Cool Runnings!

Good job James! That's cool about the space station.

You'll have another chance to see it tomorrow as it passes almost directly over Phoenix (if you happen to be up early enough). Look towards the northwest at 05:36:32 am as it emerges from the earth's shadow (it'll be just off the coast of California at that point). It'll be almost directly overhead at 5:40. When it disappears over the horizon it will be nearing the southern end of Mexico.

Sweet! I am going to let my molecular biologist friend know, who has a big 16" telescope. He may be able to get a picture of it - that would be pretty cool.

I'm still a bit amazed that you could see it from Phoenix, but then I realized that since it was heading southeast that you would probably have picked it as well as it's visible from such a long ways off. Hope your friend is able to get a picture!

James, I would love to do the 5K this weekend, but it does conflict with your long run (7:00 A.M. start)...and we really need to decide if we are going to the ward campout. Any strong feelings?

James, wow, we would be running about a 7:14 pace to half way and would need a 7:45 pace from half to the finish to hit 3:15. The real challenge, if it were a flat course to halfway, yes, doable. I am somewhat concerned as we have Veyo and then about 3 1/2 miles of gradual uphill. It will be a chore to hit half at 1:35. But, if we are not afraid of a crash and burn, I am up to give it a try. So, if we stuck with the 3:10 group for a 1:35 half we could run a 1:40 second half. I am sure we could stay on the 7:45 second half pace from mile 11 to about 18 because of the downhill if we are not done at half. It would take a real hang on effort to the finish. This plan is a risk, but, no guts, no glory. I am up for it, follow the pacing group unless it just feels to darn fast to hang on. The only issue with pacing groups, if you have time for a short story: 1995 St. George, 3:10 pacing group, before the advent of timing chips, the pacing group got stuck back in the pack at the start, the leader (from Runner's World) decided we needed to make up the two minutes in the first 7 miles before Veyo. Pack of about 50 runners trying to break 3:10 to qualify for Boston (100th running), by about mile 5, me and 6 other runners let the pack go as they were runner under 7 min. miles trying to make up time. The 6 of us ran together for several miles, slowly we picked off runner after runner from the 3:10 pacing group (they had a Boston or Bust bib on their back with 3:10) By the end of the race, the pacer and two runners from his group broke 3:10, the pacing leader ran a 3:03, my group of 6, 5 of us finished under 3:10, I ran a 3:07. Lesson: if it feels way too fast, I will let them go, pacers are not always perfect.

Lastly, if we pull this off, they may be calling 911 to make sure we are ok.

If you're shooting for a 3:15, have you considered running with the 3:20 pace group to get past Veyo and the gradual uphill stuff then just turn on the afterburners for the 2nd half?