Me? The R&R Half is actually next weekend, but no I'm pretty confident I won't be breaking 1:30:00. Just ran 16.2 miles or so at just under a 9 min pace.

That looks very different than what my impression of the 10k course is (for instance, I didn't think that it travels down Maddox Rd. at all). Joe?

Okay, that sad face was not intentional. Somehow typing "22 : (??)" created it.

Your times have followed the pattern of an inverse pyramid, I'd say. From the 26:00 + you ran in 1998 down to the 21:00-something in 2006 (although I'm surely forgetting some of your prouder high school times) back up to the 28:00 + you ran last year. Time to turn that inverse pyramid upside down! I'll mark my mental calendar for 3/8/08 --- the day that Joe, Rick, Alden and others will make their grand marathon debuts --- but on a more immediate note we should register for the Lower Potomac River 10-Miler on 10/12/08(?)!

Is Chaptico at that little old church? How many people come? I mean, I've looked around that little old church, to see Union and Confederate graves, and I don't remember it having a big parking lot...

The whole race day set-up is always right up the street (Zack Fowler Rd) from the Christ Church Episcopalian church of Chaptico at the Christ Church Episcopalian church of Chaptico church hall. There's a big gravel parking lot in front of the church proper where many people always park, and you're bound to see many individuals migrating from there to the race center up the hill. I believe there are usually 100 to 150 people in the 5k, and usually about half that number in the 10k. Also, I think both courses stays entirely on paved roads, so mud shouldn't be too much of an issue.

With the first major races of the Fall 2008 season in the rearview mirror, I suppose it's time to look forward. However, Val and I are still almost three weeks away from our next race, the Get Fit! 5K at Towson University. This event has several attributes that I look for in a race... close proximity and low price. I plan to do some running after my classes over the next few weeks, so I should get in a decent amount of time on the course. I know some turn their intentions to 10 milers and marathons later in the year, but are there any races planned for 9/08? I think CBRC has a few races on its calendar for the month.

It is the Chesapeake Bio Lab -- last year they did a bike/run/bike duathlon, and this year they're giving up the bike part to just do a 5K. I think I heard it is the Solomon's course, but I am not sure -- and have no idea what the attendance will be like.