good work on the long one yesterday...and the recovery run this morning. Sounds cold, apparently you managed the icy spots without incident. Happy Birthday to your DH...carrot cake and cream cheese frosting...my favorite! I don't know which I like best the cake or the frosting! Pair that up with a cup of coffee or a glass of milk..... I'm planning a 9-12 miler later today. Good running to all!

Thank you for all the congratulatory remarks yesterday, and again this morning!! I feel good - went out for a 4 miler this morning just to loosen things up a bit. I was on a defiinte runner's high yesterday - every time someone came home I said "aske me how far I ran today!" And I thought it only fitting that MrHopeful take me out for dinner - a request he was happy to fulfill. Thanks for starting us off Jlynne - that was definitely a quick 4 miler for you this morning!! Sounds like we are having the same weather too. Good luck on your long run today Evryday!! Cheers!! ~Mary

Erika – I’m hoping your 20-miler today went well for you. Mariposai – nice fast finish LR yesterday! Tammy – I agree with Hermosaboy – 17 miles on a TM is amazing! Jlynne – happy birthday to your DH. Any carrot cake left? {{{Munchkn}}} Well, we sold the house yesterday. Of course, there are inspections to pass, and we don’t close until 4/28. I feel stressed by the fact that we don’t see a single house that really seems to be what we’re looking for, but we don’t have to be out until 5/16, so we have some wiggle room. 20 miles for me today, in temps of 35-37. Ave pace (not counting potty stops) was 9:47 – fastest ave. pace yet for one of these LRs, with mile #14 at MP (8:47) and mile #19 at a fast tempo pace (8:09) – woohoo! ‘Bout killed me of course, but there’s definitely some improvement happening here. Now just one more long, long, long run, and then taper time….

Afternoon Gang Well I went out for a 14 miler today, I was going to do a 4 miler with Woody on a reasonable flat trail then another 10 on an undulating road. got on the trail did a hilly 7 dropped Woody off at the house then did another 7 on the road. Now, Jeanne thanks for starting us and 2 good runs, good luck to hubby on his BD, congrats to my mate Mary on her longest one yesterday, Tim, enjoy Dallas, everyday, hope you have a nice run, congrats Holly on the house sale. Anyway: 14m 02:38:44 @ 11:21 pace AHR 149 60% WHR Good luck with all the races and GO PETER Good Runs All Roy

Best Wishes to our racers! Way to get it started Jeanne, You've had a great weekend. Did you play the lottery? 13.2 miles with DW her longest run ever Sub 11:00 minute pace was a surprise. Training her for her 2nd half, she did wonderful, only 2 brief walk breaks to drink. Weather was almost perfect for it ,31F with gentle breeze about 34F when finished.... Off to a baseball umpire meeting. Hard to believe high school baseball scheduled to start 2 weeks tomorrow.

Sunday, Sunday…a day for long running, reading the newspaper at a leisurely pace and holding my legs under the coldest stream of water I can stand. Guess which activity I enjoyed most? Actually the run was pretty awesome. All four of the Js and one K (me) met up at 8 AM---partly cloudy after some snow spitting in the earlier AM and 33F----Two of us went for 23 miles, two for 18 miles and one for 10 miles of the whole she-bang. We started off with a very peppy pace since the daughter of one of the Js is a member of the Northampton high school girls basketball team and as of last night---the newly crowned Division I State Champions (Northampton 50---Andover 37). Woo Hoo! We are all so excited and thrilled for our friend and her daughter. It’s a great feeling and the daughter is a senior---way to go out on top. They played at an arena in Worcester (about an hour away) so the fire trucks and police from Northampton met them at the exit and escorted the team bus back with sirens blaring. Cool. Anyway….23 miles in the can with miles 14-18 at mp---the whole deal in 3:27.32 (9:02 avg. pace) We all had moments of dragging during this run and still finished strong. Life is good. We ran out into Haydenville where the sap buckets are plentiful and this year’s sugaring is going well---pancakes anyone? The birds were twittering and the sun broke through at the end with temps by then at 41F. My legs are only mildly achy after some ice water torture and re-fueling. I am going to try and wedge in a 45-minute nap and then spend the afternoon with my grandmother. Jlynne---any leftovers? That dinner sounded awesome and good running yesterday. High five hopeful4ever…..longest ever. I hope you are still smiling. You too nonoruns…..good deal on a longest run without injury issues. Tammy----17 on a treadmill?? I bow to you—no way could I do that. Hoping hard that your foot is truly on the mend Spareribs and that yours behaves, runningindc. Munch! You rock! 11 miles and I hope the pain eases. JJJ---you always amaze me with your runs. Incredible. Holly---I’ll show you the photo when I see you. I am in a group and it doesn’t really scan well. Way to go on the 20 miler and selling your house. JJJ is right—Boston is yours. Thinking about all the racers now and hoping for some great report reading in the next days. CNYrunner

Nice runs -- perch 17@MP is a hard run, well done. I did yet another progression for 17. Target(distance) w/u(1), 9:25(4), 9:00(4), 8:35(4), 8:15-7:50(4). Actual(HR)9:08(142), 8:51(141), 8:28(148), 7:44(157). Workout: 16.2 mi, 8:32/mi, AHR 146 Overall: 17.2, 2:27 Have a great day. We're getting kicked out of the hotel soon and will be on our way home this evening.