Sunday, January 13, 2008

Race Schedule - First Half 2008

Well folks, for those who are interested, here is some semblance of my race/run schedule for 2008. Subject to revision after revision, of course.

Sunday, January 20 - Frosty's Frozen 5, Chatfield in Littleton, CO, distance undecided, probably 10M

Sunday, February 3 - The Screamin' Snowman, Eldora Ski Area, 5K

Saturday, March 15 - A Run Through Time, Salida, CO, 13.1 miles

Saturday, April 19 - Desert R.A.T.S. Trail Running Festival, Fruita, CO, 25 miles

Saturday, May 10 - Balarat Trail Run, click on "Balarat Trail Run" left-hand side of page, Jamestown, CO, 6M

Monday, May 26 - Bolder Boulder 10K, Boulder, CO (if I'm bored - otherwise, just a willing and eager spectator. This is just NOT my distance, but it is one of the most fun races around).

Saturday, June 7 - Sage Burner 50K, Gunnison, CO

Friday, January 11, 2008

Do we really need studies....

..... to show us THIS or THIS or THIS or THIS one from 1997???

Enough already. I understand in this new world order and fast-paced world we now enjoy as our own, some view their cell phone as a necessity. Fine, just don't use it while you're driving. No, you're really not "just as good a driver" while using a cell phone behind the wheel. I took the bus from Boulder to Denver for almost 6 years while suffering through my last term of employment and the observations I made from the relative safety of a bus were frightening. You, and that one phone call there, are really not that important when you're endangering a dozen or more people around you on the roads.

Just hang up and drive - click here to get a bumper sticker stating just that from one of my favorite talk show duos.

Click here for a comprehensive list of current laws and/or restrictions by state. Call your local and state representatives and get cell phones off the ears and out of the hands from that not-so-good-a-driver-anymore. And once again, just to illustrate that the US is chicken shit when it comes to this kind of thing, we are well behind the curve of the rest of the world on yet another public safety/human health issue.

Insomnia, Part 2

I suppose this inevitable condition that seems to crop up every so often is unavoidable? Or is it? I dunno. This time, no coherent thoughts or pressing concerns struck as I lay awake at 2:15am. Still fairly relaxed from our trip back east, work is work (read: BLECH!), we had a good dinner, got to bed before 10pm. WTF?!? And here it is, 6am and time to "get up." Wait a tic, I've been up damnit. Now, I'm supposed to function all day? Good luck with that. TGIF folks. TGIF.

A Return to New York City

Once upon a time, I didn't have to travel to get to the Big Apple. Just a simple train ride on the Long Island Railroad from the Mineola station. Last week, the lady and I did travel back east from Colorado to see the family. Now that they've moved up to the Hudson Valley, we have the easier arrival at the Albany, NY airport than one of the Big 3 Metro airports (read: hell by air). But on Friday, January 4, we boarded the Amtrak in Rhinecliff on the 8:56 and headed down to Penn Station. The wife gently asked me to see the City "through my eyes." In other words, fresh, expecting eyes. She grew up in Syracuse and has not spent any appreciable time in Manhattan or any of New York City. Years ago, I became a bit negative about the hectic nature of the City, people on top of people, craziness abound, etc. So, I moved to Colorado. And this particular day, I said, yes - I will look at the place with a new outlook.

As so we walked out of Penn Station through the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden. Ahhhhh, the memories came rushing back. Except, what was this? Fun thoughts. Positive reminiscence. The Cult at the Felt Forum (1987-ish?), the NY Rangers' Stanley Cup, Dunkin Donuts (as always, better than Krispy Kreme), REAL NY slices........ Could it be? Perhaps, but only the day would tell.

We walked out onto 7th Ave. Ahhhhhh, the City. We headed for Macy's as we were both a bit famished and Veener could not comprehend the concept of an 8-story department store. The highlight of this was not the "stuff" - but the old wooden escalators. We rode all 8 stories down these old gems and then proceeded through the delightful "fragrance" section - I forgot the grandeur of the chandeliers lining the ceiling. Freakin' cool. Having had enough of consumerism for the morn, we headed out towards Herald Square. The rush of people was overrun by the delight of the cold January air. We walked through Bryant Park and over to The New York Public Library and its incredible entrance. Wow, I forgot how incredible that facility is. Marble galore, a grand third floor rotunda and reading room, and more nostalgia and beauty than is available in any building of recent times.

Next up, a walk down to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas Tree in daylight hours and the Saks Fifth Avenue Holiday Window Display. Very cool.

We headed over to St. Patrick's Cathedral. And even being a "recovering Catholic," this place is magnificent. It's a place to worship and for worshipping. Of course, in the days when the Church truly served a higher purpose, such structures were possible. To build this kind of architectural marvel in this current day and age in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world..... probably not so feasible anymore. Hopefully, places such as these will be preserved forever.

Now, over to the original thought on this sojourn: Serendipity 3. Unfortunately, there was an hour wait and we were starving. SO, we crossed the street and split a really freakin' good $22. calzone at Patsy's. Yummy. But there was still ice cream to be had, so back to Serendipity 3 we went. After 2 hot fudge sundaes serving the proper purpose of providing a much-anticipated tummyache, we set back towards Grand Central Station as our day was growing short. We headed over to catch a quick view of the south side of Central Park and to see the Rockefeller Center tree once more, this time in the dark. While skating was not to be had this fine day, it was nicely festive throughout the area. Then, over to Grand Central to catch a Metro North up to Poughkeepsie to finish out our day.

I'll tell ya - it was a delightful day in a phenomenal city. While I am not a city guy and certainly could never live there, there is something to be said about history; various reminders of culture and society long past (long gone?). But to be able to experience it in this modern age is something special. Will we be going back? Sure. But who knows when? Only time will tell.