King Slug Checks in....from Ohio :)

I am hosting first race. Because it is a "race" I did not see it fit to be a
true Slug event. I feel as though that there is some way to slugtize this
event and I am open for options of scaring away many of the runners when
they hear that King Slug is in charge. Check out the site and let me know.
http://mohican50k.blogspot.com/ Love to place Team Slug as one of my
sponsors and to place the logo on the back of the shirt under logos section.
This will cost Team Slug one dried up bull frog from the pond so I can set
on my desk for future admiration. I figure when I get a real slug event I
will work with you on calling it the first Ohio Race.

But onto more important things:

But most importantly: I am prepared to offer Pokey Slug a comped entry to my
race April 19th, 2009 and would like to officially invite her if she is not
already signed up to run in Umstead again or some other adventure trail race
now that she has completed a 50 miler. This is only because she represented
the true meaning of a Slug in my humble opinion and after all she made UR
magazine. How cool was that?

Ok Ok, I need to clarify a few items of business. I have scraped and skimmed
enough pennies from my couch and drank one lass beer per week to save the
money.

3 Jan 09 PHUNT50K Trail Dawgs in MD

4 Jan 09 TSI Fattest Butt 50K in DE
Suppose that I was to come and try to do two doubles will I be valued enough
to get a trucker hat if I drink a beer of your choice in my slug coffee mug
the last loop around the pond or maybe just drinking beer and not starting
the race....? So may options. If I planned such an adventure would there be
fear that the great state of DE would blow the bridge if they heard that
some Ohio Slug was venturing back into the 1st state?

Prez of Ohio Sluggos, (me and don)

Team Slug Field Trials in Beijing, China

Dr. John Coulter, recently elected Emperor of All the Chinese Slugs, shown in recent photo in Beijing. While he failed to qualify for the Olympic Marathon, he represented Team Slug very well in his valiant attempt.

Happy Days to All the Slugs, All OVER The World.
da' Hitman

The Mighty Empress Speaks...

from the Great Pacific Northwest;
and remember; no matter what she says...we'll write whatever we want. mostly, it will be partly true...

Hey Slugs-

how is it going......? well, the President of the Geoduck Slugs and I attempted to do the simultaneous 50K on your birthday. we even got up at
4:30 am....ate some poached goose eggs on toast...and headed out the door;

runnin' here on the west coast is much easier than the famed slug grounds on the eastern shore. how anyone ever finishes in delaware is beyond me. did anyone get bit by a rabid woodchuck this year???

Anyhoot- we stumbled / bumbled / and ginger brandied our way along...until finally, the Great Geoduck President said, " screw it ".... and finished at 18 miles only because we
got lost in "woodpecker" alley (Really) for 3 miles.... otherwise we
would have been right there with Pokey! damn Flicker Woodpeckers I
have the photo to prove we were on Flicker lane.... which very well
may have been.... Private Property !!!!! AHHHHHHHH!!!


anyway, when I get a chance I will send the Flicker lane pics, and the cool
black slug I avoided smashing on my bike....

we miss all the sluggos except for Hitman; don't mention it too him, but i think he may be a trouble-maker.

From Washington State,
gigi

Hey All...and Carl...

...if ya read this, shoot me an email at teamslug@comcast.net
i recently had a computer issue / involving mail and website...
and lost a lot of contacts.
Carl; Sorry bout missin' the 100; it went right over my head...
i wanted to be there!
Talk to ya Soon.

Hallelujah! January 3 & 4 ...

...as a "Ring in the New Year Doing Something Really Dumb" weekend!

You know, it is nobody's fault but your own that people keep showing up, John...

TrailDawgs may run "fancy pants" events but -- we don't give away Trucker's Hats. And, the Triple Crown coffee mug is nice but not exactly a beer mug. And now that the Chief Delaware Slug declared (to guvmint officials, no less) that the runs are church fellowship events, you run the risk of attracting a better class of people.

See y'all on the trails,

Insane Pete

Fattest Butt set for Sunday, January 4th, 2009

Dear Hunt, Phil, Insane Pete...

Team Slug has chosen to quit advertising runs in the First State; we've already done the same in Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia.
We're not trying to expand operations; or entice more runners. In fact, we attempt to discourage participation at every opportunity.
Still, a handful of the Deranged continue to show. I understand coming once; the Shirt is Cool; but why anyone ever comes back is beyond me.

So we're not committed to any particular day. I've gone ahead and posted Sunday, January 4th on the site.

Keep in mind; The Fewer the Better. If it's Pokey, Me, Derek and Pete; and a bottle of Ginger Brandy...So it is.
More Booze for us.

And, remember TSI doesn't run "fancy pants" Trail Dawg events. No. We're basically just gonna line up and go. We're highly disorganized, and not likely to improve in the near future.
There will be No Aid, No Whining, No Fee... I might not even count the Laps right if I don't want ya back.
Even more; I might get drunk on Saturday and not even show up... But, the Run will go On.
There will be no application; because this will be a non-event; Ranger Rick really don't like Slugs.
I am not making this up; Just ask Pete...or John S...or Carl....We Are very difficult to Work with.

Finally, this is a Very Easy Run. Ten laps around a Pond. Mostly All Downhill. There is really No good Reason Not to Finish.
We keep it goin' fer the fifty staters; and those who just want to finish an "ultra"...and i use that term loosely.
Please tell any of your folks doing the PHUNT50K on Saturday, wanting to finish the Double to e-mail me at .... teamslug@comcast.net

Happy Days,
John.

Congrats to 2008 RBC 50K Finishers...

RBC 50K, Dover, DE, 9/27/08
11 Starters

1. A.J.Johnson 4:44
2. Ryan Setlock 4:59
2. Jason Setlock 4:59
4. Derek Hills 5:50
5. John Lysinger 5:52
5. Pat Starkey 5:52
7. Jim Simpson 7:01
8. Jeff Holloway 7:20

A.J. Johnson once again led the field through the driving rain, muck, and disorder on this swampy day in the Central Forests of the Great First State. While the Tree-Diving Pit Vipers appeared to be on hiatus; the Hornets were not. We had three runners stung, and several others chased to new PR's.


Special congrats to Ryan Setlock and Pat Starkey for completing their first ever ultramarathon. They each held their own, smiling and enjoying life, on a very messy day. Representing Russell B. Cheney himself; and hailing from the State of California, Mr.Jim Simpson ran a steady even pace. Immediately following the non-event, he grabbed a rain-soaked cheeseburger and pointed the landcruiser directly for Vermont, where he'll enjoy another 50K tomorrow morning. Jeff Holloway fell behind early; and was never challenged as he nabbed the coveted Crazy Horse Award.


Life is good in the First State, and we're thankful for the continued friendships that we share. Be patient with us as we navigate through Team Slug website issues. It's a well known fact that Slugs are Techno-Impaired. May be time to call in the Professionals. Hope to see some of you the first weekend of the New Year; as the Slugs again step into the Forbidden Forest in pursuit of a Fattest Butt finish...

Happy Days,

Hitman.

RBC 50 K on 9/27.

OK, we're here again; and nearly back to our roots. Expecting just a handful of hearty souls, and some wet weather. Appears a coastal storm is bearing down on our little part of the world; and Kent County has a bullseye on it. It's all good; Slugs LOVE Water!

Remember, this is not an organized, or official event; is not measured and will not qualify you for Boston. What it will do is give you a nice long run, with a few good folks; and if you're headed to JFK, a good buildup outing.

Please be at the Killens Pond Main Gate at 800 AM. Drive all the way into the back parking lot, and look around. Ten laps on the pond course will give you the opportunity to earn a Team Slug trinket; first timers a t-shirt. Will start by 830.

Aid will be sparse; please bring any food / medical stuffs / rain gear that you need to finish. Last Slug-Duck Wins!

Hope to see ya on Sat. john.

Jeremy is at Basic Training;

If any of the olde folks would like to send him, or one
of his new best friends a postcard...

i'm sure he'd appreciate it. Most of you all remember the
fun of Basic.

Address is:

Harper, Jeremy 221
E. Co. 1/329th
5550 Leonard Drive
Fort Benning, Georgia
31905

Thanks,
john.

Nine Days to Go...

...til the RBC50K; and the entries aren't pouring in. But it's OK;
the Show Will Go On. Tenative Reports are surfacing that "The Great One"
is harassing the Hitman. This could be a very good year.
More details shortly.

The Countdown is On...

The TSI 20th Anniversary Beer Steins are Ordered! Race information will be posted on this site in the next week to ten days. Lookin' forward to seeing a few of the Sluggos.
Happy Days,
flatfoot freddie

NJ Sluggos present and accounted for...

Hitman,

Please sign up AJ Johnson of Seaville, NJ and Jeff Holloway of Marmora, NJ for the RBC 50K. We know we shouldn't come and dare the pond monster, but the lore of the stein is just too strong. Besides, I want to go back to the scene of my mishap about a mile into the 2008 Fattest Butt. To this day I look at the scar on my left knee and wonder what type of trail monster could inflict such a wound; and to think I was worried only about Flying Blind Squirrels, Rancid Hoofed Bovinian Deer, and the Great Striped Delaware Pit Vipers. We just have just one very important question: what special elixir do you request to anoint 'The Stein?" Looking forward to seeing you and all of the Slugs on the 27th.

AJ Johnson

Pokey appears in UR magazine...

...following in a long tradition of guest slug appearances.
check her out in the July issue on Page 16.



CONGRATS to the Top Slug in the First State!!!

happy days,
da'hitman...

from my FAV empress :)

I started thinking OMG what if flatfoot freddie posts all I wrote.....???? NOOOOOOOO!!!!! SO I checked.... and was relieved.... I think I better put a label on the emails I am not sure I want to be shared with the entire world wide web :) Thank God for Flatfoot Freddie's quick review and block...

I am a slug.... and my legs will never allow me to be anything but a slug...... nor will my thoughts.... as I hate serious competition.... and all that that implies.... too friggin serious... and if you watch..... people are far too serious about the activity that is supposed to be for "Fun" and I cringe to know I spend money to run while people have no money for food, shelter, and safety..... seriously, I get quite upset and never want to take it too seriouslly, I am always internally battling with these thoughts.... I am pretty much on the boycott of paying to run unless the money will specifically benefit someone less fortunate.

Take care and we will send our new address..... it is a gorgeous house (we lucked out--- banana slugs and Geoducks were all there to make it happen).... you and Mary will have to come visit..... it is in Kingston, just 2 miles from the ferry.. from the house you can see the cascade range, Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier! We have an open home to all our friends and when we say you are welcome to visit we mean it!

ED note: no matter what you send; ff will post whatever he wants (whether you wrote it or not :)...p.s. we absolutely WUV debbee, and always will...

I know, I know, I know...

...and the complaints continue to pour in regarding the block "flatfoot freddie" has put on blog comments. and most of the one's that get through, never see the light of day. slugs, it has to be this way; you have no idea who/what we're dealing with here. wrong-way charlie is still being closely watched by the cia/fbi/foreign services, and most everything he writes to tsi could easily be construed a threat to national security. the man has issues. and he's one of the more sane slugs; except for the time he was peeled off the white house (yes, the Real One) fence in his slug shirt (unceremoniously, losing his running shorts in the process)....very, unfortunately true, story... and, i have hundreds of those stories...though not all are absolutely true. but all are exactly as i remember...and i've lots of pics to prove it.

so life and time passes by. i get lots of emails (teamslug@comcast.net) from olde sluggos. most have become very goode at finding something else to do (besides slogging) on slug non-event days. and, i agree with them. i can think of no good reason to come back after you get the shirt. it's a widely known (ultra-world) secret that Team Slug is not really a running club. though we have put on a lot of non-events, and we have a lot of "Unofficial Chapters". rather, we're a philosophy of life. one that says, "slow down, walk a little, be nice, enjoy your days; smile some damn time, it ain't gonna kill ya." and once in a while, someone gets "it." they understand what we're saying, and feel how deeply we believe. maybe TSI would better be described as a CULT. a religion where one understands how incredibly precious each moment is, and one that believes in the goodness of all...particularly fellow Slugs :)

so are we losing dear friends john and debbee??? not really. rather, they'll take their pink flamingos and black Slug gear; load'it into a giant u-haul and point it west. and they'll always remember the slugs. always. and, some day; if they get lucky and get olde... they'll be out on a trail somewhere; creeping, bumbling, and stumbling; barely moving, aching from every joint, a little too fatt ... and realize, dang, da'hitman was right. we are slugs. we are ALL slugs...some us just didn't get their yet.

good luck getting there,
da'hitman

Coded Message for the Emperor...

...of all the Geoduck Slugs ....

MIT is looking for you! they're sending Rocky Beaver!
PACK FASTER, and head WEST...

over and out,
da' hitman...

From the Rise Up Runners...

Many thanks to the Delaware Slugs for their hospitality, enthusiasm, encouragement between laps, and for the lunacy to host a 50K event in the middle of June on the longest day of the year. If you ever get a super secret invitation to join in a Team Slug non-event, give it a go. Some great folks!

First FIVE Entrants for TSI's 2008 RBC 50K are:

1. Pokey, DE
2. The Grand Poo-bah, MD
3. Jim Simpson, CA
4. Annie King, GA
5. Kathy G, DE

Finishers will receive TSI's 20th Anniversary Beer Stein...
Register Soon; Slots will be limited to the "Whim of Flatfoot Freddie"

Happy Days,

da' Hitman

I know some of the olde sluggos...

...are shaking their heads and rolling over in their graves. flatfoot freddie advertising a FIVE K on the slug site??? what in da' sam b.haile is goin' on. did da' hitman finally snap??? we all knew it was gonna happen :) listen up, olde and new friends and sluggos, we'd support anything the straubs decide to do. as they say out west, "they's good folkes."

if they wanna booze it up with dozens of delinquents, and some g.brandy on a sunday mornin' in the first state, while carrying plastic pink flamingos through an upscale neighborhood, pizzing off most of the neighbors, and requiring a guest appearance from barney the sheriff...you can bet your sweet arse i'll be there...

anywho, the Empress of the Geoduck Slugs sends along the following pic for all to enjoy...be fer sure, more pics of flamingoes will follow...



happy days,

flatfoot freddie

Flocking Flamingo Farewell 5K

Hey all-
As you may or may not know we are moving back to Washington State. We will
leave at the end of July. So to bid farewell for now.... We thought it would
only be appropriate to throw a 5K farewell... The flocking flamingo is ,
well... I will explain that on Sunday.... You must run with a flamingo or in
pink..... Be the flamingo... Be the flamingo...

Here are the details.....
A Flocking Flamingo Farewell 5k and BBQ POTLUCK on Sunday at 11 am... Walk
or run the 5k followed by food and hanging out.....

We will have some burger and hot dogs.... Some drinks
You pick a dish and bring some of your favorites...

We will miss you all!

Run on

Debbee and John Straub
Empress and Emperor of TSI, Geoduck Division

Let the madness begin...

Editor's Note: This essay pirated from Michael Valliant's website (The 4-1 Run) without permission. It was definitely Derek's fault.

Let the madness begin...the start of the Team Slug Booty Rumble 50K around Killens Pond in Delaware. Derek Hills (dual citizenship with Team Slug and the Rise Up Runners) leads the charge wth RUR's Lori Callahan and Mike Valliant in the mix. Photo courtesy of Team Slug.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...this contest will be for ten rounds with each round lasting 3.1 miles of runnable singletrack. The heat will climb to around 88 degrees and the humidity will make it seem worse. If it any time you become unconscious or your corner throws in the towel, you will probably be offered a beer, but you will not have completed the Booty Rumble 50K.

ROUNDS 1 through 5

Bob and weave...the first loop around Killens Pond we get our bearings, learn the course, as first Derek Hills leads the way, then relinquishes the lead after a re-routed trail stymies him. Beautiful course, open trail, some roots, some wooden bridges through muddy spots, running by some cabins, then by a boat ramp and a 1/4 mile of road before looping back to the check-in and aid station.

The Delaware Slugs are great people--ultra runners and ultra running enthusiasts, who have battle scars and stories from various races, and are friendly, gracious, and encouraging on the trail and at the picnic tables.

Pace seems easy, speeding up at times, and finishing each 5K loop in under 30 minutes. 10K in 55 minutes or so. Runners are spread out, but there are still a few of us running around each other. I start thinking greedy and say to Lori, "You know, if we keep this pace, we might finish in under 5 hours..."

Lori is more reasonable (and right), "And if we don't, that's okay too..."

Of the Easton/Rise Up Runner contingency, Derek has moved ahead a bit, and Lori and I zig-zag through the first three loops or so, with her quicker through the aid station, and me catching up to her on the trail. We're in the aid station at the same time after three, and I run four at a good clip to catch up, but wind up catching up to Derek, who says his legs feel like bags of cement. I'm feeling good, so I move on ahead. Turns out Lori had lingered a bit longer at the aid station to adjust gear. Finish loop 4 (20K) in under two hours. As I am leaving the aid station to start loop 5, I see her heading in.

Loop 5, still feeling strong, coming in under 2:30 for 25K. Half-way there. The shoes I am testing for Trail Runner mag have been rubbing funny, so I switch to a more trusty pair of Inov-8s I have at the aid station and my feet feel lighter. Legs feel good, stomach is intact, in the back of my mind, the 5 hour 50K is still whispering.

ROUNDS 6 & 7

Loop 6 is more of the same, though my mind begins to feel like it's in the rinse cycle--lap-happy and on auto-pilot, but still functioning and not screaming at me. Finish 30K in under 3 hours.

Loop 7 has me a little dizzy. Still running, but not strong. Man, it must be getting hot or something! Got some Shot Bloks down, but stomach isn't happy any more. Shuffle in for 35K, fallen off the pace of the previous six loops, but, hey, it's another loop in the books!

ROUND 8

1...2...3...

How'd I end up on the mat? The Killens Pond's Pondside Trail doesn't pack a wallop. It doesn't have a knockout punch. More of a glancing blow. What's going on?

Tank is empty. Stomach is on strike. Legs are not cramping, but the mind/body no longer wants to make them run. So I walk...most of the loop. I expect Lori will be coming by me this loop, and she does. She's fairing a bit better, steady, working with a 10:1 run/walk cadence. She's got momentum and pushes on ahead.

4...5...6...

Dizzier. No desire for food, stomach won't allow any. It's a casual race. Most folks were doing a few loops, or the 25K. 40K is all I've got in me today. It's a fun run...and I am relegated to walking. I'll just walk the rest of this loop and call it a day. Drink some water, chill on the picnic table, wait for my stomach to feel better. Is it really a DNF on a fun run? I'm okay with a DNF...maybe...man it's hot...I'm done. I'll just get around the loop. Pick it up to a shuffle.

I pull in to the aid station and I'm done. No will to keep moving. I sit on the picnic table, grab some ice for the back of my neck and sit down. I drink a little water.

Fella comes over who'd run a few loops. Just ran the Skyline 40 miler the weekend before. Had to powerhike the last section because of stomach issues. Had thrown up for 35 miles at the Massanutten 100-miler before dropping. Didn't want two DNFs in a row, so made himself finish Skyline. Before that had ran well at the Umsted 100, but hadn't been able to get his stomach right since.

"Just two more loops," he says. "You can just walk 'em to bring it home if you have to."

7...8...9...

I'm up. Sitting helped. The ice helped. Water for the last loop has calmed my stomach. I take an S-Cap and drop a NUUN tablet and ice in the water bottle, to make sure cramping doesn't become a factor. At some point while sitting, my legs found there way back. I'm running again leaving the aid station.

ROUNDS 9 & 10

For the second five loops walkers, campers, fishing folks have been laughing, shaking their heads seeing me go by again. Must be a sight! My legs are working again and I'm able to run. For less than another 10K now, I know my stomach will cut me some slack. A little trail weary, but passable. I finish loop 9 and tell the good folks at base camp I better do a "cool down" loop.

As I'm leaving the aid station, I see Derek coming in. "Last lap?" he asks. "Last lap." "Alright!"

Loop 10 is like 9--running, not fast, but running most of it. The road around the pond, past the public ramp is a welcome landmark, knowing it's pretty well finished. I find enough foot speed to make myself look like a runner again down the stretch to finish. Some cheers and a whole lotta smiles. 50K (31 miles) finished in 5:48. Lori is in already (and much quicker to recover), clocking in at 5:40, and not five minutes after I sat down, the cheers picked up as Derek came across the proverbial line in 5:52.

RECAP

A little unorthodox for a race report, but I'm not sure what is orthodox about running 31 miles in the middle of June :) Team Slug, Delaware welcomed us with open arms and gave us everything we needed to gitterdun' on a hot day. An exceptional (and exceptionally funny and kooky in a good, ultra running way) group of folks, who know how to have a good time.

They've got a more holistic race report, and a bunch of pictures that sum up the day in images over on the Booty Rumble 50K race page. There's also a quick shout-out of thanks and congratulations to Lori and Derek on our Rise Up Runners blog.

Mentally, the Rumble was one of the more difficult runs I've done, not for the difficulty of the course, but for the ease of stopping at the end of every loop once you get tired! For me, point-to-point, out-and-back, and even a bigger loop, make for an easier race, even with tougher terrain.

Having said that, the experience was great. The people were fantastic. And I've stretched out the soul again to see what's in some of the corners that don't get used until/unless you push yourself past where you are comfortable.

That said, when ultra running and I cross paths, I think I prefer it to be in the spring, fall, or winter. Isn't summer supposed to be for vacations? ;)

Michael Valliant