The truth about EMS families...

I had to laugh when I saw this meme on Facebook. It is so true of EMS personnel. We don't go to the doctor for anything. We wouldn't call an ambulance either.

Running in unfamiliar places...

I know many people who post questions about good running routes when they're going to visit an unfamiliar city. I've done that a few times, but my usual strategy for finding a route in a new town is simple enough. 

1. Open the door of the hotel or house I'm staying in.
2. Start running.
3. Don't lose track of where I am and how to get back to the hotel or house.

The last one is the most important. I mean what good is it to have a place to stay if you can't find it again?

Stop it...

A woohoo moment in cycling...

I have to admit, I've done this before! Every time I ride through Eastborough, I do my best to blow past their 20mph speed limit. I am so bad!

Jesus is lucky to have us...

I suppose I shouldn't laugh too hard at this cartoon since I'm part of the "bracket" Saji is making fun of, but this is pretty funny!

Strange moments...

This conversation happened in our home last night. It was among the strangest moments in the history of our home. Where did my daughter come up with that question? (Comic made on Pixton.)

Mascot madness...

Every camera was focused on the players of Western KentuckyUniversity as they erased a 16-point deficit in the final five minutes of their “First Four” game against Mississippi Valley State. The commentators yelled their excitement in the final seconds, trying to be heard above the screaming of the Hilltopper’s fans! March madness at its best!

Off air, another kind of athlete was revving things up, egging the delirious fans on. Big Red, WKU’s big, round, likeable mascot was strutting its stuff. “I consider myself a world-class dancer,” Red boasted in a post-game interview with dailymile. “You have to be athletic to do the stuff I do!”

During the regular season Big Red puts on quite a show at WKU’s home games. Its dancing prowess is complemented with crowd-surfing skills, high-flying dunks and repeated runs up and down the steps of Diddle Arena. “I have to get to those Hilltopper fans,” Big Red reported. “And if you don’t think you have to be athletic to crowd surf, try it yourself.”

Asked about its training plan, the mascot shrugged its shoulders. “I don’t really have a training program. You either have it or you don’t.” Big Red has it for sure, claiming to be more athletic than JeremyEvans, former Hilltopper, who now plays for the NBA’s Utah Jazz. “I can throw down food as well as Jeremy Evans throws down dunks!” Red brags.

Truth be told, however, the Hilltoppers mascot’s supposed athletic dominance is occasionally called into question. Big Red went up for a slam dunk at a home basketball game and its feet flew out from under it. The furry creature crashed to the court on its back. At first, the fans thought it was a joke and laughed. They quieted when it took their beloved mascot awhile to get back up.

The toughest part of being a mascot, according to Red, is having to turn down appearances due to other obligations. Not that it’s a problem most of the time. The red thing has super powers. “I’m like Santa Claus,” it said. “I can be several places in a short time frame.” Like St. Nick, Big Red has to deal with being mobbed by kids. “When I visit local schools, I sometimes ‘borrow’ items to put in my mouth, and forget they're in there. That gets me in trouble every time.”

No one knows now whether the 16th-seed Hilltoppers will put up another “W” against the 1st-seed University of Kentucky Wildcats in the first round of the big dance. One thing that’s sure, though, Big Red will be there cycling or rollerblading or stair-climbing or dancing to rile up the WKU fans! And those Hilltoppers will show their appreciation their favorite off-camera athlete with raucous cheering!

Mooooving in...

This was in my office this morning. Strange things are afoot! Wonder what new surprises this day will bring.

Pastors as we really are...

I've seen so many of these photo groupings, that I thought I'd have a little fun at my own expense. Rather than poke fun at marathoners or cyclists, I'll do my best to tease myself and my colleagues. Hope none of those way-too-serious preachers see this.

Funny you should ask...

I've started a new Facebook page. Why? you ask. Because I need another outlet for my nuttiness! Isn't that why everyone starts a Facebook page?

My page, SQOD, is pretty simple really. I ask a strange question every morning. You answer it.

The first strange question of the day, the one I posted yesterday, came from an old family joke on my wife's side. They always ask each other and occasionally complete strangers, "Did you drive or bring your lunch?"

The second question - "Was your body made to run 100 miles or to drink expensive coffee?" - and all subsequent entries cannot be blamed on my wife. She is innocent.

If you like SQOD, hit the "Like" button. If you really like it, invite your friends.

11 Things About Me

Brian Adkins (a.k.a. MarathonBrian), my Chicago-based dailymile running teammate and friend, recently “tagged” me on Twitter, forcing me to answer a series of questions. His mandate also included instructions to do the same with 11 others.

The rules of the game:

1)     Post these rules.

2)     You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3)     Answer the questions set for you in their post.

4)     Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5)     Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

6)     No stuff in the tagging section about “you are tagged if you are reading this.” You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Random Things About me:

1)     I did not own a car until I married in 1987. My beautiful wife owned a blue 1981 Toyota Celica which her parents gave her the year before. I married her so I could drive it. (Boy am I in trouble if she reads this.)

2)     I have visited every state in the Union except Florida, South Carolina, Vermont, Alaska and Hawaii. If anyone wants to fly me out to one of these states, I’d be grateful! Coach would be fine. I’m not picky!

3)     I have been a pastor in the Friends church for almost 23 years. I was pastor in Arba, Indiana, north of Richmond, for 10 years after graduating from Bible college in 1988. I spent the next thirteen years in Argonia, Kansas, leading the Friends church there. The past seven months have been at Pratt Friends Church in Pratt, Kansas.

4)     I am thirteen months older than my next sibling. My sister is four years younger than me and my youngest brother is thirteen months younger than her. Weird coincidence, don’t you think? Thirteen months for both sets of siblings!

5)     I collect Pepsi bottles, cans and memorabilia. I have international Pepsi stuff from Israel, England, China, Mexico and Russia. (I drink Pepsi, too. I HATE Coke!)

6)     I have been running the clock for volleyball and basketball games for five years or so. I started when I was living in Argonia and picked it up at my kids’ new school when we moved. I am currently sitting at a junior high JV tournament waiting for the boys championship game to  start.

7)     My wife is smarter than me. Her college GPA was 1/100^th of a point higher than mine. Those two B+ classes put me at third in our graduating class behind her and her roommate.

8)     I am not a good swimmer. I tend to panic when I run out of breath rather than breathe correctly. I attribute my fear of swimming to the drowning of a senior higher during a pool party during the time I was taking swimming lessons. He got his finger stuck in the drain. Scared me spitless!

9)     I have a habit of drawing things using my Garmin 305. I just run a route that looks like a dog or an elephant. Sometimes I spell out words too. Strange, I know. But don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. (P.S. I usually need to carry a map to make such outings successful.)

10)  I love to run. I love to cycle. It would be hard for me to nail down which I love to do more. On any given morning, you’ll find me out doing one or the other while the rest of the family sleeps securely in their warm little beds. Going early is the only way to keep my obsessions from interfering with family and work life.

11)  I enjoy music. Listening to it brings me great joy. Singing is one of my favorite pastimes. I play trombone and song flute, too. For kicks, I pull out my trombone once in awhile and play along with the high school pep band at ball games. Sight reading is so much fun!

Brian’s Questions for Me:

1)     Favorite event? You mean besides my birthday, right? I’d say the Run for Missions. Loved running in the inaugural 10K and the first half marathon. I enjoy running in support of my friend Adam on the 100-miler too. This year I’m going to run the whole thing with him.

2)     What’s your favorite Ryan Gosling movie? Well, since I’ve only seen two of them, The Notebook and Remember the Titans, I’ll have to go with Remember. I know I’ll get in trouble for this, but I hated The Notebook.

3)     What’s your favorite post-race celebration food? I don’t know that I have a favorite, but if Brian’s buying, I’m ordering steak!

4)     Who manufactures your favorite race day shirt or singlet? I love the dailymile team shirt. It was made by Saucony in ViziPro orange! Love the look and the feel. I really like my Idiots Running Club shirt, too, but I’m not sure about the manufacturer.

5)     What’s your second favorite Ryan Gosling movie? What?! Another?! As I mentioned in question 2, I’ve only seen two and I hated one. No second fav for me!

6)     Gatorade or Powerade? Either one’s fine. I use Gatorade powder for mixing at home, but I’ll drink Powerade if I’m at a convenience store and it’s cheaper.

7)     Favorite newspaper? I guess it would have to be the Pratt Tribune. It’s the only paper in the world I can get into just by organizing a Santa Hat run on Christmas Eve. Didn’t even have to call a reporter. I just posted the event on Facebook.

8)     You’ve just won a race/event, what’s your initial action or reaction? If you’re talking about before I puke, I’m looking for a patch of green grass to empty on. If you’re talking after that, I’m throwing my arms in the air and taunting the rest of the field as the cross the line. Not really. I wouldn’t do that. I’d only mock David Murphy of the Idiots Running Club.

9)     Would you rather be taller or smarter? Yes, I would. Thanks for asking. Taller would make me better at basketball. I’d like to be able to dunk. Smarter? Well, why not. I might be able to outwit Brian in race strategy then.

10)  Which historical figure would you like to have a 2-hour dinner with? I’d like to sit down and eat with Jesus. He’s a friend of tax collectors and sinners, so he’d be with a friend! I’d mostly listen, but there are a couple of things I’d like clarified, so I’d ask a question or two.

11)  Favorite holiday? April Fool’s Day is pretty great! I love tricking my kids, my neighbor’s, the guy in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. “Hey, Buddy! Your socks are untied!” (Note: If you are a scrawny junior higher in a big city, do not yell that at random strangers. I tried it once and the guy pulled a knife on me. That’s how I remember it. Of course, he was across the street, so I can’t be absolutely sure.)

My Questions for My Tagged Friends:

1)     If you were to change careers, what would be your dream job? Why?

2)     What is your most prized possession? Why?

3)     You’re offered a choice: Pepsi or Coke? Which do you choose and why?

4)     Would you rather do without your computer or your toothbrush for a week? Why?

5)     What do you order when you’re in a hurry and you have to take the drive-thru?

6)     Would you rather skydive or read a good book? Why?

7)     Long ride, long walk, long run or long swim? Which would you enjoy most right now? Why?

8)     How many geese have you been attacked by in your lifetime? Remember the petting zoo!

9)     Which club would you be more likely to join: the Idiots Running Club or the Quilters Guild? Why?

10)  Have you met anyone famous or even semi-famous? Who? Did you talk with them or just stare?

11)  Mountain biking or road biking? Trail running or running on the street?

My Tagged People:

Annie – annsrunningcommentary.com
Coach Kristie – coachkristie.com
Murphy – runlikeamug.blogspot.com
Elle Dubya – elledubya-health.tumblr.com
Jeff – hardcorpsrunner.wordpress.com
Mr. Shaw – aveteranrunnah.com
My other brother, Darryl – lovingthebike.com
Mr. Run for Missions – adammonaghan.blogspot.com
Sis-in-Law, Heather – theadventuresofbeingyoung.blogspot.com
Pre-Dawn Runner, Greg – predawnrunner.com
Sir Thomas – believeintherun.com

i am so in this one

i joined. what else could i do when i learned of the existence of a running club that so perfectly fit me? i don't recall how i stumbled upon the idiots running club, but it was a match made in...well, somewhere.

the irc (that's short for the club's name and a whole lot easier to text!) is a loosely-connected group of runners who worry less about what all the gurus of runnerdom say and more about putting in the miles.

irc members are likely to come back from runs with beardsicles or icicle mascara than they are to be all color-coordinated at the gym. their humor is self-depricating. their posts are fun. who wouldn't want to join?

if you want to learn more, visit the irc blog or their facebook page. you'll be glad you did. "ti no trid emos bur!"

Beans, beans...

"When I became a runner, eating beans became an adventure waiting to happen."
- Ekim Trefien

the dad life

thought i'd share this with you dads! hope you have a great father's day!

zap the zero

every monday on dailymile an unwanted character appears at the top of every athlete's homepage. it drives cyclist and runner alike to extremes seeking to destroy it.

dailymile team

since i'm applying to be a part of the 2011 dailymile team, i had to produce a video. this is it. it's based on reality, but with a few twisted facts. i really did apply back in february 2010 to be a part of the team. i really was told, "a few more months." ben and kelly, the "evil" twins, really aren't twins and they definitely aren't evil.

Ain't it a shame to work on Sunday?

I posted a Kids Club video about doing good on Sunday and a friend told me about this song he remembered from childhood. Ain't It a Shame to Work on Sunday? was a real hit at one time in legalistic churches. I wonder if the person who wrote this song really thought about what the last two verses implied. I laughed!

I wish I could have found a video of someone singing this song. Unfortunately (I think), there were none to be found. I only found a short sample on Amazon MP3 download page. The sample has slightly different, and less humorous, words.

Without something to show you, I guess I'll just give you the lyrics. Enjoy!

Ain't it a shame to wash on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a washing shame),
Ain't it a shame to wash on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a washing shame),
Ain't it a shame to wash on Sunday,
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
(And you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),
Ain't it a shame.

Ain't it a shame to work on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a working shame),
Ain't it a shame to work on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a working shame),
Ain't it a shame to work on Sunday,
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
(And you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),
Ain't it a shame.

Ain't it a shame to joyride Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a joyriding shame),
Ain't it a shame to joyride Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a joyriding shame),
Ain't it a shame to joyride Sunday,
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
(And you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),
Ain't it a shame.

Ain't it a shame to gossip on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a gossiping shame),
Ain't it a shame to gossip on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a gossiping shame),
Ain't it a shame to gossip on Sunday,
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
(And you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),
Ain't it a shame.

Ain't it a shame to lie on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a lying shame),
Ain't it a shame to lie on Sunday,
Ain't it a shame (a lying shame),
Ain't it a shame to lie on Sunday,
When you got Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,
(And you got Thursday, Friday, and Saturday),
Ain't it a shame.

Do good on Sunday...

Oily Al and Dumb Bunny are a little confused about what they can and cannot do on Sunday. When Kick Rick asks them to help a sick friend, they refuse because they think they would be breaking God's law.

I almost put it in...

Today during lunch, I grabbed a leftover chicken tender and began gnawing on it while I pulled out all the ingredients for a PBJ. Chomp! There's the peanut butter. Chew! There's the raspberry jam. Nosh! There's the bread.

By the time I had all the components of a good PBJ on the counter and a knife located to spread the P and J on the bread, I was down to about two bites of pre-processed chicken stuff. I took a bite and proceeded to untwist the twisty tie thing that holds the bread sack closed. While I did this I kept an eye on the last bite of fried goodness.

I pulled out two pieces of bread then spun the bread sack to close it. Next I took the twisty tie and nearly put it in my mouth. What!?!? Remember how I said I was eying the last bite of breaded bird? As I looked at it, I decided to eat the last bite, but it wasn't in my hand. Instead, in my grip was a yellow plastic covered wire. That's what I moved mouthward.

I'm thinking about starting a list of things I've almost put in my mouth, but that probably would get gross really quickly. So I won't.

When I was a kid, I'm told, I actually put a spider in my yapper. My mom saw me do it and bravely pulled the hapless creature out. I guess the arachnid goes on another list. Things that have been in my mouth, but not swallowed.

another stab at unicycling

didn't have time to practice sunday, so i had to get some time in monday night. here is the footage of my third attempt at mastering this crazy thing. i'm improving...slowly!