A week on the Backyard trail with Laz

In the fall of 2016 I was in Tennessee, sharing stories, smiles and trails with Laz and Big dog. Laz is the creator and race director of the infamous Barkley Marathons, the Vol State 500km, ARFTA, the Barkley Fall Classic and Strolling Jim.

I am so glad I met Laz and the other giants of the ultrarunning world while I was living in Nashville. I’m so proud to call Laz my American papa, and he calls me his Indian son. The running wisdom he shared over the years, and all his races, made me dig deep and find something I never thought existed in me. Some of the precious lessons he taught me:

1. You don’t know what you are capable of unless you try.
2. A challenge can’t be a real challenge unless there is a possibility of failure.
3. How bad do you want it?
4. Embrace failure.

One morning I ran 8 miles along the Backyard Ultra trail. Good memories of running this trail during Backyard Ultra, a race where the last man standing wins. One of a kind. I couldn’t believe it was November and still 80 degrees outside. Fall colours at their best.

I had a great week of running, walking, drinking moonshine and sharing trail stories with Laz in Tennessee. Sad to be leaving, but until next time.