Still no reports bummer I could tell ya about the teeny tiny Goodall Gallop 5 k but I want to hear about the haf mary's. yup

Okay! Okay! dern it guys! I'm still lookin' fer my legs!!! somebody stole my legs!! an left these thick noodly things instead!c ....new grandbaby labor keeps starting & stopping... ....Doc's are gonna boost her tom. am (I believe) if she doesn't move fwd w/the program today.... I've only a few minutes right now, so will try to eloquently (as much as I'm capable!!) disclose day's features later....including time spent in porta-potty w/UK, Australian ladies....... all in all, I'm pleased w/the outcome/experience....2:24:12/11:01 ave pc = just a little south of middle of the pack...not bad for 1st Half Mary!!! .....gotta dump the pics.... right now, gotta get GD to school, Mairead for a walk (more on that later too!) & "run to Boulder" to register DH for the Bolder Boulder...... Cindy

Congrats Joe and Cindy! Full reports coming soon, I hope, good to know for now that you finished well and didn't hurt anything. Don't forget the fashion report! Cindy - sending well-wishes for that new grandbaby... r2 - YES, we want to hear about your 5K! 5Ks are hard! Carol - sorry to hear about your stepdad, what a rotten way to spend vacation! You rest up with that cold, nothing's less fun than running while you're hacking up a lung. Got my 40mi last week - didn't think it was going to happen this time since I needed 14 on Sunday. So I went out for my normal "10, but if I feel good, maybe 12"...but at around 10 I was feeling REALLY good, so I did 14. I felt a little low blood sugary the last 2 mi, or at least I think that's what that wooziness is, because it wasn't hot and I was keeping at it with the water. I guess this is the point for me where I need to plan on bringing along some calories. Arla

Leslie - yes, I wondered about the electrolyte issue. I didn't bring my gatorade, I assume it's an acceptable electrolyte supplement, but probably not the best. The BEST post-run carb & protein boost is Ovaltine in 1% milk! Yum! It's part of why I look forward to the weekly long run I'd like to see your coach's diet plan, I'm roughly the same age and size that you are. I'm usually pretty good at eating plenty of quality foods...but I'm interested in his opinion on timing. I'm at arla.hile@gmail.com Arla

Ok Folks- a little more time now .I don't know what is with these customers I have. Just because we bill them $150 per hour to work on their computers, they have some kind of problem when I want to post at RA?! Anyway, my report~ I'll get the fashion stuff right out of the way first.Blue poly shorts,poly skivvies ,blue tech short,white long sleeve tech shirt underneath.I regretted the long sleeve after about 2 miles. The weather was pretty much perfect for the 7:30am start. A foggy,misty 50* with hardly any wind.Got to the race in Long Branch (about 45 mins north of me) at about 6. Had an excellent warmup of about 2 miles and felt very loose at the start. My plan was to try and keep with the 4 hr marathoners for the first 10 miles and have something left in the tank for the last 3. The course was very flat. It starts at the beach,goes through some very nice neighborhoods, then ends up by the beach again. Same start place and time for the half, full marathon and relay. It's a 13.1 mile course, so the full marathoners run the half course twice. 8500 runners at the start. It's Very well run and features "pacers" with little flags. My pacer was a 4hr marathoner which translates into each mile being 9:09 per .It makes it very easy to be able to keep pace by simply keeping with the pacer. I had little trouble staying on pace through the first 5m or so, so I started to move a little faster, keeping the pacer a little ways back. Felt really good through the middle, but started losing gas around mile 9. The rest of the race was really a big mental struggle not to give up. I kept telling myself that as long as the pacer guy doesn't pass me, I'm at my goal. I managed to do that and had a little kick on the last half mile but it was tough. I was thrilled to finish under my goal time and the fact that I did not walk at all. It was alot tougher than I thought it would be. Some other thoughts; my parts all held up well and I feel fine today.Yesterday I had the same affliction that Cindy has, rubber legs. DW was there to cheer me on and it really helped toward the end. She was by the beach part so I first passed her at mile 7.5.She then crossed the street and waited for me.When I passed her again it was about mile 11. On the first pass I was feeling good so my words were "love ya ".The second time I was sucking wind so it was "I'm really hurtin" My virtual and real worlds collided when I met the esteemed poster Mississippi from here at RA. I knew from her avatar and such that she would be there but with that many runners,what's the chances? Well around about mile 4 or so someone calls her name(Michelle).She just happened to be pretty much right next to me so I noticed her responding at the same time I saw the RA logo on the back of her shirt.She must have been a bit surprised when I was next to her and said " Mississippi?" She said yes," Hi, I'm NJ Joe.Good luck to ya" shook hands and we proceeded to run our races. She was going for the full .Looking forward to seeing how she did. Another thing I found out is that I'm very,very,very Happy that I did not try to do a full marathon! I was SO not ready for that.I have a whole new appreciation for the strength and the mental fortitude that's needed to go that distance in a race. I had a breakfast of scrambled eggs and oatmeal about 2.5 hrs before race time.I was sipping water the first 5 miles,had one gu, then more water up until about 10 miles when I switched to Gatorade.I felt fueled and was not dehydrated at the end. I want to THANK YOU guys very much for all the support and well wishes.This is Really the best way to have a running club and I was thinking about how to relay the experience to you. Carol- Hope you and DHub are feeling better and especially your DStepDad.Geez, some vacation right? Arla-Great going on your mileage! I'm going to try and stay with you,or probably a little behind(35mpw) Leslie-are you sure you're not secrectly WonderWoman? You are doing alot! Jewels-Wow,that's hot.Afraid we're both going to have to get up early to run now.Buddy can't go in the heat. We are sure living life to it's fullest.I don't know a busier,more vibrant group than this!! I've rambled enough.Now it's Cindy and Farm's turn. Joe

Well folks, here goes.....I expect to be a bit "windy" so, grab a coffee & I hope to entertain ya'll jest a bit! ................I was still feeling a little apprehensive Sat am...should I really be 'resting' this much?...right medial quad still feeling a bit quirky & thinking in the back of my mind that Kristi should be kicking the labor into full gear about line up time "what am I thinking to do this now!?!?" ....my "karma" is gonna kick in any minute now.... I didn't get nearly the training that I'd wanted done, yada, yada, yada....still!! I went to work for 3 1/2 hrs, then drove up to Ft Collins & got my race packet ~ including getting my name changed from "Unknown, Unknown" (thank you Active!) to Cindy... poked around the itty bitty expo, bought a coupla things including a "13.1" sticker & a blue & white "Gas Cap" ~ tech hat (Brooks) that has little slots for GU packets along the rim..visualizing what it might look like "loaded!"....'course I wore it for the race! Checking into my room, I noticed all the hotels along the corridor had folks out jogging around them...Uh-oh.. this is like maybe gonna be a real race!..website advertises that 17% BQ!..I'm calculating that I'd be tickled pink to get around 2:30!.. ....popped on the TV to watch the ending of the Kentucky Derby (another discussion!!) grabbed my shoes & went out for a light shuffle...about 2 miles out, it finally let go a little bit. so, I did 4 reeeal easy miles & stretches..My mindset has now become, "just finish it - & have a good time....@ what ever pace works. even if you have to walk a bit (maybe alot)...just see it as a long 'group run"... back to the room wait for DH to arrive so we could go for dinner & turn in early....HM buses load @ 5:00 am- 5:45 am for a 7am start....Well, I guess the bed was too hard, room too stuffy...whatever, DH flopped about all night like a toad in a toddler's pocket! (I had a brief visualization of holding the pillow down.. ..)..IOW - at best, I got maybe a couple of hrs sleep before I gave up, got up, & started getting ready....ooohhh, this is gonna be good! breakfast: grazing slowly...coffee & Luna bar. pocketed an apple for the bus ride out...picked up a bagel chunk @ the bus (I've got two hrs, right!) It's appoximately 32* F/12% H slightly breezy & semi dark in the canyon - forecast is for a perfect Colorado day! But right now, it's kinda cold!!! No shelters set up & the buses went back for the next group! People started huddling together - tightly!! Some were even hiding out inside the porta potties!! I was invited to join just such a group of ladies in that locale, & even took pics for them to share w/their friends back home! I didn't bother warming up (other than in the porta potty!), figured I'd use the first coupla miles for that.....right leg still a little tight ....so, I spent the wait time visiting w/various people...participating in the "Popsicle Huddle" & watching the sun creep down the canyon wall....a hawk & couple of ravens floating in the dawn air....It is sooo beautiful up here!! thinking that I'd love to run the whole thing sometime ....we didn't even get to the most scenic part of that particular canyon w/only doing the half.....6:55: "lined up" almost completely to the back of a pack of about 1100..ipod on low - just "background music".....first 4 miles, easy easy...slight downhill, canyon winding into the sunrise, watching the layers come off ~ the pants are the most entertaining!! thinking, "I should have a backpack to pick up some of this stuff! some of these folks' throw-aways are much nicer stuff than MY training gear!!" ... Taking pictures, not paying attention to my watch....just being...breathing...listening...relaxing...aaahhh....right leg? all happy & loose now! chatting, heckling road workers bearing "slow" signs! mile 5: feeling freaking awesome! picked up the pace a little bit...passing a few people (not counting out loud....) mile 6: Bagel Hill? (our only hill) now I looked! 10:49 pc ! I'm nearly giddy! Somebody told me earlier that it was "quite a hill!" ~ NOT!... crest of the hill, I was passed "handily" by a youngun in a pink/whi striped singlet....flat cruizin'!! & making it look easy! to run 26.2! DH later confirmed he was indead the leader @ 2:30x It felt like a full 5 mins before the next group came by...some of those didn't look quite as effortless...more pictures, more people passed....mile 9: looks like I've caught up to the back of the lead pack (not really - it's just a bigger group that used ta be waaaay ahead of me! the leaders are already finished!) mile 10: I think I'm slowing down a little...not quite as easy....mile 11: starting to be work...not passing anyone anymore...just holding my place in "line"....funny funny signs all along the course! "May the 4th be with you" "There is no Tri, Do or Do Not!"..... & then Princess Leia handing out water @ the next aid station! ...Mile 12: hearing Jim, "the Hay's in the barn..."... brief walk break...song on the ipod "...just breathe....it won't be long now... breathe..." mile 13....couple more really brief walk breaks...feels alot slower now....I KNOW I'm not ready for 26 yet!! more people along the route cheering/clapping....last corner...dammit! CANNOT WALK ACROSS THE FINISH LINE!! so, I didn't...surprisingly, even though it didn't feel easy or light, I felt 'fast(ish) that last quarter mile... (okay, BLOCK!) & as I vaulted across the mat, I had this incredible feeling of....."Somebody catch me!!!!!" I think that's when I first noticed that my legs had gone missing ! Amazingly, I didn't fall over! but it took a bit of concentration to get to the folks handing out water bottles, & food(eeww!) I took it, but it didn't look the least bit interesting! should I sit down or should I walk?! Beer tent! Kewl! & alternating sitting & walking! Great idea! More chatting w/finishers...several BQ's happened Sunday! Lotsa kewl folks from all over....even ran into one of my Thurs Snug Runners people..he was only 10 mins ahead of me! ..says he won't ever do a full 'cause he's heard of guys having inopportune bowel movements during races....!? You're Kidding!!?? I did my best to look shocked over that statement! The Houston ladies were NOT having a great time! The elevation was kicking their butts pretty seriously! I believe that area is around 5400' .....other than that, I'm thinking this one could be a really cool one to consider for a "gathering" as well ~ other than amenities were mostly "on your own" ....however, being in "Olde Town Ft Collins" made up for that......All in all, I'm VERY PLEASED w/my day!! And of course, DH is starting to think all of this is a good idea....so now we're both signed up for the Bolder Boulder in 3 weeks! .......NEXT!! link to (I hope) my photobucket album: http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee119/mtnchk1/

Thank ya kindly Joe! Jiiiimmm.....Ooooh Jiiiim...? come out come out where-ever you are! ya can't hide, we know whereabouts you live!