The sun is up, the air is fresh, the stone is old

Great run Steve. To me this is more impressive, considering what you have been doing in the past week and the course, than your run @ Leopards. Your last couple days in AZ looked pretty cool.

Steve, Great job man. I really admire the way you just go after life especially running.

Thanks guys. I'm waiting right now to watch the elite race. It's been a windy morning, when we ran the first race and did the first 180 on the course into the wind, everyone immediately hit single file. I don't think any records will be set today. But who knows, this course has 16 standing records. It would be neat to train and taper for a 5k someday. Maybe next year here.

It's interesting Jake, my legs aren't sore at all from the week. It's like they just don't turn over!

Jake - do you have a problem with three 20 mile days in the previous six leading up to a 5k race? I don't think that's too much.

He'll cut down to two the week before Boston.

As long as Steve doesn't sleep in his car the night before Boston, he'll be fine :-)

Slept in planes, cars, train stations, on the ground, once on the starting line, camper, and more than a few times not at all due to traveling in. The sleep the week prior is what counts.

I joke about the mileage a lot, so here's where I'm seriously at. Any advice is always appreciated. First, no master can ever start training without a more substantial base than younger guys. You will injure out. That means 80 to 100 miles a week for three months before getting serious. Just that step will put you in the top 10% of over 40. Then hills and intervals because nobody likes the pain, which cuts out another 5%. The point here is that while you are doing this, you must stay on track. You can race as much as you want, but you can't taper. You are building strength. Once your strength is there, and you survived speedwork, pick a race and taper. Course every situation is different. Here's my plan, tell me what you think.

I have three marathons in the next three months that I am going to run. Training in-between those will pretty much be fitness upkeep only. So I decided to hit a base hard enough to carry me through those three. The base is king, so any racing the last three months, halfs, marathons, 5ks, just have to fall in. An 18 mile trail run the day before has more purpose than a week of taper to run a fast 5k. Today is my last long run in that base and I can taper for Boston. My goal is to get a 2:30 in one of those three marathons. Don't care which, and I don't think it will be Boston.

A few more points. I run for fun and for the discipline of it, like you guys too. At any time I'll choose what path seems the most rewarding, or fun! Also, the masters marathon record is 2:10. I think we will see that broken this year or next. The guy that does it will be running over 110 miles a week. I'll bet money on it. It won't be Mbarack, it won't be any other US master. He will be a Master from another country coming off a mileage base into two months of what looks like 10k training.

I agree with you Steve - you gotta pick your spots. I haven't raced a ton this winter, but I trained through every single one of them. My lowest mileage week was like 110. I'm OK "underperforming" in some shorter races if it ultimately makes me stronger for the big goal (for me, Boston).

And I agree that its gotta be fun!!

Forgot to mention that I have two certificates for two overnights at the Alta Peruvian Lodge that anyone can have from the Alta 8k. Just haven't had time this year and they must be used before the 15th of April. Each one is good for a room for two for a night and dinner.

Steve I watched that Race on Flotrack.org. Man those are some fast dudes. 13:11 for the winning time!! that is insane!!

Man if those vouchers were good for one more weekend, I'd definitely find a way to make a trade w/ you and get my hands on those! :-)

Steve - mostly I'm just jealous. No way my body can handle one 100 mile week let alone what you do. I run a handful of 70-80 mile weeks and by body starts breaking down. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how I'm going to squeeze one 20 mile day in/week - let alone three.

So, since my body won't let me train as hard as you or Jake, I'm forced to do silly things like rest before big races.

Rob, I'm sitting here waiting on a taxiway on a loooong day of work. You never fail to brighten up my day with your comments. You can put something in perspective with a single sentence. Most of what I do is just silly.

Did Teena reach you? I think you should throw something together for her.

Ben, that was a neat race. Record time last year was under 13 I think