Do you have a pair of these...STILL?

So, after many years of service, I was forced to abandon these hiking boots because they simply were no longer any good. They weren't warm. The weren't waterproof, by any stretch. The screws that hold the soles onto the boot were rusty and starting to come out. They had a good run, but it was time to put them out to pasture.

How about those red laces? Stylish, right? I bought these from Kinney Shoe Store back in the early 80's, when I was in 8th grade. I remember the day my Mom took me to Easttowne Mall to purchase this fine piece of footwear. I had begged for a pair for about a month, and she finally relented. I forget the purchase price...I think $50, which was pretty pricey at the time. Good news mom...you got your money's worth! I can still wear these suckas!


Colorado Hikers, from Kinney Shoe Store...legends in the annals of Lacedog footwear!

Ironman is Easy...Shoveling Snow is Hard!

We have just been hammered with snow the past three days. Friday, I came home to find knee high snow at the end of my driveway. I shoveled for a solid 90 minutes to finally clear a path to the road from my garage. Even then, it was like an off-road ride. The shovel is crappy plastic and doesn't cut down to the pavement. It's just as well, the snow was pretty freakin' heavy without the added weight of the ice below.

Today, it's really cold and windy. Blizzard like conditions. They've shut down highways, and Kent County isn't sending their trucks out until late Monday afternoon...It's Sunday, for cryin' out loud!

I managed to clear the driveway again this morning, and I'm planning my second workout of the day. The handle on our shovel broke this morning, so it takes solid technique to operate. Only the truly skilled - such as myself - have even the slightest chance of operating it properly.

This week, I'm buyin' a snow blower!

Runnin' with the Studs

Back in 2003, I was training for my first Ironman. During a lunch hour run with my wife, I slipped on the ice and dislocated my shoulder. I was lying on my on my back with my arm extended over my head. I couldn't rotate it back into place, and I had not way to support it if I stood up. Consequently, I took the slowest ambulance ride in history to the hospital. The paramedics had a hard time stabilizing my arm as well.

From that day on, I vowed to never run in icy conditions again...until today. I bought some 8x1/2" sheet metal screws, and drove them into the bottom of sold old GT2030'z. The end result, 4.5 miles of no-slip running.

This will, in theory, increase my mileage during the off season...in theory. I still have to get out the door.