Back To Basics

Christmas always brings about something special... my favorite outfit of the year! This one really was special, not that it's the best outfit ever but the clothing that I was able to acquire to make it all possible. The acrimonious shirt beneath the scarf is a lambskin over shirt. The company is VLuxe by Lucky Nahum, he was a designer from New York. I have owned some of his clothing before, a few pieces still around, but in 2008 he went out of business as he was a few years ahead of his time. This shirt was designed to be worn as a shirt over a shirt but not to be referenced as a jacket. The scarf is a 100% cashmere blend by Jos. A Bank, the earth tone adds a brilliancy of dimensional colors. The slacks are a very traditional seer sucker pattern blue and white and the million dollar hit were I finally acquired my very first pair of Moreschi shoes, these are a deer skin monk strap in bourdeaux!

On another note, I have gained a new blog to document my running as I have lost the direction of this website some time ago. You can find my running documentaries at Claimyourjourney.com/Blogs and just look for me! That's if you're interested. I want to bring this blog back to the basics of its inception, Fashion!

Conversation 12/22

Me: We have an awesome company! Do you ever fear someone will come and buy you out one day?

Boss: You're asking if I'm afraid that someone will force me in to early retirement as a millionaire? ...Terrified.

Proteigon

Best stop motion ever! Pretty kick ass song too!

Trail Running Psychology

It's only been a few months since I began this new phenomenon of my punitive existence, but it has proved more fecund than I initially anticipated. I think all of us who commit to activity such as running, start with a very simple and acrimonious agenda, but as we become more and more inundated with the Bucephalus of that endeavor, the truth (even unbeknownst to us) becomes clear!

For me trail running was something to do because it was new and hip, so to speak. I thought it would be fun and ultimately take me out of my comfort zone, well it did just that and much much more.

We as people scurry quite fixedly about our day, constantly conversing about whats to come, tomorrow, the next day, next week, next year even. We query the time, not to know what is now, but rather to gauge what we can do in the allotted time of day that is left. We treat time as though it were the facet of all that is true and righteous, thusly, we are a slave to the future as the present does not concern us less tragedy befall that moment. What we don't realize is that the very future that we pine to arrive only so we can forget it, will eventually be the present and just like that (Vroom) it's gone again!

Trail running doesn't allow the future to exist without recognition of the present, if you attempt to circumvent the present, the future will know and you will be punished. In my trail running I have learned a few things, "eventually I will get to my final destination so the time doesn't matter. I do not care where I have to go, my only concern is where I am now. The next step will allow for the steps to follow, without that step, I AM standing still, keep moving! How will feel in 5 miles? Doesn't matter, how do I feel now matters!"

I hadn't realized until recently, my psychology on the trail was carrying over in to my psychology off the trail, and it was working. I was treating my days like a trail run, my week like chain of trail runs. Whether in the office or on the trail or even at home, you have good hours and you have bad hours. The good hours, those are easy, no worries there, but the bad hours are the test to what you can accomplish. If I am running Chicot I know I have 22 miles ahead of me, no turn or decision will change that once I go. In those 22 miles there are good hours and there are absolute shit hours. In the 8+ hours I work in a day, the same rules apply. So as cliche as it sounds, it is literally one step at a time.

I didn't think I was coming to this conclusion. It was not a gradual epiphany, I woke up and I realized it all at once. Trail running has been a major benefit, and quite frankly I am lost without it as of late, I am hoping to regain my trails slowly starting next week I will run 10 with Geaux Run at Chicot. I am a bit scared as I do not feel 100% yet despite no pain being present anymore. We shall see what happens. Just keep running!

Unparalyzed Paralympian

UTRECHT, The Netherlands - Paralympic silver medalist Monique van der Vorst has miraculously become an able-bodied Olympic hopeful after a crash reversed her paralysis.

Paralyzed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women's professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.

While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst's feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs.

When she was 13, van der Vorst — good at tennis and hockey — suffered nerve damage during a routine ankle operation and was paralyzed from the hip down, according to the U.K. Telegraph.

She also sustained a spinal cord injury in 2008, when she was struck by a car while hand cycling through Amsterdam, the Telegraph added.

She told Reuters that when she took her first steps again in July 2010, she felt just like a child learning to walk.

"I wanted to jump in the air for joy," van der Vorst said this week, and recalled how great and surprising it was to look at herself standing in front of a mirror.

Doctors have no explanation for her amazing recovery. Some believe the trauma of her last accident may have jolted her body back into activity.

But the realities of her new-found joy also put an immediate end to a successful athletic career.

"Although walking is the best thing you could do in life, I immediately missed the sport, the people and the challenges," van der Vorst said.

Rehabilitation and physiotherapy with an athletic focus strengthened her and as soon as she sat on a bike she again wanted to give it a try.

"The spirit is in my body," she said.

Despite a near-crash the first time she cautiously climbed aboard a racing bicycle for able-bodied athletes, van der Vorst got back on her bike and carried on to complete a painful and slow 30 km training route and has not looked back since.

Although she is not on the same cycling level as the other women on the Rabobank cycling team, her willpower is enormous and the team isconfident van der Vorst will quickly catch up.

When you consider van der Vorst won two silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, was elected Dutch disabled athlete of the year in 2009, was the first handcycle athlete to win the 2009 Ironman world championship in Hawaii, her goal of riding in the 2016 Rio Olympics does not appear unrealistic.

Cajun Coyote 2011

It started as a relatively normal Saturday in Chicot State Park, I was there for a run although I was not to be the one running. It was the Cajun Coyote trail race and I was working the first aid station with Edie Riedel of Geaux Run. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but what ensued was to be mind altering and potentially life changing. As I write this I am given to believe that I will not find my creative dialect of adjectives to adequately describe what I felt for this event, but I will try nonetheless.

The race was set to take place offering 3 different distances, a 20 mile loop, a 100k (60 mile) loop, and the rugged 100 miler. I had previously agreed to aid Edie for the duration of the race, and as I am true to my word I was there with clothing, sleeping bag and pillow.

I arrived in Chicot at approximately 4:30 in the morning on Saturday with equipment in tow. I was able to sleep for about an hour once I arrive, and at 6:30 a.m. the race was off, at least for the 100 milers. I still had no idea what was in store for me. I will take this opportunity to congratulate my twitter friend @LSUBeerRunner Brenton Day on the 20 mile victory and my good friend and trail running colleague Nathan Shull for a graceful victory in 100k (his first time running 100k mind you).

There were 30 100 milers and at 7:06 the first 100 miler came to our aid station (we were mile 4, first aid station in the clock wise direction). Everyone stood in awe as Tetsuro Ogata aka Buford (all trail runners have weird trail names, mine is Vuijsters (pronounced Vies-Stirs), I will explain that later) approached only 46 minutes after the race start. (The first 4 miles of Chicot are the hilliest and typically our saturday group takes a little over 1 hour to overcome, he did it 46 minutes). Of course the comments start, "there is no way he can hold that pace for 100 miles..." Shortly thereafter (7 minutes) Mossie Smith aka Lion-O approaches. Now both Buford & Lion-O had smiles on their faces, no grimace of pain and when I say the most polite people I have ever met, I mean it. These guys were top notch polite, despite Buford's broken English.

Hours went by that created oblivion to our time concepts. We conversed with every runner who came through and the service we provided to them was second to none. It was an honor to serve the men and women that approached us, and my heart was graced by their efforts.

Morning turned to noon and noon turned to night and the party and festivities of the faithful remnant runners began to depart from the Geaux Run aid station leaving only the company of our thoughts and short stories. It was me, Edie, Phil & Nick, and our bonding though not intentional was inevitable.

It was the wee hours of the night that brought to me the state of mind that would eventually alter my mood. After awaking from a few hours nap, around 5:30 a.m. I awoke to find only 1 runner had come through since 3:30 that morning. It was then that I realized what I had signed up for. I was here to witness greatness, I was fated to witness the act of human heroics. The moon shined effervescently through the trees above and coyotes sang brilliant hymns as the stars danced to the harmony of the elements surrounding.

As the sun rose once more a car approached, it was Lion-O. I was a bit startled.. Perplexed by his arrival I approached him cautiously, as though approaching a lion, uncaged and untamed. He was walking (a surprise) and of course, smiling. He had come by to thank us, as he had thanked us every time we'd seen him on the course. I couldn't believe it, I began to choke up. Here was an individual who had suffered 100 miles for 18+ hours (18:49) and here he was thanking us for our service. Was he serious? I was floored, in every word escaping my lips I fought to hold back tears, had one dropped fallen, I would have come undone.

The station was torn down and Edie and I headed back to the Start/Finish line, upon our entrance we saw a runner from Boston approaching the final 100 meters, he looked over at Edie and smiled as she encouraged him along. Here it came again, damn tears. I walked in to the pavillion and saw true heroes, I saw people that story books are written about.  I now realize that I witnessed what are truly unsung and untold heroes. These men and women will drive home (after running 100 miles) and people will never know the greatness that they accomplished.

In every passing visit from these runners I learned a little more and more about them. I saw people in their lowest and highest moment, and in that I learned the greatness of humanity lies in the highs and the lows of life. When I saw them at their lowest my respect grew and grew, and despite their desolate battered and beaten bodies, I glowing faces and radiant spirits. Although I may never be a 100 miler, I will forever respect and admire those that are, and given the very opportunity to support them in any way I shall.

To Edie Riedel, thank you so much for the opportunity to serve these men and women! It is an experience I will never forget.


P.S. - Tetsuro Ogata finished first and Mossie Smith finished second.

C&R Quality Cleaners

It started as an unfortunate event, but ended in honesty and incredible customer service, two things I cannot dis-count.

Two weeks ago I went to gather a few items from the cleaners as they had called and said my habiliments were ready. The garments included a pair of Zanella black and white hounds tooth pants, and 3 button down oxford dress shirts. I have been a customer of this cleaners for approximately 8 years now and have never had any reason to check my clothing upon departure, so I exchanged pleasantries with the ladies behind the counter and headed off home. A week went by and it came time for me to wear the hounds tooth slacks, much to my surprise, they were ruined. I opened my suit bag, removed the pants from the cleaners packaging and froze.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing, my slacks, my go to favorite get me out of a clothing pinch when I need you slacks... not to mention they were probably the most expensive pair I had in my closet. I began to notice the actual hounds tooth pattern was not the same as it had been when I first dropped them off, so I compared the pants to the suit they accompanied, nope, no match. I then noticed the pockets were frayed, the belt loops were undone, the seem along the top of the pants had separated and the lining behind the zipper had been torn completely. I called my wife over and asked her to inspect, she saw all the same problems as I and we agreed, these weren't my pants. Turns out they were!

I called C&R Quality cleaners the next day and spoke briefly to Mrs. Anita. I explained my dilemma and she merely requested I bring them by. I was there the next day!

C&R stated they would inspect the pants, speak with the owner and call me. My qualms were upon me. What was to be the retribution? How do I qualify an appropriate reprisal? If a friend damaged a suit or pants to a suit and the pants were no longer available, do I require him to replace with an appropriate pair of equal value? I plagued myself with these thoughts for a couple of days, then it came to me.

There is a level of responsibility we all take when entrusting our belonging with others. In that, there is a sort of psychology we adopt in knowing our products will be taken care of. If a friends lets me borrow a book and I lose it I would be certain to replace it. If I entrust a pair of $300 pants to a friend and he damages on accident, what then? There are a few ways to look at it, pick your own, but in my present situation with the cleaners, I merely accepted the loss and requested I be treated to an allotted amount services at no cost. I would be lying if I say the cleaners weren't pleasantly surprised with my offer. They called offering a replacement, I declined stating personal responsibility.

The next day I received a phone call from the owner Miles Frank. His words were very apologetic and thankful for my position on the matter. He doubled my service request based on my attitude toward the situation. He was very kind and certainly did not owe me a phone call for any reason. My dealings were with is employees and they had handled the situation with care, I was disappointed in my lose, but very pleased in the resulting customer service.

Life goes on, and lessons are learned. There is a time and a place for the eye for an eye retribution approach, then there are times for understanding and forgiveness.