I imagined that running downhill would be harder than uphill in bare feet

enki I thought so when you said you had signed up for all four runs in this year’s Cougar Mountain Trail Runs but now I know you’re a true blue Seattle hill lover as you are very astute to know running uphills is much easier than descents for the forefoot landings required of barefoot running. However, for some reason, the Mercer Island roads to the expensive lakeside and lakeview homes include some of the smoothest paved surfaces in the area so it was really hard to ignore my practice to run up as many, if not all, of the hills in local fun runs and marathons no matter what and practice walking up ‘em as I know will be necessary to survive in upcoming ultras.

I'll follow your example all the way to Carnation!

franci I’ll be dreaming about it but my current calculation has you gettin’ there about five hours before me! extrabones - have a good flight. bring raingear for this week and camera for cherry blossom viewing. The goddesses are awaiting your arrival, . . . and you can expect booby traps for you all over Bainbridge Island!

She asks if you know about Momo-Taro.

drom-chan - itsu mo arigatou. Hi mochiron, Momo-Taro-san wo yoku oboemashita. Sore kara, Ami ni mo Makezu mo daisuki.

looks like I've not only lost my shirt but now I've lost shoes as well. . . . I'll be hiding out in the hottub . . .

tammy uh huh, now the truth be known. Congratulations on your fine sub-2:10 half marathon “training” run, . . . uhm, you might especially need that hot tub too for anything else in the event your time was a sub-2?

Now are you sure you don't need some butterfly wings to help you on your St. Patrick's day race? Just wondering... :yes

posie gracias dear butterfly princess, especially if there’s a chance that what comes with the wings comes too! In case you can come, it’s hard to believe that it’s not Boston, but the Seattle St. Pat’s Dash is the largest in the nation and dedicated to the Irish in all of us! Ji ji. Otherwise, I’ll save some of the magic green beads.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Pink Door.

ultra-arfalina I knew there was some reason we do all this running. incidentally, irish queen of the northland, hope you have your irish green ready for this weekend too.

Tet, my time was 2:07. I actually felt like I was taking this fairly slow and leisurely, so was a bit surprised when I rounded the corner towards to finish clock and saw 2:07. I felt slower than that. The course must have been short or something . . .

Just admit it sistahh that you just lost your shoes in the bit. and your shirt too ... right?

for us fitness runners, these kinds of runs have nothing to do with what the clock says and everything to do with still bein’ able to do ‘em.

You're wonderful outlook never ceases to lift my heart and give me a smile. You are amazing!

tamalinie, we had a pretty good bet to be within a minute of winning/losing without knowing how the other was doing at all beforehand. I couldn't have gone any faster though to bring you with in reach. Maybe you can get my shirt after all if you beat my Eugene 2007 time of 5:34:53 by an hour or whatever, . . . and shoes if you beat me for real in your inaugural marathon against whatever I can do there this year. Oh, I don't wear shoes, . . well, maybe my pink thongs if I don't give 'em to you again like I did at the mile 19 goddess aid station you escorted me to but instead wear them for the rest of the way that was so rough last year. Hey let's bet our shirts that our combined times are faster than mari and enki. uhm, can you do a 4:14 mary? holly - I remember our dare for you to do it too for the fun of it and training with your friend in your upcoming 26.2 mile ORRRC "warm-up" for Boston. Tammy did very well in her half mary for training, you can too.. rick - for some reason - maybe the million dollar lakeside and lakeview homes, the Mercer Island perimeter roadways are usually nice, new, barefoot-friendly asphalt. I also like how, from the bottom of my soles, even I have a lot in common with you fast guys.

tamalinie, Hey let's bet our shirts that our combined times are faster than mari and enki. uhm, can you do a 4:14 mary?

that would be a no. Absolutely no.

Nice job, tet. You did what you set out to do and did it well. Without it even being a goal, you moved up in the standings over last year. Keep on with your "doing it your way" and keeping us up to date. TomS