DRAFT Magazine

Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Joel Patenaude: I use marathons, the American Birkebeiner and epic mountain bike races as goals to keep me exercising and enjoying the outdoors. One of the perks that comes with being relatively fit and occasionally able to place well in my age group is that I can have a beer at dinner, and maybe another after dinner, without feeling the least bit guilty.

BR: What kind of beer do you prefer?

JP: Dark microbrews, the more local the better. Fortunately in east-central Wisconsin where I live, there’s the Central Waters Brewery in Amherst. They make my mainstay, the hoppy Mud Puppy Porter. But probably the most satisfying of their beer I’ve had was the Glacial Trail IPA I had this fall right after running the Glacial Trail 50K, my first ultra, through the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest. That was a brilliant combination, thanks to fellow beer runner Tom Held. When I’m visiting family in the Madison area, I gravitate to Lake Louie Milk Stout and Brother Tim’s Tripel; Ale Asylum’s Madtown Nutbrown and Ambergeddon Amber Ale; and anything, really, from the New Glarus Brewery. At the Tyranena Beer Run in Lake Mills I discovered Tyranena’s Chief Blackhawk Porter.

BR: What are some of your favorite races involving beer?

JP: It isn’t a coincidence that some of my favorite silent sports events in the upper Midwest are sponsored by breweries, well supplied by them or lure me with an exaggerated thirst to where good beer is made. In that latter category I include Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth (Fitger’s and Lake Superior breweries in Duluth), the Chequamegon Fat Tire Fest and Birkie (Angry Minnow Brewpub, Hayward), Keweenaw Trail Running Festival and Copper Harbor Fat Tire Fest (Keweenaw Brewing Co., Houghton, Mich.) I kick off the running season with the 5-mile Point Bock Run which the Stevens Point Brewery organizes, and this time of year Point makes the tasty St. Benedict’s Winter Ale.

Beer O'Clock for Joel Patenaude

BR: How did you originally get involved with the magazine Silent Sports, where you’re editor?

JP: While in college and early in my reporting career, I bought copies of Silent Sports for years to find 10Ks to run in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa throughout the summer and fall. I recall buying several back issues from founding editor Greg Marr at Canoecopia, the paddling expo in Madison every spring. It wasn’t until I saw an ad seeking a replacement for Marr (he died of a heart attack while cross-country skiing) that I realized Silent Sports would be a great fit for me. I’ve been in the driver’s seat since February 2004.

BR: What’s been your biggest highlights with Silent Sports?

JP: With a great deal of in-house help, I’ve given the magazine a makeover (adding color inside, imagine!) and a well designed, user-friendly website complete with searchable event calendar. I’ve also stepped up my advocacy for building silent sports trails and preserving quiet nonmotorized recreation by serving on two state legislative committees and as a board member for the invaluable Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin.

At the Turkey Trot in Madison

BR: What’s the backstory to this photo? —————>

JP: My wife and brother-in-law ran the Tyranena Beer Run on Nov. 7, but because I failed to register before the event reached its 1,500-runner cap, I was just a cheerleader — and beer drinker — that day. The next morning I ran the Turkey Trot, a five-mile cross country race in Madison’s Elver Park. That photo was taken just before I finished sixth place overall but, get this, fourth in my age group. I’ve been humbled this way many times. There are a lot of 30- to 39-year-old racehorses out there.

BR: How was your experience with the Tyranena Beer Run this year? Any highlights?

JP: Besides offering scenic half marathon and 4.37-mile courses (”half barrel” and “sixth barrel”), Tyranena offered great beer to go with the post-race meal. I was bowled over by the richness of the Dirty Old Man Imperial Rye Porter and Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale - and had I run, I might have been, literally, on the floor of the beer tent.

BR: You just got into home brewing. How’s that going?

JP: Let’s just say I won’t be printing labels for my first batch. Bonnie, the owner of Chez Marche (a restaurant and home brew equipment supplier in Waupaca), set me up with a beginner’s kit, a copy of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charles Papazian and a can of Cooper’s Malt Extract. Couldn’t be easier, eh? Well, I made a colossal mess on the stovetop, forgot to add sugar, couldn’t figure out how to read the hydrometer, collected a ton of screwtop empties before realizing they couldn’t be recapped, and soaked a pair of jeans during the bottling process. At room temperature the beer has “drinkability” (which I assume to be a very low standard) and is downright awful chilled. This was my first try, though. I’m not giving up until I’m able to make a passable Goat Scrotum Ale from the recipe in Papazian’s book.

BR: What’s your favorite silent sport that involves beer?

Wife carrying

JP: Although I’ve not yet witnessed such an event, I list in the Silent Sports calendar wife carrying contests, which involve men running short courses over hay bales and other obstacles while carrying their wives. True to sport’s practice in Finland, the fastest hubbie wins his wife’s weight in beer. (At the Wisconsin Wife Carrying Championship in Minocqua, the beer has been Red Hook Ale.) Setting aside the political incorrectness, I’m intrigued by the idea of women willing to suffer multiple indignities and men torn by the prospect of having wives light enough to carry but heavy enough to make the beer booty worthy of the effort. Everyone involved must have a sense of humor.

BR: What is your must-do or best bets for events this winter?

Assuming we get snow, I’ll be training for a few ski marathons, namely the inaugural SISU Ski Fest in Ironwood, Mich. (Jan. 9), Badger State Games in Wausau (Feb. 6) and my third classic Birkie ending in Hayward (Feb. 27). I’ll keep running through the winter as well since I’m due to run my second Boston Marathon come April.

BR: Any other words of advice or wisdom?

JP: Go out for a run, bike ride, ski or paddle. Then do as Papazian says and “relax, don’t worry, have a home brew.” (And subscribe to Silent Sports!)

Celebrating 3,000 bike miles at Romans Pub

Five years ago, Jeff Bedel ditched his car, picked up his bike after a 12-year hiatus, and started setting goals to ride longer each year.

First 1,000 miles. Then 2,500 miles. Then 3,000 miles.

This year he reached his goal 34 days ahead of schedule, despite a crash that left him with bruised ribs and lungs.

“July was a tough month,” he said, “but I still squeaked out three or four hundred miles.”

How did he get the mileage in? Must have been all those beer runs on the bike.

“I’ve biked a many miles to and from bars,” he says, “and carried several 6-packs from Blatz Liquor on my way home from work or bike trips.”

What are your beer runner credentials?

I was first introduced to craft beer back in college. It’s the longest relationship I’ve ever had. I used to collect all the bottles of the different beer I’d ever tried, but after moving so often it got be a hassle. I’m a huge craft beer and cycling advocate so I’m always ranting about how people should stop drinking macro beer and find a more efficient and healthy way to commute around the city. Milwaukee and Wisconsin are very bike friendly, especially compared to Indianapolis where I moved from. So doing more miles has been easier/safer commuting to work, running errands, Bomber Burgers, beer, and getting across town or the next county over (or two).

Tell me about your 3,000 mile biking goal. How and why did you set that?

After completing a mini-marathon 5 years ago, I wanted a new challenge. I did a 1,000 miles my first year and have gradually increased that goal every year. In 2006 I was unemployed and did over 2,500 and set the goal for 3,000 miles the past two years, but failed miserably. This year I trained inside over the winter which made it easier to do longer rides out of the gate.  Also that large of a number can be overwhelming so I set out to do a 1,000 by June 1.  Once I accomplished that I broke the last 2,000 into “goal days” to reach by Nov 1. From there it was pretty easy.

What was the biggest challenge to achieving your goal?

Being a Beer Runner can leave you sloth like and incapacitated (hungover) for a long ride the next morning.  Meeting lots of people on Twitter hasn’t helped either. I’m very destination oriented, and I pretty much (even though I’m fairly new to Wisconsin) ran out of new places to check out within a 50 mile radius of Milwaukee. A bike crash back in late June while doing a ride up in the Michigan U.P. was also the first time I was ever injured significantly.

What did you do to celebrate mile 3,000?

Like a good Beer Runner should; biking to his favorite craft beer bar! I set a Tweetup to do the 3,000th mile at Romans’ Pub in Bay View. I celebrated first with a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA.  Had several beers thereafter.  Many couldn’t make it since it was a Wednesday night, but I was going on vacation the next day. I’ll still accept late celebratory beers.

What’s your next biking goal?

Naturally I want to think about 4,000 miles (I’m currently at 3,200 already this year) for next year, but more importantly I want to drive (via Zipcar) to new places and see a bit more of the region/country and maybe even bike into Canada. Ironically when people asked me why I got rid of my car 5 years ago my answer was to “travel more”.  I’ve achieved that and want to do more.  I’m really inspired to by @follownathan on Twitter who did a coast to coast ride this past summer. Now there is a fun challenge/goal!

Ever think about creating a similar goal, but for beer consumption?

Yes, less actually.

Anything else to add?

I’m very knowledgeable and passionate about craft beer, so someone listening out there should get me a job in the industry.

"Tough to get a spot that close to the cooler"

I am honored to feature one of my personal heroes on the Beer Runner, Rocky Thompson.

Rocky pens a highly unconventional e-newsletter for outdoor gear website Steep and Cheap.

Instead of sticking to by-the-book descriptions of crampons and hiking shoes, Rocky offers pithy dispatches of his personal misadventures, often involving beer and/or bikes.

“The e-mail was supposed to be about the gear on sale that day,” Rocky says, “but I enjoyed telling nonsensical stories much more.”

Ladies and gentlemen, Rocky Thompson.

Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Rocky Thompson: I recently read a headline of an article saying researchers had discovered that the more beer people drank, the more active they were. Heavy beer consumption and an active lifestyle are not mutually exclusive. Or I think that’s what the article said. Too many words.

Bikes, beer, and reading are my favorite things in the world. It used to be just bikes and reading, then I found out about beer and had to rearrange my list. If I could add a fourth and fifth, they would be writing and music. Also, skiing.

BR: How did you start your gig writing the daily newsletter for Steep and Cheap?

RT: I used to work as a Content Editor for Backcountry.com. I moved to Minneapolis, but stayed on with Backcountry.com as their blogger. Then they decided to launch this e-mail and asked me to write it.  Backcountry has been nice enough to let me continue.

BR: How do you come up with crazy stories on such a regular basis? Are you ever afraid that you’re going to run out of stories to tell?

RT: I’m lucky to have friends constantly getting into crazy shit, and I find that being over served by bartenders lends to the creation of tellable stories.

BR: Can you define a liquid astronaut, which is also the name of your blog?

RT: Anyone who’s mistaken overconsumption as leaving the earth’s atmosphere.

BR: While we’re at it, what’s the PBR generation, the blog’s tagline?

RT: It’s like the Greatest Generation, only better.

BR: You’re from Wisconsin, right? What part?

RT: The part where all the white people live. I thought my community was very diverse growing up, then I left. It was actually less diverse than Salt Lake City, and that’s saying a lot. Nice folks, though. And great beer.

BR: In the places that you’ve lived, what place has the best beer, and what place has the best outdoor, active opportunities?

RT: The best beer is in Wisconsin, and the best outdoor active opportunities are in Utah. There are a surprising number of great craft breweries in the weak beer state of Utah, but that’s because the outdoor opportunities attract so many beer lovers.

BR: Of all the stories you’ve written, what one do you think best exemplifies a beer runner way of life?

RT: My friend Rob once saw a squirrel break into his house. It must have climbed in through a screenless window or one of the missing doors. He watched it climb onto the kitchen counter and grab an Oreo before dashing back outside. Instead of closing the screen where the squirrel had snuck out, Rob followed the little bastard. It ran through the neighborhood to someone’s backyard where it dug a hole and stashed the Oreo. He waited until it left, then dug up the Oreo and took it back. I’m not sure if he ate the Oreo, but the extraordinary thing to me is that after digging it up, he also took the nuts it had in the same stash. That poor squirrel must have been really confused when it went back to its hiding place for the Oreo and mixed nuts.

BR: Anything else to add?

RT: If you made it this far, here are my blogs:

http://www.liquidastronaut.com and http://thegoat.backcountry.com

The Potosi Brewery story is one of those classic triumphant underdog tales, except with beer.

Small Wisconsin town of 700 restores a defunct brewery founded in 1852, starts brewing Good Old Potosi beer, and beats out brewing giant towns like St. Louis and Milwaukee to be the home of the National Brewery Museum.

Founded in 2003, the museum resides in Potosi, Wisconsin, just across the Mississippi River from Dubuque, Iowa. Today the historic brick building displays three floors of decades-old brewery memorabilia.

The 18th Amendment wiped out most of those once-ubiquitous small town breweries. But long-gone brewers like Effinger and Ziegler live on with the neon signs, bottles and advertising they left behind.

And no Cinderella story would be complete without a celebratory bike ride with beer. It’s kind of like the glass slipper, except not.

It started when local cyclists met for an impromptu tour in 2007 that started and ended at the yet to be completed brewery.

In 2008 it morphed into a full-fledged ride paralleling the Mississippi River with distances up to 100 miles. The post-ride party included an authentic German “Oom-Pah” Band, German food, and (of course) Good Old Potosi.

This year will feature approximate ride distances of 20, 40, 65, and 100 miles, each loop along the Great River Road. The brewery is even creating a special Oktoberfest batch just for this occasion.

The ride takes place on Saturday, Sept. 19. You can sign up here.

That’s a scene from my bachelor party three years ago. I’m the one getting clocked on the head by my brother.

Of course, someone else’s paddle in your face the least of your worries on West Virginia’s Gauley River. As you can see from this video, rafting is intense.

Outside Magazine even published a rafting-specific workout, because you’re going to feel it in the chest and back afterward. And occasionally in the face, depending on your raft-mate’s aim.

So for the third anniversary of my bachelor party, I’m raising a Central Waters Whitewater Weizen to my bachelor party friends. Cheers, guys.

Central Waters is becoming one of my favorite Wisconsin breweries. As a major bonus to their beers, they recently installed a new solar panel green-powered brewery. Not bad for something that began in an old Model-A Ford dealership.

Their seasonal Whitewater Weizen is one of their best offerings yet. The unfiltered German-style wheat beer is made with Bavarian yeast for spiciness that, as they describe it, is “as exhilarating as a run through the rapids.”

They’ve even come up with the perfect workout to prepare for some rafting: The Keg Toss.

“Enjoy the finer things in life,” says Matt Braun. “Running hills, intervals, cold beer on a patio on a warm June day, and great times with dear people over a few cold beers and nachos.”

OK, my work here is done! That sums up the Beer Runner philosophy. What more could I possibly add?

I’ve known Matt for a few years, and I have found him to be a seriously cool guy.

Case in point: A few years ago we were exchanging emails about work matters, and I asked him if we could discuss during a run instead of in front of a computer.

It took him .02 seconds to take me up on the offer. If only I could reschedule every work-related matter to be sorted out with a run. Or a beer. How awesome would that be?

What are you goals for this summer?

Enjoy the warm weather, rebuild strength in legs after three marathons in a year, and build my overall core through pilates.

What’s the last great beer that you drank?

Great beer….probably either a Stella or a local Lakefront Brewery Ale. I’m a big believer in local, micro brews. I’m also a big fan of the new Horny Goat Brewing Company!

How about the last hard workout that you did?

Last super hard workout (running) was intervals during a 16 mile run in April while training for the Green Bay Marathon. It was OK, but I didn’t have the legs in me. The toughest workouts beyond running would be recent sessions of Progressive Pilates at the WAC in Wauwatosa (Wisconsin).  Really kicks your butt!

What are some of your biggest athletic achievements?

I don’t have a ton, but I have run two 3:19 marathons, have completed 12 full marathons, was the Lake Michigan Conference Champ in the 5000 meter run as a freshman in college (how, I’m not sure), and finished 6th at the Wisconsin State Private College Championship Meet in the 3000 meter steeplechase. I feel lucky each day I get to run, play some pick-up basketball and just enjoy working out.

In front of the Famous Eagle's Nest

What are some of your favorite places to get a pint or two?

I live in Tosa, so I’d say Leff’s Lucky Town, Colonel Harts, or downtown at Buckley’s on Wells St.  And who doesn’t love the riverfront in Milwaukee and a place like Lakefront Brewery. I also was fortunate to spend some time in Germany this past spring at the Lowenbrau Haus…..very cool!

Any other words of wisdom to give to the Beer Runner audience?

Enjoy running as a passion but don’t let it consume you. Running and exercise in general is a great way to provide clear thoughts and opportunities for creativity. Runners share a common, quirky bond on what we consider fun — burning calves, cramps and dehydration. But when you see that finish line, regardless of the race, the sense of accomplishment a finishing the task ahead is a true joy. Embrace your races and runs, and as always, happy trails.

“I married the beer runner,” says Jess Cigelske, “even though I’ve smelled him after an actual beer run.”

Yup, that’s my wife.

She’s referring to early on when we were dating, when I ran the Locust Street Days Beer Run. It’s a 1.8 mile race with four Lakefront Brewery beer stops.

Jess came to cheer me on. I smelled like sweat and dried beer saliva afterward.

Oh, and it was her birthday.

Anyone who cheers you on for a beer run on her birthday, that girl’s a keeper. And so this weekend it’s the 33rd Annual Beer Run, and the 27th Annual Jess birthday extravaganza.

Let’s start it off right with a Beer Runner profile of the Beer Runner’s wife. Let’s all wish Jess a happy birthday, with many more miles and many more beers!

What are your beer runner credentials?

I was born and raised in the Brew City (or suburbs of it), and my father worked for Miller Brewing for 22 years. I’d choose an American craft brew over any beer, any day. I’ve gotten SAVORed. Recently I’ve found my love for running. I grew up dancing, and always felt that running was kind of boring in comparison. In dance, learning and performing a piece is very cerebral–it takes a lot of focus to remember what your feet, arms, legs, and torso are doing in the next instant, and still make it look effortless. I didn’t find the same mind–body connection with running until I went through a very stressful time at work. The day after I quit my job, I went out for a run and was hooked. Any thoughts that are taking up space in my mind are pushed aside as I focus on my body placement, so I guess running is more like dance than I thought.

What beer are you going to have to celebrate your birthday?

While New Belgium has been getting a lot of play in the Cigelske residence, I have to go local for my birthday. I’m thinking we start at Lakefront Brewery for a tour, fish fry and polka. Lakefront is releasing their Wheat Monkey Ale the day before, so I will definitely try that. If it’s a warm night (which I’m hoping for!) I’d like to end the night with New Glarus’ seasonal Totally Naked (infer what you will). If we have the kind of weather we’ve been having lately, I’ll go with something that will warm me up like New Glarus’ Stone Soup. Since my birthday is on a Friday, I say we go right on celebrating into the weekend. I’d love to do a Reserve Tasting at Sprecher Brewery on Saturday afternoon, which pairs ten samples of their beers with artisan cheeses. Their Abbey Triple is one of my favorites and I’m excited to see what Premium Reserve beers they have available right now.

What was your last memorable workout?

Monday afternoon. I went for a run because the sun had finally come out after raining all day. It was a really strong run–the sun was warm but the air was cool. The colors were all really vibrant because of all the rain we’ve had. I felt so inspired. I was heading home when all of a sudden the sun disappears and this crazy mist rolls in. It was unlike anything I’ve ever seen–this was not normal fog. The thunder started, and I knew I’d have to pick up the pace to get home before the storm. I made it home, but the weather was so beautiful, I decided to pull a few weeds in the yard for my cool down. As soon as I got inside, the tornado sirens started going off. It was a wild run.

Do you have an ideal post-workout beer?

I’d reach for a Fat Tire, hands down. So refreshing, so drinkable, so delicious.

Since you are (probably) the most loyal Beer Runner reader, do you have a favorite Beer Runner from the archives?

I loved the Austin post, since I was there with you to discover some Austin’s finer beer haunts. Perhaps we need to go back and do more research?

Are you going to go get me a beer now?

If you do the dishes.

Ironman Triathletes tend to fall pretty firmly into the Type A category.

Not Al De Leon.

“I realize that as good as running is and as good as beer is, together could be trouble,” he says. “But who cares? They are both fun.”

Al tells me I should start a new category of Beer Runner for him: The Hungover runner.

“Racing hungover is now ‘Deleoning a race,’ as my friends affectionately call it,” he says. “I am not quite sure if I should take that as a compliment, but as long as I am faster than they are, I get to laugh last.”

How did you become a beer runner?

My first beer-run experience was on a Lakefront Discovery Run, where the Hash House Harriers had a beer stand on the course. I chugged one beer and took another to go. The goal was to finish the race with as much beer in the cup. Now I challenge myself every year to not spill during the final mile.

What are some of your most memorable beer runner experiences?

There was the 5k episode where I drank a cup (or three) of beer before the race. I was also part of the Chicago marathon that was canceled due to heat. After I heard they shut down, I grabbed a spectator’s beer and started walking back to the finish line. I relished the moment I got to walk down a Chicago street with an open container and raised it to every cop escorting us back to race central.

What is the Crank and Crawl?

Three friends and I started it three years ago, gathering at a local bike store and biking from one bar to the next. We call the bars ahead of time so they know to expect 30 cyclists. Helmets are mandatory and yes we have sent someone home because he didn’t have one. We safely enjoy our beverages!

How did you get involved with TriWisconsin?

Joined the club in 2002 and showed up at a swim practice in Umbros. After one lap I got out and watched everyone else finish. Best workout ever. But I signed up for a Chicago triathlon and I had to know what the heck I was getting into, so I joined the club. They were friendly and answered any stupid questions — I actually asked if wearing a wetsuit in the indoor pool was OK. I’ve been told that I put the color in TriWisconsin.

What do you do now with TriWisconsin?

I’m currently VP of the 450+ member club, and with that many members, anyone should be able to find a training partner with the same speed, goals, races, family, and lifestyle. That is important for someone new to understand. I always want new people to join the workouts and even more to join the social events…which is most likely over a good brew.

What do you consider your biggest accomplishments?

I have finished 5 Ironmans including Couer d’Alene, Kentucky, Louisville and Florida. But I consider finishing the Birkebeiner Cross Country Ski race as big or bigger — just because I entered that race on a whim with five total ski miles. I finished 3rd from the last with my good friend Reto. I also finished the Goofy Challenge — half and a full marathon in one weekend gets you a goofy medal at the Disneyworld marathon.

Favorite post-workout beer?

The first one served after finishing a half marathon — my favorite distance. I get to enjoy the reward more consciously than the longer distances. Lake Mills has a half that finishes at the brewery. Each entrant gets two drink tickets, and people look for me and drop off the tickets they don’t use. They have a brew called “Bitter Woman” I look forward to drinking. I also get a plate of spaghetti and two pints of Guinness at a local dive bar before any marathon.

Anything else to add?

I’d like to start a beer-mile group for Milwaukee. Can we get that going?

The six sweetest words in the English language.

With those words on a new commemorative Fat Tire label, New Belgium officially made its long-awaited arrival in Wisconsin.

As of Monday, you could pick up New Belgium Fat Tire, Mothership Wheat and 1554 in my home state in 22-ounce, full pint bottles. And there was much rejoicing in the land.

I picked up a few pre-ordered cases from Blatz Liquor in Milwaukee. Several did the same. We put quite a dent in the inventory.

New Belgium keeps rolling along and next arrives in South Dakota on Monday, May 11. It will be available in 29 states by the middle of 2009, according to The Full Pint.

A spokesperson quoted on the Full Pint said the company is excited to share their “passion for world-class beers and the biking life.”

And just how do they have a passion for beer and bikes? You gotta check this out.

In Wisconsin, there are three unmistakable signs that springtime has arrived:

1) Spring training.

2) Bikes.

3) Cold rain.

Ernesto Martinez-Ordaz, a legendary beer cyclist who I wrote about here, combines all three.

First, behold his custom-made Brewer’s Bike:

Honoring the city’s cycling and beer-themed major league baseball traditions, this bike has its origins in Ernesto’s wife’s cousin’s garage.

“It had been hanging there for 20 or so years,” Ernesto explained. “He noticed I had been just looking, and looking, and checking it out. He simply gave it to me and said, ‘I am never going to ride it - it’s been there for about 20 years.’”

Ernesto took it home, stripped it in less than 10 minutes, and made it a single speed Brewers Bike to give back to his friend Ryan.

“He’s a big fan,” Ernesto said. “So am I, but I think he needed something to just go around town, off road, on the road, etc. Something worry free and single speed. A do-it-all bike.”

Finally, he found some old logo Brewers stickers on eBay, used some of his old parts and BAM! it was a brand new bike.

“He’s already seen it, and he is very excited to ride it!” Ernesto said.

The other sure-fire sign of spring: The Milwaukee Bike to Work message list lighting up with everyone’s accounts of biking in the rain. Like Ernesto’s:

“It was the kind of weather that chills to the bone because your clothes are all wet,” he said.”I did not know it was going to be raining hard as I left the house.”

He wore shorts and leg warmers that got instantly wet, warm weather gloves, wool socks, and neoprene booties. Wet, but at least warm.

“18 miles of pure awesome!” he reported.