If your "Sunday best" is a new pair of Pearl Izumi bike shorts and your idea of congregating is hopping on your bike and heading out on weekend mornings for bacon rides with your friends, then you, my friends, need to keep on reading.
A Sunday in Hell, the 1977 documentary about the Paris-Roubaix bike race, will be playing for free (ah, yes, there's my favorite word again) this Sunday, September 27th at 7:30 pm at the Nebraska-famous (as opposed to world famous) Waiting Room Lounge, located at 6212 Maple Street.
The film, directed by Jorgen Leth, details one of the most dramatic of the spring classics, as racers ride (or sometimes run) over narrow, muddy, cobblestone lanes across the French countryside. Featuring such famous racers as Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, and Freddy Maertens, A Sunday in Hell is considered by some to be the best film ever made about professional cycling.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Fall cross-country news
When I think of the fall season, I think of three things: cyclocross (a sport that I’ve never participated in because it requires that I add to the already notable collection of bicycles in my garage), football (a sport I once competed in, if you define “competed” as “getting continually crushed into the dirt by high school-aged kids who weighed 100 pounds more than I did”), and cross country (a sport in which the participants look constantly agonized, so I avoided it like the plague in high school).
It took me several years to realize that all the grimacing done by cross-country runners was actually an expression of profound pleasure and that the sport was really fun. So, without further ado (or adon't), here's the Nebraska Adventures list of "trail running or cross country races I should think about doing this fall."
Beer and Bagel Run
I recently discovered that the ever-popular 17th annual beer and bagel off-road run will take place on November 8th at the hilly (by Midwest standards, anyway) Mt Crescent Ski Resort (makes me giggle every time), which is about 15 miles north of Omaha near Crescent, Iowa. Entry fees for the 3-mileish run will cost you $30 prior to October 25th, and you can pick up a registration sheet at Peak Performance. (As far as I and the poor shoe sales girl I questioned at Peak Performance know, online registration will not be available for this race.)
What will be available this year, however, will be chip timing, which means that after the race we can muse (with a mouthful of chili) over our horrendous split times and vow that, next time, we'll run the entire thing instead of walking up the big hills. And then we'll drink a thousand beers--I promise.
Swamp Stomp
Held at west Omaha's Chalco Hills, the Swamp Stomp (and Gator Gallop, for the kiddies) is a Cajun-themed off-road 8k, featuring running for the whole family, lots of grub, and hopefully some zydeco. Billed as a warm-up for the Living History Farms Race (see next entry), the Swamp Stomp has unfortunately been scheduled for the day before the Beer and Bagel Run, a conflict that will leave all but the most hearty of runners choosing between the two events. Online registration (and pricing) is available here.
The Living History Farms Off-Road Race
Billed as "The Biggest Cross Country Race in North America," the Living History Farms Race is an epic off-road event near Des Moines, Iowa. With race organizers limiting participation to the first 7,500 runners (yes, you read that correctly), you'll be hard-pressed to find yourself lost and alone at any point in the run.
Prepare for steep drop-offs, creek crossings, scrambling up gullies, and general mayhem as you and a herd of your peers jog for 7 miles over hill and dale (and Dale, if he happens to fall in front of you).
To witness some of the craziness first-hand (second-hand?), check out some videos on youtube. Online race registration should be available around October 1st, so if you're interested, be sure to register early. Oh yeah, and take some video and email it to me so that I can post it here.
It took me several years to realize that all the grimacing done by cross-country runners was actually an expression of profound pleasure and that the sport was really fun. So, without further ado (or adon't), here's the Nebraska Adventures list of "trail running or cross country races I should think about doing this fall."
Beer and Bagel Run
I recently discovered that the ever-popular 17th annual beer and bagel off-road run will take place on November 8th at the hilly (by Midwest standards, anyway) Mt Crescent Ski Resort (makes me giggle every time), which is about 15 miles north of Omaha near Crescent, Iowa. Entry fees for the 3-mileish run will cost you $30 prior to October 25th, and you can pick up a registration sheet at Peak Performance. (As far as I and the poor shoe sales girl I questioned at Peak Performance know, online registration will not be available for this race.)
What will be available this year, however, will be chip timing, which means that after the race we can muse (with a mouthful of chili) over our horrendous split times and vow that, next time, we'll run the entire thing instead of walking up the big hills. And then we'll drink a thousand beers--I promise.
Swamp Stomp
Held at west Omaha's Chalco Hills, the Swamp Stomp (and Gator Gallop, for the kiddies) is a Cajun-themed off-road 8k, featuring running for the whole family, lots of grub, and hopefully some zydeco. Billed as a warm-up for the Living History Farms Race (see next entry), the Swamp Stomp has unfortunately been scheduled for the day before the Beer and Bagel Run, a conflict that will leave all but the most hearty of runners choosing between the two events. Online registration (and pricing) is available here.
The Living History Farms Off-Road Race
Billed as "The Biggest Cross Country Race in North America," the Living History Farms Race is an epic off-road event near Des Moines, Iowa. With race organizers limiting participation to the first 7,500 runners (yes, you read that correctly), you'll be hard-pressed to find yourself lost and alone at any point in the run.
Prepare for steep drop-offs, creek crossings, scrambling up gullies, and general mayhem as you and a herd of your peers jog for 7 miles over hill and dale (and Dale, if he happens to fall in front of you).
To witness some of the craziness first-hand (second-hand?), check out some videos on youtube. Online race registration should be available around October 1st, so if you're interested, be sure to register early. Oh yeah, and take some video and email it to me so that I can post it here.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Ultimate Fighter, Nebraska-style
Just like Steven Tyler (before his less-than-graceful fall from a stage), after a brief end-of-summer hiatus, I’m back in the saddle again. And, of course, by “in the saddle,” I mean, “writing blogs on blogger,” which doesn’t explain why I smell of livestock and leather.Although early September generally isn’t a time when most Nebraskans put away their sunblock and dig out mittens and chapstick, this year seems to be ushering us into the fall season faster than usual. So today, rather than posting about some outdoorsy activity that will cause you to smell bad (which is what I usually do), I thought I'd somewhat shift gears and highlight some fall television programming for those of you who enjoy watching sports when the weather gets a little cooler.
If you like this...
...then you should probably check out this season's The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television show where a number of contestants are sequestered in a house in Las Vegas while they fight one another elimination-style in an effort to win a contract with the UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship. Phew, what a sentence!
For one thing, this looks to be a great season, as one of the sport's most notorious fighters, Kimbo Slice, will be competing.
The show, which features all heavyweights this season, will also showcase a few former NFL'ers, as well as Roy "Big Country" Nelson, the International Fight League's champ.
But even cooler is the fact that Abe "Hurricane" Wagner, who trains and fights out of Omaha's own Mid America Martial Arts, will also be appearing on the show.
For a sneak preview of the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, check here. Finally, a reason for us Omahans to tune in and root for a local boy. You know what I'll be doing on Thursday nights this fall...
If you like this...
...then you should probably check out this season's The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television show where a number of contestants are sequestered in a house in Las Vegas while they fight one another elimination-style in an effort to win a contract with the UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship. Phew, what a sentence!
For one thing, this looks to be a great season, as one of the sport's most notorious fighters, Kimbo Slice, will be competing.
The show, which features all heavyweights this season, will also showcase a few former NFL'ers, as well as Roy "Big Country" Nelson, the International Fight League's champ.
But even cooler is the fact that Abe "Hurricane" Wagner, who trains and fights out of Omaha's own Mid America Martial Arts, will also be appearing on the show.
For a sneak preview of the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, check here. Finally, a reason for us Omahans to tune in and root for a local boy. You know what I'll be doing on Thursday nights this fall...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Destination: Weird
As a fan of both weirdness and travel, I wanted to, nay had to, shine the spotlight on this website: One part wikipedia, one part Ripley’s Believe it Or Not, and one part Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Travel forum, Atlas Obscura details the strangest and oddest places in the world.
Billing itself as “A Compendium of this Age’s Wonders, Curiosities and Esoterica,” thus far, the Atlas only has one entry for our great state of Nebraska (which happens to be Charlie Johnson’s Museum of the Odd in Lincoln). But that’s okay—additional entries can be added and edited by readers, much like wikipedia.
Even if you aren't planning a future trip to the last handwoven, Inca-made grass bridge in Peru or The Devil's Swimming Pool (and why wouldn't you be?), this site can provide hours of fascinating reading...and it has cool pictures.
Billing itself as “A Compendium of this Age’s Wonders, Curiosities and Esoterica,” thus far, the Atlas only has one entry for our great state of Nebraska (which happens to be Charlie Johnson’s Museum of the Odd in Lincoln). But that’s okay—additional entries can be added and edited by readers, much like wikipedia.
Even if you aren't planning a future trip to the last handwoven, Inca-made grass bridge in Peru or The Devil's Swimming Pool (and why wouldn't you be?), this site can provide hours of fascinating reading...and it has cool pictures.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A pig-themed post
Let’s go for a roll in the mud!
If you’ve ever dreamed of making like a swine and diving face-first into a dirt and water mixture (or if you just really, really hate your current pair of running shoes), you, my potentially filthy friend, have just 8 more days to register for the Nebraska Sports Council’s third annual Mud Run, or its cuter, more diminutive version, the Mini Mud Run.
Held in Springfield, Nebraska, at 9 am on Saturday, September 6th, this foot race features a 3.1 mile course made all the more difficult by unknown obstacles and, of course, a giant mud pit that must be negotiated by crawling not over, not around, but through it.
For those of you, like me, who have eaten like a pig all summer, the shorter Mini Mud Run may be a more attractive alternative, as this noncompetitive event has runners jogging the very reasonable distance of 1 mile before coating their eyeballs with filth.
Tasteful costumes are encouraged, as is throwing away said costume rather than wadding it up, throwing it in the back of your car, and letting it bake to a stinky, brick-like consistency. Bring extra clothes for after the race (and maybe your toothbrush). To see last year’s competition in all of its dirty glory, check out the pictures here.
Revenge, I scream!
If you’re as upset about swine flue as I am, then you’ll know that the only way to truly combat this horrible disease is to eat as many pigs as possible. Yes, that’s right, revenge, like bacon, is a dish best served warm, and some local cyclists, as is their custom, are going to do their part this weekend.
I am, of course, referring to The Bacon Ride, an early Sunday morning ride that will start at around 6 am at Wohlner’s parking lot and travel to Platte River State Park. Although anyone is invited, be prepared for a 100-mile day. For more information, check out the Pedal Omaha blog.
If you’ve ever dreamed of making like a swine and diving face-first into a dirt and water mixture (or if you just really, really hate your current pair of running shoes), you, my potentially filthy friend, have just 8 more days to register for the Nebraska Sports Council’s third annual Mud Run, or its cuter, more diminutive version, the Mini Mud Run.
Held in Springfield, Nebraska, at 9 am on Saturday, September 6th, this foot race features a 3.1 mile course made all the more difficult by unknown obstacles and, of course, a giant mud pit that must be negotiated by crawling not over, not around, but through it.
For those of you, like me, who have eaten like a pig all summer, the shorter Mini Mud Run may be a more attractive alternative, as this noncompetitive event has runners jogging the very reasonable distance of 1 mile before coating their eyeballs with filth.
Tasteful costumes are encouraged, as is throwing away said costume rather than wadding it up, throwing it in the back of your car, and letting it bake to a stinky, brick-like consistency. Bring extra clothes for after the race (and maybe your toothbrush). To see last year’s competition in all of its dirty glory, check out the pictures here.
Revenge, I scream!
If you’re as upset about swine flue as I am, then you’ll know that the only way to truly combat this horrible disease is to eat as many pigs as possible. Yes, that’s right, revenge, like bacon, is a dish best served warm, and some local cyclists, as is their custom, are going to do their part this weekend.
I am, of course, referring to The Bacon Ride, an early Sunday morning ride that will start at around 6 am at Wohlner’s parking lot and travel to Platte River State Park. Although anyone is invited, be prepared for a 100-mile day. For more information, check out the Pedal Omaha blog.
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