Philippians 4:13

I am really going to try to become a morning runner once spring arrives. I think it would be refreshing, but I agree that I am not in the mood to get layered up early in the morning. If I can throw on shorts and a t-shirt, I think I can make it happen.

Morning runs are pretty nice, get you going for the day. Shorts and shirt attire makes (and no icy roads) make morning runs a lot more palletable. Plus, morning runs are better for weight loss.

I'm glad to see you writing about nice warm runs outside. I hope this whole winter thing is mostly behind us...

Not looking too likely yet, but it should be warming up by the week a little bit.

Getting antsy for Del Sol, how about you?

Also, have an interesting opportunity. Looks like I will be going back to DC area for training from May 17-21. Well, the Shamrock marathon is May 16. So I wrote the RD to see if I qualify for their "elite" status based on my 2:32 at STGM. Here is the response:

"You are close to the sub-2:35 level for our comp entry fee waiver (although St. George doesn't quite count, since it's a very downhill course--great, though, for all the women who made the Olympic Trials qualifying time there).

What I can do for you is:

1) Give you a seeded race number (you'll need to email me your full entry details, after you enter).

2) Give you a retroactive fee waiver if you do indeed break 2:35:00 at the 2008 Shamrock. You should enter on your own via the race website and active.com, then let me know after the race that you did break the 2:35:00 barrier.

One other possibility for you, if you think you're a good pacer. We're looking for someone to run a 2:45:00 pace group time, to help the women going for the 2:46:59 or better time for the Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon. That would get you a comp entry, but you'd have to run that 2:45 pace throughout the race, and have the ability to maintain that pace, within a reasonable amount. Let me know if this is of interest. You would be in the thick of things for the spectator and media attention, as we are featuring the women's marathon this year."

So, I am thinking of doing the pacing for the elite women...great publicity for SGRC/FRB as well! The 2:45 would be good training for SLC/Ogden, better than trying for sub-2:35?

Now I just have to convince my wife (yet another running trip...she is getting really sick of these!).

So does this mean that Ogden won't be on the list for 2008? Dan said that he was going to try to beat you.

Naw, Ogden is still in the plans...I have to see Dan finish a marathon!

Ogden is May 17th...right? Doesn't that conflict with Shamrock??? Did you mean March 16th for Shamrock?

Pacing the elite women would be pretty darned cool by itself. Helping some of them make the trials cutoff would be even cooler!

Absolutely do the pacing gig. Would be a great experience.

Yeah, I meant March 16 for the Shamrock.

Dale, yeah I think being a pacer for OT would be cool, kinda feel like I am giving something back!

Oh, yeah, giving back....right. Clearly I was thinking selfishly...I was thinking of the bragging rights you would have if one of the runners you paced managed to come away from the trials with a spot on the olympic team!

Sounds like you really want to run that race. If someone turned down my St. George time for a comp I would tell them to have a nice race without me, if I was that nice. I'm sure you will handle it better than me though.

A do agree with James about the negative attitude about St. George was kind of rude. However, the idea of pacing the women sounds great. I hope you can swing it by your wife.

Yeah, I sent him a note back indicating that (in a nice way, of course). I also indicated that I ran it at age 39 and their "A" standard for master's is 2:40 (comp entry, travel reimbursement, etc.).

Will run it by my wife tonight, working out options for travel arrangements (buddies in the DC area, flights, watching our kids, etc.) before springing it on her.