Morning, Everyone! Easy 3 miles this a.m. w/45 min of strength/core. Joe - Good job on the 5-miler! The whole twist-the-ankle thing - makes your heart leap into your throat for a moment, doesn't it? I stubbed my left toe really hard on Saturday and did the whole windmill arms-falling forward-huge steps-trying not to face plant-it thing. I was quite proud of my unknown-til-then acrobatic ability! Farmer Jim - Quite the picture. I've never experienced a tornado and don't want to. Kelly - Absolutely no offense taken by anything you said. We're here to support and learn from one another. I appreciate your willingness to share your wealth of information with us . . . especially at no charge. I've bookmarked the blog and will read through it over the next couple of days. I have exchanged emails with my coach over the last 24 hours, and after he gets back from participating in the Race Across Oregon, we're going to get together and revamp my schedule, working on speed and endurance, and I'm going to grill him about the miles. He has been adamant in the past that it takes the body too long to recover after 3.5 hours or 18 miles and that for now we are sticking miles. He did, however, comment that if we ever decided to up our runs to 50 milers ( ), that would change. With regard to training, besides the open road and trails, I have a decent amount of equipment at home that probably isn't being utilized to its best advantage. As far as finding a dirt road to get out on, I'll have the think that over. I know we have them , I just have to think about where would be the safest to run. It would have to be a Saturday trail run replacement, because during the week I run in the dark-thirty hours of the a.m. This event was the first one I've participated in in which we were allowed drop bags, so I was unsure of what I would need and when. With regard to the TP, bowel issues have a been a real problem the longer the distance. This is the first time I've used Imodium and it worked really well except for one instance. Next time I'll take 2 in the a.m. and see if I can get through. I try to carry a minimum of baby wipes in a baggy 'cause I don't want the added bulk, etc. This was also the first event where port-a-toilets were stationed along the course . . . but not when I was in need. I am very much looking forward to crewing for Kate because I know I'm going to learn a lot. And she, just like you, has been very giving and forthcoming with advice, etc. The ultra running community is definitely something special indeed.

Hey guys - Here's the link to my race report over on the ultra forum: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/ultra/Forum/Post/62eb8879119946e480fdf4ebd9a7f110#focus Fashion Report: Black shorts, white tech shirt w/yellow sleeves, pink sports bra (power color), my favorite wild pink gators, new white Runner Zombie hat, and green (dirty) Vasquez trail shoes.

Catching up with the reading about ya all with my 11 pm supper including the 2 race reports. Leslie you have come along way in very short time, hang in there. Joe bummer about the ankle and right at the start too, great time and neg splits too even with the injury. Cindy glad the boot camp is getting easier, and oh major jealous of your mountain house time . Great job on the LR mileage, "only "15 miles, Purty darned good!!! I don't think any combines or trucks stopped running during that little F0 ish tornado yesterday even though it was NWS warned. The one we had in March a year ago, it was pretty spooky, about a mile from our house and about 3/4 mile wide. http://www.extremeinstability.com/07-3-28.htm Carol good luck on your half training this time around. Darned hips anyway, mine seems under control but it took a long time to get to where I'm at. Just the way it tis. Kelly I enjoy reading your training tips and felt I learned alot from your advice to Leslie even tho I'm not near that advanced or doing those kind of runs. OH and I like the GU's also, take them hiking in the CO mtns and always do one before a race, my races are so short its mostly mental, but tell myself its rocket fuel Jewels; enjoying your classes still? Hope your getting that old bull rider injury healed up Was gonna fix some things before we started, in the process of changing a belt broke another piece and ended up doing a mega parts run to 3 different Deere dealerships and 200 miles for something all of them should have stocked Anyway its fixed now

Okay then, gotta get me some "rocket fuel!" .... since I have a coffee "attachment" that Expresso Love just might be the ticket! .... Good reading on that site/blog! Thanks Kelly! .....knowing the foibles of my digestive system (more upper GI rebellion) I think I need to experiment w/liquid or soft fuels more..& I'm always needing to remind myself to drink while running...I think I tend to run deficit a little too much ...Lots for all of us to learn as we make our 'journey'....the individual variables make a lot of sense to me...got me to thinking/remembering cadaver labs.....people really are as different on the inside as on the outside...in many ways! Jewels: how's that hip coming?? Congrats on the 3!! Carol: your plan sounds practical! do you carry a glucose monitor during your runs? just in case... Jim: Awesome footage on that link! Sometimes I miss the energy of watching those things! Yah, I know, I'm weird!! I blame my parents .....I'm going to try to go up every wknd that I don't have a massage event....or maybe afterwards....just sleeping up there overnight really helped! & by the 2nd morning I didn't have any trouble at all.....I'm trying to bank some aerobic benefit before Georgetown half....I don't wanna do that again Leslie: Lots of "educational information" in your RR! I'd post that to your journal for a re-read later!! Ref dirt roads....as much as I prefer just leaving my front door, sometimes I drive 10-15 mins or so to find a suitable trail....depending on what I'm looking for that day.... 0500 65*F/39% H. clear/calm....Mairead & I met up w/Sarah & Ryan (TNT folks - kin I call em kids as they're both under 30? ) & I don't know why, but we headed South to "THE HILL!!" 110 mins & 9.44 rolling hilly miles (+ the big hill!) later....they both headed off to shower & go to work....I wonder if they'll ever do that again?!?! C

HO-LEE CRAP!!!!! http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071308ORB_140_pound_tumor_SW.519de5f3.html

If you want to know why we crazy ultra runners do what we do, check out the photogs at this link: http://www.runningahead.com/groups/Trails/Forum/f1d458453fcd4e24b47ec31679fd168d There are some absolutely stunning places in this country.

Hey Kids- Nice pics Leslie . Wow! I need to move out west! Jim- Awesome tornado pics ! Hate to get caught while out running and have that monster bearing down! Good to get home yesterday and rested up from my trip. Slow 6 miles this morning with Buddy boy.Uneventful except for the fact that I passed the 1,000 mile mark for the year.

Hey Kewl Joe!!! & just past midway....are you going for 2,000?? isn't there some kind of award for that level of masochism? when's your next race? Leslie, ref pics ~ I plan to! .....sleepin' in's good too sometimes! Boot Camp this am..light cals, stretching AND ..track speed drills!! after doing the same last night w/TNT group ....after doing 9.44 including the big hill yesterday am....I'm thinking (just as soon as I get my house tidied up & the treatment room reset for this afternoon's clients) that I outta take a rest day.... ....I've had two coaches caution me on overtraining....(just shy of 40 this week?)...course they gotta know that this has been an unusually busy weird week...well, maybe not but I do feel like I'm "powering up" into it....if that makes any sense?