Hi 40's, looks like we have arrived safely at another Monday! Dang, this is starting to look like an ultra thread with all this talk of crossing mountain ranges, and long runs for everyone. Weird weather here...was in the 70's yesterday. Around sundown, I went for a nice 4 mile run with Katy. Wore shorts and a tank top, and it was very pleasant. As I was heating up, the sun was going down so it was getting cooler. Very nice. Coming off my cold, I got in 3.3 miles of walk/run on Friday, weights on Saturdy, and 4 miles of running yesterday, so looks like I'm on the upswing. Think I'm going to try a class at the gym today called "gentle flow yoga". Doesn't that sound nice? I'm already feeling mellow just thinking about it

Okay - Let's see if I can remember everything I just read: Silly Bear - Nice stripper name!! Arla - Congrats on the long run. It still amazes me when you get done with one of those and it's like, "Yeah! (fist pumping!) And I feel great!!) Re keeping the tooties warm and dry - I wear Wigwam trail running socks over a pair of Injini (sp?). My feet stay warm, but they don't stay dry. Depending on how long we're running, I'll carry an extra pair of socks if my feet get too wet. Karen has a pair of "waterproof" shoes, but the problem is when water does get it, it can't escape. Also, there's more moisture from foot sweat 'cause it can't escape. I figure getting your feet wet is all part of the fun of trail running. Mtnchk - Don't think I'm up to the Rockies challenge. I like to try and keep things at 6,000 feet or lower. Re the number of racing miles this years - if everything goes according to plan, 107 +/-. We just found out that our planned July 50k has been moved to August, so we need to find something else for July. There's the SOB in Ashland (Siskiyou Out and Back), but Karen has her kids that weekend. If it ends up being too hard to work around her kid schedule, I'll find something to do by myself for that month. It would be interesting to see how well I'd do in a 50k all by my lonesome. Carol - Sounds like you're feeling pretty good there, Chickadee. Congrats! And that yoga class does sound wonderful. Let us know how it went. Farmer Jim - What decisions have you made about the hip?? I know we had a new person pop her head in here. Unforunately, I can't remember your name at the moment, but Welcome!! If I forgot someone, sorry. Cathcha next time. Because I have plans in the very near future (vacation), I'm getting sick again. Third time since November. Very irritating for someone who never gets sick. Grrrrrr! So I used that and lack of sleep last night as an excuse to not get out of bed and workout. However, I'm now seeing that was a stupid move as the rains and winds are suppose to move in again tonight and through the rest of the week. <sigh> Guess it'll be wet one in the morning. Some nurses my dad works with had a dinner last night for him and I went as his date. Unfortunately, the lady whose home it was at smokes. Could smell it as soon as we walked in. My coat reeks, had to go home and shower and wash my hair. Ick! It was a very nice evening, but the smoke smell . . . Didn't do my already sick sinuses much good. Have a great week, everyone!</sigh>

OK, so you thought you could lose me? I actually ran today, for the first time in 2008. 4 miles in 39:30 - a 9:53 pace. I was pleased that I was able to stay comfortable at a pace just faster than 10/mile, and I was also pleased when I weighed in at just 189.75 - didn't quite creep up to 190 in my running togs, and I thought I was pushing 195 - 196. It is 48F here in Albany right now. I think it was 8F just a few days ago at this time of day. We may hit 60 by the middle of the week before winter returns. Brian

Hey Brian good to see ya and good run.They're calling for close to 70* for us tomorrow though it'll be mid 40's @ runtime @5:30am.Still better than the 12* I ran in last week. Some schedule Leslie and that trail race looks awesome!4200ft!Holy Smokes!!!

Nothing really new on the hip.The radiologist was supposed to read the x-ray today but never heard from them. I ran 3 and change saturday really slow, kept wanting to burn it at the end (now this is a relative term) but was a good boy. It doesn't feel right but not any change from the run. When I laid off from running that week was doing quite abit of leg work with weights and don't think that helped???? The ortho guy doesn't come again until mid feb but could go to his office and I guess he has an open mri machine there. I suspect in this area the demographics favor him seeing alot more of 80 year hips than weekend warrior wannabe athelete types like me. My worst fear is him telling me I need to find a different form of exercise or that I need replacement surgery. Oh well can't make judgements until I try him, just would hate to spend a bunch of money and get no where. It just seems funny I was running 17 mile weeks without pain just before harvest. http://www.gprmc.com/Physicians/physicianprofile.asp?PhysicianId=80 enough rant. Hey SB welcome back, .......His name was Lola he wore a diamond,.......... sorry for the earworm I didn't do my stripper name cause ol leathercheeks can't be topped, Joe your a good sport, great runs man what can I say, looks like you have a great deal of promise in this sport!! Carol looks like your hip thing is coming around for sure. Brian glad u stopped in. Leslie wow thats some race, what is your altitude at home? mtnchk your getting some great mileage in muddy dog and all!! Some of our friends from Estes do Leadville or rather attempted it, I think one got past 50 and the other 75 before missing the cut or dropping out. They are both extremely well conditioned and much younger than me, if they can't make it wow. They run some with cgerber on this forum also. Teresea hope you get to ski some too this winter. I haven't got to ski recently since I got "fit", hoping it will make a big difference.

I went for a run at 7pm tonight and it was 47* here in the Burlington, VT area. The weatherman is predicting highs in the 50's tomorrow! I saw people running in shorts and out riding their bikes. Crazy weather. Hope it snows soon so ski season isn't literally a wash! Stay healthy everyone, Kelly

Lola is a great name! Okay, y'all, totally NOT running related so I hope I don't get kicked out for this. There is a delightful movie called Kinky Boots. Now, before you roll your eyes, would you believe it is about a guy (named Charlie) who inherits his dad's shoe factory, and realized his dad was just about bankrupt. He doesn't want to lay off all the employees (who pretty much raised him) so he decides do branch out... ... with the help of a cross-dressing dancer named Lola. Played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, who I think is awesome. Lola is fine with me! (I promise not to go all crying-game on you, too)

LOL! I resemble that Angie!! 'cept she's only 8! We were not trying to ditch you Brian!! we tossed ya a rope! Glad to see ya back on deck! Heeeyyy Lola!! Carol: I need to get back into yoga too....I really like Ashtanga.....used to have a hot young instructor..... glad you're feelin' better! Leslie: I need to talk to you about altitude sickness!! ya can't b.s. your body! How your body responds to the changed barometric pressure & oxygen levels could effect everything! - or nothing...some folks don't even notice a sea level to 6,000' change....some are down w/flu-like symptoms for up to a month! If you're in relatively good physical shape ( ) & do some good prep work (primarily hydration & rest), most folks would be race-ready in a couple of days!....in the meantime, take one from Lance...train @ altitude as often as you can before the event....he usually had his team (as I understand it) up here @ Leadville for up to a month or so before Tour de France...nothin' like training @ avg 10,000' ele when the actual race doesn't get much above 7K!! Hey!! to everybody else....Good runs in good weather al!l We'll see if I get a run today...DH scheduled a repairman & gave my entire day for the window!! Cindy/Ms Glitterkiss