Shan - sorry to hear. Hope it isn't bad. Lou

Shan, what Bugs said. No judgement here. Only support. Improvement is a process that never goes in a straight line. Bugs, take your own advice and heal up. I ran too hard yesterday (again) and just couldn't get myself out the door for my long run this morning. I'll try again this afternoon and hopefully get in 10 before the rain starts. I'll only hit 35 this week (maybe) and I'm sure it will be fine. Fantastic mileage, Paul. Might want to hold there or even back off for a couple of weeks for your body to adjust. Still undecided on a May marathon. Of the two, I think NJ seems like a better fit (less hills).

Dave, I'm currently laying on the floor and having a hard time getting myself to move around the house; I'm feeling that lazy today. The pool will feel good though. Nobby sent me this: I was at a bar today with a bunch of Boston local runners as well as some others like Steve Jones (former world record holder in the marathon). I was talking to Bob Hodge, who finished 3rd behind Rodgers and Seko in 1979. He was talking about the importance of recovery. Hard training is for hard training; when you are supposed to do a hard training (like 3-hour run). He said about this local guy who always beat him in training. But then he would beat this guy by 2~3 minutes in 10k race. "This guy just trains hard all the time...!" There's a time to run hard; there's a time to go easy. Sounds like you ran well today. Remember how it went leading up to today's 3-hour run. You basically took a whole week easy with an hour jog... Do you think you've lost fitness by taking it easy? ;o) BTW, the week of easy jogs, was still 50 miles of easy running. But 50 miles with doubles is different than 50 miles with five days of running. His rule of thumb is easy is always 60 minutes or less.

Here's a test I just invented to see if you're a smart runner: - Do you go easy on easy and recovery days? - Do you take a day off when appropriate? - Do you go see a doctor when something might be wrong? I don't score so well myself I'm afraid

Let the doctor run the next trail marathon instead of you

Andrew Jackson = DNF. the pain changed - foot is now slightly swollen and bruised. Will call Dr. on monday. Stupid trail marathons.... NEVER AGAIN...

Trails are too much fun to say never again. Just have to run them for what they are, beautiful course and the experience. Run them for times or PR's and evil things can happen. 14 miles at Rock Bridge Park. Rain, rain and more rain with rocks, roots and lots of slick mud. MTA: Total run miles rolled over 10,000 with today's run.

Should we add "-Do you take an easy day for every mile raced?"

OMG that reminds me. I think I took off close to 6 weeks COMPLETELY off after my first marathon. Can't remember where I read taking a certain amount of days off for each mile raced. NEVER again! as for me I listen to my body and so far *knock on wood* it seems to be doing well for me. I'm sure I could run slower (did that last year) however I have a feeling that that I'm running how I should it's just that I HAVEN"T raced as fast as I could have. Gotta get over that mental barrier that got put up after racing my first HM (dh was my bunny)