Back To The Finish Line

Look at this showoff. Almost two weeks worth of challenge all at once ... backwards*: Teacher Runs 13.1 Miles Backward


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*Call me British, but I like the "s" on there -- backward vs. backwards

Time Is Ticking

15 more days until Mile Challenge 2010 begins.

Minimalist Style

Perhaps this guy is onto something?

Sandals for running? Intriguing.

It's Gonna Be A Long Cold Winter

I went to see the Steelers/Browns game last night and if this is the way winter is going to be, I'm a little nervous about getting the miles in. It was cold. It dropped down to 15 degrees. Unpleasant. Oh, and let's not forget the gusts of wind getting into the 40MPH range making the temperature feel like -5 degrees. Brutal.

Somehow the players are out on the field and standing on the sidelines with exposed arms but me in the stands?  No way.  Listing of my layers, top to bottom I wore two hats, a long underwear top, a T-shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a zip up fleece, a jacket, gloves and mittens with handwarmers in each, boxers, long underwear bottoms, jeans, my snowboarding pants, two pairs of socks, boots. I still was cold. So was beer.  Beers purchased became beer slushies.  No joke.

How is one supposed to run in that sort of business? Even a mile.  Clearly I won't make it a point to run at 9pm during the winter, but quite honestly the daylight hours weren't much better. We didn't even hit 20 degrees.

I guess my point is ... well, I'm not sure what it is really. I suppose I'm going to have to toughen up. Or move somewhere warmer.

5 Cities In 5 Minutes

So this isn't really running related, but it's a challenge that has piqued my interest.  It involves eating.  And perhaps you'll say, "Eating all of that, that quickly can't be good for you" and I'll say to you, "The engine needs fuel for all the running ahead."

No matter which side of the argument you choose, here's the challenge:

Tucky's Division Dog Challenge: 5 Cities in 5 Minutes

Rules:
Can you eat all five of the division dogs in 5 minutes or less? If so, you will earn a Division Dog Challenge t-shirt, $15 in Tucky's Bucks, and have your photo placed on our wall of fame. If your time is in the top ten, then we will place your name on the record board.

Cities (aka hot dogs):
Chicago - $3.50
Skinless Old Vienna hotdog on Poppy Seed Bun, with Sports Peppers, Emerald Relish, Diced Onions, Tomato Wedge, Pickle Spear, Yellow Mustard and Celery Salt

Detroit Coney Island - $3.50
Natural casing smoked hotdog, Coney Island New York Chili and Diced Onions with Yellow Mustard

Cleveland - $3.50
Natural casing smoked hotdog, Potato and Cheese Pierogies with Stadium Mustard

Kansas City - $3.50
Natural casing smoked hotdog, Amish Creamy Coleslaw and BBQ Sauce

Minnesota - $3.50
Natural casing smoked hotdog, Shredded Cheddar and Grilled Polish Sauerkraut with Caraway Seeds

So obviously I want to try this.  I will report back when I have gathered up my sense of competition, adventure and intestinal fortitude.

We Know

Before any of you online comment-obsessed jerks start complaining, you should know that we're all well aware that we are not the first people on the planet to do this. Other people have run a mile everyday for a year and beyond.

Now it's our turn to do it our way.

Mile Challenge 2010

Here we go ... a little blog to keep participants and fans of Challenges informed entertained mindlessly staring at something.

After a successful Bacon Challenge back in 2008, 2009 was a challenge-free year. Well, 2010 is about to start* and it's lookin' like things are back to Challenge mode. The challenge for this year? 365 miles of running in 365 days -- it's The Mile Challenge! Or Mile-A-Day Challenge or Mileage Challenge. Whatever you'd like to call it. Perhaps we'll have a vote.

Anyway, as with the bacon eating in 2008, you can do it however you want. Ideally it would be one mile a day but if you want to do 5 miles at a time, 10 miles at a time or 365 in one day you can do that.

Rumor has it Bob will have some sort of password protected tally site rigged up so you won't have to keep all of these numbers tallied up in your brain. So join in the fun and if you're participating and would like to be a contributor on this site just send and e-mail and we'll make it happen (pending a thorough background check of course).

Get those sneakers out, dusted off and checked for lace/tread wear. Pounding the pavement begins January 1, 2010 at 12:01 a.m.

*How is it 2010 already?