TSOTD 4

TSOTD strikes again.

I went to Camp Anokijig as a child. My parents took what was probably countless photos up there. But, what I have is this shirt. Now, mind you, this shirt isn't from when I was 5 or so. I got this shirt last year when some bad mojo was going down. A bunch of good folks got together and raised some money to save the camp. This T-shirt was bought for me during one of their fund raising weekends.

When I did my first Elkhart Lake Triathlon, I hadn't yet realized how close I was to the old camp. (I was pretty darn young the last time I went). Yet another small world link to the good old days.

If you fondly recall Camp Anokijig, you may want to help save the camp.

TSOTD 3

Quick and easy story. But it's a lesson for y'allz.

This shirt is from my very first cyclocross race. You don't get the shirt unless you pay the man. It's good, cheap fun. Do what I did. Go see the race the year before. Then absolutely declare you will never do that. The next thing you know you are looking at 45-60 minutes of lactic threshold testing in the form of a race. In the immortal words of Ferris, "If you have the means, I highly recommend it." (paraphrased, I'm sure).

It was a Halloween race and many a folks wore some sweet and crazy getups.

Also note, this is actually a decent looking shirt. No thanks to my photography laziness, it's not a great picture.

TSOTD 2

That's right. Day 2 of my little T-shirt thingy. I'm going to do an easy one today. A very memorable race day T-shirt.

First, I have done all four Spirit of Racine Triathlons held thus far. 2005 was number 3, and my hope for really bringing it home after such improvement in 2004. I did abundant winter training. I was out biking in 15-20 degrees temps on my fixed gear. I paid. By the time the weather hit 50s-60s I was out of tights and in just my bike shorts.

Guess what? Race day was the first really hot day of the year. It was easily 20 degrees up the scale from what I had trained in all year. I tried to enjoy the swim, knowing what was coming. On top of the heat, the bike was on the windy side. I pulled in better trained, but right on time to my 2004 bike split. And worse for wear. I saw my wife and kids there. They were heading for a swim in the lake and I was taking my own dang transition time. I knew it was not going to be fun. But I paid to have this day and I was going to have it. Local residents and spectators with hoses saved me out there. I couldn't have finished without them. I had taken for granted the blissful race day conditions of 2004. When I finally hopped into the car after the finish, the thermometer read 100. I later heard a high of 98. And about the only thing I could hang onto was that I finished, as it appeared that about 1/3 of the entrants did not. By default, I had nearly made middle of the pack !!

Here's where the T-shirt really comes in. The next day I was at my favorite local coffee shop. I spied the yellow version of the shirt. The yellow one (I was sure) was for volunteers. So, I said to the woman wearing it "You volunteered? Thanks!!". Luckily she did volunteer. At first she gave me some runaround about "didn't she look like she could do the race?" I only saw yellow == volunteer. I swear. Lesson, thank all the volunteers. But do check they are volunteers! I'm certain she could tell I did the race, as I was barely walking.

That's TSOTD 2. Expect plenty more race shirts (probably half a stack from Racine), among other kinds.

TSOTD 1

Tee Shirt Of The Day, Day 1. I thought of this odd little reason to post when "we" decided to rearrange our upstairs. It has been noted to me that I have 75-100 T-shirts, most of which are unfit to wear. Most have some (albeit small) story or memory associated with them. I'm not promising to keep up with this.. but in case more of my T-shirts are "lost" X-files style in the wash, I can still have the memories.
This particular shirt has a small but important story. Blood Donation day is coming up again soon at work. Once I got this shirt for donating. The last time I donated blood, I subsequently became as ill as I have been in my adult life. Hard down horizontal for one week. Without more details, that experience has left me a bit gun shy. As blood donation day gets nearer, I am acutely aware of any sniffle or hunger pain. Twelve days to go until my next "test". I don't consider myself a hypochondriac. I better get some sleep.
Come on the rest of you all.. Get out there and roll up your sleeves. We've got work to do.

For more information see the Red Cross.