Early run, late post, as we left right after my run and were gone all day. hopeful, nice picture of your dog. enke, I'm glad to hear your back finally feels good and am anxious to hear what the doctor said. Peter, congrats on the formal Boston acceptance. deez, happy birthday to your husband. henrun, I'm sorry to hear about your friend. Marj is sure special. hallar, it's good to hear from you and to know you're back putting in the miles. Nice long runs for fatozzig and breger. Good job on the speedwork for maine and holly. This morning it was in the low 50s with some wind and a light sprinkle during the last mile. I got in 8 miles in a little under 1:19 for a 9:50 pace. A good day and good runs for all. TomS

Seeing as I am a deer hunting widow for tonight, I took my mom (92) and my daughter (22) out for dinner along with a dear friend of mine (needed someone MY age too!) We had a very enjoyable evening and it is always nice to hear my mom's stories of yesteryear - especially when she talks about the first time she met my dad ... he was a bootlegger at the time .... Late this afternoon I received a call from my youngest DD away at college and she had just been in a car accident - rear ended a she sat at a stop light. She is okay - thank goodness although now she is starting to feel some neck and back pain. At first she thought her vehicle was driveable - but once on the road found out that was not the case. So, Sunday MrHopeful and I will be taking her our extra back up vehicle down to her and haul her's back for repairs. I told her to get to a med center if her pain gets worse. That kid - if she didn't have bad luck, she'd have no luck at all! Good luck to Tramps and Tammy and anyone else racing this weekend!! Good to see you posting Hallar!!

Enke The sciatic stuff started pretty abruptly in mid/late September, two weeks before Portland Marathon. The day before I had done tempo work on the Tm, about 10 miles at some speed, but no pain then. In retrospect there had been what I thought was hamstring tightness but nothing major. I got into PT promptly and he ( the Pt) thought it was sciatic nerve. Ran the marathon, the sciatic hurt but was tolerable. It hurt my time... Tried to take it easy for a couple of weeks and continued with PT, then I increased the running and this past week was really stopped in my tracks. after a couple of weeks of increased mileage, I could not run at all. Now my lower back also hurts and sitting/driving is very painful. So I am concerned. The exercises to strengthen glutes etc do not seem to be enough. I hope there is not a herniated disc issue but I am worried.... Very lamerunner

TimBo - I think my PR is 1:54:45 (it's probably listed in my log), but I don't think I have it in me this time. I was running more last fall then I have been this fall. But one never knows. The weather should be perfect tomorrow a.m. - mid 40's, dry, no wind. And my running skirt makes me faster too . . . at least I think it does . . . it's probably all in my mind though. Thanks for thinking of me TamBo eta: the PR listed in my running log here is wrong. It recorded my best time in 2008 at the Eugene Marathon, because I wasn't keeping an RA log last year. I'm pretty sure it's 1:54:45 or maybe :48?

dear taper pretender timmy - do not read this private messsage; it's for Tammy Dearest hot tub goddess, Thinking always of the joy of really running in next weekend's tammy-day birthday return to running after this current 29 day taper, I'll be virtual nonrunning every step of the way with you in your home town inaugural half mary tomorrow with econo and wishing I was johnny waiting at the finish with big hugs for both of you. Give 'em one (or several) for me too buddy. However, don't try to keep up to her on the early chip part of the trail either. You'll have to be watching your footing too much. Please tell her to be careful too as we want her to be helping welcome the Canadian goddesses to the Seattle Pink Door, . . . I mean Seattle Half Mary to say nothing of helping us kidnap you too if any way possible even just in our dreams.

Good luck TamBo! Tramps, I told my DD about your umbrella hat and being the rain, and she said we should call you "rain man!"

Tammy, Hey, you never know! (to steal the NY lottery line). I'm pulling for ya!!!!!!! Can't wait for the race report.