Hey all.
It was the big return to running weekend. The Detroit Free Press marathon was over the weekend, Will and I signed up to run the 5K that is part of the festivities.We got up at Dark-thirty and headed downtown. We ambled about the area, checking out the fast folks and the wheelchair-hand cycle athletes. We got behind the half-marathoners and seeded ourselves to the middle of the 5K’ers.It took about four minutes to hit the mats and we spent most of the first half mile swerving through the walkers. We picked up a little steam and started setting a good pace for the first mile. Then it happened. The months of his soccer playing came home to roost. He dropped me! He just pulled a few steps ahead at about 1.25 miles, and just kept heading away. At the 2 mile aid station, he was a good 300m in front of me. I could still see his hat in the crowd ahead, so paranoid dad didn’t go nuts. But he was clearly faster than I was. He even stopped to tie his shoe. I stopped to talk while he did it and took his hat and gloves. After that, it was “Bye” and I didn’t see him again until the finish. I hit the line with a gun time of 38 something.He found me right after I crossed the line and started to cough up a lung. We found some snacks, and watched the men’s winner finish and the hand-cycle folks as well. It was a lot of fun, and I’d better find some speed or I’ll never be able to beat him to the bagels.

This weekend there's another 5K, and I hope I can at least keep up with him. I'd like to see him run well with others there to see it, and I've done a bit of training this week, so I can hopefully finish a little closer.

Running Weekend

The first big running weekend of the year is here. The Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank (I think) marathon is this weekend, and I'll be down there with Will running the 5K. It's his first 5K, and I'm hoping he'll do well enough to want to keep running. I like having someone to run with, and he seems to enjoy it so far.It's pretty busy weekend. The slot car racing folks are also in town for a regional race at Motor City Slot Car, and there the general level of fun that is always part of fall. I hope to update with the race report and some photos on Monday.

Do manners make the rider? I spent a good portion of Sunday doing a pleasant little ride with my Dad. The Blue Water Ramble has a short (40 mile) ride that runs through part of Michigan and Ontario. The vast majority of the riders are the weekenders on comfort bikes and whatnot. I, in the interest of stay with Dad, rode my mountain bike instead of the CX or road bike. I noticed one thing: the weekenders are far for polite than some of the roadies.

The SOP for group rides is to call out "On your left" as you pass someone. We passed a lot of folks out for a nice ride, and were able to chat. (Secret weapon for this, have a bike bell that has a really friendly ring to it, much like and ice cream truck bell.) A pleasant "good morning" works. You also get some of the road folks going by. Most are friendly, will banter a little and even be happy to let you latch on and get pulled for a mile or so. But then there are those with the manners of Freds. "You are beneath my cycling station so I shall not even acknowledge your presence. I will blow by you and my hard ride is no less important than any prorider." Get a grip. Is the simple two finger "hello" lift that shattering to your focus?

In addition, I did the ride with my orange palmed gloves. It seems they show up pretty well. The SAG driver said he could see them about 1/2 away even as I was riding.