I'm famous! AND Ode to Mindy

An article was published recently in the Spanish cycling magazine Pedalier, in which could be seen this photo:
That's me in the red! I'm famous! I even won that race that day. I can tell that this is one of those things I'm going to be bragging about until I'm 100.

I also owe a huge apology to Mindy, who made a generous donation to my AIDS LifeCycle fundraiser, and who I promised a write-up weeks ago. Mindy, I am sorry. I hope it's not the fame going to my head. If you would like to make a donation, no matter how large or small, to support me on my 7-day, 545 mile ride from San Francisco to LA, then please go to aidslifecycle.org/2275. Any amount is greatly appreciated, even a buck. And in the new year I will try to dream up some more prizes.

Anyway, back to Mindy. I haven't known Mindy for very long, but she has my undying respect because she is a runner from Maine. MAINE, people! And if you're sick of me and other southern New Englanders griping about the nasty winter weather, you won't find any of that with Mindy. She seems to like winter. Anyway, anyone who can go for 10 mile training runs in Maine after a snowstorm has my undying respect. So here are five reasons to read Mindy's blog (one for each squirrel, what is it with the squirrels?):

1. She is the authority on 80's nostalgia. If you're part of my generation it's a trip to actually see the commercials that were aimed at you when you were a kindergartener, while if you're older you might remember some of the songs or fashions forced down our eye sockets and into our ears in the '80s. And sometimes it's just to remind us of weird stuff like this. Is that a wookie?
   
2. Mindy rivals Rocketpants for badass photos of rodents, but since I can't figure out how to copy the squirrel photo from her banner, you'll just have to go see it yourself. Mindy, inquiring minds want to know, what is it with the squirrels?
3. Help, my arches have fallen and they can't get up! If you can't remember this early 90's reference, then God help me, I'm getting old. We've all dealt with injuries, and had to do things that make us feel uncool among our peers as a result. Mindy's concession was orthodics, or as she coined them, a giant old lady hoof! Read this post, you will not be disappointed.
4. Mindy is a woman after my own heart. She's a treadmillaholic. You would have to be in Maine, I guess. But after the shit I caught several months ago for having run 13+ mile training runs on the "dreadmill", it's nice to hear that there are crazier people out there who have made it to 20 miles on a treadmill. No kidding.
5. 

Mindy doesn't drink diet soda. I know, I know, we all know it's bad for you and stuff, but have you ever known someone to actually have adverse effects from soda? No? Everyone, I'd like you to meet Mindy. Find out why she actually had to quit drinking diet soda to keep running. I stay away from the free soda in the office since I read this one.