Erika, you're pretty hard core - non-running in a hotel gym at 5:30 am. DickyG, do you really think it was short-sighted of the auto industry to make big SUVs when that's what the public wanted to buy, and they could make money with them? Yes, they should have been developing the next-generation fuel efficient vehicles at the same time, which would have lined them up better for high gas prices. But now that gas prices are lower again, the problem isn't SUV vs. fuel efficient, it's lack of credit to buy anything, and a sucky economy. Tramps, I hope the weather this Saturday isn't as bad as predicted - I looked at the Richmond forecast, and Sunday looks like IRC, so maybe the IRC will arrive a little earlier than predicted. But just in case, maybe you should look into one of those hats with the umbrellas, like Amy mentioned! Amy, I hope your DH enjoys his jogging this weekend! So glad his recovery is going so well! Teresa, hope you have a greta trip! 6 hours to yourself would normally be nice, but in this case it will be spent with lots of strangers in a small enclosed space with recirculated air, 30,000 ft over the Atlantic - not such a prize after all, I think! I like running in the rain if it's fairly warm and just raining lightly. I live in a dry part of the country so I don't have to deal with rain much. In the summer our rain mostly comes in the form of strong afternoon thunderstorms, which aren't so good for running in. And the rest of the year, our rain comes in the form of snow , which is fun to run in as long as it's not sub-zero. And even more fun to ski in. I did a 5.6 mile run at lunchtime, avg pace 10:18. I originally planned a tempo run, but after a warmup mile and a tempo mile 2, the trail turned and I hit a strong headwind, so I turned it into a wave run. Partway through tempo mile 4 I also hit a strong headwind and was having trouble keeping pace, so I kind of cheated and turned around and finished the mile with a tailwind. Splits: 10:28 - 9:19 - 10:50 - 9:34 - 10:54 - 10:59 last 0.6 mi. Except for the wind it was IRC - 54 degrees and sunny.

I use plastic wrap, too. You might be able to wrap it so any opening is on the bottom (depending on where the earphone plugs in). Just don't use that sticky glad plastic wrap, I forget what it's called. It was pretty hard to get the adhesive off the unit afterwards. But do you really want to use an ipod during the race? I run all my training runs with an mp3 player but I haven't yet raced with one. But that's just me...

For the record, I have never raced with one either...the race is fun enough in it's self to me. But yes, to each their own... Tim

I was trying to say.... RAIN -- love it in the summer. Less so in the winter.

What is it about leaving for a trip that makes everything happen?? I picked DS16 up at XC practice, and he was LAUGHING because he got bit on the butt by a dog! And of course he didn't get the owner's name or ask if the dog had been vaccinated. I was envisioning spending 3 hours in the ER tonight, but the pediatrician said that we just have to put a dressing on it with antibiotic cream and keep an eye on it. Whew!! Maybe I will actually get to pack now! Carolyn, I guess it's because I don't fly much, but I still enjoy it. Well, I don't like the missed connections and lost luggage, but the actual flight is OK. I'll bring along some good books and watch movies. My 13-year-old son is the one bugging girls! A friend of mine asked if I knew he had called her daughter close to 10 pm last week. Uh, no. We have a new rule about that now! OK, I have to FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS now.

6 miles for me this evening along the Lake Olverholser shore. I mention that because Pfriese runs along that route frequently. I saw another runner, but alas, it was not the friese one. Enjoy the beauty!

3 miles on the treadmill at 8:08 mile pace, 30 pushups. Dark Horse