09/04/2025
A few days ago I was visiting with a friend in marketing and he said I needed to share my “story.” Great idea so here it is.
My story: I am Dave “Happy Hawk” Simmons. As a member of the Lawrence Trail Hawks trail running club I was dubbed “Happy Hawk” in an elaborate naming ceremony as my life motto is “Choose Happy, Be Kind!” In 2019 my trail running career ended due to a nasty miniscus tear. Instead of hanging up my trail shoes my journey took me to massage therapy school where I spent 4 nights a week for 11 months to become a massage therapist for friends and family, and all trail runners are friends and family. My logo is of my hands as hawk wings with a trail coming out of the woods and a shining son.
My focus is providing in race and post race recovery massage. Runners have told me I have helped them finish races and my 20 minute post race recovery massage cuts their recovery time in half. I travel to 15-20 races per year in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska. I don’t set a fee for my race massage services although tips are greatly appreciated. I also do a more overall therapeutic relaxing massage either at my home massage studio or I travel to client’s homes.
I recently retired following nearly 40 years as a public service attorney. Not being one to sit still, I acquired a 10 rack canoe/kayak trailer and set out to establish a kayak/canoe shuttle service. In doing so I recognized that living in Baldwin City put me not only 20 minutes from Lawrence and the Kansas river but also about 20 minutes from the intersection of the 119 mile Flint Hills Trail and the 50 mile Prairie Spirit Trail in Ottawa. So in addition to race massage, I now provide a shuttle service. You can check out my page at Happy Hawk Boat and Bike Shuttle.
I use Venmo, CashApp, and Paypal. Cash is good too. I’m looking forward to enhancing your ultra running adventure.
