This one is in three parts: how one friend mentally sherpa-ed me through my first 20-miler, then I repaid the favor a few months later by pacing him at his first attempt at a hundred-miler. From that experience, I applied what I'd learned to help pace another friend through her first hundred.

This is a tale paved with success and failure -- but in the end, it's all about life: eat, drink, put one foot in front of the other and you'll have a great story to tell when it's over.

Running along the US-Mexico border is full of adventures that most runners don't experience: Border Patrol agents flying above you in helicopters, agents looking for migrants and smugglers, and once -- being chased by a pack of agents who thought we were migrants. (Hey, somebody has to keep those agents in shape!) This episode is about my life's credo: "Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias" -- a life lived in fear is a life half-lived.

Link to the map showing you one of our favorite playgrounds.

Strictly Ballroom and one more clip. <3

Sometimes, races don't go the way we plan them. In this case, I cut my losses early and was overcome with a variety of emotions: relief, self-doubt, self-flagellation. The good part is, there's usually another race to prove oneself.

In this case, there was redemption, but just not the way I'd imagined it.

Capt'n Karl's Reveille Peak Ranch race

Back on My Feet -- really great cause!

This is a story in contrasts.

I start off talking about a guy who may or may not have unwittingly cost me a race with his negative viewpoints and attitude. (11/12)

But it ends well.

Next, I tell you about my "Best Summer-Camp Friend," a charming 11-year-old named Gabriel, who joined me -- along with his friend, Isaiah at Bandera in January 2016. It's one of my all-time favorite stories.

This story is from August 2013. I'm publishing it now because the Capt'n Karl's nighttime race at Colorado Bend is coming up on Aug. 3.

This is about the adventures of a handful of runners from the RGV traveling six hours for a night race. We sampled pretty much all the food in town. Then we ran the race.

Here are some of the places mentioned in the piece: San Saba Olive Oil Co.

Wedding Oak Winery, Alamo Pecan Co. 

Colorado Bend State Park

Larry's Corner Cafe

Welcome to the first episode! I'm pretty much an average trail runner with above-average enthusiasm for the sport. These are my stories and I hope you enjoy them.