Lots of good runs I see today. Nice climbing Roy. Dave, I was also wondering what was on your mind when running on those tired Kegs? I'm looking forward to Karin's RR too. I got in a great marathon pace run this morning. It was just going to be 8, but I tacked on some at the end. The last five were roughly 6:40 or so. The hills made it tough to keep pace but I felt strong at the end (max HR 169!). Hopefully I'm not baked enough for a good 20 tomorrow... Watching the olympics on tivo...(go wonen's sabre!)

I think Enke deserves her "Trail Girl" patch, too! Nice job... even if it does "almost" look like a race report in the daily! Mariposai, you are amazing! 4 course Chinese dinner, Chinese wine... opening ceremonies. Wow. I had halibut and broccoli and sorted magazines for donation to the hospital while it was on, then went to bed before it was over. Such a party animal. Wish I could've joined you! Ok, Steve, Ribs, Karin, Larry... you guys were right. While it wasn't a great feeling race, it did go well. First 3 miles or so were really hard, but then I started to get into it. Course was re-routed to all roads and included 3 loops of about 5k, then an out-and-back going out on a bike path and back on the road. I really wanted to stop and walk in that first loop. My shins were sore, my tummy was upset, my hands were so cold... ugh. I kept thinking I could've gone back to bed! But then things sorted out and besides the pounding drudgery of doing that loop three times I actually enjoyed most of it. Chatted with lots of friends I passed or as they passed me. I ended up with 1:41:19... not the 1:40 Steve was projecting but it didn't feel totally out of reach. Like you said, maybe when the planets all align, right? Barbecue afterwards was pretty good but we all froze as the wind picked up. Temp was only 51 on my drive back to home at 12:30. Ok, I will do a full race report, but need to say also my friend Wilson (used to post as Nordic Beserker on CR) was hoping for 1:20 and he ran 1:19.... what a guy!

7.1 slow miles for me - 1:24:26, but they felt good and I had no ankle pain during or after the run. Like Mainrunnah, I enjoyed the sunshine! Took my friend (visiting from Texas) around to do touristy stuff - went to the Portland Head Light, where our race last week ended. Much prettier today, with blue skies and puffy white clouds. Got to see a wedding party get their photographs taken in front of the ligthhouse.

I think I deserve my "trail girl" badge now.

enke - the heck with the Olympics, . . . this is what I've been waiting for all day (if not all week). you learned a lot from the Series' mountainous ten miler last month and executin' a perfect 10 gold medal 13 mile trail run up-and-down several sides of Cougar Mountain today puts you high on the list of White River candidates I'll be working on over the winter, . . . . uhmmmmm . . <>13 miles in three hours = 52 in 12 hours vs. 14hr cutoff)>>>. . . . The 13-miler is my favorite but it's a rare occasion to break three hours, let alone even get close as you did. Now that the Series is over, maybe see you at the Labor Day 13.2 miler in Woodinville. <>flat/flat/flat)>>> erika - it's bad enough having to waste all the beautiful scenery up there on a three loop half but, except for some summer thundershowers, I've never heard of so much rain up there. Maybe the salmon'll come swimmin' up Cushman Street pretty soon. you redeemed it all though with your good running. sure hope you can somehow still make it to fastest course for several of us over the years at the RVM if at all possible. trivia question to mariposai, . . . I mean everyone - according to the NBC crew, what is the only UN-member country with different designs on each side of the national flag? ps - are you gunna be cookin' every gold medalist's country's cookin'? Hope the Japanese win something <>mari's sushi/sashimi)>>>