Mac recently went to Hawaii and brought back a rock with a petroglyph depicting a runner and gave it to T3. We can discuss why he didn’t offer to take the rest of the Pirana’s with him to Hawaii later, but for now we should think about the image on this rock:

The Hawaiian system of trails and roads is still in use today. Kukini, the runner or messenger, often carried important news. Sometimes they even carried snow from the top of Mauna Kea to the shore to cool the ali’i. It is worth mentioning that in ancient cultures only important events and tasks that were critical to survival were carved into stone to be remembered and used to teach the young as they grew.

In pre-industrial revolution societies, someone who could run distances and deliver news or carry items of value from one location to another was a valuable individual. People kept in shape, not as a pastime, but as a way of life that was necessary for survival.

When we run, we are not just getting exercise or burning calories, we are connecting with the people we used to be. Running is pure in its form and function and it reminds us that life is only as complicated as we choose to make it. Running is simple, which is why it is so hard.

23 December 2008 – Samsonite’s S.I.G.H. Miler at Lake Hefner

This Tuesday Samsonite will be running his own Self-Indulgent Gratuitous Hundred Miler at Lake Hefner. The Brothers think he’s crazy, but he won’t be persuaded otherwise. Not sure if that’s the Sapper or the Pirate in him, but both are liable to get him killed someday…

Samsonite says that the “goal” is to finish, and the “plan” is 21-23 hours. He’ll be self-crewing himself out of 2 strategically parked vehicles, roughly 5 miles apart from each other. (told you, he’s crazy.)

Samsonite’s plan is to run 9 laps of the 10-mile Lake Hefner running path, and two 5-mile laps out at Bluff Creek with Mav. Mav has acquired a recent aversion to pavement, but still wants to help his (crazy) Brother out. Hopefully the trails will save Samsonite’s legs from 10 miles of pavement-pound, too. T3 and Sweet Tee will come out to run a lap with Samsonite later in the day. Who knows – maybe Weeble, Big, and Goose will come join Samsonite for some of the “crawl stage” miles.

In short:

Samsonite’s S.I.G.H
Tuesday, 23 December
0600 – UTC (until complete)
Lake Hefner running path

He’ll be wearing various combinations of Pirana gear, so you can’t miss him. Come nightfall, he’ll be the only crazy running around the lake with glo-sticks sprouting out of his body. If you see our boy Samsonite out on the road, slap his skinny butt and run a mile or two with him. He’s gonna need all the help he can get!

Thanks to a new Hughes telematic device that the State of Oklahoma installed in Maverick’s work truck, someone will know. According to the State’s Department of Central Services (fleet management) web site the device will allow the state to monitor:

• Beginning and end of day reports
• “Bread crumb” tracking of the last 30 GPS locations
• Diagnostic trouble codes alerting system
• Drive time summary report
• Fuel usage report
• Geo-fencing violation report – by entry/exit
• Individual vehicle or fleet consolidated reports
• Landmark report
• Location report
• Miles per gallon (MPG) report
• Odd hours use report
• Performance report
• Service report
• Speed violations report
• Stop detail and idle time report
• Unlimited web portal access to a myriad of reports
• Vehicle performance indications report

At an initial cost of $875 per vehicle, the second and subsequent year’s cost will be $360 per vehicle. The predicted ROI is a Year-1 payback (hardware and communication services of 106 days. Payback for additional years (communication services only) is projected at 44 days.

Needless to say, Mav is p***ed off. At the least, it means the Piranas will have to stop using Mav’s truck for “unauthorized” trips. Of course, Mrs. Mav is trying to find out how she can get access to the “google.mav.com” site.

Wednesday, the 17th, found Brother Maverick in the northeastern part of the great state of Oklahoma. The recent arctic blast had brought snow and Mav couldn’t wait to get out and play in it. He made his way to Kaw Lake and was able to run about 7 miles in 2 inch deep virgin snow. The temp was about 27, but Mav was so excited to be there that it felt like spring.

The only time Mav ventured off the “path” was when a deer cut in front of him and he followed it for about a mile.

Mav has been running trails in new Pearl Izumi Syncroseek III’s and they stayed dry and his feet were warm the whole time. Maybe next time Mav is in Ponca City there will be a blizzard!

Today the Piraña Brothers welcomed a long lost brother back into the fold. Mac has returned to OKC and will be here permanently (meaning he is bringing his family here too) starting Dec 30th. To celebrate, T3, Mav and Mac took to the trails and got in an easy 7 miles in the sub-freezing Oklahoma winter weather. The trails were good, the company better and everyone had a great time!

Team Pirana is gearing up for the new year and planning their training and racing. Stay tuned….

This morning the Team Piraña ran the Winter Solstice Half Marathon at Bluff Creek, Oklahoma City. It did not matter to them that the race wasn’t actually being held. It didn’t matter that the wind was blowing 40 mph and the temp was falling. It didn’t even matter that today is not actually the Winter Solstice.

What did matter was that the Winter Solstice Half Marathon was the first trail run T3 ever did. At Mav’s invitation he braved the snow and ice last year and venture off the road and into the woods. He has been an avid trail runner ever since. So when the Brothers heard that the race had been canceled for lack of resources, they offered to help, but it was too late. They committed to help next year so the race is on again for the future, but that still left this year and T3’s trail running birthday to be celebrated. So they ran the race anyway. No starting line, no bib numbers, no aid stations, nobody else, just brothers on the trail having fun in the wind and woods.

Take all you can.