Everything you’ve ever done, at some point, you did for the first time. You reach a time in your life when sex drugs and rock & roll has been each been checked off your slate of firsts, and at this time you wonder what firsts are left…I have found three. At thirty-one years old I have tried many many things for a first and often only time. After returning to Wisconsin after 10+ years making trouble elsewhere, I decided it was time to dig deep and find some new firsts.
The Big Three:
1- Spencer James Laga was born July 27, 2007. Emily and I are first-time parents!
2- Graduate school finished with a bang and I am a first-time teacher.
3- After dabbling with the idea of ultrathons, I gave the Kettle Moraine 40 miler a try (the short course that runs simultaneously to the KM100 to keep the trail active at night), and I loved it…so this June 7 and 8, I will attempt my first 100 miler! The Kettle Moraine 100…why the hell not?!
Obviously, none of this would be possible, plausible, or fun without Emily. Anyone that actually does peer at this blog will hear plenty about her, and see plenty of pics. She allows me to pursue my dream of remaining forever 13 years old.
Sponsors:
As my marathon career (as short as it may be) got slightly more serious, I looked for financial support to help keep the sport within my reach. New shoes every 450 miles goes fast when you are pounding on so many training miles. And even worse, to keep my frame at a minimum of 160 pounds, I really don’t want to ever see it get smaller than that, I am forced to eat, while in heavy training, at least 4000 calories a day! When I am nearing peak weekly mileage, I cap out at 6000 calories each day to avoid weight loss. That is both nasty and expensive!
Scott Hoffman, AKA Baby Daddy of the Scissor Sisters www.scissorsisters.com (I prefer to think of him as sugar daddy) jumped on board with a ridiculously generous contribution. For the past two years, I have been able to replenish shoes, receive VO2 max testing, meet with a trainer a couple of times, and pay for race entry fees all with the help of Scott. I could not be more thankful. Not too mention, that the Scissor Sisters have provided me with irreplaceable music to train to on slump days. There is no way to stay in a slump when the Scissor Sisters are pumping in your ears! Check them out please at www.scissorsisters.com YOU WILL LOVE THEM!
Doug and Jenny Bertram www.invivowellness.com - My ambassadors of Acupuncture, Herbology, and all things eastern medicine! Doug and Jenny have not only been wonderful friends, they have selflessly given me physical support, training confidence, spiritual centering, not to mention have both played instrumental roles in Emily’s late days of pregnancy. They are the two people I trust more than anyone with my body. I am so excited to work with Doug as I prepare for this 100 miler. Check them out and use them, it is worth whatever mileage you may have to driveJ See what they are all about at www.invivowellness.com
Gary Robbins www.garyrobbins.blogspot.com - If you know him, you’re lucky, if not, I hope your path crosses with his at some point. You have to check this idiot’s blog out, he is one of a kind! We met on an island, played hard, dove often, and as neighbors with thin wall, I actually heard him pee in his closet in one of many drunken stupors.
Emily and I traveled to British Columbia to see Gary in the summer of 05’ (wow that was a long time ago). We took on our first adventure race, I ran my first trails, and an athletic bond was forged. Now, in fairness to my own mortality, Gary Robbins is a world-class ultrathon runner and expedition racer, I am not. That being said, Gary has provided me with wisdom and tips that money can’t buy (or at least on a teachers income). He has offered more inspiration than I can even digest. With some luck and planning, Gary and I will race together someday (every team needs an weak spot). Gary also donated my headlamp, which is the envy of everyone in the Midwest!
My Blog:
I will yap on endlessly about life as a new dad, new teacher, and a detailed log of my training for the Kettle Moraine 100. I will try to include pictures of fun trail runs, awesome pictures of Spencer, but will have to hold off on pics of my students (who knows what creeps scan random blogs). I will undoubtedly ramble on about the Packers as well. Sorry Gary, but the Lions really fell apart this season. That’s what you get for a being a Canadian rooting for the wrong northern team.
Enjoy
