All Together Now - It's Centipede Time

I think this makes 3 out of 4 weeks that a beautiful (for that week) Monday gives way to a questionable (for that week) Tuesday, weather wise.  The forecast currently has a 40-50% chance that we'll see rain around TRY time.  So, be prepared to get wet.  At least it will be a way to stay cooler as we adjust to the sudden onset of summer temperatures.  It would seem that Mother Nature cannot find her Goldilocks moment this spring.  It continues to be too cold or too hot and never "just right".

Oh well.  Meet at 5:30 next to the rental building.  Don't forget that the park is accepting food donations for the food bank.  Share your cans and boxes with those who have less than you do!

I've been reading a running book filled with short stories and the latest "vignette" I read was about a recurring centipede team from the "Bay to Breakers" race in San Francisco.  (That is a crazy 7.4 mile race in San Francisco where you evidently can see a little bit of everything.  Just google "bay to breakers race images" from a non-work computer.  Yes, it is a race that lets people run naked.  Be warned that once you see it, you cannot un-see it.)

Here is a clean example of a centipede team with a minimalist costume - looks like they were playing up the races nudity angle with skin toned clothing:

The Bay to Breakers is where the concept of a centipede team first appeared. The story goes that a group ran linked together back in 1978 and it got enough attention that a centipede division was put in place the following year.  Their rules are that THIRTEEN members must be connected at all times and measure SIXTY feet in length.  There is no co-ed requirement, but they do have the antenna and tail specification.  They get elite teams there and from the story I just read, it sounds like the best all female team sometimes can break 6 minute miles.

Some of the fun quotes that I wanted to pass along that capture the uniqueness of running as part of a centipede:
"Running is usually an individual sport. It can be so isolating. This is the one time, when you are literally tethered together, you are truly running as a team."
"We ask out loud, 'Are you okay? Are you okay? all down the line. If you hear a yes, you push hard. If you don't hear anything, you look for water."
When picking out a captain - "We usually pick somebody that I know is aware of everybody's ability and is somewhat compassionate."

Interestingly their teams are allowed two blockers to run ahead clearing the way and two floaters who can take over if someone has to jump out of the team to tie a shoe or make a pit stop.  Obviously the top teams take their centipede-ing very seriously, while having a bit of fun too.

The Paige's Butterfly Run centipede division, removes the seriousness, keeps the fun, but insists you do it in a family friendly way.  The TRY entry has won the division the last four years and last year we also had a second team along for the fun.  Who wants in this year?  Paige's Butterfly Run is in 4 weekends (June 7th) so we really needed to decide on our teams this week.

We'll end with a tradition like many others...our twice yearly race photo binge.  (Done after the Mountain Goat and Boilermaker, with the intent to both honor and embarrass - because how often does a mid-race photo turn out good - the TRYers that lit up race day.)

Alright, the photo site is not working correctly right now.  :-(  So I'll have to spice this up with photos later today.

Here is your appetizer though.

It's Meat Loaf.  Full time awesome, part time running ninja.  (Don't mess with the running ninja.)