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Written by Bwana Bwana

August 13, 2015

It was a fine, sunny, and uncharacteristically un-sticky mid-August day that greeted Bwana’s return from the Pacific Northwest (where it had been uncharacteristically warmer than State College, and uncharacteristically dry). Bob Cornwall, Tom Cali, Judd Michael, Rob Shaver, Mike Martin, Mike Zimmerman, Mike Renz, CJ Wagner, Jim Laudermilch, Torrie Raisch, Allison Machnicki, Carole Dudukovich, Alex Wouden, Rob Peterson, Kevin Becker, Ryan and (newcomer) Callie Burke, newcomer Patrick Krispen, Aaron Henrichson, Rich Harter, David Lloyd, and Marty Mazur headed for the track under sunny skies and mild temperatures.

Bwana got to the track uncharacteristically early because he had to leave uncharacteristically early. Already there were Torrie and Allison, who were done with their workout and uncharacteristically chatty. Well, Torrie was anyway. Torrie filled Bwana in on what their workout had been: 16X300 with 100 m walking rests. Allison, characteristically, filled Bwana in on their times, her PhD progress (“Comping" soon!), and her recent engagement (nice rock, delivered in front of a German castle as she took an uncharacteristic break in her uncharacteristically slow run (so that her fiancé could keep up on bike). Bwana is sure that Allison’s future ball and chain was breathless as he delivered his plea, for more than the usual reasons. Meanwhile, Torrie delivered an uncharacteristic throwdown: Have the crew do their workout. She was sure only Zimmerman could match their volume, and times. Bwana (uncharacteristically) complied, giving the workout: NX300, not broken into the usual sets, making the 300s at mile race pace and make N as big as they could. The crew mostly eye-rolled at the news that the early shift had done N=16. As Bwana watched the leaders, he was pretty sure that Alex and Mike Z were matching the girls’ times (high 50s), but could not verify that they’d met the challenge of N=16, since he had to leave early. Callie Burke (uncharacteristically young for this crew) did uncharacteristically well for a noob.

Bwana’s uncharacteristic spate of absences is over for now. He’s got to whip himself into shape! The other Cali (Tom) is back in his characteristic shape, having taken 2nd overall in a half-marathon in California last weekend, and back into characteristic regularity (showing at track despite being on the same flight as Bwana that arrived in State College the previous night at 11 PM). Dudka was there (as usual!). Her Thursday trail runner buddies have to make an uncharacteristic attempt at two-a-days if they want to run uncharacteristically fast in the coming Fall road races.