Significant Cardiac Stress or Just a Good Time?

Brother Dietrich Passes

Monday December 29th. I liked the following quote:

"I came to Saint John's 42 years ago, never intending to be a monk. What I discovered is that Saint John's is a community where people stand by each other -- they care about each other -- and that there is always room in this community."

Merry Christmas!

I have to get back in the weight room...

there is only 11 months until Fisch's next birthday.

All I can focus on when I watch Oklahoma football...

is the fact that Sam Bradford looks like Sven Sungaard playing football, and the most annoying band in America (they took first place this year, USC #2)

Stuart Tanner v Devin Harris

This looks fake to me, but SI had an article about this guy from London. Is it fake.

Goodbye Daylight

OMG. I will NEVER leave the house. This would be cooler than, than, than, than.....speechless.

Two thoughts I was pondering...

1. You always here the adjective "voracious" associated with reading. Why is that? It is an adjective that means "excessivly eager", but you don't here Cronz say "I am a voracious runner" or Slim say "I voraciously watch the Twins and Vikings". But anyone who reads alot is a voracious reader. Thoughts?

2. Two paragraphs from a WSJ article today.

GM reported light-vehicle sales of 153,404 in November, down from 261,273 a year earlier. (side comment: How ugly is that?)

Looking ahead, GM said it now expects fourth-quarter North American production of 835,000 vehicles, down from its prior view of 875,000. It also expects 600,000 vehicles to be made in North America during the first quarter.

So, GM is producing approximatly 265,000 cars a month, and are only selling 153,000. They are making 112,000 more cars than they are able to sell. I am no great business man, but my radical idea to turn around the car company is STOP MAKING SO MANY FUCKING CARS

Thoughts.

My Fantasy

I'm really sorry about not updating everyone on my fantasy football situation. I know that there's nothing more interesting than other people's fantasy football leagues.

Basically, my division (The Britney Spears Conference) is not going to get a wild-card, because the other division (The Lindsay Lohan Conference) is stacked. So, I need to win the division to get into the playoffs. I'm one game out, and need to run the table.

Fortunately, I play the division leader this weekend, the dreaded "Los Conquistadores," and a win will set up a dramatic season finale.

So, you're all spending your holiday break cheering for Phil Rivers, Fast Willie Parker, DeAngelo Williams, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Kellen Winslow, Ryan Longwell and the Cowboys team defense.



Anyone who stuck with this entire post is a true friend. Carry on.

When Animals Attack

Get this. I was running my usual route the other day and I look down the street and there is something flying towards me in the distance. The wingspan was huge but the body was really long, from a distance it looked like a flying plus sign. Anyway, it's flying right down the street maybe 15 feet off the ground. As it passes me, not ten feet away, I finally get a good look. It's an eagle, carrying the CAT, it had clearly just killed. Unreal. Stopped me dead in my tracks.

Man/woman down...

You may have already heard the news from your signficant others, but it is with deep regret that the Kate and I are going to have to pull out of Vineman 2009. Last Thursday, we had a meeting here to plan hours/resources for 2009. At my agency, we are having signficant difficulties meeting the obligations for 2008 and 2009, and we had a planning meeting to discuss leave plans for next year. Unfortunately, 3 other members of my team have vacation planned for the same time as Vineman. And more unfortunately, I am low man on the totem pole, meaning I can't schedule vacation at that time. Things could change, but the amount of $$ we are talking about in unrefundable things, the Kaufman's can't risk it right now.

Both Kate and I are very dissapointed, Slim knows the dissapointment of not being with the group from Timberman. And I am sure that this will be difficult for us as well. My wife was in tears about it, but I guess right now we should just be thankful to be gainfully employed. Take care, and train hard.

jpk

MONKEY RIDING A SEGWAY ON JAPANESE TELEVISION!

Nice.

Is it just me?

One last post.

If you couldn't tell, I took the day off. Anyways, Herbst's sister Laura won the Showcase Showdown on the Price is Right on Friday. Very exciting.

I have fulfilled my blogging obligations for the day.

Crazy... like a fox!

I am thinking about...

Running the race again trying to outrun these guys.

Cronz was right all along.

I am no hunter...

But how do you shoot yourself in the shoulder with a shotgun or rifle? Can my friends from the liberal wing of the NRA help me understand?

Knock it off, Gilbs.

This is a little ridiculous!!!

A 14 year old? Cmon.

Leather-Jacketed, Sunglasses-Wearing Rex Grossman: "There's A New Rex In Town"

A changing of the guard

After a historic change of power in our country's leadership do we, as Team Chubby's, shift focus of the ever-coveted Cocktails-n-Spandex towards a new, brighter future of VineMan....?

Tri J. Lo

J. Lo used to annoy me, but she's one of us now...

It's on like Donkey Kong...

What's in a #

583 Kaufman
594 Spencer
579 Crandall
584 Cronin


BMG - have you transferred your #? It did not show up. Also, I seem to remember some madman taking nearly 400 photos as we rehearsed the event....paparazzi or the Gilbs? Do I need to check with Daniel R. to see if they are on Facebook? Give up the goods.

TAPER?!?!?!

This taper is freaking me out.

I don't know if it's the drastic reduction in training or going back to work or what, but I feel like it would take everything I've got to get through a 10K right now.

How is everyone else handling it?

cuz we made a promise,
we swore we'd always remember,
no retreat, baby,
no surrender...

-Bruce Springsteen
No Surrender

Feel the beat of your heart,
Feel the wind in your face,
it's more than a contest,
it's more than a race...

One Shining Moment
-David Barrett

Tick, tick, tick, tick.....

Starting to feel it...

36 Days and Counting

Fellas,

36 DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!!!!!! I'm totally getting pumped up to see you guys crush out there. I'm sure that right now, pretty much every day is getting to be a grind for all of you. Peak weeks gotta be either coming up or just past, and probably everything hurts, and spirits may be shaking, but just think that in just over a month, this will all be over. But, what happens out there that day, you'll remember for the rest of your lives. I'll be there to cheer you on, and when it is all said and done, we'll all sit down, crack a tall one, and toast to memories. Hell yes.

In the mean time, keep training hard, stay strong, and be fast. You guys rock.

Gilby

Living life and such...

Gilby's post made me feel good. So thought I'd share the good... a bit of a heart string puller once you know the back story but lots of good in this one. This is all over the news today as well/

Adam

Radio Ga Ga

Just thought I'd break the radio silence, considering nobody has posted or commented in the last 10 days.

Update:
1. The Gilbs: starts physical therapy this week. 1 hr evaluation and treatment this week on friday. 2 more appointements scheduled for next week. I'm thinking gait therapy (learning how to walk right again - heel, toe, right? Or....is it toe, heel......or is it heel/toe, roll to toe?....). Either that, or maybe it will be weights, bands, or aquajogging, or something like that. I'll blog. Not sure what to expect. I'm excited though. Bring that shit.
2. Batman: have heard good things. Going to see it on Thursday. Will blog. Am expecting good things.
3. Cervelo: been literally dreaming about a custom painted P3 recently. Gotta believe that will make me faster. Looking to crush early next season, ala mega bikage.
4. HH: It will happen, I'm sure. As with long rides or runs, we'll schedule it, and come hell or high water, we'll get er done.
5. Ace moving back: very underrated. Am totally, completely pumped that fella is back in town and in the local mix. Know full well that he and other fellas are in the thick of training, but looking forward to a time soon when everyone has time to chill. Welcome back man. Just knowing you're around is cool.

Carry on.

Congratulations

What do Lamar Odom, John Kaufman and Adam Crandall all have in common?





They all dominated at Rhode Island.

Guess What I Am?

OK, Guess what this is, pictured under the bottle cap (included for scale)? This is a multiple choice question.

a) The screw that I typically hang pictures with at my house, when Tracy buys new artwork.

b) One of the 2 screws that hold my kitchen table together.

c) Axle screw, holding Emma's trike wheel onto the bike axle.

d) A screw my doctor surgically removed from my ankle on Wednesday that was formerly used to reattach my ligaments.

********************************************************************

On another note, good luck to Slim, ACE, and Jack who are all racing this weekend. Sweet action. Do it up fellas.

UNLEASH the BEAST

For those of you getting branded with your favorite number for the first time this year, and those of you lacing 'em up for the 3rd time (you go on, Slimmy)....good luck next weekend.

Unleash the beast.

Burn this $%#@* down.

Break it down into pieces then break the pieces down.

Whatever your favorite colloquialism, enjoy.

My New Coach

Well, I've pretty much taken the Ironman training as far as I can on my own. I joined Mark Allen Online last week and started their program yesterday. So far, so good.

Pre-Race Non-Cents

Fellers - T minus 80 some odd days. Incredible. Is it right that I actually remember their being a 200-something on the timer...? Anyway, just went for a long run around Nice, then to the IM expo, and it reminded me of some of my strongest memories from Canada. For what it is worth I thought I would share as people start planning.

Maybe it will be a little different bc Madison is much bigger - but I distinctly remember the pre-race environment. We drove into Penticton on (I think) Tues or Weds. I remember hitting the town edge and seeing tons of tricked out bikes, all sorts of shaved legs, and more spandex than you can shake a stick at. All week just walking around, going to lunch, etc was an experience. We'd get up - do something - nap - do something - nap - do something....

I have a commitment in Germany the last week of August, first week of Sept - and T will be teaching - but I am going to try to get to Madtown as soon as possible to soak in the experience.

12 Miler

Fellers - took my hybrid mountain bike (Raleigh) for a spin last night, and had some self control issues. I was just going to go around the block, and maybe up the greenway a bit but ended up biking into Uptown (12 miles round trip). It was such a beautiful night, I couldn't resist. Paying for it today. Ankle is pretty sore, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was sweet. Forgot about the bugs though. Gotta get me some clear glasses I think if I'm going to be biking at dusk through lakes and or streams.

Liberty Race Report

Sorry for the length, please skip if you have anything brewin'..especially since most of you have heard some or all of these stories.

Pre-race:
My morning routine went well, got out of the house on time and only forgot one thing, a gel flask and velcro holster that attaches to my bike. A bummer but nothing major. I got real nervous on the way to the race but settled down after being on site. First mistake happened when Cronz offered me some sunscreen. I happened to be pulling on my wetsuit at the time so I declined. And then for some reason I took off my wetsuit after the swim?! What was I thinking? Everybody wears their wetsuit on the bike/run, duh. Well, this unconventional race strategy caused some serious cooking of the shoulders. Well played.

Swim:
Started out in a spastic panic and tried desperately gasping for air in lieu of bilateral breathing. After calming down I got into somewhat of a groove and there was less contact than I expected. One time I got clocked in the head pretty good, and I did swim directly (as in forehead first) into a bouy. Did you know they use those ab exercise balls as bouys? Me neither. A couple times on the way back I tried to look behind me and I never saw anyone, so I was pretty positive I was literally going to be last out of the water. But, I finished in 45:51 and was happy with that time.

Bike:
The first ten miles were the most fun I've ever had on a bike. I tried to save my legs on the downhills and coasted much more than I expected. Since I forgot my gel flask I was only taking liquids (perpetuem and water) and I was holding up a lot better than I expected. My legs felt strong all throughout and my HR stayed low. After 40 miles or so people stopped passing me and I started to wonder if I was the last person on the bike course. Towards the end of the ride my stomach started to rumble and I was having some belly cramps by the time I got off.

Run:
My stomach was pretty much knotted up by the time I came out of T2 so I decided to hold off on the liquid and take a gel, which went down alright. Tried a little pertpetuem about 20 minutes later and it didn't go down very well so I figured I would hold off again until the stomach settled. I made it to the turn around feeling really good and decided since there was less than hour I could push a little. I was feelin' good and passing people and then the wheels came off. Stomach completely cramped up and I felt like I was going to puke. I tried to back off the pace but it wasn't helping and I decided to walk for a stretch. That was at mile 9 and I never recovered. The final four miles were a combination of walk, shuffle, trot, jog, repeat.

I was really discouraged after the race because I had to walk so much. I was happy with my overall time (6:19:16) but I wish I could've run it out. Now that I'm a few days removed I'm feeling better about the race. I realize that drinking one bottle of perpetuem and eating one gel isn't really a "nutrition plan."

So, lessons learned. Remember your gel flask, wear your wetsuit for the whole race (or use sunscreen) and bringing nutrition is not a nutrition plan.

Word to the herd.

Liberty

Awesome showing today fellas at Liberty.  Very enjoyable to see you guys rock it out this morning.  Wish I could have stayed longer.  Click on the title to link to the pictures I took today.  Wish there were more because some of them turned out pretty cool looking.  In case anyone has any trouble with that, let me know and I can send you a link 

Same as I posted on my own blog

Some of you are not going to understand. "OK, the Moderator of Meet the Press died, who really cares?" Well, I do. There are very few people from the media or pop culture who have a deep meaning to me, and to be honest, there are no other journalists who I would give a rats ass about. The next in line to Tim Russert in my mind was Tom Brokaw/Peter Jennings, and with both of those guys, I would read the obit and move on (That is what I did with Jennings.

But Tim Russert had a much more significant meaning to me. In case you didn't know, Tim Russert was from Buffalo, South Buffalo to be exact (So is Wolf Blitzer I found out tonght. If any of you have been to Buffalo recently, Buffalo is a town down on its luck. Since 1983 (and I can still remember the headline in the Buffalo News the day it occured, the Steel Mill closed and the City has been in decline ever since. Kids graduate from High School, leave and never come back. But saying your from Buffalo is not embarrassing. It is a source of pride. Its a blue collar town with blue collar roots. It is like the difference in saying you grew up in St Paul rather than MPLS, or if you grew up in MPLS, saying you grew up in Nordeast. Or saying your from the South Side of Chicago, or Brooklyn, or your a Southie from Boston. There is such a sense of pride with those areas, and if you watched Tim Russert, you knew he never forgot his roots. He loved the Bills, Beef on Weck, Chicken Wings, Grilled Bologna, the Bisons, Sabres, grilled hot dogs, and Genesee Cream Ale.

Russert wrote a book called Big Russ and Me 5 years ago for fathers day, in dedication to his father, an Irish Catholic garbage man with four kids growing up in South Buffalo. It was a best seller, and people loved his dedication to his father. For me, it had a special meaning. My father didn't keep a journal from ages 4 to 15. Through the first 4 chapters of his book, Russert dialoged what it was like to be a Catholic going to Catholic School in South Buffalo in the 50's amd early 60's. He described what it was like to be a kid in Buffalo at that time. For me, there can be no better gift from the book than to know how my dad grew up. Throw in a lot more baseball, and you probably have my dad's childhood.

I remember three politicians from my childhood, Reagan, Daniel Patrick Moynahan, and Mario Cuomo. Reagan, I remember crying when we bombed Grenada (The look on my mom's face when I screamed at her "What did they do to us?" was priceless, and I was the only 11 year old who watched the Iran-Contra hearings. (Casper Weinberger lied through his teeth. But Cuomo and Moynahan were the last democrats that I actually respected. Moynahan, a democrat, was at the forefront of school vouchers/charter schools. My entire collegiate economics tenure was spent on education and the disenfrachised, and I wrote many papers and my thesis about it. Moynhans work on the subject definitely framed my point view. And Russert was a key staffer to both Cuomo and Moynahan during this timeframe.

But the greatest influence that Russert had on me was his lawyeresque handling of politicians.
He would ask the toughest question he could pose, and let them handle it without interupting. it is how I handled a bank examination after reading his book. It is so much easier to read a person, when you ask them the toughest question youve got and see how they respond. Meet the Press will never be the same. When you podcast it for your long runs on Sunday morning, you know you respect the interviewer.

But Russert and that book had so many other influences on me. He stated that although he couldn't afford to, he paid back his student loans as fast as he could so somebody else could go to school. After reading that, I upped my monthly student loan payment to $750 a month and got it paid off in 4.5 years. He was a blue collar kid that made it to the top. It gives hope to all of us that if we live in the USA and have the drive/passion/talent, we can all succeed in our own way.

I don't know, it is just sort of sad to see Russert pass away when my son and father are in CO so I can train peacefully this weekend. I miss my father, I miss my son, and I have a 75 mile ride in the morning. Russert was a guy that I saw on Sunday morings and I thought of my dad when I saw him, as well as my kid. I actually thought I might brush elbows with him somewhere in DC.

Like I said, it is only a journalist. But the Kaufman family from Hamburg, NY will be thinking of him this weekend.

jpk

Liberty Triathlon

Pop quiz.

In Slim's dream last night, which image represents him and which image represents tomorrow's half-iron race?

Aloha Mr. Spencer...

Well, we got no choice

All the girls and boys

Makin' all that noise

Cause they found new toys

Well, we can't salute ya

Can't find a flag If that don't suit ya

That's a drag

School's out for summer

School's out forever

School's been blown to pieces

No more pencils

No more books

No more teacher's dirty looks

Well, we got no class

And we got no principals

And we got no innocence

We can't even think of a word that rhymes

School's out for summer

School's out forever

My school's been blown to pieces

No more pencils

No more books

No more teacher's dirty looks

Out for summer

Out till fall

We might not come back at all

School's out forever

School's out for summe

rSchool's out with fever

School's out completely

-Alice Cooper

Articles of Inteterest...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/sports/olympics/11shoes.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/04/AR2008060404003.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121269998910949901.html?mod=sports

People I have noticed while Tri Training in DC...

Whenever you move to a different part of the country, people have different customs/dialects/ways of doing things differently than you are used to. However, these three individuals that I have noticed would qualify as dorks no matter where they were seen in the country. Please rank 1-3 who is the biggest dork.

1. Two weeks ago at the swim race. Guy looks normal, but decides that he just can't make it through the 30 minute swim without tunes, and pulls out the Finis MP3 Swim Player to use for the race.

2. One week ago on Sat morning ride. Pull up on a guy at about 6:30 in the morning. He is 35, riding a Specialized S-works with Zipp 404's and Assos head to toe. He was doing 15 mph-16 tops on a flat piece of road. Thought, well maybe he is just warming up or cooling down. An hour later on the way back, passed him again doing same speed.

3. Thursday afternoon on ride home. About 90 degrees, humid as hell. See a muscle bound type flying coming the other way. He is wearing bib tights, not bib shorts, no shirt.


So in your opinion, who is the biggest dork?

Boys, it is hot here, it is like Chisago every day. But I felt a lot better this morning than last week, starting to acclimitize.

More on the Glove Question???

I just can't pull it off like he can.

More from CSC

The Rock Racing team was definitely the big team at the event, it was cool. I test road a P3C with Zipp discs, it was awesome. I really enjoyed it, you have never known how inept at cycling you are until you see some of these guys.

jpk

I've looked into the eyes....

Gents.

Last weekend I dragged my over-tired, over-car-ridden family across the terrain of what will be our IMMOO course. I will be honest -- there were moments of relief, moments of terror and moments of confusion. At the end of the day I determined I will withhold judgment until I see the course from the hoods of a Kestrel - but something I hope to do soon.

This will be good.

Transition Area Hijinks

I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and I am thinking about bringing this to transition and start using it as a warm up. It would be great if Slim brought a thigh master, Adam a red, and cronz brought a TV with a Billy Blanks DVD.

New pony in the stable!

2 things...

1. Dwell? Impersonating George Costanza these days?

2. Notice this tidbit from T's email last week about nutrition.

Immediate Post-Race

* Remove all heat stress as soon as possible.
* Continue moving around for 5-10 minutes after crossing the finish line.
* Begin drinking fluids, especially those with sodium, carbohydrate, and
protein.
* Eat any foods that appeal to you but avoid fiber and spicy foods.
* Eat and drink as much as you feel like taking in.
* Do not drink water only as this may exacerbate hyponatremia.

Damn, I was really looking forward to that Chorizo burrito and plate of buffalo wings as I sat in the medical tent with IV's sticking out of my arms.

good article in Dwell this month about the mother land

Tommorrow

The swimsuit issue is giving me nighmares...

When I saw Amanda Beard on the cover, I have to say I was pretty excited. Unfortunately, these are the images I cannot get out of my mind.

One more time

Happy Training Weekend

13 weeks 1 day....

Had my first swim today fellers. 1000. 19 mins. Oddly enough, I felt that 3/4 of my limbs were stronger than they were before. Really noticed that cardio is off though, got really winded at about 8 or 9 laps, and muscled through the rest. Being in the pool felt great though. Seriously.

Soundtrack for your head

A local artist - wrote the song for her dad.

Some day I envision Ceci on stage at the fine line playing this as a cover...



Adam's question about repeating lyrics made me think about this.

Does anyone else yell at themselves on the trainer? I don't but I've heard some people do.

Pictures

Our blog is going green

I've been doing a ton on "green" for different clients. This is a really interesting piece on the story of stuff. Well put together and highly regarded for its simplicity. Take a look...

I got a list of demands...

A little pill for those L4 days.

Good Dr. Visit

Dudes, I know you all love getting updates on my broken leg, but I just had a good meeting with the Dr’s, and thought I’d pass it on –

Well, the bad news first: I ended up falling down the stairs last Saturday. That was scary and hurt pretty bad. I misjudged my center of gravity when I was coming down the stairs, and leaned a little too far forward when I was a little more than ½ way up the stairs. I ended up pole vaulting myself down the rest of the stairs (about 6), and fell into a heap on the landing. Oddly enough, the only thing I got from that was a huge bruise on my ass. But, I kind of banged up my bad leg, and it swelled up a little bit (I wasn’t wearing my boot at the time), so I thought I would just go make sure that I didn’t knock any of my hardware loose, hence my visit to the Dr. today. I had x-rays, and he looked at things, and said that I dodged a bullet because all my hardware was intact, and there was no damage to my leg. Oddly enough, he thinks that over the last week, he’s seen a significant amount of healing. He attributed that to the fact I’m actually putting weight on it now. He said that bones like weight, and heal faster when they have weight on them (which is why you see people with walking casts much more often than not). So, anyway, that was encouraging.

Carry on.

Another Beautiful Training Forecast

Nothing gets me more fired up for a big weekend of training than a forecast that includes wind, showers, and a chance of SNOW.

Love it.

Conine the Barbarian joins the team.

Welcome Jeff!

Vomero 2

The Vomero 2 have been discontinued, but the Vomero 3 is now here. If you are partial to the Vomero 2's, I would load up on a couple of pairs to last through the summer. Haven't seen any discounts yet, but they usually will drop to the $90 level after they have been discontinued.

At a minimum, I would give the Vomero 3's a try to make sure that they work. According to the shoe store lady I talked to, not much has changed, but a couple of forefoot screws have been taken out to make it more like the Free's.

Make Room in the Garage

I was kind of getting a kick out of being the guy who doesn't even have a bike, oh well.

Swimming

Guess who this is going to be this week some time? That's right y'all. Got a go ahead from the doc to start putting weight on my leg (20 -30 pounds at first and then increasing slightly over the next 4 weeks), and the best part - told me I could start swimming again. Solid.

Coupla PR's

Slim and I are on the board for this season with 2 PR's for Tri Chubbies - Stearns County Style.

Finished her off with a coupla Bo Didds. I walked in at 12:13pm, there were about 10 young johnnies in the alley throwing bags drinking beer. On my way to 94 and my life of naps, cubes and aggressive bosses passed about 4 other afternoon "gatherings" in the Joe.

Saw the Pope at lunch, pretty cool.

Slim, don't forget where you're from...dave watch the shirts

Have you guys heard about this team?

This bike team has assembled all the dopers of the sport and put them on the same team. Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis is now a consultant until his ban is up, a few other dopers. It is supposed to be the bad boys of cycling!

Ironman Bike Ride

Dudes, you guys doing this? It is on 4/27. FYI, online registration closes on Wednesday, 4/16 at 5:00pm CST.

Good Run Team

I love the team runs. Nothing melts away the miles faster. Good stuff.

Broken Leg Pictures

Thought I'd just post an updated picture (well, taken a couple of weeks ago). This is the same leg, just 2 pictures at 2 different times. The picture on the right shows all the hardware in my leg, and what it looked like on 2/25/08. The picture on the right is what it looked like 4 weeks later on 3/24. Keep in mind that it is zoomed in about 3-4x, so that is why you don't see all the hardware. On the mend, on the mend.

I've got another appointment scheduled for 4/28, so that is when I'll get my next x-ray and update. We'll decide when I have my 2nd surgery to take out that really long screw that goes through my ankle, and what the plan is going to be for starting to put weight on it. I'm anticipating wearing the boot with crutches for another 6-8 weeks, but I may be plesantly suprised by what they tell me. Oddly enough though, I am feeling good lately though. I'm driving a car again, which is cool that I can get around by myself without bumming rides off of people. I drive with my left foot now, which is probably unsafe, but it is what it is I suppose.

Training / Equipment Update

OK team, since I can't do my thing right now, I need to live vicariously through you guys. Let's hear an update on what people are doing - i.e. what types of workouts are you doing - distances, times, etc, and how are they feeling? Would love to hear where you guys are at. Are people still using coaches? Any new equipment to speak of? Slim, did you get a new bike? Love the lyrics and Rick Astley. They keep me entertained, but I'm just jonesing to hear what you guys are doing, and how it feels, and equipment updates.

Slim this is for you...

What I felt like training this week...

Fuck this hurts, I won't lie
Doesn't matter how hard I try
Half the words don't mean a thing
And I know that I wont be satisfied

So why try ignoring him
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When they bring that chorus in

I bleed it out digging deeper
Just to throw it away
I bleed it out digging deeper
Just to throw it away

I bleed it out digging deeper
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
Just to throw it away
I bleed it out

Dude looks like a lady...

Article on men shaving their legs for endurance sports. Never say never, but let's just say I don't see it happening for me.

Happy Monday- a flash game to end the day- love the music...

Happy Friday

You get your switchblade posse
I'll get my guns from the South
We'll take to the yard like a cockfight
Four kicks whose struttin' now


-Kings of Leon
Four Kicks
Aha Shake Heartbreak

Rick Astley- Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Roll'd)

Jack's long and rambling thoughts on a lonely Friday night.

So, I am in DC on this Friday night, anxiously awaiting my alarm clock to go off tommorow so I can get in my Saturday bike/run. So I am going to keep the computer on as I watch the Davidson/Wisconsin game, and when a thought comes into my head, I will just write it.

1. So who is more annoying, the Tyler Hansborogh or the Stanford twins?
2. The midwest bracket has been the most interesting to me, I really thought that Kansas, Georgetown, or Wisconsin could have won it, and watching Davidson fuck it up has been the best story so far.
3. So here, in DC, there are carpool lanes. And they have this concept called the "Slug". Basically, it is hitchiking, if you have two people and need a third, you go to a designated area and pick up a hitchhiker. There is "Slug etiquette", like the Slug cannot speak unless spoken to, can't bring food or drink. I am thinking about doing a documentary about the concept.
4. Surprisingly, the Metro is not very cheap. It costs me about $7 a day to hop on the train. But it is convenient and I do like reading the paper for 20 minutes in the morning.
5. Man, this game is getting away from Wisconsin with 7 minutes to go.
6. So last week I went into the Doc to see if I had a stress fracture in my foot, we don't think it is but only an MRI can tell for sure, but I had to cut back on lifting legs, running, do some exercises, and get some different insoles for my shoes. It is some kind of tendonitis.
7. So I have thought about what sports I am going to support while I am in DC. I can't like the Redskins. I don't like the NHL very much, but Caps have this guy whose name is Ovetchkin? who is really good, like Sid Crosby/Wayne Gretzky good. But I don't really care. I will probably get into Georgetown basketball and Nationals baseball. Guzzy was one of my favorite Twins, so it will be good to watch him again, and we need a good Catholic school to root for against Cronz Irish. Jesuits are good.
8. There is a marathon tommorrow, National Marathon? I think it is a similar route to the Marine Corps. The cherry blossom festival starts tommorrow, so a million tourists are coming to town. And the Nationals opening night in the new ballpark is Sunday night. So they say you aren't going to be able to drive anywhere.
9. If you guys ever want to come out and do a 10 miler or something, the Cherry Blossom is next weekend, and the Army 10 miler is in the fall.
10. The twins are really going to suck this year. Liriano is fat and isn't going to have a good year. I can't believe they kept punto on the roster after batting .125 this spring. ridiculous. Boof could lose 100 pounds and still not be all that good. The Santana/Hunter deals will make it rough going for this year. Gomez sounds like he is going to be fun to watch but frustrating. Everybody says that the Nathan signing was a good deal. Why? You have already traded probably your 2 biggest assets for supposedly building for the new stadium, but then sign a closer? Trade him and pick up some more if that is what your going to do. Christ, your going to be behind 3 runs going into the ninth most nights anyways. And with Detroit (my World Series pick, BoSox are just too easy to pick), Cleveland, revamped White Sox, and KC slowly improving, I think they could finish in the cellar.
11. Everyone says, "We just can't pay these guys in a small market". Did you see who was the richest owner in baseball? Carl Pohlad. Fuck him.
12. Kate told me that we are doing a group vacation next spring. Is this true?
13. Kate also told me that she went with Chris' wife to "Choo choo bobs". A guy opened a model train store, and wears overalls and dresses like a conductor. When I was a kid, there was this kid, Elliot Wisneski, who did the same thing. He got picked on quite a bit.
14. I saw the President's chopper today, that was pretty cool. But I saw three of them in a ten minute span. Do you think that 2 were "dummy" presidential choppers?
15. So colleges have fight songs. Why don't individual people? Like, when the spencers showed up somewhere, they played the fight song. And when Slim did something funny or good, they play the fight song. It would be awesome.
16. I read about this website, Obamaofdreams.com, where the guy put Obamas name into MLB logos. MLB shut him down.
17. Six months ago, I would have said Obama was going to run away with the election. Now, it has turned into a regular election where everyone says there is no one good to vote for.

That is all I got for now. Maybe if I get bored in a little bit.

jpk

Going MAD

I know you have all spent a week now asking yourself..."I wonder how Slim's brackets are looking?"

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Presently, I've made a fool of myself in one pool and am tied for first in the other. Here are where I need your loyalties...

1. UCLA wins out.
2. Michigan State wins tonight and Sunday.
3 Texas and/or Kansas lose as soon as possible.

C'mon boys, Daddy needs a new bike.

How are everyone else's brackets holding up?

Speaking of the Worlds Strongest Accountant- anyone know what happened to Magnus

Red Carpet Meets Mother Nature...?

FYI gents - I will be running the Earth Day Half Marathon on 4/19. Fam damily and I might head up a day early, stay at the Super 8 and do it up right. Who knows - maybe even a little BoDidds after. Any takers?

3 hour ride on a....

1993 Gary Fischer mountain bike. Don't think I hit the 55 mile mark, and the people of mpls look at you a little weird when your doing hill repeats on a mountain bike that looks and sounds like it may just completely fall apart at any second. Painful, boys, painful.

This is starting to freak me out...

Carry on, Men, carry on...

In Africa the gazelle wakes up every morning and knows it must outrun the lion to survive another day. The lion wakes up every morning and knows it must run faster than the gazelle or it will starve to death.

Either way, you better be runnin'.

My first repeat of the season is scheduled for tomorrow AM in the park