Korima Run Day 8 - Jess Soco - One more day

The Korima Run was supposed to end yesterday, but one of my scheduled friends couldn't make it and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to run with her.

Jess Soco is an amazing woman in many ways. A true free spirit, an excellent runner and an all-around lovely person, she has seen thousands of miles of trails in the most gorgeous of places. She is an accomplished ultra-runner and thru-hiker, and for me, she illustrates what it means to be dedicated to Nature and the trails.

Among many moments we spent together, Jess happened to share some of the very best days of my life, some time ago when we met at Across The Years, a multi-day running event where I was supposed to work the kitchen and aid station and ended up also running my very first 100-miler.

Jess and I at Across the Years 2013/14

And it's with this particular memory that I ran today, in spirit with my Mas Loco sister whom I celebrate for her generosity and her loving, kind nature. Jess makes my world a better place, and it's always a pleasure to cross her path, or just open my Facebook and look what she's up to or which beautiful place she chose for her day. She lives and breathes freedom, and she's an inspiration for me to go out and do the things I love.

My friend, you are beautiful inside and out and I hope that we get to share many more adventures in wonderful places. Keep walking your path, I'll always follow you, up close or afar. Thank you for everything, and always, always Run Free!

Korima Run Day 7 - My New-York family

For the last official day of the Korima Run, I had a real treat planned, thanks to my friend Alan Wegener. He's one of the many Leatherman's Loop runners who've become my New-York family since 2012, when I was supposed to experience my very first Loop with Caballo Blanco. Fate, obviously, decided otherwise and when I told the race organizer, El Copadre Tony, that I wouldn't attend because the grief was too heavy, he said to please come anyway and join them. And it was one of the best things that happened to me in these times.

Because of the Loop, I got to meet all these wonderful, colorful new people and they've been in my life ever since. So when Alan read about the Korima Run, he sent me a message and we coordinated this little Saturday morning shenanigan. He gathered with a group of runners, among which Jugglin' Joe Cloidt and Lee Willett, and I contacted them before our mutual runs for a surprise little morning chat :)

As always, everyone was in a good mood and it was great to be in touch with kindred spirits. Karine was here with me, and got to tele-meet everyone for the first time. The sun was up, at least on my end, and we spent the run talking about the Leatherman's Loop, how I got there and all the positive it brought in my life.

So thank you Alan, for always being around, always having a good word and always being a friend of the Raramuri. Thank you New-York runners for your spirit and your support, may you run free and happy. Thank you for showing our friends that they have friends all over this world.

Korima Run Day 6 - Theland Kicknosway - Walk in a good way

Day 6 was a day with difficulties. Karine's foot isn't so great after all, and running won't be a good idea for a couple days. So we went out, but we walked instead.

It reminded me of something my friend Theland said sometimes, when we ran his Spirit Run between Ottawa and Kitigan Zibi; when we would walk, we would share thoughts and ideas and he would say "We walk in a good way". This is both a beautiful and a very meaningful expression.

There are many ways to walk. But when you go out with the intention of breathing fresh air, staying healthy and enjoying the outdoors, when you do it with love in your heart, when you have kind thoughts for your loved ones, you do it in a good way.

So that's what we did. We held hands and talked and watched the trees and the birds and the running water. And we had good thoughts. Like Theland taught me.

Theland Kicknosway is one of these young people who make our world better just by being themselves and following their own path. As a young Cree and Potawatomi, he goes about the world with his feet deeply rooted in culture. He is an accomplished singer, and traditional hoop dancer.

Thank you for having me in your circle, Theland. And thank you for the wonderful gift of seeing you grow up, evolve and become the great young man that you are!

Meegwetch, my friend.

Korima Run Day 4 - Marc Seguin - El Kodiak

This literally looks like a bad picture
from a Walmart photo shop preset :)

This is one guy who doesn't need any introduction. He's been my running partner, adventure companion and friend for many years. He's seen the best and the worst of me. There isn't much he doesn't already know, and he's still around :)

Marc Seguin works hard and a lot. He travels North America, driving his big truck to pick up and deliver all sorts of things. Even in times of quarantine, he crosses the border back and forth to keep the supply lines going. And that means I hadn't seen him in a loooooooong time. So when he told me he would be parked overnight in an industrial area not too far, waiting for his early morning delivery, very bad plans involving ridiculous waking times were quickly made :)

Karine, always one to join in the adventure, said her foot was good enough to run a little. So we got up what felt like 15 minutes after going to bed, brewed some hot coffee and headed out before sun up, in what's starting to look like a weird habit of sleep deprivation over the past couple days.

Social distancing was unnecessary, since he never leaves his truck while traveling. So we hugged long and hard, in what seemed to be a waaaaay overdue little meet up, and the best possible occasion for him to finally get to meet Karine in person :)

Never mind that we ran between ugly industrial factories, empty parking lots and over highways. Running felt as good as it always did, and we still found a cool spot for a picture; an old beaten-up train track.

The Korima Run is in its 4th day now, and the connection is real. I got news that our friends in the Barrancas are running a Rarajipare, a traditional ball race, and it feels good to know that we all, runners from everywhere, are offering our footsteps in support :)

So, Andale! Let's keep going !

Korima Run Day 3 - Patrick Sweeney - Corona!

OK, I'd set out for my Korima Run with another friend in mind, but life seemed adamant on reminding me of another one. See, the day has been glorious here and the warm weather plus some heavy yard work made me pretty thirsty and running... for the fridge.

I grabbed a first beer, a suitably-named Corona, and a couple handfuls of nachos, thinking I'd get right back to work. But first thing I knew, I was two Coronas down and my pickax motivation had reached an all-time low.

"I better get my run in", I thought, knowing full-well that the best of my day was rapidly getting behind me. I found a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and my old beat-up Lunas and, as I was heading out the door, dragging my feet, my Karine asked "Does someone need motivation?". I knew she couldn't come because she slightly injured her left ankle running her first 5k earlier this week. "I'll just take my bicycle", she said, with that lovely smile. I was super happy.

A couple hundred yards in the run, my slouching belly full of beer started to bloat to maximum discomfort, and I was reminded of my always painful, but always fun, beer miles. So naturally, I started thinking of Sweeney :)

I love Patrick Sweeney because he chose fun and the enjoyment of life over material possessions. I love that he always wants to play something, to plan some shenanigans or to go out and do something fun. He is a wonderful chef, too, and a great friend.

Sweeney pretty much invented the beer mile, which consists of chugging a beer, running a quarter mile, then repeating that 3 other times to attain maximum stupidity. But he also invented the Leadville Rock Golf Invitational (I hope I got the name right) which consists of throwing rocks at various distances with an unclear purpose and following whimsical challenges along the way. And hundreds of other colorfully-named games like Shower Shots or Find The Chicken.

So as I was slushing around today, trying to look like a runner, I just did what Sweeney does and enjoyed the moment. And I almost heard him tell me "Corona? That's not beer! It's a yellow fizzy drink." And I smiled and I thought of my friend, who's always somewhere doing something fun. Run free, amigo, and see you soon!!

Korima Run Day 2 - Michael Miller - The Red Hawk

Today, the sun is shining. There haven't been a lot of days yet where it really feels like summer, so it's making my heart happy and my feet light. Today is also the very first day of the season when I get to wear my huaraches, the Luna Sandals our Raramuri friends inspired Barefoot Ted to make.

Today, I run with one of the pillars of the ultra-running community, and definitely one of the pillars in my life. This man has been quietly behind a lot of the projects supporting the Raramuri community, and knows the true meaning of being a Mas Loco. He has a heart as big as a mountain.

I spent many days running with him up and down the canyons and deserts of Arizona, and many evenings after that, cooking and enjoying great wines with his love, La Roja Bonita, The Redhead Kimberly. They have been my friends and family for several years now and we have shared so many things together. Adventures and exaltation, drama and sorrow, laughter and pain.

My friend's totem is the mighty Red Hawk, the proud bird that soars high. Every single time I see one, my heart goes straight to his.

Although we're thousands of miles apart, today we ran together and shared the warmth of the sun, the joy of sharing steps in the late spring grass and the reassuring feeling that we are never really separated.

May you stay strong, run long and hug longer. I love you, my Brother Man.

Korima Run Day 1 - Phil Gendreau - Run to the Water

The Korima Run starts today and will last 7 days. I invited you to join me in any way you can, and many have answered. It warms my heart to see we remain connected and we remain united with our Raramuri friends.

In support and in their honor, I will run every day of the Korima Run. And since we live in times of pandemics and separation, I will run every day with - and for - someone close to me in our big worldwide Mas Loco community.

Today started at first light. In support for our friend Phil Gendreau who will run from sunrise to sunset, Karine and I started in darkness and ran south, to the shore of the St-Lawrence river where we were greeted by a display of pink and orange sky.

Phil will donate for every KM ran today, and we wish him resolve, health, a wide smile and light feet. Run Free, my friend!

Inspired by your endeavour, Karine ran her very first full 5K today, an all-time personal best!

First light on the St-Lawrence river