Hi WildChild! Nope, I don't even own long underwear! LOL I thought I would never need that stuff again after I left MN and moved to the mild west coast! LOL And I really don't participate in any other cold weather sports that would require me to buy that kind of stuff. So, for a few wks I just hunker down with the TM. it's not so bad though and I know it's temporary. I'm doing most of my posting at KR, that's just sort of where I found my niche I guess and I like that interface over there so much. it's really all so very unfortunate that the CR group split in first place, but well, it's happens. I do try to pop in here at least once a week and post, although I do lurk maybe a few times a week. I guess the less and less one posts, the more they feel like an "outsider" when they do post, but I will try and stay connected, even if it's limited at times.

Soundie wrote: "Me thinks breger and the beer drinkers from the East coast are coming, too."

I can't decide whether I should be disturbed by that statement or happy ... Bill

why, being lumped in with beer drinkers is always a good thing, imo. I am looking forward to meeting all of you and sharing some NW microbrews. Dark Horse, is "JK" sekrit code for something? ((racking brain for Japanese lunch dropped hints...) Holly, nice decision on your part, but keep working on The Single and Wild Trip West. Maybe fall? Tammy, I have a room and keeping it for now, but plans change. Sheesh. I'm paying $229/night for Eugene!!! That's insane!

$229!! Are you at the Hilton?? Yikes! I'm at the BW Greentree for around $89/night I think! I have no clue how I'll get back there after I finish (see how optimistic I am! I actually believe I'll finish this!), because it's probably a mile walk from the finish line, but it's only a few blocks from the start.

It's really too bad that I'm absolutely no fun at all before races, being grumpy and stressed out and all.

yeah, I can tell by your avatar that you take this racing thing much too seriously Sal! You really need to loosen up and enjoy life a bit more . . .

yeah, I can tell by your avatar that you take this racing thing much too seriously Sal! You really need to loosen up and enjoy life a bit more . . .

I'll have you know that the Pank Faerie put me up to that, and that my new motto is, "Never make a bet when you've been dfrinking."

jules, way to go heading for a PR month of over 100 miles. Nice long runs for WRFB, biketm, CNY (with speedwork), Holly, Mariposai (on hotel TM), perch, and CNY (another one). Good job on the speedwork for enkephalin (on hills), and BAP. This morning, I plodded through another 8 miles on the TM at 1% and 6.7 mph (8:57/mile). A good day and good runs for all. TomS

KR simulpost Another Wed MLR. Choose the hill option. Toward Shady Valley, TN 37688 The morning would've remind me of the PNW, if I'd ever been there. A thick fog was laying on the hills like whipped cream. Temperature about freezing. PithyDoug spelled out a good ankle taping system over in Extreme Running (KR) that I tested out on my right problem child. I was impressed with how much it helped. Didn't think I'd really need it since my route wasn't technical -or that was the plan. I got on the bicycle, and rode 6.25 miles over into TN near Offset again. The dogs over there are getting to know me better but a black & tan hound gave me a couple warning bumps. No harm done. Thought nothing of the road condition, but the pavement was moist and had been salted. But when I came to my FS road, it's still completely covered in 1-2" of snow with a pair of icy tire tracks. I start to push my bike, to the place I like to chain it up. It gets my feet in better shape to run. Even without the snow its practically too steep to pedal on gravels - for me anyways. 300' rise in .75 miles. So after transition, I end up "crawling" 14: xx min miles to the top 2.66 miles jumping ice ruts most of the way. But what a reward was waiting the last half mile or so at the top. The blowing fog had frozen an inch of ice on one side of every twig on every tree as far as I could see. The ice looked like tight rows of tiny white daggers, it was georgeous. I've never been so deep impressed by the role trees play for the earth as a parrallel to our cardiovascular system. I thought about going home and burying my car. After a stretch I run to the bottom of the other (south) side, also about 2.66 miles. This is only a 900' drop verses a 1100' climb from my bike to the top on the north face. The bottom 1.5 miles on the south side is almost clear, though I got a very quick 4' skating lesson on the way down. I stretch, have a banana and head back up. I cross through the gap again, but skip the break. It has warmed very little which is better as the little hard snow cover makes a much better running surface than slushy stuff. There still a lot of ice to avoid. Back at the bike I take a half a Clifbar break. I stash my handheld in the pack, take a stretch break and head back up. This trip up is slower because I'm tired. I take some walk breaks in the last mile. At the top I turn back toward the bike. By now the snow is getting slippery as it's slightly warmer. Being tired, I don't make as good footing decisions as when fresh. But I make it to the bike and ride home - un-frozen, un-fallen, un-bitten, generally unscathed. 6.25 miles BIKE .75 walk 16 mile run +/- ~3100' elev change 7 mile BIKE Downright Tarred JJJ

Turns out I have walking pneumonia and have been instructed not to run until the antibiotics run their course.

Craneium, hang in there. Enjoy the rest, and come back strong. Jesse, great workout. Pacific Northwest wimmen, don't start with me. I can handle all of you. Except maybe Mustang Sally. Dark Horse