I'm Taking today O-F-F Off

I got nothing. I'm taking today off.

I might could still run 6 or so miles depending on the Tuesday Night Running Club, but I have nothing about which to write, so I'll weigh in tomorrow.

When Duty Calls

I didn't want to run today, I had to!

Last night, Melting Pot to celebrate the Ali-Cats report card. Well, who was I to say no to a glass of wine, 3 melted Swiss chesses, 2 melted chocolates, various veggies and sea treasures cooked in cholesterol-free oil? No one! I had to do it, but I didn't have to let it put my belly back on! Even though I'm re-tapering and even though I ran 18 yesterday, I coaxed the Good Doctor into running 12.5 today at Morris Bridge.

It was fun, and we really moved that last few hundred yards, the girls got moves I tell you.

Speaking of moves, I need to work on mine. Why is it I can talk someone in to running for hours in the Florida heat and humidity but I can't talk someone in to _____________ with me? Oh, well, I guess I'm just a __________!

AAA Running Team

Ran at Croom today and the only criteria was, you had to be an Andre.

Andrew Barrett, Andrea Risi, Andrew Mathews.

It was fun

Jon was there too, but since he doesn't even have an A (it's ok Jon, I lost my S in California) he had to go it alone.

Last longish run before Vermont, that's our focus now. It aint Arkansas, but I've done ok there, 23:09, 22:59, 21:27, and felt great and had a great time last year too.

Double Digits.... Again!

Slam this! Well, at least I'm back under 100 days again. The countdown is at 99. That's less than five trips through my fingers and toes (it's more if I use fingers and toenails!)

.................... Agent 99, She's Smokin'!...............
I went and sent in my Arkansas Application today, just to make it re-official.

There's this one cat, Bruce, who responded to the St. Pete Times article, so artfully written by Terry Tomalin, that said, "Hey dude, sorry, but if you aint doing Western States, then you aint Slammin."

I respect from where the dude comes, but I disagree. Western States doesn't make the grandslam, the Slam committee does. No, it isn't the same grandslam, I believe it's a harder version. I'm not saying Arkansas is harder than WS, but running Arkansas after running Wasatch is certainly harder than running WS on fresh legs.

Also, it should be noted that this isn't the first time the committee has had to substitute races. The slam used to consist of Old Dominion, WS, Leadville and Wastach. This left 6 weeks between the 1st and 2nd races, and 7 weeks between the 2nd and 3rd, much much easier! Later, the committee let racers choose between OD and Vermont. About 10 years ago, the committee switched to Vermont and no longer counts OD.

So, do I feel this Slam doesn't count? Heckfire no! It counts sure as shootin'! It's harder, it's got the seal of approval, and (now this is important) IT'S PAID FOR!!!!

Here's hoping you guys have the extra 28 days in ya, I'm sure hoping I do!

Song of the Week #44, Save the Date!

Sorry, it's all I've got for you today! The library is rationing my computer time these days.

Been There, Done.... Nothing!

We've all heard it; "Been there, done that!"

As for me, I've been there, but I haven't done Jack!

In case you haven't noticed my counter, ticker, wall scratchings, have gone from a low of 70, back up to 101 days left in the Slam.

No, I didn't get added time for bad behavior, it was someone else's fault (isn't it always) I SWEAR! I was at the race (been there) it didn't happen (done nothing, good argument against tapering right there), so that added a race on the back end (30 more days in the slam for good behavior!)

How does this effect my Slam chances? I have no idea. On one hand Arkansas is easier than W States (weather not withstanding), but on the other hand, I can't imagine doing a race after Wasatch (that sucker looks harder than Dick Cheney's arteries!)

But, as we've stated in this town many times before, if they had to tack one on the back end, I'm glad it is Arkansas, a course I know and at which do well. Well, I guess that's why they call it the Slam, there is no easy time. Stay tuned.

The Legend of Roger

If you're ever on the Tahoe Rim Trail and you're running low on water, look for a hiker named Roger.

Roger, I won't call him old, but I well say he has so many wrinkles that he screws his hat on his head. How much age does he have on him, we'll get to that.

The Chaser and I were were running on the TRT, doing a sporty 27-miler that Chase thoroughly researched, "Yeah, says here that there is a lake about 11 miles into it, we can refill there."

So, off we went, me, with bravado, foregoing the ride to the trailhead, "Naw, it's only 5-miles we can run there." (don't ever forgo the ride to the trailhead, especially if the run is uphill on a busy road!) We were enjoying some beautiful views:

















But as we were two hours in, we still hadn't found our lake, when we happened on Roger, whom we had met the day before while we were hiking with our lovely companions, Ali and Kristyn (they were available due to the cancellation of some race they were supposed to help crew.)

Anyway, we asked Roger where we could find this lake. "Just Round the corner." says Roger. "But you're not planning on drinking out of Deadman's Lake, are ye?"

Us, "Er, well, er, a..."

"Hey fellas, how about I loan you my filter, and you fill them bottles and leave the filter on the trail. Might save you a bad case of the green-apple-two-step."

"Gee thanks, a, er, a, a, sir."

The old-timer said, "Shoot my father was sir, just call me Roger!"

"Well, thanks Roger!" we replied as he shook our hands in his vise-like grip.

We refilled, and by the time we were finished Roger had snuck up on us and were gave him back his filter (which I'm not sure wasn't a spittin' image of the Jarvic 7.) They I had to ask, "Roger, what are you doing out here all alone, I mean you're not a young man?"

"Well, See that big old lake down there, Lake Tahoe?"

"Yessir."

"I'm walking all the way around it on this here trail. It's 168 miles, and I'm carrying everything I need right here on my back."

"Gee Roger, that's gotta be 40 pounds, and 168 miles is a long way."

"Actually it's more like 50 pounds, and I'll be finishing my journey, tomorrow or the next day. And with doubling back and all, it's been more like 200 miles."

"Wow Roger! If you don't mind me asking, how old are you anyway?"

"I was 87 on my last birthday."

87! If I can still chew at 87 I'll be happy! And Roger, he's hiking solo on Mountain trail and living off the land. And he can still take the time to help a couple of idiots from the city figure out that you don't want to drink stagnate water without filtering it first!

Funny thing is though, when we got back to town and were waiting for our ride back, we asked a couple of locals about Roger, and they couldn't remember any old-timer that lived around there. Until one old fella in the back said, "my dad was named Roger and used to hike that trail all the time, until he died 25 years ago, at age 87. Dad caught dysentery, up at Deadman's Lake and died on the mountain. We've heard for years from city-folk like yourselves claiming to have been helped out by Roger. But it's just legend........ isn't it?"