I was going to check on Holly's HM today and then just found out it was yesterday. So congratulations on finishing and surviving the heat -- it was unseasonably hot up here yesterday, too. And I support your decision on attempting the marathon. Better to wait and prepare for one the right way. Bill, the results of your plan are certainly nothing to sneeze at. I wouldn't give up your BQ goal, and in fact would rate you a B or B+ for a grade (do you grade on a curve?). I did the Tour de Troit yesterday, a 40-mile bicycle tour of the city along with 1100 (!) other cyclists. It was a perfect day weather-wise, and the event was very well organized. To assist with all of the intersection crossings, we had the motorcycle-mounted traffic division of the police department, and these guys really enjoyed their job. They got to stop traffic, yell at errant motorists, then zoom by us with lights flashing to get to the next intersections up ahead. So we saw it all: old grand houses from the 1920s that were on the verge of collapsing in on themselves; old grand houses lovingly restored and well-tended; empty fields "returning to nature"; new housing and condo developments; old decayed shopping strips with store-front churches; new strip-malls with current chain eateries and stores; gritty urban scenes with pawn shops and payday-loan emporiums; people waving from their front lawns; neighborhoods from upper to middle-class to near-poverty. I've seen the same things when running the marathon, so it wasn't entirely new to me, but it was a real eye-opener for those who mostly see Detroit only from along the freeways as we're heading into downtown to the theaters and sporting arenas. Considering that Detroit itself is 80% African-American, the ridership was at least 95% white suburbanites, but it shows that there is still a lot of interest in this city, and if you give people something to do and make them feel safe doing it, they will come and support it. Good running everyone! I'm taking a rest day but will hit the trails again tomorrow morning.

Sort of a forced rest day for me. Got on the plane at 1 a.m. and now I'm in Seattle, heading to MD for a few days for a conference. My boss and I are presenting on our wellness program Monday at 11 a.m. Hope I stay awake. Glad to see Holly is doing fine. That must've been pretty scary. Must have been the heat... Tramps, those are the best sorts of long runs. I find the really long runs aren't as much fun since I started complicating them by giving them names (wave, fast finish, etc). I like to just go run. (Tramps, that's an amazing heart rate... I think mine gets up there just walking back from checking the mail!) And Peter also had a nice long run. You guys are doing great. Doug, nice tour and I agree. I love it when old neighborhoods get restored. Sort of gives a new hope for tomorrow, I think. Jeanne, you're a good mom. Regardless of mistakes made in the past (real or perceived), the fact that this is hard for you and you have such hopes for him and what he'll discover... that's good mom stuff. Hey Mary! You and I both run on the higher end of the HR I think. Some of the rates folks report around here are just amazing... Hi Breegar! Don't give up on yourself. I think you've got it in you.... give this plan a try for awhile and see how it goes.

Bill- I like that you are reflecting on your plan and how it went, that is when true improvement occurs instead of just blindly following a program and not evaluating or listening to your body. Spent quality time with a 6 mile run with DW this morning. It was a good time to get caught up from our busy week and...she is stuck with me for the rest of the day. She may be looking for loop holes in our vows but I think they are pretty air tight.

((jeanne)) i'll keep you and your son in my prayers holly - nice job on your half yesterday, glad you're feeling better after that dizzy spell - can't believe you could get out and run 8 today after that - sounds like your injury is definitely on the mend nice long runs out there - tramps, peter, WRFB, and anyone else i missed karin - speedy and consistent as always - you are amazing!! teresa - your son is so speedy!! i think the dmv should hand out prescriptions for valium to all parents when their children get there driving permits --- i don't know how i've survived 3 but still have 1 more to go - that just might do me in!! tim - i enjoyed the coffee at 2 in the afternoon yesterday when i woke up -- still yummy!! went out for 3.65 miles yesterday in 34:50 -- my back felt good once it warmed up a little - iced it, did some abwork then got ready for a wedding ...... absolutely beautiful mass and fun reception - lots of dancing so my back held up ok!! tomS - i have a slight bulging disc at L5 sometimes it gets inflamed and pinches on the nerve root -- so annoying!! today was up early for adoration at church, then mass, now putting around then going back to bed for some more sleep before i go to work tonight!! can't wait to read more race reports!! have a wonderful Sunday all!!

Perch—good to see you on the road again I noticed all the baseball haters were taking it back yesterday, saying they were just “joking.” Ribs must be twisting arms. Holly-that sounded like a tough one yesterday; I hate heat. Probably wise to hold off the full until you’re in better shape. Tim—another nice 30+ weekend. CNY—didn’t somebody around here have a personal connection to EW&F? Tammy? Byll—I’m interested in this experiment. Keep us posted. Jeanne—tough situation with your son; hopefully it’ll turn out to be a good experience for him. Peter—nice rolling hills course; I love those. Great job. Doug—that sounds cool! Lou—nice long MP run. Just finished reading the papers over brunch. I know you all have busy schedules and it’s hard to keep up so as a public service I thought I’d save you some time by summarizing some of the major news headlines of the next few years…in roughly chronological order: 1. Wall Street Bailout Much More Costly than First Estimated 2. Plans Shelved for Health Care Reform, New Energy Initiatives, and Infrastructure Investment as Wall Street Bailout Causes Budgetary “Black Hole” 3. New Report: Financial Institutions Inflated Value of Assets to Maximize Taxpayer Bailout Dollars They Received 4. Big Investors Make Billions as Government Sells Off Taxpayer-Funded Assets at Below Market Value 5. Corporate CEO Pay Skyrockets as Newly “Slim and Trim” Financial Institutions Reap Profits 6. Recent Regulatory Reforms Repealed; “Get Big Government Off Our Backs, Let the Free Market Work,” Wall Street Execs Say

8 miles this morning...7:44 pace felt pretty smooth... Tramps-Free Market System- HA!! That's a good one...

Well done dg! Dicky, if this guy doesn't know he is your arch rival, he will if he ever googles his own name and sees your post. Good luck. Tramps, where are all those baseball haters today after the Cubs clinched the NL Central? You would think they would be more gracious. Nice long run for you btw. You too Peter, well done. Bill, the guy who devised this plan, or anybody who devises any running plan, does not have some God-given insights about the "correct" times, speeds or distances. No one does. These plans are simply guides. Let go of the inner techie in you and just chalk up the week as being close enough to the guide to have gotten the job done. You did fine. Good morning Lemon Face. Five miles for me in 1:17. Now let us turn our attention to the NFL. All pumped up to lie on the couch and watch football today, and the Saint informs me we have to go to a house party from 3-5 and I have to make an appetizer!!! Aaargh!!! Spareribs