Most things we do in life we do because we have to, they are a means to an end; go to school so I can get a job, get a job so I can get a house. But what compels us to do something which is physically very hard and requires many hours of commitment to do well and for which there is no real purpose? Last night we faced this question head on.

It may have been the worst ride of the year and it may have been the best.

If you stayed away with the distinct purpose of not getting rained on, you made a great decision. But for those of us who came (and I believe we had 14) it was universally agreed ‘we would not have wanted to miss it for anything!’ True, there was no ‘end in itself,’ no real purpose. It was dark, wet, uncomfortable, slippery, hard and fast but somehow as we looked forward to see water spitting up from the tires in front of us ten feet in the air, sunk down on the drops, struggling to see, physically at our limit, drooling, sweating and soaking wet a rush of adrenaline that you cannot get while studying the great thinkers of antiquity or resolving an issue at work engulfed us and we realized we don’t do this because there is a diploma or paycheck waiting for us at the end we would do this shit even if it was bad for us.

A special callout to Joe Kennedy, he heard about TNR a long time ago, but was just compelled two weeks ago to actually show for the first time. Joe has power and speed and is not afraid to but his face in the wind and suffer. So I asked him, are you sorry you waited until now? You know the answer. Welcome to TNR Joe Kennedy. You are one of the brotherhood now, no turning back.

Anthony from Tennessee joined us again last night, wish we saw more of you Anthony! Brad, Cary, Alan were all very animated last night and I kind of lost track but it seems they took most of the prizes.

It was probably the last run at the full course of the year. Sun sets 7:15 next Tuesday. We will still start at 5:45 but will abbreviate the ride somewhat to get back by about 7:30.