What's in my Pockets

Thirteen days ago my pal, @ridiculousnikki, posted what's in her purse. She asked her readers to tell her what was in their bag. Being that I don't carry a bag unless I am traveling and it is a suitcase I asked her if she would like to know What's in my Pockets. Turns out she did want to know, so here it goes.

I have different items in my pockets depending on what I'm doing and where I'm going. I'm sticking to the most common 3 occasions. These 3 cover about 98%* of my pocket life and I don't feel getting more complicated or answering any questions that the other 2%* might entail.

First up we have my casual daily wear jean pockets.

Wallet: I use a minimalist wallet. I carry 3 cards, license, sometimes some cash, maybe my gym ID, SAMs membership, odd receipt and such.

Phone: iPhone 4 that "doesn't have an antenna issue" but for some reason needs a case to work. I'm still irritated about that, Apple.

Lip balm: ChapStick Moisturizer or Medicated. I like the medicated better but I find it difficult to find.

Change: 4 quarters and a Presidential Dollar Coin. I like having a bit of change in my pockets. It helps prevent a $10 parking ticket on occasion. The quarter thing started in middle school. Mom always sent Bro and I to school with a quarter so we could call home if we needed to. That was back when cell phones were in a huge bag and pay phones were still in the schools and they cost 25 cents to place a call. The PDC I carry because almost everything costs over a dollar and the coin is easier to carry than a wadded up dollar bill or 4 additional quarters. I wish we'd just stop printing dollar bills altogether. Coins are so much more economical.

Car key: My car is a push to start ignition. IT IS AWESOME.

Mint: Life Saver mint. I like these but don't buy them. I pick one up at the accountant and at dance class. Sometimes I have one in my pocket sometimes I don't. I can't stand the red and white mints, they are too sweet.

Morgan Silver Dollar: This is a 7 tail-feather 1881 Morgan Silver Dollar minted in San Francisco. It was given to me by a roommate that worked at a bank. I started carrying it because of a story BF told me about his grandfather carrying one everyday. By the end it was a worn smooth piece of silver**. Thought it was neat so I started carrying this one. It's starting to wear a hole through my pocket and people think the imprint is something else. I need to learn how to patch my pocket.

Work pockets. I'm going to skip the repeats.

Work keys: 3 PO box keys, work door key, and one I don't know what it is for.

Knife: Ka Bar MULE pocket knife. It is really really sharp.

Suit pockets for church.

Handkerchief: Irish linen, every guy should carry one when he wears a suit. Just because.

There you have it. That is what is in my pockets.

*All stats are within the statistical error of my own made up perception.

**That's the way I remember the story. Some details might be wrong.

photos by me and illustration uncredited from the world wide web

Groundhog 2012

A couple Sundays ago was my almost annual running of the TLC's Groundhog 10k. It is almost annual because Stephen and I missed it for his wedding reception last year. I think that is an excused absence.

The race is held underground in the Hunt Midwest Subtropolis. It was a giant limestone mine that has been turned into the largest underground business complex (according to the owners). It has a post office and a bunch of businesses built in this thing. And roads. Yes, roads underground that are big enough for semis! You can watch a little promo video on that link up there and see a truck in this thing to give you an idea of the size. I bet you're thinking something like, 'wow semis under ground. that is big.' Well it gets bigger, areas have TRAIN TRACKS. BIG.

In a place that big why not have a race at the end of January. They hold a 5k and a 10k. The 5k is one lap of the place and the 10k is 2 laps. In terms of racing it is a great place. 60-65 degrees, virtually completely flat, no wind. It really makes for an amazing experience. My only two faults for it are a couple tight turns that we have to take and a sewage smell in one area that lasts for about 25 meters.

Stephen and I arrive an hour or so before the start so we can pick up our packets, pin our numbers, and warm up. I also had some quality time checking out a lady that I was too chicken to talk to until after the race. I think she was too young anyway.

Our plan was to not blow out the first few miles and pick up the pace to the end. When we started my legs didn't really get moving and Stephen was out in front of me quickly. I got up to speed and kept the distance between us constant for a few miles. Other runners around me were stomping, panting, gasping, falling back, and just generally losing it. I have noticed in a certain range of paces you have the people that have been running for awhile yet haven't figured out how to start at a sustainable pace. I used to do this and eventually they'll learn.

Around mile 4 I started to notice I wasn't in good shape. Mile 5 I slowed pathetically but was able to start to pick it back up right at the end. Stephen finished ahead of me in 117th place with a time of 45:11.8. And I ended up finishing 149th in 46:50.1. In our age group we were 21st and 25th. A total of 1172 people ran the 10k against us.

Now for a few pictures. These below are interesting just because you can see one complete stride in the series. I like seeing how I run. How I think I run vs how it looks. How much I swing my arms. How my feet land. I can see why my soles wear out the way they do. I still need to get my elbows in and swing my arms only forward and back. I have too much cross body motion.

And now for the ladies, you can drool over a picture of Stephen and his awesome legs. Just be careful to not drool directly into your keyboard. And he is TAKEN, so don't ask. Also, his W will kill you then I will.

photos copied from Action Sports Images, LLC