Hey everybody. Heres the link for tracking me during the marathon. If I feel particularly good, or particularly bad, I may post during the race from the blackberry during some walk breaks. For a live race report of sorts. But dont count on that. http://www.mtectracking.com:8080/Mtrack/Mtrack?raceid=3&pid=2532 My bib # is 2532 To make things tougher on myself, I am probably not staying there overnight. Couldnt get a room in walking distance since I signed up late. Its a little over an hour drive..and Ive driven to Columbus for races before. Its the drive back that will suck. Im going alone for this one.

Hey Good luck Murphy! I didn't realize you were running this weekend.

Yeah he's a Caaarrrraaaazzzzyyyy animal!

Thanks Kimmie, and yes Shan, I am crazy. I am also now officially excited for Las Vegas. It will happen this year. And the better news is starting in 2009 it will be the Rock 'N Roll Vegas marathon! So it will finally be a first class marathon, like it should be.

Good luck, Murph!! Legs are much better today. Good ice down last night. Will let judgement be the better part of valor and wait one more day before running. I am not about to screw up this marathon

Bugs, isn't it a little cold out now for streaking? Shan, a little speedwork like some of the fartlek stuff Bugs is talking about would be fine, and I think it keeps things interesting. I'd die of boredom if I did all my runs "easy." Oh wait, I suck at running easy anyway, so whadoIknow... MrI, hopefully you'll be able to pop in every now and then. We thought you'd left us high and dry last time, not good. And yes, we'll fret around and post on old weeklies if you don't show up on Monday bright and early! Good decision, Dave. Go Murphy, you crazy you-know-what! And that's good news about Vegas, I know you had a lot of commitments tied to that one. I'll be pool running tonight and this weekend. Monday I'll probably see about getting an appointment for my foot. Still debating whether to go back to the podiatrist, or seeing my orthopedist... I'd be doing a "followup" with pod-doc but starting all over with ortho-doc. But I know ortho would do an x-ray... and I kinda wanna see what's going on in there...

Can I still do hills? Does fartlek's count as speedwork?? If I want to do 1 day of hills, 1 longer run, and 1 day of hills is that too much?? Should i alternate weeks of hills/fartlek's??

I recommend you alternate, at least to begin with, although I've read for marathon training about putting hill work in specific phases. I plan to do that next time. I'm really thinking about starting kickboxing again. It's an interesting class, we all have our own bags and the instructor has us do some killer workouts like fartleks were it's one minute as fast you can, one minute slow, etc.. I really want to focus on building leg muscle over the winter and I think this will be great. But I'll probably only be able to go once a week. I have a bag in my basement, but it's not the same as being in class.

Bugs, isn't it a little cold out now for streaking?

YES! I've warn jogging pants the last few runs. Probably would not have had I been doing REAL running but this easy jog stuff, you my as well be warm.

I'll be pool running tonight and this weekend. Monday I'll probably see about getting an appointment for my foot. Still debating whether to go back to the podiatrist, or seeing my orthopedist... I'd be doing a "followup" with pod-doc but starting all over with ortho-doc. But I know ortho would do an x-ray... and I kinda wanna see what's going on in there...

I've really found that you need a doc with good sport injury experience. I mean I love my family doc, a runner, understands how important running is to me, specializes in sports medicine, but has pretty much over guessed every problem. Ugh, ticks me off just thinking how much money I spent last fall, and how one chiropractor visit is all it would have took. My pod did x-rays too. Well actually both docs did, but the pod said they had to be ones with stress, so I was standing. If they have you lay down, question WTH! If they want you to get orthotics (oh I hope not) I would highly recommend the soft ones. I didn't know any better and spent $600 on the ones he told me I needed. Since then I've learned that runners in general should have the soft ones, even if you need new orthotics sooner, get the soft ones.