CONTEST WINNERS!!!

First- thanks to everyone who took the time to enter the “Which Animal do you Run Like” contest. There were many great submissions. The winner will be emailed to claim their prizes. We wanted to give a grand Prize and a runner up but it was too close to call so we have a Grand Prize winner and 2 runner up winners.
Here is the 2nd runner up:
(i) Sloths are omnivores. I’m an omnivore.

(ii) Sloths have very large, specialized, slow-acting stomachs with multiple compartments in which symbiotic bacteria break down the foods they eat. While I probably don’t have multiple compartments to my stomach (I have never checked), I can break down most foods while running without issue or repercussion.

(iii) Sloths’ claws serve as their only natural defense. My black toe nails have been known to turn people into stone and, thus, are a great natural defense.

(iv) The main predators of sloths are the jaguar and the harpy eagle, both are fast and agile. My main predators are the fast and fleet of foot.

(v) Sloths move only when necessary and even then very slowly. Anyone who has seen me run comes away thinking the same thing about me.

(vi) Sloths are considered among the most somnolent animals, sleeping from 15 to 18 hours each day. While I rarely get the chance to sleep that much, I can go toe to toe with a sloth (regardless of whether we are talking about a two-toed sloth or three-toed sloth) on the sleep front.

(vii) Sloths are very sturdily built and rarely die from a fall. I often fall when I run and I have yet to die.

(viii) Sometimes sloths’ low level of movement actually keeps males from finding females for longer than one year. This is dead on with my dating experiences.

And the First runner up:
Up until this season I have always thought of my running as being similar to
a wolf. Like the wolf I enjoy running with a pack (friends) but I also
enjoy being a lone wolf from time to time, seeking solitude to cleanse the
soul and focus purely on the effort. I suppose that I occasionally hunt
down prey (mountain bikers), but my favorite hunting time is at the end of a
race, finishing strong and picking up places. Occasionally I do the scent
roll (falling down for me) like a wolf and I enjoy howling after a tough
effort. Also, like the wolf I can cover long distances with little
sustenance as long as there is a cold beer, I mean, food reward at the end.

This season is a different story though. Unlike the wolf I’ve been getting
lost. So now I would say my running is either more like a visually impaired
wolf or a bat (technically they’re not blind but real close). So there you
have it, I run like a blind wolf…

And the Grand Prize winner……..Marty Phelps
I run like a Mule! Really! I know there are times when I should not run! 5 below zero- lightning storm- middle of the night- work- but I run anyway. (all real runs, this year!)

I’m not pretty- I’m not real fast but like the the virtuous mule, I possess the patience, endurance and sure-footedness of the donkey, and the vigour, strength and courage of the horse. Having some limited experience with Mules, I have found mules preferable to horses: mules show less impatience under the pressure of heavy weights, and their skin, harder andless sensitive than that of horses, renders them more capable of resisting sun and rain- just like me!

Another notable characteristic of the Mule is it’s stubborness! Webster defines Stubborn: unreasonably or perversely unyielding : mulish (2): justifiably unyielding : resolute b: suggestive or typical of a strong stubborn nature 2: performed or carried on in an unyielding, obstinate, or persistent manner
3: difficult to handle, manage, or treat.
Also, if I don’t run and am difficult to handle, manage or treat- just ask my wife who begs me to run on “rest days”.

I am a Mule- not incredibly fast- but reliable- persistent- stubborn and crabby when not running. Give me a little nutrition, a trail and a guide and I will run with you until you say stop!

I promise there is a Mule inside of each of you! Rejoice the noble Mule the symbol of the modern endurance runner!

Congrats again to the winner and a very big THANK YOU for all that entered.
Please stay tuned for another contest to come….