11:00 65f 11mi w/8.6 at 6:50 pace technical glitch -- watch was showing 6:34 miles splits, i wanted to run 6:40, but in reality i ran 6:50 (ran a measured course). ah well, better to leave some of it out there than run too fast at this point. miles 2-8 were within 3 seconds per mile; i found a groove. a little slower groove than i want on race day, but... oh well... that's the last hard one. training is done. the hay is in the barn. only a few short miles at mp left, mostly just easy jogging from here till phoenix. who me, nervous?

Erika-Glad to hear that you found Cheyenne. I used my lunch hour to run today, 5 ez miles with fluries of snow falling on me. Now my hair is a mess and I have to re-aply my make up before going back to my desk. In days like this is when I wish I am not indoor, but out in the slopes somewhere.

heh heh. here's a little souvenir from my new year's morning... now, where is one of Tet?.... more of my running group here. Love the one of the dog heading in! http://www.runchuckit.com/pic_slides/Chuckit_Reso-08/index.htm glad to hear Cheyenne is home safe and sound. Makes my day.

Erika, here is a link to treadmill pace convertion. Complimentary of our adorable friend Tetsujin. http://www.hillrunner.com/training/tmillchart.php. Great picture Soundie!

Spareribs, Chess alert -- I was only able to draw my game last night against a 1586-rated player. He played 1 d4 and I got nothing. I've never had anything good against 1 d4. Have you ever played 1 d4? If so, what defenses did you not like to face? Dark Horse, aka Winless in Newburyport

I've been meaning to talk with you about chess: 3 things First, I put up a thread for you just before Active died on Chess Boxing. Go to YouTube and enter that and you will see a mess of chess boxing matches. They are a scream. I thought that was something you would dominate! You box the other guy for a round, then sit down and play chess. I have no idea how they figure out the winner, but if you haven't seen this before just try one of those videos for a good laugh. You probably already know about this. Second, as I don't need to tell you, d4 tends to lead to a drawish game since it inhibits the queen early, among other things. In 1973 I got a draw in a simultaneous against Jonathan Weinstein, who at the time was the U.S. Open Champ. I refused to trade pawns, clogged up the whole middle, asked advice from everyone around me when he was gone, and to my amazement he offered a draw! I couldn't wait to get him to sign my scoresheet. I imagine if I played somebody I was terrified I would lose against, I would do the same again, as that guy did to you. Do you know that in '72 Fischer's first win against Spassky he opened c4, I think Queen's Gambit declined. We played it out the other night. Fascinating game. Third, in our house we don't knock over the king to resign. We offer our hand and say "Good game." I taught the boys to do that as being more courteous than knocking over the king. Well, my 11 year-old got an electric hand buzzer from his aunt for Christmas, and if he senses he is going to lose, he slips it on under the table. It pisses my other son off no end when the little one resigns and shakes hands with him, BZZZZZZ! I have no idea where he gets that weird sense of humor. Spareribs

Yay! Cheyenne is safe! A collective sigh of relief from around the world! Thanks for keeping us informed. No run today, again. But tomorrow, I guarantee that I will post a 0530 run. Even though the Hokies are playing in the Orange Bowl tonight. I guarantee that I will post a 0530 run. (I might post a big fib, but I w...just kidding) Oops! Time to clock out!

Ericka!!!! Good news about the runaway. 6 miles for me today in 55:30 ish 20 degrees with a cold wind . My left calf became tight about half way through and I have to believe its from running on the ice and snow. My stride is a lot different and it felt better every time I found an open patch of pavement. Rest day tomorrow and warmer weather coming so hopefully by the weekend better conditions.