In one Northern Exposure episode, deejay Chris in the morning, said, “You have to do something bad everyday just to feel alive.” Thursday, my bad deed was riding RAMROD sans invitation. I wrestled with whether it was ethical and ultimately decided I’d be able to sleep at night if I rode it without tapping race resources. So I loaded up a hydration pack with water and food and I took $ for the Packwood convenience store, and headed towards Mount Rainer with a couple of good friends we’ll call Lance and Alberto. 

As always, it was the test of the year and fun in a sadistic kind of way, but I didn’t enjoy my outlaw status. I kept thinking true bandits probably relish their outsider, bad boy or girl status. In contrast, I regretted tagging along and will not do it again. So to the RAMROD officials who are reading this, accept my apology and please don’t ban me from future editions. I didn’t have all the facts and acted stupidly. (Can I get a beer for admitting that?)

As it turns out, it is impossible to ride 146 miles in the heat without tapping the event’s water and porta pits. I also benefitted from traffic control. Bandits are kidding themselves if they think they have zero impact on the event.

I hereby offer myself as a “recovered-bandit” and in exchange for an entry into next year’s ride, I’ll do public service announcements.

S. Had wanted to get three workouts in, but bagged the late week one. Not in top shape, took it relatively easy, and felt decent.

C. The “i” is for indoors. Two good, hard race team training rides. T’s was hilly and I spent the second half in small chase groups. Beautiful weather and fun. Rode so hard that I hit the wall five miles into to W’s six miler. R was hard and fun too. I hit the the top of Tenino hill hard and was in the middle of things all night. Nice to get out for a solo ride on Su before hitting the road to teach in eastern WA. I feel strong, but will lose some fitness next week no doubt.

R. If I didn’t have training partners waiting for me on W and F, I’d probably bagged one or both of those since I was still hung over from the previous night’s cycling effort.

After Beijing, some wondered whether Michael Phelps’ eight gold medal winning performance would inspire many more young people to take up competitive swimming. My guess is his dramatic success has lead to a slight increase in participation.

One problem though, I wonder if other people are like me and, outside the water, don’t find him the least bit inspiring. He doesn’t appear to have anything interesting to say and seems downright uncomfortable on the national or global stage. I can’t help but wonder what the impact would be on youth swimming if the eight gold medal winner was an articulate, engaging, and even charismatic young man or woman with a social conscience.

Think Cassius Clay in a speedo and goggles.