6 easy miles for me this warm and windy afternoon. 10:38 pace. Watched the womens trials this morning on the net. Nice race...boy that Deena Kastor looked strong. Ribs...I'm with ya on all that stuff. Hang in therel, man. Our turn is coming....someday....I hope....welll we can always wish! I hope they're having the time of their lives!

This is just a mini-Boston update. I arrived in town yesterday afternoon. I had hoped to meet btb at the expo but it was not to be. He was scheduled to visit with Amy from 2-4 and since things were apparently going so well he was there for sometime afterwards. Even though my conversation with him was somewhat brief he is, as we all know from his posts here, a wonderful guy. The expo is pretty impressive. There are tons of vendors. You can eat you way through the place, although I would not recommend doing so! Your "meal" would consist mostly of variations on Cliff bars and the like. Yeck! There was one booth set up by the beef industry that was giving away roast beef wraps. Now that was good! If you wanted to make a pile of money here in Back Bay then you wanted to sell the official windbreaker they had at the expo. It was $90. For my taste it was a "bit much" and it is unlikely I would actually have the desire to wear it day-to-day. Clearly thousands of others do not feel that way as you see people walking all around with them on. The weather is great! Tomorrow is supposed to be just as great. If last year provided some of the worst conditions this race has ever seen this year will be some of the best. It is and will be cool, and dry, with some cloud cover. Just walking around the finish area for the race is quite a sight. There are stands set up, the finish line, the medical tents, lots and lots of race things all around. While driving in I saw the family meeting area signs. As millions of pages of tips have already indicated on race day your last name begins with B. People watching is also quite interesting. In most of America walking down the street half the population looks as though it is likely to have a heart attack any minute. In Boston, not today! You have never seen so many people who look so fit and fast scattered around in your life! I have been to the NYC and Washington D.C. marathons and it is not the same. For both of them the runners are too scattered about relative to the local populations for you to really notice them prior to race day. Here the streets look like a movie producer has filled them with people about some alternative reality in which the obesity crises has magically vanished only to be replaced with an excessive exercise panic. Finally the Olympic trials have generated additional excitement. There were small crowds near the finish to cheer the runners on as they looped by. I saw a bit of this from some distance but must admit to not have gone for a close up look. As to me, I have not totally given up on running tomorrow. I have my alarm set for 4:30am. I will get up and hit the treadmill for a mile. If in the event a miracle occurs and my leg feels fine I will get my gear together and head to the buses. Otherwise it is back to bed. Good running all and enjoy what is left of the weekend.

Despite my curmudgeonly prankstering, you all know I am as interested in the goings-on as the rest of you. Those were two great updates from Kevin and Twocat. Cat, I hope that calf has a miracle cure for you tomorrow and you can get to the start. If you think marathon madness is not in the air, Breger started the daily on Kick today with "march 20 runs" and no one noticed! You Boston folks, keep us up to date! hally, where's a report? Spareribs

SR, I like your curmudgeonly Boston ranting, I get to vent vicariously & then pretend I am mentally balanced when I post. Twocat, I'm pulling for you!!! Kevin, all in all, it's good you still for the most part have your shins. Off to look at Lou's Links. it was nice to see you two spectating at the trials!

Another great meeting with our virtual and no longer virtual friends at Bob's this morning. Got in early on the T and were greeted by Bart Yasso (of Runner's World) as we walked down Boylston to the finish line. Filled up on goodies at Bob's as folks wandered in. Then watched a wonderful race. We were amazed by Deena's strong finish and cheered all the runners, especially Joannie as she cruised to an age group record. Back to Bob's at the finish and home to rest. Hope all tomorrow's runners get some rest today-it'll be bit warm out on the road but cooler as they hit the sea breeze on the finishing stretch.

Eliz, congrats on the first ever 8 miler!! So you didn't feel like Wonderwoman? Maybe you will tomorrow. Did you hydrate, eat a little? Whenever it starts to feel too tough, I just dial it down a notch, and soon it all gets better. Good luck on the HM. It is a the perfect distance.

Oh My! I absolutely love those pictures! What a Doll! And what a great guy you are Bob. Bill

So much for curmudgeon. Those pictures made me cry. Spareribs