I'm working my way toward that early bed time, but I gotta get the cats in first. Is 10:00 early?? Got off work at 3:30 today and was hitting the pavement by 4:15. Was suppose to run 1.5 hours, but decided to take a different route to see how many miles it was, and how long it'd take me. Also wanted to tackle a fairly long hill that I keep avoiding. The hill is at least .75 miles long, but I think it's more around .85-.90 because I forgot to look at my Garmin before I started up. The grade - based on the treadmill being at 15% at its highest, I'm thinking somewhere around 9-10% grade. I trucked all the way up that sucker with only two very brief (maybe 10 secs each) walking breaks. Woo hoo! I didn't think I'd be able to get up the whole way without having to walk a good portion, but I did! And then when I got to the top, I realized how much further I had to go. My 1.5 hour run turned into 9.57 miles in 1:46:49, my longest road run since my HM last November. And it just reiterated in my mind - road running sucks. I have 3 new blisters. One on the end of a toe where I've never had one before, and 2 on the edge of the ball of both feet where I haven't had a blister in awhile. I was pretty happy with how I was truckin' right along. My HR monitor kept beeping at me on the flats, but I didn't feel like I was pushing it too hard. Humboldt State is back in session, so I'm hoping to get an appointment in the next couple of weeks re the whole body assessment: body fat, VO2, etc. Well, I'm starting to fade. No sleep + long run + warm dinner = sleeeeeepy, very sleeeeepy. Nite, All!

I am such a wimp at this but still seem to be drawn to the challenge.

Jim, that is exactly how I feel about running much of the time! I'm so glad you and Lynda got to have a mountain getaway. You deserve it with all tha hard work you put in. Neat that you are close enough to buzz home and head back! Jo, agree w/ you about being proud of our country, even though we can be a messed up bunch at times. Definitley going to be an interesting race from here on out. I'm anxious to learn more about Sarah Palin. Jewels, way to go on the 6 miler! No major pains is also a good sign. Are you going to use a training plan to help with the momentum/motivation or are you in a going with the flow kind of mode? Leslie, we call it Bunko here. Not sure why. Had a group here in the neighborhood a few years ago, but it kind of fizzled. It was a good time though! No husbands, no kids, no dogs, and wine was a requirement. Arla, nice to C ya! Are you getting back into the swing with school and all? Kelly, when is that race of yours? Is that what you are packing for? Need to know when so send out virtual cheers! Did a total of 8.5 miles this morning. 6 mile run for me (in honor of Jewels), came home, then headed out with hubby to run to a dog sit....total of 2.5 miles there, including a 1/2 mile walk with the client's dogs. Also caught their Jack Russel before she made it quite all the way over the fence. She had jumped/climbed to the top of a 5 ft. wrought iron fence and was trying to wiggle through the bars at the top. She is cooling her heels spending the day in their master bath now so as to prevent any further escape attempts! Edited to add: Forgot to mention that I was passed this morning on my running route by none other than "fast guy". Fellow here who actually WON the White Rock Marathon in 85 and 86. Fast people create quite a breeze when they wiz by OK, gotta go...me need shower bad!!

Kelly - Okay 50 miles in two days? That's just total insanity, sweetheart. How in the heck do you do it? Loved Joe's comment to you! Carol - Nice job on the run/doggie walk! You're doing great. Ran part of our trail run today with an older gentleman who's diabetic. I thought about you and how well that seems to be going for you lately. Joe - Congrats on the climbing. 40 feet is high enough for me! Especially if it's sheer face. Kelly's little 50 miler this weekend makes me feel like a weenie today. Did my 1.75 hours yesterday after work, then did our trail run this a.m. The next time I decide to do two long runs back-to-back with only about 12 or so hours between the two, smack me upside the head. Cripes, my legs were tired. We were suppose to do 2:25 hours, but after 2 hours, which included 25 min of steady states, I was done. Figured I got that extra 15 min in last night. Now I have a nice blood blister on my left foot. What the heck is that all about?!? Plus the two under my callouses that I developed yesterday on the frigging road. Grrrrr. I haven't had blisters this bad in a while. Well, we have a busy weekend ahead of us - unfortunately. The Hub's co-employees are having an Employee Picnic on Monday. His idea after management canceled this year's company picnic. Kind of a "screw you" to the management. Anyway, guess where the lion's share of the work is landing?!? Oh yeah, in our house. So much for a relaxing weekend. They're cooking lobster, ahi, and making crab cakes on Food TV right now - oh boy am I hungry!!

Kelly - yeah, right, slow. You're running faster than my tempo pace, even with your walk/eating breaks. Hey, you'll be able to keep up with that teenager of yours, no problem! Best wishes to Jack on the Wasatch, I found some pics of the course online, it's looking gorgeous up there right now, hope the conditions are good. http://www.wasatch100.com/trail.htm Carol - I've already gotten "falling behind" out of the way at school Jim - I'm doing the Disney World marathon. I'm hoping that there will be enough distraction so that I do my first one nice and slow so I can be sure to finish. They have a sweep bus that picks people up if they fall behind a 7 hr pace, I'm pretty sure I can maintain that unless something goes very, very wrong. BTW I could never do the climbing you do, I even freaked out on an exposed face at Sequoia National Park that had stairs and HANDRAILS fer Pete's sake. I was literally on my hands and knees, covering my eyes with one hand so I couldn't see all that.... air. ...I'm also really fun to fly with, actually I usually just take a benadryl and conk out. Leslie - WTG on that hill! I wish we had some hills like that around here, I can only find hills that are about a quarter mile long. Hm, no men, no children, + alcohol, + chocolate...sounds pretty crazy fun! Low 60s this am for my long run, it felt soooooo good! Gotta go grade lab reports, woohoo Arla