There are idiots that become ultrarunners, and then there are the Marines

There are only two kinds of people that understand Marines: Marines and the enemy. Everyone else has a second-hand opinion.

- Gen. William Thornson, U.S. Army

It takes a certain kind of idiot to become an ultrarunner. It also takes a certain kind of idiot to become a Marine. It also makes you one. While the cross section isn't a large population, there are a few who qualify as an idiot on both counts.

I've met a lot of runners in my trail miles, but none have become as close as my Marine brother, Cpl. Garcia. As proof of my greater idiot theory, I've encouraged him to expand his ambitions beyond the reasonable trail 20 and 30 km to idiotic distances. Even though we never served together, the discipline and loyalty we all developed in the Corps easily allowed me to manipulate the corporal to follow this sergeant's suggestions without question.

But sometimes the student surpasses the master. 

What do you do if you arrive at a trailhead at o'dark thirty in your house slippers and discover that you've forgotten your running shoes? Apply the lessons we learned in the Corp. Stay calm, make decisions quickly, improvise, adapt and overcome. Accept fear and uncertainty, and endure.

Quickly decide sandals are sufficient. Accept the uncertainty.

Improvise, adapt and overcome!

Using a handkerchief to solidify his sandals, Ramiro was able to run 9 miles on the trail.

Read that again if you must. 9 miles.

Semper Fi, brother.

... some pics of our other adventures.

Ramiro, myself and Chihping at MUC

Arriving at Stinson Beach

Cross training with sandbags

Henry Coe St. Park

Nature's aid station

Keep on truckin'