Stoutheartedness

Ryanne started Race Across America last Saturday. The week has gone by so quickly.

For me, anyway.

As for her, I can imagine it's going a little slower. But, she only has a couple days of riding left. After which, two years worth of preparations will culminate and come to a close. I'm sure she'll be relieved.

As she set off last weekend, I set off on my own adventure in the woods.

Saturday night found a cool chill and a slow-setting sun.

The crowd was small. The fire was large. The laughs were aplenty. Hours passed.

The sun, long-since set. The moon was bright and peerless. My lungs were filled with an unearthly air.

The trees stood taller that night.

Hazes of semi-befuddlement burnished our faces. They, brought to us by the satiation of nightly spirits and food cooked over the glowing pit that drew us together.

I pulled my Marmot out of its sack and its loft breathed in the air of dying embers. As the fill came alive, I clambered inside, and it warmed me to unconsciousness.

Stoutheartedness would come in the morning.

Happenings

Jimmy got married a few weeks ago.

The wedding was a bunch of fun.

Now he's on a three to four week honeymoon in Thailand and Australia.

Ryan and Jessica got married last weekend. Could I be more happy for them? Probably not.

I've been working extra hard to lose the winter spring weight I put on devouring everything in sight at every celebratory event. And by working extra hard, I mean sitting on my computer working on some website stuff for work. And drinking beer. And eating a crap load of Mexican. And now, blogging.

Ryanne and I did go hiking at Moraine, though.

I brought my camera and pretended to be the creepster-type-guy who takes photos of people riding on the paved bike path.

Ryanne didn't notice, so I stopped pretending.

She just danced to Kanye the entire way to the marina.

We spent Memorial Day at my parents making a bunch of food and enjoying the company of some family friends and my wonderful Aunt and Uncle.

My dad and his younger sister relived their childhood playing Jacks.

Joey and I relived every day at work.

Face to face with the Fab Four, then shoved to the ground with little effort.

Kind of embarrassing, but I probably deserve it after many mid-90's winters, tag-teaming him in the snow with Ian. I have vivid memories of him falling victim to the Triple Threat of me, Ian, and The Blizzard of '93.

Yeah. Definitely deserved.

I've been running almost every morning. I'm still a really, really, really bad runner. But, combining my minimal improvement and spotty self-confidence, I've decided I'm going to sign up for a marathon this fall.

I expect to hurt more than I ever have on a bicycle. But, I want to know what it feels like.