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PaperclipPerfector  2mo ago (text post)   2758 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for May 29, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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It does make me consider the role of races in my personal enjoyment of the hobby. I rented a cabin on the river and brought my family, and in an alternate universe I would be waking up in the morning with a coffee, enjoying the beautiful views at the top of each mountain, having actually delicious food/drink packed on the bike (for those evaluating electrolyte drinks, Neversecond was what the organizers provided, and holy fuck it tasted awful), and face no pressure to break any bones on gnarly descents (at least one racer had to be pulled off a mountain via ambulance). Instead I paid $80 for a water bottle and a timer to come in the bottom half of the pack.

I have had similar thoughts about traveling to do running trail races. Why don't I just travel and hang out in a pretty place with my wife, do some day hikes, enjoy the views, and generally try to recharge? Or I can spend extra money and stress out about logistics that don't matter because there's no chance I'm finishing in the top third for my age group and do a run that I enjoy less than a random trail run near my house since there's a bunch of additional people around.

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