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 A short visit to a place can capture your desire for a return trip. Such was the case with Hungary and the area of Lake Balaton in its southwest. It beckoned me, as if to say there was unfinished business to attend.
My first visit was brief; the purpose was to evaluate the course of Ultrabalaton, a 212-kilometer race around Lake Balaton, central Europe’s largest lake. I only had enough time to see most of one side of it, and from that side to look across at the hills and mountains on the opposite shore.
One thing I knew for sure, it was a lovely setting for a race. More importantly, seeing the other side gave me some insight into the challenge I would face sometime during the race. A challenge I was willing to accept, just to see the other side of the lake.
My initial trip followed a stint as the USA Track & Field Team Leader for the 24-hour Run National Team, which participated in Brive, France in mid-May of 2010. Following a successful effort by the team and a bronze medal finish for the men, I would stay in Europe and then head for another race in France a week later, the 48-hours of Surgeres.
Between trips a jaunt into Hungary was incorporated and with the cooperation of the Hungarian 24-hour Run National Team providing a car ride, the scene was set. (read more)
The Boston Marathon medal I hung around my friend’s neck and brought a bit of joy to her life, can no longer be worn by her. As I was traveling in Europe, I missed the obituary stating she had passed away following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Lana Kind was 60 years old when she died, but her attitude about life and living made her seem years younger. She accepted her fate, but she did not stop fighting it. She lived more than 20 months after being diagnosed and told she would only live 3 or 4 months.
While running the other day, I reflected on the races I had done in May and how I had struggled through some of them and how easy others had been. I guess every day is different and we have to accept those days that do not feel right to us, just as Lana did. It goes back to a saying Wigwam had on one of their promotional t-shirts back in the ‘90s. It said: “Some run to compete, others because it’s so darn comfortable.”
Life is like that, sometimes we are competitive and we fight and struggle to get everything out of ourselves, to perform at our highest level and others we just cruise along, happy to be doing what we love to do, accepting we cannot always perform at our optimal level.
Acceptance can keep us balanced; knowing there will be days we cannot or should not be pushing our bodies to do what we have trained, allows us to move on and try again another time.
(read more)
Dear Wigwam, I've been meaning to write your company for some time now, and comment on the amazing durability of your socks. I was given a 3-pack of the Ultimax (currently called PRO) Ironman socks on my 13th birthday from my dad who is an avid runner. I love them, I wear them about once a week and over the years have lost a pair but still have the remaining two. The reason I'm writing you is that I am now 32 years old. They have no holes in them or show any signs of breaking down. I think the fact that the socks have been worn regularly for 19 years is simply amazing, talk about a quality product! I have photos but couldn't find an email adress to send them to. Thought you guys would like this story, thanks again. Sincerely, Ben M.
 Dear Wigwam,
Just gotta tell you, having tried a lot of socks in VERY adverse situations (I am an avid adventure racer) - the InGenius socks (now called Fusion) have been awesome. I recommend to Adventure Racers, the InGenius sock. The pairs I have, have been abused beyond belief and have kept my feet blister free and happy.
You can see some of what I put these socks through at my Adventure Racing blog - http://eaglinar.blogspot.com/ .
Sincerely,
Dr. Ron E.
 On July 6, 2004, one month after his high school graduation, a dump truck smashed into Brian's black Camaro, crushing his pelvis, ribs, and clavicle, pushing his heart to the right side of his chest, and causing both lungs to collapse. He lost 60 percent of his blood, endured 14 surgeries and 36 blood transfusions, and spent two months in a coma during which time he lost 100 pounds. When he awoke, the former body-builder and state-champion swimmer from Welcome, Maryland, barely had the strength to blink his eyes—his sole form of communication. Talking, the doctors said, might take months. Walking, they warned, might take a miracle.
But underneath the tangle of life-support machines, Brian was still the kid who'd never settle for less than an A, the one who wouldn't quit a game of one-on-one basketball until he triumphed or wore down his opponent trying. He lunged for every challenge—first to lift his index finger, then to lift himself out of a wheelchair, then, in the fall of 2005, just one year after the accident, to start his freshman year at St. Mary's College of Maryland, and swim with the team.
In July 2007, he made the most astonishing leap of all, signing up for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run, held in October. Race organizers invited him to participate, provided he could get permission from his doctors and finish an Ironman 70.3 event (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, 13.1- mile run), which was three weeks away.
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 Wigwam sponsored athlete Carol Dillinger has been proudly running in Wigwam socks since 2003....and no blisters! Carol's favorite socks are Ironman Thunder Pro Quarter and Cool-Lite Hiker Pro .
The following article was written by Jill Barvill, of The Spokeman-Review (Spokane, WA). The article was published on May 27, 2010, and is posted with her permission.
When it comes to life’s challenges, North Side resident Carol Dellinger approaches them like a marathon, with optimism, determination and strength.
Known as the marathon machine or marathon warrior, Dellinger runs a marathon every two to three weeks and only two women in the United States have run more of them. She finished No. 237, the Capital City Marathon in Olympia, on May 16.
But the last few marathons have had special meaning for the woman who treats each race like an individual journey. Last October, one day after finishing the Portland Marathon, Dellinger went for her annual mammogram and soon learned she had breast cancer.
(read more)
Some people never know when to quit. Have you ever heard that saying, wondered what was meant by it or ever given any thought about it?
Well, I have heard the phrase many times and it usually is in reference to something I have done that seems like way too much for most people. For me, it is just something I do, will continue to do as long as I am able and not worry about what others think is enough and what is “normal”.
Part of the reason people say things like that, is they do not understand what I am capable of because they, themselves, have not experienced the distances I have run. I know my capabilities and also know my goals, and yes, limits.
(read more)
 Your socks play a major role in what you're doing out there. Me, my socks need to withstand the brutality I put them through. And they do.
Throughout the winter season I spend a lot of my time trudging through the snow. My focus and goal: to find new/ice and rock to climb. This, living in the Canadian Rockies, means a lot of hiking (through a lot of snow I might add). Over the last few years I've been able to wear and test a lot of outdoor clothing and what i've come up with: thank goodness for good socks. I don't care what jacket, pants, mitts, sweaters, even long underwear i have on, but what i do care about...are good socks. (Just for the record, I guess I do sorta care about what iIwear, but not as much as my socks.)
This past winter I had the opportunity to wear wigwam socks. I wore several different styles in fact and will never turn back. Whether in my touring boots, my ice climbing or competition climbing boots, my approach shoes, and even my crocks, my socks never let me down.
Hi! I did a 550 mile trek across Northern Spain for 2 months wearing the same pair of Ironman Wigwam socks daily (I washed them and they dry so fast) and I still wear them every day to triathlon train. I can't believe the practicality and durability (and comfort) of these amazing socks!!! Thank you for making such a wonderful product. They are my favorite socks, not just for training :).
Very Best,
Morgan D.
I know that this is quite late, but I want to let you know how much I appreciate the comfort and durability of your Ironman socks. I have done 14 Ironman races, seven of them in Kona, Hawaii. I have worn Wigwam socks for everyone of the 14 races. I have never gotten a blister until this past year while competing in Kona. I was injured, and therefore had to walk a great deal of the marathon. The different gait must have contributed to the formation of the blister which became painful enough that I had to remove my shoe and finish the last 6 miles walking with one of my feet clad only in my Wigwam sock. I not only finished the race ( in second place), but the sock remained in good shape. I still use the socks from that race. I am doing the Boston Marathon this month and will be wearing Wigwam socks!!
Sincerely,
Mariana P.
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