Friendship,Quicksilver,Bo and Woody

Friendship, Quicksilver, Bo and Woody

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Muhammad Ali

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_friendship.html#5WBsyxIZG7Vy5uyq.99

Thursday, Tony and I did our last the 5 mile or so tapering run/walk. We talked about high school, girls, football, present-day politics, and the media. What is said (a rule)on the trail ,stays on the trail.

Friday, Linda, Tony, Jonathan, Tara, Madhu, Farah and I left for the Quicksilver trail race in San Jose. I was happy to learn that Madhu, at one time worked in the Bay Area, and has entered the Quicksilver 50 mile race numerous times. Unfortunately, Farah is still recovering from an injury and will not participate in the run. Because it is Madhu’s 55^th birthday this month, he facilitated and organized our participation. Tonight,  we’re going to meet at Bellagio’s for a pre race dinner.

Ride and Tie competitors Jonathan, Tara, Tony, Linda and I are lodging nearby the race site. If it wasn’t for Tony, I might not have become involved in this special sport nor developed a friendship with him. I first met Tony at  the ride and tie event at Mount Hamilton in 1997. And my first ride and tie event, in 1997, was at Quicksilver.

It might’ve been around 2003 or 2004, when I first met Jonathan. Guess what? I met him at the Quicksilver Ride and Tie. He came all the way from Southern California to participate in the event. I’ve stayed at Tara and Jonathan’s home many times over the years. Jonathan and I  have also partnered up for a number of ride and tie events including the World Championship in 2008 and the Swanton Pacific 100 miler in 2008 (incidentally we won it). Jonathan comes up and runs the Way Too Cool 50 K. with Tony and me.  Incidentally, a few years ago, Tara also came up to run the event as well.

Tara, Jonathan, Tony and I have entered the 25K. So I am looking forward to getting together with friends and especially participating in a trail run race. The four of us, I believe, are in different age groups (40,50,60 and70)for this run unless they stick me in Tony’s.  That has happened before and Tony got a big kick out of that.

Tony, in the 60-99 age groups, broke 3 hours, came in 2^nd, got a medal   Saturday and was pleased.

On the way to San Jose, Linda and I met with Mike Keller the All-American from the University of Michigan and former Dallas Cowboys  NFL player. Mike is the man responsible for setting up and implementing the professional Spring Football League which will debut in 2014.

I told Mike that one idea for my book is to interview Wolverines and Buckeyes who played for  coaches Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. If you’re not familiar with those two names, I suggest you Google  them. My idea at this point, is to talk about their “ mental toughness “ on the football field. I’m also interested in exploring how “mental toughness” served  them later in life. Those two coaches battled and   in what were called by the media “the ten year  wars( 1969-1978). ”

Remember my friends, keep moving, laughing, smiling and belly breathing.