It is Finished. Barring injury , I'll make 1,500. With more miles per week, it's still possible to hit 2,000, but I ain't betting or suffering for it.

Ugh! The past 4 weeks have been tough. My paces are suffering. I'm due for a cut back. This coming week I'm travelling to Bristol TN to take in the NASCAR races (although I'm not really that big of a fan). I've heard its a good party pred and I have been playing leap frog for the past month. I think he's about to get away. Good running all

corland, I'm so jealous dude. You're going to Bristol (I'm a BIG fan). Live hear in TN and can't get tickets.

I have never been to Bristol but have a co-worker that grew up a few miles from the track. When I asked him about the track he looked at me and said "I have never been to teh track:, and was serious. My wife and I went to the race that was here in Atlanta in the spring- what a great time. One day I hope to make it ot Bristol.

Congrats you guys! I mean it in the nicest way when I say: Now go catch the 1500 mile bunny so us slow pokes have a chance at the top! Derek, I'm hoping you get your legs back before Chicago. But if not, just run to finish like you've mentioned. Then you can attack White Rock or Cowtown for the sub-4 race when it's a lot colder and you have more time to train in the cooler temps. If I survive my first one this October and want to do another - I plan to run only winter marathons. Training all summer in the seventh plane of hell Texas has been brutal - and it really hasn't been that hot this year by Texas standards.

corland, I'm so jealous dude. You're going to Bristol (I'm a BIG fan). Live hear in TN and can't get tickets.

The extent of my NASCAR following may have been somewhat down played. I kind of thought the whole beer drinking laying around on Sundays lifestyle wouldnt fit in here. I've been to the Michigan race 4 or 5 times. I dont really have a driver to root for anymore though, looks like my guy (TN native S. Marlin)) got his ride yanked again this year. On another, more important note, last year I ran my first marathon. My mileage was anything but consistent. Building up to the 40-45 mile weeks almost killed me. I was overweight and had one nagging injury after another. One week I'd get 45 miles in, the next week I'd pay for it and only manage 10-20. The good news is I completed my first marathon (in horrible conditions) in 4:06. It's still possible derek, dont give up now.

Zoom, I'd rather train in the heat than the cold...joints don't ache nearly as much. But then, that is coming from someone who complains the Tucson summers are seldom hot enough and the winters are too cold, even if they are only in the 40s and 50s.

Ha! You know, I griped about the cold all last year, but I think what got me the worst was wind and slippery footing. This year I am planning to purchase a pair of NB shoes that have removable ice spikes, tread that sheds snow, and cushion that doesn't get hard in the cold. So running this Winter should be better. Plus we seemed to be even colder than normal this past Feb. I'm actually looking forward to some cooler weather after the past month. k

Corland, dude, how can you do all those miles on a treadmill, man I would vomit for sure.!

I do a great deal of my running on the treadmill. It's boring but at least it gets my running in.