RACE DAY

After days and days of checking the weather forecasts, and then sending out same via email to our esteemed running group, the time had finally come to put aside weather predictions and get down to the task of running and walking the eighth annual ING Miami Half Marathon.  Sunday January 31^st, 2010 was our eighth consecutive participant role in that specific event, and we’re ready to sign up for our ninth during this Tuesday's 6 a.m. registration blitz.  

Blessed be the weather angels, because we were met with cloudy skies, no rain, and temperatures that were acceptable to we half marathoners and full marathoners alike.  The sub-tropical humidity was a tad bit high at the beginning of the race, but it seemed to work its way lower as we trudged forward in our quest to complete 13.1 miles of Miami and Miami Beach roadways and tall and not-so-tall bridges.

Coming off of a brutal Goofy Challenge just three weeks prior, we started out yesterday not 100% rested and/or ready.  All the same, neither Jan nor I had any debilitating issues to speak of – and who would listen anyway to our cry-baby whining?  In all fairness to Janet, though, she had just gotten over a terrible head and chest cold – something she must have picked up during or shortly after our challenging Walt Disney World experience. 

  

Wondering for days just what my finishing time would be if we were to only walk the 13.1 miles, eliminating any running, Janet and I set out to complete the distance in an acceptable three hours and sixteen minutes by doing just that, walking only with absolutely no running.  Janet, because of her inability to maintain as fast a walk pace as myself, was forced to begin a run/walk routine at around mile-marker three.

Even though the sun never revealed its bright, merry self because of the 100% cloud coverage, the walk across the MacArthur Causeway was still one of scenic beauty.  With the silhouette of Miami proper to our rear, Miami Beach directly in front of us, and several well lit cruise ships to our right, how could one not marvel at such splendor?  God has truly blessed us with the resolution and ability to participate in such stunningly beautiful running events.  There is little wonder why we continue to sign up year after year after year.

Significantly picking up my walk-pace as each mile passed, Janet indicated to me at around mile-marker nine that she was beginning to falter, and that I needed to continue with my quest to beat my previous walking-only, half marathon personal record – a time of 3:08:25 that was accomplished in 2002 when walking the Weston Half Marathon with our good friend, Tina Clark.  Totally shocked at how fast my walk pace had become, I obliged by picking up the walk-pace even more.

To spare you, dear Reader, from all the boring, nondescript details, suffice to say that I recorded a new PR (personal record) of 3:03:00, a time that shocked even me.  Janet, who I believe did better than she expected despite falling behind, came across the finish line only two minutes and forty-five seconds after my crossing.  I was well pleased with my beautiful wife’s failing-is-not-an-option effort. 

Wondering at the finish line just how in the world I ever came up with the energy and endurance to walk so fast, my mind immediately went back to the previous day’s marathon expo – where we ate and drank all kinds of edible samples that promised increased endurance, brain power and libido.  One out of three, or a 333% batting average, is most definitely successful by anyone’s standards.


Now it’s time to work on the other two... 

ING MIAMI MARATHON & HALF MARATHON EXPO

Minus the traffic that's typically associated with driving south of the border into MiamiDade County from Broward County, our drive down to Miami Beach this morning can best be described as breathtaking, stress free, and pleasant. Breathtaking as in the scenery when crossing the Julia Tuttle Causeway, stress free as in no traffic, and pleasant as in having two wonderful friends of ours accompany us to the expo.

Much to our surprise, and delight, the expo had yet to be filled to capacity with fellow runners.  In today’s case, on this beautiful Saturday morning that Northerners would die for, it definitely paid to arrive early.

After receiving our race numbers and goody bags, we drifted from one booth to the next taste testing all edible samples reachable by man or beast.  From juices promising to enhance our brain power and libido, to energy bars promising to give us more oomph, we sampled them all.  We entered the expo hungry and left not.

Safely home, it’s now time to carbo-load and drink, drink, drink – high carb drinks, that is.  We have 13.1 miles to conquer tomorrow at sunrise.    

   

    

  

    

LAST DAY OF TRAINING

   Adhering to a marathon training schedule is next to impossible.  We can scribble down on paper all that we intend to accomplish, mileage, place, time of day we plan to train, but life’s many obstacles always seem to alter about half of what we have planned.  No, make that more than half. 

   What I’m getting at is that no matter our good intentions, or wishes, we find ourselves consistently going to backup plan B, or even to backup to the backup plan B, backup plan C.  Flexibility, so we have learned over time, is a necessary evil when training for a marathon. 

   With Janet’s work schedule being as it is, getting off work late one night and then having to report to work early the next morning, on occasion she finds herself opting for needed sleep over training.  Today was just such a day – and I totally agree with her selection.  In the long run, sacrificing required sleep for marathon training would be detrimental to her overall health.

   I have no excuses, though.  Should I irrationally choose not to train simply because Janet can’t, then shame on me.  Not wanting to be shamed or ridiculed, or told that I’m lazy, that narrows my options down to zero.  So train I must!

   Get thee behind me, bad back and bad knee, for I go forth and walk regardless of your feeble attempts to sloth my body.  Don’t tread on me infirmities, for I shall mock your futility.  Get up, lace those shoes, get out the door, pick your path, just do it, and then finish with pride.

   Today's easy three easy miles was my last training day before Sunday's half marathon.

   I’m looking forward to this Sunday, when my beautiful wife and I, together, shall claim victory again over 13.1 miles of roadways and bridges - no matter the weather.    

            

             

         

OUR PEACEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD WALK

    I love taking walks. Walks are good for you. I even love walks that are fast paced walks, which is what we do when we participate in marathons and must prepare for the same.

    We used to run marathons, but we now walk them.  There are times during a marathon, though,  when we must run, but only when we are forced to make up for lost time whenever we spend too much time in the bushes or in a stinky Jiffy John.  Thankfully, that seldom happens.

   The upside of walking is that if you walk, you can talk. My lovely wife and I enjoy talking while walking.

  Did you know that walking encourages good physical and mental health? Surprised about the mental enhancement? I’m not!

   Walking outdoors and passionately consorting with Mother Nature typically clears the mind of all that ails   it - but only if you allow the debilitating mustiness to be cleansed away. My mind has an enormous exit as well as a wide entrance.

   And the physical part, well, just moving your body rhythmically promotes good aerobic health. Try it, you might like it.

   Today, shortly after enjoying our Starbucks Coffee made in our very own Hamilton Beach coffee maker, my wife and I took a walk, a rather short walk in comparison to some we take, but a walk nonetheless.

   This morning’s rather quick-paced stroll found us circling our regional mall and the lake that acts as a buffer between the mall and our gated community. Both areas are meticulously maintained by the city and the mall people.

  Nothing eventful happened during this morning’s three-mile walk, but we did enjoy the crispness of the morning, the perfectly clear blue sky, the mirror surfaced lake, the numerous hibiscus bushes showing off their red, pink and yellow blossoms, the stately sable and coconut palms, the towering oaks, and the small flock of ducks aimlessly drifting about on the water’s smooth surface, or so it seemed.

   The morning fragrances were obvious, namely two that we discussed while walking underneath a long row of oak trees and leaning bottle-brush trees. The overgrown trees formed a natural tunnel overlapping the rather long, curved sidewalk.

   One fragrance in particular was discernible when walking past the Olive Garden Restaurant. We surmised that the restaurant folks were cooking up some chickens that were being repeatedly basted with lots and lots of delicious Italian spices. I wanted to stop right then and there to eat.

   The other fragrance, first noticed by Janet, was a very faint but noticeable odor that we determined was Downy Ultra Soft Fabric Softener. We recognized the fragrance because we use the same product. Someone, somewhere was evidently drying a load of laundry, and the pleasant aroma was being carried afar by the morning’s gentle wind.

   Auto and truck fumes were noticeably absent.  That both surprised us and pleased us immensely. We did take note that traffic was light from 9:00 a.m. up to 9:44 a.m. when we completed our three miles.

   Weather permitting, we plan on walking again Friday morning.  We're both looking forward to it.

TRAINING FOR THE MIAMI MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON

   Maybe it’s the bad timing of the annual ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon or the simple fact that I’m slow as molasses in January. Whichever it may be, probably a little bit of both, for the past seven years my performance in Miami’s annual event has been predictably dreadful. 

   For the past four years, not including this year, I’ve had to run and walk the Miami half marathon while still recovering from Disney’s Goofy Challenge. Participating in another half marathon only 21 days after running a Goofy is asking a bit much, at least in my opinion it is. Same goes for the three years prior to Goofy’s 2006 inauguration. Only during those years, I was either recovering from running a Disney full or half marathon or still recovering from a bad knee that was begging to retire. Not as bad, but still significant. In either case, I’ve always gone into a Miami event exhausted and still recovering from previous Disney World injuries, both minor and major.

   So what should a person do if they wish to continue with their unbroken string of Miami runs? Our original goal was to run five Miami half’s in a row so that we could earn our “Five Palm Jacket,” a light weight jacket offered to those who began running Miami from the very beginning in 2003. We did earn those attractive jackets, and now were determined to earn whatever it is they will offer to those who run ten straight Miami marathons or half marathons.

   This year’s run, taking place on the 31^st of January, is the eighth annual ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon. Three more to go and we will earn our free whatever gift. I hope the marathon folks keep their promise.

   These two pictures, by the way, were taken during the first ING Miami Marathon in 2003 and the last ING Miami Marathon in 2009.

   Anyway, other than a couple of very slow three-mile walks around our neighborhood, we have not trained whatsoever since the Goofy Challenge. And with only six days remaining until the event, we don’t plan on doing much more than a couple more slow-as-molasses walks.

   At our current fitness level, which hasn’t dropped that much since Disney World, it’s better for us to go into a half marathon healthy. By saying that it’s better for us to go into a half marathon healthy, I mean walking without any Goofy Challenge related aches and pains. As of this writing, January 25^th, we both feel fairly good. Janet is still recovering from a bad head and chest cold that began shortly after the Goofy, but by this coming Sunday she should be 100% over it.

   Me? I’m looking forward to the challenge and ultimately earning another finisher’s medal that will undoubtedly be disrespectfully tossed into an old tattered shoe box labeled "Marathon Medals."

Monday the 25th, around noontime:

    I just arrived home from a 3.6 mile walk around our regional mall and a few winding roads located within the security walls of our gated community.

   Cloudy and 81 degrees made for a perfect short-distance training walk and the numerous clowns that were driving around the mall beeping their car horns at God knows what or who added some divertive humor. Some folks in our area appear to have the Manhattan, NY disease, beep your horn just to hear yourself beeping. It makes no sense whatsoever. Then again, they have no sense.

   Anyway, after one mile of walking, my back and knee loosened up enough to give me an average pace that would easily place me over the Miami half-marathon finish line well before their time limit. I was well pleased with the walk.

   It's now time for a refreshing strawberry smoothie.

Tuesday the 26th:

   Janet’s three miles on one of the fitness center’s treadmills and my weight machine routine just about rounded out our workout for Tuesday the 26th.

   Janet complained about the heat and stuffiness inside the gym as soon as we walked in from the pleasant outdoors. Others complained about the heat as well. I thought it was unmercifully hot myself, but working out only on the machines didn’t place me in a treadmill sweat mode.

   Too bad modern buildings are not made so that windows can be opened and closed. With yesterday’s temperature right around 72 degrees, think of how pleasant the gym would have been with the windows wide open, not to mention the energy saved from not having to control the climate inside.

   Humans never learn!

WALT DISNEY WORLD'S GOOFY'S RACE AND A HALF CHALLENGE

As if life in general isn’t difficult enough, for the past five years my wife and I have voluntarily thrown ourselves into the fire and brimstone abyss by signing up for Walt Disney World’s “Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge,” a self-destructive, body annihilating running event that is also known as Disney World’s “Goofy Challenge.” And to add insult to injury, we paid lots and lots of money to be physically brutalized at our own choosing. It may be safe to reason that we are platonic masochists of sorts.

First off, one may wonder what the hell is Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, aka, the Goofy Challenge. Please allow me to boastfully explain.

The “Race” part is a full marathon, all 26.2 miles of it, run on the second day of this distinguished two-day event and run though all of Walt Disney World’s theme parks as well as many linked roads. The “Half” is a half marathon, 13.1 miles of roadways and two Disney World theme parks blissfully encountered on the first day of the double event. The “Goofy” part is exactly what we are for signing up in the first place, goofy. And the “Challenge” is precisely what the word implies, a challenge to remain alive and well during two days of back-to-back, long-distance endurance runs.

There is a happy side to this insane madness, though. For beginners, we thoroughly enjoy our pre-race meals with friends and family. For the most part, all pre-race meals typically include pasta in some shape or form. We may even opt for pizza. Anything high in carbohydrates! This year’s pre-race meals were enjoyed at Macaroni Grill and Uno’s Italian Restaurant, both located in the bustling resort town of Lake Buena Vista right down the street from our budget resort, Disney’s All Star Sports Resort.

We also enjoy the camaraderie and occasional comedy of suffering alongside a few of our equally goofy friends as well as with those who have not gone off the deep end. Not alone in our demented choice of running events, a small group within our local running group ventures with us into the world of unknowns, unknowns such as Disney World’s January weather. Central Florida’s unpredictable weather this year is a story in itself.

This year's Goofy Challenge, however, was no different than the past four Goofy Challenges, except for one thing. Wait, make that two things. I'll get to the second one in a moment.

When packing our sport duffel bags in preparation for our four day Disney get-a-way, in amongst our multiple running equipment, stuff like running shoes, shorts, socks, singlet’s, many sweatshirts and sweatpants in case we were met with cold temperatures, even buffs and ski caps, we also included many doubts whether or not we would even be able to complete the double runs. With Janet not being properly trained because of her relentless work schedule and me with my nagging back and knee issues, we had numerous anxieties regarding our potential to even complete 39.3 miles of walking and occasional running.

Anyway, despite the many weather forecasts that I so graciously sent out to our running group on a daily basis, who would have guessed that we would be running and walking while sleet occasionally stung our exposed faces? Or who could have speculated that we would be watching light snow flurries drift down to earth, visible only when we would run near a lit street lamp? Or how about slipping and sliding on ice patches when gingerly passing through several of the water stops? The sub-freezing temperatures and steady wind were brutal by themselves. Throw in a preview of the popular "Ice Capades," or "Disney on Ice," and that immediately raises the event’s degree of difficulty twofold, maybe even threefold.

Back to the race itself, we managed to survive the 39.3 miles despite the inclement weather and despite our slower than normal running/walking pace. You see, Walt Disney World doesn’t just make you complete the designated mileage, they also set up a finishing time limit in which you must adhere to unless, of course, you wish to be embarrassed and humiliated by being picked up by the slacker’s bus. Being picked up by the bus would be devastating to anyone’s ego. Seeing as though I’m a man of sky high narcissistic principles, I would rather die than be picked up by “the dastardly bus.”

Because I have personally completed the past five Goofy Challenges within Disney’s allotted time frame, the very first Goofy Challenge taking place in the year 2006 (Jan ran only the full marathon that year, pacing me each mile of the way), Disney World labeled me and all others within that distinguished group, “Perfectly Goofy.” I, as well as everyone else in the group, I’m sure, feel honored and exalted beyond our wildest imagination for holding such a gratifying title. The feeling of accomplishment and completeness is overwhelming.

But is this ecstatic feeling enough to prompt Janet and me to sign up again for the sixth year in a row?

Athletes are constantly reminded to listen to their bodies, not just in running but in all sports. Pain and discomfort are nature’s way of telling us to give it some serious thought before blindly leaping into another event or game.

Janet had an upper back issue while walking and running this year's Goofy and I had a lower back issue. My back problem is Spinal Stenosis and Janet’s is still undetermined. And then there is my left knee matter that is related to a knee operation going way back to 2001. Janet must also consider her lack of time to properly train for a double event such as the Goofy.

Meanwhile, we have a half marathon coming up in two weeks, the ING Miami Half Marathon, an event that we’ve run and completed the past seven years. We’re shooting for ten straight.

Even though money is secondary to our long-term goal of excellent health, we must grudgingly consider the high price of signing up again for the Goofy Challenge. In my opinion, well over $600.00 for a two-day running event is quite excessive when compared to the price tag of similar running events elsewhere. I don’t care if the event is in Walt Disney World or God’s own heavenly sports arena, the amount of money it takes to run the Goofy is preposterously exorbitant.

I haven’t even mentioned the higher-than-average asking price of staying in Disney’s resorts, a must when running Disney events. I must add, though, that the just-over $100.00 per night at the All Star Resort is well within our fixed, poor man’s budget.

Having said all that, the jury is still out regarding our future running status in Walt Disney World. Look before leaping is inexplicably foreign to me, but for the first time in our recorded history we will allow ourselves to mend before leaping into the online sign-up arena.

During our current deliberations, we are 70% sure that we will not be signing up again for the Goofy Challenge or any other 2011 running event in Walt Disney World. However, 70% chance of rain means that there is a 30% chance of clear skies.

And speaking for both of us, we are not playing the age card. Even at 68 years and 49 years respectively, age to us is completely irrelevant in our diminutive decision-making quorum.

Our two furry kitty cats have already cast their votes for us to remain home. Santana and Gigi reportedly missed us terribly while we were away.

Oh crap, what have I done? I done went and signed up for the 2011 Goofy Challenge despite what I wrote above. I just can't help myself.

It must be all about the medals...

WELCOME TO MY WALKING AND EXERCISE BLOG

I have promised myself that I will leave out anything and everything from this blog that is not directly related to exercise and/or walking. I say walking because that’s what I have become, a walker - and a fairly decent one at that.

Even though the following article was written some time ago, and despite downgrading to a speed-walker due to being diagnosed with spinal stenosis after 15 years of being an active runner, I feel it necessary to post this short article to show why I continue to participate in long distance running events, events such as marathons, etc., and why I refuse to give up hope by further regressing to the confines of a comfortable couch with a TV remote in hand.

Okay, so I do occasionally sit or lay on our couch with remote in hand, but only for brief entertainment sessions in between being active within the decorative walls of our small condo. For the most part, my inner condo activities include energetically playing with our two frisky kittens, happily coexisting with my lovely wife in all normal every day and evening activities, passionately writing down my many thoughts with the help of this computer in our comfy home office, doing all of the housework and loving it, and maintaining a workout schedule that would make a much younger and more physically able person quite proud.

Now that I have bored and mystified some of you with the above, here is the opening article. After this article and another short article reference competition, I'll begin posting everything that has to do with our exercise and walking regimens for the year 2010 and beyond. I promise - scout's honor!

Why I Run:

During one of my recent predawn training runs, I came upon an individual that was slothfully leaning against a rather large oak tree. While keeping a watchful eye on his puppy, a tiny little thing that was comically sniffing around for the perfect spot, the obviously out-of-shape, rotund gentleman was ingesting an early morning dose of poison from a cigarette that was repulsively hanging from his crooked mouth.

In my passing, he cynically murmured the question in my direction, “Why are you always running?” My inner sarcastic self wanted to respond, “So I will not look like you." Knowing that such a comment would certainly promote conflict, I chose to simply shrug my shoulders and run on by.

As my marathon training run continued, I realized that this person of enfeebled character opened up a question that could only be addressed with multiple answers. This very question has been one of great preponderance in my own mind on several long, arduous, exhausting runs.

The reasons for running are several and diverse, with not any one any more consequential than the other.

The majority of my runs are solo, with this silent solitude being a welcomed reversal from the typical assailment of unsolicited ado in my life. Running affords me my time of contemplation and assessment. My thoughts, ideas, dreams and emotions are unimpeded by forces beyond my control. This is my time for expressing joy or sadness, for outwardly laughing at life or occasionally weeping for less fortunate people than I, all without the feeling of embarrassment for letting my emotions surface.

Running is an exercise mastered or failed only by one self. The most expertise coach can only advise but cannot render any assistance in the actual physical training. In competitive running, the person who initially reaches the finish line is inarguably the winner. There is nothing political, judicious, opinionated, or prejudicial about competitive running. You can either bask in self-exaltation or you can cast the blame on yourself for not meeting your expectations. You’re in total control of your successes or failures.

My exercise equipment has been given to me from God and is accessible to all at no costs. My countless running trails are embellished from start to finish with nature’s finest decor. With its magnificent trees, seasonal flowers, and an occasional orchestral choir offered from the myriad of morning birds, nature’s spectacular treadmill is teeming with perpetual magnificence.

I’ve not yet mentioned the camaraderie with colleagues who share in this love of running. To share with others, stride for stride and breath for breath, the titillation of achieving certain goals, is beyond description. To be uplifted, or to do the uplifting during a long run, is what it’s all about. Perhaps we should have the world take note and follow our example.

As long as I am blessed with the ability to run, I shall do so with a grateful heart. As long as I am able to run, my thoughts and prayers will be with those who are not capable.

COMPETITION

Competition, as seen by RW Joslyn


Staring in disbelief at our dining room table, I mentioned to Jan that just yesterday I had thoroughly dusted our condo and that I could not comprehend why there remained a thin layer of the unmerciful powder, again, invading the table’s surface at free will. Her reply was without hesitation and unfortunately factual. “Dust has always been and will always be,” she volunteered. And so it is, as with dust so is competition.

Competition is a word frequently used to illustrate a contest between rivals, multi parties acting independently to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms, or possibly a word to describe the ever occurring comparisons we must endure in our daily lives. Some comparative words and phrases are bout, clash, contention, encounter, fight, game, match-up, opposition, tug-of-war, and even dog-eat-dog.

Competition possibly started before mankind’s existence. The Bible has it that God and Satan fought for the angels, hence the fallen angels that went the way of the devil. And then came man, and the same battle raged for the soul of man. And along with that incessant battle, man began competing with one another in every manner of life. Mankind competed for land, for food and water, for materialistic wants, for lovers, for positions, and much more. Life has not changed in modern times. Today, some of the competitive measures have been ingenuously transformed, but the situation remains destructively similar.

So is competition good?

Have you heard the phrase, "Competition is healthy?" Much of the competition today causes strife, tension, anxieties, and stress, which may lead to mental or physical issues. Competitive failure has led many down the dismal path of acute depression. And competitive success has led some to affluence and materialistic blindness.

Athletic competition is big today. I believe that most people express more interest as to who their professional athletic teams draft over who is voted into a political office. Monetarily, literally billions of dollars are spent annually to support athletic competition worldwide. This amount is astronomically staggering. And because countries must compete militarily to safe guard their land and way of life from possible attack, the world spends more money in one day on their armies than would be needed to feed all the hungry inhabitants of our world for a year. This, in tandem with athletic competition money, all of which could be more appropriately used to eradicate sub-standard living conditions that millions of people suffer from daily, should be unanimously unacceptable. But this is not a perfect world by any stretch of our imagination.

The question remains, is competition healthy?

In some cases, you must give an affirmative answer. I personally think it’s possible. In the case of industry, we have what might be referred to as “perfect competition," whereas the ideal is to have conditions under which competition would achieve maximum effectiveness, such as superior products and low prices for those products. This is usually the exception rather than the rule. So we have what is referred to as “workable competition”. In this case, there is one firm that may have dominance over smaller firms and will influence market prices and conditions. Occasionally, the government must intervene into the market through antitrust action or direct regulation in order to improve the situation.

Continuing with the question, the answer must dwell within each individual. Open your mind and attempt to view things in a different perspective. Try to imagine a world where no one is competing with one another. Imagine a society where everyone is striving for the same goal of good health and happiness. No militaries, the non-existence of insolent millionaire ball players, no areas, be they cities, states, or countries exhibiting animosity towards one another because of their competing ball teams. Seriously, have you ever sat in a football or soccer stadium and witnessed the fights between opposing fans? Is that healthy? Have you ever seen a child unable to “cut it” like his or her peers, and then suffer through a comparative crisis? Ask that child if competition is healthy.

Yes, there can be healthy and fun competition if kept in the proper attitude. During my childhood, I recall some of those fun backyard croquet games where no one took into account winning or losing. Just play the game and have some fun and laughs. By maintaining this position, there were no losers, only winners.

I’m a runner. I enter competitive running events. I have long ago decided not to compete with anyone except against myself. This eliminates the inevitable human nature of envy, stress, or even malice.

Competition is at an all time fanatical pace in our current culture. We are so focused on doing things quicker, farther, higher, that we fail to reap the simple enjoyment of…just doing. The cooperate world continues to deprive us of our quality time, instilling in us their own greedy, fanatical tempo. Any chance of a tranquil existence and family cohesiveness has been placed on the back burner in the name of gains and profits. Pharmaceutical companies who major in stress relief pills continue to profit by our willingness to submit to competitions callous, malevolent side.

Should our primary goal be to win at all costs and not enjoy or even remember the journey? Or is it personally more priceless to have success within, enjoy the journey, and be happy at travels end.

It’s your choice...