Cindy, my SIL was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She caught it early, and is going in for some more surgery next week but she's pretty freaked out about it. Nickname is Babbs...if you could fit her on there I'd appreciate it. Steve, you one funny guy. And very true about the geese... When we were in Hawaii last summer we were sitting under a big tree eating ice cream cones. Lots of birds in the tree... Yep, right on top like a cherry. Ewww! Can't wait to hear how Mary does. I know there are lots of races going on but we've been training for this one right along with her and I can't wait to hear how she does. Go Mary! (sorry, don't mean to be talking about you in the 3rd person if you're still here...) Holly, 15 miles... wow. I officially hate anyone running anything at all. Not really, I'm just pouting. Please take care of that ankle. (and maybe 15 was a wee bit too much? why you pushing it?) Last night, I did 15 minutes on the stationary bike, 10 minutes or so on some chest/upper back weight stuff, then 30 minutes at mostly a good clip of pool running. I was in the lane next to some big older guy trying to do the butterfly. I called him Mr. Splash-o-matic. Geez that guy could spray water two lanes over! I'll go back for more of that today, try for an hour if I can. Assuming I don't run at all until Nov. 2, my "long run" pattern has been/will look like this: 26.2 (Equinox marathon) 12.5 (week's mileage was 33) 14 (week's mileage was 40.2) 8.5 (grrr, mileage for the week was 33.4) 0 (plan on 2 hour pool run if I can stand it) 0 (plan on 1 hour pool run) 26.2 (NYC marathon) What'cha think? I'm hoping the break will heal my foot and my base will get me through. I've never taken off two weeks before a marathon, but since I'm sort of combining recovery with buildup/taper.... it might just work? Aamos, you and Divechief really paid your dues on the elliptical. I can't do that one though because it flexes my foot in a painful way. Even walking hurts it. So I can do the bike and the pool running, and do them I will!

Ok, posted something about tracking CNYrunner, and realize that Baystate is a Sunday marathon. Got it mixed up with Hartford which was last Saturday... Ugh. I hate not running.

why you pushing it?

Well, we're having friends over tonight - good food and lots of wine. I ran a little farther to help with the calorie overload. I have to say that I have finally gotten back to the weight I was at this time last year - took me FOREVER to lose my holiday lbs from last winter, and this time I want to keep it off. Maybe I should just skip the food tonight and have wine. I mean, I can have food anytime....I hardly ever get wine.... Erika, Perch did a lot with poolrunning, boring as dirt but he said it worked well. Maybe you can get a waterproof mp3 player.... Jlynne - congratulations on your PR - woo hoo!!! Dg - you lucky duck - what a great boomer gathering! Gordon - you just start out at that pace? No warm up?

Tough race this morning at the 10K Race with the Champions. Ran 35.58 for 3rd in my AG, 47th overall. Simon Bairu won in 29.13 easily I was told. I am happy with the way I ran since my legs were like bricks today and tight, (not sure why) but I persevered and when JF a guy my age pushed me toe to toe in the last 4k I responded and with 1K to go I pushed hard and won by about 3 seconds. Sometimes it's not the time we race but how we race it. Now for home made pizza, wine, more wine and a sublime desert of chocolate macadamian cookies in whipped cream with creme de cacao liquor, chocolate sauce and strawberries. Come on over before it's all gone. Take care Tall

Thanks Tall, you must have known I'm a chocoholic. Jlynne - great job on the race and AG 2nd! dg-that sounded like a nice get-together. evanflein - hang in there! Interesting taper plan. Lynden - I will probably run the Seattle half, but I haven't committed yet. If there is a pre-race dinner, I will be at that! I ran 3.8 miles recovery pace (11:13), in perfect fall weather. Yup that 16 miler yesterday took the juice out of my legs. Followed up with 30 min on the bike, which seems to be getting easier every time.

Woa - that puts things in perspective for me. Tall ran a 10K in only 9 more minutes than it took me to do a 5K! In my defense, I AM older than he is. Great job, Tallrunner and way to finish 3rd in your AG!

Doug, I'm glad you mentioned that... thanks. I realized after I posted that I hadn't send good race vibes to Mark & Dave.... meant to get back here all day. An early start for you. I might see you there... Tall!!! I'll be right there. (oh yeah. congratulations! ) Wow Denise! It sounds like you're really doing better! wtg in your race. thanks for the link, that's a great picture. how cool you got to meet Joan! Jeanne, congratulations! funny about the age groups... why would they do that? SteveP, what a nice run. Holly, have fun tonight. good idea Amy. yes, it was a really fun group. -- it just occurred to me. when I said 'here' I meant Ann Arbor, not my house. the restaurant did all the work. Mtnchk... good luck to you too. I agree with Amy, I love what you're doing. How about Twocat's TP? I don't know her name. (think his TP is a she..). And Pickles. (TW's DW) ugh. 6 miles by the river , 9:53 average pace, 7:50 max. 163 ahr, 179 max. I only meant to do 8, expected an easy run but do you ever have one of those where every step is hard? & everything hurts? 6 felt like 600, & i can't blame it on a marathon. But it's ok! I have it all figured out. why waste perfectly good sproink on a run-of-the-mill cutback week LR? I must have already been sending it to all of tomorrow's racers, (esp, MI, sorry. can't throw clear to Denver). So they all could start sproink loading today. . (maybe I can blame it on a marathon... )