I went to see Caballo Blanco speak at the Seattle Running Company.  He was going to do a run with the group but he couldn’t as he was running a few weeks before and cut his foot open.  It didn’t start off well.

First, the guy who lead the run, just said, “Ok let’s go.” and he was off.  I know I’m not the fastest runner around and I would have happily done the run at my own pace if I knew the route.  As far as I could tell, he never told us what the route was.  He just took off.  And by took off, he was not stopping for red lights and dodging in and out of traffic, with a group of 20 or more people following him.  How is that ok?  If something was to happen to one of the runners, Seattle Running Company would have been at fault.  By about 7 blocks of this, I was left behind.  I felt angry and disappointed.  Apparently these runs are a part of their Seattle Running Club and you need to have a pace of between an 8 -10 minute mile.  This would have been great information to have posted with the information about the run with Caballo Blanco.  Had I known that information, I would have done my own run before and then gone to the presentation.  It was also not a very inviting group.  I felt like an ass for even trying to join in on their run.  I have issues with the attitude that Capitol Hill has.  It’s that “I’m hipper than you, and you should be thanking me for even faking not paying attention to you. Why are you here anyways?” attitude. I apologize hipster.  I’m sorry I’m not as cool as you.  My credit card isn’t maxed out with skinny jeans and several pairs of oversized sunglasses.  So, you’re right, I’m not as cool as you.  I don’t have to wear a name tag at my job.  I won’t be shopping at Seattle Running Club.

So when I got back to Seattle Running Company I was fuming.  I ended up running around Capitol Hill on my own.  Which, by the way, I had way better company than I would have if I actually went on the run with them.  I sat down and as soon as Caballo Blanco started to talk, it was really hard to continue to be angry.  He talked about the race, he talked about the book, he talked about how he has been keeping the race going and all the things that he has been trying to do for the tarahumara.  Barefoot Ted was also there.  He hung out towards the back.  I get the feeling he was there to support his friend not take some of the spotlight.  I will definitely take a lesson or two from Ted.

Caballo Blanco then answered questions from the group.  One guy asked how he gets his caloric intake for his runs.  Another guy asked about pinole.  Someone else asked about what he runs in and what shoes he prefers.  One guy was curious about the race. I believe he was asking because he was thinking about running it.  I would love to just go there to be apart of the race.  I don’t want to run it.  At least I don’t think I want to run it…