Runners Pot Luck Dinner

I still meet once a month with some of my runners from last years Half Marathon program. Most of them have moved up to the Marathon level this year. I am like a proud Mama with them!!

Willie, one of my Ultra friends, is serenading us with his banjo. He will be joining me at the Grand Teton Races!!!!

Chicago Half Marathoners-In-Training

I am in charge of the Chicago Half Marathon training program here on the lakefront. Here's a group shot of the runners, those that showed this past very-rainy Saturday. They're trying to hide from the rain, under the Waveland Clock Tower. But there was no hiding out on the course! Not all showed up for the group run...I'm hoping they all trained on their own!!!

Confiscated!!

My Water Bottles!!

I was out doing my run.....up and down my parking garage for 1 1/2 hrs and I placed my extra water bottles on the top floor.

Well.....I came up the second time around and they were gone!! A City of Evanston truck pulled up and asked me if they were mine--I said, "Yes, what's the problem??" They said it was dangerous leaving them out in the open, don't I know what's going on at the airports!! I told them this wasn't the Middle East and this is really taking things a bit too far.

The guy agreed and kindly gave me back my water bottles. But he told me I MUST place them in an inconspicuous spot so that no crazy teenager will come and throw them over into the street for fun!!

Have we totally lost our common sense in this world?????

Driggs, Idaho is looking more and more appealing to me!!!!!

Lisa Smith-Batchens Training Camp in the Tetons!!

Listening to Jay tell us about the next day's activities.

Leo, in from England, ready for his CrazyMan competition (what is it called-anyone?) and returning to MdS in March!

Judy - an amazing runner who will figure out what to run next!!

Chandler, sitting, thinking: how can I get another meal, I'm starving!?

Matt - Daily 6:15 Yoga Nazi!!

OK--yes, I felt better after doing it.

Jay, offcamera, instructing us on our next day's morning run.

Lisa listening attentively.

Bob - going for his second attempt at Badwater in two weeks, calculating out how much time in the sun he will get.

David - worrying that, yet again, Jay will make him powerwalk.

Julie - wondering if she can truly do Hardrock (oh yes, Julie, YES!)

The start of our runs....Grand Targhee Resort patio.

Jay making sure we have all the equipment to hit the trails.

Dusty - with her newfound treasure from the road....a porn DVD!! And she asks ME what they're doing in the pictures!

Lisa and Jay - sharing all their knowledge with us!

M calling Jay to confess we got lost and now we are stuck at an electrified fence!!

(open the damn gate M!)

Note to future Camp Runners--NEVER let two city girls go out alone!!

My Girl, Dusty--keeper of secrets!

My adopted son, Chandler, who we expect amazing things from!! Watch for him!!

Matt taking a quick rest in Lisa's home.

Dusty and Steve, who hasn't done anything crazy like this since he's 50.

So Steve is training for the Grand Tetons Marathon - way to let go of your fears, Stevie! ;) I'll be right behind you!

M on the trails!

Ready to Run!!

George Carlin

To me, he was the "Hippy, Dippy, Weather Man" from the Flip Wilson Show. I loved his sense of humor, and followed him all these years.

Thanks for all the laughs, George. I hope you're telling jokes to my parents now.

She's Got Sole 8K

Well, I made it!!

It was iffy, though. It was pouring and thundering just before we started and the air was pretty thick. But the RD said we'd still start at 8 am, and, sure enough we did.

Coach Lisa had my plan set out for me: Warm up for 15 minutes, Run the first 2 miles at a talking pace, then 4:1 run:walk until the 5K mark. Then hit it!!

The humidity really hit me--my asthma kicked in,and then under one of the underpasses, someone was expressing his right to smoke, so that really set me back.

But, I followed the program and pushed through.

55:25--25 seconds longer than my PR. I'm happy!!!!

Wednesday I'm off to the Grand Tetons to train with Coach Lisa and 9 other folks. She said we won't have much free time, so I'm expecting that she'll be kicking my butt.

I can't wait!!!

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