A frequent remark of mine, “You can take the boy out of the disco (or Texas), but you can’t take the disco (or Texas) out of the boy.
I honed my dance moves on the floors of the best discos in Houston, Numbers, The Fox Trap, Uncle Sam’s Disco. Something about an over-energized, attention deficit, lithe and flexible young man that plugged right in. Stayin Alive, Stayin Alive!
Texas has been calling me. The music, the food, the friends. My old buddy Pepe has offered his second home if only I’ll come. My old running club, the Brazosport Road Runners Association, is looking for a new race director for the Surfside Beach Marathon, another tempting offer.
And then I think of the miserable running conditions. Extreme heat and higher humidity, only two seasons really, hot and hotter. Mosquitoes, roaches, fire ants, hurricanes, urban sprawl, traffic nightmares, high crime rate. Makes you wonder why so many people consider Texas “God’s Country.” Only those that have lived there will ever truly ‘get it.’
Its the people. Stand facing North, now turn one hundred and eighty degrees. It’s just like that.
Its the music. Saddle Creek Records are down in Austin right now at South by Southwest (SXSW), the most important music festival in the country.
Its the food.
Breakfast this morning. A plate of Chili Verde, eggs over easy, and tortillas de maize con queso fresco.
A little over three weeks until the Shamrock Shuffle 8K Elite Team Challenge in Chicago. I’ll be watching with interest, both as a member of USATF’s Elite Development Club Council (the event is hosting the USA Club 8K Road Championships) and as the former head of Team Nebraska. Last year I sent 5 mates, 4 of whom had demonstrated fantastic fitness,they finished 4th Overall team (David Adams, Luka Thor, Matt Pohren, Matt Schneider, John Kerns). This year the team is sending two 10K runners (Peter Falcon, Luka Thor), 2 marathoners (Nate Stack, Cory Logsdon), and York Thomas. Keeping a keen eye on recent results, I’ve seen racing by only Falcon and Stack so don’t really know how to handicap their chances. I do however wish them good luck, great racing, and Giddyup!
The Women’s Team: Stacy Shaw (at 47 she will be the oldest competitor in the challenge), Anne Shadle, Megan Thomas, Natalie Como. A perusal of recent results reveals only Stacy Shaw has raced, so hard to pick this one too. But as with the men, Giddyup!
One thing I do know is that with $20,000 in prize money available this will be the most competitive USATF Elite Team Challenge of the year. I’m still pulling for the mates.
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