Ricardo Runs

Contact Ricardo

e: coming soon

"Yeah, I dance at the Hurricane in a skirt. You?"

~ Ricardo

"So Ricardo is this guy who runs marathons (in a Scott Fitness T-shirt and occassionally a tutu), wears hot dog hats at Social Distortion concerts and in general is pretty much having a good time all the time (or at least every time I've seen him). For those who go out to do the same thing every weekend, claim that KC is boring or just can't find anything to wear ... you ought to run with Ricardo."

~ Kels.

Turtle Trotter Happy-Go-Lucky Gobbledygook News:

·· Runner's Thanksgiving Poetry:

November 7, 2007

"Whether it be
crispness of winter night
or dawn of dew fresh spring,
running invites physical pleasure
to being of light.

Scorched by the oven sun
then cooled by evening breeze
refreshes the soul
of learning to be.

Tickling colors of foilage adorned
invigorates the harvest
of a season well done.

Thanks for the opportunity
to race across the turf,
finding pleasure
just being here on Earth!"

~ Ricardo

·· Musical Adjuvants of the Underground:

November 6, 2007

"Just a short time ago I attended a Pink Socks performance at the Record Bar. I have seen them play a few times before, but I do not recall them playing so volatile (with regard to musical variations). They Rocked! The lead singer with his pink shirt, who was complemented by the female (guitarist and vocalist) with her pink top, white skirt and pink socks. This made for great viewing. Hell I even wore pink socks that night. I could almost visualize a Pink Socks concert where so many people wore pink that the audience became an ocean of pink. In essence the Pink Socks have the opportunity to light up the avante garde underground. Let's see if they can break into the 'Marconian Waves' of transmission. That would be a profitable venture."

~ Ricardo

·· Sixth Annual Wilderness Run:

November 2, 2007

"The Wilderness Run was on a crisp, cold, clear morning. Jack Frost had ladled crystals of 'rock candy' onto the green blades of grass. The Heritage Village was quiet and peaceful. Runners were arriving steadily into the park. I jogged on the gravel road breathing in the first real crisp cold race this year. It was not long before I met up with an older gentleman (in his 70's) whom I see at various races throughout the year. We talked about racing and what to expect on this particular course. Then we went off in different directions to continue our warm-ups.

Before long it was time to get behind the starting line. After a brief opening ceremony there was a loud boom of a cannon and the race had begun. The sound of the cannon was definitely a kick start mechanism for the race. When I ran the race the year before it was cool, clear and windy. The absence of the wind made an added bonus to the event.

The race went well. I did feel the sting of the cold whenever I delved into the valleys. However, once I worked my way out, I felt considerably warmer. I thoroughly enjoyed running through the woods, grassy areas, and down the short, steep creek beds. Jumping over logs added a touch of steeple chasing to the course. But what really added a challenging dimension to the race was what I called 'Billy Goat Hill'. With about a quarter of a mile to go, I had met up with this 'bump' in the road and had to take short, choppy steps to conquer its gateway to the unforeseen finish line.

After the race I enjoyed bagels, fruit, mineral drinks and hot potato soup. The soup (and chili) were cooked in kettles outside. Hotdogs and beanie weenies were available for the taking. For me, after this cold morning race, the soup seemed to warm my soul. The Heritage Village settlers did a beautiful job making the Wilderness Run a true pioneering experience.

As I walked across the grass, away from the Heritage Village, the area had a peaceful solitude - except for the musical sloshing of the water wheel, in tune with the songs of Nature! My thought was: 'Life is Good.'"

~ Ricardo

·· Musical Spooks: Happy Halloween from Ricardo

October 11, 2007

"For the Halloween season I have put together a list of songs to assist you in getting into the Halloween spirit. Perhaps by listening to the music the character you choose to be that night will have a chance to express itself. The list is only an example to motivate you to create your own ideas to help make your Halloween season an enjoyable one. Have a Happy Halloween!!"

~ Ricardo

Character	Song	Band
Whore, Prostitute or Slut	Three-way	Pornhuskers (local band)
Juvenile Delinquent	Time Bomb	Rancid
Over Zealous Go-Go Dancer	I'm So Excited	Pointer Sisters
Hip Hop Honey	Any of Snoop's music	Snoop Doggy Dogg
John Travolta's character in Saturday Night Fever	Any of the Bee Gees' music on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack	Bee Gees
Witch	Strange Brew	Cream
Any Villian Practicing Witchcraft	Voodoo	Godsmack
Sadie Hawkins Girl at Highschool Dance	You Wreck Me Baby	Tom Petty

·· Turtle Trotter Philosophy on Racing

September 28, 2007

"Race to nowhere
Going nowhere fast
Going nowhere first
Then to end up last
And be rewarded for it!"

~ Ricardo

·· Turtle Trotter Race Results: the Clean Air Challenge at Loose Park for the American Lung Association

September 29, 2007

"Took first place in my age division.

Beautiful Course. Beautiful People. Beautiful Weather.

Nice! Nice! Nice!

Thank you to all who volunteered."

~ Ricardo

September 25, 2007

"I will be running Saturday in the Clean Air Challenge for Scott Fitness. The main organizer of the race is in need of volunteers to assist in directing runners on the course. ~~If you're interested, please contact Denise Jensen.~~ Thanks for any assistance you can provide."

~ Ricardo

Turtle Trotter's List of Races

March:

Westport Saint Patrick's Day Run (4 miles) Westport (MO) - some hills, variety of foodstuffs, charity friendly.

April:

Jaydoc Fun Run (5k): KU Medical Center (KS) - fairly hilly, few foodstuffs, charity friendly.

Broadway Bridge Run (5k): City Market (MO) - long slopes, variety of foodstuffs, charity friendly.

May:

El Centro De Mayo Run (5k): Argentine (KS) - flat & fast, Mexican foodstuffs & fruit, charity friendly.

June:

Hospital Hill Run (13.1 miles, 5k & 10k): Crown Center (MO) - hilly, pancake breakfast, variety of foodstuffs and entertainment, charity friendly.

Run the Good Race (5k): Sanctuary of Hope (KS) - extreme (hilliest 5k in Midwest), pancake breakfast, variety of foodstuffs, entertainment, charity friendly.

Vasque Summer Intro Trail Run (10k): Shawnee Mission Park (KS) - trail through woods (hilly), popsicles & water, charity friendly.

* note: $15 entry fee

July:

Psycho Psummer Trail Run (Psycho Wyco Run) (50k relay, 50k solo run, 15 mile run & psychopathetic 5k): Wyandotte County Lake (KS) - extreme bridle trail with steep hills, fruit, energy drinks, water, etc., charity friendly.

USAT Prairie Punisher Triathalon (variety of races): Gardner (KS) - mostly flat, variety of foodstuffs, charity friendly.

August:

Grass Kickin' (5k): Shawnee Mission Park (KS) some slopes, fruit & drinks, charity friendly.

Fox 4 Love Fund (5k): Brush Creek (MO) - some slopes, wide variety of foodstuffs, entertainment, charity friendly.

September

Santa Cali Gon Days Run (10k & 5k: Lutheran School (Independence, MO) - diverse, pancake breakfast & fruit, charity friendly.

Head for the Cure (5k): Corporate Woods (KS) - mostly flat, wide variety of foodstuffs, charity friendly.

October:

Park University (5k): Park University (Parkville, MO) - diverse (trail, hills, and tunnels), pancake breakfast & foodstuffs, charity friendly.

* note: this race will be postponed until next year due to campus construction.

November:

Shoal Creek Wilderness 5 Mile Run (5 miles): Shoal Creek Park (MO) - through woods, over logs, through creeks etc., wide variety of foodstuffs, charity friendly.

December:

Kris Kringle XCOUNTRY (5k): Minor Park (MO) - woods and grass terrain, some hills, variety of foodstuffs which includes soup (good after running in the cool temperatures), charity friendly.

Note: Race fees for these races generally are $20 to $35. Hospital Hill Run can be as much as $55. There are one or two that have a $15 fee. Be advised these fees can change from year to year. Many times the big races with high fees do provide a lot of goodies, if you will. Personally, the races with the pancake breakfasts are my favorites. That's my list for now. I hope to see some of you out.

~ Ricardo

·· Shoal Creek Living History Museum's 6th Annual Wilderness Run

October 19, 2007

"I will be running in the Shoal Creek Living History Museum's 6th Annual Wilderness Run on November 3, 2007. The race starts at 9 a.m. Shoal Creek Living History Museum is located in beautiful Robert H. Hodge Park, 7000 N.E. Barry Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64156. Located just off Highway 152, Shoal Creek is between Interstate 435 (to the West) and Interstate 35 (to the East), just two miles west of Liberty, Missouri."

~ Ricardo

·· Turtle Trotter Review of the Santa-Cali-Gon Days

October 7, 2007

"The Santa-Cali-Gon Days Run was a special one. This was the first year for the event. Many runners entered the races (10k & 5k) - that gave the event a great start. The course weaved through various historic areas of downtown Independence. I, as well as many 10k runners, traversed past Bingham-Waggoner Estate (built in 1852), National Frontier Trails Museum, Chicago & Alton Train Depot (built in 1879), Truman Depot, President Truman's Home and Vaile Mansion. Running by these historic sites made me feel as though I was on a tour more than a race. That made it fun. At one point in the race a young girl played her trumpet as runners passed her. That was a new element to racing. I remember hearing the trumpet even when I was three blocks away. Overall the race had a variety of elements. And two of the elements that I especially liked were the changes in course elevation (which eliminates course boredom) and the pancake breakfast.

When a running event is topped off with a pancake breakfast, it allows the participants, friends, family, and volunteers to converse about the enjoyable experience."

~ Ricardo

·· Turtle Trotter Sighting:

September 25, 2007

"True: I was seen at the Plaza Art Fair friday (September 21, 2007). I was wearing the Scott Fitness Turtle Trotter shirt, with red shorts, a bright red troll wig, and a multicolored umbrella. And when it rained, it poured. I was definitely wet.

Quite frankly the rain was refreshing. I keep walking in the rain observing what art I could as I passed each tent. I am quite sure some people thought the Turtle Trotter was out of his mind. Oh well, it was fun!"

~ Ricardo

·· Turtle Food Digested:

September 25, 2007

"Turtle Food Digested is in regards to the emotional process of me being the Turtle Trotter. Well sometimes writing as the Turtle Trotter starts out as a pirouette, but ends up as a kettle of fish. Then I'll say to myself: What the F#%$ was that? Then I would laugh and I would say to myself. I do know what the hell that means! Hence, the kettle of fish becomes a pirouette in reverse."

~ Ricardo

·· Turtle Trotter Out of the Shell & Into the Crevasses of the Underground News:

September 13, 2007

"Having been a dancer for some time and most recently a Comic Runner, people inquire about my skirt wearing (i.e. kilts, tutus, tunics etc.). There is not much to it. As a dancer wearing various apparel to meet the needs of the performance is quite normal. One day one might be dressed as a tiger and the next day suited up as a jester. That is it!"

·· USAT Prairie Punisher of Gardner (July 28, 2007)

September 6, 2007

"It has been two weeks since the ass-kickin' at the 15-mile Psycho Wyco race in Wyandotte County Park (July 14, 2007). That was just enough time to lick my wounds and prepare for the heat in the Prairie Punisher race. I was not too concerned about this challenge. This was a 15k (9.3 miles) with the main obstacles being heat and humidity along with a few rolling hills. With that in mind I decided to wear a shiny, green, sequined top hat. The hat went well with the lime shirt provided by Creative T-Shirts. Doing this would make the race palatable. Although it had rained earlier the sky was partly cloudy when the race started. I felt ready. I thought nothing could be as difficult as the Psycho Wyco race."