Well that's not confusing at all.......

Oh, Manimal, not a PR race I am thinking, but it looks like so much fun! I am picturing the different animal habitats as I look at this map. I love that zoo. Have fun.

There will have to be a Tarzan yell somewhere in this race! Mandatory!

You are so right QCL, this one's gonna be fun! I wonder what the animals will think as a herd of humans runs by... I know I'd be freaked if it was the other way around!!

Depends on the animals .....
Giraffs - Geeze their short
Tigers - Lunch!
Lions - Lunch!
Cheetahs - Carp their slow....and lunch!
Polar Bears - snack
Gorrilas - The market is down (Gorrilas are smarter than we are)

Monkeys - Prepare to fling pooh.....FLING!

This needed a spew warning!

As soon as the question was stated I had a vision of "Madagascar!"
Such is the mind of the demented....

::makes mental note to pull up hood while running by baboon island::

Just take a cue from them, run amongst the herd!

Been reading in my free time this week, a book called Born to Run. My 21 year old brother-in-law gave it to me and thought I'd like it. He's nearing the end of his training for his first marathon, not bad fo someone who started running a year ago...sheesh. Anywho, it has me wanting to drop off the grid and move into the mountains to become a hermit/ultrarunner! Combination of insanity and spending the last week at compliance school I'm thinking.

Highly recommend it, inspirational in all varieties! Lots about a tribe in the mountains of Mexico that can regularly run up and down mountains at insane speeds and do it for 24-48 hours at a stretch. And they consume lots of beer. Sounds like my kind of people!

Matt, look into Dean Karnazes's books - UltraMarathon Man, Run, and 50/50. They are very well written books as well. But it may increase your urges to drop off the grid.

The Taranuhara! One of their tribe hold the record for the longest documented sustained run by a human. Over 400 miles!
According to some of the books I have read on them, they are able to run down animals, because they basically have always been lousy shots with primative weapons.
I think their name litteraly means "fast runner" or something like that.

::in best Andy DuFresne/Morgan Freeman voices:: "You remember the name of the town don't you?" "Zihuatanejo."

I believe the book says "running people", but I'm definitely wanting to investigate arch strengthening exercises and some barefoot running. My B-i-L is working his way up to try a 5k barefoot, so far he's only doing about a mile at a time. Takes time to toughen up the feet I'm sure.

Reading about running seems like a weird concept, but it's still interesting. I like the bio-mechanical aspect of it all, but that's just the science nerd inside me.

NP, I was trying to get a podcast that was for the 50/50 one I believe, too bad I couldn't get on a wireless network at the airport without paying for it! I'm interested. Not sure I'd ever take that direction for my own fitness goals, but it's still very neat to read about.

You know I am a fan of minimalist running and have a lot of mini shoes, but I think it is not for everyone, or even all the time. I read a book by a podiatrist/runner (I'll have to find it) and his was the best thesis I have seen on it. Minimalist runners want everyone to do it. And traditionalists think no one should. I think some people are physically predisposed to it; proper arch, stride, pronation, etc. Some will never be able to do it well. Those of us that grew up barefoot all summer and before there were decent running shoes tend to have stronger feet, but that is only part of the equation. How you run and what type of foot strike you have is important.
I do periodic runs in my fivefingers to increase my foot speed, because I cannot take a long loping stride in those shoes. But if I try to do a long run (over 3 miles) in them, I will get tired and revert to my normal, heel strike stride. For me it is useful, but I will stick with my Ascics for serious runs.

I don't want to lose my toenails! There was a guy in there that had his surgically removed since they just kept falling off, kind of funny. And a Jenn that was a crazy party-girl/boozer... but she was from the east coast

Have you seen these? Maybe the ultimate "barefoot" runner shoe
(shoe is a very broad term in this case)
http://birthdayshoes.com/branca-barefoot-running-sandals-review

Sounds like what was described in the book, definitely. Look a bit uncomfortable!

I'd run in those and my matching birthday suit!

I've seen guys run in them. Its just that the gait required to run in them is too unnatural for me.
I've seen video of guys trail running in CO and NM in them.
I've done this in my 5 fingers.....I'd want to know the trail pretty well before letting my feet be that nekkid.

I like the idea of it. Not sure about the reality though.

There are so many comments to be made about the birthday suits....



... where to start....

I wish I could get a new suit for my birthday. The one I have now is all wrinkled.

Just keep running and working out.
I gets rid of a lot of the wrinkles!

I...well...I'm damaged for life now.

I regret bringing the discussion down this path.

!!!