LUNA-TICS TEAM ROOM: Year-round "Looney" fun.

[danwho]

danwho...did you have a favorite running distance???

Races were usually 5K or 10K, then I started do several half-marathons. Actually, my very first race was a half-marathon, and I never ran more than 3 miles before I did that. But, at the time, I thought that since I never felt tired, what the heck, give it a try, and, at about 10 miles, I felt tired . What can I say ... young and stupid. Later, I started to like 5K races because I was getting faster (21 minutes), but then I was seduced by the high mileage, and started training for a marathon. I did get to run one marathon (Marine Corps) before that sad day when it seemed I would have to give up running. Unfortunately I was sick that day, so it wasn't for time. I think my main problem is my flat feet. Orthotics just didn't seem to be able to correct enough. Persistent ankle problems, that started to become knee problems, even when only doing light running. It was very hard to give up running - because running becomes more than an activity - it becomes your identity. I guess now my identity is a Luna-tic, but there are some that will say I had a head start in that direction.

[Kona2]

We're going to need some pretty big rooftops to land on with all these reindeer! Three more reindeer today (tis the season after all !), and antler lights and flashing harnesses.

Looks like Peter H of NLD is managing some rowing time even with a brand new baby son, and has freed his reindeer Amerigo. Good work with what can be a tough balancing act!


Amerigo (Peter H)

And, congratulations to Lynne C on what might be a first ever reindeer (although my records of reindeer claimings only go back a couple of years so I am not 100 percent certain - 90 yes). Good work!


Fireball (Lynne C)

And, Robyn from the City on the Bay, zooms in to claim her reindeer - it's a fun tradition!


Meteor (Robyn)

Antler Lights Blazing for:


Frodo (Ron)



Bandit (Chip)


Turbo (Mike C)

And flashing harnesses!


Dancer (Kristine)


Cupid (Howard)

Season meters as of 233/365 = 59,653,828 m

Total meters on the day = 831,097 m

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

4.5 MM Ed
3.5 MM Steve
1.8 MM Michelle
1.0 MM David T
400 K Harold
50 K Mike M

Million Meter Milestone Watch:

Ron with (185,211 m) to go!

Michelle with (195,507 m) to go!

Million Meter Milestone Watch:

Jane with (22,312 m) to go!
Bernie with (71,367 m) to go!
Mike C with (85,135 m) to go!
Patrick with (101,975 m) to go!

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us....and playing reindeer games!

Juliette 249 m
AJ 1,016 m
Dtudury 1,172 m
K2 2,011 m
Mike M 3,000 m
William H 3,000 m
Patrick 3,018 m
Dan O' 4,000 m
Ian 4,043 m
Dan E 4,062 m
Jeff P 5,000 m
Lynne 5,000 m
Kerry 5,006 m ...I see a reindeer in your future!
Chip 5,016 m
Teresa m ... a starry palindrome!
Rick C 6,410 m
Mikkel 7,805 m
David G 8,000 m
Howard 8,344
Larry A 9,283 m
Harold 10,000 m
Mike C 10,000 m
bg 10,025 m
Jane m ...a starry palindrome!
Steve 10,493 m
Marie 11,000 m
Sarah A 11,007 m
David T 12,000 m
Peter G m ...a starry palindrome!
Chuck 13,443 m
Ron m ... a starry palindrome!
Norton 14,000 m
Michelle 21,097 m
Sarah H 21,097 m
Kristine 39,323 m
Dave H 41,097 m
Ed 50,104 m

[bg]

danwho...did you have a favorite running distance???

Races were usually 5K or 10K, then I started do several half-marathons. Actually, my very first race was a half-marathon, and I never ran more than 3 miles before I did that. But, at the time, I thought that since I never felt tired, what the heck, give it a try, and, at about 10 miles, I felt tired . What can I say ... young and stupid. Later, I started to like 5K races because I was getting faster (21 minutes), but then I was seduced by the high mileage, and started training for a marathon. I did get to run one marathon (Marine Corps) before that sad day when it seemed I would have to give up running. Unfortunately I was sick that day, so it wasn't for time. I think my main problem is my flat feet. Orthotics just didn't seem to be able to correct enough. Persistent ankle problems, that started to become knee problems, even when only doing light running. It was very hard to give up running - because running becomes more than an activity - it becomes your identity. I guess now my identity is a Luna-tic, but there are some that will say I had a head start in that direction.

i can so relate to running becoming more than an activity.....and folks also agree that it is very appropriate that i row with the luna-tics :} and while i'm on the forum gooooooooooo pats :}

[Kona2]

Orion (Dan E)

Most recent spacecraft news has certainly concerned Orion - not a bad idea to partner up with NASA on our upcoming reindeer navigation!

[lynniecarp]

Thanks!! Yep, my very first reindeer! I totally enjoy these challenges and being a part of this great Luna-Tic team! You are a fun and motivating group! Happy Holidays to all! Lynne

[Kona2]

And just four days (including today) of Challenge time remains...

This is one of those days where the law of averages messes with our minds. You'd think today would have the latest sunrise and the earliest sunset....but no. I turned to the BBC News people (after all, Stonehenge is in their backyard), for some thoughts about the Winter Solstice . You can read the article at this link: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30549149

Basically, time was measured with the sun's passage across the sky ... or solar time. "The adoption of GMT has the consequence, however, that throughout the year our clocks fall in and out of synch with the sun, thanks to Earth's elliptical orbit. This difference between GMT and solar time is called "the equation of time" by astronomers. It was first calculated in 1673 by British astronomer John Flamsteed, founder of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.

"The result is that no matter what people think, the sun is not always due south at noon - even in London," continues Morison. "It can be up to around 15 minutes ahead or behind, as measured by a clock giving GMT.

"This has an interesting effect around the winter solstice. Though the shortest day is on or close to 21 December, the earliest sunset is around 10 December and the latest sunrise does not occur until 2 January, so at Christmas the mornings are still getting darker whilst the evenings are getting appreciably lighter - an effect noted by many people, but maybe not really understood." Ah, more mysteries of deep space.

Meanwhile, the reindeer are clamoring to be claimed...and once they are claimed, boy do they want their antler lights, flashing harnesses, swagger in the form of tail and ear wags, and all the other REINDEER BLING that AJ dreamed up. Since we're SO close to the finish of the Challenge, here's the Reindeer Milestone Watch (a first ever):

Teammates within 50,000 m of claiming their reindeer (and the Concept2 donation!):

Terry 3,949 m
AJ 5,472 m
Kerry 5,490 m
David G 6,680 m
David T 8,000 m
Patrick 13,120 m
Norton 17,934 m
Barry 18,187 m
Melissa 20,000 m
Larry A 26,212 m
Ross 37,702 m
David W (AZ) 37,731 m
Sorin 40,289 m
Stephen W 42,983 m
Kevin 45,496 m

Teammates within 50,000 m of claiming antler lights:

Peter G 1,617 m
Stuart 2,644 m
Danwho 6,598 m
Ted 9,000 m
Virginia 9,873 m
Karyn 11,696 m
K2 21,869 m
Andrea 22,943 m
Chuck 24,612 m
Sarah H 25,569 m
Robyn 26,000 m
Ian 28,824 m
Mikkel 30,000 m
Dan O' 30,574 m
Rebecca 32,000 m
Dave H 36,122 m
Marie 37,918 m
Jane 38,950 m
Peter H 45,000 m

Teammates within 50,000 m of the Flashing Harness:

David A 33,290 m
Minnie 46,434 m

Teammates within 50,000 m of Tail Wag (Swagger):

Steve 40,908 m

Season meters as of 234/365 = 60,295,336 m

Total meters on the day = 641,528 m (several found their download cables!)

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

2.15 MM Minnie
1.25 MM Marie
987,789 A yearly total palindrome by Jane
900 K Patrick
850 K Rebecca
800 K Ken G
750 K Stuart
650 K Sarah A
500 K Dave H ... a cool half million!
450 K Ted
350 K Peter H
300 K Laurie
50 K Sorin


Holly (Sarah A) Congratulations on earning your antler lights!


Thunder (Ken G) Congratulations on earning your antler lights!

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us....what a great season!


Patrick 2,838 m
Kenny H 4,000 m
Dan O' 5,000 m
Lynne 5,000 m
Michelle 5,000 m
William 5,000 m
Teresa 5,669 m
David T 6,000 m
Larry 6,244 m
David W (AZ) 6,484 m
AJ 7,029 m
Paul R 7,191 m
Michael W 7,210 m
Dan E 8,079 m
Kerry 9,049 m
Dave H 10,000 m
Harold 10,000 m
Marie 10,000 m
Jane m ...a starry palindrome!
Ian m .. a starry palindrome!
Steve 10,516 m
Rebecca 12,000 m
Norma m ...hooyah! she's baaack on the rower!
Howard 12,348 m
Danwho m ... a starry palindrome!
Sarah A 12,601 m
Karyn 13,050 m
Minnie m ...hula hula starry palindrome!
Laurie m ... a starry palindrome!
Scott 16,000 m
Andrea 16,064 m
Ron m ... a palindrome!
Stuart 16,211 m
Virginia 20,130 m
Norton 20,781 m
Chip 21,097 m
K2 21,097 m
Sorin 25,409 m
Ted 37,000 m
Ken G 70,500 m
Peter H 85,000 m

[Kona2]

Thanks!! Yep, my very first reindeer! I totally enjoy these challenges and being a part of this great Luna-Tic team! You are a fun and motivating group! Happy Holidays to all! Lynne

And it's a FIRST EVER post! We love FIRST EVERS!

[kp1005]

Just joined. Looking forward to the team challenge.

[Edscapade]

Just joined. Looking forward to the team challenge.

Welcome to the Team! Happy rowing! You have joined the best...

Ed

[Dave_H]

Just joined. Looking forward to the team challenge.

Welcome to the Team! Happy rowing! You have joined the best...

Ed

Not to mention the most modest!
Welcome kp1005!

[Kona2]

Three days before Christmas eve, and the meters are zooming along! We have FIVE new reindeer, antler lights galore and a flashing harness in there, too. Meanwhile, there were other events also taking place...a meeting of virtual teammates here in Colorado! I received a text from Kristine S saying that she and husband Keith would be in the area today, and could we have a face to face meeting. You betcha! Kristine is the gal who first put together our forum pages and captained our team, and after 8 years or so of virtually rowing together....well - how cool to actually meet the avatars! We met for brunch and some great conversation!


K2 (Jan), Kristine, Keith

Numbers were grabbed at oh dark thirty this AM, and I've gone back to see that we had some additional reindeer and flashing lights. No intent to miss anyone's numbers or celebrations, so hopefully I will catch all of the woohoo moments here!

Reindeer Claimed:


Jingle (Kerry)


Jupiter (Patrick)


Hercules (Walter) Arriving with Flashing Harness meters!


Andromeda (Rivka)


Triton (Terry

Antler Lights:


Max (Chuck)


Festivus (Danwho)


River (Karyn)


Rocket (Peter G)


Yukon (Virginia)


Turbo (Mike C)


Radar (Mikkel)


Buster (Dan O)


Tundra (Stuart)

Season meters as of 235/365 = 63,104,697 m

Total meters on the day = 2,809,341 m (astounding...but can't let it go to our antlered heads)

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

4.6 MM Ed
850 K Dan O
800 K Mikkel
750 K Peter G
100 K Kiba!

Thanks, everyone, for rowing and ski-erging with us! And...for growing our herd of fine reindeer...ready for travel in the Universe!

Sarah H 3,000 m
Norton 4,980 m
Lynne 5,000 m
Michelle 5,000 m
William H 5,000 m
Sorin 5,006 m
Norma m ...a starry palindrome!
Robyn 6,000 m
Kerry 6,502 m
Andrea m ....a devilish palindrome or checking out the naughty list? hahaha!
K2 7,748 m
Dave H 10,000 m
Marie 10,000 m
Scott 10,000 m
Bernie 10,019 m
Virginia 10,046 m
Jane m ...a starry palindrome!
Larry A 10,196 m
Howard m .. a starry palindrome!
Steve 10,557 m
Rebecca 12,000 m
Sarah A 12,343 m
Danwho m ...a palindrome!
Patrick 13,536 m
Karyn 13,107 m
Ron m ...a starry palindrome!
Kiba 14,432 m
Ian 14,650 m
Minnie m ...a starry palindrome!
Peter G 16,140 m
Laurie m ..a palindrome!
Dan O' 17,812 m ...this man was on an antler light mission!
Mikkel 21,097 m
Peter H 30,000 m
Ed 67,247 m ....and over 700,000 Challenge meters....that's a lot of donation dollars!

[just27]

...a meeting of virtual teammates here in Colorado! I received a text from Kristine S saying that she and husband Keith would be in the area today, and could we have a face to face meeting. You betcha! Kristine is the gal who first put together our forum pages and captained our team, and after 8 years or so of virtually rowing together....well - how cool to actually meet the avatars! We met for brunch and some great conversation!

How fun is that! Putting a real live face to a name and avatar.
Lynne, want to meet for coffee, sometime in the New Year??

[lynniecarp]

Yes, that would be fun! I'll shoot you an email and we'll set a date. Lynne

[Kerry1976]

This year was my first ever reindeer. So excited! Thanks to the Luna-Tics for being such a great team.

[Kona2]

This year was my first ever reindeer. So excited! Thanks to the Luna-Tics for being such a great team.

Whoop, whoop! We love FIRST evers! Well done!