The End of September

Reminder that this is the last week meeting at the 5:30 time and that I will not be there. So someone else please round up the troops and start the run once the regulars are there and 5:35 rolls around.

Last week was as big of a turnout as we've had in a while, so keep on, keeping on! Now that fall temperatures are here (theoretically) it's actually my favorite time of year to run. (Not that I have been running, mind you -- but that doesn't change the fact that it's my favorite!) One of these weeks I'll get back into my running routine, I swear.

See you guys in two Tuesdays.

Seventy Point Three

This week is the next to last week that we'll meet at the normal place and time. (Once the calendar flips to October, the meeting time will move to 5.)

Next week I will be out of town, so I'll need someone to do the very minimal coordination I do and get the run started. At this point of the year and with my level of apathy, I trust someone to take charge on the spot.

I don't have a personal reference point on how this rates, but due to the times involved I naively have to say this is worse than a marathon: three TRYers (that I know of) completed the Syracuse "half Ironman" triathlon this weekend. Congratulations to Aaron, Kelly, and Maria!

Maria had done multiple triathlons in the past, but never one this long. Just under a year ago, she did her first half marathon. So to add a long swim and long bike before that is impressive.

And either impressively or crazily, Aaron and Kelly signed up for this race without ever completing ANY length triathlon.

So, kudos to the three of you for showing faith in your mental toughness and dedication in your training to push yourself to limits only you knew if you could reach or not and going where no TRYer had ever gone before. You are all awesome. Now get some rest.

The 100th Post?

According to the "dashboard" there were 99 posts before this one. I suppose I should have realized that before now and done more of a celebration?

Hmmm. How about a quick 100th post party?

Hoorah!!! Pass the cake!! Yummy.

Ok, that was fun, thanks for attending.

Speaking of attending, last week I put out a teaser that there might be something more fun this week. Well, due to a scheduling conflict, that did not work out. So, tonight will be the normal TRY evening. Meeting at the Liverpool park at 5:30. And not having to sweat through our tech-wick. That'll be something new! I'm not sure I can run without sweating out a couple pounds?

A quick congratulations:
Two TRYers completed their first ever marathons this past weekend in Rochester. Congratulations Jen and Jax! Doing a late summer marathon means that their long runs were right in the midst of our unusually hot summer! Not easy to do, but they stuck with it and persevered.

The years blend together and so do the running stories, but I think I'm getting this right:
"Jax" is not only a cheesy-poofy snack! She was not even a distance runner until last year but she did her first Mountain Goat, Boilermaker and half marathon in '09. And now she has added her first marathon in '10.
Jen had a one year head start on her with her distance running doing her first Mountain Goat and Boilermaker in '08. And after her first? half marathon last year she wanted to up the ante. And how better to make use of the reduced time she had this year due to her much-much longer commute than to spend a crap-ton of time building up her distance running base?
So, the two of them are in their 2nd and 3rd year as distance runners and have already put the cherry on top their distance running careers.

Congratulations on achieving your goals and for putting in all the sacrifices that go along with it! (The time, the pain, the skipping other fun things this summer along the way before/after your runs.)

While I was dodging the heat and dodging the rain, you two were out there doing your long runs. You didn't just try. You did! I'm impressed. :-)

(And your greatest reward is that you are forever the dual stars of the 100th TRY blog post! It doesn't get much more glamorous than that.)

September Already?

Where did my summer go? (Actually don't answer that -- too depressing).

Some September thoughts - this is the month that some TRYers have been training for all summer. I wish you well with your marathon's/half marathons/and half iron-man triathlons (Hymens?). Trust in your training and remember to have fun on your big race day. :-)

Next week is probably going to be a fun field trip week, so expect something out of the ordinary next Tuesday night...but I need to work out the details before I pass them along.

Tonight is another nice warm night, but how bad can it be. Someone suggested Indian relays, so we'll have to see if we can round up some Indians and get them to race each other? Or isn't that what Indian Relays are? I don't really know. I guess we can figure that out later.

For those who know we switch the meeting time in the fall -- we will keep the time at 5:30 until October, at which point we start to switch to earlier times as remaining daylight dictates.

One Last Heat Wave?

Just when I thought we were ready for cooler fall temperatures and comfortable running weather, I get surprised and see 90s in the forecast again.

Assuming it gets as hot as expected, we will do what we did that one week in early July - run the "bermuda triangle" with extension loop. That will keep us close to Mr. Mister ('hey soul sister!') and close to drink breaks. You get to pick your pace and the number of loops you do and everyone will stay relatively close together, stay mostly in the shade, and hopefully stay upright.

Since we are slightly out of practice with the heat again, be careful the next couple days, especially for you folks doing your long runs.

Reminder that tomorrow night is this years TRY night at the fair. Anyone interested in going can text me for a meet-up plan.

I think that's it. In mid-September I'm hoping for a fun week or two at TRY, so I am looking for suggestions on what to do to change things up?

End of August Flurry

Tonight is the same as always this summer: choose your own adventure run.

Some upcoming "events" in chronological order:

Tonight- Katie has requested we go to Tully's on 7th North Street for a rare post TRY outing. Since Katie has been on the DL for a while there is nothing that will brighten her day more than eating with some sweaty runners! And tonight is a fund raising night, so a portion of the bill will go to a charity - her church, I believe. :-) For the non-runners amongst us, plan on meeting at Tully's at 6:40.

Saturday- A new, unique local race. Join me and almost TRYer Kerri at the Manlius Mile. It's a mile race, starting at 9:30 on Saturday morning. (Registration is earlier.) Looks like it is about half on roads and about half on a "trail" that I can't imagine being very trail like...but maybe? Since I'm out of shape, I'm tempted to do this, because how hard can it be to race for a mile? It's cheap (relative to 'normal' races) at $12/$15 and all proceeds go to charity in memory of a local runner. I suppose its expensive on a per mile basis but "High quality" t-shirts are given to all registered runners! For LMCO runners, this is a Federated Fund supported event, so you doing this will mean another $25 going to the charity. So, free money! (Kind of.)

Next Wednesday - TRY night at the Fair. There are some interesting free concerts at the fair again this year, but none more interesting (to me) than Lady Antebellum. Wednesday, September 1st, join me in what could go down as the most people ever "attending" a free concert at Chevy Court. Supposedly there is no show at the grandstand that night and with the popularity of "Lady A" in both the country and pop circles, it could be a packed house. For you men who have no interest in country music, think of it this way -- tons and tons of horny women thinking overly romantic thoughts and drinking wine slushies. How can that be a bad thing?

I suppose I would like to know if I should expect to see you at Manlius Mile on Saturday or the TRY night at the fair next Wednesday. (That is, let me know if you will be there, no need to let me know if you will not be there.) We can figure out where to meet once I know who to expect.

Doggy Days

I'm sick of August. Or perhaps August is sick of me? Either way, it's the same-ol', same ol'. I'm not in a mood to think.

With Kelly gone for business travel, who's going to step up and lead us tonight? It might be boys night out? Uh-oh. We seem to have lost all our women? (And our women are our stars!)

For the opposite of boys night out -- there is a race on Saturday that several TRYers have done before and enjoyed: The Willow Bay 5K for Women. So, if you are feeling your woman power, enjoy a unique local race where you don't need to worry about boys and their boy cooties.

That's it. Weather forecast looks good.