We can not believe that we are so old we are now in a class called Veterans. We suggest a new name such as "Racers who have raced in Laird's series since college and are now more experienced."

Do we get served dinner at 4 p.m. now?

Lung Boy is our new fourth Person after Habbee Baby could not make it. The following is an email exchange between Brent and the other teamates to assure that Lung Boy understands the gravity of the situation. Matt's comments are in parenthesis.

I will acquiesce to Lung Boy racing, but he needs to understand the magnitude of the endeavor. We have been doing this for who knows how long. ( 12 Years )
We have only had (not needed) a ringer three times. To be picked to be our fourth is an honor that should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, being the new kid, we should educate Lung on the following: ( Don't Read Any Further )
1.      A rainbow Frisbee is given to the team member that pulls the fastest lap. Although it is recognition amongst the teammates, it is really just a token gesture. The point is to have fun and finish the lap for the team. I do not even think about the stupid Frisbee. ( even though he gets it every year and somehow manages to train without anybody knowing )
2.       You do not want to start the race. You have to run and sometimes ride a longer distance in the middle of a pack that bottlenecks at every turn. Basically it is throwing away a lap that could get you the Frisbee. ( so why do you hate the first lap? )
BUT considering that the Frisbee is just a meaningless incidental, it is fun to have thousands of people cheering you on. ( whine whine whine )
3.      Be careful if you are handing the baton off to Matt. Sometimes during the night, he gets very antsy to ride and may scratch your lap so that he does not have to wait any longer. ( 4 hours is a long time )
4.      Do not show Don any dead animals that may be in the vicinity, he likes to wear them. ( Don looks fetching in road kill headgear )
5.      Do not eat fair food. ( works fine for me )
6.      Be careful if I am handing the baton off to you. My lap times are typically inconsistent. I will either be at the staging area in decent time or I am ridiculously late because I am carrying my bike. ( or he may sneak through the staging area to get an extra lap or two )
7.      Be careful leaving your bike at the camp site, parts may disappear off of it and miraculously appear on other teammates bikes. Be especially careful not to take Don's bike without at least giving him the common courtesy of asking him. The same also applies to Matt's bike after the race is over. ( you are so sensitive )
8.      Make sure your tent is upwind of Don's. For some reason, Don finds that the race is a good time to experiment with mixing new supplements and cheese wiz. ( yuck )
9.      The underlying premise is that we start as a team and finish as a team. That means that we do not try to screw our fellow teammates. For example, if you tell the next person not to worry about being at the staging area because you will come to the campsite to wake them after a (one, 1, uno) lap - do so. Do not let the next person wake on their own accord 6 hours later after you have completed 3 laps. ( you started it )
10.     Whenever there is a camera around, ham it up.

As expected, the Lung Boy is merely a place holder for the real fourth team wheel.  Feel not sorry for the Lung. This scenario was predicted well in advance (Cuteness can confirm).  I am reminded of dating.  Expectations (a 24 hour bike race is the greatest thing since sliced bread) are built up, then whamo!  Someone better is found and you are as a flat tire.  Now all I need is to be the team's fifth wheel, read-headed step child, etc...