A little nostalgia goes a long way. My hometown's newspaper in recent weeks has been posting archives of area high school sports & sporting events and this past week was a spread of track pictures from April 1993.

Several photos included people I used to know, some folks I still hang out with and a handful of yours truly. This one in particular made me laugh and had an even longer thread than I ever imagined.

After sharing this picture, one of the guys I run with weekly now - Seth - commented on the guy in white in the lead in the picture (mentioning him by name) saying, "He was a good runner". I replied back that I knew the dude well (Brad Lykins), having finished behind him for nearly three years. "I guarantee we ran against each other back then too," he says.

Sure enough, moments late Seth sends me a photo of results from a tri-meet from about this time. The schools taking part were my high school (Southeastern), Seth's (Waverly) and school Lykins attended (Piketon). And in the results you see all three of us mentioned, showing Lykins winning the two mile with me finishing behind in third and Seth second in the half mile, finishing second to - not joking here - Brad's twin brother Chad.

Now I vaguely remember this meet, but it was even more weird that Seth and I had gone to schools about 15 miles (20 minutes) apart and had to have run against each other for a couple of years. Here it is 20 years later and we are still running with/against one another. We know each other as 40-somethings through our mutual running pal Traffic Panther Gary. He, too, is from southern Ohio and went to Logan High School and I can bet money that if you looked hard enough, you could find meet results from the early 90s (track or cross country) where all three of us appear.

We are teammates now on a Columbus Running Company Advanced Training group and meet every week with a number of others for a track workout and enter races on weekends. It is simply silly at how small the world really is sometimes. Oh, and for what it's worth, Seth's Waverly squad won that tri-meet back in 1993 beating my Southeastern team by six points. Despite their heroics, those Lykins boys and their Piketon team finished last - serves them right.

With the spring weather being warm and more than decent, L and I paid a visit to our friends at Staas Brewing last weekend. The food truck on hand this night was Two Fatt Indians and upon my asking, it was suggested I get the Chicken Jalfrezi (Jal-Fray-Zee). The gentleman behind the counter asked how spicy I wanted it and being a spicy food addict, I asked, "How hot can I get it?" I was told to pick from a scale of one to six, with six being the hottest. He then said, "I will give you a five, then the next time you can come up to the six. I want you to actually taste the food because it is really, really good."

I agreed to this and he was right, it was excellent and as spicy as I wanted it to be. My scalp started to sweat and L pointed to my face as it started to glisten - but I loved it. I had a huge plate full of food and took only a small portion of leftovers home for later in the week. I highly recommend these guys the next time you are in and around Columbus. The food went great with the Double Coffee Chocolate Oatmeal Stout Staas had tapped that weekend.

As April's end nears, the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon has returned and the approach to this year's event will be a bit different than last. In 2018 I was working on breaking the 90 minute barrier and did so by 3:30 (1:26:30) while tagging along with Gary and Seth. This stood as my half marathon PR until two weeks ago when I hammered out a 1:25:53 at the Athens Half Marathon in the downpour.

We were expecting excellent spring weather for this version of the Cap City so the odds were in favor of improving on that two week old personal record on this relatively flat course of which I know all too well.

Of course race week couldn't go smoothly. After an easy four mile run on Sunday, my left knee was a bit sore. That evening it was downright painful and swollen in the area of the meniscus, just above the tibia. With Monday being an off day, I iced the area as much as I could and most of the swelling had evaporated by Tuesday afternoon. It was still a bit tender and I moved gingerly, but not because it hurt. It was because since it had hurt before, I was expecting to feel pain and purposefully avoided putting my full weight and motion on to it.

At Tuesday's track workout there was some stiffness and it was little uncomfortable, but I needed to see if I would get some work in without favoring that knee. Running with a group would offer more of an opportunity to move around and it did the trick. I ran along with CRC Westerville Teammate Ken for our 2000 x 1500 x 1000 x 500 with decreasing rest in between workout. There was some soreness, but nothing to worry too much about. It was now time to crank down the pace & miles to prepare for Saturday morning.

The Cap City Half had the same course as last year, starting and finishing in downtown Columbus. The route heads south into German Village, then turns back north to downtown and into Victorian Village, lingers through the Ohio State University Campus before turning back south and eventually crossing the Arena District and finishing on the backside of the downtown location where we started.

We couldn't have asked for better weather: blue sky, sunshine and 50 something or other degrees with a light breeze. Squeezing into Corral A, Traffic Panther Gary, Columbus Running Company Teammate Mark & I ready for the start as we hoped to pull each other along to lower some personal records. As we take off the three of us are cruising along comfortably, mingling with like minds while being passed by over zealous runners and those who are just simply that good. At mile one, the three of us are in at 6:21 - not too fast, not too slow.

Making the turn and headed for mile two, I laugh as we come upon a small group and I go left to go around - out of the corner of my eye I see Gary go right to go around and Mike is directly behind them waiting for the Red Sea to part (we have you surrounded!). It doesn't feel like we've sped up, though we are starting to gain on a few others. At the marker we come in at 6:25, I'm right - we aren't going faster, some folks have just slowed. We turn back north and Gary and Mike fall out of my peripheral, ahead I see a couple of folks I recognize and focus on them. Also, my legs feel really good and without thinking keep stride to maintain the distance between us.

At miles three & four, I've sped up but I'm not feeling it (6:15, 6:13). The sun and the cool air are making everything comfortable and to keep myself focused I continue gazing at the familiar folks about 20 years ahead, along with reviewing my mechanics. Now downhill towards the mile five marker at Goodale Park, I see L and I'm still a bit surprised at how good I'm feeling (6:17). The next few miles along Neal Avenue and into the Ohio State University campus are at a slight incline and I see a couple of those in the group I'm transfixed on have dropped off and I'm reeling them in.

From here on at each mile marker, I glance at the clock as I go by and instead of searching for my mile split I do the math on what I need to do to keep pace with the potential PR - it is exciting, I'm way ahead. As expected, miles six, seven and eight are slower (6:27, 6:21, 6:23) as the slight up hill winds through campus. The group in front is smaller and has increased their distance, but not by much. We've turned to make the return trip and I can feel some fatigue creeping it's way in, but the next few miles are at a decline. A bit worried about crashing, I focus on my mechanics and realize I haven't been passed for several miles.

Miles 9, 10 and 11 go by (6:19, 6:21, 6:16) and I'm able to take over a handful of folks - each time egging them on to go with me to the next person. During this time I see Traffic Panther Kevin & Susan throwing out some encouragement, the familiar faces & voices are comforting. It is getting real and the next two miles back into downtown Columbus are at an incline. Officially wearing out now, I'm going through the motions as best I can and just as the half marathoners meet up with the remaining 10k participants I am over taken by another at mile 12 (6:31).

I pass by L a second time as I weave in and out of the crowd of slower quarter marathoners. I'm passed again just as I reach the straight away home stretch on High Street. I feel like I'm in quicksand and the finish line seems to get further away. As the clock comes into view, it's in the 1:23 range and 1:24 is approaching fast - I throw all I have left in an effort to make it in before it changes. About five feet before I get there, one of the quarter marathoners (who are told to say to right, the half participants stay on the left) drifts left and raises his hands in celebration directly in front of me. Not feeling like taking a detour, I'm still full steam ahead and run into this left shoulder and raised forearm which in my path. I shoved his arm aside, cross the finish line and stop my watch.

Attempting to catch my breath, I'm looking around and see no water or liquid refreshment in sight. I don't bother to look for the guy I just ran into, at this point I'm too annoyed to wonder. Shuffling at a snail's pace through the chute, I'm handed a finisher's medal - but still no water. I remember to glance at my watch and fist pump to myself as I see 1:23:54 - I did break, barely, 1:24. This is over 2 1/2 minutes faster than at this event last year and a new PR for me - beating my previous best (from the Athens Ohio Half Marathon) set two weeks ago by a full two minutes. I then look around and say to everyone, "Where in the hell is the water?".

Walking what seemed like forever (somewhere between 100 & 200 meters), I finally come to the water stand and grab a bottle. As I begin downing it, I see Gary to my right. He, too, has garnered a bottle of water and says to me, "They need to have that water much closer to the finish."

"That's exactly what I said!", I reply.

We continue through the chute and make our way to the finisher's party and meet up with the Traffic Panthers who also took part in the event - Mark, Sarah (both ran the quarter marathon) and Patricia (who also ran the half). Not too long after, L joined in the fun and helped me partake in the finisher's pizza, Land-Grant Beer, Patron Margarita and White Claw Hard Seltzer we all received. When all was said and done, I finished 44th out of 5,272 and 4th in my age group. I felt bad for picking it up a bit early when Gary, Mark and I were still in our own pack, but all three of us ended up with PR's - Gary finishing 50th and Mark 66th. Looking at the full results I noticed the guy I tagged along with for most of the Athens Ohio Marathon two weeks ago and finished ahead of me by nine seconds, finished ten seconds and two spots behind me on this day. There is something to be said for consistency.

After hanging out for a bit L and I headed north to nearby Powell to grab some food and beers at Ill Mannered Brewing and watch - in hysterics - the 1st Annual Alternative Sports Extravaganza Palooza Fest taking place on the patio in the full sun. This included some serious work in the categories of: Staring Contest, Coin Flip, Cowboy - Ninja - Grizzly Bear and Thumb War; fun was had by all. Beer friends Tom, Dan and professional mouth Spartan Biscuit did an excellent job of hosting & emceeing.

We now have a nice break until the New Moon Half & Quarter Marathon, Crescent Moon 5K around our hometown in Delaware, Ohio on Memorial Day weekend - I'm running the half and L is going to try her hand at the quarter marathon.

Oh yeah... on Sunday, the day after the half marathon, L's parents informed us of a cool looking table one of our neighbors had put out for someone to take. Interested, but preoccupied, L simply forgot about it. Later that night, just as we were about to go to bed, L says, "I forgot about that table, do you wanna go take a look at it?"

I look at her as if her hair has been replaced with snakes, "...It's 10:30pm?"

"I know, but I just remembered."

Perturbed, I relent, "Fine, where are we going?!"

"Mom & Dad says it's across the street from the elementary school"

We get in my car and drive two blocks down, it is in good shape, could be useful, but it is not small. We attempt, but it will not fit in the trunk or the back seat. I'm now more annoyed, L is disappointed and says, "It would probably would have been easier to walk it home in the daylight."

She ponders for a moment or two.

"L, do you want the table or not? We are parked in the middle of the street, in the middle of the night unsuccessfully trying to Tetris a giant free-to-a-good-home table into my Passat! I'm sure the cops will be coming shortly."

She pauses again, I roll my eyes and bite the bullet, "Do you WANT to WALK the table home?"

Behind a sheepish smile, she looks up and says in a slow, giddy draw, "Yyyeesssss"

I drive us home in protest, park the car and we hoof it back down the street. After finding the best way to handle the awkward monstrosity, we lugged it in the worst black ops mission ever two blocks back along the hilliest portion of our neighborhood having to stop twice in order to take a breather. The table will come in handy and does need a bit of maintenance, but looks great on our carport patio - though I wanted to burn it in effigy that evening.

With that said, L and I are ready for summer - we have a garden planned, my homegrown hops are taking off, we are organizing our wedding, have our honeymoon set and aren't taking ourselves too seriously. Yeah, we aren't your stereotypical couple. We plan things around races, brewery visits and bird watching ventures - all of those typical couple things, you know, there all hype. We'll stick to the awkward lines that we know...

The Cordial Sins - Sick of the Hype

I’m just sick of the hype and it shows
It never is enough
I’ll just stick to the lines that I know
Because they’re good enough