Even a daily baby aspirin has risks. Story.

A Brief Chat with Bernard Lagat.

The Rev. and Ole, our friends and two of the better ultrarunners in SCV, are not running the American River 50, probably the 2nd best known CA ultra after Western States. Both races are more popular than even. AR sold out last year and will again this year. It has jacked up the price from $80 to $145 over the past few years. Have you noticed the popular marathons are getting pricey as well? A more reasonable and local ultra is worth your attention: Leona Divide 50. It's a lot tougher than AR, and it is run by a lot of our friends. I did it three times -or was it four?- and enjoyed it so much. If you can run a marathon, you can complete a 50 miler. Why not add that to your resume?

Which reminds me. I was running with this ultra dude who read my copy of Lone Survivor. Heckuva story, about his adventure in Afghanistan. But what struck the dude and Don is the author's account of becoming a Seal. Almost unbelievable what those guys endure in training and Hell Week. As runners, of course, we think we're tough. Dude once ran himself into near-unconsciousness. But we quickly agreed we would have quit Hell Week the first hour (if cold and raining hard, we're not there), and we don't know anyone in the running community who would have endured any longer. There is one former SCV runner, a former Army officer, who might have made it as a Seal, Nick Florio.

Week That Was

Q&A with Weldon Johnson.