Cindy - 10,000 feet of elevation? I'm having trouble breathing just thinking about it. I'm also having sympathy soreness after reading your post. As graceful as I am, I'd be afraid of hooking a toe on a bleacher step/seat and splattering myself all over the place. Joe - Good luck on the install. You computer guys amaze me. So in August Karen and I are crewing for her sister, Kate, at the Headlands Hundred. Guess what?? Kate talked my trail angel from Forest Park, Russ, into pacing her the last 30 miles! I'm excited about seeing him again, and actually getting to talk to him without feeling like I want to die. He'll fly in Friday in time to have dinner with us and fly home Sunday. Should be fun! This A.M.: 5 min warm up/cool down w/6 one-minute strides w/45 secs of rest in between. I am a bundle of nervous-as-he!! energy with no real way to get rid of it. We leave in the a.m. for the short 3 1/2 drive to Ashland. Run starts Saturday at 6:00 a.m. with an 8.5 hour time limit. Stomach's doing flip flops . . . ack!

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.....it has been 13 days since my last run. Cindy, how far is your mountain home from your home that you reside in? That bootcamp sounds tough but you'll see some great results. Jewels

1.) aren't you supposed to get some whatchamacallits for circumstances beyond your control?! how's your hip/groin feeling these days? hmmm? 2.) mtn house is about 2hrs (90 winding miles) /4,000' away & DS will be down here for the wknd, so I get the house & Misty to myself (to clean btwn runs ) 3.) God I hope so!! DH called the check I wrote for 20 classes "torture payments" - or something like that Leslie: {{{{{{{{{{GOOD LUCK!!!!!}}}}}}}}}}}} may the "Trail Gods" find favor w/your presence!

Jewels- that's funny. First, a good whack on the knuckles with a ruler. Then for penance, 20 jumping jacks, 20 pushups, and don't forget your homework ! To answer your questions- I don't travel as much lately,maybe a couple of times a year. Yes, I do have a 5 mile race Saturday morning. I did real well last year in that race ( 47:02 @ 8:37 pace) and hope to beat it this year.I'm just hoping it's not too hot. Forcast says about 75* @ 8:30am start time. Cindy- sounds like you're Really kicking some asphalt! That altitude training sounds tough.I remember when I was discharged from the Navy in the early 80's and went to visit a friend in Colorado Springs. I was in awesome shape,mostly from swimmimg and bike riding.Well, I tried running in Colorado and felt like I was 90 years old! I guess I'm one of those wimpy sea level kinda guys..... Leslie- Best Of Luck to ya in your mega race. Between you and Kelly, I feel almost guilty running in a 5 mile race?!? Again, thoughts of a wimpy nature cross my mind. You'll do Great I'm sure!! Don't drink too much this time Poor Buddy has been ditched several times this week cause of the heat. Also, I have been going a little faster in prep for my race. ~ Have a good night Folks ~

Good Morning! TGIF!? Joe: When is your 5 miler? yeah....., 'almost' feel guilty..... You'll make it up to Buddy as the Summer heat eases off .....actually, maybe the dogs have the right idea! Maybe we shouldn't be running this much in the heat either!? I just need to get my lazy butt up so I'm out by 5am! & It IS much cooler up @ the mtn house...20* cooler ....you "get used" to the elevation...& it takes different folks (even the fittest ones) differing amts of time to acclimate....at the very least, you should plan on at least two easy days (sleeep lots) before trying moderate activity...let your body build additional red blood cells for more oxygen transport....& the more time you spend up there, the more your body "adjusts" by enhancing other systems...I've heard that the reason for the low %'s of heart disease amongst those of us who live @ higher elevations is due to the body building additional capillaries in the heart & lungs...(not being a MD, I can't say... but understanding how some of the body's systems work, it makes sense) one of my neighbor ladies up there took about a month - 6 wks before she could run up there.... & I consider this: Lance usually brought his crew up to Leadville, 10,152' for about a month right before the Toure every year.... Deena & Elva both trained/lived for years up here & in fact, were @ Co Sprgs @ the Olympic Training Ctr, 6,008' until the end of May this yr...wonder why they chose to put that in CO?! hmmm.....Not so much avail for boating though.....I'm no longer very tolerant of higher humidity levels... Going to be in the upper 90's again here today..already 70* @ 5:30am!... was already too warm to run w/Mairead by the time I got home from boot camp yesterday ~ & heating up fast! so, I took her to the lake!..... she's got that "worried look" down I tell ya!...., we camped out @ a small clump of trees right on the edge of the water....I set up my gear, secured her w/a 40' tie cable to one of the trees (lots of shade) & proceeded to mostly ignore her...she spent most of the 1st hr sitting as far as the cable would allow her from the water. We got there early, so not very many people/boats yet....by shortly before we left - somewhere btwn 2-3 hrs - I walked her along the edge, but she wouldn't get in, the water....she's such a scaredy cat! Well, I'd best get on my "domestic duties" so I can get outta here this afternoon! Have a Great Weekend Everybody!! Cindy

Just a quick "hi" before I get on the motorcycle on my way to Wyoming. I'll be heading up the eastern side of CA into Oregon and then on to Boise, pick up my riding buddy Greg, then a few should-be-awesome days in the Tetons, Yellowstone, Bighorns, a little hanging out and partying with friends, then back through the Nevada desert! Oh, and no, no one in my family is from England as far as I know. We have some Russians and a few wandering Germans...and something else must be in there, because I have olive skin. Maybe there's a family skeleton! Have good runs, everyone, I'll post from Wyoming and report on what blue skies look like. Arla

Happy Friday everyone! Good Luck Leslie at your race! You'll do great! Cindy- that bootcamp sounds like it's kickin' some booty around! Good for you for signing up and making the commitment. Arla-have fun on your motorcycle trip. I don't like driving behind motorcycles-I'm afraid of running one over because I always feel like I'm going to look past them and go. Jewels-I hope you're feeling better. My left hamstring has been bothering me a little bit for a while that I finally went and saw an athletic trainer friend who works in a physical therapist's office. PT starts next week to get me stretched out and stronger! Joe-Good luck at your race as well. I hope you beat your time and have fun. My legs are feeling OK. I've got 31 miles so far this week-all at base pace. I'll start speedwork again next week (granted my hamstring is feeling better). I've got a 10 miler planned for Saturday and 20 planned for Sunday. There's my weekend! Next weekend is the VT100 and it doesn't look like a lot of WS people decided to make the trip. I'll drive 120 miles supporting Jack while he runs 100. It's a long day but always a fun time. Have a great weekend! Kelly

Aaahhh! Luvs me some mountain air! 4.5 nice n easy miles @ 10,000 ft. 43 degrees prolly 7 per humidity....Now I'm in Fairplay (the REAL South Park!) For the Ladies Run of Colo. Doing seated massage for TNT donations.... Should I run or party later?