Alleycat? DC leg of The Triple Crown? Race Report? Sure... I will try to write something down... even if no one will ever read it...
other than my selfies photos snagged of SleazyG's Instagram
I will share a few of his photos because Greg takes some good shots
this is the start at Dupont Circle
that Dice Game!
that time consuming Dice Game!
before getting into the "Race Report" I need to admit that it is already Tuesday... a few days after the event... I slapped the keyboard at one sitting... rather than edit I deleted all that I typed and then started in with something else... I will do a quick re-read of this... make an add or an edit... the Publish and Post
it was cool to hear that PJ aka Paul Joyner was going to host an Alleycat
although he has raced many in town and out of town Alleycats it was not clear what sort of format Paul was going to create... I had not heard any leaks on the street of what one might expect from the day
it was super cool to have DC team up with Baltimore and Richmond to bring back The Triple Crown
People raced in Baltimore on Saturday
Sunday would be the Washington, DC race
then on Monday\Memorial Day proper people would be racing in Richmond
these days have since passed... I have not seen any announcement of the General Classification and how people placed who did All Three Days of Racing... curious how it scored... I will share a link if I find it...
RACE REPORT: Triple Crown - The DC Leg of Baltimore\DC\Richmond over the three day Memorial Day Weekend
in the classic way...
just as I like to say...
the event that emulates a work culture where making the delivery "On Time" often starts its events late...
this late start was not unexpected
races with out of town guests often start late
then also... this would be the first Alleycat event hosted by Paul Joyner aka PJ
thus the chance of a late start
being Paul's first time hosting an Alleycat... fingers were crossed that there would not be too many if any "glitches"
I had not heard any leaks prior to the event of what might be expected
PJ is professional messenger with Alleycat experience at home and abroad
so... he has experienced all sorts of different formats
there was no guessing of what to expect
in the classic DC courier style... the race start would be Dupont Circle
I rolled into the park as the clock was approaching 3PM
my day had been busy with life stuff
and
I did not want to hang out in the heat for too long before racing
I arrived somewhat panicked around 3PM... fearing I might miss the start
only to learn on my arrival that the start time was pushed back 30 minutes
Paul Joyner was tying up loose ends... printing the manifest and I am not sure what else...
this gave plenty of time for socializing
as I mixed and mingled I tried to get a sense of what was to expect from the day
checked the crowd to see who would be the potential top contenders for the day
if this were a horse race... what horses would I bet on...
with all this idle time I made small talk with some unfamiliar faces
"where are you from?"
"did you race in Baltimore yesterday?"
"are you racing in Richmond tomorrow?"
that sort of thing
in those discussion I tried to share who I thought might be the racers to chase...
Brian Clark... SleazyG... Johnny W... Gabe or Dario?
off the top of my head... I think this may have been the list of people worth chasing
then mention of Andy Zalan and Bruce for a less speedy but often very effective racers to chase
in this mixing and mingling I learned that we would be finishing at Fletcher's Cove
Fletcher's Cove would be the finish and the manifest would take racers to all four quadrants of Washington DC
Fletcher's Cove was a bit of a question mark to some
the various ways to approach Fletcher's were clear to me
no matter where in the city I would have to approach this spot... I felt confident that I could manage a good route to Fletcher's Cove without reaching for the Map on the Phone
then it happened... after many passes through Dupont Circle... what we all came her for was about to begin
Paul Joyner was finally back in Dupont with manifests in hand
the Check Point volunteers had left for their posts and we were going though a pre race meeting
there was a call out for racers who had raced in Baltimore to head to the front
it was humorous to be part of this cattle call
the front of the pack was the back of the pack and back again as Paul paced around the park gather the last few pieces of his performance art puzzle
and the mob followed
as it turned out... in addition to a manifest with addresses out of order
there would be an additional two stops
every person would roll three dice two times
two standard six sided dice would add up to be the Number Street part of the intersection equation
then a Dungeons and Dragon style 26 sided di would determine the Alphabet Street Part of the intersection equation...
in the prerace meeting there was all sorts of push back as to when people got manifests and when people got to leave
it was agreed that everyone could get the manifest after everyone had rolled their dice and got their two more than likely unique Intersection Assignments
it was a fun process... it took some time...
everyone was huddled around watching each person's roll... trying to imagine the most sensible quadrant to try and hit that intersection... which was a bit of a guess... because other than the rumor of the Fletcher's Boathouse finish spot... the Checkpoints were unknown... other than it was said it would take racers through all four quadrants (NW\NE\SW\SE)
I rolled last... or maybe second to last...
by this time I thought there was no real concern that anything would be too far out
on the first roll I got a combined number of SIX and then an O as in Opera
so I would have to find a 6th and O Street in one of the four quadrants that did not take me too far away from the other CheckPoint Destinations
then on the second roll I had a combined six sided dice of 3 and a side of the 26 sided di that was a Wild Card
at that moment it was not clear how I would execute that...
in the classic courier pirate shenanigans there were some racers looking over PJ's shoulder and reading the checkpoint destinations off the manifest in Paul's hands
it was so much the majority of racers that it was funny
it was as if each person who finished rolling the dice then took a turn standing over PJ's shoulder and copying the addresses
I knew we would all get the manifests and have a minute to read through things so I did not bother to do much more than take a peak at the manifest as I watched the rolling of the dice
I must admit...
I will say it sours me that people are so Smart Phone Navigation dependent
that said... I do not know if I would know how to effectively use my Phone to create a route... I guess the list of searchers remains? and then... I guess I could figure it out
I am familiar with Washington DC
to me there is an internal map
knowledge of the city
connect the dots in your head
and sometimes... usually modify on the fly... often double checking that your initial assumptions maintain as your best trajectory
rarely do I check my phone... but some destinations merit such
with all the races done with the roll of the dice process the manifests were handed out
names were on the manifests
they were handed out in order to give an advantage to those racers from out of town and then also the races who had raced the day prior in the Baltimore leg of the triple crown
just as there was mixing and mingling - there was also some socializing and strategizing
just as I had recommended various strategies to the racers I had talked to
I had to decide upon my own strategy
over the past many years I have had races where things worked themselves out such that I ended up riding with Legend Bruce...
did I chase him out of the park? maybe sometimes...
other times it could be a few checkpoint stops into the race and you get an understanding that the each people had worked out the same ordering of the checkpoints on the manifest
thus... riding together... teaming up... which can smooth things out sometimes... maybe help to push the pace and give someone to shoot the shit with
then if there is confusion... two heads may be better than one
Bruce and I talked about racing together... then also wondered if John Dinn would also want to work together... all having strong knowledge of the streets and similar engines... all three of us being a little older than the average racers... our top speed may be slower... we may not take the same risks... but we will flow through fast and fluid while making good routing along the way
later I would learn that Suave and Dinn had rolled the same pair of Intersection Assignments and had decided to team up... both of them having years and years of messenger experience... both of them currently employed by Urban Stems... Urban Stems has a reputation for only hiring some of the most dependable messengers in the city... is dependable messenger an oxymoron?
then it happened... it was not as if we had been waiting for more than an hour for the race to start... yet somehow - it all came as a surprise... I can not recall if Paul said go... Get the Fuck Out of Here.... or what... but the race had started...
at the release some were quicker to the bike than others...
racers left Dupont Circle headed in different directions
racers fanned out in ALL DIRECTIONS
instead of getting caught up in the swarm and the chaos
I walked to my bike
then took a few quick steps and mounted up
over my shoulder I could see Bruce headed towards a different sidewalk exit of the park of Dupont Circle than I had expected
quickly I looped towards Bruce... already breathing hard and we are not even out of the park - I ask if we are still going to the 1700 Block of Mass. Ave Check Point... no... there has already been a modification of the plan... we are headed to what I can not recall... but may have been 22nd and Q Street... The Masaryk statue... I chase Bruce down P Street... when I think I would have stayed on Mass. Ave.
we shoot down P Street dodging all sorts of confused car drivers... drivers looking for parking spaces... drivers looking to make a U Turn... drivers looking at their phones... when we get to 22nd Street I am rolling up past what used to be the Brickskeller... and Bruce loops back to the statue in the park... I loop back with him... as Bruce checks the statue... I check the manifest... not this statue - we are quick to be back on the bike and back onto 22nd Street pushing towards the park at 22nd and Q Street adjacent to Massachusetts Avenue where some unknown person has a statue that was selected as a checkpoint location for some reason...
not having my manifest it is hard to recall...
I think this was a "manned checkpoint" where we picked up a sticker and got a signature on the manifest
wham bam thank you man!
the race had begun... we were racing... already flustered... already scatterbrained...
then... back on the bike and back onto the Massachusetts Ave. pointing to the Mass Ave. checkpoint...
at this time there were three people in our little pack
long time messenger Johnny W., Legend Bruce, and myself
Johnny is one of the horses I was betting on to win today
which had me wondering
would Bruce and I burn out if we tried to hang with Johnny's intensity?
or
would Johnny mistakenly drop pace to chill with the fellas?
we rolled through the circular driveway on Mass. Ave got our signatures and then pointed to Argyle Market in Mount Pleasant
we backtracked half a block on Mass. Ave. and took 18th Street all the way up through Adams Morgan
Johnny started to pull ahead... not far ahead... but moving slightly faster and slowly gaining ground
where Adams Morgan blurs into Mount Pleasant Bruce cut through Pigeon Park while I went wrong way against traffic on the far right and lane of 16th Street
Johnny was maybe a block ahead so I do not know how he traversed this intersection
at Mount Pleasant Street the three of us were basically together....
for me it was a sprint down memory lane as I lived in Mount Pleasant for over 20 years!
past Don Juan's and the ceramic arch in Lamont Park by Hester Nelson... a friend who died in a car accident in Rock Creek Park decades ago...
past the bike share stations and pointing to the corner of Mount Pleasant and Park
again... Argyle Market... it is a manned checkpoint
we were each given an envelope
I ask if we should open it... I ask if it has another destination... I am told it is meaningless... but sure... I can open it... I do not open it... I am on the bike and Bruce is already two car lengths ahead of me
for much of the day Bruce would be two car lengths ahead of me..,
as we left Mount Pleasant and got some speed on 16th Street going downhill... Bruce coasted... I pedaled fast... it shocked me... I thought my weight disadvantage would become an advantage and pull me faster down the hill, but not on this day... Bruce coasted no handed and reviewed his manifest as I over spun my 10 Speed cyclocross bike with flat bars
as we navigated between bumper to bumper cars and Red Lights at Speed... we discussed what our random locations were and created a plan...
it turns out our rolls were such that it would work out pretty simply
we would split up and go to our two Dice Roll Locations and meet back up at the North Capital Street Checkpoint Location
Bruce was headed to 11th and T or something like that...
I had to go a little further down... to 6th and O Street... this Northwest intersection worked well... then as I rode I considered my second dice generated destination... it made sense for me to used my WILD CARD and make the combination 3rd and O Street just blocks away... and then I would point towards the 1700 Block of North Capital Street
as I pedaled I thought about where I was... questioned where Bruce might be... thought about whether I would call Bruce on the phone if I arrive at the North Capital Street checkpoint and he is not there... it is not uncommon for time to get blurred... messengers measure "weight time" differently... seconds are minutes... a minute is five minutes... if Bruce felt he was waiting too long... there is the chance he could leave
in our discussion it was said that I would go to one of the locations and I think that Bruce had only mentioned one... but in our separation... we both had decided that we could efficiently knock out both of our different destinations
as I rolled down the sidewalk on North Capital Street I could see Bruce was already at the location
it was a photo of the pipes at this address
as I pulled out my phone Dario pulled up not to the sidewalk behind me
Dario dismounted his bike... as Dario went to prop his bike against the wall he slammed my leg with his rear wheel
Dario was quick with the apology... I said... WIN AT ALL COST! WHATEVER IT TAKES!
we had a quick laugh and posed for a selfie together
checkpoint photo of pipes taken
objective achieved... time to move on...
we were all on the bike logic would say we were all headed the same way... Union Market... 300 Morse Whatever...
we had lost Johnny and picked up Dario
but not really
Dario is like an El Salvadorian Frank Sinatra... he wants to do it HIS WAY
Florida Avenue was the fastest but the most congested option to get to Union Market from where we were on North Capitol Street
Bruce took a side street a few blocks before Florida... trying to avoid the chaos
we went on maybe Randolph to Eckington... making a square instead of a diagonal
headed to 300 Morse Place I had mentioned to Bruce that it was at Union Market... so he knew the basic route... but I think I had a stronger idea of where we might be headed... as we rolled closer... I realize it was The Gentry... I had used this as a timed checkpoint in one of my Dead City Alleycats....
the approach from Florida Avenue to The Gentry has a access point just after going under the train tracks
there are a set of stairs and also a super long set of switchbacks for a handicap ramp sidewalk option
DARIO ARRIVES AT THE BASE OF THE STAIRS JUST AS I HIT THE BASE OF THE RAMP!
it is a race... and in my mind it is a test.... I had wondered about which way was faster... running up the stairs or riding up the ramp... here was my chance to find out... Dario was going for it... playing soccer that morning must have warmed up those legs because he was taking the stairs like he was trying to win a cyclocross race... while I spun it fast up the switch back having to slow dramatically at each switch back turn... having to ask a delivery guy on an e-bike to clear the path I laughed as the timing between running up the stairs and trying to sprint the switch backs was so similar
we reached the top at the same time
BUT! AND THIS IS A BIG BUTT!
I think I exerted far less effort
to me... that was a victory
and... with my Achilles injury of years past... I am not sure if I am sprinting up any stairs with a bicycle over my shoulder... at least not on this day
at The Gentry we had to take a photo in the Gentry lobby...
we catch a door as someone exits... the three of us are snapping selfies
well... Dario and I are snapping selfies
Bruce is cussing at his phone
not sure if it sweat or what is causing complications
Bruce can not get his phone to take a photo
I use this as a moment to catch my breath
there are a few young women watching us swarm around
Dario and I give them a quick synopsis of an Alleycat... basically a Scavenger Hunt on bikes... Dario is gone... they are wishing us luck... Bruce has resolved his photo issue and is on the bike... we are off to an address on 8th Street near Barracks Row
Dario is gone... Bruce is two car lengths ahead of me... at one point I feel that Bruce is going too far on Maryland Avenue - it is a diagonal that is subtlety going the direction we do not want to go so I start cutting over... thinking... my route will be faster, turning off now should help me catch Bruce, and we will meet at 8th Street check point at the same time
a few blocks later... maybe I take another right and another left and then I am a half a block behind Dario
I follow Dario... but only because we are taking the same path - the diagonal street which may be North Carolina off Lincoln Park towards Eastern Market is good routing
onto 8th Street and sure enough... Bruce pops up in between Dario and myself
we cross the madness and chaos at Pennsylvania Avenue at the same time
onto a very congested part of 8th Street... lots of commerce on both sides of the street
lots of chaos... madness...
pedestrians... mom's with strollers... dogs on extending leashes... scooters... homeless people... jogging Marines...
just another level to this ever changing game of Frogger
Frogger 2.024
we arrive at the checkpoint location and stumble for a minute about the selfie
there is something about ACAB
All Couriers Are B?
I see no sticker or sign that says ACAB... we just take selfies thinking that the selfie was all that was needed
then back on the bike and onto the next checkpoint
at this point we are almost through the manifest... but... the gap between this location and the next is not slight and then Fletcher's Cove is off in the distance
it is a solid hammer on M Street towards Maine Avenue where the Fish Market by the Wharf was our destination
with my glasses off I had fumbled my addresses a few times
this time seeing 1000 Maine Ave instead of 1100
sorry guys... that was not the first time I misread the manifest...
we all bumbled around and eventually took a selfie with crabs at the floating fish market on the water
I took a selfie with both crabs on a sign and live blue crabs being sold at the market
then back on the bike
again Dario split off... but we did not know what he had or had not done
in fact... I recall that Dario was still setting up his route in Dupont when we passed Dupont Circle going from our first checkpoint to our second
so... we could be a few checkpoints ahead of him
in an Alleycat last year we had a similar trajectory where I was ahead of Bruce and Bruce took a different route and showed up at the destination before me
so I knew that Bruce was going to stay on Maine Avenue and ride the road along past the monuments towards 17th Street as he had done prior
we stayed to the road... too many tourists on the sidewalk and bike paths
it was chaos... Memorials on Memorial Day weekend!
Bruce cuts through a massive pack of street crossing tourists
the window that was open for him... closed for me... I had to slow to a near stop before I could find a gap between this cluster of people
our next stop was in the Foggy Bottom area
what was it... 922 22nd?
something like that...
just as we were getting closer to that checkpoint... Bruce rolled past our turn.. I called out... I called out again... I rolled in his direction calling him back... he turned back and we went to the check point together... we had been riding as a team... had we not been working together... that type of error would have been to my advantage... especially so close to the finish... dropping Bruce was not the objective
again it was a Selfie in the Lobby!
timing was perfect... someone exited the building as we were trying to enter
we took our selfies... checked our manifests to verify the next stop
1257 Wisconsin Avenue... FOXTROT
out the door and on the bike
as we rolled out of the checkpoint
Nicole rolled in
oh shit... gotta keep pace...
Nicole was chasing fast... racing for the finish... I wondered where we might be in the race... where are others in the race... we had run it clean... how would we place?
Bruce and I mashed through traffic
down Pennsylvania onto M Street
again... lots of bumper to bumper confusion
splitting lanes... riding head on into traffic... running Red Lights... trying not to buzz pedestrians... lots of chaos...
Bruce suggests going up a block to N Street to dodge some of the madness
in the time we took to make a consideration we opted not
we are flowing fast enough that M Street is fine
we stick to M Street for those few blocks before Wisconsin
right turn up Wisconsin then onto the sidewalk on the higher numbers of the 1200 Block
WRONG ADDRESS!
Foxtrot is on the Corner!
not at 1257 Wisconsin Avenue!
no worries... manned checkpoint
we get a signature but will we get paid for a Wrong Address?
Bruce inquires how many people have been through
we are told 12 or so...
WHAT?
NO?
okay... maybe people went there early and are doing a reverse route
you could have Mount Pleasant Argyle Market as your last trip on the manifest
then cut across town... if you want to CLIMB!
because it would be down into Rock Creek Park and then climbing out of Rock Creek Park
basically to the height of the National Cathedral and then down into the Palisades area
over to Fletcher's
that is no matter... we need to move... we need to get to the finish
it had been discussed at length in Dupont before the start what would be the Best\Fastest route to Fletchers
so here were were... at that moment
we were not in Mount Pleasant... so it was not a trip across Rock Creek Park...
down Park... Up Klingle Bike Path.. over to Cathedral then through the Northwest DC neighborhoods down towards Foxhall... then over to 49th Street down toward the CVS that used to be a theater only to cross MacArthur and then drop down on a strange road that dumps you right onto Canal Road at the entrance to Fletchers... but no... we are in Georgetown and we have a different set of options
Bruce started climbing up Wisconsin thinking that Reservoir Road would be the fastest (looking at a map... and distance wise... it could be effective... but you have to climb to get there... and then Reservoir also has a climb)
I said no... are choices care M Street to Canal Road where we fight traffic
or
the paved Capital Crescent Trail
not the tow path... the gravel would be too slow
the paved part of the Capital Crescent Trail
when leaving Foxtrot headed down Wisconsin Avenue Nicole was close behind headed to Foxtrot
so I knew we had to choose wisely
I asked Bruce what he wanted to do... Bruce deferred to me...
I felt that staying to the road would be the fastest
so we did
we went down Wisconsin Avenue splitting traffic and then splitting through a wall of pedestrians as we took a fast right hand turn back onto M Street
Bruce was polite to the pedestrians just as he had been all day
down M Street... no need to name store fronts... this is not the Georgetown of my past... passing various access points to the Tow Path... passing the Exorcist Stairs... M Street blends into Canal where Whitehurst Freeway meets M Street
on the road
committed
On Canal Road with the Potomac to our left and Georgetown University up the hill on our right... Bruce was riding all the way to the left... I was riding all the way to the right on... two lanes of cars were splitting in between up
we were talking a left ahead, but not for a bit... so I stayed to the right until the left turn only lane was ahead and the lane was clear
it worked out nicely
we made the green turn arrow as it was turning red
thus stopping a rush of cars behind us
now this is a little funny
I was trying to go fast
but... I had not realized the distance
the distance on this stretch of road to Fletchers was longer than I had anticipated
not that I was sprinting
but I was pushing the pace for a distance that I thought was shorter
it was sort of like climbing and hitting a false summit
the bike of the day is an Old Jamis Nova Cyclocross bike
recently I swapped out the drop bars for flat bars
and then also...
I changed out the wheels and the brakes
it is a One By... only one chainring in the front
not a very large chainring
I was over spinning at this time
over spinning and I was suffering some chain skipping
nothing dramatic... but frustrating...
to my relief there was no real hassle from the cars on this stretch
there were cars... but none of the cars were obnoxious or aggressive
sure they are already thinking highway
but all the cars passed with plenty of space between us
which was a relief as I feared it could be a battle of sorts
often fearing that worst case scenario
then... there it was...
the old Canal House...
the stop light and the weird ONE WAY ramp in and out of Fletcher's Cove
we took a left onto that down ramp... the coast was clear
cars were queue up to come up the hill waiting for the light
I had glanced back a few times on Canal Road... each time seeing Bruce chilling in my wind slip... hanging tight on my rear wheel
so we entered Fletcher's Cove together... neither of us knowing where to expect Paul Joyner and the Finishline
onto a sidewalk along the parking lot
across a foot bridge
cautiously and respectfully crossing the Tow Path and the Capital Crescent Trail
choosing to run the bike down the stairs instead of the ramp
then the search...
WHERE IS THE FINISH AT FLETCHER'S COVE?
no bikes at the snack bar... no bikes in the distance...
looped down the gravel parking lot
looking in the grass area between the parking lot at the Potomac River
lots of little gatherings
grills... hammocks... people... but no cluster of bikes
we get to the last set of picnickers
no sign of Alleycat Racers... we looped back...
then... I see a few bikes and people
could this be the finish?
they see me...
Johnny and Sleazy G call me in
I am of course panicked
where do I hand in my manifest
they say here
I FINISH THIRD!!!
Bruce is right behind me
but Nicole and Paul connect up on the tow path
Bruce politely defers to Nicole being in front of her
when it could have been argued... it was not clear...
it could have been argued
instead Nicole took 4th and Bruce got 5th
I might have called Bruce 4th
it could have been scored the other way
but honestly... I wanted third and was not going to budge on my finishing spot
as I felt it was true and deserved
it was not my fight to advocate for Bruce... he seemed to be generous in that moment
I would then learn that Johnny W. aka Johnny Yoe got first and Greg aka Sleazy G got second
all of us finished the top five within a minute or two of each other
it was a close racing
Paul broke out the beers and started scoring!
there was water as well...
I needed water and drank plenty of beers
as people rolled in we all gathered
there was chatter about the route... the mishaps... what worked... what did not work...
PJ scored the manifest as racers arrived
we did a quick awards... mistakenly there was no Podium Shot...
HEY! NO PODIUM SHOT?
I GOT THIRD! WHY DID WE NOT TAKE A PODIUM PHOTO?
got borderline wasted then rode a long Capital Crescent Loop towards home with Dario
the beers after a hearty bicycle ride with no dinner had the beers go straight to my head
it was a good day
a fun day with friends on the bike
PJ threw an awesome event
it all went smoothly without any real glitches
the Wrong Address had Checkpoint Volunteers so no real issue there
late starts happen
the late start was not atypical for this sort of event
I anticipate Paul Joyner hosting another race or two before the year is up!
THANKS PAUL!
GOOD TIMES!
appreciate you and your effort
I scored at cool blue Triple Crown T-shirt and Bragging Rights!
I will admit... I feared some grading shenanigans
just as there were DICE and the notion of LUCK
I feared that there would be some scoring pertaining to our pick ups
I feared that the envelop had a playing card... and that we picked up two other playing cards... feared that there could be a hand of Blackjack or something similar to play into the scoring... changing the General Classification
but to my pleasure no...
then also... there was a question on the manifest that I feared was missed and would have effected the scoring
I won an Alleycat hosted by Bruce under such circumstances before... everyone picked up from Steve Hill at a checkpoint, but I was the only one that also got the License Number off the building where the checkpoint was... so... even though I was 5th or 6th finisher on that day... I was the ONLY person with a complete manifest... Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
I feared that this could happen here
the manifest begged the question, "What Color is the Boathouse?"
which was an UNSEEN manifest question for many (including myself)
again... pirate mode stepped into effect
people gathered around their already scored manifests and added that answer to the bottom of their manifest... I put GREEN...
below is the correct answer to "What color is the boathouse?" from the film Ronin
then lastly...
Blogging is not what it once was for me... I would love to blog... just the time it takes to create a post is not matched by the attention span of the current reader
Twitter and Such have all brought the distraction for the short attention span that we all currently possess
Gwadzilla Blog Posts with mention of The Triple Crown
and then
here is another link with another set of blog posts with mention of The Triple Crown