Snow Run 2009

Last year I ran in the first annual Lumijuoksu (Finnish for 'snow run').  I had been looking forward to this year's event for quite a while although I only knew the details a few days ago.  Even on a few days' notice I decided to run.  It went quite well, considering my lack of meaningful training since early September.  In fact I came in a little under a minute faster than last year.  I ended up second in my age group (out of 2 I think, there weren't many runners this year) and won a loaf of Finnish bread (above).  I had hoped that our 'warm' spell would continue for the run, but the weekend windchill dropped down to the negative 20's.  The run is part of Heikinpaiva, the annual Finnish-American festival, so there are many other fun events going on such as the wife carry and the boot throw.  Unfortunately, by the time the awards for the run were over we were frozen stiff and headed back home.  Like last year it was a very fun morning.  To anyone who's in the area, I would recommend checking out the festival even if you aren't up for a run or competing in any of the other events.

Ashby all suited up for the cold.

That's me in the black to the left of the bank sign.

Nearing the 'Finnish'.

Home stretch!

Almost Done!

Rounding the corner to the finish line.

The Wife-Carrying Competition.

CB's: 'social networking' in da UP

While I was growing up, I went through a phase where Dad and I would sit for hours in the driveway so that we could talk to each other over the CB (Citizens' Band radio).  On a whim I threw an old radio and antenna in while packing to come to college and just got around to setting it up in my vehicle.  

Apparently CB's are an increasingly popular means of communication here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  They're much cheaper to operate (free) than cell phones, and our neighbor claims to have a range of at least several hundred miles with his giant lightning rod of an antenna.  My housemate just set up a radio in his room so that he can talk a few houses down to our neighbor.  Now my dinky little antenna with it's magnetic stick-on base seems a little underwhelming, but that's an upgrade for another day.

I find it interesting how things go sometimes.  I was out in the driveway today tinkering with some settings on my radio and talking to our neighbor who was only a few yards away.  It reminded me of how I used to sit in the driveway for hours with Dad...