Wholistic Fitness

5 QUESTIONS TO CHRIS KOSTMAN

Namaste Noble Warriors!

I have my ol’ bro Chris Kostman here, Race Director

for THE FURNACE CREEK 508 where I will be racing

this weekend. I decided to bug him the night before his

big weekend just because he has made me do equally as

annoying things in the past! Consider this mini-interview some payback…

#1) Chris, first of all, what the hell do you have against my SOFTRIDE ultra-racing bike (see page 50 of THE WINTER ATHLETE)? That thing is a classic! Rumor has it that if i was going to ride it again, you were going to cancel the Race!

To answer in WF terms, that bloated bike is not elegant and is not at optimum bodyweight, plus it’s just buttass ugly!

#2) You have made a living from creating, promoting, and (i must say, magnficently) directing some of the planet’s most brutal endurance competitions. You have been at this stuff long before “EcoChallenge” and all the bullshit ‘extreme events’ came into fashion. What led you to do what you do and, 2b) has anyone ever died in one of your events?

At age 14, I was caught by the travel bug from living overseas for a few years as a kid and then was inspired to get into cycling by a friend of my parents, Sheldon Jackson. That same year I was “adopted” by the founders of the Race Across America and I essentially grew up with that race through high school and college. I raced RAAM solo at age 20 in 1987 and then earned a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from RAAM after thirteen years of service in 1997, at age 30! I love every aspect of endurance (and “adventure”) sports, whether organizing, promoting, writing, or participating.

Thankfully nobody has passed away during any event under my command. All our events are held on the open road and are “out there,” so we stress safety, safety, safety, plus cross our fingers every time (which is about fifteen times a year, since we produce that many events).

#3) After eight years, the same team that I will be racing with this weekend has been resurrected. Was this YOUR idea? Who can i blame for dragging my fat ass out of a nice Enlightenment-Bound Yoga Teaching era?

– Absolutely and I couldn’t be happier! When your teammate Roy Wallack got the assignment from the LA Times, he called me first and said he had to cover the race from the inside. Within an hour I had sent a very persuasive and upbeat email to you, Ron Jones, and my big brother Keith, the rest of the original (and now still current) Team Sasquatch. So it’s my fault, but I am very, very pleased to have all of you in the race.

#4) Where can DIRECT LINES readers follow this weekend’s race or hear about results? If so inspired, where can they find out more about your absolutely demented career and ongoing ultra events?

Click and bookmark http://www.adventurecorps.com/webcast/2004fc/index.html for the webcast this weekend. To learn more about our events, click http://www.adventurecorps.com, http://www.the508.com, and http://www.badwaterultra.com!

#5) Finally, my heart opens wide open to see you attend my High Performance Yoga Classes! It is GREAT to see a world class ultra endurance athlete get onto the yoga mat and do some inner work of a different kind. What do you think so far of your HP Yoga experiences?

The first night I attended, I saw your cycling jersey with the slogan “Begin Again and Again” on the pocket. That really rang true for me because that night was about the fifth time that I’d begun anew my yoga practice. It was my first time, essentially, with you, though, and I am very pleased, humbled, and uplifted by the experience. It’s just what I need and want and when one can get their “needs” and “wants” in line, then you know you’re on the right track! You can expect to see me regularly in your cave over the coming years; as I told you recently, my competitive goals for the next three years are all planned, but are mirrored and matched by my strength and flexibility goals; the former will be realized in large part due to the latter and both will be equally meaninful. Thank you for your teachings and support on every level!

All the best

Chris Kostman

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RACE ACROSS AMERICA CHAMPION RON JONES:



Training For 2004 Furnace Creek 508 at his home in Georgia…note the WF Prayer Flag!

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Click Here For A Pic Of My 1996 Team

(with my “ugly ass” Softride bike prominently featured

much to Race Director Chris Kostman’s chagrin!):

http://www.the508.com/reports/1997show/pages/fcpic14.htm

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Click Here For A Pic Of Teammate Keith Kostman:

http://www.the508.com/reports/1997show/pages/fcpic27.htm

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Click Here For A Pic Of Teammate Ron Jones:

http://www.the508.com/reports/1997show/pages/fcpic23.htm

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Click Here For Another Pic Of My Ugly Ass Softride:

http://www.the508.com/reports/1997show/pages/fcpic32.htm

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coach ilg

�in your upcoming race

take with you�our unwavering blue rods

and the oneness of our universal tiger eyes

knowing the precise moment

to smoothly unseat�your saddle

maintaining strong but�soft elbows,

our oneness with the breath

�

in Service of Higher Sweat and Spirit

�

and feel our unconditional love

as the source

of your climbs and decents�

as�you race across the

Mohave and Death Valley.

knowing that these are the things

that poems

and prayers

are made of

�

undedicated to the future

Here Now

challenging all steep terrain

breathing into the satisfying rush

of adrenalin

of conquering doubt

of knowing self

�

perhaps i love you so

because�i’ve come to realize

that�i see me in you

�

student d.

october, 2004

with excerpts from student d by steve ilg september, 2001

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Dear Steve, Best of luck this weekend.

Love, Kendo

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Dear Coach Ilg,

Good Luck on your adventure this weekend!

May all of the Universe smile upon your efforts

You inspire All of Us.

WF online student under Coach Sheader,

Wendy Cooper

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In my prayers.

Student Karl

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Coach:

You will shred.

Student Feather