Age is just a number.

Good talking to you, Steve. Hope the training goes well. The next time I passed the bank the temperature had dropped below 90 degrees - in only 70 minutes!

Oh my, that is HOT!!! Nice job not passing out!

Yes I know, clouds came through and I think it might rain now.

Kelli-Official high today was 99 degrees. Anyway, it is good training to increase blood volume and increase heat tolerance through expansion of skin capillaries. In other words, better cooling during a race. But mornings are better for enjoyment factor..

Maurine-How was your workout? I'm jealous of your five fingers you were wearing today. I want some now. For grass running of course.

Steve - pushed hard on the weights and am very pleasantly tired. The cooling breeze coming home was wonderful. Tomorrow I think I will just take the dog for a long walk and do no running.

I like the FiveFingers. The one drawback I have found is if I wear them around the house all day, they really don't have much give room since they fit like a glove and the toes get more uncomfortable as my feet swell.

So, I know you are a genius and I want to ask you a question. My husband is an amazing runner and is very fast, BUT he cramps up (due to excessive sweating, sodium loss) really bad during every marathon around mile 20 and crawls to the finish line at 12+ minute miles. Do you have any suggestions for him? One of the things he thinks might help is running in the heat.

Kelli, Genius? Hmm.. Anyway, Is he cramping up or is he maybe just hitting the wall? ie-Not enough glycogen left in the tank.

How long is he out on the course for? How much does he drink? Does he drink too much water before the event without taking in electrolytes. It could be a chronic potassium issue. What does his training look like etc. I would need to know these things before I could give any suggestions. If it's fluid based cramping you may want to try some electolyte supplements pre-race.

He is cramping up. In Ogden he was on pace to finish in 3:12 (and he was playing it smart, trying to keep it a little slow to see if it would help him not cramp up). At around mile 20 he decided he felt so good he was going to speed up, but just a little. By mile 21 he was full on cramping---especially his abs and shoulders. He could not even stand up straight. He ended up finishing in 3:37, that is juts how BAD the cramping was. They had him in the medical tent for 2 and a half hours trying to get his muscles to chill out. They took blood 3 times and his sodium/potassium (can not remember which, maybe both?) were dangerously low. They gave him 8 salt tablets, soaked him in an ice bath for 45 minutes, and he drank two 32 ounce bottle of gatorade. His levels barely reached normal by the 2.5 hour mark and that finally let me take him home. Basically what they told him is that his body is too efficient when it comes to sweating and that he needed to lose more muscle. They also told him marathoning may not be a good idea for him.

ANYWAY, he drinks tons of powerade every day, he takes potassium tablets when he runs, he gets the margarita shot blocks with extra salt, he has done the pickle juice thing and mustard packets, you name it. He even drinks pedialyte with extra gatorade packets in it. He salts everything, even though he does not care for salt.

He is currently running about 60 miles a week and will build up to about 80 before St George. His 5k pr is in the 19's and his half marathon is ever so close to 1:29 (obviously, it is his goal to break 1:30). He has the speed and endurance to get that darn 3:15 in a marathon, and he works to build up the endurance, but his body does not cooperate!!!

How is that for a long story!?!?

Let me think on this one. I have an idea but I'm wondering if it will be practical.

Ever heard of those cooling vests? I'm wondering if one of those at the start and if need be another one at the half point would help. It could level the playing field for maybe.

I have not heard of those vests, I will have to do some investigating on that one.