Good morning everyone! A showery day in Virginia. This has significance to me because I was supposed to go to cover a college baseball conference tournament this afternoon. Oh well, we will see how the day turns out as I am sure they want to get the games in. Carrying over the question from last night after Jon Lester from the Red Sox had a no hitter.......This was their 18th no hitter but there are franchises who have never had a "No Hitter" in their history. Which ones are they? Fun question. My index finger is actually not too bad this morning. I have it bandaged pretty securely and hopefully it will not get infected. Dumb boy here with the pruning shears. How many of you have parents who were runners?......What about grandparents? This would be interesting to hear about. I know my father would have LIKED to have done more recreation, but my mother was convinced this was not what an adult man did and managed to control his "fun" activities. Actually it was sad as I think back on it. But that was a different generation and day. I trust you have a nice day.....and are able to get in a nice run. Joey

Good Morning, Three sort of quick miles in Atlanta at 5:45 AM/68F and partly cloudy. Ran it in 23:20. Face still showing visible pillow creases. bleh. My father was a sprinter and hurdler in high school and college. I don't know that I inherited any running jets from him, but learned to love track and field and sports in general by watching Wide World of Sports with him every weekend as a kid. I am the only marathoner. Off to iron my face CNYrunner

Joey - please go have your finger looked at! Where I work, fingers are cut every now and then - nothing to mess with especially if an infection sets in. Please!!?? Tim- that was a wonderful photo of you yard yesterday. Your grass looks fantastic! Out this morning with Brinkley. Had planned on 5, then started thinking 4 because I just wasn't that into it this morning. Decided to stick with the planned 5. Ran down a culdesac that is on my normal route and when I got back out to the path there was a guy running with his chocolate lab and his wife a little ways back. I stopped and said you guys go ahead as I'm sure you are faster than me. No comment - not good morning - thank you - screw you - nothing. I've seen these people many times before, and I don't understand why you just can't be friendly out there! So, we lagged behind and had to follow them the next mile +. Once we got back to our road, we saw 3 deer scattered into the woods. It startled both Brinkley and I and we both stopped just to watch them. Luckily Brinkley did not see the need to chase after them. 5 miles - 9:46 pace - 164 AHR Well, I've been chatty enough. Gotta go check on my babies now . . . Cheers! ~Mary

Good morning, 4 miles for me this morning. My parents did not run or exercise. My Dad was accually pretty sedentary. He was a truck driver and sat most of the day. My Mom was on her feet all day, she was a surgical nurse, but she didn't really get any exercise either. They both battled hypertension, cholesterol and heart disease among other things. They've both passed away. I'm trying to break that cycle by getting off of my a$$ and getting it out the door. Cheers, Mike

Good morning, all! Another fine kickoff by Vista - {{{{{{{{{Vista's finger}}}}}}}} Someone take the garden shears away before he does it again! Bill - I just read somewhere that it takes 7 to 10 years for a runner to peak regardless of starting age. Hang in there! Teresa - good luck with your 11 miler tomorrow! Mary - give the puppies tummy tickles for me. I like to do puppy belly farts as well - they have the softest little bellies ;-). Neither of my parents were runners. My Dad was an avid golfer and did start walking for exercise in his later years when his back couldn't tolerate the golf swing anymore. Mom never liked to walk but she used the treadmill I gave her until she moved to be closer to me. At least she said she used it - I was never really sure. 5 miles on the TM this morning followed by 20 minutes of weighted stability ball crunches. Good runs to all!

I like to do puppy belly farts as well

Ummmmm.....never mind Tim

Mary - give the puppies tummy tickles for me. I like to do puppy belly farts as well - they have the softest little bellies ;-).

Here's a little belly for ya Sue! Neither of my parents were athletic - not that I know of anyway. My mom was 43 when she had me, and my dad was already retired when I graduated from High School. Dad was an avid golfer, but that was about it. I'm kind of the oddball in the family with my running - but they are proud of me nonetheless. ~Mary

Morning Boomers. Lots of interesting subjects this morning - bellies, face creases, unfriendly neighbors... Vista - I grew up in the 50's. My mother worked full time to raise six kids because my dad was an alcoholic and never held a steady job. No exercise from my parents, or really any of my other older brothers and sisters. A different generation then, I guess. I was pretty much an overweight couch potato until I hit 30. But I've changed my ways! 6 miles this morning in 55:30. IRC here but still feeling the aches and pains from Sunday's race. Felt good to get out and shake things up a bit, though. Teresa - good luck with your 11 miler. At the rate you're going, you'll be ready for an entire marathon, not just a half. Mary - the puppies change every day. Do you keep them all, or are there adoptive parents waiting in the wings? Sorry about your unfriendly encounter this morning. Some people just don't get it. Vista - I agree with everyone else and will also prod you to get that finger checked. It's better to do it now than after it gets infected. Take it easy on the gardening tools for a while! Nice runs Mike, Twocat, Sue and Breger. Breger - 85F at 8:15? We're still covering plants at night to keep the frost off. Come to Wisconsin - we'll cool you off! Last week of school - woo hoo! Good Tuesday runs, everyone. Jeanne