Thanks A Lot Mother Nature!

The snow was almost completely gone, dreams of cycling going through our heads, then this!

Weekly Cycling Log: Feb 19 - Feb 25

19-Feb	20.61	Indoor-Trainer
20-Feb	30.39	Indoor-Dome(13.40) + Commuting(5.85) + Indoor-Trainer(11.14)
21-Feb	27.28	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(6.71) + Indoor-Trainer(10.57)
22-Feb	25.07	Indoor-Dome(10.81) + Commuting(3.65) + Indoor-Trainer(10.61)
23-Feb	20.06	Commuting(4.44) + Indoor-Trainer(15.62)
24-Feb	21.19	Indoor-Trainer
25-Feb	22.31	Indoor-Dome

	Weekly Totals:	YTD Totals
Training/Recreation	146.26	1169.44
Commuting/Errands	20.65	193.26
Total Miles:	166.91	1362.70
Projected Miles-2007		8881.88

USD - NCC Men's Indoor Track Champions

Ten years of running Daktronics scoreboards between the Dome and Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls and this was by far the most exciting and improbable finish I've been involved with. That being said let's set the stage with two events left in the track meet: USD is trailing Minnesota State by 17.5 points and all that is left is the 3000m run and the 4x400m Relay.

In the 3000m run, each team placed three runners out of eight possible places. You would think by doing simple math that would put a major dent in any possible comeback by USD. Well, here is the situation: USD placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd in the race scoring 10, 8, and 6 points for a total of 24. Minnesota State placed 5th, 7th, and 8th place scoring 4, 2, and 1 point for a total of 7. USD gained an unbelievable 17 points in one race alone. So now, if you have done your math you know that we are a 1/2 point down with one race to go.

Bring on the 4x400 relay. All we have to do is finish ahead of Minnesota State and the title is ours. Let's do a bit of a play by play on this one to heighten the feel. Ben Oberle from USD leads off against Brady Flies from Minnesota State and it's already exciting as Oberle leads Flies as they run 1-2 in the first 400m. Oberle hands off to Tyler Williamson and Minnesota State runs Sam Lance and they gap really doesn't change much as they continue to run 1-2. Onto the third leg where Josh Jeffrey (USD) runs against Pat Lehmann (Minn. St). Lehmann closes the gap and as the 4th and final leg starts there is literally no lead for USD. Scott Hargens (USD) is actually overtaken early in the leg by Minnesota State's Nate Pieper. Hargens stays right on his tail until the backstretch of the final 200 and he absolutely kicked into another gear and closed the deal againt Minnesota State. Final results: USD 3:21.36 (10 points) Minnesota State 3:22.25 (8 points).

When the official results went on the scoreboard (that's MY job!) it read most beautifully:




It was a great way to finish hosting your last NCC indoor meet as next year, the final one for the NCC, will be hosted by Minnesota State before USD and UND go Division I and the other teams (probably) go to the Northern Sun Conference. Congratulations USD and thanks for a great finish. Next time let's go easier on my heart though, okay?

Family Night Out (of town even!)

We needed a family night out in the worst way. After much careful planning, we decided to take the older two children to a concert in Sioux Falls and in retrospect we couldn't be happier with our choice.

We attended Aaron Schust, Audio Adrenaline, and MercyMe. All three were fantastic and it was a very uplifting night for the whole family. My son is quite bummed out to find out what I already knew: Audio Adrenaline is retiring in April. We have many of their CD's and Austin really likes them.

Having special time with the kids is important to us. It doesn't always have to be as special as a concert, but it needs to happen often. Thanks to the three bands for an incredible event and thanks to my kids for "plugging in" to what was happening at the concert and reaping the spiritual benefits.

Weekly Cycling Log: Feb 12 - Feb. 18

12-Feb	29.26	Indoor-Dome(15.03) + Spin Class(10) + Commuting(4.59)
13-Feb	29.31	Indoor-Dome(15.61) + Commuting(3.31) + Indoor-Trainer(10.39)
14-Feb	27.36	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(4.62) + Indoor-Trainer(12.74)
15-Feb	22.97	Indoor-Dome(17.76) + Commuting(5.21)
16-Feb	21.39	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(3.67) + Indoor-Trainer(7.72)
17-Feb	22.30	Indoor-Trainer
18-Feb	22.40	Indoor-Trainer

	Weekly Totals:	YTD Totals
Training/Recreation	153.95	1023.18
Commuting/Errands	21.40	172.61
Total Miles:	175.35	1195.79
Projected Miles-2007		8907.42

Weekly Cycling Log: Feb 5 - Feb 11

5-Feb	25.34	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(3.17) + Indoor-Trainer(12.17)
6-Feb	26.77	Indoor-Dome(15.36) + Commuting(4.62) + Indoor-Trainer(6.79)
7-Feb	26.51	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(5.34) + Indoor-Trainer(11.17)
8-Feb	21.99	Indoor-Dome(16.62) + Commuting(5.37)
9-Feb	26.24	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(5.17) + Indoor-Trainer(11.07)
10-Feb	20.21	Indoor-Trainer
11-Feb	31.17	Indoor-Dome(23.35) + Commuting(7.82)

	Weekly Totals:	YTD Totals
Training/Recreation	146.74	869.23
Commuting/Errands	31.49	151.21
Total Miles:	178.23	1020.44
Projected Miles-2007		8868.11

I'll Blog About Procrastination When I'm Darned Good and Ready

I love this article from the Discovery Channel Web Site: "Problematic Procrastination on the Rise". Wanna know what's even funnier? I've been meaning to blog about it for three weeks! I guess that puts me in a category I didn't want to be in: The Procrastinators!

Thou Shall NOT Show the Super Bowl!

In case you missed it in the news, there was a quite the commotion when the NFL told churches planning on showing the Super Bowl that they could not do so as it violated their policy of showing the game on a screen bigger than 55 inches for public viewing. But hey, it was still okay for sports bars to show it as it is part of their day to day business. SWEET! I can go get all liquored up and watch the game, drive home drunk, hopefully not kill anybody, but I can't go to church and watch it as that isn't allowed. I could go on and on about how stupid I find this, but I won't. I just needed to rant a little. I feel better now. Thanks.

I heard that the NFL sent out a late memo "lightening" their restrictions on churches, but not removing them entirely. Many had already canceled their parties due to the threat of action by the NFL. Regardless of what happens out of all this, what a black eye for the No Fun League. Jerks.

Weekly Cycling Log: Jan 29 - Feb 4

29-Jan	20.22	Indoor-Trainer
30-Jan	20.69	Indoor-Dome(14.89) + Commuting(5.80)
31-Jan	21.20	Commuting(4.22) + Indoor-Trainer(16.98)
1-Feb	21.32	Indoor-Dome(16.10) + Commuting(5.22)
2-Feb	25.03	Spin Class(10) + Commuting(3.16) + Indoor-Trainer(11.87)
3-Feb	22.20	Indoor-Trainer
4-Feb	30.29	Indoor-Trainer

	Weekly Totals:	YTD Totals
Training/Recreation	142.55	722.49
Commuting/Errands	18.40	119.72
Total Miles:	160.95	842.21
Projected Miles-2007		8860.11