Cold morning in TO today ... balaclava weather as our group ran at 6am this morning ... the cold and darkness made it feel like mid-January. The sun finally came up around 7, raising our spirits a little. Completed my last LR before Boston ... 18.0 mi ... 2:58:10 ... 9:53 pace ... 134 hr. I decided not to run any MP miles today as I had two hard tempo runs this week. A good decision as I found this to be a tough run even at ez pace. I ran with a friend of mine who runs the same pace. She was very steady and her presence really helped get me through the run. I always wonder how I'm going to run a marathon when 18 miles is such a struggle. My legs and knees were tired/sore today as well ... a sign that I'm ready to begin tapering. I plan on cutting back some this coming week. Earth Hour is big news up here today. Toronto is participating in the one hour "lights out" initiative - aimed at taking a stand against climate change - from 8-9pm tonight. It should be interesting to see the downtown core almost completely devoid of lights. There's a big concert at city hall as well, featuring Nelly Furtado, so there should be a big crowd. I'm going to a local Junior hockey game, so I don't think they'll be turning the lights out there. Wishing everyone some great runs this weekend! PJ

12 mile run on a beautiful paved trail 20 minutes from home. Perfect brisk & sunny conditions. Right on goal target of 10:20 pace out and 9:40 coming back. DW turned around at 5 for a nice 10 miler. Nono & twocat good luck with tomorrows races. Holly must have been a great girl scout. Prepare for the worst but I think the rain will wait for you to finish. Had our earth hour Thursday evening when the power went out in 3 towns because of a transformer fire. Missed some good basketball. The only time I follow b-ball is the NCAA tournament. I was going for Wisconsin & Louisville, I think I have a thing for red You gotta luv Davidson. Have a good weekend all

A challenging 15 miler for me today. It was suppose to be tomrrow's run, but the weather is looking to great and today the sun is shining. Not really properly fueled for it, nor did I have the mental fuel for it either - but I chugged along and got it done. My oldest daughter is in her first week of C25K. If she sticks with it, she said her plan is to run the Memorial Day 5K with me. That would be so Kewl!! ~Mary

Dang.....I am missing a good plate of Nachos in Knoxville tonight. Tom White won't donate them to any orphans. The Knoxville Race running group of tomorrow will eat them up. My schedule just couldn't fit in that race this year and it is a shame because that is a great group that is going down there. Jlynne.....you are not alone in seeing the favored Badgers and a good number others, get dumped in the NCAA tournament. Davidson (and particularly Curry), is playing extremely well. Every year that always seems to be a mid-major team that goes far into the tournament to provide some thrills and surprises. The younger brother of Curry has been recruited to play here locally starting next year. Hopefully he will be close to the talent of his older brother. runninginDC......If I make it up to see the blossoms in the next little while, I will be sure to contact you. Hopefully your running is going to be able to be enjoyed real soon. You have had quite the seige with that foot. What is the history of the term "jogging"? I was RUNNING this morning and a little boy pointed at me and her mother said...."Oh that man is JOGGING". For some reason I didn't particularly like the connotation that was implied even though my pace at that stage was such that she might have said I was walking. At one time the use of the word "jogging" seemed to be more popular but I don't seem to hear it as much these days. Can anyone give me a history on this? I ran downtown and back this morning......a total of 11.15 miles. I was pleased with the run. The temperature and particularly the wind, was a bit brutal for the way that I was dressed but I obviously survived. Good racing to those so involved and good runs to the rest.

Well, I must say I admire all you who get up before the crack of dawn to go run. And I'll be an early runner a bit this summer... can't say before dawn because we really don't have much of that after mid-May... but I WILL get out earlier! Have to... given what I see on our schedule this year for soccer and work, etc, it'll become the only alternative to running at 11 pm (which would be ok too, cuz it'll be light then, too!!). As you can tell, I'm getting spring fever really bad... Was thinking it'd be nice to go out early and get my 10 miles in before things get going around here (we're slow... it's already 9:30 a.m.), but the temp downtown is -4 and up on the hill it's only about +6! Ugh... with highs forecast of about 30, I'll wait a bit. Nonoruns.... does your dog have a name? I'd love to have a dog to run with, but I have Cheyenne. She's over 11 and half husky (a short lived breed usually), she's pretty creaky and sleeps a lot. I took her for a 2+ mile walk last night when the boys were running for soccer, and she slept all night long! Vista, I bet Ribs would have a story on the difference between jogging and running... Holly, good luck tomorrow. Is this the race you did last year that was measured short after flooding made them re-route? Have they verified that it's really 26.2 this year? I'd think a lot of people would be asking about that. Take it easy and remember the big goal is Boston, not this one.... (btw... how'd the house inspection thing go? How was it having DD at work? I hope she surprised you with her good behavior!) ETA: Yeah Tim! Nice run! and I love 38 Special.... I can't wait for my run tomorrow to be over... I want that feeling of "Ahhhh, last one done!" Liz, I think Steve had really good luck with that Strassburg sock... good investment. You've been dealing with this for far too long. Enke, I shaved too. Was expecting spring, but I'm not wearing shorts any time soon... BTB, I am so looking forward to meeting you in Boston! Many others, but you are a special one, for sure. Will run later, may or may not get my computer back. (Oh, and the countertops are installed downstairs and it looks wonderful!!! One more thing to check off)

Liz, be of good cheer. During your rest from running, keep doing the other stuff, toe raises, massage, ice, the sock, flexing the foot, etc. I'll be thinking of you. This was a banner week for me, running every day pain-free and getting in 20.5 miles. Yesterday's "twinge" was a false alarm as I did another 3.3 on the dirt track with no discomfort at all. I will declare myself free of injury after I wean myself off the ibu and the post-run icing, but I am so encouraged to be doing these short, slow runs. Vista, you want to see a jogger, you should see my slow pace! Definitely jogging and proud of it! Took the family out to dinner last night and afterwards we shot pool for an hour, then bowled. What fun we had, although I have to wonder at today's kids and their manners. I remember that in any sport I ever participated in when younger, someone always taught us the etiquette of the sport. Today you see golfers shouting to their friends across the fairway, bowlers who get up to the lane and bowl without any notice of the people next to them. Of course we weren't bowling seriously and it didn't bother me; just a social comment, as I am a curmudgeonly old guy. Man, that btb recovers fast doesn't he? Hope this progress continues, as it was good to see that workout of his. Jeanne, you really can do a nice long run can't you? Good effort. Tonight it's farewell to Prime Rib with dinner at P.F. Chang's. He heads back to school tomorrow. Spareribs

Good runs and good humor from many posters. My 3 miles this morning was easier that the last couple carpy ones, but I still have trouble getting beyond three. I'll just keep plugging along and take what I can. Good runs all.