All That, Er, Hold the Chips!

You Aint All That and a Bag of Chips!

Well, you may be, but I aint all that and a bag of chips. Just when you think it's your 15-minutes, reality slaps you right in the grille!

I'll admit it, I was getting a little too big for my britches. Ricky Howe, the excellent co-race director at http://www.tamparaces.com/ called me a running legend (he did qualify that with "granted local-legend") and then that cat from Wisconsin wanted some autographed pictures after he read my M & B article about Arkansas (still haven't been paid for that), and then I did perdy good at Arkansas again this year. And there was the article in the widely circulated "Town & Country" Neighborhood supplement of the neighborhood paper (well, I read it, I think I still have a few hundred copies if you want one), about me being the 2006 MUT Runner of the year. And Roger Sutton, maybe the fastest dude in Marion County and all parts south, asked me for a quote for an article in Ocala Style. And darn it, well, I WAS feeling perdy good.

Then, my department head at school asks me to do this race (Ancient Oaks 100) to collect pledges for Literacy Leads to Hope (come-one guys, send me a ducat or two, my department head is on me!) so, it's for Kenya and they asked "Kenya?" and I Ken, so I say I will. Well, to enter Ancient Oaks, requires a phone call (gosh I'd rather e-mail) to the benevolent Stu Gelman. Michael Melton had sent out a note with Stu's number in case we wanted to run. Well, I didn't necessarily want to run, but I said I would, so I call Stu.

Gelman Answers: Hello, this is Stu.

Mathews Chirps: Stu, this is Andy Mathews

Gelman Asks: Do, I know you?

Mathews Answers Sheepishly: Er, no, not exactly. But do you read Marathon and Beyond?

Gelman says: Never heard of it.
Mathews asks: Er, how about the Town & Country Neighbor?

Gelman responds: Is that the suburban Tampa local supplement?

Mathews excitedly says: YES! That's it.

Gelman: Never heard of it!

Gelman Questions: Well, what can I do you for?

Mathews Responds: I kinda wanted to run your race at Ancient Oaks.

Gelman Inquires: Why should I let you in?

Mathews Exclaims: Well, I let your brother run the Croom 50 K after it was sold out.

Gelman Exclaims and asks: Sucker! That's Michael, why do I care?

Mathews Admits: I sorta told my boss that I'd raise some money for charity.

Gelman Asks Doubtfully: Ok, are you trained?

Mathews Wonders: I should be able to run it, yes.

Gelman Relents: Alright, you're in, see you on the 8th.

Mathews: (Silent Relief)

I guess local running-legend status doesn't get you out of the tri-county area. Oh, I am so way very OK with that. Besides, I don't even like Bags-O-Chips all that much!