Good morning. I spent the weekend doing lots of yard work and assorted seasonal chores and am stiff as heck this morning! All those muscles I never use, I guess. I left my Garmin on so the battery was dead this morning. My usual 5.4 mile route at roughly an 8:30 pace. Warm again today, but cooler temps coming. Have a good week.

Good Morning 4.2 miles at an easy-recovery pace---Al Jarreau on the iPOD and no watch. All fine at 7:15 and 32º. Legs feel great. Conference calls await and then I fly to Atlanta this afternoon (where there is snow in the forecast ) UCONN Lady Huskies ROCK! MTA: Nice progression run JLynne!

Good morning gang No running today for me but I feel fine after my last 20 milers yesterday. Tramps, I was out yesterday afternoon cutting trees and burning...the fire is still burning this morning. Good runs to everyone today and CONGRATS to Holly! GO TARHEELS!

Good Morning! Thanks, everyone, for your kind words. I woke up this morning with the expected stiffness, plus some soreness deep in my right butt muscle (that’s a new one for me). After 2.1 slow and gentle recovery miles outside, I did some stretching and some time with “The Pin.” I don’t have “The Stick,” so, acting on a tip that Timbo passed on to me, I used a wooden rolling pin. Actually, I felt quite a bit better afterward, the soreness diminished noticeably. A good argument for the healing properties of recovery activity rather than complete rest. An acquaintance was taking pictures at the race yesterday, and he e-mailed me one he got of me. As is usual with my race pictures, it’s pretty awful – even my DS said it’s “pretty scary.” However, I’ve posted it in my race report for your amusement. Many people get depressed after a big race, the let-down after a big build-up. Not me. I find myself more relieved than anything else. Whew! Now I can relax and get back to just running for pleasure. Having a training plan can be very satisfying, but the freedom of having no plan can be delightful.

If Michigan State wins it will be a major upset given how amazing well UNC is playing. Walt.RB I hope your DD is recovering on schedule. Very scary what you went through. Peter NC, SueT48, and evanflein nice 20+ milers to start your tapers with! Sounds odd when put that way. Also congratulations to all of our other runners that celebrated International Long Run Day yesterday: WRFB, Spareribs, BCMorant , Sarge, evryday, and busiman. Tramps nice picture. Now try to keep your eyes wide open whenever you see a camera on the course! dg. a blue nose is certainly not the worst thing that can happen! lol nonoruns I just try to tell myself nobody is paying me to race and nobody really cares how I do. Sometimes it helps me keep it to the level where it is, personal entertainment. Not much more than a hobby. Sometimes it works for me sometimes my naturally competitive nature gets in the way! I hope you find the mental gymnastics that work for you. deez4boyz Boston packet stuffing . . . sigh . . . I wish I could take one from you. The New Jersey Marathon gave out magnetic ones that are great since they can be moved on and off cars at will. evanflein must have also been International Blueberry Day yesterday judging from the posts. How come it did not show up on my calendar? I will have to go check again. Holly S. nice 26.2 mile run yesterday! Congratulations on the BQ! Yesterday my DW headed out for 7 miles on a gorgeous running day here in CT. Then her family came over and off we went to an all you can eat brunch that is quite good to celebrate her brother-in-law equivalents birthday. (Equivalent since he and her sister have been living together for a very, very long time now. No wedding due to the legal issues it might trigger. Sad but true.) A friend of my DW and mine is planning to run a HM later this year. I am hoping to use her to goad my DW into running it with her. It may happen . . . but I have tried this tactic before without success. But, I am willing to try over and over again!

Just hoping for a repeat of the last MSU-UNC encounter. I'll be watching on the jumbotrons at the Dean Smith Center in a sea of Tarheel blue Maiden "run" today. 7 miles in 1:11:54 (10:16 pace, AHR 141). Hip a bit sore but off and on. It's amazing how fast an hour goes while running outside vs on an elliptical

6 girls - 4 boys Mom and pups doing well.

Awwww! Congratulations Mary!

Mary - what a beautiful new family! Are you handing out cigars?! I'd say you earned a day off - almost like giving birth yourself, eh? When will their coats start to change color?