Things have been progressing regarding my stiff, injured left hip. Physical therapy is making a difference. (shoutout to Optimum Physio Sports) for being the one place that has accurately addressed my dang issue. I've been through another PT program that is famous and starts with an "A," along with a buncha sessions with chiropractors. The truth is, none of them solved the issue until now.

I go in twice a week and these folks put me through my paces: hip lift circles, bridges and much more. I count those days as a workout because, hey, I sweat and it's HARD.

Still, it is useful and the therapists are empathetic when I tell them that I love 50Ks and have tackled 50 milers and 100ks.

Today (Sunday), I managed to run a mile without stopping, which is HUGE. I didn't get winded or need to sit down somewhere.

I hope this lasts because I am sooooo ready to return to my Happy Place: trail running.

Photo: me and Maria, my friend, beating the Lady in Blue at a 10 K a coupla years ago. :)

So, I did a thing last week.

I signed up for the Habenero Hundred on Aug. 12.

I'm *only* doing the 20K because I'm crazy, but not insane.

The real masochists are doing the 100-mile and 100K.

Here's the rub: the race starts at high noon for the big distances. For the rest of us, we start at 12:30. PM. In August. In Texas.

I'm hoping to not throw up because I am known to do that in the heat or if I ingest too much ice-cold water (but, oh, it tastes sooo good going down.)

Also big shout-out to Liza Howard for winning the Badger 100. Other pod-adjacent folks who finished the 100 include Jenny Gruber and Lydia Rios. And high-five to my buddy, Chris Prairie for crushing the 50K.

I spent a few days in Southern Utah where I hiked at Zion National Park, sandboarded down a white-hot dune, soaked in a river and hung out on a pontoon boat with my sister and her family. Oh, and I saw this place that had haunted my dreams for years. It was a road that ran alongside a mountain. I knew it was out near California but wasn't California. It's in Utah. It's weird when you finally see a place that has been in your dreams. See photo.

This episode is about the humble origins of this podcast four years ago to all about YOU listeners! And, stick around for a personal update involving self-esteem, the injury that hasn't gone away, image, and some embarrassing, yet helpful, information about why you should not use a debt consolidation settlement company. I'll be OK but it's been a tough week.

Here's to a happy new season of the pod. Please send any feedback to [email protected]. (No lectures, please. I get it.)

Sarah attempted her first 100-miler in December/January at Snowdrop. She had some serious health issues and was pulled by the medical staff, two loops short of finishing. Unfortunately, the time cutoff was called and she couldn't go back out and finish. Fast-forward to June, when she traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and spent six days inside the Petit National Ice Center's track, and she got her hundo and a buckle!

It's been a while since I've caught up with my friend, Orlando Montalvo (Hundo). This year, after finishing his fifth Snowdrop 100-mile race, he and his lovely wife, Kathy (Babe) are dialing it back this year.

We reflect on past races, talk about the future and more.

Jessica Kestermann loves to remind me that she is exactly half my age. Ha ha. Still, we met on a cold, January morning a few years ago at Pedernales State Park, where we warmed up inside a mutual friend's Prius and got to know each other as our other friends finished their longer miles.

There's an old saw in ultrarunning that you shouldn't crew or pace your significant other. Too much potential drama, they say.

YouTube link to their channel

Two friends decided to attempt the Cocodona 250, an arduous 5-day race set in the mountains of Arizona. Despite their best efforts to train appropriately, both were pulled by race officials on the first day. After processing this devastating situation, they stuck around and continued running/hiking parts of the course, while cheering on the remaining runners.

Gordon Montgomery, 54, is originally from Ireland and ended up in the US. He is a longtime rugby player who turned to trail running. He has a storied career as a runner and was sidelined with the need to replace both hips. He's on the comeback trail and pursuing his PhD in transpersonal psychology. He is a leadership coach and practices Transcendental Meditation twice a day. He recently moved to Virginia to be with his girlfriend.