The RunRunLive Podcast Episode 232 – Run Geordie Runs across the USA
[audio:http://www.RunRunLive.com/PodcastEpisodes/epi232.mp3]
Show intro by:
Rachel Loftstpring – http://www.chicagonow.com/chewables-chicago
RunRunLive – Podcast Intro
http://www.runrunlive.com/home/read-the-runrunlive-podcast-intro
Intro:
My pappy said “Son, you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’, if youdon’t stop drivin’ that Hot Rod Lincoln.”
Hello and welcome to the Independence Day – Cape Cod podcast where we laze around in the sandy sun and reflect on what has been, what is and what is yet to come.
I’ve spent the week down here in my house on Cape Cod with Buddy the old wonder dog. We’re living the bachelor life and working from here. I figured I could remove two big pieces of clutter from my house at the same time – me and the dog!
But, even though things are slacking in the dog days of a New England summer, this is the RunRunLive podcast and this is Chris your host and this is episode 232 and we have a great show for you today.
We chat with Mark Allison, from ‘Run Geordie Run’ who you may remember from episode 93, when he was planning to run across the USA. Well, he’s done that and is now going to have a go at Australia.
The 4th of July fell weirdly in the middle of the week this year. Some folks took the whole week off. Some folks took Monday and Tuesday. Some took Thursday and Friday. Others like me pretended to work. If we were in Europe we would have just taken the month of July off but we are cursed with a bourgeoisie work ethic that drives us to needless and heedless activity.
I went over to Mattapoisett and hung out at the annual Mattapoisett 5 mile race. You know it’s an old race when it’s a 5 miler. I believe this was the 42nd year of the race. Our friend John Vaughn was there ‘John from the Poi’ as were my crazy mountain bike college buddies Dan and Tom who, if you have been hanging around the podcast for a few years, you will remember as the crew I went down to the infamous Wilderness 101 with in the van, with the couch – as recounted in the famously popular episode 135a race report.
I had a great time. Really wonderful weather and friends.
I had gone back home Monday to see Doctor Hester who agreed with me that the foot wasn’t getting any better and we decided to get an MRI done to see what the health of the tissue is in there. To see if we can just immobilize it or whether something more drastic might be needed. I’m done running for a while.
I just got back from swimming around Pleasant Bay for 34 minutes and I learned something. It turns out I accomplished a goal this year without realizing it. I can swim comfortably and smoothly without sinking or struggling to breathe indefinitely. I said my goal was to get my ability to swim to the same recreational level as my ability to run. And, it turns out with all that training and studying and complaining and time in the pool last fall and winter I have it.
I don’t need any equipment. No bathing cap, no wet suit, no goggles, no earplugs, no nose clip, no fins and mot even my Speedo. I was just cruising through the ocean without a care in the world, lost in my thoughts and gliding along.
To be honest I think the buoyancy of the salt water helps and not having to worry about a turn every 25 meters is awesome.
I did have a slight problem with the cargo shorts I wore today. The pockets spread out like drag chutes on a drag racer. They slowed me down and threatened to leave me at times. I considered taking them off and tying them to a buoy or something.
I don’t think open water naked swimming in the Atlantic is illegal and I don’t think anyone would even notice, but I decided there were too many ways that could end poorly, especially with my car key zippered up in one of the pockets.
It’s been a weird week of semi vacation. But that’s the way it is sometimes.
On with the show!
Audio clips in this episode:
http://www.runrunlive.com/products-page/midpackerslament
RunRunLive » Audio Products » MidPackersLament » The Mid-Packer’s Lament Audio Book
It took me a few months…but I kept at it and now can present to you The Mid-Packer’s Lament Audio book. This is ~50 running stories read into audio by the author (me) and ends up being 6-8 hours of audio.
The Mid-Packer’s Lament is a series of short stories on long distance running, racing and the human comedy inherent in all sports enthusiasts. This is the perfect book for runners and wannabe runners. There are stories about training, eating, special places and special races. There are stories about the accidental athlete in all of us and the stupid things we do for even amateur endeavors. Whether you are a weekend mid-pack runner or a competitive club runner, you’ll find something thought provoking and amusing that you can relate to in the Mid-Packer’s Lament.
Hope you enjoy consuming it as much as I enjoyed recording it!
Ciao, thanks, and I’ll see you out there.
Chris,
Skits, commercials and parodies in this episode:
Story time:
Equipment Check:
Aero Bars for Beginners – http://www.runrunlive.com/aero-bars-for-beginners
Featured Interview:
Mark Alison – Run Geordie Run –
In the Summer of 2007, I ran 874 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End in 37 days raising £34,108 for St Benedict’s Hospice (Charity No. 1019410). This Hospice cared for my Mam during her final days battling lung cancer.
Continuing to repay the debt of gratitude to the Hospice in May – August 2011 I ran from California to New York in 100 days. This was a distance of 3100 miles and saw me run an average daily mileage of 31 miles raising £105,233 for St Benedict’s Hospice and The Children’s Foundation.
I will begin my journey across Australia from Perth to Sydney on October 16th 2013 arriving on Bondi Beach on December 24th 2013.
Quick Tip:
I can’t find Ann’s segment tonight and I have to get the show out so here’s a nautically themed poem that I wrote in the pizza place waiting for a scrumptious small veggie pizza yesterday.
It’s called “In the Fishing Town”
One Hundred Pirates,
Dancing in the breeze,
Sandy beaches,
Hidden treasures,
Tanned and Leathery,
Dusted with sand,
From the beach,
Scraggly beards,
Wiry chests,
Oldand abused,
Eye’s with the glinty blue
Of long ago misadventures.
Now torn down,
Smiling,
Benevolent,
On a young wife and a flaxen haired love child,
He is a kept dog,
Never quite losing his sea legs
Never quite comfortable in the shack
He looks past his children
From his chair
And sees the ocean.
Outro
Ok my friends, my compatriots you have hung your lanterns in the North Church steeple- One if by land, two if by sea and ridden out on the country roads screaming “the British are coming!” through the end of the 4th of July addition of the RunRunLive Podcast. Episode 232 in the can. You know we passed the 4 year mark at some point in the last couple weeks.
Thanks for coming along and hanging out with me. I love getting Facebook messages and tweets and emails from you folks. It gives me another reason to procrastinate during the day! I know I stopped telling you this but if you want to talk at me I can be reached at cyktrussell that’s Chris Yellow King Tom Russell or Caca Yelp Kansas Tilapia Russell, either way, with two esses and two ells at any of your favorite public emails and social media sites. If I’m nothing I’m prolific.
I just finished reading Dane Raushenberg’s book – who we talked to in episode 114. He writes about his first 100 marathons. Dane’s a character and his writing has character. He avoids the common pitfalls of most running books and it’s a decent read. I’m chatting with him at some point in the coming 18 episodes…
Next week we talk with our old friend Ashley Kumelin from MSRunTheUS who we talked with in Episodes 94, 124 and 155 – before, during and after her run across the US. I always love chatting with Ashley.
By the way did you see how many older episodes I cited in this show? Well you can find them all on my website at www.runrunlive.com . There’s an Index page where you can use your browser’s search button to find any person or topic you’re looking for. If you find something that doesn’t work, let me know.
I was going to read you a piece I did this week where I danced around the subject a little bit but basically was telling myself to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back on with life. I’m not going to read that you can go to my website if you’re interested.
I’ll boil it down for you. Don’t give up. If you have to give back ground give it back inch by inch and fight it all the way down. You’re never done until the last breath escapes your lips.
I’ve seen a lot of starting lines in my day and I’ve seen a fair number of finish lines as well. Each day has a starting line and a finish line and those are really the only ones that matter.
Get up each day and run your race. Life will take care of itself.
Thanks for hanging with me at the beach.
God willing I’ll see you out there.
I was surprised no one complained about my Spanish last week. They must have given up before the end of the show! Tonight I’ve got a rockabilly number by Ted Stevens called you me and a manatee. Live long and prosper.
…
Great news my running friends – my book of running stories “The Mid-Packer’s Lament” is now available in Kindle format at the Kindle store on Amazon.com! Just search on “Mid-Pack”. It’s a bargain at an easy $5 and all proceeds go towards supporting the underfunded pension plan of the retired cleaning staff at the RunRunLive world headquarters. I recently got a kindle myself and I love it. It does reading very well.
The Mid-Packer’s Lament is a series of short stories on long distance running, racing and the human comedy inherent in all sports enthusiasts. This is the perfect book for runners and wannabe runners. There are stories about training, eating, special places and special races. There are stories about the accidental athlete in all of us and the stupid things we do for even amateur endeavors. Whether you are a weekend mid-pack runner or a competitive club runner, you’ll find something thought provoking and amusing that you can relate to in the Mid-Packer’s Lament.
Music:
From Podsafe:
All music used in the show is from the Podsafe music network found at Music Alley. Please support the starving, socially minded artists sampled herein by purchasing some!
Songs sampled from Podsafe:
nautikal-shorebreak
nautikal-wont_succeed
ted_stevens-you_me_and_a_manatee
Outro music:
Outro Artists Bio:
Bio:
Standard Links:
www.midpackerslament.com
Cyktrussell At gmail and twitter and facebook and youtube
Chris’ book on Amazon – > http://www.amazon.com/Mid-Packers-Lament-collection-running-stories/dp/141961584X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228687012&sr=8-1
Mid-Packer’s Lament E-book
Mid-Packer’s Guide to the Galaxy E-Book
Dial in number for RunRunLive is – 206-339-7804
Chris Russelllives and trains in suburban Massachusetts with his family and Border collie Buddy. Chris is the author of “The Mid-Packer’s Lament”, and “The Mid-Packer’s Guide to the Galaxy”, short stories on running, racing, and the human comedy of the mid-pack. Chris writes the Runnerati Blog at www.runnerati.com. Chris’ Podcast, RunRunLive is available on iTunes and at www.runrunlive.com. Chris also writes for CoolRunning.com (Active.com) and is a member of the Squannacook River Runners and the Goon Squad.
Email me at cyktrussell at Gmail dot com
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