It's fun to read that Mook was so near to grabbing a near PR on his Wasson Peak test run, but what about the rest of the gang at the OK corral? Surely all the hard training and solo training camps are producing new levels of fitness which must translate into new PRs, no? Who Wants To Be A Record Setter?

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), March 07, 2000

Answers

I haven't even run the Shawnee Mission Park test loop in months. I plan to start running the test loop regularly beginning in a couple of months.

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), March 07, 2000.

I can see that Mook has obviously peaked and is on the downhill slide. What a shame the relays weren't a month and a half ago.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 07, 2000.

Perhaps a few words need to be said concerning Mook's map study habits this year (or, to be more precise, the complete lack thereof). Despite Spike's best intentions, Mook has yet to institute a map-study program. Mook has yet to order a new OK suit. Mook has yet to make any travel plans. Mook has yet to gather accomodation information for the club stay in Massachusetts. In fact, Mook really hasn't done much of anything this year... yep, it takes a big man to admit to his shortcomings.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 08, 2000.

Unfortunately, last night while running the test loop I seriously resprained my ankle and can not see myself going to the relays. THIS IS NOT A MOOKISM. I AM COMLETELY SERIOUS. My ankle is pretty swelled up on the right outside and it is very painful to walk. I suggest using this weekend and next to decide who will run the first leg. Gene or Fritz, or perhaps have Peggy lead off and let one of them run the short leg?

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 09, 2000.

It would now appear that Snorkel lived a rather deprived childhood there in Florrisant, Misery. Apparently Ma Meenehan never did get around to relating the story of the little boy who cried wolf!

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 09, 2000.

I am completely serious. I will NOT be at the relays.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 09, 2000.

Are you (Snorkel) claiming that you will not be attending or running for OK at the 2000 US Relay Chumps in Massachusetts, April, 16, 2000? You must surely realize the implications of such a statement.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 09, 2000.

I am claiming that my right ankle has a lump the size of a walnut on it and it is very painful to walk at this point. I do not see risking getting half way around the course and blowing out my ankle. Better to plan on me not running at this time.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 09, 2000.

Many OKers and OK fans alike, Mook included, have not yet purchased tickets for Massachusetts. In hindsight it now appears that may have been a good decision. Will OK have a presence at the relays? Who is going at this point? Will Snorkel be able to trade in his ticket? How about Spike and Mary? Will some lucky OK fanatic get Snorkel's ticket only to show up and find there is no OK team to root for?

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 09, 2000.

A star goes down with an injury...my thoughts drift back to the late 1980s and KU b-ball. I think it was at Madison Square Garden (the Shawnee Mission Park of New York City?) when Archie Marshall collapsed with a career-ending knee injury. But, that injury spurred Archie's team mates to a national championship.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 09, 2000.

All through the course of last night there were discussions at the very highest levels in OK concerning the incident and Snorkel's reaction to it. It now appears that there has been a slight softening in Snorkel's stance.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 10, 2000.

Yesterday I drove out of town to run in a nearby park. It was only about 24 hours since Snorkel's last trip to SMP, the one when he came up lame. It was hard for me to run, thinking about the injury, but I knew it was something I had to face up to and so I did so for the good of the club.

As I was driving out to run I was playing a tape in the car. It was no accident that I was playing Yazoo's "Upstairs at Eric's". That album has a long and important history with OK. Was it there in Michigan when Snorkel took home the gold? I think it was. There is a song on that album called Tuesday. It's sort of a sad song really, I believe, about someone growing older and never taking advantage of the things that came her way. I thought about Snorkel turning 40 soon. How much longer will he be with us? One particularly harsh winter and...

As I ran I thought about life and how to live it. It is important to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way. To do so is to honor those who came before us, the founders of OK without whom we would not be here. I consider myself fortunate to be alive and orienteering at an epic period in OK history. There is an opportunity this year to get something that has eluded the club for years. But that's not the only thing that's important. Being on an OK relay team is important. We are a superior lot! Other orienteers wallow in the shallow muck of meaninglessness - their clubs mere organizations built around a common interest - lacking history, lacking a greater purpose, lacking substance. We, on the other hand, have a nobler purpose and shall see it fulfilled.

When I finished my run I just knew somehow that Snorkel would end up doing the right thing. I don't know what the right thing for Snorkel and OK will be, but I trust him to find it.

-- Mook (everett@psi.edu), March 10, 2000.

It is now Sunday and my ankel seems to be much better than that first day after the sprain. My ankle is still black and blue and it is still too painful to run on. The swelling is almost gone. I can walk relatively pain free. If I can get back to some kind of physical activity this week that will improve my cardiovascular condition I will still consider the relays. Maybe I can be on the 8 point team.

-- Snorkel (daniel.meenehan@umb.com), March 12, 2000.

Dan took his first post-injury running steps today. On the way back from lunch (bagels!) Dan shuffled across the street. His speed was not impressive, but it is good to see the beginnings of recovery from the injury.

-- Michael (mike_eglinski@kcmo.org), March 15, 2000.