Training Log Archive: mikeminium

Setting controls at Indian Creek.

9 holes golf with dad at Neumann.

Yard and garden: chainsaw (cut down 4 dead ash trees), transplanted two walnut seedlings, other misc. yard work.

After improving the first 2-3 days, the knee doesn't seem to be progressing very much more. Steep slopes are still a problem.

Mix of walking and light lifting. Picked up RAAM signs from Nashville IN to Brookville IN, then drove with helpers hopping out to pick up the signs (Kate R from Brookville to Oxford; Brennan from Oxford to Chillicothe). Unloaded signs in Oxford after each segment; packed up coolers, flags, chairs, garbage can, and other miscellany from Oxford time station. Long day, started for Nashville at 4 am, finished unloading back in Oxford a little before midnight.

Sign recovery rate this year was excellent. St Mary's Rd remains a perennial problem - with several signs tampered with (they were probably knocked down, but a ride crew or official had put them back up - I could tell they were not in original positions), and a few others were missing. Two signs just west of Oxford got run over (obviously intentional) between 4 am Sat and when I came back to get them after the last riders around 11 am, including the "Ohio" sign at the state line. But neither of those was actually damaged; just needed to be straighten the wire stands. Elsewhere, maybe 12-15 others were missing, and a half dozen others knocked over.

The time stations at Oxford and Blanchester sold a dozen or so signs for $10, and collected some additional donations totaling about $200 - enough to pay for about 50 signs and wire stands. I think this is the first year that sales and donations at time stations have exceeded the value of signs lost/stolen during the race.

Thanks to RAAM rider Ray Brown for his large donation last year! Hoping Ray has a speedy recovery after he crashed this year on a steep downhill early in the race, suffering broken ribs and a punctured lung. Hoping that next year Ray will make it all the way and get to see "his" signs.

Event: 2017 Gold Rush Meet and USA SML Championships
 

Setting controls at Indian Creek. Knee improving but still not anywhere near normal.

Event: OLOU Summer Sprint Series #9 and #10
 

Checking control locations and minor map updates at Indian Creek. Slower than normal walk in most places, had to be careful stepping over logs and on fallen debris. Knee pain noticeable but it went better than I thought it might.