Bunion Derby The 1928 Footrace Across America

Tanya and I received an awesome gift in the mail yesterday. The gift was and autographed hardback copy of the "Bunion Derby The 1928 Footrace Across America". I can't wait to pour a big cup of coffee and sink into the pages and retrace the steps of these early ultra runners as they ran across America.
Mr. Charles B. Kastner included a letter that said.
"Dear Dr. Marc and Tanya:
First off, I want to thank you for including some of my stories from Blackpast.org in your blog. There is a rich and deep history of black runners who literally risked their lives to compete in long distance races such as the Bunion Derby of 1928. I'm proud I had a part in bringing the stories of these brave men to the attention of the running community. Eddie Gardner, Toby Joseph Cotton, and Sammy Robinson, (and a host of others I've yet to discover) should be celebrated as not only pioneer ultra-runners that pushed back frontiers of what was then thought possible, but also as civil resisters in the same light as Gandhi or Martin Luther King.

I say this because these men knowingly risked their lives for something they believed in. The forces of Jim Crow were aligned against them. They easily could have been killed and nothing would have happened to the perpetrators as the derby followed Route 66 across Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. But they didn't give up and gave hope to thousands of African Americans who watched them on their perilous journey across the Old South.

I've included a signed copy of my book for you. Thanks again for including my stories on your blog.

Best wishes,
Charles Kastner"

Tanya and I thought this was a thoughtful and special gift from Mr. Kastner, and we wanted to share the good news.

Today is also Juneteeth which signifies the day in 1865 the slaves of Texas were freed; 2 1/2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery. Imagine that!

If you don't know your past, you don't know your future.

Mr. Kastner thank you for sharing the entire story of the Bunion Derby.

Brand New Adventure

Yesterday began a new chapter in our evolution as athletes; Indoor Rock Climbing. Tanya had been wanting to give climbing a try for months, we went to the local indoor climbing club and had a ball!!

Tanya keeping a close eye on me as I scale the wall like Spider man! What a trust builder!! Tanya my life is in your hands, please don't let go of that rope!

That's me doing my best to look confident, it's a long way down. Grip don't fail me now!!

Doesn't she make everthing look easy. Are you Rock Climbing, or just looking cute!

This is called bouldering, no ropes, no harness, just a padded floor for when you fall. Much more challenging than it looks.

We had a great time and a strenuous work-out, rock climbing is a definite total body work-out. Loved it!! Your balance and core strength are really challenged. The total body work-out it delivers I think will help tremendously in running especially technical trail running. We can't wait to go back!! Marc and Tanya

San Diego 100: Rocks, Rocks, and more ROCKS

I am disappointed to tell you Tanya and I DNF'ed at mile 70; but I will follow with a race report in the next day or two.

I know I said I would write a race report on the SD100, but I just can't get up to it. I guess I just want to put it behind and move forward. I'm not a sour grape about it, I just don't want to elaborate about it. It just wasn't our day, Tanya or I. We are looking forward to new adventures and races :) So I am sorry to disappoint anyone who may have been interested in reading a report.
"Sometimes you have to live to fight another day"
Peace
MJ

GRAND CANYON 2008: video shorts

RIVER CROSSING


RIBBON FALLS


CRAZY SQUIRREL

Views of Bermuda

BERMUDA DREAMING

Of all the races I have ever run, I have never felt so much LOVE. The people of Bermuda are fantastic.
BERMY LOVE !!!

View of St. Georges from St. Davids Island
Another view of St. Georges Harbor
Bridges connecting St. Davids Island to St Georges Island
Gombeys during the "24th of May Parade"
The St. Georges Majorettes

Tanya and the newest member of the family Zori and my Mom after the run enjoying the parade

Grand Canyon and Beyond

It has been a few weeks since Tanya and I posted.
We checked out for a few weeks.
I wanted to bring you up to date on our adventures. Our trekk across the Grand Canyon was a blast. If you have the opportunity to visit and run there, Do it! It will be an experience you will never forget!! Words can't explain the beauty and vast size of the place; so I will let pictures do all the talking.
The Monday after the Grand Canyon we jumped on a plane; and spent 2 weeks on the pink sand beaches of Bermuda. While there we ran the Bermuda Days 1/2 marathon which takes place on the island holiday "The 24th of May". I have to honestly say of all of the races I have run, I had never felt so much LOVE from the crowd. I can't wait to go back and run this race next year.
Note: if your not a local (Bermudian: Tanya is, I'm not) you cannot run the race officially. So I did not get an official time, but it was a blast!!

DAY ONE

GOING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH

VIEW FROM THE TOP LOOKING NORTH
BRIGHT ANGEL TRAIL BELOW
GROUP SHOT
THE DAY HAS JUST BEGUN
THE COLORADO RIVER BELOW

JEANNETTE COOLING OFF AT RIBBON FALLS

TANYA STRIKING A POSEMAC STUNNED BY THE COLD WATER

CACTUS FLOWER IN FULL BLOOMTREKKING OFF TRAILHEADING UP THE NORTH RIMCATHY AND DAVID RELAXING AFTER GETTING TO THE NORTH RIM

DAY TWO

THE NORTH RIM LODGE HEY WAIT FOR MESNOW STILL ON THE NORTH SIDE

TANYA HEADING DOWN THE NORTH SIDE HEADING BACK ACROSS THE COLORADO RIVERGETTING CLOSE TO THE TOP

HE WAS ONLY A FEW FEET OFF THE TRAIL!

TANYA AND JEANNETTE WAITING FOR THE TROOPS TO FINISH

Happy Trails,

Marc and Tanya