Let me take a moment to complain about Tim...

So Tim moved to London in May.  Since then, we've been interchatting fairly regularly, but haven't actually spoken but for his visit back over Memorial Day weekend.  Since training began 3 1/2 weeks ago, though, our chats have been nearly without fail opened by (ugh) training updates.  Tim ceaselessly wants to tell me how much he's run, wants to know how much I've run, and then discuss one's misery relative to the other.  This is tedious work for me, but eventually we move on to more interesting things.  Or perhaps they're not interesting, but at least it''s not discussing how he's running his Week 8 schedule while I huff my way through Week 3.

In fact...

Tim DID tell me he wanted to contribute to the blog somehow.  I told him he could write something anytime he wanted, and he's chosen to comment on each of the first two weeks' entries.  This strikes me as a poor effort on his part.  So, without ado of any kind, including permission from the co-author:

Tuskers's and Bigfnbird's chat transcript (with commentary) from August 9th!

1:43 PM bigfinbird: how was cleveland?

1:44 PM me: OK. Had a good time while I was there

 bigfinbird: with the other tuskas

 me: 60 hours is about right

A quick note: My Cleveland trip was a bit more complicated than I've let on here.  I didn't feel like talking much about it at the time.  There is an extended recap in the editor's bin awaiting posting which I think will enlighten the reader.  Tune back in sometime in the next few days.

 bigfinbird: or should i say "how was north dakota appeals court?"

1:45 PM me: Yeah, apparently there's a Mark Matuska out there that deals meth

 bigfinbird: and he's you?

 me: Ha

From an appellate brief in State v Matuska entered in the North Dakota State Supreme Court:

"On December 28th, 2006, Mark Matuska pled guilty to the crime of Possession of Methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, a Class B Felony. Prior to sentencing, he sought to withdraw his guilty plea. On March 6th, 2007, Judge Bruce A. Romanick denied his request to withdraw his guilty plea. On March 20th, 2007, a criminal judgment was entered sentencing Matuska to five years in prison with credit for 187 days served. (App. 6-7)"

So, there's a Mark Matuska out there that likes to deal meth to kids.  Many thanks to my friend Jen for bringing this to Tim's attention.

 bigfinbird: so how did running go?

  i have to make sure you're still on pace

1:46 PM me: There's also one who's a staffer for a Minesota state rep

This is actually incorrect.  Mark D. Matuska of Minnesota WAS a staffer for the former Congressman Mark Kennedy of Minnesota.  He is now a Regional Director in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.  How do I know this?  The Internet.

  I did run

  Not very well

 bigfinbird: 7?

 me: No sidewalks in willoughby hills

 bigfinbird: yeah, i did 18 in aurora/solon last year

  that blooooowed

 me: I cut it short. It was annoying and I almost died twice

  I'll make up for it this week

I was exaggerating a bit with the "almost died" stuff.  There is something disconcerting, though, about running along a rural Ohio route with a 12" berm while cars pass you from behind at 50 miles per hour, not to mention uneven footing, blind hills and turns, and the occasional crumbling concrete bridge curb.

 bigfinbird: well, now things get serious

1:47 PM week 4

  8 miles

 me: yes yes

 bigfinbird: i did 15 and it was painful...big jump from 12

 me: You are insane

Read that again.

15 (!?!?!) miles?  It's frickin' Week 3!  Why is this so easy for this jerk?

1:48 PM bigfinbird: off week, or off saturday this week

  did 5.5 or so today

  and then i might do 8 wednesay

  but then off til tuesday

  so i'll be rested

1:49 PM me: Well, I need to get in better shape still

  my beer gut is still prominent

1:50 PM bigfinbird: i desirable attribute among power lifters

  among marathoners....not so much

Thanks, buddy.

1:52 PM - 2:00PM snip!

Here is where I save Tim some embarrassment and cut the part where he asks me a relationship question with an obvious answer that he somehow doubts. Tim is almost without peer in Goonsmanship, but every once in awhile his neuroses come through to the point that the Brute Squad considers revoking his license.


Nowz ze time on Shprockhets when Tim tellz me zumsing aboutz London:

2:00 PM by the way, i live by london city airport (small but still international flights)

2:01 PM and planes taking off from there 1 mile away look like they're gonna plow into planes lining up to land at heathrow every 10 minutes

  i know they are thousands of feet apart

  but it must be a mess to keep track of

 me: Is that Gatwick? Or someplace altogetehr different

 bigfinbird: different

  gatwick is way south

2:02 PM i'm at the east end, it's called london city airport

  planes take off west from there

  and planes line up overhead there to fly west to land at heathrow

I have no real comment here.  I reprint it only for the reader's edumacation, as it's clear that I don't know much of anything about various London airports and the inner workings of intra-airport air traffic controller coordination.  A fascinating subject, no doubt, which briefly reminded me of the John Cusack- Billy Bob Thornton vehicle Pushing Tin, which I don't really recommend unless you are in fact fascinated by said subject

And then a pause...

7 minutes

2:10 PM bigfinbird: lasagna time!

  that's what i say

  when i'm eating lasagna
And we're done.  That was fun, no?  Maybe I'll do it again sometime.


A quick recap of This Week in Running:


Week 3
August 1-7
Sunday: Rest, 0 beers
Monday: 4.5 miles, 0 beers
Tuesday: Rest, 0 beers
Wednesday: 4.5 miles, 0 beers
Thursday: 4.5 miles, 0 beers
Friday: Fly to Cleveland (boy are my arms tired), 6 beers
Saturday: 5.4 miles, lots and lots of beer


Totals: 18.9 Miles, Eleventy Beers
Saturday was marked by excessive consumption of High Gravity Steel Reserve, which not only qualifies as a malt liquor at 8.1% ABV, but also comes in a handy 16oz. can.  My father purchased it.   I find it depressing to contemplate what this stuff is doing to my insides, so I'm just going to skip it and chalk one up in the loss column.  


Overall Record: 2-1
Hey, the Browns won't be going 16-0, either.


Up this week: More travels, I'm afraid.  I've been running well so far, but probably not enough to make up for what was a brutally irresponsible Sunday.  Keep a look out for my Cleveland recap, which looks to be chock full of seriousness with some lighter interludes entwined.  Till next week...