Know Your Pace Race

Today, we did a race where finishing first meant nothing and guessing right meant everything. What kind of event was it? Well, it is called the Know Your Pace Race, and it is the only other race permitted on the famous 4.748 mile long Manchester Road Race course. Hosted by the Silk City Striders running club, the race is to see who can run closest to their estimated finishing time. Whether you run fast or slow, you have the same chance to win. Watches, iPods, and GPS’s are banned. You have to right down your estimated finishing time on your race application and then go out and run.

The winner was our friend, John Collins, Jr., who ran :06 faster than his estimate of 32:32. The real race is on Thanksgiving Day, so unless you were racing for one of the coveted seeding cards, you were taking it easy today and just trying to run your pace. John scored some nice home-baked brownies. All of the winner’s took home-baked goods. Barbara Dell was second at :07 seconds off, and Manny Madalena was third at :08 off. Full results here.

Debbie and I ran with the kids. Since our Chariot CX-2 hasn’t arrived yet, we were forced to use two jog strollers. We ran together and we were way off in our estimate. We thought we would run 53:00 and we were more than 11:00 minutes faster than that. Oh well! Our guess put us third from last, which is kind of funny. Fortunately, the rest of the races we run favor the fleet of feet!

An even 100 people ran the course today. There were dozens of other folks out “training” in advance of Turkey Day. 100 runners heading up Highland Street, adorned in reflective orange vests (for safety on a busy Saturday morning) was a cool site. On Thursday, there will be more than 10,000 runners on the course…but no cars.

2009 New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series

The final New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series standings were calculated and posted this week on the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club website. 2100 runners ran at least one Grand Tree race and 75 runners completed the series by finishing a minimum of six races. Ben Nephew was the men’s champ once again, with a 99.85% average. He beat out Brian Rusiecki by only 0.02%. That is pretty close!

Debbie Livingston’s streak of six titles was snapped this year. The timing of her pregnancy was different from 2006 when she won the series by accumulating enough races early in her term and then again after the birth of our son. This year, she only finished four series races during her pregnancy and hasn’t raced since the birth of our daughter in September. Of course, that shouldn’t take away from the awesome season that this year’s winner, Amy Lane, had. She did 12 races and had a 80.92% average. Lisa Doucett was a distant second place for women. If Amy races the series in 2010, and if Debbie makes a successful comeback, then they should give each other some solid competition.

The Stonehead award goes to the runners who have the most total points. Stanislav Trufanov, who ran 15 races, and Michelle Roy, who ran 17 races, took those titles. Thomas Parker ran 19 of the 22 races, which was the most of any runner. I completed seven races and finished 10th in the series with 86.19% average. I raced at a much higher level than ever before. I only had two bad races. Greylock was slow, but it was the day after the Pat Griskus Olympic Distance Triathlon. My other dog was Wapack, which was painful because it was my first race back after Ironman Lake Placid and a three-month layoff from trail running. I hurt my ankle in that race and I’m still nursing the injury. I had a blast at my other five races: Northern Nipmuck, Seven Sisters, Nipmuck Trail Marathon, Breakneck, and Monroe/Dunbar Brook.

Debbie and I plan to tackle the Grand Tree again in 2010.

Inside Business Report with Fred Thompson

Several weeks ago, I started getting messages on my work voicemail from Inside Business Report with Fred Thompson. They chased me hard. The person calling said it was important and that they wanted to feature Horst Engineering on their television show. It has become an instinct to instantly Google anything that I’m not familiar with. I typed the name of the show into the search field and tracked down their lame website.

I knew it was a scam from the get go. The host is Fred Thompson, but at the time, the site hadn’t been updated with fresh news in a month. I’m not sure whose pockets are getting lined with the income, but it was a weak pitch. Since I’m curious about these things, I phoned the “assistant to the producer.” He never gave more than his first name. He insisted that I set up a meeting with the producer to discuss Horst Engineering’s segment. So, I went along with it and set up a phone call.

The producer dialed me at the scheduled time and I listened to him go on and on about the value of the show and how many people watched it. I inquired how he found Horst Engineering. He told me that their “research analysts” tracked us down. He mentioned something about featuring manufacturing and that our story would be great for the show. So, knowing how much research they did to find us, I asked him what kind of manufacturing we did. He avoided the question and went on again about manufacturing in general. I cut him off at the knees by inquiring about their lousy website. He made some excuse about not updating it. So, knowing that this TV show was interested more in our money than our story, I asked him how much they were charging for Horst Engineering to be on the segment. He didn’t flinch. He said, “$19,000.” I simply said, please remove us from your calling list.

The funny part about the story is that the “assistant to the producer” must have mixed up his files. He called again this week, as if we had never spoken before. This time, I think he got the message.

Business Wisdom You Can’t Buy

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending a small breakfast education event that had a big impact. Our group of business leaders got to hear from three Connecticut retail industry leaders: Jack Mitchell of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs, Suzanne Zarilli of Wish List, and Roxanne Coady of RJ Julia Independent Booksellers. All three lead businesses that were among the first businesses to feel the economic downturn. In the case of Mitchells/Richards/Marshs and Wish List, they sell high-end fashions (one really high-end and one casual high-end) and are based in the southwestern part of Connecticut. They were both affected by the financial industry collapse because their clients were right at the epicenter. Fairfield County is a bedroom community for many Wall Street employees. As for RJ Julia, they were already in a tough market before the collapse. As one of the last remaining successful independent book stores, they are faced with fierce competition from both larger chain store rivals and the Internet. They have managed to succeed despite difficult circumstances. The key is that they focus on their niche and execute.

I though Manufacturing was a tough market to be in, but when you hear war stories from retailers, you realize that all business is tough. Their challenges are different from ours, but no less significant. All three CEO’s spoke eloquently about their businesses. You can’t help but be motivated when you hear success stories from small business leaders. I always come away from these events with fresh ideas and a new perspective. Jack Mitchell was funny and interesting. His “heart and head” approach to management isn’t rocket science, but it is a simple mantra that you can repeat. In addition to being one of the second generation leaders of his family’s business, he is a best-selling author. Jack wrote Hug Your Customers and Hug Your People. Both books share his theme of leading with kindness.

I often seek out the counsel of business leaders like these three. At Horst Engineering, we do this within our industry on many fronts. We exchange ideas about technology, lean enterprise, and business development. Earlier this month, two peer companies allowed us to tour their plants and see some awesome manufacturing equipment. Sharing best practices is a sure way to advance your own objectives. When you gather the ideas that others have to offer, you form your own approach. In business, as in sport, you have to learn from the best if you aspire to be the best.

CFPA Trails Dinner

I’m just getting around to posting about the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Trails Dinner. Last week, we joined our CFPA friends at this annual event. A few years ago, we were presenters at the dinner. We gave our Long Trail End-to-End Hike slide show. This year, we were just attendees, but attendees with a cause. We were there to celebrate the great work that CFPA’s Trails Committee and Trail Managers have done on the Blue Blazed Hiking Trail System.

Connecticut has the best trail system in the country, with more than 825 miles of rugged walking routes. The Trail Managers maintain these trails all year-long, and the dinner recognizes their achievements. Hikers and trail runners would have nowhere to go if it wasn’t for trail maintainers. They deserve the recognition that they get.

Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross, Day 2

I’m so glad to not have mud everywhere. The past two cross races have left me with grit in my teeth and my gears. Yesterday and today (especially today) were a different story. Today felt like summer. It was actually dusty on the course! Day 2 of the Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross was spectacular. The weather conditions in Northampton, Massachusetts couldn’t have been better. I wore a skinsuit for the second day in a row and it was noticeably warmer. The temperature rose to the high-60’s (F) and people were lounging around in shorts thanks to the brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.

Cyclocross is supposed to be cold, windy, and wet, but no one was complaining today. Once again, I did the 35+ race with teammates Wade Summers and Matt Domnarski. Wade had a fine ride to lead our little group. Matt and I finished close together, but a ways back in the pack. Matt was the victim of a couple of crashes, including one where his tire rolled off the rim. He fought back and caught me on the last lap. I felt a little better today, but was still slow. I neglected to put my heart rate monitor on, so I didn’t get any HR data to compare with yesterday. The top three were a little different. Roger Aspholm took first. Matt Kraus was second and Kevin Hines took third. Yesterday’s winner, Jonny Bold, was fourth.

Unlike yesterday, when we left early to explore Northampton, we stayed to watch the elite races. I got to break out my camera and take some photos. The women’s race was very entertaining with Mary McConneloug taking her second win in a row. Laura Van Gilder was second and Natasha Elliot was third. Mary opened an early gap and was able to hold it by riding all of the toughest obstacles, including the sand pit and the uphill. It was impressive to watch these top women tackle the course. A fair number of spectators stayed to watch, but cyclocross isn’t like the old days when everyone who raced earlier in the day would stay to go nuts for the elites.

The men’s race started out wildly for the second day in a row. There was another crash in the opening 50 meters of the race (on the pavement) that eliminated several top riders from contention. Adam Craig, a top-level mountain biker, was one of the big names that lost time to the crash. It was a shame to see such a big pileup of guys that should know how to handle their bikes. At least one rider was taken away in an ambulance. A touch of a wheel or a rub of the bars is all it takes to go down when you are packed in tight. These guys are so aggressive and they let it all hang out in an effort to get that hole shot. I know that most of these guys are young, but wait till they settle down and have kids…they will probably mellow out.

Jamey Driscoll won today after taking second yesterday. He was followed by Nicholas Weighall and Derrick St. John. Today’s race was faster because there was one less run up and the course was drier. That made the gaps closer, though Driscoll was never really challenged. The speed at which these top guys ride is truly amazing. Their power and form is really top-notch, which is the combination required to excel at cyclocross.

The elite races were fun, but I think the most entertaining event was the kids race. They had a dedicated course set up so that the little guys could challenge themselves at cross. Our guys are a bit too young, but we thoroughly enjoyed watching the other little cyclists attack the cross course.

Look Park was glorious again. Our family took the time to explore the various playgrounds and the zoo. Chanced are that the rain and mud will be back next weekend, but for a day, it dry, sunny, and fabulous.

Day 2 Race Results

NoHo

After today’s race, we went to downtown Northampton for some lunch and shopping.

I finally got to eat at Bela Vegetarian Restaurant. We are mostly in NoHo on Sunday’s when they are closed. Today, we had lunch there and enjoyed the vegetarian fare. NoHo was hopping thanks to the abundant sunshine and mild temperature.

After lunch, we made a short walking loop of the downtown, stopping to peruse the clearance items at The Mountain Goat, a nice independent outdoor retailer. We also went to Thornes Marketplace and to a new toy store in town. It was a nice afternoon with the family. We had a new experience on the way home. We got to visit a rest stop/scenic overlook that we always drive by, but never stop at. It isn’t too scenic from the southbound side of Interstate 91, but the light was nice. Having a seven week old baby forces you to stop in the oddest of places…

Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross, Day 1

Today was day one of the two-day Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. Like The West Hill Shop Cyclocross last week, this is one of New England’s longest running cross races. It is a true classic. The race originated on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in 1990 and moved to Look Park several years ago. Adam Myerson has been the Race Director since the beginning. He is one of New England’s most passionate cyclists and is quite the character. This course is one of the fastest on the circuit and my race today was no different.

I did the 35+ race again, and it was a large field of about 85 riders. I finished towards the back, but that is fine. I just can’t keep up with these guys anymore. Cross has gotten wicked fast and this isn’t my kind of course anyway. The race started like a criterium and then turned into a time trial. I had several teammates in the field. Matt Domnarski led us with the best team finish. Wade Summers was next, then Gary Aspnes, me, and Craig Kennedy. Paul Nyberg did the 45+ race. As for the top three in the 35+ race, the podium spots went to three of the best masters riders in our region. Jonny Bold took the top spot. Kevin Hines was second and Matt Kraus was third.

Cross is great because you end up having a race within the race and competing against the guys around you. You don’t have to be up front to have fun. One thing I don’t like is guys in 60th place that ride as if the victory is on the line. There isn’t any reason to throw elbows when you are so far back, but some riders are compelled to behave like the sport is roller derby. The other thing that is pointless is sprinting for the finish when you are so far back. I finished unscathed, but there was a big wreck behind me that required the ambulance crew’s presence. Not good.

Since the Cycle-Smart cross is part of the Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series, we are racing again tomorrow. The Verge races are all double race weekends. The seven events (14 races) in the series are some of the most well attended races in the country. They attract the fastest racers from the Northeast. So, look for another report filed from Northampton tomorrow.

Day 1 Race Results

West Hill Shop (Putney) Cyclocross

Yesterday’s West Hill Shop Cyclocross Race was my 9th race on the classic Putney course. They have held the race 19 times, so the simple math says that I have missed 10 of them. After taking 2008 off from cyclocross, I’m happy to be back at it, even if it is just for fun. The Putney, Vermont race is one that I didn’t want to miss. It isn’t as large as it used to be and it doesn’t attract as many elite riders (because of competition from races outside of New England), but it still has the best vibe.

The course is laid out around the bike shop, and through the surrounding woods and fields. The course has a classic run up and classic descent. The tight turns make for a fun and challenging loop. Plus, it is in Putney, VT. What could be better? It was a ho hum race for me. I just don’t have the speed for cross right now. I haven’t trained and I’m a bit worn out from the long season. Putney was my 31st race of the year, and with more cyclocross races, the Manchester Road Race, Santa’s Run, Scrooge Scramble and maybe another running race, I’ll be close to 40 by year-end.

My body is sort of telling me to wind it down, but I’m doing cross just for fun. Manchester’s Thanksgiving Day Road Race is my last big objective, but it really isn’t an objective at all. I run it every year and haven’t trained for it in a long time.

With cyclocross, there is no pressure to perform, though when the starter yells, “Go,” I give it my all. I had two teammates in the race yesterday. Matt Domnarski, my shadow from last week, rode much stronger yesterday on the more technical West Hill Shop course. He was 13th in our field. Paul Nyberg was in the Masters 45+ race, but that didn’t stop him from starting a minute back with his field, and then catching me by the end of the race to finish at the same time.

The owners of the West Hill Shop have done a nice job at upgrading the place while maintaining the charm of the classic store. The shop was packed with cool bike and ski items. If you are ever headed north on Interstate 91, take the time to stop at Exit 4. The shop is right off the exit ramp. You won’t regret the experience.

1989 Connecticut State High School Cross Country Championships

Today was the Connecticut High School Cross Country State Championships at Wickham Park in Manchester. I rode by the course on my bike commute home from work last night and it brought back memories of 1989. 20 years ago, my East Catholic High School cross-country team won the Class MM State Championships on the same course. I was a Senior member of the team and was the 4th runner on the team. With that race, we met the expectations of our coach, Paul Haggerty, and ended a multi-year state championship drought (all sports) for the school.

Six days later, on the same course, in epic conditions (wind, rain, and mud), our team placed third in the State Open, which exceeded expectations. Even more spectacular, was the surprise individual victory by my teammate Christopher Ray (a Junior). Chris was seeded 25th and had shown promise all season long, but didn’t have any comparable results. He won dual meets and placed high in the invitationals, but never first in such a talented field. To go out and beat all of the favorites on a muddy course, proved his potential. We ended up getting tons of well deserved attention for both the team and individual results. Our number two runner, Daniel Feehan, also exceeded expectations with an 11th place finish. Dan Thiery was fourth runner for the team that day. I was third, Sean Valencia was fifth man. Greg Ciaglo and Craig Damaschi rounded out our seven man team.

1989 was the year that I really learned about setting goals. Our coach, Paul Haggerty, was an excellent runner with great discipline. He was credible because he could run with us and often outrun us. He was non-traditional. We did focused track workouts in the fall. We did tons of plyometrics, including bounders, and striders. He also made us run a lot of hills. He was a stickler for stretching. Like any group of teenage boys, we drove him absolutely nuts. The night before the class meets, we even phoned him from a pizza parlor and faked like we had been arrested for causing trouble. Looking back, I actually feel sorry for what we put him through, but it was classic rebelliousness at the time.

Coach Haggerty had a saying, “You peak when the leaves fall.” He also said it was good luck to catch leaves. I still maintain that superstition today. All season, we underwhelmed and underperformed. I remember that tensions were high, especially with some of the parents, because he had us training right through the early and mid-season races. We were going to peak late, which in his book, was right on time. He didn’t care about anything but the last two races. In pre-season, he assessed our talent and set winning the Class Meet and finishing top five in the State Open as the prime objectives. Everything else was training.

We nailed it and a much of the credit goes to his coaching. He molded us the way he wanted and fortunately, we all performed. One week after the Open, we went to the New England Championships and as a team, flopped. Several of us actually got sick. With the exception of Chris Ray, who took third place and was again the top Connecticut runner, the rest of us were cooked. We had peaked at the right time and then we were done.

It is cool to look back on that season and the end result, which was great success. My goal and objective setting in business and sport were permanently influenced by what we accomplished back then. Same for teamwork. Looking back, I now understand what Coach Haggerty’s methods were all about.

Vasque Clinic @ North Cove Outfitters

Two nights ago, Debbie presented at North Cove Outfitters, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She represented the Vasque US Trail Running Team and shared her enthusiasm for trail running with a group of fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Several people were new to trail running and looking for more inspiration. Several others had never run trails, but were interested in trying. A few brave souls were particularly interested in hearing about her ultra-marathon trail running adventures. Maybe a 50 kilometer, 50 mile, or 100 mile trail run is on their horizon…

I played the Sherpa Dad role again, which usually consists of multi-tasking with three or more tasks. I manned the audio/video system, took photographs, and watched the kids. I also enjoyed hearing Deb recount some of the awesome adventures that we have had trail running, adventure racing, fast packing, and hiking during the past 10 years. We had fun putting together her presentation because we got to pull out photos from many of our  past adventures.

The folks at North Cove were really helpful and appreciative of her contribution to their weekly seminar series. They have one of the best outdoor gear stores around. No one has more kayaks in stock! We got a chance to chat with the founder/owner, Norm Cavallaro. As a student of business, I know a successful one when I see one. They have a cool culture fueled by employees who love the outdoors. It was a cool night for a cool talk on a cool subject at a cool venue.

Hartford’s North End: Remembering the Old Neighborhood

Last month, I was searching for a gift for my father’s birthday, when I heard a report on the radio about a book called, Remembering the Old Neighborhood. The book chronicles the history of Hartford’s North End. I went on to read a Hartford Courant story about the book. That led me to stop off at the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, to pick up a copy.

Rather than review my comments about the book (I haven’t read the whole thing yet), which I gave to my father, a North End native; you can read a summary at this blog, called Tracing the Tribe. My father, Stanley Livingston, was born in Hartford and grew up on Edgewood Street, a short walk from Keney Park. He is a Weaver High School graduate. My grandmother, Sylvia Hurwitz Livingston, also grew up in the North End. Horst Engineering was founded on Garden Street, four streets over from Edgewood. The business started on the second story of a barn and my grandfather, Harry, operated the business in Hartford for four years before moving it to East Hartford in 1950. We haven’t moved our domestic plant since, and we are badly in need of more space and more modern digs, but that is another story.

Hartford’s North End was a cultural and economic hub for much of its modern history. The neighborhood has changed a lot in the past forty years. A mass migration of predominantly Jewish families, to the suburbs, left the neighborhood to a new generation of residents. My grandparents moved to Bloomfield in the late 1960’s. Nowadays, you cannot ignore the fact that the North End is home to many of the city’s poorest residents. It is also a place where crime thrives. This doesn’t make it a bad place, but it does mean that some of the cultural heritage is lost and that visiting isn’t as pleasant an experience as it once was. I will occasionally ride my bicycle through the neighborhood on a quiet Sunday morning. Fortunately, this new book does a good job at reviving some vibrant memories for the neighborhood’s past residents.

Hartford Cyclocross

The second half of our family fitness double-header was the Hartford Cyclocross at Riverside Park. The race was co-promoted by the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance and the Connecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. These two groups worked together to bring cyclocross back to the Connecticut River waterfront. Riverside Park is a spectacular setting for a cross race, with a great mix of open fields, steep run ups, a treacherous downhill, sand, twisty pavement sections, and fast singletrack.

I donned the cycling gear and planned for a muddy ride. Yesterday’s rain and wind soaked the course. Today’s dry weather was a blessing, but it wasn’t warm enough to dry out the course. That made for a slick tricky loop. There were several category and age group races. I opted for the men’s 35+, as did my teammates Wade Summers, Matt Domnarski, and Art Roti (the co-race director).

I got my Garmin GPS working and it recorded some good data. I didn’t feel that good and the numbers show it. I still had a lot of fun, especially because I spent most of the race riding with Matt. We alternated pulls because he was stronger in some sections and I was stronger in others. I had no snap. Of course, this is only my second cross race in two years. My first was last week at Mansfield Hollow. If I keep at it, I’ll come around. I want to get faster by the end of the season. The 45 minute anaerobic effort takes some getting used to. I’ll give it a go again next Sunday at the classic West Hill Shop Cyclocross in Putney, Vermont. Today’s race was a little longer than the planned 45 minutes. My GPS said 55 minutes at the finish. Matt and I raced a third rider hard for several laps, but we couldn’t shake him and our tactics ultimately didn’t work, and he came around us just before the line. Oh well, like I said, we had a lot of fun.

With the extra mud, we had no problem selling several sets of Horst Spikes. They were in demand, especially after people saw the steep slippery run-up on the dike. I had a fresh set of spikes in my brand new pair of Sidi Dominator shoes. I was product testing in perfect conditions. I would imagine that if the rain keeps coming every couple of days, we might sell out of our stock by mid-November. Hopefully, CCBA and CTNEMBA can collaborate again in 2010 because Hartford deserves to have a cross race every year.

If it isn’t Wall Street or Main Street, it must be a Side Street

What is going on with the economy? Don’t try to answer. That was a rhetorical question. I have to admit that I follow this stuff closely. I’m practically addicted to the numbers. I have to be. My decision-making as CEO of Horst Engineering requires that I be well-informed. Truthfully, whether you are a CEO or not, you should pay attention to issues that impact our global economy. I follow the local, state, national, and international news in an effort to gather as much information (intelligence and knowledge) as I can.

At times, I’m overwhelmed. There is so much information out there and it has become a cliche to state that information is traveling faster than ever. There is no shame in admitting that one cannot keep up with the depth and breadth of information that floats through the air. It is also important to remind oneself that just because it is news, doesn’t mean it is fact. Regardless, there is a lot going on right now. This massive stimulus plan has created a bad situation. The fact that the equity markets (public equity markets) have roared back makes the situation even worse.

Dow 10,000 masks the true problems. We all pay too much attention to the fortunes of the largest companies on this Earth. Fortune 500, S&P 500, Forbes list, NYSE, NASDAQ, FTSE, DAX–whatever the list is, this isn’t reality. Reality is that the vast majority of businesses are still small businesses. Small businesses employ most US workers. They are the ones that create value. I was reading about the top global brands in BusinessWeek, and I wanted to vomit. Sure, I cheer on the stock market rally when my mutual funds loaded up with GE, Coke, Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, Google, Microsoft, and Apple rise. I also want our customers, many are on these lists, to succeed so that we can succeed.

But, that isn’t reality. How come Horst Engineering’s value hasn’t shot up 50%+ in the past six months? We seem to still be struggling with the real problems that are squelching growth and job creation. We continue to invest in our enterprise, but there are major disincentives to hiring. The cost of doing business (especially in manufacturing) are horrendous and the government continues to put up road blocks. The next road block is even higher health care costs.

In Connecticut, this is particularly bad at the state level. Rather than lowering costs for businesses, the state is driving our costs through higher taxes, fees, and mandates. This will not encourage growth. Certain things, like environmental regulations, crime, and homelessness, need to be legislated and governed, but government should allow the free market to work. This is particularly important for small businesses. Unfortunately, we get lumped in with ALL businesses. This is not good.

This whole Wall Street vs. Main Street debate is hilarious. I actually joke that Horst Engineering is on a Side Street. We stay out of the fray by keeping our nose to the grindstone and focusing on what we can control. Most successful businesses are off the radar. They go about their business and contribute real value to our society. You have to believe that most business leaders are altruistic. The greedy crooks may garner all of the headlines, but they are not representative of the true work ethic that makes our economy strong, even in recession.

It was ironic that Jeff Skilling, the former CEO of Enron, made headlines last week. He is seeking a re-trial. He is locked up for a long time, but he has peers who have been just as greedy and crooked, who are walking the streets. Heck, many are still leading the firms that are seemingly so important to our country and our economy. His decision-making hurt a lot of people, but it isn’t fair that others have been treated differently.

The real problem is that our bureaucratic politicians, our two-party system, and our massive government spending need reform. That last statement is vague, broad, and not meant to offer any solutions. I’m simply stating that as an example, government financed projects that result in more asphalt (an oil product) being laid down on roads, isn’t going to strengthen our economy for the long-term. I’m afraid that we are headed in the wrong direction, and I’m not alone. We need leadership and debate at every level of government. It is painful to think that we may be stuck in a position where no real good can occur. With the cyclical nature of the economy and the cyclical nature of politics, we may be in for a long rough ride.

Battles with Deb & Her North Cove Outfitters Seminar

I’ve written much about my epic trail running battles with my spouse, Debbie Livingston. She got me into the sport of trail running 10 years ago, and I have hated every minute of it. She would say, “Not true.” Well, truthfully, I have grown to love the sport, but in the beginning, it was painful, and I’ve got the scars to prove it. I tried way too hard to beat her and I ended up paying the price. At one time, we were a good tandem adventure racing team, but the fierce competitiveness between us, often caused strife. Well, it wasn’t that bad, but it is fun to laugh about our bickering now. Mostly we argued over navigation and my wining. When we are battling each other, our true desires come out. I’ve learned that if you intend to match her stride for stride, especially on a steep and rocky descent, then you better be insured. Seriously, I’ve warmed to running trails, my legs are used to the feeling, and now I’m out there in the woods every chance I get.

A week from tomorrow, Debbie is speaking at one of Connecticut’s best known independent outdoor retailers, North Cove Outfitters. I don’t know what she is going to say. I expect she will discuss how she got started trail running, and how that took her to the even more specialized discipline of ultra-marathon trail running. I’ll be honored if she mentions me, because that means I rate in her world! She and I are pretty evenly matched up to marathon distance, but when it goes to 50km, 50 mile, and beyond, I’m dead meat (and that’s coming from a vegetarian). I would rather crew for her at that distance.

She has done some amazing races in the past 10 years, and I expect that she will reflect on those experiences. From the Arizona desert to the California headlands to the Blue Mountains of Australia to Table Mountain in South Africa to the European Alps; she has run interesting trails. Those trails have given her some great stories to tell and in appreciation, she has given back to the trails. As President of the Shenipsit Striders, and Race Director of the Soapstone Mountain Trail Races, she has returned much to the sport that has given so much to her.

Coming off a year of pregnancy and after the recent birth of our second child, she is primed to regain her form. My days of finishing in front of her are likely to be numbered. I had my chance when she was carrying an extra 20 pounds around her midsection. I’ll be afraid to challenge her on our tricky New England trails when she gets her fitness back to peak strength in 2010 and 2011. We have been compared to the tortoise and the hare. I go out hard and blow up. She paces herself and always gets to the finish first.

She has gotten amazing support from the Vasque US Trail Running Team. I think it is really cool that she stayed involved with the team throughout her phenomenally active pregnancy. In 2009, while her teammates were winning races all over the globe, she was setting a new fitness standard for expectant mothers. She is my inspiration and I know that she inspires others too. If you are in the area, join her at North Cove on Wednesday October 28th for a fun fall discussion about the joy of trail running.