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Sent: Friday, March 03, 2000 2:18 PM Subject: Incline Club V4 LR #15 The weather is great and looking awesome for Sunday — we had another big group last week with 38 people and 5 dogs!!! This Sunday, March 5, 8 a.m. meet in the COG parking lot. Run out the Ute Indian Trail and then cross Hwy 24 and do the Waldo Canyon lollipop loop clockwise. Cross back over Hwy 24 (be careful) and head up Longs Ranch which connects back into the Barr Trail at No Name Creek. Run down the Barr Trail to finish the loop. 2.5-3.5 hours. Newbies skip Waldo and head up Longs Ranch Road. #### Last week the grassy knoll snowball thrower confessed out of fear of being caught. Best part was he was not even on the suspects list. None other than club weather forecaster Tony E has come clean. In this photo www.skyrunner.com/birdseedtoss.jpg. Tony (on the right with the orange and blue hat) is trying to play the Kazoo with a smirk on his face as he watches the snow fall from my face. Several people after seeing this photo speculated that there was a second thrower because there appears to be several snowballs falling from my face. However a special committee was put together and after talking with witnesses they have put out the single snowball theory. It is the opinion of the committee that this was one snowball that broke apart and not a conspiracy. They site as evidence their inspection of the wedding video clearly showing the motion of my head when hit by the snowball was back and to my right, BACK AND TO MY RIGHT, clearly pointing to Tony. However conspiracy theorists claim “no way could one snow ball cause that much damage” and point to a dog bark right at the crucial “kiss” in the wedding. The dog was Sunny who has been traced to a Mikes S who responded “I swear it wasn’t me. It was either the person to my right or the person just to the right of them. I’m just a pawn in a broad roadie conspiracy.” Who knows what will turn up as more photos are developed? Also for those that are not local and have asked, the Gazette articles on the wedding are here: www.skyrunner.com/story/waldo_wed.htm #### Congratulations to Paul Dewitt who went back east and kicked some flatlander butt! You can see the results here: http://thin_air.home.mindspring.com/2000.html. Paul writes: I tell you one thing, 2800 feet of climbing in 13 miles isn’t bad at all compared to 7800 feet in 13! There was one really steep section (probably 15%) that lasted about .5 miles at 3 (uphill) and then again at 23 (downhill), but other than that, it was real moderate. #### Tom K writes: Well Tom’s writing is getting longer than our runs so his has been put at the end of this mail — but the last line alone is worth the read:-) Time to get more birdseed? #### Syd R writes: Too late for this week’s newsletter, but I would wish Kelly Mortenson, who moved back to Minnesota today, good luck and give ‘em hell in the Olympic marathon trials. Maybe next week, but he’ll not see it... #### Craig Hess writes: I did a search on the Boston Marathon site for all runners from Colorado Springs. There were quite a few. I was wondering if any of those were from your running group... could you ask please? OK — HOW MANY OF YOU ARE DOING BOSTON? #### More wedding fun: Last week, as you know, I offered a t-shirt to the person that guessed what was put in Yvonne’s and my bed during the reception. Little did I know that there were 3 people behind the deed. But a promise is a promise — don’t miss this weekend’s special Incline Club awards ceremony where I present a t-shirt to the threesome. One of the three who later confessed tried to claim the prize for himself with this revelation: “I can’t name anybody and of course it is not me... but I saw people getting (removed until the t-shirt presentation) Can I have the T-shirt now???” Now, I am not one to start something but I think the other two should not stand for this and “off” this person on the trail! Guesses got way out there and to keep this a family e-mail lets just say a lot of people seem concerned about birth control and things related to that general topic. Sadly there were not many printable guesses but we did get guesses of leftover pizza, birdseed, my dirty running shoes, and this interesting story — a tale of true friendship: “Laura and I (Tom K) “passed on” a gift of rubber vomit to Teresa Taylor on here 40th birthday a few weeks ago. On the one hand, I would be dismayed to learn that she (and possibly Neal as an accomplice) would pay such callous disregard to such a meaningful gift, given from the heart, stomach, throat, etc. On the other hand, if it is the plastic throw-up (AKA rubber vomit), then may you wear it in good health (as opposed to the real stuff)!” #### Teresa T writes: Funny thing happens when you are addicted to the Incline Club Sunday runs... On Wednesday they predict snow and you start wondering how Long’s Ranch Rd will be on Sunday. I suppose there are worse things... Go out hard, and when it gets icy — wear knee pads. #### WWW post: 2/27/2000 38 people and 5 dogs came for skating lessons on Barr Trail. The top 23 on the workout board all made it tying the previous record. I picked a bad day not to bring my shoes with the screws in them. This was some of the worst ice I have seen on the trail in the many years I have been running it. Teresa T donated some blood to the club blood bank in a fall on the way up and not to be outdone Valerie P donated big-time on the way down after the ice. In other news the grassy knoll snowball thrower confessed (see last post). #### Don’t forget Tom K’s book down below... #### Go out hard, when it hurts speed up... Matt Carpenter www.skyrunner.com Tom K writes (continued): After previously sharing my observations on his abilities on the trail where ice is concerned, you are probably starting to think that I am infatuated with Neal T. Well, I am not! I am, however, infatuated with his kinetic skills on ice, snow, rough trails, and in general, his capacity wherever food and beer are concerned (he’s a multi-talented guy). I rarely have the opportunity to run with Neal T as he usually disappears rather quickly up the trail in front of me shortly after we begin our runs. My latest entertainment thanks to Neal came early in the run as we were approaching the end of Ruxton Ave near the gate. Most everyone going that way last Sunday had to pass over a rather large and unavoidable (without turning around) sheet of ice. Some folks were caught off guard by it, slipped and fell. As I approached from behind, I observed Neal T starting to amble up the sheet ice (again, without screws in his shoes), and as he neared the top of it and sensed himself loosing his footing, he managed to do a “one-eighty” (navigational parlance for a complete reversal of direction). I watched again in awe as he slid back down the sheet of ice for several meters upright on his feet, a veritable Picaboo Street on Ruxton Ave. I was so shocked, I forgot to yell a “no ice ahead” warning to him as he approached the end of the ice (we know what happens to Neal without ice underneath his shoes). He remained upright though. The run up to Barr was pretty brisk for me, but I did manage to hang with Kees G, Jasmine and Neal T for most of the way, which I would pay for later. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was in the process of coming down with a flu/cold that would affect me for the next 2-3 days. The four of us made an attempt to go up towards Elk Park, but were turned back about half way by deep snow, cold wet feet, and an ultimate return to lucidity (i.e. reaching common sense). It took Neal and I a little longer to reach this last state than Kees and Jasmine who had turned around earlier to return via Long Ranch. Everyone disappeared in front of me on the way down and I throttled back the pace since I was feeling the wear of the trip up and probably also some of the early effects of the flu. I did pass Teresa T just below Barr heading up the other direction and asked if she was planning to do Long Ranch. She told me “no, probably not.” Like others in front of me though, I opted to “enjoy” the Long Ranch leg going down for a change. I was feeling pretty fatigued upon reaching French Creek and was having some second thoughts about the long trip down Long, but decided to go for it (so much for the common sense — out the window). I really did struggle a bit for the rest of the run feeling very tired, and also worried about having enough water, etc., but made it back to the Cog parking lot OK, though a tad butt-whipped after 3:37 on the trail. A minute or two after arriving, Teresa T, the downhill demon, showed up behind me beaming, with bloody right knee gleaming (from a little fall), after nearly catching me coming down Long Ranch. Good job T! And handicapped, no less! But I thought you said you weren’t going go down Long Ranch? Or was I delirious and tell you that I didn’t plan on down that way and forget? The thing that I had has run it’s course and I am feeling much better now, thank you very much. p.s. I AM infatuated with Laura L
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