I’ve been really nervous cycling on the roads since Adam’s death last week. So when Brian asked if I’d like to accompany him on his commute to work yesterday I was a little hesitant. It seemed like a great opportunity for some jerk to swing his door into me, or for some redneck to try […]
Author Archives: Ben
Adam Havrilak
On January 13th Adam Havrilak, a great friend, passed away in a hospital after suffering serious injuries in a motor scooter accident. He would be 23 next month. Adam was one of the most inspiring people I have known in my lifetime. From the first time I met him (back in 2006) it was apparent […]
Another World
I promised regular posts, but it’s been a bad week. A great friend of mine, Adam Havrilak, passed away after a bad motor-scooter accident in China last weekend. It may take me a bit more time to collect my thoughts, so please forgive me and check back in next week.
My Legs Hurt From Life
The other day I was doing a long run, and while plodding along on the Burke Gilman trail I started thinking about what the hell I’m doing with my life. I mean, I haven’t had a day off ‘work’ since the day after Thanksgiving. Not even Christmas. And, I completely don’t care. Everything seems right […]
Am I bencollins.org?
Last summer I got irritated that every time I met somebody who read my blog they seemed to know all the current events of my life. So I apologize if on occasion I am a little vague and unclear when mentioning why I am going to Incline Village to train in November or who is […]
Training Block Numero Uno
It crossed my mind that I should have a New Years Resolution. Aside from the obvious ones that I can’t possibly be expected to keep (e.g. be nice to lap swimmers, don’t make fun of blind people, read my workouts before I do them, etc.), I really couldn’t think of anything worth committing to. Tomorrow […]
So close…
Today I drove from Tiburon California to Kelso Washington, which is about 700 miles. It was a really long drive, and it got me about 130 miles from my home. I would have kept driving, but it started snowing. When semi’s started passing me aggressively, I decided I was not a macho man, and I […]
Cali Dreams
Yesterday I flew down to San Francisco. Last time I stayed for over a month. This time it’s barely more than a day. I’m helping Courtenay pack up some stuff from her storage closet and drive her car up to Seattle. She visited for 17 days, and I convinced her to move to Seattle. That […]
I’m Sick. But the President is Next Door
By “sick†I mean after swimming I slept the rest of the day. I just got up to get some food and consider running at Gold’s, but instead I’m going back to bed. By “presidentâ€, I mean, President Elect Barack Obama. Who is currently being stalked by a bunch of paparazzi, and Rachel Ross on […]
Snow is SO fun!
Seattle has had the best winter storm of my lifetime (a quarter century). The airports are cancelling flights, so my friends are stuck in town. There’s enough snow that I can’t see pavement within a 1 block radius of my house, and the pavement I see on the highway is just two ruts through […]