Reeeeeeeeeeally Cool, If You're a Poly Sci/Stats Geek

It is political season now (is it ever not?), and I just found a really cool sight that tracks polls nationwide better than any I have found. The site http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/ provides a daily update of the weighted likelihood of a candidate winning. The vast amount of data with charts and graphs provides a great window into the future.

Ironman Videos

Here are two video series on YouTube that I think are the best. The first, Becoming an Ironman, is a great series. The entire video, all the parts, are about an hour or so, but watching it is well worth it. This is the best example I've found at to what it is like to compete in Ironman Wisconsin. The second is a great preview of the course, although the course this year is a bit different. Stu mounted a camera on his car and drove the course. This is a great method because it allows the viewer to watch the road and see how it pitches up and down, it really gives you a perfect idea of how steep each hill is.

Becoming an Ironman:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6 (1)
Part 6 (2)
Part 7 (1)
Part 7 (2)
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10

SimplyStu:
Swim
Bike
Run

...And Again

I'm doing Ironman again next year. This morning I got in line early at the Monona Terrace in a special line for people who volunteered during the weekend who wanted to race next year. The athletes who raced this year were able to sign up Saturday, next came the volunteers, non-volunteers signing up in person, and people signing up online. When I got to the Terrace, there was a long line, which was very disappointing, but by the time I we went in, the line more than doubled (both lines were approximately the same length). Fortunately all volunteers and non-volunteers were able to sign up, to my knowledge, because my cousin Mark Rickbeil was able to sign up online today. Mark called Kathryn yesterday asking how I was doing, assuming I was racing this year. I told him I wasn't and he told me that he wanted to sign up for next year. I suggested he try to find a fast computer and internet connection just in case there were only a few slots available online. So now the two of us are signed up to race next year, Sunday, September 13, 2009. Hopefully some cousins, spouses and kids will also be able to make the trip. We'll update you with t-shirt information when it becomes available.

Mountain Biking for 24 Hours

...because 23 hours just isn't enough.

I'm doing a 24 hour mountain bike race this weekend with my friends Jake Valentine, Eric Rowe, and a guy Jake works with. We're each going to ride two hours, and then be off for six to eight, so it shouldn't be too bad. It will be enough time to refuel and rehydrate. The temperature and humidity should be high, but it is in north-central Wisconsin so it should be a bit cooler. Check back next week for the update and pictures.

My Girlfriend's Back, But Now She Isn't

So my girlfriend Kathryn is now back from her clinical internship, but now she isn't. Yes, for those of you who had Kathryn and I in various engagement pools, congratulations, don't forget to share your winnings with us.

This past weekend, I was up in Duluth to run Grandma's Marathon (posting on that later). After weeks of ring shopping, going to ten places and looking at a thousand band/stone combinations, I finally found a ring that would be perfect for my girl. Friday, we went up to Gooseberry Falls State Park for a picnic. When we got there, it was warm and sunny, perfect picnic weather. After scouting the area, we found a great spot to sit, but as soon as we got back to the car, it poured rain for fifteen minutes. After the rain let up, we went for a walk along the Lake Superior in the bright sunshine...bright sunshine which was perfect for seeing all the facets of a sparkley engagement ring! Yes, I got down on one knee, told her how important she is to me and asked her to spend the rest of her life with me. She said 'Yes'.

Now, we are looking forward to planning our wedding and the rest of our lives together!


A picture of her ring.

This Puts Cricket to Shame

I've gone to the girl's state softball tournament for several years, so I am used to rain delays, but this year was the worst. Verona was scheduled to play the third game of the day at 1:30, but with rain overnight and in the morning, Verona was rescheduled to 4:00 but didn't start until 5:45. I was able to get off the afternoon through the benevolence of my boss. Even though I knew that the Verona game wouldn't start as scheduled, I was mentally ready to check out at noon, so trying to stay later would have been tough mentally. I ran a few errands, and they headed over to the field to meet my Dad. The stadium should be cleared out after each session (two games), but they didn't, so I watched most of the previous game too.

Verona was scheduled to play a tough Middleton, a local rival. Verona was only able to manage one run in the bottom of the first inning, but that was enough to beat Middleton. The pitcher, Bev Nordin, was able to continue a strong Verona tradition of great pitchers as she struck out eight with a combination of speed and a very slow change-up.

After the Verona game, we watched a few innings of the next game and walked over to the Blue Moon bar for a burger. The food was great there, as usual, and we headed back to the stadium we caught the last inning and saw Heartland Arrowhead win, our next opponent. We watch the other semifinal game, which Steven's Point won to stay undefeated for the year, but Dad left early because he was thinking that Verona played the early semifinal game. He couldn't stay up for the Verona game because of work next day, so he left early, which was good, because the Verona game didn't start until 10:40 pm.

I decided stick it out, I'd been there for a few hours anyway and I didn't have anything better to do, so I settled in for the first multi-day softball game (more about that to follow).

It was a tale of two games. I don't necessarily believe in the 'witching hour', but something strange happened to both teams. Arrowhead looked (I can't think of a more kind way to say this) terrible in warm ups, and this terrible play continued in the first few innings. The pitcher couldn't find the strike zone and when she did her pitches were easy to hit, the fielding was poor, the catching was a joke, the throwing was weak and off target, and the errors were numerous because of all this. Verona managed four runs in 2 1/3 and Arrowhead none, before Arrowhead's starting pitcher was pulled. After that, Verona only scored two more runs, and Arrowhead scored three, including one in the bottom of the seventh (the last inning in regulation softball) which made the game much more interesting. Verona was able to pull it out in the end and won with six runs on eleven hits and Arrowhead scored three runs on eight hits. The game finally ended at 12:30 in the morning.

Verona was scheduled to play SPASH (Steven's Point Area Senior High) later that day at 5:30, but the way the weekend went, I really wasn't sure. Sure enough, the morning was fine, but the afternoon games were postponed. I went early to Watch the D-2 championship game, assuming that I could buy a two-game session ticket. For the championship, you could only buy single game tickets, so I again went to the Blue Moon and caught the end of the game.

The Verona game started at 8:30, right on time again, and both teams looked good with both pitchers looking exceptional as usual. SPASH was undefeated and looked good with three hits, but managed no runs. Verona had a hit but no runs. In the second, it started raining and by the end it was pouring. I headed to the parking garage next door (very nice) and waited half an hour before I decided to drive away. Just as I did, I noticed the rain had stopped, so I put on my rain pants and jacket and headed in. Just as I got into the stadium again, they announced that the game would be postponed two days and resume Monday noon! Monday was very rainy so the game started Tuesday. SPASH scored right away when play resumed. Verona was only able to manage one run, and that was in the bottom of the seventh, and left a runner on third to end the game.

Even though they lost (again for the third time to SPASH in the championship game), this was the best Verona had ever played in the final...and they were so close to winning. Eight straight to state, and to championship...yet.

I Am Officially Caucasian

I found this funny site Stuff White People Like that describes me and most of my friends. I wasn't sure before this, but I guess I am white, and according to this, very white. What are some of the things I do that make me white? Rugby (check), bicycling (check), wine (check), outdoor performance clothes (check), public radio (check), study abroad (check), micro brews (double-check).

Guess I'm white. Who knew?