wow... that is sad. I've only wogged with my mom once this year... man that sucks... I miss my mommy...

Hey Callie, My coach just told me he's thinking I *could* do a sub 3:40 marathon this year. Interesting! But I'm determined to NOT let the excitement give me lack of clarity in decision making that will help me train smart. I'm happy to start up training too. I won't start for a little while though. Enjoying my summer running right now... All happy running lately! more later I guess!

I'm in a similar situation, Callie, in that I'm training up for the training for the marathon. Of course, even the plan I have laid out includes a good 12 weeks of high mileage, easier intensity base-type stuff, I figure money in the bank ain't so bad.

Hey Exceptionally Wonderful People, My coach is an interesting guy. He is a very close friend of mine actually. He became my coach last year by helping me out almost every day with just talking to me about running. He didn't like to think of himself as my coach (I think) and when I ran my first marathon under 4 hours I think that probably made him realize how amazing of a friend he was to me. My fastest half-marathon time before my marathon was a 1:52 and I ran the first half of my marathon in 1:55 feeling fantastic. That is 100% due to the things I learned from him. There aren't any books that have accumulated the knowledge he has given to me in the way that he has. He is an experienced runner and ultra-runner and we speak the same jargon/language when it comes to training. I used his methods to help train a friend and he wound up doing a 3:44 marathon. My friend's peak mileage was only 38 MPW!!! Not too bad for a first marathon. So anyhow, through my coach I am coaching another person and passing on the torch of knowledge. It feels good to help others!! I am still learning about myself through my friend/coach. Coach says I'm gonna have to work hard for the 3:40 and/or sub 3:40 but he knows that I'm more than wiling to do that. If anything he's always telling me to calm it down. My coach/friend has become such a presence in my life that he has become a father figure to me. I am not close at all with my own father so it is nice to have him in my life. I'll be sleeping at his house (his wife will be there) the night before CIM so that will be extra special. I'm excited!!! The friendships we make in our training period may be better than the running itself. I'm pretty much convinced of this actually. I didn't realize it until recently but the friendships are the fire to keep me going. The stress release is what gets me out the door every day, but the finish line is empowered with my friendships and people who believe in me. That's my story!!

You ladies chasing that 2000 bunny amaze me. Okay, the men doing it amaze me, too, but I relate better to you. I struggle to keep my mileage above 30 miles a week (although the story Jen just told about the guy she trained is making me feel better about my 'low' miles!) Jen, I hope your foot feels better. Y'know, taking a week to run just for fun (no track workouts, no structured plan) can usually cure me of my burn out. It always reminds me why I go out there in the first place.

My school cannot find my X-rays AND they are not answering their phones. I am so impressed with my school's medical center. Being that the core of my school IS the medical center, I'm just not too sure....

Hope all is well with you!