And now for this evening's final agenda item...

The City of Mission is about to commence a storm sewer and paving project in a part of town with poor drainage and dirt streets. The Council discussed the project for months, the engineer drafted the plans, the project was put out for bid, and a final cost to the affected property owners was calculated. April 15th was the public's opportunity to provide direct comment to the Council before they voted on the funding mechanism.

April 15th also happened to be my birthday, which, in itself, wasn't going to hold me back from attending. What was a problem, however, was friends of mine had already invited me over for dinner that same evening. What's a nerd like me to do?

I find City Council meetings to be informative and entertaining. Evidently, I'm the only one who feels this way because I'm typically the only member of the public present on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. But with the City about to assess property owners $86 per foot of street frontage, there was bound to be a crowd for a change. A vocal, agitated, and antagonistic crowd. So, I chose to push back my birthday dinner to the next night.

It's a good thing I arrived earlier than usual because a standing-room-only crowd showed up. I'll spare you the details, but I have to say I got a kick out of some of the comments from the residents and business owners in this supposedly conservative area. There was no question that everyone present was in favor of proceeding with the project. Storm sewer! Pavement! Curb and gutter! They just wanted someone else (read: federal government) to pay for it. "Can't you apply for grants and stimulus money?" A tea party it was not.

What was also strange is the crowd left before the final debate transpired and the actual motion was voted upon. In the end, the Council compromised by splitting the total cost of the project with the homeowners 50/50. That plan to assess $86 per foot? Poof! Gone! Folks will now pay $54.40. I'm not sure where the City is going to find that extra $250,000. There isn't exactly a lot of economic activity around here.

The special meeting then adjourned. And my birthday cake was brought out! Talk about a surprise. I had casually mentioned to the City's finance officer at the last regular Council meeting that the meeting allowing for public testimony on the special assessment was going to take place on my birthday. Well, she told one of the Council members, who had her daughter (a caterer) bake me a cake.

It's one of the sweetest and most memorable things anyone has ever done for me. I mean, how many people can say their birthday was celebrated by the City Council? And I don't even live inside the city limits!

Turns out, it was a good thing I postponed my traditional birthday celebration by one night. I would have felt terrible if cake and ice cream had been planned and I didn't show.

But it does tell me the Council now counts on my presence at their meetings. It's not like I say much, if anything. But I've been told by one member in particular a number of times how he appreciates the fact I just show up to take an interest. Maybe if certain property owners affected by a certain infrastructure project would have done the same, they wouldn't have been caught off guard by their special assessment. Just sayin'.

The following night was fun. Dinner was delicious, I finally won a game of Dutch Blitz, and there was another cake. Tack on my departure to Colorado the following morning for a long weekend, and my 32nd birthday turned into an extended celebration. I wonder what number 33 has in store. (Good lord, 33...)

Don't call me stubborn within my three-foot comfort radius

This weekend's task in preparation for my next move is to go through my box of "important" documents. Old credit card and student loan statements, utility bills, and other miscellaneous junk from the last 10 years will be dropped off at a shredding company while I'm in Sioux Falls next weekend.

One document I'll continue to store for safekeeping, however, is the results of a behavior assessment I took back in 2003 as part of a job interview. Some of the results are spot-on; others are just absolutely hilarious. They are primarily directed toward interactions with me in a professional setting; however, there is definitely overlap with personal relationships as well.

Under the checklist for communicating with me (listen up, everybody!), these are some of the things that will make me a happy camper:

• Be patient and persistent.
• Respect my quiet demeanor.
• Have the facts in logical order.
• Provide a friendly environment.
• Keep at least three feet away from me.

And here are some behaviors that will cause you problems:

• Be redundant.
• Offer assurance and guarantees you can't fulfill.
• Debate about facts and figures.
• Pretend to be an expert, if you're not.
• Make statements you cannot prove.

The one thing worse than a know-it-all is one who doesn't. And if you're going to debate numbers with me, proceed at your own risk.

I also got a kick out of the "Perceptions" section. "See yourself as others see you." According to the report, I usually see myself as considerate, good-natured, a team player, thoughtful, dependable, and a good listener. Wouldn't you agree?

But then we get down to the dirty section of others' perceptions. Under "moderate" pressure, tension, stress, or fatigue, you may see me as nondemonstrative, unconcerned, hesitant, and inflexible. Hmmm...

And under "extreme" circumstances, I may come across as possessive, detached, stubborn, and insensitive. Stubborn! I'm not stubborn!

The narrative section of the assessment focuses on my attention to detail, search for the truth (the truth is out there, by the way), and need for data, facts, and figures. But I love this sentence: "If he feels strong about an issue, he may retreat to gather his resources and then return to take a stand!" (The exclamation point is theirs!)

But this whole supposed stubbornness issue rears its ugly head again: "Stubbornness surfaces when his ideals and beliefs are confronted." But what if I'm right?

Keep in mind that I took this assessment almost seven years ago. Deep down, I think I'm still the same Brian now compared to years past. But who I am as a co-worker (friend, significant other, etc.) definitely manifests itself differently now compared to when I moved to Alaska. Those of you who have known me well over that period have seen the difference, for sure.

And to those who call me stubborn? I know you are, but what am I?

P.S. I was offered and did accept the job for which this assessment was administered.

The bright side of Horsetooth

My time at Sunday's Horsetooth Half Marathon in Fort Collins was my worst ever at that distance. Thankfully, that's about the extent of the bad news I have to report.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself into. The course profile was on the event website. I figured if I could muddle through the first two miles (and its accompanying 500 feet in elevation gain), a "decent" time was manageable. What I didn't consider was running 13.1 miles on a course situated a mile above sea level.

After cresting Monster Mountain and the short downhill to the 2-mile marker, my time was a smidge under 17 minutes. As a point of comparison, in four weeks at Brookings, I should be around 14 at the same point. So, an additional three minutes. No big deal for a really big hill.

By the time I hit Dam Hill at Mile 4, I was back down to a sub-8:00 pace. I was picking up time and, with just one hill to go, the remainder of the race was downhill. Sweet!

But I was only able to maintain what I had already established. Looking back, that was a miracle in itself. Besides the two marathons I've run and one trail race I should have skipped because I was ill (I threw up when I got home after that one), I've never had such a strong urge to walk during a race. My body felt okay; I just couldn't make myself go any faster than what seemed like slow motion at times. But I did not walk.

The final four miles of the course took runners along the Poudre ("POO-der") River. Or, more accurately, the CONCRETE path along the Poudre River. Good god, to design such a great course only to destroy the runners' knees on concrete for the final third of the race. There was a narrower gravel path which followed the wider concrete trail; however, at times, the two often strayed from parallel. I had to choose between less wear and tear or keeping to as short a trajectory as possible. For the most part, I chose the latter.

And there was nothing I could do about the hordes of runners passing me. No one really smoked me as they passed by, but the passing was definitely consistent. For a slow starter like myself who begins to pick off runners as a race progresses, this did not feel good at all.

Which brings me to the highlight of the race: the awesome tech shirt! Not only does it fit perfectly (it had better not shrink in the dryer), but the course profile was printed on the back. Whoever came up with this brilliant idea deserves the Nobel Peace Prize in Running. Yeah, it sucks to get passed over and over (and over) again. But when a runner with their altitude-adjusted lungs ran by wearing a race shirt, I was provided with a reminder of the severity of the next hill as they passed by. Great idea!

I came into the race with a 1:35 goal. Ha! It didn't take long for a mid-race reevaluation to occur. I decided I'd be happy with an average 8:00 pace and not walking. I met both of these - and then some.

My final time of 1:43:52 (7:56 pace) placed me 131st out of 1,206 finishers. I placed 33rd out of 116 in my age group. My worst half marathon time had been 1:41:22, the first time I had ever run that far. That was back in 2005 in Juneau.

But what I'll take away most from the Horsetooth in 2010 was finishing as the fourth-fastest non-Colorado and -Wyoming runner in the entire race. (For you guys from Chicago, Minneapolis, and upstate New York, I tip my hat to you.) And for you runners listed in the results without a hometown, I'm assuming you live in Colorado just because it makes me feel better.

I concluded the elevation was the culprit behind my slow time after my very quick recovery after crossing the finish and my lack of muscle soreness. And there's nothing I could have done about it. I'm a sea level baby and Mission sits at about 2,600 feet. Unless I move to the mountains someday, these types of races will always present a challenge to me. It's a good challenge, though, because I did have a fantastic time on a beautiful morning. I love pushing myself like I did on Sunday. But I'm not going to lie. It still felt so good to be done. And to have that nifty shirt.

Brookings now awaits and the elusive 1:30 seems within reach. It seems strange to think that way considering I ran 14 minutes slower than that Sunday. But I know I really can't compare the two races. I feel strong and fit at the moment. And to have mentally pushed back the urge to walk on Sunday gives me the confidence that if I'm anywhere close to running a 1:30 in the final miles on May 15, my brain may be able to override my body. I can do this!

32

So much to say, so little time. But I had a fantastic birthday. I didn't pass out like last year; however, it was still a memorable day. And there's still more to come. I'm being treated to a belated, home-cooked birthday dinner tomorrow night. (Chicken, mmmm...)

And then I'm off to Colorado on Saturday to see friends and to run my first race of 2010. The Horesetooth Half Marathon course isn't PR material because of the hills. But I'm running really well and feeling strong. It should be a blast!

More to come.

Running PSA

High school track season is now in full swing, and I'm once again a volunteer coach. I spend at least two days per week with the distance runners. I don't get a chance to attend most of their meets because they're held during the weekdays. But I was able to take some personal time off of work in order to spend a glorious sunny day over at the track today to watch the Falcons run, jump, and throw against nine other schools.

There was just one thing, one ignorant little comment, that cast the smallest of clouds on what was otherwise a perfect afternoon. (Well, two things, if you count my sunburn.) I've talked about this before, but I just can't stand it: the ignorant, demoralizing comments from parents and coaches.

During the distance runs, I positioned myself at the 200 mark (halfway around the track from the start/finish line) to root on the runners - from Todd County and the other schools. When you get up to distances such as the 1600 and 3200, there will be, obviously, a greater disparity between the first-place and last-place times compared to the sprint events. Some kids even get lapped. It's these runners who need the most support from fans during a race.

Throw in the physical struggle just to get through a one-mile or two-mile run (one girl collapsed after her 800), and a race can quickly turn into a demoralizing experience for kids who don't realize that doing your best is all you can control. So, when I hear a coach (from another team) yell to one of her charges toward the back of the pack, "You can run faster than that!" it makes me livid. It wasn't the first time I had witnessed this at a track meet either. And, unfortunately, it probably won't be the last.

It's that kind of crap that will turn kids off from participation in sports. Although academics will always be the top priority for any high school student, athletics and other extracurricular activities play important roles in their scholastic experience as well. Especially around here, where the line between "good kid" and "bad kid" is, from my vantage, oftentimes based upon the student's level of participation in any after-school activity. (This line of thinking isn't infallible, of course. But don't get me started on the parents who don't want to parent and the impact that has on kids.)

My point is: If you can't be positive and reassuring at a race, please keep your mouth shut. There are plenty of fans and coaches who are more than happy to cheer your kid across the finish line, even if it takes them just a little bit longer to get there than you had hoped.

On almonds and other minutiae

• My grad school plans are set and I'm registered for fall classes. It's exciting to once again have something concrete to look forward to.
• Much about my future remains unsettled and I'm okay with that. I'm just going to go with it and see what happens.
• I'm running the Horsetooth Half Marathon in a couple weeks. Here is the elevation profile. It's not a PR course, for sure, but it should be a challenging race.
• For someone who doesn't care much for fiction, I really enjoy reading Willa Cather.
• Small-town life suits me well. Not being able to find what I'm looking for at the grocery store does not.
• My birthday is next week. Kind of anticlimactic considering I turned 32 in my head months ago.
• When people guess my age, it falls somewhere between 25 and 28.
• It's calving season 'round these parts. I love, love, love looking into a field and seeing cows with their newborns. So cute.
• Tackling calves during last year's branding is one of the highlights of my time here.
• I'm disappointed when people let me down, especially when their behavior isn't anything out of the ordinary.
• Sometimes I wish my instincts we're so damn accurate.
• If you ever make me banana bread, please leave out the nuts.
• Yet, I haven't been eating enough almonds lately. That's all I'm saying about that.
• I wonder why I even bother trying new foods. I know what I like. Chunky spaghetti sauce isn't on that list and never will be.
• A Board member offered to cook a homemade pasta dish for Thursday's meeting because my birthday is coming up and she's knows it's my favorite. I wonder if there will be chunks in the sauce.
• The chunkiness of the sauce will be the least of my worries. Thursday's meeting could be brutal.
• Whatever happens Thursday night, I'll have 11 weeks to deal with the consequences.