So Guth and I joined fellow cheapskates and cycled down to New Haven to watch rather than run the Labor Day 20k road race. The day was long, we covered a little over 40 miles, which wasn’t a huge distance on a bike but with the stops to cheer on friends and then chill out after the event, we clocked up several hours. But it was fun!
I’m not a good race spectator especially at the start when I inevitably wish I had signed up to run. Once the race was on it’s way though, we were completely occupied with dashing around town trying to stay ahead of the runners we wanted to support.
The highlight came when, as a group, several riders escorted our friend Master Po on the final mile or so. He is one of a number of runners who now recieve automatic entry, identified by their yellow bib numbers, who have completed every New Haven Road since the event began.
On the ride home I managed to embarrass myself by falling off my bike while we were stopped. I over balanced myself on my right while my shoe was still attached to the peddle! I suspect I’m not the first rider to do such a ridiculous thing, but that thought didn’t help my dented pride.
Later that night we stated to pack for Wasatch prior to our Thursday departure. To avoid carrying large containers of drink mix, we decant quantities into plastic bags. I’m always a little nervous at the prospect of a sniffer dog with a sweet tooth discovering them at the airport – you have to admit that a bag containing large packets of light colored powder might initially raise a few eyebrows!
Wasatch here we come – I just hope the finale isn’t like Leadville.
