Alligator Preserves Podcast

Rest in Peace, Gracie. Thank you for the light you shared with me, and with everyone who knew you, not long ago. (1/25/2020) Some might say that the Tour Divide would challenge the fittest among us. After all, this annual bicycling epic spans 2,745 miles between Banff, Canada and Antelope Wells, NM, right on the Mexican border. Some might even say that a person with Multiple Sclerosis would be a fool to attempt such a feat. But not Grace Ragland. Having lived with M.S. since age ten (and she admits to being “50ish” now), she has yet to meet a challenge with an “I can’t.” When a friend mentioned trying this ultra-endurance event, Grace knew she had to challenge it. Spoiler alert: Grace is the first person with M.S. to complete The Tour Divide.

What would you do if the internet and your phone service were down and you had no idea when or if they'd be restored? This happened to Laurel on August 1st. Find out what she did!

Wesley Sandoval broke the record for the Leadman Race in 2016. Find out why he signed up for this epic ultra-endurance high-altitude race series and how he convinced himself to go for the record. Also find out what it's like to compete with a brother! Wesley's race experience has truly been a family affair.

Would you ever ride with your partner on a bicycle built for two? Listen to this special episode with tandem racers Jana and David Zangerle and learn what it takes to cross the finish line with someone very close to you--physically and emotionally!

Rodrigo Jimenez, 41-year-old resident of Leadville, Colorado, is competing in his 5th Leadman competition in the Leadville Race Series. Listen to the incredible story of how he started racing, and stay till the end to hear how running for 100 miles above 10,000' elevation makes him feel!

Laurel recalls a serene paddleboard experience on Twin Lakes in Lake County, CO; the day inspired new scenes and characters (a fire-breathing dragonfly and a tortured octopus) for the second novel in her Waterwight series: Waterwight Flux.

Elden Nelson (a.k.a. "Fatty") has two decades of Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Race finishes under all of his belt buckles! Find out what makes him continue to come back to compete in one of the toughest races known to mountain bikers. See our visit on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j_uB2oVVtBk

Laurel shares her morning routine, a walk to "The Turn-Around Tree" with her friend John Orville Stewart, and how it has inspired characters, scenes, and plot twists in her novels...and a deeper friendship based on a shared goal.

My story "Tanked" for the 2018 NYC Flash Fiction contest. The challenge? Write a story of no more than 1,000 words using the following elements: Genre: Ghost Story Object: Bottle of Champagne Location: An Aquarium

A story about twin girls who uncover the mystery of their mother's death with the help of some supernatural birds.

Don't call her a cute little old lady. There's something about people who grew up on a farm. Octogenarian Marge Dorfmeister shares a lifetime of experiences, her poetry, her humor, and her ideas about the end of life.

Marvin and Lisa Sandoval discuss their experiences with the Leadville Race Series and what it takes for anyone, including YOU, to finish these epic endurance races! This is the third in a special series about these renowned races in Leadville, Colorado . . . races that start at 10,200' elevation!

Who will you remember today, tomorrow, and forevermore?  In this episode, Laurel reads an excerpt from an essay written by her West Point mentor, Pat C. Hoy II, who was instrumental in her decision to stay at the United States Military Academy. Pat's essay reminds us of the sacrifices made not only by service members of the Armed Forces, but by their families as well. Find the link to Pat's full essay at https://leadvillelaurel.com/alligator-preserves-episode-22-duty-honor-country/

Short Story 3 is about plastic surgery . . . a flash fiction piece, 1,000 words short!

Ride a mountain bike over 100 miles in tricky terrain over 10,200' elevation? And do it again and again . . . despite extreme physical adversity? Ty and Roxanne Hall have eyebrow-raising stories about their experiences training for and participating in the Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, and tips for anyone who might consider signing up for this challenging race series. Do it! Sign up!

Laurel McHargue, host of the podcast Alligator Preserves, visits with Annalisa Parent, writing coach and author of "Storytelling for Pantsers: How to Write and Revise Your Novel Without an Outline." Annalisa discusses the benefits of planning and pantsing when it comes to writing a book, how neuroscience influences creativity, ways to work around writer's block, the evolution of language, and much more.

Ever wonder how writers are inspired, what their routines look like, how they make characters "real" and relatable? I have answers for aspiring writers of every age! After my Skype session with a language arts class in Texas, the teacher compiled a list of insightful questions from her 7th grade students and sent them to me. In this episode, I answer them all!

Do you have what it takes to complete a 100-mile foot race through the Rocky Mountains? Ken Chlouber, founder of the Leadville Trail Race Series, believes in you--but you must make a commitment to yourself. In the first episode of this special Alligator Preserves series, Laurel visits with Ken and learns what's special about Leadville and this unusual race series.

Just because you can see the mountaintop, that doesn't mean you should attempt to summit without studying the risks and preparing for the unexpected. In this episode, Laurel describes "losing her 14er virginity" on La Plata Peak with Dr. Seuss characters in her head; she offers a warning to those who do not respect the power of nature. Additionally, she gives a shout out to Search and Rescue (SAR) teams everywhere. She recorded this episode while her husband was on an active SAR mission.

You've heard the word Reiki, but what do you really know about this Japanese practice of using energy and light to heal? Are you a skeptic? Find out what these two Reiki practitioners (and sisters!) think about their experience giving and receiving Reiki.