I have to say that Christopher McDougall’s book, “Born to Run” changed my life when it comes to running. As soon as I finished the book, I immediately went for a run barefoot. While I don’t always run minimally, I carry the lessons I read from the book on every run. I’m still in awe of some of the people mentioned in the book: Scott Jurek, Jenn Shelton, Billy Barnett, Caballo Blanco and wanted to see if I could do a quick interview with them. While Jenn Shelton politely turned my down, I was able to make contact with Caballo Blanco (Micah True) for a quick Q & A session. Through my correspondence with him, he’s a really interesting guy and would definitely like to meet him one day.

ORB: When you set off to live among the Tarahumara, what were your initial expectations?
CB: I had no expectations.

ORB: Was Christopher McDougall seeking you out in the Copper Canyon a blessing or condemnation?
CB: It is what it is and up to me to make the best of what it is.

ORB: How/Who gave you the nickname “Caballo Blanco?”
CB: Mayan Indians of highland Guatemala where I wintered in the 80′s.

ORB: Through your Copper Canyon UltraMarathon’s you’ve been able to provide for many families in Northern Mexico. Can you tell me all that you’ve been able to accomplish?
CB: I have helped encourage the people to help themselves to continue to run free. And in many cases, to run again. To have pride in who they are and for the Mexican people to look upon the Raramuri as a natural resource to be cultivated and not exploited.

ORB: Tell me how you feel the shoe companies are capitalizing on a problem they in fact created?
CB: Less is more, and costs more, too-:}

ORB: What’s your drive in life?
CB: To run free

ORB: When history looks back on “Caballo Blanco,” what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
CB: No legacy; just keep it real.

During our emails back-and-forth I think his best response was to my mention of how I just recently started running minimally. Here’s his response:
CB: What is “minimalistic running?” Running as little as possible – hardly running? Or the maximus marketeering of nothing? Not sure what that is-:] To me, minimalistic means normal way of being without being sucked into the commercial. And the commercial now is minimalism…but, whatever.

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Just wanted to give a quick shout out to fellow lobe, Troy Schrenk, who will be running in the Boston Marathon this Monday. I know it’s been a goal of his for quite awhile and have lived his highs and lows along the way. It’s a long time coming “Forrest” and we’ll be there with you every stride of the way.

Also, if you can’t wait to get your fix of Boston, check out Universal Sports this weekend as the replay the 2009 and 2010 races. I already have mine set to record and am planning a couple late nights this weekend staying up to watch them.

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What I truly love about running events are the stories that we all have for running. For some of us (like me) it was all about losing weight and staying healthy. For others it’s running for charities, loved ones or in some extreme cases – our lives.

Instead of lumping these interviews into the race videos (which wouldn’t do them justice) I’ve decided to create a separate category called “What’s Your Story.” In these interviews, I’ll be exploring the human interest side of running. We all have a story, it just needs to be told – and who better to tell that story than the runner’s themselves.

I bumped into Pamela and Linda at the finish line of the 13.1 Marathon Series – Los Angeles. What attracted my attention to Pamela (besides her rockin’ American Flag running shoes) was the brace she was wearing on one leg. After a couple of minutes talking, it turns out that Pamela has been diagnosed with MS and has decided to “use it” instead of “lose it.” I was truly blown away by her story and her selfless plug of Los Angeles police officers that were lost in the line of duty. I hope you enjoy this video as much as Pamela inspired me in a few short minutes.

If you have a story you’d like to share, please email me at eric@onerunnersbrain.com and we’ll see what we can do.

Until then,
RMFR

You see them at every race. Runner’s clad in Blue and Gold singlets. They’re strangely attracted to every race you enter and you assume that there must be tens of thousands of them around the country for as often as you see them. These diehards are the Half Fanatics and I’m proud to have recently joined their ranks (HF#781).

Started in 2009, the Half Fanatics is a group of runners that are addicted to running half marathons. So much so, they we needed to organize so we could identify the fellow InSane AsyLum. Closely related to the Marathon Maniacs there are certain criteria that need to be obtained to prove your dedication to running. In my case, it was running 2 half marathons within 16 days (I did 2 in 9 days).

Besides “just being part of a group,” there are perks that come with being a member including an upcoming race calendar, a fanatic bulletin board, discounts on certain races AND exclusive access to Half Fanatic apparel so you too can be deemed a Fanatic at your next race.

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My fellow running bloggers, Brian and Jason at Team Flash have been training for the Comrades Marathon now for over a year. With less than 2 weeks remaining and hundreds of miles under their belts, the goal is within reach. If you get a chance, head over to the Team Flash site and wish them well.

This is pretty cool so I thought I’d share. Playin’ around online last night I found this vector artwork of Usain Bolt commemorating his 100m world record. I you want to check out his website, click here.

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I remember my first marathon four years ago. I had trained for an entire year, lost 65 pounds and hit the wall at 18 miles. I finished with my entire family cheering me on and sat around thinking about how hard I worked and how proud I was to accomplish something big!!!

Last year, my wife surprised me with a great gift. The first part involved entry into the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon. The second part was that my sister, Kirsten, was going to run with me. She wasn’t officially a runner but I’m sure she had spent some time on the treadmill before this. What was supposed to be a half marathon turned into a full when I selectively listened to my wife and happened to “not hear” the half and just heard marathon. Not one to back out, she dutifully accepted the challenge.

With some advice from me and I’m sure plenty of advice from her husband Jonathan (who had previously completed a marathon), she set a course to get ready for January 10, 2010.

Her first goal was to run a marathon relay at the Fargo Marathon back in May. Her and the Cobber Chicks kicked some arse and she caught the running bug. Not satisfied with only running 6 1/2 miles, her next step in this journey was the Dick Beardsley 1/2 Marathon in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. She finished in glorious fashion in just under 2:07 and I couldn’t have been more proud!!!

This has set us up to where we are now…four days away from her first marathon!!! I’ve always tried to encourage people to run. I know what kind of difference it’s made in my life and more specifically my health, and if there’s a way I can get one more person to walk out the door and start running, I’ve done my part. Hopefully she’ll be a runner for life – if I have any say about it!!!

The fact that I actually get to run with her is an honor and I know that when we cross that finish line, there will be tears shed. Kirst, I’m so proud of you and I can’t wait to celebrate your first marathon it just 4 days!!!

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I had New Year’s Eve off from work. This allowed me the luxury of running during the day and not having to get up before the sun to get a run in. I’ve been in a rut lately and decided to just lace up the shoes and run. I didn’t have a route or mileage in mind, I just wanted to run for the fun of it and let fate take me where it will.

I headed out intent on enjoying the day, the scenery and anybody I happened to “run” into and about 3 miles into my run I encountered “The White Hare”. Our interaction was quick but friendly. I didn’t hear him coming because I decided to wear headphones that day. When he was right behind me I finally heard his foot falls and ditched my headphones to say hello.

The White Hare passing me had to be in his late 50′s/early 60′s. Trim and setting a torrid pace, I immediately admired this man where time had showed it’s age in his outside appearance but not the same effect internally or physically. We gave each other the respectful running salutations in the fleeting seconds it took him to overtake me and move back close to the curb. I shouted out some encouragement, he gave me a wave without looking back and headed off into the distance. It was at this time I really got to watch him. Since I didn’t have a route in mind, I decided to follow him as long as I could keep up with him.

The first thing that caught my eye was his stride. Obviously he had some kinks in the armor because he favored his right side but he ran on the balls of his feet. I’m not sure I ever saw his heels hit the pavement and I was in awe. I’m not sure why I was so mesmerized. Maybe because it’s what I try to do with my stride or the fact that this silver-haired man just looked so natural but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.

As luck would have it, he began walking at the traffic circle to let some cars pass and I was able to gain on him. He turned left and I followed. Up the inclined street we went. The White Hare floated above the pavement 100 yards ahead of me and my pace quickened. I didn’t want to lose this guy. I began to admire this man that I had know all of 10 minutes. He was a model of what I wanted to be in 20 years or at least what I think I want to be as a runner.

As we turned right and headed up another street with a gradual incline he turned his head and acknowledged that I was still kicking behind him. He didn’t have to wave or shout words of encouragement. The fact that he noticed me at all was enough. Maybe it was his way of telling me to stick with it. Keep running and keep enjoy the sweat and tears that follow and you too can be like me!!!

He turned right when I needed to go straight. There was no goodbye or good luck. Just a fleeting image of what could be. What I could be.

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Over the years I’ve been running, the same thing happens every New Year’s Day…the Bunnies appear. We’ve all seen them and we’ve all been them at one time or another just maybe not on New Year’s Day. I was one and I’m happy to report that after 4 years of running I believe I’ve graduated into official Rabbit status (I’ll never be a Hare).

For those of you wondering what kind of concoction I drank last night, you’ll need to refer to my first post ever “The Hare, the Rabbit and the Bunny”. In summary, I break down runner’s into 3 categories:

• The Hare is your serious, really good runner. You see them on the roads and wish you could run like they do.
• The Rabbit is your average everyday runner. They’re the staple of our passion – running diligently rain or shin. They’re not fastest of runners but they’re dedicated.
• The Bunny is your occasional jogger. They see other people running and give it a shot. We all hope they stick with it and become Rabbits but it’s usually a long shot.

So every New Year’s Day, the Bunnies surface with great intentions. They dig an old pair of sneakers out of the back of the closet, throw on some sweat pants and head out to fill their resolutions. Today I was very entertained – not by how these hopeful long term runners ran but the fact history repeats itself every year. Individuals and couples were out in force. Most struggled but there were a few that were determined to make that first mile of the year count.

I really hope a lot of these running virgins make it thru the month, I really do. The more the merrier I say. Running has really entered a new boom and with the internet and all the information readily available to runners it’s easier than ever to get started. I just hope that they can stick with it and really reap the benefit and joy like I have found in my new healthier lifestyle.

Until then, have fun trying to pick off the bunnies. I try and pass as many bunnies as I can on my speed days. On your easy days, see if you can’t encourage a couple Bunnies and make a runner out of them for life.

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Regarding the previous (2 Marathons in 36 Days) brings up a question. Should I throw in another marathon in the next 54 days to qualify as a Marathon Maniac?

For those of you who don’t know, you probably have seen them. You can’t miss them at races in their red and gold singlets – many of them declaring how many marathons they’ve run. At the Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon I saw at least 5 Maniacs and one was running his 100th marathon.

The Marathon Maniacs are exactly that. Runner’s that are maniacs about running marathons. The group was started by Steve Yee, Chris Warren and Tony Phillipi in 2003 and now boasts more than 2,000 members. Like the Boston Marathon though, there are certain criteria that need to be met. You can check out the entire list HERE but for the purposes of this post, we’ll examine the bare minimum to become a member.

BRONZE LEVEL

Now I probably don’t qualify mentally as a Marathon Maniac – maybe a Running Rube – but if the timing works out, this is definitely within my reach. What do you think, go for the gold (Bronze) or is it time to take some time off?