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Showing posts from June, 2009

AC100 Training Stories, Pt I

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Jim O'Brien setting the course record in 1989. This iconic photo was taken by Stan Wagon, then editor of UltraRunning Magazine. We once asked Jim O'Brien if he'd ever bonked on an Angeles Crest training run. He said "on every section". GEAR FETISHES The current gear-item to have right now is a bladder-pack. Originally designed by and for guys-n-gals who were running long distances in very hot places like Arizona, Utah and so on, where there was no water for big miles. Look at what Jim is carrying. Nothing except for 2 small bottles. Doesn't that tell you something? He's a racer, not a freight-hauler. [Just a thought for all the racers out there humping along in their multi-pounded vests with the petri-dish bladders...] Training is one thing. Race day is another. People get used to carrying all that stuff. I remember Jimmy saying on each stage "carry only what you need". I know that on my first AC, my fannypack was 20lb of junk—and I wasn't c

My Favorite Gun-Show Things

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Beef jerky and do-rags, and dorks all in camo, Reloads, factory and off-caliber ammo, AKs and Mausers all tied up with strings, These are a few of my favorite things! Marpat and feldgrau and ebay’d Nazi doodles, T-shirts shriek slogans from famed right-wing poodles, Conspiracy theories that fly on brown wings, These are a few of my favorite things! Hot babes in heels are not often seen here, Mainly paunchy white guys who are mostly has-beens peer, Musing sour reflections on a trigger spring, These are a few of my favorite things! When the dog bites When the bee stings When I'm feeling sad I simply remember my favorite things And then I don't feel so bad