve been over my usual routes again. In fact, I’m probably going to take a bus on the one road that’s taken me down a few times before I saddle up.

Ahhh, the sun. Make yourself comfortable and stick around for a while.

Michael: A Freebie

Early morning cow
Snorts like a bull elephant
Before it charges.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

It’s rained pretty steady this year in November. Because of that we’ve avoided the Quetzal trail for the past several weeks, but this past Sunday we rolled the dice and, though it was a bit muddier, it was still both doable and enjoyable. However, what made the day worthwhile for me was the small favor the bus driver and his assistant did for us before we got to the trail.

As we walk into town one of three buses will pass our way; the Sereno-David bus which is usually speeding by in the opposite direction, or if it is going our way it’s also speeding by so if we’re not at a stop we don’t even bother to try and flag it down.

The other two buses are either going to David or Cerro Punta and turn around about a quarter mile from our place. We want to take the bus to David to get to the gym. The way to indicate to the bus driver, if you’re between bus stops and you want them to pick you up, is by pointing either to the left for Cerro Punta or to the right for David. They’ll either point, shake you off, or usually stop if they’re going in your direction.

But Sunday when we pointed to David and the assistant indicated Cerro Punta, the bus stopped anyway and waived us in telling us they’d give us a ride to Berard’s Market saving us a half mile walk. When we got there we offered to pay, but they waived us off. That was the first time a bus crew has offered us this kindness and we really appreciated it.

Michael: Preliminary Results

Rain everyday;
The small tears into rivers
Heading out to sea.

Monday, November 28, 2016

It’s been about two months since I began my experiment with creatine. I started taking it out of my concern to combat strength loss as I age. However, though I’m not usually keen on testimonials, along with Power Point presentations, naturally, I feel mine is the exception to the rule and may prove worthwhile.

Does it work? I’ll give it a qualified yes. Yes because I am stronger. That’s a fact. I’m of the lithe runner body type and though in high school I could bench my meager 125 lbs worth of body weight, now at 145 lbs and 40 years removed from those youthful days, I didn’t really have any expectation that I’d be able to bench my current weight. But just the other day I can close, benching 140 lbs.

That yes is qualified because when you make several changes at once, how do you know how to parcel out the credit? Along with taking the creatine, I’ve also been going to the gym on a regular basis and I do feel the coach there has helped guide me in a program that is improving my overall strength.

So far the creatine has done exactly what my google searches said if would if it is going to be effective. I did gain weight within the first week and within the first 6 weeks I have seen strength improvements. The weight I’d like to shed, but the strength gains I’d like to hold onto for as long as I can.

Michael: Smoking in Panama

It’s the little things
That so often make a day
Worth remembering.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Thursday, at American Flowers Friendship celebration, we noticed that there weren’t any smokers in a pretty large and eclectic crowd of over 30 people. In fact, in our two years here we haven’t noticed very many regular smokers.

We asked the husband of our Spanish teacher if there was a reason for this and he said that Panama has really made a big push to get the word out about the harmful effects of smoking. One way they do this is by requiring tobacco companies to put very blunt images of the harmful effects of smoking on their packages; like a picture of a diseased lung.

The following night, since Colbert wasn’t on, Kimme and I thumbed through John Oliver’s Youtube offerings and found one on smoking. This segment was about how tobacco companies have often successfully spent a lot of money on lawsuits preventing many countries from enacting laws similar to Panama’s.

To complete the trifecta, this morning while we were running to the Quetzal Lodge for lunch, we saw an empty tobacco package on the side of the road. It took both of us to a little while to figure it out, but if my picture is clear enough, you’ll see that it’s a limp penis/cigarette. I presume to warn men away from smoking because of it’s link to erectile dysfunction.

Not only that, but most penises are never going win any beauty prizes and if this picture comes even close to what my best friend would look like after years of smoking, I’m glad we never took it up.

Michael: A Tangible Upside

The repugnant smell
Follows under the vulture’s
Long charcoal shadow.

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Kimme and I were just talking about how we don’t understand why people would feel proud of leaving the United States, or anywhere else for that matter, to avoid paying higher taxes. It just seems like a bragging about being a hoarder. Why?

Yet, it’s also hit me that’s going to be one of the big carrots I’m sure the Trump administration is going to dangle in front of the American people. We are all going to get a tax break. Whether this is for the best or not, in the short term that could prove to be a very tangible benefit to us here in Panama.

How? I have a TSA that I can’t touch until I’m 59 ½ without incurring a substantial penalty. As it is, even then as soon as I withdraw money from it, that’ll count as income and be subject to taxation, which will effect my calculations on how much I should withdraw. My plan is to withdraw enough the first year to purchase a small plot of land to build on and then the following year to withdraw funds to build with. But that all depends on what the tax rates will be. And that all depends on what Trump and the Republicans do.

I hope they do the right thing that’ll benefit the country in the long term instead of just making us feel good about getting a bite of that delicious carrot now. I realize that could mean taking out less now and taking longer to build, but it’s not all about us as individuals. We’ve got to be able to lift our heads up now and then and look around to see what’s best for those around us now and in the future.

Michael: Grateful Our Quasi-Friend is Still Alive

Hurricane Otto
Looked deep down into the sea
And wept for eight days.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Later this afternoon, before dinner, we’re going to go to a café and take some time to write what we’re thankful for. Already this morning we were very tangibly reminded of how grateful we’ve been to have a quasi pet here we call Pup, as we almost saw him killed by a car this morning.

During the last two years, we’ve seen our neighbor’s dog grow from a puppy to a his present wandering two year old near adult self. As a puppy he didn’t stray far from his owner’s property, but this year, as an adult male, we’ve seen him pretty far from home. And often when we leave, he’ll follow us down the road into town for quite a distance. When he does this he meanders back and forth across the road making us cringe as cars speed by.

Today he was both unfortunate and extremely lucky. As we went out down the road for a little Thanksgiving jog, pup followed us and did his usual zigzag down the road in front of us. But today he zigged when he should’ve zagged and was lucky that the car that hit him had slowed considerably by the time the two collided. It didn’t even knock him off his feet, but shot enough adrenaline through him to have him high tail it home.

When we returned from our short jaunt we went to check up on him and he seemed to be no worse for wear from his close encounter. We’re very grateful for that. We’re not sure if we can prevent Pup from following us but we’re going to give it a try by shouting at him when we see him. That hasn’t worked before, but we’ll try to put a little more verve into it and hope for the best.

Michael: Stay Healthy

The leaf cutter ants
Form a long and colorful
Mini - rose parade.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Within the last few days I’ve been inundated with health care news.

First AARP sent me an article about when I can expect my strength to decline. According to the article it’s too late for me to become the body builder I might have been. It seems at about 50 strength begins to decline, though I can lesson the impact through strength training.

Next up Kimme chose to play a TED talks while cooking dinner about the relationship between mental health and nutrition.

Finally, in the news this morning on the MSN app. Was an article about how Medicare and Medicaid work, and another story about how the insurance  and hospital industries are in a tizzy over what changes are going to occur now that the Republicans will be in charge.

How any of this will effect any of us in the near and distant future is hard to say, but I’m going to do my best to take care of myself now so I’ll have less to worry about health care changes at both a personal and societal level in the short and long term. Though I do also hope these issues get shaken out soon to the benefit of those who need care the most and can least afford it.

These uncertainties are not necessarily reasons to leave the country, but it doesn’t hurt for us to sit tight overseas for a few years to see how many of health issues will be resolved.

Michael: Otto the Freak

The dead still figures
Cast black shadows against
The wash of the sky.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

For a while I thought, all right, this is just the way it’s going to be. One year it’s not going to rain very much in November and the next year it isn’t going to stop. Fortunately, my Panamanian Spanish teacher clued in me as to why the unusual weather lately. There’s a freak tropical storm - Otto - circling nearby.

How much of a freak is Otto? This morning I looked at the NOAA website and if Otto makes landfall as a hurricane in Costa Rica  it would be the first time ever that‘s happened so late in the year, and that’s going back to the 1870s.

So we in Panama have been getting a long residual splash from a bit of a freak who may soon make history.

Michael: A Peace Corp Volunteer

Where do the birds go
When it rains so hard flying
Is impossible?

Monday,  November 21, 2016

 There is a young Peace Corp worker that not only stands out here because she’s very tall; about 6 ft., but also because she’s black and there are not that many blacks in this area of Panama. Because of the election she’s afraid she might stand out a bit more now as well in the United States. Even in a west coast city like Seattle, where she’s going back to visit for a few weeks, she’s afraid peoples prejudices are now going to become more open and threatening.

It’s not that everything is bliss for her here in Panama. Here, she doesn’t feel mistreated because of her race. Here, she feels reluctant to head outside alone because of being a woman. She feels some of the Spanish men are sexists. When she’s been jogging many men have made rude gestures or made vile comments to her. It’s gotten to the point where she feels she can no longer act friendly toward men when she heads out and must put on a stern game face that gives the message, “Don’t **** with me.”

I would think that Seattle, being on the west coast and known as a very liberal city, wouldn’t be a place to worry about, but then again I’m neither black nor a woman. And I have been reading that even in L.A. some people are riding around with rebel flags proudly waving. That would be a shock to me.

I’ll be very curious to get a eye-witness account from her when she returns of what the mood is on the streets of Seattle.  

Michael: That's Mr. Sunshine and Mrs. Rain

Half a morning moon
Shines brightly through the blue sky
And ominous clouds.

Sunday, November 20, 2016

When the rain began to taper off like it did last year at Halloween, I was feeling pretty confident that I had the weather here figured out. I have been proven very wrong. But since I don’t cry I’m not drowning in my tears about it. I don’t have to. There’s been plenty of that raining down on me from Mrs. Lluvia hanging over all of us in Panama here this past week.

And this hasn’t followed the pattern we kind of enjoy during most of the rainy season where it’s sunny in the morning before raining in the afternoon. It’s been overcast everyday this past week. It’s not always raining, and it hasn’t been pouring when it does rain, but without a cloud break and with longer periods of steady rain, it’s definitely stayed uncomfortably colder than it has during the other months of this year’s rainy season.

And although I can’t be certain that this pattern won’t continue for a while, I’m writing it with that optimistic attitude of “The sun will come out, tomorrow…” I won’t sing it, and please help me by not asking Kimme to sing it either.

Michael: Responding to Trump

The bold crimson veins
Coursing through the white lily
Draw the insects in.

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Once I came out of my stupor and realized all was not lost (yet), I came across a very interesting article written by Nicholas Kristol entitled, “A 12 Step Program to Respond to Trump’s Presidency”. The article list many progressive and positive ways to both think and act to insure we continue to move forward as a country.

I won’t go through all of the article, it’s really very concise and well worth the read, I’ll just touch on a few highlights that tickled my fancy.

The one suggestion that I immediately took action on was to purchase and eat a Chobani yogurt. The owner apparently employs refugees. I’d gone off yogurt for a while, but really didn’t need much of a nudge to go back, particularly if Romero’s in Volcan has blueberry in stock.

Being a former teacher, Nichol’s mentioning volunteering or donating to educational programs caught my eye. He mentions programs that serve on opposite ends of the educational ladder; Reach Out and Read and iMentor. Reach Out and Read is a program that encourages parents, through their pediatrician, to read aloud to their children. IMentor is a program that pairs a low income high school student with a college educated mentor to assist the student for three years to get that student into college.

I was hoping to volunteer to be a mentor through iMentor but the program requires monthly in-person meetings, and from Panama that’s not going to happen. I will definitely keep it in mind though when we return to the states.

I guess, for now, that means I’ll have to go with the cash donation option to these programs.

Michael: Anniversary Dilemma

Breaking through the clouds
The sun briefly shows its hand
And waves good morning.

Friday, November 18. 2016

When Kimme and I decided to get married we thought it would be a fun idea every year to get a different wedding band. The first two years were easy, but the last two years we’ve let time get away from us and find ourselves butting up against the next year’s anniversary date ( Feb. 10) before finding a ring.

The second year we made our own rings in a jewelry class. Someday we’d like to have the set-up do that again.

Last year at about this time a vendor unexpectedly showed up at the main bus stop in Volcan with some steel rings we liked. This year, the Active website sent out a blurb about stocking stuffers that included rings from a company called groovelife.com. They’re silicone rings pitched to active people. We both like them so that’s the way we’ll go this year.

That will mean that for each of the four years we’ve been married, our rings will have been made from a different material. The first year; titanium, the second; silver; the third; steel; and this year, silicone. That wasn’t intended and it’s not going to be an intent going forward. It’s been hard enough just finding rings we like, let alone throwing a new material into the mix every year.

Michael: Tweaking the Checklist

Only the rainfall;
Hammering down like a thug
Relentless and cruel.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

For the first time in two years here it’s rained throughout the morning for two days in a row. Yesterday I ran through it, but I wasn’t going to risk a bike ride with these crazy drivers in a cold down pour. So instead of riding I turned to prepping for the other aspects of our upcoming race in Costa Rica; travel logistics and our checklist. For the most part my previous list has held up but I have made a few minor tweaks to it in light of our last experience venturing into Costa Rica for a trail race.

Pre-Race
*Kool & Fit or other warm up oil, Vaseline, nipple guards, sunscreen/insect repellent, race # on belt or pinned, warm-up pants & jacket hydration & nutrition loaded into pack, I.D. & some spare cash, music.
Race Wear (from the ground up)
*shoes, socks, calf sleeves, running boxers, shorts with pockets or possibly tights, short sleeve shirt, arm sleeves, mountain bike gloves, cap with neck gaiter, wind breaker or poncho, running watch, wedding ring, necklace.
Gear
*Ultra Aspire Revolt vest with 500ml bottle, gel flasks, small zip lock with toilet paper/hand sanitizer, moleskin, Bio Freeze, duct tape, small zip lock, bag for warm up wear and gear.
Nutrition/Electrolytes
*Home made gel, salt tabs, pre-race meal supplies (If you’re a fanatic about it. I’m on the quasi -religious side when it comes to pre-race breakfast.), vitamins/supplements.
Travel Related
*itinerary, checklist for travel items, reservation #s and contact info. (plane, train, bus, car rental, hotels…), maps, pajamas, ear plugs, warm clothing, shake out running attire and shoes, Cash to exchange, Passport, Driver’s License, Panamanian I.D., bank card, credit card used to secure hotel and/or other deposits, note the time zone change. Inquire about vegetarian options at hotel restaurant.
Miscellaneous
*bottled water, foam roller, massage stick, knotty ball, headlamp,
Considerations
*This hotel does not have a refrigerator but does have a coffee maker. We should still be able to buy some produce and expect that it’ll hold up as we’re going to be at 6k ft. so it should be cool enough to last for the few days we’ll be there.
Rationale
*calf & arm sleeves aren’t for compression, but at race start at 5:30 at close to 6k ft, it may be cool enough to wear them for quite a while. They also provide protection in case of a fall, brush, insects, and the sun. And if it starts to heat up the arm sleeves are easily removed and stored.

An interesting aside to this race is that the 50k I’m in starts at 5:30 over fairly moderate terrain until the 16 mile mark, then it starts a 7 mile climb that goes from 5k ft. to 10k ft. The 21k that Kimme’s in starts at 8:30 and is  the same 7 mile climb then the 7 mile descent that us 50kers do. That means there’s a good chance that Kimme and I will start the long climb very close to the same time and we should get to see each other out there possibly a couple of times. That should be fun.

Michael: Calling the Birders

The freckled hill side
Dotted with black and white cows
On its plain green face.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The seasons are in the process of changing here, going from the rainy to the dry time of the year. And with that change the birders will start flocking to Panama.

This year, preceding the birders, we’ve been noticing some very colorful birds showing up. Some of them may be year long residents. I wouldn’t know. I’m not a birder, though I’m beginning to appreciate why people could be bent in that direction. Some of the birds here are very pretty. The displays of bright colors can be pretty dazzling and even the black and white patterns on, say the woodpeckers, are very eye catching.

Still, I don’t know if I’ll personally ever get beyond categorizing birds as either vultures, woodpeckers, blue jays, black birds, chick a dees or pretty birds. And for you true birders out there, I’ll try to be quiet as I pass by and not startle what you’re whispering about like you’ve spotted some ancient God.

Michael: Forget the Presidential Race

Sunshine and shadows
Draped across the morning hills
Like a lazy quilt.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

It’s official; Kimme and I have just signed up for our second trail race in Costa Rica, The North Face Ecogreen Cerro de la Muerte. Kimme’s going to do the 21k and I’m signed up for the 50k.

Prior to signing up for the race we had to get through some newly developed criteria on our checklist. For instance, we wanted to be sure there was a place reasonably close to the race to stay for two nights. Last time we couldn’t stay at the same B&B for two nights so after a very grueling 50k we were rushing around trying to get to a bus to get us to another B&B. We failed and it cost us frustration, time and money. This time we booked the lodge before signing up for the race.

Next, we wanted a place that isn’t just reasonably close, but is also a reasonable drive. The first place I booked was recommending a 4 wheel drive vehicle. We couldn’t find one to rent near the border so back to Google we went. The hotel we’re now booked at, though slightly further as the crow flies, is right off the main freeway and should save us time and stress by not requiring a city boy like me to first find a 4 wheel drive vehicle and then trying to operate one for the first time in the very early race morning hours.

All right. We have a place to stay for two nights. We can rent a regular car and we’re signed up. Now we have a month to add the final touches to our preparation for what should be both a very exciting and grueling Christmas present.