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New Languages, Rented Clarinets & Chocolate Milk Popsicles...
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Tuesday, 28 April 2020 23:10
Trying to Make the Best of a Situation
By Judy Rykken (aka "Rex')
A routine gives a certain calm and structure to the day. With the new stay-at-home edict, it’s difficult and at the same time, a change is good for the brain and presents learning opportunities. The best part of this is noticing how neighbors, friends, and communities are helping each other!
After many weeks at home, to counteract the sadness of not being able to visit my wonderful husband, I thought about what to do to brighten the day! I thought about priorities, how much time I waste, and what new activities would I like to try, previous ones that have been abandoned that could be restarted, current nagging tasks that are no fun to do (and easy to put off), and projects to maintain what is already in place.
And Then "the Stuff Really Hit the Fan"....
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Sunday, 26 April 2020 23:10
By Scott Myers
Before the stuff really hit the fan, Andrea and I did a trip to Maui with our travel bikes (steel Ritchey Breakaway cyclocross style bikes, we got these long before "gravel bikes" were a thing). Maui is a favorite place to bike for us and this year we finished the triple crown of Maui cycling. If you have never heard of it, it is either because you aren't well read on awesome biking or because we made it up.
Ride 1 was the West Maui Loop, about 85 miles and more vertical than you can shake a stick at. We did it under wind advisory, which is probably not a best practice since they don't really go "boy who cried wolf" with wind around there. It looked like the tornado scene from “Wizard of Oz” at times, but we were treated with beautiful winding roads along the ocean with incredible views.
Ride #2 was the East Maui Loop, 105 miles with enough vertical to nauseate a Napali. Epic for sure. You spend the day circling Haleakala (the famous volcano) and end with the famous Ride to Hana in reverse. But in between is insanely gorgeous and fun cycling. Leave your 19mm silk tubulars at home for this ride (unless you have dental work you would like removed), because you hit a stretch of maybe 20 miles of the roughest road you have ever seen. I suppose it keeps the riffraff out. But in the end, it is worth it for sure....
Looking Forward...
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Friday, 24 April 2020 23:10
By Frew Frakes
Gear West received our copies of the 2020 Multisport Calendar from the printer just as concerns about the Coronavirus closed restaurants and more throughout the state. The calendar has been a project I’ve had the pleasure assembling since 2004. With the generosity of local photographers - Paul Phillips, Kerry Yndestad and Nick Morales – I’ve tried to illustrate the determination and perseverance of home town athletic talent and the spirit and camaraderie found within our local triathlon community.
This year’s calendar included a photograph I shot last year at the Lake Minnetonka Triathlon. That June morning began with optimism. As the sun rose above Excelsior Bay, I captured the first athlete finding her spot in transition. Soon however, the skies turned ominous and a steady rain began to fall. By the race’s conclusion, everyone was cold and wet from a typical spring thunderstorm. I look now at that calendar picture with slight foreboding given our current situation.
This winter began to recede early and the promise of spring was on the horizon. Then the forecast of a global pandemic stormed into reality. Now our multisport season’s future is murky at best . Early races are in jeopardy or already canceled and we are left to contemplate our priorities while figuring out how to navigate what comes next....
"I Do Not Have Time To Get Bored"....
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Thursday, 23 April 2020 23:10
ED. Christel is a professor at Bemidji State University and a three-time nominee for Minnesota Master of the Year.
By Christel Kippenhan
I'm kind of curious about how my friends are dealing with the current situation.
Living by myself has never bothered me, and it still does not bother me, even if there are days I do not interact face-to-face with anybody.
But, I'm also still working, and I'm still interacting with my students, yet remotely. In addition, preparing my class content for remote delivery is very time-consuming, and I think the last time I worked this many hours in a day or week was when I was working on finishing up my dissertation. So, I do not have time to get bored or missing things I otherwise would do....
Cherry Garcia & Carol Baskin Killed Her Husband...
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Tuesday, 21 April 2020 23:10
ED
. Another instalment of "Minnesota Triathletes Coping With Quarantine."
By Mitchell Clayton
Wow, how life has changed. Not just for me, and not just over the past month, but for everyone, and for the foreseeable future. Staying sane while being cooped up is the new challenge, and creative solutions are needed…
Snacks: Ben & Jerry’s has a new #1 customer, but I should probably keep his name a secret… Word on the street is he lives in Rochester, MN and devours Cherry Garcia but will settle for Gimme S’more. Also, a cheap substitute for the healthier days is 3-ingredient cookies. 2 bananas, 1.5 cups of oats, 1/3 cup chocolate chips, mix and mush it all up, bake for 12-15 min at 350.
Entertainment: Carole Baskin killed her husband and fed him to the Tigers. If you aren’t getting the reference, drop what you’re doing and start streaming “Tiger King” on Netflix. YouTube has also been a savior. Vessa, my girlfriend and roommate and aspiring triathlete that I’m coaching, and I have been OBSESSED with Eric Lagerstom and Paula Findlay’s channel. They showcase their life as professional triathletes, put out high quality videos, and have fun doing it. Also on the topic of YouTube, anyone else think Lionel Sanders needs to focus on swimming a bit more than the insane bike workouts and races he posts about??...
