Every Run is a Great Run!

You have had a great year and I have had a lot of fun following your progress. Good luck recovering both physically and mentally.

Tom--I too feel I need to take some big down time to get everything healed up, so hopefully we'll both get better and come back strong in '09.

Congratulations on a great year! We often measure ourselves by our races, but they come and go so quickly that in the overall scheme of things they don't matter so much. What a great thing it is to be able to find something that you and Kim can enjoy together. You've certainly earned a nice vacation. Hope everything heals up nicely!

Tom on the marathon website and the spectrum you can view photos from the race. #14 is of you and I coming down into SG together. Great job again! Enjoy your break!!

Tom, you have run some great races this year-congratulations! Enjoy your time off, and good luck with the healing.

TOm I wander if your more sore because your muscles were colder than when you usually run and that made them build up more Lactic acid than usual or make them work harder. Can't tell you for sure but it makes you wonder. Good Job on your marathon. It is my dream to finish somewhere around a 3:10 t0 3:15. YOu did great.

I love the new picture Tom. Where did you get the red singlets? Does is say Spanish Fork Running Club? They look sweet;-D

Thanks Clay. Dan Money worked with MVP Sports had those singlets made up just before the race, we thought they were pretty sweet as well.

I like the picture too Clay, and it seems like a good metaphor for life for Kim and I. Reminds me that the end goal is for both us to fight our way through the storms and winds of the life marathon and end up together and still in one piece at the end!

BTW Clay you could probably go down to MVP and get you one of those singlets if you wanted.

The FRB singlets are also nice but my Momma used to tell me and Kim tells me I look better in red than white/blue :)

Tom I am with you on taking a small break from the blog. I am sure that I will contiue to run ,but I can't type very good and I think that my wife has pretty much taken over this blog anyways! So I will just ask her how everybody is doing until March and then hit it hard again. I do owe a lot to this blog and the people that helped me this year. It is quite amazing how everybody is so willing to help. Good luck and maybe I will see you in the parade next year in the Icelandic Costume... I am still thinking of a new blog name?? I need something catchy?? Great job on the race and I think that you got more out of the journey this year with your wife than the over all race! Good job Man!

You two look sexy in that new blog photo of yours! Heal away man ... and do not return to running until you're fully so! Its a good time of year to take off anyway ... weather is ready to start getting tough out there. I've enjoyed our exchanges throughout this past year and have improved as a runner as a result of them. Tell Kim I said hello. Catch you on the flip side.

Tom, I am taking the liberty to jump in on the question you asked Paul about maintaining running fitness without running. For all but getting the pounding effect from running, I definitely think you can do it. On a couple of occasions I have spent 1 month + just cross training because of hamstring problems. I would do spin, elliptical, or stair climber or combination of the three for about an hour every day at a good intensity. I would also ride my road bike on weekends because I am lucky enough to live in California. I think the key is maintaining high intensity and consistency throughout your time off. Once the hamstring felt better I was able to prepare for a marathon with only 4 weeks of training. Fitness wise I was in great shape so all I needed to do was beat up the knees a bit during long runs. Good luck!

Many thanks for the info Fritz.

Tom, enjoy your down time, great year of running, what a tale you and Kim have for 2008.

Stay Kool, 2009 even better, B of BS Rools out