Awww Gordon... what Spareribs said. That's tough, and we all know you can do much better than that in the right conditions. Rest up and set your sights on something else... Seattle?? Holly, what would Erika do? Certainly not get up at that ungodly hour to go run! Good grief girl... night time is for sleeping! Good job on the 17, the laps were a good idea. How's your leg feel? When is the marathon you're planning? Still doing the half at Air Force? That's the same day as Equinox so I remember that one. Deb, that's awesome. How do you feel? I think you've really turned the corner and are on your way to great stuff. CNYrunner, thanks so much! I do hope to see you in NYC since we missed each other in Boston. Aamos and Twocat... you too! I needed 14 miles to get my 42 for the week (75% of my last peak week is how I do week #1 of taper), and I hadn't done the Equinox hill (Ester Dome) since last week, so I parked at the base of the University, and ran out the dirt bikepath 3 miles to meet the Equinox course at milepost 8, then up the hill to mile 12 and back. Forgot my Garmin (rats!!) so measured distance with the car and Equinox mile markers, timed the run with my cell phone clock. It took me 25 minutes to cover the first 3 miles, or 8:20 avg pace for those three.... too fast! (started at 12:35, hit 8 mile post at 1 pm exactly) Mile 8 to Henderson Road (where the trail meets the road again) took 39 minutes (lots of walk breaks). The mile 8 marker to the mile 12 marker was 49 minutes (clock time 1:49 pm). My pace table for 4:15 finish time gives me about 46:30 to cover that, so obviously that's my weak spot. It took me 1:14 to get from start to mile 7 (turnaround at mile post 12), and 59 minutes to get back to the start (finish clock time was 2:48 pm). It felt hot and muggy at the start (68F), cold and windy up near the top (I bet it was 10 degrees colder), then warm again for the last 4 miles. I remember how cold it can be at the top of the hill... I need someone to meet me at 17 to take a long sleeved shirt and gloves cuz I won't need them after that. But last year I gave them to DS1 at the base of the hill and froze at the top!

4:03:56...PW / Did not see Divechief or Arf

good job Gordon. with not even your slowing down revealing either arf or divechief at the Skagit out-and-backs, it's pretty much what we've been suspecting all along about all their so-called marathons here and there.. Fortunately, it was a nice enough day summer day and Alki Beach Way was closed to traffic for runners, etc. so I went out a ten mile run to use as a ploy to use to try to entice 'em out of hiding tomorrow for lunch or something. (don't tell 'em I only made it nine miles before fizzling to walk back). It looks like I'll be getting some help on it from the Birch Bay goddess too.

Well, never made it out there for a run. Life just got in the way of it. My father in law is doing poorly, he has last stages of scleroderma and things are not looking good. Family life and work will keep me rather busy for the next couple of weeks so I can see myself not being around here much until things get better. I will keep up with the Portland marathon thread, however. I will visit as often as I can in the daily forum. Until then....butterfly hugs to all who are resting and please enjoy the gift.