Writing Checks Our Bodies Can’t Cash

by admin on November 12, 2010

Check-in is proceeding nicely. The boys are having fun seeing old friends and meeting new ones. It is always interesting to listen to people at the start of a race. Lots of sandbagging going on….

“hey, good to see you, how’s your training gone? Are you ready?” … “Well, I’ll let you know at the end.”

No one ever tells the truth. No one wants to let on that they are feeling really good and think they can run well because anything can happen and you would be embarrassed. So everyone downplays and makes excuses and the longer the race the more they do it!

So everyone wants to know how T3 and Mav are and if they are ready. Mav says yes. T3 says I’ll tell you tomorrow. Both know that tomorrow they will have to pace themselves, take care of themselves and manage their energy and mental condition. But they also know that they only have to run 1 more mile and you can always run 1 more mile. That is a check the boys know they can cash.

Mother Road 100.3

by admin on November 12, 2010

The Piranas are in Catoosa setting up for packet pick-up. The Fine folks at the Hampton Inn have put the boys in the conference room and set up runner-centric snacks and drinks and in about 30 minutes they will begin checking runners in for the FINAL Mother of a Road Race.

The team will be in Catoosa until 7PM and then will head to Joplin to spend the night before the race. T3 and Mav are running, Big, Weeble, BFG and Sweet Tee are crewing and McLuvin is managing the Finish Line.

Wish the boys luck and follow them this weekend right here on TeamPirana.com

Le Griz was a Bear!

by admin on October 9, 2010

Mav and T3 are in Montana at the Le Griz 50 Miler. They don’t have a computer and can’t post pictures right now, but a short race brief is being posted via iPad.

Thursday Day 1: Flight to Kalispell. Picked up rental suburban and drove to cabins to check in. Did a little sight seeing and ate out.

Friday Day 2: More sight seeing, bought groceries, began prep for race. At 2:00 pm they find out that Bret’s brother who was driving in from Billings to crew was not coming. Huge bummer. Started figuring out how to race unaided. Found shuttle to start and found out neighbors next door were running too. They offered to carry some stuff for the boys “just in case” and the plan was set. Early to bed and early to rise makes Jack a successful racer.

Saturday Day 3: Up at 4:00 am to get ready and drive to finish to catch shuttle. Found new friends at start and they are off. Long story short (and full report plus pics to follow) their new friends saved their lives. Mav’s plantar fasciatis started acting up before 20 miles and the rest of the day was a grind. Without the help of their surrogate crew the boys would have been in deep trouble.

All in all it was a tough day but both T3 and Mav turned in sub 10 hour times in spite of the major problems. Steak, mushrooms, onions, grilled veggies and beverages made the day’s events melt away.

Tomorrow Day 4: Sleep in, big breakfast, goof off, catch a 5-o-clock flight and the boys will be home by midnight.

Much more to follow once they are home.

Mogadishu Mile

by admin on October 5, 2010

This past Saturday Samsonite ran the 17th Annual “Mogadishu Mile” 5k Memorial Run.  The event commemorates the six Rangers killed during Operation Gothic Serpent on 3 October 1993.  Proceeds from the event are donated to the Ranger Assistance foundation, benefiting Rangers of the 3rd Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment who have given their lives in support of the Global War on Terror.

Operation Gothic Serpent is perhaps more commonly known as “Black Hawk Down” – popularized by the book by Mark Bowden and the film starring Josh Hartnet and Jason Isaacs.  The original Mogadishu Mile was run by an element of Rangers from 3-75.

From Wikipedia: The Mogadishu Mile refers to a mile-long run by American Rangers and Delta Force soldiers from a helicopter crash site to the Pakistani Stadium during the Battle of Mogadishu on October 4, 1993. The Americans involved were part of Task Force Ranger, an attempt to overthrow Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. Originally they were supposed to take cover by running alongside a convoy of Humvees and armored personnel carriers, however when the convoy misunderstood that the vehicles were needed for cover, they left them and the soldiers were forced to run without support and with very little ammunition.

Actually, it was more of a brisk “tactical file” than the sprint-to-the-finish that the movie depicts, but nonetheless, these dudes had to rely on their feet and fitness to get them back to safety.  Surely these Rangers had run 1000s of miles in training, just like the Piranas, and all of those training miles paid off when it really mattered.  So for every mile we run in our tech fiber t-shirts, with Body Glide between our thighs, Heed in a handheld, Endurolytes in a pocket, a crew vehicle on speed-dial, and a cold beer in our near futures, let’s remember the boys of 3-75 and the mile they ran for their lives.

“Hey, T3, how much farther to go?”

“‘Bout a mile!”

Thank you, Soldiers, that none of our miles have to be like your one epic Mogadishu Mile.

And here’s the super-dramatized sprint-to-the-finish scene from the movie, but it still fires me up every time I watch it!

New Meat for the First Meet

by admin on August 21, 2010

Both Sweet Tee and Action were new meat today at the SNU Cross Country meet in Bethany, OK. They both ran the same course (4K) along with all high school boys from 2A, 3A and 4A schools.

This was Action’s first meet as a varsity runner for Crossings Christian School. He is the Team Captain too. He competed well for a freshman and shows a lot of potential, especially his ability to kick at the end of a hard race. He completely owned the guy in front of him in the finish line and passed him handily.

This was Sweet Tee’s first meet running as a Oklahoma Christian School Saint. Even under a new flag he acquitted himself like a man and finished second among his teammates and 18th overall.

Good Fortune

by admin on August 10, 2010

Does fortune make us, or do we make our fortune? Piranas believe the later.

Ovid said, “Fortune and love favor the brave.” So often what we fear holds us back and keeps us from realizing our dreams and reaching our goals. Worse, we often fail to set goals that are lofty enough to cause us to stretch and reinvent ourselves.

Running is not in and of itself an exciting exercise. In fact, at times it is mundane and rote. However, when we push ourselves and extend ourselves and compete (or just finish) at longer and longer distances, we find the bravery inside each of us.

In times now long past men were tested physically by the necessities of life. Today we must find ways to push past our self-imposed limitations. Running gives us a framework to find the brave soul that is our true self.

Why do we care? Why do we push ourselves to exhaustion, risk injury, and endure this pain? Simple. We learn amazing things about ourselves on those long and lonely runs. We find that we are capable of willing ourselves past pain and exhaustion. We discover our heart and soul out on that road or trail. Our perspective changes and everything else in life seems a little clearer and a little easier.

So our challenge to you is this: be brave and gain the favor of fortune and love!

Sweet 16

by admin on August 9, 2010

Sweet Tee turned Sweet 16 yesterday. In honor of his special day, Mav wrote this little poem for him:

Rebecca and Tom sure had it made,
Seven years of sweet marital bliss.
But this was all about to change;
And it started one fall night with a kiss.

The months moved on and Rebecca got round,
August 8, 1994 came along rather swift.
Before you knew it, they were not alone,
As they were delivered a strange little gift.

In honor of generations past,
And the men that came before,
They bequeathed this gift the name,
Of Thomas Austin Hill Number Four.

The years sped by fast and this young feller did grow.
Only he was rather pencil like.
But no matter how gawky and awkward,
He was, a cute little tyke.

But now he is 16 with puberty in full swing;
He thinks he’s a man of the world.
He really has no clue what is going on,
And he has never even kissed a real girl.

He is a smart enough fellow, just ask him,
Though his book learning and grades may not show it,
He’d still tell a surgeon just where to cut,
And a glassblower just how to blow it.

As he ventures out behind the wheel,
With ample confidence at his side,
Give him wide berth and plenty of space,
For his skills do not equal his pride.

If he ever happens to meet that girl,
And she says “Yes” to lunch and a show,
Austin you better remember,
Respect her and “No” means “NO”!

His folks did their best and raised him right.
Gave him lessons that will last all his life.
However, we can all be sure of one thing.
He’s not taking one of my daughters as a wife.

Now Sweet T wants to be a Pirana.
He thinks he’s all stud like and cool.
But he is still a little Momma’s boy.
Who often acts like a first class mule.

Austin as your Godfather, I must bestow,
Wisdom and honorable words that the truth cannot hide.
It’s simple; Experience is the best teacher,
And Love’s power cannot be denied.

In parting let me get sentimental,
As a young man I rank you #1.
I really enjoy being your friend,
And consider you my very own son.

HAPPY 16TH AUSTIN

Training for the Fall

by admin on August 8, 2010

Well, the Piraña’s have not died, they just got really busy and forgot to post stuff here…

While it is currently 2 Billion degrees, fall is just around the corner and there is a full calendar of training and racing up ahead.

September brings the Turkey & Taturs Trail Race in Tulsa, OK. This 50K run is hosted by friend of the Piraña’s, Brian Hoover, and is part of the great work that the Tulsa Area Trail and Ultra Runners do. TNT is rocky, rooty, steep and hot. FUN!

September also brings the Redman Triathlon back to beautiful Lake Hefner in OKC. Brother Big is the Race Director Extraordinaire and he has developed the Redman into a world class event.

October finds Mav and T3 headed to Montana for the Le Grizz 50 miler. This point-to-point course takes runners through rolling hill along the Hungry Horse Reservoir. The name is intentional as grizzly bear sightings are not uncommon.

November brings back the third and FINAL Mother Road 100. Previous runnings of the Mother Road took participants from Arcadia to Sapulpa (2006) and then from Elk City to Yukon (2008). This year runners will start in Baxter Springs, KS and run back to Catossa. There are special awards for all those who complete all three MR100’s.

Piraña at the Point!

by admin on May 22, 2010

West Point that is!

Today, Brother Samsonite will graduate from West Point. The Corps takes to the Plain today at 10:30 a.m. (EDST) for the Class of 2010 Graduation Parade.

You can watch the ceremony live here:

Watch West Point Graduation LIVE

Brother Samsonite sent this pic at 5:30am as he was getting ready for the day:

The Pirañas are proud to have Samsonite as a brother and wish him all the best as he embarks on his career in the Army. Hooooah!