There will be plenty of folks of extremely varied paces. I'll be trending towards the slower side myself.

I've only done 2 marathons...and in both of them I asked myself what the hell I was doing. Hopefully I'll be "well" enough to enjoy the beer afterwards. To me the best part of running is when I stop and drink cold beer.

Hi Tanya! I just read your blog about your bet with JK - congrats on the win! Both of you are ridiculously fast...is there ANY slow people running the Flying Monkey? (besides me)

I was hoping for 3:30 marathon pace on a less challenging course this year, but right now, I'm hoping to be back to 4 hour marathon shape by Monkey... Monkey may be a painful 4 1/2 hours for me.

My sister had 3 kids - but the first 2 were twins. She said after the twins, having just one seemed easier. Maybe doing the Flying Monkey as your first one will make all the other ones easier. You may be doing this the right way.

You're not the first person to suggest this. I'm hoping that you're all correct.

Ok...I think maybe I should stop asking. I don't know if I can handle the truth. My goal for my first marathon...and my second marathon...was to break 4 hours. I did CMM in 4:24, then the Marine Corps Marathon in 4:15. For this one I'd like to not be last...and to be able to drink beer when I finish. Have you ran the Monkey before?

Nope. Some idiot co-worker (bdub) decided that Monkey would be his comeback marathon after running 3:07:30 in Memphis last year. Somehow I signed myself up. I've run 8.25 miles in 14 days, though. I don't know if I really even want to finish at this point. I did Hatfield-McCoy in 4:42 after running 3:39 for Flying Pig.

You don't look familiar - is your avatar a recent picture? I've met Candice, House, and Trent briefly on training runs. I live in Manchester, so you probably don't know me.

England is a long drive. Do you car pool? Isn't there a Striders this weekend? Will you be there? Will we have tea and crumpets?

England is a long drive. Do you car pool? Isn't there a Striders this weekend? Will you be there? Will we have tea and crumpets?

No, no, not Monchestah, Mayun-chayusturr. Can't make it to the striders thing this weekend, it's my weekend with my son. I looked at your profile pic and I'm pretty sure I've never seen you. Makes sense because a 3:37 marathon means you're probably on your way home by the time I finish if we've ever ran the same races. I ran the CMM in 2007, but just did the half this year. In your pic - is that an electronic musical device you're wearing? I started a "virtual" riot on the Striders board before I did my first marathon (back in 2007) by simply asking if ipods were allowed. It's not a big deal to me, but some people are extremely emotional about it.

no worries, mate. i plan to be the last monkeythonner on the course, and i shall let no one take this honour from me. at least - not without a fight.

I may keep you company, but I promise I will go into the chute before you if it would make you happy!

Tanya - why you hatin' on horses? Are they in with the owls & monkeys?