Tall and Skinny wins the race!

Interesting thing off the Yahoo page:

Taller athletes are Faster

Another Tricky Day

Or is it Another Sticky Day? I thought we moved to the desert to escape humidity? Good thing it was the last Sunday of the month. We're done with July - August heat lurks, with September promising no real relief.
We ran 5 miles in 54:37, averaging 10:45 by the Giant Nerd Watch. That's faster than our previous couple of weeks, and a good sign that your homework is paying off.
Next week's drop-back to 4 miles gives us a chance to perhaps work on some speed, let's try to get to 10:30, closer to our race pace of 10:18 per mile.
You were in good hands last week, Fearless Leaders Mark and Valerie ran you a little extra so you got to hit the sprinklers, and they kept you safe from the runaway car. A terrifying reminder to keep your eyes open, and to maybe think twice about headphones. I like them, but knowing what's going on around me - priceless.
Congratulations to Fearless Leader Erin, who knocked out a 2:05 half marathon in Bryce Canyon last week, and I just waded around a river, throwing canoes onto trailers, hauling drunks out of said boats, and generally lazing on the porch, drinking beer.
I bring shame to the mighty 2:15, the fastest group at our pace!

Another record!

5.2 miles in 60 minutes, that's an 11:29 pace : eleven twenty-nine? what happened?
Simple - it's hot and it's early. We stopped to gather ourselves at the water stop, we walked out of them and detoured through the sprinkler. No problem. Today was our longest run to date, we went farther along the trail than we've been this year, my Nerd Watch and I tagged along toward the end of the pack, and did I mention it's 5:30 in the morning?

Tim Kelly complimented us on our cohesiveness today as we hit the waterstop. That's important, we're stronger together and you'll notice it's easier to run if you have someone to talk to, someone to focus on. Watching other runners gives you some good pointers on form, how to hold your elbows, or just be fashion conscious. What brand of shoes do people prefer? What kind of earbuds are people using?

I'll be in Missouri next week, enjoy the Notch Run and I'll see you on Cocktail Sunday!

Ryan the Terrible,
laggard and fearless co-leader,
The Flying 2:15, fastest in the half!

Independence Day +1

So, I go off to Iowa to eat fried things and I get this email from Fearless Leader Erin:
Our Sunday run was chaos, shenanigans, and near-disaster without co-pace leader Ryan!!! We somehow ended up taking the "scenic" route around the dumpsters, and everyone was far too nice and polite to ask me where the heck we were going! But after that little detour, we took it easy and just ran to the water stop, where I left the flock and continued on a looooooooooong run in preparation for my Bryce Canyon half in two weeks. I'm sure the group made it back smoothly, and next week we can get back on track: 60 minutes, 5:30am, no more "scenic" detours into dumpsterland. I think my brain was fried from all the junk food I ate on the 4th. Anyway, we'll look forward to having Ryan back next Sunday!

Fearless (or brainless???) co-pace-leader,
Erin

Sounds like you-all had fun. My less-than-5k was stellar, as usual I was beaten by little old ladies and grade school boys. The food and beer and fun took its usual toll on me, and it rained for the first time in memory. That's my first rainy race, interesting being a desert dweller. I think my body puffed up with all the moisture, like a raisin in your morning oatmeal.

Only pinker.

See you at 5:30 am!