Flashback Friday: Crazy Eights

We're down to eight days until the Akron Marathon. I'm starting to get the "taper pains." You get those, right? Mysterious pains that appear out of nowhere?

Ow, my hip!

Ooch, my knee!

Ooph, my toe!

These little aches can't be the result of running, because I have done very little of that lately. Last night, I was all excited to run what I planned to be my last double-digit mileage before the race, a 12-miler on the back half of the marathon course. Then a landlocked hurricane swept through Akron and doused those fiery urges.

This weekend, I'll have my last binge of food and beverage. Tonight, the Enthusiast and I are headed to a Greek festival for dinner (and probably some ouzo) and then to Cleveland to listen to some Old Time and imbibe a bit of beer to help open up the ears to the music. Tomorrow, we're headed to Ohio's wine country. But before that, I'll be getting my wig busted to make myself more aerodynamic for next Saturday's main event.

Back Talk

Wherein we embrace absurdity.

The Enthusiast knows how to motivate me: "How about a relaxing post-race beer bath of Baltika, Zane Lamprey style? I would seriously do it for you -- if you come in under 4."

Answer: It's been a while since I've been Baltika'd. That would be most recuperative!

Ian has the most absurd suggestion of the first nine comments for yesterday's post: "I like Sun Runner's suggestion of 9 beers after the race, perhaps while watching the Browns rush for 9 touchdowns."

Answer: Wait a whole day to drink? Are you nuts? The race is Saturday, and I'll need more than nine beers in me before the Browns play. And sadly for your fantasy team, the Browns will probably bench Jerome "The Ghost" Harrison after he fails to run for 300 yards against Kansas City for the second straight year.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend. Run well and drink well. Cheers!