I was in Boise from Saturday until Tuesday night to see some friends and to help out a friend who was getting a foot operation on Monday morning. It was the weekend of the J.R. Simplot Memorial. The town was packed with Idahoans who had come to pay their respects and take part in remembering the life of the Idaho business pioneer on Sunday afternoon. We were lucky that we had reserved a room way in advance because every hotel and motel was sold out.
My friend and I ventured out on Sunday and decided to take a stroll downtown. After a few blocks, we suddenly noticed that there was an inordinate amount of people running around in their underwear with numbers written in grease pencil on their arms and legs. How odd, we thought. I had to ask so I stopped an elderly man walking toward us who was carrying a balloon and an ice cream cone. I pointed to the running figures and...
Spa: What's the deal?
Man: It's the Iron Man Contest.
Spa: What's that all about, if you don't mind me askin'?
Man: Well, they swim for a mile and a half at Lucky Peak, then, jump on their bikes and race for miles until they get to a point in Boise, and then they run for a long time until they reach the finish line which is right over there by the Town Square. See all the people over there down the street?
Spa: Where the loud speaker is blasting?
Man: There ya' go.
Spa: Did you compete today?
Man: What are you—high? Where are you boys from, Hailey or what?
Spa: Maybe.
Man: Well, are you guys going to compete?
Spa: We're in the Tin Man Contest.
Man: What's that?
Spa: We wade across a motel pool, then drive to this Cineplex parking lot and walk to where the movie, "Iron Man" starring Robert Downey Jr. is playing.
Man: What's the prize?
Spa: A box of Juicyfruits.
Man: Nice. Well, good luck to you, then.
Spa: Nice talking to you.
