Ragnar Recap

Spidey died. More on that later.

The relay run was a lot of fun! If you're any sort of runner and get the opportunity to do this relay I'd highly recommend it. I won't take you through every mile, but the following is a recap of how our 205 fun run adventure went.

We drove down to La Crosse Thursday afternoon, the last half in the rain so thankfully we hadn't decorated the van yet. After dinner the rain had stopped so we decided to write some stuff on our van windows that night and finished decorating the next morning before heading to the Start line. Being that our team name was The Babes & The Boys we had previously decided to decorate with bras and boxers. See the connection? Here's what we came up with-

Friday started out perfect, overcast with a breeze from the south (we were running north), but eventually that changed to hot and humid. The first few runners did well and we got a feel for how this whole thing operated. We'd drop off our next runner at their exchange (where the previous runner ended and the next one started), drive down the road a couple of miles, cheer on our runner along with all the others, jump back in the van and drive another couple of miles and just leapfrog our way up to the next exchange.

By the time it got to me, being runner #6, it was around 3:00 in the afternoon and hot and humid, the car thermometer was in the 90s. I had a 6.8 mile first leg staring at me, but I knew we'd have a 5-6 hour rest after I got done so off I went. The run sucked because of the conditions, but I eventually made it. A few hundred yards from where I finished I had my vanmates meet me so I could throw on a different hat and coming running in hopefully to a few smiles/laughs. This is how I looked:

I found out after the fact that they had modified the course slightly and added an extra mile to that leg so in fact I ran 7.8. Glad I found out after rather than before!





After passing off the slap wrist bracelet to our Van #2 teammates we had some much deserved downtime. I brought a grill so we were able to picnic and have a nice, hot meal (chicken boob sandwiches, baked beans, veggies, fruit). We rested, tried to clean up a bit and aired out our shoes. Knowing we had to run 2 more times each we just "bathed" with some wet wipes so we wouldn't get too raunchy confined in the van.

After eating and resting a bit, we packed up and hit the road to find the 2nd half of our team, cheer them on for their remaining runs and get to our next exchange.

Along the way we threw in an attempt at some spy games. We had pulled into a gas station to get some ice for the coolers. Lo and behold there was another van there decorated in underwear too, Team U.N.D.Y. (Unfortunately Not Dead Yet). We said our's was better, they said their's was better. They got us on a technicality in that they had Spiderman underwear and we only had Curious George. Spidey could whoop George's ass if it came down to it.

Well, after about an hour or two and a few miles down the road after seeing them again we devised a plan. At the next exchange we secretly stole their Spidey underwear off their van and left them a ransom note, obviously not saying it was from us. We instructed them that if they wanted to see Spidey alive again when we both got to a designated exchange further up the route they were to leave 2 other pieces of undergarments under their tire, vacate the area and then the switch would take place. They were told not to hide in the hopes that they would catch us and that if anything was amiss Spidey would get it. We made it to that exchange before they did, saw them come driving down the road and were able to follow them on foot undetected to where they parked.

The sly bastards picked a deserted nook off the main street so I was unable to ascertain whether or not they were following the instructions. I saw they all left the van and followed them down the block. Being a man of my word, I went back to the van to get Spidey to make the exchange. I was about to head back up the block to where they parked when I noticed them walking back to their van. I followed and was within earshot when I heard them talking about it and heard one of them say they thought it was "that Babes and Boys team".

I camped out for a few minutes in the hopes they would leave their van again. Sure enough, they did so I did a casual walk-by, but there weren't any underwears to exchange with! Apparently they didn't love Spidey so ultimately he met his demise.

I wonder if they put the clothes out there when they first left, saw that they were there when they came back and then picked them up so that was our 1 chance? Oh well, we never saw them again during the race after that so we didn't get a chance to ask. We would've come clean at the end had we run into them again, just tryin' to have some fun with another team.

Okay, back to the race.

Our 2nd stint running for van #1 started about 10:00 Friday night. It had downpoured a couple of hours earlier and was still pretty humid so the air was thick. It stayed that way until about midnight and then got gorgeous for running. By the time my shift came around it was 3 a.m. and there wasn't a cloud in the sky and it was cool, probably had dropped into the 50s. Perfect!

Those with running shifts during the night had to wear reflective vests and headlamps for the obvious safety concerns. I had mine on of course for this 7.5 mile run. A couple of times out on this run though I just turned off my lamp and ran in the complete darkness of nature, only illuminated by the 1/2 moon and countless stars. It was the most fun I've had running since I can remember. I think that's because it isn't anything I've ever done before - run in the middle of the night. For the lack of putting it into better words, it was pretty cool.

I finished up this portion and our van got to rest again. This stopping point was Prescott High School. They opened up their building to the racers and had a pasta feed, hot showers and mats on the gym floor for sleeping - all this for only $10! The best ten bucks I spent all weekend!! The pasta tasted like school food, the wrestling mates on the gym floor didn't exactly promote deep slumber, but the hot shower was divine.

1 thing I did notice when trying to sleep for an hour in the gym was that I didn't notice anyone snoring! There must've been 300 people in that gym, but I didn't hear 1 human bodily nose - snoring nor farting (some people have a tendency to do that when sleeping). I thought that was pretty amazing. People were either really tired and passed out beyond the point of snoring or were just laying there pretending to be comfortable like I was. I could hear the cricket across the gym though.

After that pit stop we hit the road again at 7:00 a.m. to get in place for our final run. We met up with our teammates currently running just before the last exchange of their stint, cheered them on and then got ready ourselves.

Not a whole lot to report on this final segment. It was physically tough, legs felt a little rubbery, but thankfully it was my shortest segment at only 5 miles. This whole leg though I ran wearing my phone hat, got some more laughs and comments so it was fun. The last 1/2 mile I caught up to a girl in front of me and we finished up the segment together. I told her I'd give her my number, but my phone had been disconnected. She made my day and got a good laugh out of that. It was stupid, little things like that - the hats, costumes, stealing underwear - doing them and seeing others do them - that made this run so much fun, unlike any other races I've done.

After my van was done with our 3 runs we cracked open a beer, washed up and waited for our teammates in the other van to finish things up. We waited for them at the Finish Line in downtown Mpls and all 12 of us ran across the line together, a true team effort.

Doing it again next year, the date's already been set for 8/21-22/09. Now that I know what it's like, I can hardly wait to make it even crazier!! Who's in with me?

An Easy 205 Miler

Off to La Crosse tomorrow for the Ragnar Relay which starts Friday morn. Things got off to a hectic start for the team this week. On Sunday, one of our runners opted to go water skiing 5 days before this event. Well, she wiped out, the ski smacked her in the knee, and now she's at home nursing a fractured kneecap for the next 3 to 6 weeks. I don't know if one truly tapers for an event like this, but I don't think water skiing should necessarily be on the agenda either.

After some scrambling we found a replacement runner so we're all good there. Thought I was going to have to pick up some extra miles, whew!!

Gonna keep this one short, gotta hit the hay. Dream of me running my 8 mile leg at 2:00 a.m. Saturday morn. while you're snoring away!

Race recap sometime next week once I wake up and have recovered.

I Still Feel Like I'm 4

How did he do that?! How did he win when it looked like it was a lost cause with only 2 meters to go, hell, with only 2 inches to go?! Michael Phelps is unreal. Those have been some historic races leading to his first 7 golds. The kids were forced to sit through his first few races with me, but now even they know who he is, what he's trying to accomplish and get excited when he's about to race. It's one of those "once in a lifetime" athletes that comes through and we're able to watch it.

I'm sure that's what some spectators think when they see me getting ready to race. I mentioned to one of my tri teammates that with a few more workouts I could be at Phelps' caliber. The response back was something like change everything about me physically - height, wing span - and eliminate beer from my diet and within a few years I might be able to be his towel boy. I was all for it until I read that no beer part. You can take the swimmer out of Ireland, but you can't take the Irish out of the swimmer! Thanks for the words of encouragement though Kimmi, appreciate it. ;)

Speaking of the Irish, I haven't seen them win any golds yet, or any medals for that fact. Are we even represented in these games? If they have pubs or taverns in the Olympic Village there might be some no shows at their events. Hmmm....

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Life this week was somewhat on the downer side. The kids start school on the 25th so this was my last week to have them before they go back to the classroom. As you (should) know from previous posts they're transferring to a new district. With Kayli starting middle school now she starts an hour earlier than the boys. Because of the logistics with where Lindsay and I live in relation to each other (and thus the schools) Kayli will be living with Lindsay pretty much full time now during the school year. I agreed to this because it makes life a lot easier for Kayli time-wise, but I feel like I'm losing a child.

I know that's not the case, but it's going to feel weird not having her around here. I'll still get to see her when I pick up the boys during my weeks, but it won't be the same just having those brief conversations with her versus having her actually live here. It's going to take a more concerted effort to maintain my position in her life, but I'll make sure to do it. Just she and I went out to lunch yesterday to get some final summer bonding and talked about her "moving out". She'll come back to Lonsdale every so often on the weekends or when they have days off from school when it's my week. I got tickets for just her and me to see Little House on the Prairie at the Guthrie so that'll be a nice daddy/daughter event. Shhh, she doesn't know about it though so make sure to keep it that way!

These next few years are going to be interesting as she becomes a teenager and more and more independent. Kayli has already shown she has her mother in her so there could be some head-buttin' going on in that house. It might not be such a bad thing for her to have these other roofs to live under if she needs a breather every now and then.

Conner is warming up to the idea of transferring schools so that's less of an issue. Lindsay took the boys to their school to walk around when Kayli and I were at lunch so now that he's seen it (and likes it) he's becoming more comfortable with the transition.

Devon's just excited to start kindergarten so he could be going to Iowa or Wisconsin and he'd still be alright with it and say "let's go". He had another Devonism today. We were outside and he asked when he could ride his bike on the street by himself. I told him when he turns 6 I'll think about it. His response - "I'm 5 now so on my next birfday (that's his "th" sound) I'll be 6, but I still feel like I'm 4 now." Maybe you had to be here to fully appreciate it, but it was just too cute!

With Kayli quasi-moving out, we're playing musical bedrooms here now. In order to keep the boys in separate bedrooms during the school year Devon is going to move downstairs. Conner doesn't like to sleep down there alone so Kayli is going to move up here, Conner chose to move into Kayli's room so that leaves Devon to move into Conner's room. I'm gonna have to paint Kayli's current room though because there's no way Conner wants a pink room! He's already picked out the shade of blue he wants so I'll have to try to get that done next week.

Next week...gonna be a fun one (something's wrong with my "b" key, doesn't always type when I hit it, so if you see it missing anywhere just mentally insert it. At least it isn't too popular of a letter. Poor b.) Sorry about that, got off track. Oh yeah, next week. Ragnar is next weekend! Festivities for that starts on Wednesday night with our van decorating and then 1/2 our team leaves for La Crosse on Thursday for the race start Friday morning. With the order our team is set up right now, being Runner #6 (out of 12) my 3 approximate run times are 2:00 p.m. Friday, 2:00 a.m. Saturday and Noonish Saturday, or something like that. As crazy as it sounds I'm looking forward to that 2nd run, 2:00 in the morning, the most. I've never run in the middle of the night (at least during a race) before so it'll be interesting to see how that is (especially being tired). I just hope it isn't raining. If we could order another weekend of weather like the one we're currently having that would be perfect! The extended forecast does have some pictures of clouds and t-storms in it though so hopefully that'll change within the next 6 days.

Wednesday is my work department's group outing that afternoon. My boss is planning it and keeping it a secret so who knows what she'll come up with. 2 years ago we did the L. Minnetonka 4 hr cruise and last year it was the paddleboat on the Mississippi, both of which were nice, but I hope we're staying off the water this year just for something different. Regardless, it should be better this year because with some of the restructuring that's gone on we've dropped some staff that just weren't fun to socialize with (let alone work with). She was taking suggestions for ideas, but she didn't really like mine of having everyone come to Lonsdale to help me clean my house. I thought everyone could pick a room, clean for a couple of hours and then I'd supply the tap water and plastic lounge chairs. A great team bonding exercise, right?!

The biggest event next week though that I'm going to feel guilty missing is Wade's 40th! Holy crap, you're 40!! I know mine's right around the corner, but your's is in 1 week. Happy early birthday big guy!!

Feels Just Like Being At A Race

I know you're all just captivated by this subject so I thought I'd give you today's update regarding the biffy situation here at Pearson:

Last night they were able to locate the clog 180' feet out into the sewer line. This morning they brought in a backhoe to dig up and replace that section. They've been at it all day. Because of that the bathrooms have remained closed and they had to shut off ALL the water to the building. 3 POPs were brought in last night and are available to use. This wasn't good enough for some folks and they cried enough and were allowed to go home early today. Apparently these people haven't done any triathlons or marathons and don't appreciate how clean these biffys are compared to those at race sites! Oh well, that's fine with me, shorter lines than what I'm used to when usually waiting to use one of these fine toilets.

What are the odds things will be back to normal around here by Monday? Taking bets now.

Other things to do here

I know you could spend all day reading and re-reading my posts, but if by some strange reason you don't there are other things you can check out from this site. You'll see over on the left-hand side I have some links set up to some other friends' blogs that I read. Some good stuff. In fact, Kris just posted a good blog on why we "race" or don't, depending on your perspective and Kimmi has a great sense of humor come through on her writings, despite training for the Ironman.

There are also some links to other websites I frequent. Chainlove and SteepandCheap have some great deals, for the athlete and non-athlete.

Look for more as I add them along the way.

I'm Weed and Insect Free

Had another good run tonight although there might be an issue a-brewin'. Gonna have to keep an eye on my shins, I think some splints are coming on. This happened earlier this year too around March when I was training for Fargo. I can't nail down what it's from though, the shoes or the training. I have right around 200 miles on my current pair of runners which is right around where I was with the previous pair when I got shin splints. BUT, in both cases I was ramping up my distances too. 200 miles is on the low end of how soon shoes wear down so I decided to run through the discomfort and get my money's worth out of the sneakers. The shin splints went away after a week or two and I ended up just under 500 miles with that pair before I bought my current pair. This time around I might buy another pair sooner and see how the shins react before drawing any conclusions. It would kinda suck if it's the shoes' fault because I really like these kind (Pearl Izumi), but it isn't reasonable to be forking out $100 every 200 miles.

Tonight's route was different than last night's. Wanted to keep it flatter to give the thighs some rest after last night and to do some speed work. I had a farmer unbeknownst to him help me out with the speed part. My first warmup mile was along the edge of town and then I turned left and headed out into the countryside. Nothing like long, straight, never-ending country roads to get you motivated to run (he said with a sarcastic tone)!

About a 1/2 mile down the road I came upon a soybean field and the farmer was out in his tractor spraying his crops. He timed it perfectly to end up as close to the road as he could get right as I was coming by. I'm sure it was planned, I'm sure he just sits and waits for runners to come by on August Thursday nights. I didn't think it would be that big of a deal since he would turn right around and weave his way back to the opposite end.

Nope, he didn't.

He took a 90 degree turn and headed in the same direction I was. Super, I thought, I get to suck pesticides for the length of the this field! Well, no better time to start my tempo runs so I picked it up a couple of notches and dusted that farmer while he dusted his crops! (I can talk like I'm fast when I'm running by myself)

I continued on my route out and only hoped he'd be done by the time I turned around and headed back. He was, but with it being such a gorgeous night there wasn't a breeze and the spray was still lingering in the air when I came by again! I would have to say it was worse coming through the 2nd time. I could taste and smell it with every inhale so I pulled my shirt up over my mouth and nose until I got beyond that field. I wonder if that's what it's like in Beijing? Well, at least I won't have weeds growing on me anytime soon.

Speaking of the Olympics, KARE 11 News (the Mpls NBC affiliate) sent Eric Perkins over there to cover them for the next 2 weeks. I love Perk, he's hilarious! Tonight's episode was about some of the food choices street vendors had. Kind of had a Fear Factor feel to it, not some things I would necessarily eat. I highly recommend tuning in to Perk's stories. On assignments like this he usually offers the not so obvious, off the hidden path type of stories that can help you get to know something/somewhere beyond the normal touristy things.

Speaking of NBC (don't you just love my segues?), is anyone watching America's Got Talent? Well, even if you're not, do this - one of the acts they put throught to the semi-finals had to drop out due to injury so they're letting the public vote for 1 act they previously cut to take their place. Vote for Victoria Jacobs (I think that's her name). She's a little, 12 yr old contortionist. The things those people can do to their bodies and the way they make them bend is next to unreal! I think it's the type of act that show needs, not some other dancers or singers. There are already other shows for those. Oh, and she's an adopted Chinese. Kinda ties all my stories together, doesn't it? :)

Speaking of other nationalities (I promise this is my last segue), the Irish Fair is this weekend in St. Paul. I'm embarrassed to say I've yet to go to it in all the previous years, but I have every intention of making it this year! I'm going to pick up my boys for the afternoon on Saturday and take them to it. I figure they just spent a week getting to know their Korean side, I better get them exposed to their other side before they want to move to Seoul. We'll go hang out with my brethren for a few hours, maybe the 3 of us will tip back a pint or two, do a jig, kiss the blarney. Should be fun.

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And on a final note, the bathrooms got closed again today after being open only a couple of hours late yesterday and this morning. Apparently Roto only partially unclogged things and they got backed up again. Might be time to call in a real plumber. Know of a good one Jack?

Roto Rooter To The Rescue!

I think I'm back! I had a pretty good run tonight and it's boosted the running spirits again. The last couple of weeks I have been running, but it's more been a matter of just going through the motions and going out because I knew I needed to, not because I wanted to. I almost talked myself out of not making it tonight, but I'm glad that didn't happen!

Tonight was a hill workout, not one of my favorite things to do. I started out with a mile warmup that was probably a little faster than what it should be for a warmup (at my speed anyway, definitely not compared to Ryan Hall (if you don't know who Ryan is watch the Olympics on the 24th)), but I was thinking "let's just get this workout over with". After the warmup I started with my hill repeats.

It's a good and convenient hill to run, it's the road that leads up to my neighborhood, about a 1/4 mile long with a decent grade. I ripped off the first 2 repeats like I knew what I was doing and started thinking this aint so bad. On my 2 mile recovery jog in between sets I was in a much better mood than when I started. It helped that it was an absolute perfect night weather-wise to be out doing exactly that. I was able to enjoy and appreciate the countryside. It became less of a workout and more of a calming evening outside.

A couple of years ago when I got back into running I abandoned all technology and just wanted to run for running's sake - don't care about splits, pace, total time, etc. Save that for the races I enter and the results breakdown. It would've been interesting to know what my pace was tonight though because my recovery runs were over before I knew it. In my mind I was cruising! Got back to the hill, did a few more repeats and then had every intent of making my last mile a cool down mile, but instead it turned into a practice of my finishing kick. I was running on a high at that point and wasn't going to slow down!

Tonight's run was one of those that makes you actually look forward to the next one! Good timing too because with my marathon just over 12 weeks away the long runs are going to get exactly that, long. I have to finalize my schedule, but I'm thinking I want to try to do 3 20-milers, 2 minimum. A couple of recent articles I've read on workouts suggest this might be exactly what I need to do, especially compared with how my last couple of marathons have gone. I'll give it a shot, gotta mix things up a bit, try new things.

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Have you ever taken bathrooms for granted around your workplace? A lot of people in my building did up until today! At about 11:00 this morning all of our bathrooms were closed in the whole building due to a clog in a main sewer line somewhere. Apparently there were even a few geysers from some of the biffys. Could've been even funnier if the right people would've been standing by them at the time.

Well, this commode closure caused quite the disruption for some coworkers who were all in a tizzy about what to do. Some of them even seriously suggested #1, they should close the building and we should all go home and/or #2, they should immediately get some port-a-potties set up. Get real. There's a convenience store and 2 restaurants right across the street from our office, plus it's lunch time so go out for lunch. So you would have to travel a couple of extra minutes to get from your desk to the loo, deal with it and plan accordingly. Don't fret though, they had everything flushing again by 2:30.

Sorry about that, kind of a shitty story, huh? Sorry about that, an even worse pun!

Oh yeah, before I forget, the lobster and shrimp were delicious!

There's supposed to be how many?!

I finally figured out what's been nagging at me this week. It's not that it really needed "figuring out", but more of a realization how it affects me. I miss my kids. It took talking to a coworker to fully realize this. Her only child is going off to college this weekend for the first time this weekend and she's having a hard time with that.

This week was (is) supposed to be my week to have my kids. This is also the week they're in Korean Culture Camp all week (their mom is 100% Korean for those that don't know, if any one of you are reading). It's a day camp, but met every day from Monday thru the closing ceremony tomorrow. With the logistics and start/end times of camp it just made it easier for the kids to stay with Lindsay this week too so, in essence, I forfeited my week.

I was able to see them a couple of times during the week and talked to them on the phone as well, but that no where near replaces bringing them home with me, listening to them play here, listening to them fight with each other, putting them to bed, waking them up, just being their parent. Is this what it's going to be like 13 years from now too when the last of them goes to college? Probably worse I'd imagine.

The closing ceremony should be fun tomorrow. Along with other things, the boys will put on a little tae kwan do demonstrataion and then Kayli will be part of a traditional dance number. Devon and Conner were cute the other day trying to show us what they were learning in t.k.d. telling us to hold some pillows out and they did their spin kicks and such. This has been Devon's first year being able to go and he's having a blast!

After the ceremony I get the kids for the weekend and we're heading up north to Mom and Dad's. Can't wait to get there! #1, most of the heavy projects should be done already by the group that's already up there (shucks, that's too bad) and #2, Mom and Dad are having a lobster and shrimp feast for everyone tomorrow night! My mouth's watering just thinking about it. Mom ordered fresh lobster from Maine that's flown in and delivered right to their door and the shrimp are as big as your palms. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm good! I better get in a couple of extra miles on my run tomorrow to make room in my belly.

So I made a batch of cookies tonight to take along for the car ride tomorrow (3.5 hrs up north). The recipe said it should make about 3 dozen. I ended up closer to 2 dozen. I'll admit unbaked cookie dough is a weakness of mine, but c'mon?! I don't think I ate a dozen's worth of cookies! In fact, I don't think I've ever been able to squeeze out the number of cookies the author of the recipe says it should. Apparently all the authors and I have differing opinions on how big the cookies should be. I'm not going to make something that you can just toss the whole thing in your mouth. Cookies should take 3 or 4 bites to finish. Am I way off base here? Has anyone else noticed this overapproximation? Yes, it's these types of things that keep me up at night.

Now that I think about it, I better do a couple of extra miles for all the dough and baked cookies I ate tonight too. I better get to bed so I can get up early enough to finish all these miles before the ceremony!

I'll give you a post-lobster recap on Sunday. Until then, happy eating!