Last event that I do not train well for that is…the tide is changing.

That said, I have a lovely 18 mile bicycle portion of the race to look forward to on my relay team. Given the weather forecast, that works out to 9 miles south, into a 20-30mph headwind and then 9 miles north with a 20-30mph tailwind. I’m not sure I like that arrangement…even reversed. Oh well…

And now, a thought provoking question for you, loyal readers.

You know how you get 4 saftey pins in your packet to bin your race number on, right? Good. And they always come 3 strung onto the 4th pin to keep them together, right? Yeah, exactly.

And now the Q: WHO DOES THAT? Are they somehow automagically manufactured that way? Does some lowly race volunteer(s) have to string thousands of them as punishment for their failed water stop the year before? Or are they purchased that way by the race, thereby subsidizing the $2/day wages of from poverty stricken foreign child laborer?

Things to consider.

1. Lumpy can run a 1/2 Marathon without really training.
2. Lumpy can not run a Full Marathon without really training.

I started to struggle a bit just before the halfway point. But I had to at least make it to that goal. I did, and it was at that point and I suggest to The Sally that she should go on without me. I didn’t plan to walk off the course, though the thought did cross my mind. But I didn’t want to hold her back when she was having a good run.

I muddled/hobbled/limped/ran/winced my way thought the remaining 13.1 miles. I had no real aspirations going into this race…other than to just finish.

I did. I’ll have more of a recap of my thoughts on this…oh, and watch for the joint Sally/Lumpy “10 Ways to Re-purpose  Your Mylar Blanket.”

So as some of you may recall, I’ve studied Aikido for a long time–not so much recently but I do think about it almost daily.

My instructor introduced me to the following remedy when I sprained a wrist. I have to say, it was amazing and worked wonders. Chalk it up to reality or “the placebo effect” it doesn’t really matter. I’ve used this on many occasions and it has provided a substantial curative effect.

Zheng Gu Shui. A lovely tincture that you can find at your local Asian Pharmacy. Or, locally in Minneapolis, at United Noodles or online at Amazom.com.

This stuff is like Über-Salonpas and I swear by it.

Okay…the “write” part is sorely lacking in the immediate past…but I’m trying to correct that impasse. Despite the difficulty is it proving to be.

Yeah…I have three months of Marathon training to make up for in the next three months oops–Three Weeks.

Yeah…I’m working though that and a whole lot of other stuff.

Yeah…I haven’t held up my end of this “discussion” of running–punishment–training–indulgence–goodness.

But, I try to Write. I try to Travel. And I’m definitely Hungry for more.

I’m trying to have no reservations about posting…

And I Eat, too…

Oh..wait..I’m not like him at all…

As The Sally wrote, the Tri-Loppet is my new favoritish race. This is my first, official, bicycle race. AWESOME! That’s all I can say.

Every time I saw a puddle I just had to ride through it… It was muddy. It was hot. I thought I might puke. It was FUN!

If your mountain bike isn’t covered in MUD…then you ain’t having a good time….

More photos after the break…

’nuff said…

Some memories you don’t want to put words on . . . because that would change them.

Suppose, for instance, you gave a savage a helicopter ride. The experience would be rich and vivid for him. If on his return to his village, he told friends he had been in a little cave of ice that flew like a bird, at first his memories would still be true, and different from what he said–but the more times he told or rethought the sotry, the more “helicopter” would become “flying ice cave” . . . which, after all, is a lesser thing.

By naming the inexpressible; you lose it.

–Edison Ripsborn

’nuff said. for now.

Oh, I’ll post about my 20 miler in a few…

Well, it was a tough run. The heat was increasing. The Sun was present. And I managed to set up a mental battle for myself. That was the kicker. I fought it. And I finally had to give up the weather ninja and get all Jedi. Yeah, I had to face myself and…well…I wasn’t really winning. Perhaps shades of Paris were dwelling in my soul. (I know–FORGET PARIS!) I tired to defeat the inner Weather Ninja that just wanted 30-40°F less…whatever…

It wasn’t working. I tried to call upon Yoda JoeJer, (yeah, all’ya’all need to read the old stuff) but he was not there to help me. (And that is OK.) I tried all my silly little Jedi Mind Games. They finally got me to the point of meeting up with Sally. Master Sally, that is…

Yes, Master Salley, accept your fate…

She pulled me through my last four six miles. I really appreciate it. You pushed me when I needed to be pushed. “Do or do not…there is no try.”

I’m trying to look forward to the 20 this weekend…

Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it

-Sir Isaac Newton: Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis

Lumpy translates this into running in the form of “do not stop!” No, really, don’t stop. Sure, walk through water/food breaks. Walk through intersections. (Okay, sometimes yo have to stop at the intersection–rather than “jogging” in place and looking like twit of the year) But in general, don’t stop. Stay in motion.

I took a new route for my 13 miles today. At mile 8ish I decided to stop, sit down at the north side of Cedar Lake, and take in the view. I had a moment of feclempt. My body said keep going. My mind said, enjoy the view, it’ll be alright.

Thustly, Newton’s First Law of Motion. An outside force–my mind–acted upon a body in motion–my body. Needless to say, getting back into the groove for the last 5 was a scoshi difficult. The 15MPH headwind didn’t help either.

I defeted myself at mile 12.5…but manage to at least run the last .3 miles and finish at the Elf Door.

Wait wait…there’s more…

So, I said that after my run I would take The Tardis (my fancy bike) and meet Sally to carry her water/food for the finish. WTF! WTF was I thinking.

Actually, it was a nice little challenge for myself. Lumpy’s owe little Duathlon — minus the thrid leg. I biked out and met Sally at about 6 miles from the finish. So I ran 13..walk/ran another 1.5 to get home (there’s the thrid leg!)..cycled 14 out and back with Sally.

I guess I shouldn’t be complaining.

Oh, hey, and we had homemade tempura!!! Not quite “resturant grade” … but well, it was yummy and THANKS LARRY!!!

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RANT: Wind–in my face and colder that I expected.

RANT: Why is it the people who live in the Million-Dollar-Houses along the lake can not clear their sidewalks of ice? Seriously…

RANT: I know it is stupid Valentines Day, but the two twits making out in the middle of the running path and blocking the stairs should go get a hotel room. Better yet, just get out of my way.

RAVE: The lake paths are clear of all ice.

RANT: Learn to control your yappy little dog.

RAVE: I like running with the sun at my back. I get all focused on watching my shadow.

RANT: Dawg isn’t a husky.

RAVE: Dawg isn’t a husky.

RAVE: Contacts–no fogged glasses.

RANT: Contacts–no protection from the sun.

RANT: Wind–at my back and no longer cooling me off.

RAVE: I get to post about all these rants and raves.

UPDATED #1:

RAVE: Park Police officer who made someone put their dawg on lead. Yeah…deal with it.