OK mtnchick....you sent the cool rainy weather to Oklahoma. A nice 4 miler this evening 47F and drizzle. Loved it!

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Leslie - wow, way to place! Pretty impressive on only your second ultra, all that trailwork is certainly paying off Joe - ALL double-digit runs this week? Yikes! Yeah, sorry about the Eagles thing - when I lived in Philadelphia I really felt for the sports fans there, always second-best it seemed. Even poor Smarty Jones. They have that underdog thing going on. And can I just chuckle about the Giants last night? I mean, the BROWNS? Cindy - hang in there, sounds like things are looking up, even if it's a slow go. I have a TV-free household but wanted to catch some sports last night, so spent a few hours at our local microbrewery (only a 1.1 mi away, I can bicycle), while there I had a super unhealthy dinner (fish tacos, side order of some really tasty fries) and 3 beers (!) and I still feel less than 100% this evening, not exactly bad, just not right. That alcohol/grease/salt combination doesn't sit well with my ol' bod... Arla

I had a super unhealthy dinner (fish tacos, side order of some really tasty fries) and 3 beers (!) and I still feel less than 100% this evening, not exactly bad, just not right. That alcohol/grease/salt combination doesn't sit well with my ol' bod... Arla

Isn't that amazing how the bod starts to reject that stuff, even though at the time it tastes so darn good?? My weakness is McDonald's French fries. Man, I love those! But I always feel like crap after eating them. It's definitely cooling down around here. Overcast and gloomy. Winter is definitely on the way. Joe - I let my CDL trucker's license lapse a few months ago. Ran 3 miles this a.m. and kept up a pretty good clip, but when I climbed the second story at work, my legs were tired. The residual problem that came up after my a.m. run was tightness in the tendon at the back of my left leg where the leg bends. (((sigh))) I may have to force myself to go get a massage this weekend. Darn! Have decided to bag the Desert High 50k in December. Not only does my coach think I'm a candidate for hurting myself with this hip thing, but the idea of running 31 miles in a few weeks holds little appeal to me. Glad I waited to send in my entry fee. From now until the first of the year, it will be relax, renew, re-energize, work on strength training. Sounds like a fine idea to me! MTA - Packman Jones (stupid name) has been suspended for at least 4 games due to a probation violation. Drank (which he isn't suppose to do) and got into a fight with his bodyguard - - who the Cowboys have hired to keep him in line!! WTH?? If someone is that big of a loser, baby, whatever - let 'em hang themselves! Also - Did I ever tell you guys that Derek Anderson (currently with the Browns) is the son of one The Hub's best friends in high school? He still marvels at seeing Derek on the ball field. A little surreal at times.

Leslie - yikes, yeah, seems to me like you deserve a break, give things time to heal, too. I'm a-skeered of 26.2, much less almost back-to-back 50Ks! BTW, what are your long-term goals? Just curious...faster 50Ks, longer races, just go with what looks fun? Hate to interrupt the football talk but GO PHILLIES! And I'm an LA native. Told ya I had a soft spot for the underdog thang. We had some good snow on the mountains here last week, enough to see it from the valley floor, but I'm sure it's mostly gone by now. And temps creeping back up toward 90 by week's end - this up, down, up stuff is hard to take, I've lost my heat tolerance already. Had an enjoyable 8 miler today, I really love my "medium-long" runs, because they're actually pretty long (not too long ago they were LONG), but they now feel easy and fun, I can kind of play as I run along, maybe pick it up here and there just 'cause...which is what it's really all about! Arla

Hi to everyone else....am I one of the everone else? That's fine-I know I've been MIA. Just busy trying to stay afloat-I'm sinking faster than I can bail. My class is taking a lot of time too. Then there's soccer and football with the boys. I got a little yard work done over the weekend putting the flowers to bed for the winter even though it's been in the 60's all week. It's supposed to start cooling down tomorrow though. I have been running-my longest is 8 miles last Sunday, 6.5 on Monday and 4 today. IT band is getting better, I'm probably pushing it too much because the scale is going up and freaking me out. I've got a good strength plan and I've got a weekly mileage plan I'm trying to build back to so having a plan to focus on is helpful. I'm done racing for this year and will start planning next year's goals soon. Glad to see everyone is doing well. Stay away from greasy food and maybe I'll check out some truck driving schools tomorrow-I've always wanted to try driving a truck, as long as I don't have to parallel park.....and has AC.......could get paid to see all my friends across the country........and enter some really cool races.........hmmmmmm.......home school the kids.........

Hi Kids, Wow, this is a busy group, and not just with running! Joe, 5 weeks huh? You are going to be so ready. Your training has been really consistent, and you don't seem to be verging on any injuries, so sounds like you're good to go. Pretty cool. Already waiting for the race report Leslie, sounds like a good plan to shift gears, rebalance, and stage for the next goal. You've made some incredible progress, and hopefully this time will help you to keep running as a lifelong pursuit. R2, dang, those Adrenaline's are dangerous for you! Amazing how different we all are. I think I have 4 pairs of them now (yard shoes, knock around shoes, walk in them shoes, and the newest for running). Really wishing I could at least get a diff color! How is Lynda's running? She's made some pretty awesome progress as well. As for the trucking, reminds me of the 1st (and last) camping trip Kerry and I went on. We borrowed my parents pop up, and they insisted that it took a man to back up the camper properly, so Kerry promised to do it. Turns out he had the flu + altitude sickness, so guess who backed the trailer and did all the set-up? Yep, this lil' ol' girl Kelly, how you going to find time for a job with all that going on? Maybe it's time to look for a rich guy instead. Just kidding . Jewels, how's the heel feeling? I'm referring to your foot, not your daughter's ex-boyfriend. Cool front just passed here but was pretty slow moving, so I'm afraid it might not make it to you. We need Cindy to push harder on the next one! Arla, I think it's great that your house is TV free. But it's kind of like vegetarians. I admire them, but can't quite seem to commit. Cindy, how is your hip/leg doing? Thanks for the cool front . Evryday, we're rooting for the Cowboys, but it's been a tough week. Dallas Komen 5K this weekend. I am still running, but not well right now in terms of any kind of speed. I'm going to support mom, and have a bib and chip, so will run as the spirit leads me on Saturday. Supposed to be nice and cool...perfect weather, so maybe I'll feel more frisky on that day. Mom is really geared up and sent me her strategy of 6 or 7 different points. I think she's likely to run it in 26: something. Not bad for 67, eh??! Gotta go clean up from pet sitting and start my accounting job. We met yesterday to go over our items to clean up prior to year end for the company's we handle, and it's kinda scary! Fun to meet my other virtual co-workers though. There are 6 of us working for the firm now, and I had never met two of them. Later kids!