If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can't accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through. (Rosalyn Carter) Okay - Somehow I ended up with two of these. Don't know how to delete one. Lynda - Just revel in the fact that you didn't need a young 20-something in front of you to accomplish your goal. Cindy - Have fun at the Komen! Re the shin splints - (1) I've been doing more road running the last couple of weeks (as opposed to riding my bike for cardio) to help build up my leg endurance, and (2) I've been neglectful in my shin exercises. Coach has told me to ice/heat/ice 15 min each a couple of times a day, and I'm not going to run Monday and maybe Tuesday. If I don't have what I need by now to get through this marathon, missing those two days isn't going to make or break me. Okay - Gotta get in the shower and go shopping. For what, I have no idea, but The Hub feels the need to spend some money. Later!

Joe!! Leslie: Modify/Erase - change the subject or content...??? Just got back a bit ago from the Komen events...I dunno how much "racing" can really be done @ an event of this size!? More like a massive group run/walk! Announcer said 65,000..(we'll get the final count later)..btwn the three "races" We're always in the top 2 in the country (so they tell us) for size! I guess St Louis (?) was marginally larger than ours last year & we were 1st the year before that.... I did the 7am "women's only" race this year (I saw at least a couple dozen menfolk), which I've been told is the smallest pack - approx 15,000 - ! Still, they don't separate the walkers from the runners in this one like they try to in the co-ed so, even starting fairly far fwd, @ the start there is much walking/shuffling for the first coupla blocks..(I'm visualizing Chicago's 45,000 marathon start!! )..and those in the back can take 10-15 mins to even reach the starting line! & Because of some of the walkers in all three groups, there is almost a continual movement of pink people from the 7am start through the last of the 9:30am starts! This 5K course features two water stations & at least 6 bands. We have one point on the course where we go on a bridge over the interstate & turn to come back under the same bridge, forming a big pink ribbon ....then about half a mile later, after going back up the "off-ramp" (I got a giggle out of a couple of H.S. girls who sounded a little intimidated by the "hill!" ) ~ the finish line is lined w/media & cheerleaders from various groups/schools...enrt a massive goody expo (?) ....I got up @ 4:45 in order to catch the normally 50 min train ride downtown...drank at least a 22oz coffee on the way + most of another 22oz bottle of water (colds make me thirsty - which this one btw, is getting much better!) in the two hrs of getting ready & getting there....I pondered taking one more provisional porta potty stop, but opted not to in order to try to get a little further fwd in the group.....needless to say, by mile 2 I was getting pretty uncomfortable, so I pulled over into a P.P. line.... this took 4+ mins!! but the distance from the finish line P.P.'s made it definitely worthwhile - specially since this isn't really a "race" per se! & I got to run that last 1.1 miles much more comfortably! The watch said 36:01...considering all the beginning walking & the PP stop - I'm figuring I migrated about a 10:20ish pace....?? I dunno..I wandered around the expo, eating yogurt & checking out all the costumes ~ some are very creative! ....collected a huge bag of goodies & mosey'd home...Doug & Mairead are out somewhere on Highline trail....I briefly thought about joining them for a couple....by the time I rode the train for almost an hour coming home, I was getting chilled & just wanted a hot shower! Hope everyone is having an Awesome Weekend! I have more bananas.... MTA: Doug & Mairead just got back from their 20....avg pc 9:38 AHR/150

Hi guys, I don't usually post in this group because I thought it was for 40-somethings, but now the subject is 40's and above... Joe, I love the puking pumpkin! Showed it to DD and her friend to reinforce the dangers of alcohol ! Cindy, way to go on the race for the cure! I get kind of claustrophobic in big crowds, so I don't think I could run with 65,000 people! Did Mairead really run the whole 20 miles today?

Really quick..... yep that's 20.02 miles, total time 3:12:54!.... think he's ready for a full mary? & Mairead went the whole way too...she's been doing these w/us..vet said she should be able to w/o any issues (his exact was, if trained up to it, there is no way I could out run her - speed or distance! ....& now both seem fully recovered - he's digging fence post holes... Yeah, 65,000 is ALOT of peeps, but you never see that many all at once because of the large area & the three "races" over 3 hrs time....crowd keeps moving...so, other than the start, it doesn't necessarily seem like any more than any other of the larger races....well, not counting the expo which gets weird after the 8:30 folks are coming in....that's when I left.... goodie bag stuff: besides the t-shirt, you could walk around to the different tents (trick or treat style)... hats/visors, yogurts, string cheese, juice, calendars, pens, key-rings, frisbees, shoelaces, bracelets, make-up/travel bags, little lunch coolers, scarves, towels, coupons, chap-sticks, magazines, chips, granola bars, Starbucks, Safeway people grilling ribeyes & handing out chunks on toothpicks...I'm sure there was stuff I didn't get to...got outta there! MTA: I think you can link to pics & videos from here...http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=101156&catid=339

Joe - love the pukin' punkins...mine is going into a pie tomorrow... Cindy - I simply can't imagine that many runners, 15,000 seems huge to me...so, any marathons allow dogs? I think Mairead has earned a spot! Wildchild - welcome...maybe we should be 40s and BEYOND!! Jim - I've had shoes hurt me...seen it happen to others, too...so, yeah, it happens. I sure hope you've found a reason for your achilles issue, that would be great! Had a lovely 8 miler today, compared today's run with a similar run I did in the spring (similar temperature), and I ran the same course at the same speed but with a 5 bpm lower average heart rate - so I guess that's some progress...or at least a good day! Arla

Hey 40's and above! I lurk over here some, but don't post much...usually on the daily. Good running to all. Did I miss out on a couple RR...r2farm and lynda? I better go peruse the forum some more. r2farm...from what I can gather, you were able to get to the finish with some visual aid? One of my mantras is "See the beauty" and "Be the beauty." And beauty is all around us if we'll only choose to see it. I'm glad you were able to see the beauty, my friend! And I'm sure you were being beautiful out there too! fatozzig...I really like the follow through thing. Thanks for the inspiration. nj joe....great pic of the pukin' pumpkins. mtnchck...sounds like a great event! 6 bands...wow! To the rest, have a great week!

Yoo Hoo!! Jewels!! Did ya sign up for that HM yet????? Evryday - Come whenever, post often. We like to hear from ya. Farmer Jim - Patience indeed to go back over the posts and research the achilles issue. Makes me think I should be putting more notes in the comment section of my log. Carol - Glad to hear DH is starting to feel better. Keep jabbing him in the butt! Cindy - Just how long has Doug been running? I, too, thought he was fairly new, but he and Mairead are doing crazy great! Took today off to continue nursing my shins. Have one spot on the outside of my right shin that just can't seem to get happy. (To the sound of snapping fingers), "Yo bud! More ice and heat over here!" Speaking of snapping fingers - I am 42 (okay, and a half!), and I have never been able to snap my fingers. I used to get blisters when I was a kid from trying so hard. One of our cats, Oscar aka Gumba, got on our roof this a.m. I could hear him crying while I was in the bathroom. The Hub tried once to get him, but he just rolled around on the roof just out of his reach. Finally after an hour of listening to him, I gave it a try. He came up to me, just within fingers reach, letting me scratch him, and I was finally able to grab his leg. The tree he climbed to get on on the roof hadn't moved! Let's just say he's not the smartest apple in the barrel (which is why he's called "Gumba") . . . but I love him to death. Goofball. He's the one on the left side of my avatar pic.

My wife says he loves my stink.

I have to keep my stinky clothes away from one of our cats, Wilson, 'cause he just goes crazy over them. Why, for the life of me, I can't figure out. Weirdo.