Yes it has been almost two months since my last entry. No I have not died, I have been enjoying the summer camping, climbing, inline skateing and yes running.

After the terrible Grandma's run my oldest daughter and I decided to give it one more chance at the Twin Cities Marathon, so I am in training. At the same time my youngest daughter and I are doing our third Northshore inline together. So the training has been a day of running a day of skating.

On Wednesday I am heading out for Devils Tower to climb with the guru of climbing, Mr Frank Sanders. So I have been climbing almost every day also. Doesn't leave much time to get in trouble.

Today Sydney, my dog, and I ran from home to hartley around the bike trail and back. A 2 hour run that on a normal day is hard. But today with the humidity was, lets just say, I did not run the entire way. I made sure Syd had water at all the rivers and ponds. I brought water but came up a little short.

Does it really matter that on the long runs you may not run the entire distance? I think sometime we put to much emphasis on the running and not enough on the distance. All I know is I have one very happy, tired and muddy dog and I am feeling pretty good about the "run".

I hope everyone elses summer has been as good as mine and that what summer we have left you get out and enjoy it. I will try and blog more. I definately will tell you about climbing the Tower again. It is very spiritual.

Jim,

Sometimes during hot weather I'll just set a "time" goal instead of a "distance" goal.  Yesterday, with the heat and humidity here in the Oshkosh area, I ran for two hours and then got in my car to check my distance.  My odometer read over 11 miles, which was my original goal for the day.  Former Grandma's competitor Gordon Bukaisis (I apologize for any misspelling) wrote once in Running Times that sometimes running a time goal is better than running a distance goal under certain circumstances.

I'm glad to read your blog again.  Good luck on your TCM training!

Thanks for the info I agree I wasw out for a "time" distance is hard to judge in the woods anyway.

Glad to be back

Great to see your new blog up! It's about time you let your fans know you're alive and well. Just thought I'd pass on the news that "the running room" store in Minneapolis has a few 10 mile entries left for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in October.  

Enjoy your time on climbing the tower out west, but remember- you still have to call on my birthday!!

love,

your youngest daughter,

Kelly

Thanks for the blog. As I have time to read past entries, I will. I am an older runner and have been running since '93. I took 5 years off due to ITBS. I also did Grandma's and saw the "step over the weak" t-shirt as she passed me somewhere around mile 22. I finished a few minutes over 5 hours and was pleased as punch I did not DIE. In fact I felt prety good. I finished the weekend camping in Superior, Wi and geocached the rest of the weekend.

   I used the final 6 miles of the race as my own personal buffet. I had to pass on the brats and beer just after lemon drop hill. I don't think they would have made the rest of the trip into town.

   I have been "testing" different hydration and recovery formulas from various vendors. I think I am going to have to try my hand at some home made concoctions because they are so spendy. Any suggestions would be great. 

   I also ran the Paavo in Hurley, Wi and finished in 4:20. The weather was much more in my favor. I did have some trouble with the hill though. I am currently training for a third marathon this year in Des Moines. It is an October race and the course is rather hilly. It seems every time I run that race it is hot also. I am looking forward to completing my first trifecta and hope to maintain my fitness level through the winter. That is a goal unto itself.