The curious thing about a tailwind is that it’s difficult to sense when you’re in it.  So 2 things:

1. Look for the leaves that are blowing past faster than you’re running
2. Stop for a few seconds and turn around … is the wind blowing in your face?

 http://www.strava.com/activities/220042885

Almost kissing that magical 40 mile / week load. Next week may be light, then I’ll have some EXCITING runs the following week.

Update: I had to add Let it Go 😦 and the Lego song.

The time I DJ’d the roller skating birthday party. No Let it Go to be found. I think the kids will skate like maniacs and the parents can enjoy the flashback…

From the moms:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think the place has a really good sound system.
These are going to rock.

1. Pump Up the Jam (Technotronic)
2. I Feel for You (Chaka Khan)
3. Another One Bites the Dust (Queen)
4. Get Down on It (Kool & The Gang)
5. The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)
6. She Drives Me Crazy (Fine Young Cannibals)
7. Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper)
8. Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears)
9. It Takes Two (Edit) (Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock)
10. The Power of Love (Huey Lewis & The News)
11. This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads)
12. Puttin’ On The Ritz (Taco)
13. Bicycle Race (Queen)
14. Going Back to Cali (LL Cool J)
15. Take On Me (a-ha)
16. Word Up (Cameo)
17. Come on Eileen (Dexy’s Midnight Runners)
18. Wild Wild West (Kool Moe Dee)
19. I Melt With You (Modern English)
20. You Make My Dreams (Daryl Hall & John Oates)
21. Walk Like an Egyptian (The Bangles)
22. Vanished (Crystal Castles)
23. Can I Kick It? (A Tribe Called Quest)
24. Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves)
25. Flashdance…What a Feeling (Radio Edit) (Irene Cara)
26. Electric Avenue (Eddy Grant)
27. Easy (Single Version) (The Commodores)
28. You’re the One That I Want (John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John)
29. Don’t You Want Me (Remastered) (The Human League)
30. Blue Monday (New Order)
31. A Dream of You and Me (Future Islands)
32. World In My Eyes (Depeche Mode)
33. I Love Rock ‘N Roll (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
34. Footloose (Kenny Loggins)
35. 99 Red Balloons (Nena)
36. Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
37. Atomic Dog (George Clinton)
38. Hungry Like the Wolf (Duran Duran)
39. Tom’s Diner (DNA)
40. Situation (Yaz)
41. Seasons (Waiting On You) (Future Islands)
42. The Way You Make Me Feel (Single Version) (Michael Jackson)
43. Let’s Go Crazy (Prince & The Revolution)
44. You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (Dead or Alive)
45. Rapper’s Delight (Roller Babies Skating Tribute Mix) (Cute As Anything)
46. Ghostbusters (Ray Parker, Jr.)
47. Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Single Version) (Michael Jackson)
48. Cruel Summer (Bananarama)
49. Y.M.C.A. (Single Version) (Village People)
50. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurythmics)
51. Sunglasses at Night (Corey Hart)
52. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

Some days everything just clicks. It’s important to recognize those days.
http://www.strava.com/activities/219225906

I could have gone for 8 more. Good day.

Mission control.

A photo posted by Chris Rivard (@chrisrivard) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:29pm PST

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Flurries of email going back and forth. Lots of planning happening.

This is a great article for pre-season:
http://thesummitregister.com/plan-like-pro-strengthening-pre-season-backcountry-brain/

Considering taking an Avy 1 refresher this season. It’s been 6? years since I took it at Silverton Avalanche school.

http://aiare.info/course_detail.php?recid=2321
http://oregonskiguides.com/avalanche-education/aiare-level-1-avalanche-course/

Some possible objectives:

Chair Peak
Rainier – Ingraham Direct?
Illumination Rock Ice
Hood South Side
Ouray / Red Mtn Pass / Silverton

While I would live to fly into Albuquerque and drive up to Ouray to climb in the park, I don’t think it’s going to happen this year. Too much time.

This is a more reasonable possibility though:
http://www.wallowahuts.com/

And of course some good racing on the snowshoes.
http://www.xdogevents.com/whiteriverss.php

Lastly – I cannot believe there aren’t more skimo races in the PNW. It’s like the sport just hasn’t caught on yet. Colorado is booming – but here, nada. Such a bummer.

It’s going to be a good season!

Quick spin up to Mt. Tabor this morning in the wind and sleet. I pulled out the racing snowshoes in expectation of a few inches of snow on the ground. But alas, disappointment; freezing rain and sleet, but no snow.

http://www.strava.com/activities/218859212

Every chance I get, I run up my little mountain.

A photo posted by Chris Rivard (@chrisrivard) on Nov 11, 2014 at 9:05am PST

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I was ice climbing in Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont – the year of the massive ice storm. My partner and I climbed frozen waterfalls all day and then bivy’d in a tent pitched in a snow pit we dug with our shovels. I remember approaching the climbs in a deep stillness and when the wind blew, the sound of ice encased tree limbs clinked and clanked against one another in harmony – an unforgettable experience.

Todd and I skinned up Hood and skied out the same day that 9 inches of rain fell per hour, melted the snowpack and caused massive flooding on the Sandy river.

This day:

Sandy River Flood from alexandra erickson on Vimeo.

Unforgettable.

I have nothing to say.

A photo posted by Chris Rivard (@chrisrivard) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:14am PST

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Principles for the Working Product Designer

Slides posted here.

That was fun.