Rainy Tuesday Afternoon...

Not to be confused with The 1994 song from The Pogues, Tuesday Morning, or the retro fashion clothing kitchy attire franchise, Tuesday Morning.  Just, rainy Tuesday afternoon. 

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Every time I read a Stephen King novel, three things happen:  1.  I find myself thinking of that Gary Larson cartoon, wherein a prolific author, (Stephen King, John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Anne Rice) gets writer's block.  The punch-line of the cartoon is that he or she never really does get what you or I would call "Writer's Block", rather, they get stuck on choosing a haunted house or a haunted graveyard as their plot device.  2.  I find myself counting the number of references to other Stephen King books...Salem's Lot, Cujo, Carrie and a bit of something else were all in this one...just off the top of my head.  3.  I think about riding my bicycle, and am reminded of King's near fatal bicycle accident on a secluded road in Maine.



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Scratching on the Break

I thought briefly of posting a long blog entry about how many different types of vehicles I've single-handedly crashed, without injuring anybody but myself, or recounting the tale of my Big Wheel, circa 1983 or something, but after getting into an accident over the weekend, I had this thought in my head, about a guy who got stuck in an elevator not once, but twice in the same day.  It happened in Chicago, and was making the rounds on Twitter earlier in the day.  I am including some photos I've taken the past couple of months, as the Flickr Gadget has unexpectedly ceased to function....most of these were taken in and around Minneapolis / Saint Paul, while riding one bicycle or another.

Photo credit Michael McKinney

Photo credit Michael McKinney

Photo Credit Michael McKinney

Photo Credit Michael McKinney

Photo Credit Michael McKinney

Saturday afternoon ride to Trader Joe's in Saint Louis Park, followed by returning a movie at Merriam Park library and following my standard route to Summit along Fairview avenue. At Fairview and Dayton I was struck by a motorist. I'm pretty sure it could have been a lot worse, but I'm a bit disappointed with myself for not avoiding the driver. The driver presented a rolling stop while travellng West on Dayton, then gunned across Fairview and "T-Boned" me. All fingers and toes accounted for, but I am starting to deal with the inevitable fall out. My frame is a little bent, my wheels are shot and my knee is not satisfied with the situation...some groceries were also harmed in the making of this map...post...route. Or workout. Whatever it is you hipster kids call this.
The driver's stereo was blasting, and he couldn't hear me yelling at him to stop. He apologized and did stay at the accident site...I am getting the impression from bike shop personnel that his willingness to comply is commendable. For economical reasons, I haven't owned a car since August of 2009. When I did own a car, and did drive, turning on the stereo was action number two following engine ignition.  It is a small world.




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Seems a little redundant and unnecessary to credit myself on my own photos, doesn't it?  You'd think a blog, by its very nature would be narcissism enough, let alone allowing oneself to be delusional enough to think another person would actually try to take validation or credit from or for your work, which is beyond narcissistic.   Here's a one act play about it, including the ocean - The internet is a huge ocean, this is my buoy.  Get your own...right?  Whatever.  Enjoy.

Climb for a Cure and City of Lakes Loppet

At the City of Lakes Loppet, 2012, Photo Credit Michael McKinney

IDS Stair Climb, 2008

Photo Credit skinnyski.com

IDS Stair Climb, 2012

Photo Credit Matt McKinney

This past week-end I participated in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Climb for the Cure stair climb at the IDS Building in Minneapolis - there are three divisions for the event, a competitive, timed, stair climb; a public service and fitness club challenge and the non-timed recreational stair climb...but you can time yourself if that's your cup of tea.  The group I climb with has now raised money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012, and we have a good time doing it.  This year we achieved our fundraising goals, and I contributed with donations from friends and family.  The Climb for A Cure has been the day before the City of Lakes Loppet Nordic Ski Race, a 35 Kilometer Freestyle race, (there's a bunch of other events too), through the heart of Minneapolis, starting in Theodore Wirth Park - the race is also a part of the Hoigaards Challenge Series, which includes a Triathalon and a Half Marathon. 
I included some photos from this year's events and past years as well - my Descente ski suit has not been out of the closet since 1992.  It's a 1988 vintage US National Team racing suit, back when corporate sponsors were allowed for amateur athletes...that's why the word "seagrams" is written across the right bicep, in scrolling italic font.  Don't get me wrong here, nobody is coming out of the closet, nobody is endorsing seagrams and I certainly was never a part of any US National Team.  It's a lot more complicated than that.  My neighbor was an Olympian.  In 1988, I mowed his lawn.  He paid me with a Descente US National Ski Team Racing Suit, circa 1988.  I have a friend with a very strong Italian heritage...he one upped me by getting an Italian National Team Suit, circa 1992.  Still makes me laugh. 
I timed myself, for fun, on the IDS Stair Climb this year...without breaking much of a sweat, at 9:53...I talked to another participant who was aiming to break the 10 barrier...that's 10 x 1280 steps, more than 500 floors, over a vertical mile.  Whoa.  At the Loppet 17 Kilometer Freestyle race, my time was 50 minutes and change.  Conditions were not optimal.  There is a lot more that could be said about why the Loppet was only 17 Kilometers this year, but if you're anywhere near Minnesota and reading this, I'd be preaching to the choir.
It may have gone without saying, but just to be sure, I did ride my bicycle to Wirth park on Saturday and Sunday of the Loppet week-end - on Saturday to pick up my race materials and on Sunday to race...here's the Sunday map.  I think the Stupor Bowl was on Saturday, but I didn't notice.
 



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Camber

Photo Credit skinnyski.com

Photo Credit skinnyski.com

                                                   

Photo Courtesy of James Thomas McKinney

Photo Credit skinnyski.com

                                                     

William O'Brien Cross Country Ski Race, 41st Edition. 

The night before a Nordic ski race is pretty much the same now as it was 20 years ago, I wax my skis, I eat some complex carbohydrates, I try to fall asleep and then I wind up reading for a few hours.  Last week, I skied in the Classic 21 Kilometer event at the William O' Brien / Marine on St. Croix Cross Country Ski Race.  Classic skiing is different from Skate skiing and also different from Touring - a narrow ski with flexible tips and a modest camber is necessary for riding in the groomed tracks - glide wax is ironed into the ski and a layer or two of kick is then applied to a central location on the ski, "The Kick Zone", to ensure reliable and consistent kick.  The kick or stride of classic skiing is what generates forward motion.  In skate skiing, only glide wax is used, the skier rides a flat ski until employing the edge of the ski, similar to a hockey skate, to gain propulsion.  Touring is a more relaxed and recreational means of skiing, wherein a waxless ski with a fabricated Kick Zone guarantees reliable and consistent kick. 
After waxing my skis and getting a good nights sleep, my sister Cate and I made it to the race and had a great day among the people and trails of the event - my first time skiing this race, I was all of twelve years old, and got lost on the William O 'Brien trail system.  My time was over half an hour behind the winner - circa 1986.  I never fail to feel a sense of belonging, (I may go so far as to say a profound sense of equanimity) when skiing or running on this trail system; Mountain biking on these trails has never been endorsed by the Park.  As a kid, as a high school skier, as an Assistant coach, as a racer, the solitary gratitude I feel during my time there seems as reliable and consistent as the unpredictability of the snow cover. 

My time this year was in the top five, 1:09 and change.  I included a number of photos from 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, including action shots from skinnyski.com  Enjoy.

Thanks to Everett Meyer and Fruitshare and all of the sponsors for a great event, and happy retirement to Randy Lorenzen...though as a Nordic coach recently told me, "Nobody retires."