The 2nd Most Ridiculous Ticket I Have Received While Training

Wednesday, for the second time in my life I was ticketed while training and given a court date.  I understand the need for laws and the resultant chaos that would ensue if anarchy proliferated society.  As a result, I am usually a sucker for following the rules and the first to object to other’s careless actions.  I do, however, draw a line and while training I focus on getting a quality workout.   Coincidentally the only tickets I have ever received have been while training.

The first time I was ticketed was while road biking in Colorado 2 summers ago.  I was winding through neighborhoods back to my place when a police officer proceeded to pull me over for “rolling a stop sign.”  It is an understatement to say I was frustrated.  He even wrote up the make, model, year and color of my vehicle.  The best I could even tell him was old, red, rusty Maruishi.  What put me over the top though was when he said I needed to put my feet down in order to come to a complete stop at each sign.  I ended up having to go to court to protest the ticket.  With some work I managed to not pay a $100 traffic violation.

Murphy at it's best earlier winter

Wednesday called for 5 minute classic intervals starting in level 3 and building to level 4.  I was determined to get a solid workout in after having spent the day before driving to multiple stores looking for klister only to realize that all the small bike/ski shops close to my house had already gotten ride of their winter inventory.   Murphy Hanrehan is only a few miles away and one of my favorite places in the world to ski and run.  The skiing was been incredible at Murphy this year so I head there again this morning knowing with the warm weather and rain that conditions might be sub par.   I pulled into the parking lot, which is rarely staffed and was informed by a park worker that they were closing the trail and locking the gate to the parking lot.  I know the park better then anyone so I drove down a gravel road and hopped on the trails from a secondary access point.  The snow was soft but coverage was solid and having finished my workout I returned to my car.  Waiting for me was a ticket for “skiing on closed trails” and a court date in March.  Not even a mention of a fine just a court date.  It makes me laugh a little and then I remember that I have to deal with it.

There is still snow to be found and training to do before Supertour finals in Maine.  Best of luck finding some legal snow!