TryptoDan

Tryptophan is an amino acid present in several food items, including turkey. It's given credit for those naps people have been known to take after a big turkey dinner. TryptoDan, on the other hand, has a slightly different connotation.

Dan is managing to sorta, kinda, mostly stay with the medium and fast kids today at Lake Medina. That's almost unusual since he's been slowing down in recent weeks. Blame it on the cold weather as well as an ongoing sinus issue. Not to mention running a lot at other times. There's less than a mile to go and wham! He's horizontal. Those bumps in the pavement had gotten him again.

No, it's not the first time. There was this fall in the same spot last September. And then there was that one just the other day in Buckeye Woods. 

It's tough to be a good runner when you're horizontal. In fact, you could say that staying vertical is a critical success factor for experiencing a good run.

Buckeye Woods 25K Race Report

"Does running on these trails make you want to get back to doing more trail running," asks Chadwick Sunday? "Well, this is indeed quite peaceful, quiet, and enjoyable, so long as I remain vertical," answers Dan. He goes on to qualify that even further, explaining that he's not above tripping and falling, even on these easy-peasy trails at Buckeye Woods. Not more than five minutes later, BAM - Dan is unexpectedly horizontal. Chadwick and Ella help him up and he dusts himself off as he begins jogging that final mile of today's 25 + 5 (extra) kilometer run. Nothing much was hurt, except his pride.

It's hard to believe that this was the 15th annual instance of this race. Dan used to regularly do the 50K, but no longer. 25 (+5) is just fine, thank you. Even though it was cold, some warm friends were always nearby, and that always makes it fun.

Dan's time of 3:03 was not so fantastic. But given the cold weather and the nice, long breaks, he will take it. Some day, Dan will be speedy once again. Today was not that day.

Dan and friends at the start