Another beautiful sunny mild day in the PNW, absolutely IRC. Tried out a new trail, a rail trail not far from here. Went 2.5 miles downstream then turned around and did 2.5 miles uphill back to the mud parking lot. 5 miles total, recovery pace mostly. I had some fantastic microbrews last night. Reminded me of how much I like beer. But that led to my first ever pit stop using Mother Nature as my bathroom today. I feel like a real runner now. Craneium - I hate how someone can be like that and then it puts you in a pissy mood for hours later. So much negative energy. What's the point? My daughter found a recently dead, but well preserved squirrel on the road outside our house. She made me dig a grave in the garden and bury it. Strange kid, she was really excited and into this whole thing. The little guy had his eyes open and looked so cute and fluffy. I imagine if he had been a true roadkill squashed squirrel with assorted guts spewing out, she wouldn't have been as into this, at least I hope not. Forgot to mention on my run yesterday, I came upon a toddler that was running about my pace, so I chased him and held out my arms like I was going to catch him. He turned around suddenly, snarled at me and threw a pine cone at my legs. I wasn't expecting that. Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Happy Saturday! deez4boyz- it sounds like your day yesterday went exactly as you had hoped! Great! Now I want to see what this turbo taper of yours does to your race this weekend! Tallrunner- good deal with the Mizuno's. That's my brand too. I hope those hot tubs clear the lungs in time for your run tomorrow. And no thanks on that ultra! Sicko. Holly- not you too! All that cross training you do probably saved you from doing serious damage to yourself. WRFB, PDR- thanks in advance for the Boston brew! RoyC- nice research on the Honda Pilot! Sarge- I hope you catch a break soon with the way you're feeling! munch- congrats on page 1! Seems you've recovered nicely from your race. Jeanne- did you remember how to run outside again? I'll bet it was the best run in a long time. TomS- 12 miles on the 'mill? Yeow! That was as much mental as it was physical. Tramps- come to Boston anyway! evryday- sounds like a good day to hit the trails. But then, any day is a good day for that. vista- that dog knew better! Either that or he decided there wasn't enough meat on you to bother. Ribs- I was excited to see you post, and was anxious to read about your next run. So my heart sank to read instead that your foot is acting up again. I hope this is just a minor setback. It was doing really well, so it will get there again. Great post from you as usual. JJJessee- glad you are back at it. On to your next adventure. seemomgo- that was some story about your mom! My dentist went on vacation to Florida over the Xmas/New Year break, had happen what happened to your mom, and just got back home a couple of weeks ago after being in the hospital down there the entire time. breger- you've been on a roll, so I'll bet you have a great run tomorrow. fussyrunner- you are gonna sleep good tonight! What a day of working out and other activities! Craneium- good idea to just let it go. I'll bet you have a GREAT run! stumpy77- keep working on those shins. They'll start cooperating eventually. Do you ice them too? Mariposai- come to Boston! And you don't even have to be a waitress, I'll buy you a beer. I hope you bounce back from your run and that today was just an off day. nonoruns- too funny about sleeping through your runs. I've done that too, all of a sudden it's like how'd I get here? lyndenrunner- smokin'! Not bad for someone who really isn't training for anything at the moment. charleygross- another crazy treadmill run today from a boomer! Great job! rochrunner- good to hear from you! Thanks for de-lurking. Healing vibes heading your way. enke- I love exploring new trails! And what was up with that kid? I hope you dusted him after that! halllar- Good luck with your 12 miler tomorrow. I hope the foot cooperates. I didn't want my run to start. All week I've felt crappy and today was no exception. Plus I had to work today, and was just mentally shot and it was later in the day, usually I'm a morning runner. Plus it was snowing heavy wet snow. So I bagged it. Called some friends when I got home to see what they were up to, and they said they were heading out to do some shopping and asked if I wanted to come along, so I said sure, come pick me up. Between the time that we spoke and the time they came to get me, the guilt set in, and I got dressed to run. They picked me up, and asked why I was going shopping in my running clothes. I asked them to reset their odometer, and drop me off when we're 10 miles out. That way, there would be no other way to get home other than to run. I picked a deserted, hilly backroad route and started out feeling very heavy. The snow was piled high on house rooftops and trees, smoke was billowing out of peoples chimneys, and the smell of woodfires were everywhere. Not a car, not a person was around. It was very peaceful and beautiful. For the next 10 miles, the lead weights that were attached to my muscles dropped away. The only vehicle that passed me the entire time was a truck sanding the roads. The only sounds were occasional seagulls, and the skish skish skish of my feet in the snow. It turned out to be an awesome run. I didn't want my run to end.

.....and drop me off when we're 10 miles out. That way, there would be no other way to get home other than to run. .....

Point to point is built-in commitment. And more fun too. jjj

I must be getting so bored waitin' for mariposai's paraguaynian 26. 2 mile rr, I mean 42.195kms and maybe even aamos' 10duneyetus (yay, I've always wanted to use that word in a post and not have to use an "o" in it)-hampered Arizona mary, . . . to say nothing of how arf's doin' - that I went swimming for the first time since last August's triathlon (and first time in the pool in several years). kind of neat how the water magnifies all the mermaids in the next lane. tired shoulders but not bad enough to prevent divechief from enticing me to get on DaleCanon and join him and Bianca for 33 miles around Bainbridge Island in tomorrow's annual Chilly Hilly. Good chance too to do something with divechief in abcentseeah arf so they won't think she is the only reason I've been breaking my winter tapering so much in the last two years to track them down in various area marathons and fun runs. Hi arf (and chuck!) mmariposai wenatchee/boston double>>>>>

Rats, posting too late to make the BTB roundup! Hey, that is so fun when a run turns out like that. I've found that sometimes the runs that require the most work to get out the door end up being the best runs after all. Enke, that is just too strange about that child. Cute story about your kid and the squirrel though. Doesn't strike me as strange at all... prolly cuz it sounds like something I would've done! Craneium, you handled it very well. Hope it didn't put a damper on your day. I got out a little later than I'd intended, but got a nice 10.1 mile run in 20F, with the middle miles at tempo pace with fartleks up to 5k pace. Great run, even the hills felt good. Roadside was a little slick even with the Spikeys. Mile paces, per the Garmin: 8:27 8:17 9:07 (big hill) 7:57 (lots of fartleks here, pretty level) 8:40 8:27 8:40 8:02 9:12 (starting back up the hill to home) 9:22 8:05 (last .1 mile) Tomorrow will be a nice easy 12 or 14, depending on the route I take.

Good runs to all. 18 miles for me. The first 15 miles avg 11:15 pace...the last 3 miles avg 10:34 pace. I haven't posted a wildlife report in awhile. Today I saw 6 deer, an armadillo, and too numerous to count squirrels. The armadillo was really fast. I had no idea they could move that fast.

Sounder,I have a 14 miler on tap for tomorrow...And I will purposely keep it very slow... Coach was just trying to test my speed and endurance...He also wants me to run a half next weekend,but I'm just having fun running right now and I don't feel I'm ready to race yet...