OK - so we've got our Boston reservation through bnbboston.com.

For about the cost of a nice hotel room in the general vicinity of the finish line (if you count tax and internet), we've got a 1-BR apartment on Beacon street. I figure we can save money doing some of our own meal prep. They still have some availability in the Back Bay/Beacon Hill general area if anyone wants to jump on this. They've got other rentals that are cheaper further away, too.

Congrats on the grandbaby, Tet.  Ours is due in less than 3 weeks!  We have been invited to fly up to Boston for the birth.  If dawndaughter1's  labor is anything like mine was (with her), we'll have plenty of time to get there once we get the call.

Deez, so glad to hear from you.  Ritalin is powerful stuff--I hope that you're right and that DS improves with every day.  It must be joyous to have him home.  Do keep us informed.

Ribs, I think y'all should be a bit more hospitable to our fellows.  After all, both Josh and Clay are Texas boys.  It's not nice to knock them around, y'know.  (Since you were there last night, can you see why I love Pedey?)  Love the Onion piece, tx!

5 for me at lunch, then 3 before the game with DH--we're doing a half this weekend, down Spearfish Canyon.

PDR--very cool you're invited. 

and Holly, you know you can do the tax thing---be careful about what you take on--I once flew into Boston with a amiable CPA from St. George.  When I asked her about her time goal, she laughed and said shehadn't had much time to sleep, let along having have time to run much in the past month.   So, schedule accordingly in April--we don't want you to sleep through the parties!

grins,

a

Sunday's race is the Gold Discovery Run. Mix of trails, hills and roads. Check out this profile.

16.5 miles, very hilly and not all downhill (although that profile makes it look that way). I definitely don't have the hill training this year... The hardest part is the last 2.5 miles, with the last mile being a gradual uphill. After all that up and down, and down down down, your legs are shot and it's always a struggle to the end. But there's free beer and burgers waiting for you, so you make the best of it! My best time is 2:13 something, and I'm hoping for between 2:15 and 2:20 this year. If we do get rain up there between now and then (up on the hill) the first 8 miles can be treacherously muddy. It's a lot of fun; my favorite race!!

We had a dense smoke advisory  by the time I got off work. It sucks too because this morning and early afternoon were really nice! So, not wanting to deep breath that crap for an hour, I headed downstairs to run 8.2 on the treadmill. A progressive pace run, 8:33 avg pace with the first 2 @ 8:49, next 2 @ 8:34, next 2 @ 8:20, next mile @ 8:13, last 1.2 @ 8:34 again. I'd wanted to do the last 2 @ 8:13, but just didn't have it in me.