I'm a little sick of the golden arches...

Back at the McDonald's...thanks to my blogging cousin Pam for the good tip, only the Valley Mall modem is having issues, "should be replaced tomorrow...or the next day" according to the Mall Office. Doh!

RACES FOR WEEK OF AUGUST 4th TO AUGUST 10th

August 8th / Friday Night Stampede 5k / Auburn, WA

August 9th / Crawfish Crawl 5k / Tualatin, OR

August 9th / Kirk Spencer 5k / West Linn, OR

August 9th / Bellingham Youth Triathlon / Bellingham, WA

August 9th / Riley Run 5k / Mt. Vernon, WA

August 9th / Festival of the River 5k / Arlington, WA

August 10th / Haulin' Aspen Trail Marathon and Half-Marathon / Bend, OR

August 10th / Port Gamble Trail Half-Marathon / Port Gamble, WA

A year late...but still purrrty...

Well, it only took me a year to get my hands on my award for being part of the 3rd place finishing team in the 2007 NW Passage Ragnar Relay! And it's nice! And you know that if the fabled NW Runner team took third with me on the squad, then everyone but me on the team was startlingly fast. The third place award, as you can see, is a bronze relay baton...pretty sweet.

Of Course, we're in the Valley now, that would be the Yakima Valley, not the Willamette Valley, and we're on our fourth straight day of 90-plus temps with at least four or five more lined up to come. Let me tell you, that's some hot running right there.

Since I'm at the rents and forced to stomach their dial-up connection, this post is coming straight at you from the Union Gap McDonalds! $2.95 for two hours...someone please tell me where to find free wi-fi around this town!

Wall-E? How about Wump-E?

Of course I've seen Wall-E. I love Pixar movies. The writing is, and always has been, so far above the standard for animated films. It's just amazing. And even though the other big animated studios have improved their products, because of Pixar, there's still no comparison. And please don't listen to the people that can't figure out why there's no talking in the first half-hour or so...I realize that most TV and video games and movies aim directly for the lowest common denominator and explain the plot point by point for the average viewer...don't listen to them! It's a great flick.

BUT...but, did it seem a bit familiar to any other Bill Peet fans out there? Any Bill Peet, Wump World, fans? It sure did to me. People polluting the planet so bad that they have to leave? Check. Scouts flying around in space ships looking for a new planet (or the same old planet with new life? Check. Absolutely clueless, self-absorbed, human-types ruining the planet that they live on and not caring a whit? Checkaroo.

Of course, there's one small difference. Bill Peet wrote the Wump World back in 1970. Yep, 38 years ago.

Head over to your nearest library, children's picture book section, and tell me which version of Wall-E you like better. While I love the Pixar version, I've had a soft spot for the Bill Peet version for over 30 years.

Still here...but barely...

Well, we're in the countdown period now. This is the last weekend in the Skagit Valley. On Monday, we'll start our, slow, trek to Corvallis. It should only take us a month or two. Don't worry, we'll get there eventually.

A few more photos of the Coos Bay Fourth of July 5k and check out all the great Tri's coming up in early August. See ya at the races.

RACES FOR WEEK OF JULY 28th TO AUGUST 3rd

August 2nd / Frank Maier Marathon and Douglas Island Half Marathon / Juneau, AK

August 2nd / Race for the Homeless 10k / Vancouver, WA

August 2nd / Mt. Ashland Hill Climb 13.3 mile run / Ashland, OR

August 2nd / LUNA All Women's Triathlon and Duathlon / Fairview, OR

August 2nd / Tacoma Narrows Half-Marathon / Gig Harbor-Tacoma, WA

August 2nd / Rock 'n' Relay and Four Miler / Portland, OR

August 2nd / Whidbey Island Triathlon / Langley, WA

August 2nd / Once Around Lake Cavanaugh / Mt. Vernon, WA

August 2nd / Snoqualmie Railroad Days Run 10k and 5k / Snoqualmie, WA

August 2nd / Run for the LIGHT! 5 miler / Westport, WA

August 3rd / Mid-Summer Olympic and Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon / Fairview, OR

August 3rd / Footzone 5k / Redmond, WA

August 3rd / Troika Half-Iron Triathlon / Spokane, WA

August 3rd / Satsop Olympic and Sprint Triathlon / Elma, WA

August 3rd / XTERRA Black Diamond Triathlon / Black Diamond, WA

Stare at this one for a while...

I know, I know...two posts in two days and you're thinking, "hey, Scott's back to his normal posting schedule." But no, nothing could be further from the truth. I'm still at the Best Western with free internet, but I won't be tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll be back to a nomad wandering the desert in search of a new house...with a cable modem, preferably. So don't get used to seeing new posts all the time. In fact, enjoy this one for a few days...

So we just happened upon a 5k here in Coos Bay. I mean, really just happened upon it - we were walking down to Mingus Park for the Independence Day celebration and they were lining up for the race! So, unfortunately, I didn't get to race in it, but I did get a few photos, and as you'll see, despite the unfortunate name, Mingus Park is quite beautiful and if you're ever in the area around the Fourth, head down to the park for the 5k.

Well...I'm having a whole lot of trouble uploading these photos on the Best Western WiFi, so I'll have to show you the rest later.

Waaaahoooo!! - free internet at the Best Western!

Well, we're down in Oregon on a house-hunting slash vacation trip and I was just beginning to wonder if I was ever going to post again when, lo, out of the murky haze that is Coos Bay, I spotted a Best Western, and verily, it did have free wireless internet service.

And all was good. And then there was much rejoicing.

Hey, here's a new race calendar. I'll be back tomorrow with a race report from none other than the Coos Bay Fourth of July 5k! With photos!

RACES FOR WEEK OF JULY 21th TO July 27th

July 26th / REI Peak Challenge 5k / Eugene, OR

July 26th / Padden Duathlon / Bellingham, WA

July 26th / F.I.T. Family 5k / Covington, WA

July 26th / Anacortes Art Dash Half-Marathon, 10k and 5k / Anacortes, WA

July 26th / Washougal Mayor's 8k / Washougal, WA

July 26th / Enumclaw Street Fair 3 mile run / Enumclaw, WA

July 26th / La Center Our Days 5k / La Center, WA

July 26th / Wells Fargo Torchlight Run at Seafair 8k and 5k / Seattle, WA

July 27th / Cascade Run Off 15k and 3 mile / Portland, OR

July 27th / Swedish SummeRun / Seattle, WA

New Post...Not...Ready!

OK, we're getting into the homestretch of the big Sedro Woolley to Corvallis move now. Over the next few weeks, as me and my family are essentially homeless, new posts on the famous Two R's may become a bit sporadic...even ragged. Try to hang with me as best you can, while I type away with one hand, abusing Burgerville's free Wi-Fi and noshing on their amazing waffle fries with my other hand.

Only a couple of weeks until we say "Adios" to the Skagit Valley...I wonder if we'll have to sign something in Corvallis when we buy a house there like we did here in Woolley. A form that basically says "You're living in cow-country now, so you've got no right to complain about the stench or the flies."

Let's hope not.


Need a photo of a cow? Who doesn't, right? Well, head over here. Thanks to Jordan McClements of Ireland.

Flippers? I mean, come on, filppers!?!

To get ready for triathlons, it's always a good idea to get out into the open water and do some lake swimming or some river swimming or, God forbid here in the NW, some ocean swimming. Even so, you're going to be in the pool more often than not. It's just the way it is. Hundreds and hundreds of hours of pool laps will always be the norm with a couple hours of open water swimming mixed in.

And let me tell you, there's nothing more boring than swimming laps in your normal 25 yard/meter pool.

So how do you spice up the laps? Well, much like sneaking a look at the guy on the treadmill next to you and nodding knowingly when you realize he's running 0.1 mph slower than you are, in the pool, I have to race the person in the next lane whether they know it or not. Anything to pass the time, right?

So what is the only thing that can ruin my fun? Yeah...flippers. C'mon! Why are you swimming laps with flippers on? How am I supposed to feel superior when the 80 year old grandma beside me, with the HUGE flippers, is keeping up with me?

It's just not right.


Thanks to Bahama Rentals for the photo. Next time you're in the Bahamas, be sure to look them up.

The heat, my God, the heat!

The summer weather is finally here, my friends. Now get out there and run...and take an outdoor swim, at last!

RACES FOR WEEK OF JULY 14th TO JULY 20th

July 19th /Deschutes Dash Olympic Triathlon, Olympic Duathlon and 10k Run / Bend, OR

July 19th / Crown of Queen Anne 3.3 mile Run / Seattle, WA

July 19th / Willamette Valley 10k Run / Eugene, OR

July 19th / Kla Ha Ya Days 5 Mile River Run / Snohomish, WA

July 19th / Frankie's 5k Run / Gig Harbor, WA

July 19th / Samish Bay Bivalve Bash Low Tide Mud Run / Bow, WA (the toughest 250 yards you'll ever run...this one is run through serious mud!)

July 19th / ChelanMan Half Iron Triathlon, Oympic Triathlon, Half Marathon and 10k / Chelan, WA

July 19th / Tiger Tri / Colville, WA

July 19th / Capital Lakefair 8k and 3k Run / Olympia, WA

July 20th / Deschutes Dash Sprint Triathlon, Sprint Duathlon and 5k Run / Bend, OR

July 20th / ChelanMan Sprint Triathlon and Try-A-Tri / Chelan, WA

July 20th / Steve Omi Memorial Open Water Swim / Coeur d' Alene, ID

July 20th / Seaside Beach Run 10k and 5k / Seaside, OR

July 20th / Whisky Dick Triathlon / Ellensburg, WA

I'm seeing rainbows...

I love watching triathlons on TV. Well, actually I love watching triathlons in person. Well, actually I love competing in triathlons in person. But I'm pretty slow. Probably not all that fun for others to watch. And frankly, you're most likely pretty slow too, not to cast judgement or anything. So I don't really want to watch me or you doing triathlons all that much. But elite, yes "pro", athletes are a different story. I love watching elite triathletes compete. But there's been exactly one elite race in Washington (Bellingham) in the past...well, ever, and there was one in B.C. a few weeks ago, but now you need a passport to get up there, and I don't have one, so basically I don't see elite triathlons in person.

Which brings me back to TV. I love watching triathlons on TV. The elite triathletes are awe-inspiring and amazing. Watching them never fails to get me fired up and ready to go do a workout myself to attain a level like 17% as good as the last place finisher in an elite event. So when I heard that the third and final qualifying race for the Olympic Triathlon Team was today, I went straight to the TV schedule to see when it was on. Well, I'm not a total idiot, I went to the TV schedule to see if it might be on, like a weird cable channel, maybe MSNBC, or the Food Network, or something. Of course, it wasn't. So I went online to see if I could find some results. After about 30 minutes of surfing, I found it at ESPN.com, under "more" then "olympic sports" then "more" then "other headlines". Of course, they were happy to tell me, on the front page, that Pacman Jones wants to be called Adam and not Pacman in the future, but of course that was important news, so clearly it needed to be front and center.

Yes, I'm fully prepared to stay up until two in the morning during the Olympics to catch the triathlon, since the 400 prime time hours will be spent on features of gymnasts and how they sacrificed their 7th grade end-of-year dance to make the team.

Sigh...