Coming In Hot

The first stop on the Comeback Trail for the Goodfellas was an impromptu strategy and planning meeting in Lake Placid this past weekend. After Nipplehonker ("NH") finally decided to ditch his prior commitments for Saturday afternoon allowing for a Friday night departure, the Goodfellas settled on Lake Placid as a venue. We reserved a top of the line cabin at Whispering Pines Campground in Lake Placid.





Everything being an adventure for the Goodfellas, we coasted into the campground at 2AM on fumes as a result of poorly judging our fuel level and every gas station north of exit 25 on I-87 being closed. Immediately, the Goodfellas reverted to top form using their exceptional wilderness skills to create a large campfire worthy of this epic reunion. After the fire was tended to, the Goodfellas consumed fine libations courtesy of the Busch family, discussed their plans for the future, and then retired to bed at an hour that most would consider early morning.

Saturday morning brought a delightful round of golf at Whiteface Country Club.



After golf, the Goodfellas procured provisions for a feast and proceeded to stock their bodies with protein for the coming months of training.



After consuming their feast, the Goodfellas again built a prodigious campfire and proceeded to map out their plans for the coming year.



The discussion carried on late into the night and spilled over to the early morning. The result is this: the Goodfellas have mapped out two ventures for the coming year: (1) to compete in and complete the 2008 Florida Half Ironman (see link on right); and (2) a top secret 2008 Catskills venture which we believe would be the first of its kind. With respect to (2), the Goodfellas respectfully decline to elaborate any further in order to protect the virginity of the venture. While we would never expect another trail duo to "steal" our idea (the mountaineering ethos frowns upon such behavior), the venture would lose a great deal of its appeal to us should it first be completed by someone else. As time goes by and we come nearer to the starting date of this Catskills venture, we will reveal more details.

With respect to (1), the Goodfellas have laid out an ambitious weight-loss plan and subsequent training plan, the details of which are forthcoming in a later post. Of course, our efforts to train for the Florida Half Ironman will bring us to the mountains again as the mountains offer excellent training opportunities. You can expect those mountain excursions undertaken in the name of Ironman training to be fully reported and documented here in the coming months. These training sessions in the mountains will also, in most cases, serve the dual purpose of preparing us for our secret Catskills venture as well.

So, there is it...a broad road map for the Goodfellas upcoming year...stay tuned for more, we'll be coming in hot all year long.