Some day I’ll look back through these posts and pat Past-Mel on the back for these times. The times that my brain did it best to convince me that another afternoon of napping on the couch and reading ebooks really was in my best interest. While the “Reading, sleeping, eating veterinarian” has a certain ring […] more

Please note: There is some bad words in this post. It’s because bad things happened. Perhaps you are a person of grace and dignity when everything goes to hell. I, apparently, am not. Feel free to skip this one if that sort of thing bothers you, and if you just must unsubscribe to posts because […] more

Three things I nailed, three things I failed. Every race, every time. (BTW if I could only give you one piece of advice, I’d tell you to do the same thing.) Nailed it! I carried a jacket after dark FINALLY. I was sure I didn’t need a jacket leaving out of the aid station into […] more

Dr. Foster went to Gloucester Loco, In a shower of rain;  He stepped in a puddle, Right up to his middle, And never went there again.  ….Except fortunately Dr. Mel is made of sterner stuff and DID go Loco again. Loco is one of my favorite courses. There’s a really fun single track in the […] more

Lessons learned or not, successes even in the face in failure, and what the future holds…sounds like another 3×3 post! The Good Shoes I may have found my new ultra shoe in the Topo Ultraventure. My initial impression was panic. As in, “Oh no, these aren’t going to work at ALL. What the heck was […] more

…was not such a quick race. But, rather than Quicksilver exposing how ill-prepared I was, or providing some sort of commentary on whether I have any business toeing the line at an ultra, I think the basic lesson was this: I chose the wrong race.  I think this might be a first. Unlike the DNF’s […] more

Here’s a highly simplified and barely scientific explanation of why it’s important to cool a hot horse during a vet check at an endurance ride. It boils down to this simple concept: Blood has lots of jobs to do in the horse’s body. Once your horse is standing in the vet check, the blood has […] more