Yesterday was the annual running of the Tour de Frack out in northwest Denton. This little race started out as a protest run to another running company coming up into town and putting on a race that ran out along Sherman road from the C.H. Collins Stadium, a stretch of road we call “Roadkill Alley.” I was running with a friend at the time and we talked about this other race and I decided it wouldn’t be that hard to put on something like that that would be more interesting than an out-and-back course and be something that was ours.

First year we ran out of the Apogee Stadium parking lot and had may 12-15 runners that ran along what was my long run course at the time since we lived in that area. Highlights of that race were this dude Jeff who has since spammed me with unsolicited financial advice but is known for walking across America; Lisa walking the course with her big black umbrella and our club obsession with pickles was really born at that point.

Over the next few years, the start would change locations but it would always happen on the same date as the other race and when the other race company stopped putting theirs on, we kept going. A few years ago, we had 50+ runners and yesterday we were at around 34 runners with volunteers and a support dog. Pretty fun to watch a community grow. Next weekend is the first Johnson Branch Trail Race and then back to work for the year.

I went out to get some food yesterday and ended up running into Destinee, who moved to the Boston area this year. She was back in town for the weekend and we spent some time walking around the Oak area with Autumn and talking up the old times. It was good to be out with people and not just trying to enjoy the evening but actually enjoying it. We walked down to the RGRS KUZU birthday show and saw Isaac Hoskins and band play on the new outdoor stage. I ran into Dwayne and talked for a minute about how things had changed since he started going to RGRS and what a difference 20 years can make in a scene/venue’s life. I’ve been involved in a couple of things at RGRS and I’m excited to see what they can make happen in between the train whistles.

On Friday, I went by to wish Cole a happy birthday and ran into Isaac and Jamie and had a really interesting conversation with them. I hadn’t really sat down and talked to Isaac in the past, we moved from talking about GPS watches/fitness trackers to a very real sense of existential dread related to health. I know that sounds like a strange transition but it was more about the desire to make sure that one’s body/health aren’t a hindrance to accomplishing things and how the mental piece can play a big factor in lifestyle changes, for good or bad.

I took a couple of days off from climbing after Thursday. It was my son’s birthday and we spent the time having lunch with my step-mother and then watching a movie and having dinner with my dad. I dropped the kids off and probably shouldn’t have gone straight to the gym, but I did. I climbed pretty aggressively and the next day, felt a bit of tendonitis in my index finger. I put some muscle/joint rub on it and have just kept it low key, will go back today and get to it.