Rip Rap/ wild cat 21 mi run

This weekend I was lucky enough to get invited back to Sophie's now annual run that starts at sugar hallow near Charlottesville and loops it's way through SNP via AT and a series of spurs that cross skyline drive to run past several extremely pristine swimming holes.

This was JUST the break I needed!:o) brock had been working out of town for the past 12 days, and as much as I love my two boys ( more then life itself) I was SOO grateful for the silence at the beginning of my windshield session driving up i=81 ( and then WSP by the time I reached the staunton exit several hours later)

Not being whiney or a baby, but May hasn't been an easy month. just being factual. I was sick pretty much for a month with the coughing.. not sure if I had pneumonia then allergies or a sinus infection. All I know is that I'm still coughing and snotting around here a month after promise land. ( and 2 rounds of antibiotics), Then my aunt passed away after a courageous battle with cancer for several years and her funeral was the day of MMT, so I obviously didn't get to pace my good friend kathleen. It was no question WHERE I would be, or what the right thing to do was-- however, it was very distressing to me that the day before the race, I had to bail on my friend when I knew she was counting on me to be there. Kathleen was VERY understanding and kind of course! It just killed me that I didn't get to follow through with my commitment to her. AND I lost a family member that was so special that I loved very much.

Then someone got in my car in my driveway one night and stole my ipod touch, which isn't a big deal in and of itself.. I know I won't see my ipod again, but it made me SO mad that someone was in my driveway around my house and in my car while the kids and I were sleeping--

Last but certainly not least, Thursday evening the kids and I ended up driving through a TERRIBLE storm of EPIC proportions-- I really can't even convey the severity of this storm other than it had high winds, thunder lightening, baseball and golfball size hail and this crazy fog that made it IMPOSSIBLE to see anything. ( a funnel cloud was spotted where we were, but I couldn't SEE anything just hail and flying tree limbs ( amazed the windshield didn't break on me) but the hail did TERRIBLE damage to my new car...:o/

SO that being said-- i'm thankful the kids and I are safe.. that storm was so scary, I was beginning to wonder at one point if we'd make it home. The car can be fixed, the I can go to best buy and get an ipod.. it was the emotions intertwined with these events that was getting to me more than the material possessions.

but needless to say, I was left feeling pretty wrung out and limp like an old dish rag and NEEDING to get out in the mtns TERRIBLY.

I spent the night in waynesboro and arose the next morning SO excited about being outside, seeing my friends, getting my feet wet, my legs muddy and sweating in the humidity of our mtns!!

I got to the parking lot at sugar hollow about 6:30 and pretty much immediately my buddy and personal hero, bill gentry pulled up and we excitedly got to talk about his 72 hr run from two weeks ago. Then one by one all my old friends and ( then I made new friends) too began to trickle in.. Gary Knipling, Sabrina Moran ( waves frantically- jenny loves ya! :), Quatro!! Marc Griffin ( my favorite canadian )and Sophie-- my ultra chick running mentor/ the hostess with the mostest! Sophie assembled a GREAT eclectic group of runners from all over VA.

We were treated with AMAZING views, UNREAL showing of the Mtn laurel this year, and of course: swimming holes!!

" the into the wild bus" of charlottesville

Bill Gentry!!!

one of the breathtaking overlooks:o)

mtn laurel on display for us to enjoy

My buddy Marlin Yoder met us at the parkway on top of the mtn and I was SO happy to get to run so much with him. Marlin rocks!! and he won the wet t-shirt contest between him, sabrina and myself:

I made several great new friends: Harry Landers and Neal, Christian and David ( who were so nice to share their lunch with me post run)

The run was just what I needed: a sweatfest in the mtns to help me for upcoming highlands sky, eye candy to reward ALL my hard work, and much needed socialization with some cool, like minded, fun, adventurous people!

I left to travel back home, tired, muddy, smiling ear to ear about the days events and all the fun I had. :o) Then I had a great remainder of Memorial day weekend with Brock and the kids! we swam and cooked out ( one trip to urgent care on monday due to a puking toddler-- but now all is well) Life isn't perfect, everyone has peaks and valleys. Things can ebb and flow, I really think the past month has really been a lesson in being flexible, not letting the negative get you down, and to focus on the positive, focus on what is GOOD and RIGHT in your life. I'm so incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful, supportive, loving family and an outstanding network of friends who are there for me. I appreciate you guys so much!! ((HUG))

pacing at MMT! :O)

it's been awhile since I've posted.. thought I would catch you guys up to speed a little. ( or really explain how very slow things have been) post PL: went to the dr.. she thought i had bronchitis ( but didn't do a chest x-ray) just prescribed me antibiotics to take for 12 days. ( fun!) I started to think more along the lines that I had pneumonia based upon my brown blood tinged phlem:oP YUCK.... that hung on FOR DAYS even on the meds.. I was like doc holiday with the consumption... just bury me up at glenwood springs.. :/

well, even now.. post round o antibiotics still coughing ( but not as deep, more of a dry hack) and my breathing kinda sucks.. but I'm pretty much back to running normally again. Ready to begin my new training cycle to get ready for highlands sky 40.

This weekend I'm jumping back in with both feet to pace my good buddy Kathleen Cusick at MMT 100 the last 37 miles or so. I'm really excited because this is my first time pacing, AND being at a 100 mile race!! I feel it's going to be a GREAT experience ( since I really would like to run a 100 next year) AND kathleen is SO fun.. so I know we'll have a good time saturday night running over those rocks in the rain, fog and darkness. :o)

OKAY, SO ANY ADVICE about pacing??? I'm pretty sure I understand "the rules" -- keeping her on schedule nutrition wise and moving along ( don't get lost lol) etc.. but if anyone has ANY great advice about pacing someone the latter part of a 100 I'm a sponge at the moment... ready to absorb any info.

promise land 50k

Promise land 50k. I had been SO looking forward to this race for the past couple months. So excited, I had drove up and ran over the course 2 weeks prior to the race. My recovery from terrapin left me feeling STRONG and CONFIDENT. Going over the course was just extra assurance for myself that I would feel successful at promise land. WELL, sometimes you can do ALL your homework-- work extremely hard and life just throws a monkey wrench in the works.

about 7 days before the race both my kids got very sick with fevers, sore throats, upper respiratory infections. I was actually relieved at the timing because I was tapering ( is that selfish?) and I kept thinking to myself: "at least I'm not dealing with this a couple days before promise land. " I was probably foolish in thinking I wouldn't succumb to their chest cold/ crud.

low and behold, about monday I starting getting sick. The pollen was terrible, and I kept thinking I was suffering from allergies. I took zyrtec. I took allegra. and I never got better, I got worse. ( even though the allegra made me kinda hyper) the cold just settled deeper and deeper in my chest:/ bummer!!

Anyways, determined to run promise land ( and yes, my mother was quite upset I was going to go run 34 miles in the rain with a chest cold:oP) because I didn't want to miss this experience ( I suffer from the"fear of missing out" quite often) and LUS series I knew I had to run it and at least get a finish. and WHO KNOWS?? I may start running and things just break up in my lungs and I run extremely well ( I love that about pre-race hopes and dreams-- the sky is the limit and you'll never know unless you TRY)

SO brock and I drove up towards bedford in the rain with an SUV full of camping gear ( both coughing and hacking our heads off and snotting around) we decided that 40F and rain wasn't good weather for us to tent camp-- ( why make things even WORSE on myself) so we got a hotel. I was super bummed because I wanted to camp and hang out with my people!! but to tell the truth, I was SO fatigued and tired on friday night it was an effort just to go get my race number, all I wanted to do was get the the bed and hibernate.

It was great to see So many friends at packet pickup/race meeting. and yep, I definitely got a ribbing for staying in town and not camping in the rain like everyone else.:o) I promise next year I'll camp! and hopefully not be a germ factory!

I was in bed by 9pm, didn't sleep much and 3:45 came much too soon. I decided to wear my MMTR finishers shirt and a pair of MH shorts, patagonia socks and mtn masochists ( these shoes were the perfect choice for this course I feel)

I was calm on the drive to the promiseland youth camp. I was still just hoping beyond all hope I would have some sort of crazy healing experience in the mtns and run this AWESOME race I trained so hard for.

we all lined up huddled together in the rain! and off we went! immediately climbing a very steep gravel road the first 2.5 miles to reach the single track. I started slow and ran with Mark Guzzi ( I finished with him at terrapin) Jack Broaddus and Marc Griffin I figured if I stayed with them this whole race, I'd run better than okay.. I was IN this thing.. but in the back of my mind it was nagging at me how hard it felt I was working, and how tired I felt. it wasn't meant to be after about 10 miles I lost touch with my group, and beth minnick and jamie darling caught me by mile 13 I was still in about 7th place female. but I knew I was going to have to majorly dial back my effort or was going to crash and burn. My HR was very high, I couldnt breathe very deep at all, and I was very dizzy and nauseated, and couldn't eat gels or food either one. I was drinking perpetuem and I was SO thankful to have that for calories ( or else I wouldn't be getting ANY)

coming into sunset fields for the first time at mile 13 with my friend Jen.. struggling and it's EARLY in the race.

So for the downhill section going down cornelius creek, I just decided to ENJOY the run.. and I did.. I got caught and passed by many of my friends ( who were all super encouraging) namely sophie telling me not to count myself out as she breezed by.. Things like that mean ALOT. I feel SO lucky to have so many wonderful friends in my corner. I was running, just not very race pace speed. By the time I start my climb on the dark side, I was bonking hard and trying to eat an ice cream sandwich ( which made me gag and I had to throw it away:o( and I was SOO looking forward to the ice cream at the AS!!) Rebekah Trittipoe caught me.. all day today when people came up on me I would just give the trail, but when Rebekah caught me, I decided to stick with her. I had never got to run with Rebekah and always wanted to and figured that maybe if I stayed with her for a couple minutes it would get me out of my rut. Well, she doctored me right up.. after I explained I couldn't eat. She gave me her tums. and 20 min later I was able to down a gel. We had periods of hiking and conversing on a vast range of topics, ( motherhood, racing, track, achieving balance in our lives while participating in a sport that can easily become all consuming and obsessive) and then periods of running ( yay I'm running again) in silence but the silence was so warm and comfortable. It was like I had known this lady my whole life. There was no need to talk we just shared the same common goal to face this monster climb up apple orchard, get ourselves down the mtn and to the finish line. We both just worked really well and steady together to get the job done!

YAY! back at sunset fields!!!

Rebekah got me back to sunset fields! I knew she would be faster than me on the downhill section because I was still battling shortness of breath, fatigue, tireness etc.. but I knew I was SO CLOSE.. and really amazed I had made it THIS FAR feeling the way I was and on very little food. and very thankful to her for the companionship, Tums, and steady pacing.

We parted ways for her to ROCK the finish and win her age group! and I followed shortly where she was standing there with Horton at the finish line to give me a big hug. Beth, Jack, Brock, Eric, Rick.. I was surrounded by my friends at the finish. You'd of thought I came in sub 6 the way they were celebrating with me. I love you guys SOO MUCH. My small victory of merely finishing was their victory as well.

FINISH!!!

Rebekah gives good hugs:o)

Getting my signature "horton hug"

hugs from my BFF and super ultrarunner beth minnick

my buddy jack broaddus and I at the finish.

and I'll wear my patagonia finisher shorts WITH PRIDE at my next race!!

so upon reflection, I think sometimes things just don't go your way, but it really is all in choosing your attitude and making a CHOICE to stay in the race. I didn't get to race the race.. but I RAN the race. I FINISHED the race. I learned so much in the process. and this course was so beautiful with the views, the wildflowers, the falls where so full from the rain on friday and that morning. There are races were dreams are realized, and one displays heroism in their athletic performance. This wasn't my day for that. But this race will ALWAYS be special in my heart because on my first promise land, I learned just how special, loving and accepting, supportive this ultra community truly is. I'm just overwhelmed and blissed out to be apart of it.

I can't wait to run this race again next year. It's easily one of my favorite 50k's because the course is SO challenging, yet SO beautiful. Also, it's SO evident all the hard work Dr. Horton, his family, and his volunteers put into this race to make it just a super special experience for the runners.

I'm bound for the promise land....

This weekend I shall run an epic journey!!! 34 miles, 9000ft of vertical climbing. I'm so excited about my first promise land 50k. The entire experience promises to hold adventure, heartbreak, joy, pain, and comraderie.

I'm so excited about camping, fellowship... seeing old friends, making new friends.. and getting those finisher shorts!!!

I made a little video of pictures from the PL course ( I got from google images so thank you to everyone who's pictures I borrowed) and I set to the tune of "on jordan's stormy banks". When Marc Griffin and I ran over the course 2 weeks ago, this tune was stuck in my head and on replay. I first heard this hymn when I was in school as a child. I went to a private Presbyterian school in Richlands, VA. and they played many traditional hymns. I was very interested in the history behind these songs and learned that this tune was written in the 1800's and very popular among troops fighting the Civil War ( both union and confederate). The version of the song I used in the video is from Bobby Horton's ( no relation to david horton) "HOMESPUN SONGS OF FAITH" which is a compilation of Hymns from the 1860's.

"OH, WHO WILL COME AND GO WITH ME? I'M BOUND FOR THE PROMISE LAND!!!"

Terrapin mtn 50k

Wow. What a great weekend. Terrapin Mtn 50k and half marathon is truly a special race. I was really looking forward to this race because I had ran it last year, and LOVED it. I was very excited because I knew the course and was looking to improve my time, AND I knew I would it would be such a wonderful opportunity to see all my trail/ultra running friends. The iron mtn trail runners had a pretty good group coming to represent, and I was excited for us all to be running the same event together.

I arrived at the Sedalia Center friday evening, and the first person I see is David Sniper!! Who immediately gifted me with some gummi bugs to eat during my journey the next day! Thanks so much Sniper! I really appreciate the gummies! :o) The Sedalia Center was filling up fast with campers and people coming to pick up their packets, and it was so exciting to see so many friends! I went for a little shake out run with Grossman for about 2 miles and came back and listened to a couple running stories David Horton was telling to a captive audience he had gathering around him:o) I was sad to leave. I had booked at room at the ultra-illusive days inn of bedford, and I was kicking myself for just not bringing my tent and camping out with all my friends. I definitely plan on camping at Promise Land! I have to say I was THRILLED with the terrapin mtn running tank. It's made out of the new patagonia silk weight capilene.. NICE!!

I went back to bedford, ate at ruby tuesdays ( where I saw kenny wheeler!) and Then proceeded to go back to the room. I had already laid out all my gear for the next morning, so I took a shower and then watched a movie on my laptop.. okay it was PRE... I had to get a running movie in there to psyche me up! and I fell asleep at 9! DORK! BUT... I got up at 4am.. feeling good. I ate breakfast, and got ready, loaded the car and checked out. Went over to super 8 where the rest of the IMTR's were staying. Beth jumped in the FJ with me and we followed the family van to the Sedalia center. It was packed! wow! this race is growing! Excitement in the air! It was great seeing even more friends! :o) I was nervous.. not as nervous as last year, but I think the task of what's ahead settles with me and I always get a little nervous just because I know alot can happen in 31 miles ( even though way MORE can happen during a 50 miler haha)

We line up and GONG!!! We're running... we're running.. I'm feeling good going up the first big climbs. SO I just keep on rolling. I left all my friends but I seriously didn't feel like I was pushing it too hard. big hills are kinda my thing.. downhills are not. I knew this, so I felt that I should just seize those moments when I felt GOOD. because I knew I'd have a hard time with the downhills ( and everyone else would be flying by me if I hung back on the hill)

I got the the first aid station 2nd female.. NICE.. but then I knew I had a good 8 mile stretch of down hill. so I ran as fast as I could in a controlled non red-line fashion which ended up being 6:50ish avg miles for 8 miles ( really?! maybe I need to run some road races..:oP) but I did feel SO good it didn't even feel that fast.. even on the flat. I felt like the scene in forest gump where he breaks out of his leg braces and starts running.. I felt like whatever had been burdening me or holding me back for the past year ( ie heavy legs and slow paces) I had escape their hold on me and "and I was running!!" ( love forest gump) I was just grinning ear to ear the entire time.. gone were the tiny steps I was striding out and moving and a groovin.. I thought to myself HOW amazing it would be to run an entire race this way!!!

but all good things must come to an end. got to the 3rd AS still 2nd female and you have an ENORMOUS hill ( and then some single track -- that is part of the hellgate course) I still was feeling REALLY great. When we were almost back on the road to go UP camping gap with marlin, sophie and rick gray caught me. marlin and sophie were powering up camping gap and I couldn't stay with them, so I followed rick.. I was now in 3rd.. but I was really happy because I knew I was having a good race. I felt MUCH worse at this point in the race last year. This was where beth tackled me last year. So I just tried to get up camping gap as quick as I could. I was happy to get to the AS to fill up my bottle and start the WOR loop ( white oak ridge) I saw the leaders here last year.. but this year, I past 3rd and 4th place.. which was fun because I got to yell "margaritas!!" at Jeremy Ramsey as he past me. I couldn't help but think how AWESOME it would be to get out of the WOR loop.. but I worked hard on getting through it. I just tried to run as much as I could and take care of my nutrition on my climbs. got my first punch for my bib and before I knew it, too was running out of the WOR loop and high-fiving my buddies who were going in.

Still happy I was feeling good and strong.. I was ready to tackle the crazy insane climb to terrapin rock and fat man's misery. I got out on terrapin rock with GUY ( who I had pretty much been running with all day long ( and that was awesome!) got my second bib punch and made my way to fat man's guy went through first.. then me.. I didn't fall like I did last year ( and won best blood!) Thankfully, BUT I didn't see the punch and just ran on through the rocks and Guy and I proceeded to make our way off the mtn.. THEN I realized I didn't punch and turned around and so did GUY. CURSES!!!! :o( for a split second I thought about going on-- but then I knew it wasn't right even though I had ran the entire course.. you are supposed to have 3 punches for your finish to be official so I ran back face burning at my stupidity. I got to the punch and there is my best buddy beth! she was like" what are you doing?!" and I told her what I'd done.. we ran together for awhile but we got to a hill ( for those of you who read my blog you know what happens when beth and I get to a downhill together!) bye- bye beth... she looked strong and was running great.. I still felt strong but nothing like the rush beth was on

.. but sweet lord, I was HEARTBROKEN in my extra .8 miles ( total .4 to the punch and then back again) I had allowed people I had a good 5 min on to catch me.. and now i was tippy toeing through the rock garden.. PERFECT.. GRR. and here comes Jamie Darling.. running seriously with reckless abandon through the biggest sharpest scariest rocks I've ever ran on... and she looked so happy -- zoomed past me while I was seriously just standing there on the trail...

5th!!! I seriously just wanted to take a page out of my 3 yr old's book sit down and cry at this point.. my perfect beautiful race--- it was ruined.. ALL MESSED UP and getting worse by the second. I just want it to be over.. WAH!!!! :o( but I didn't.. I think that is the crazy thing about ultra running you are seriously on an emotional roller coaster with so many highs and lows. I quickly pulled myself together and told myself if I didn't get my butt in gear I was going to do FAR worse than 5th place.. just don't let anyone else pass you! SO I resolved to work hard the next 5 miles. After the last AS I saw super sweet chelsie viar and liz barry where totally RIGHT behind me.. both of these girls are FAST and I ran with both of them alot at holiday lake. I knew the next 5 miles was single track but very runnable trail. So that was enough for me to keep on rolling and not let up until I reached the finish line. 6:07 5th overall female. Last year I was 9th and ran a 6:13.. so I'm happy to see improvement.

haha.. I hate that I made some stupid mistakes but really other than the hole punch and maybe not being such a wuss running off terrapin mtn through the rocks.. I wouldn't of changed a thing about my race. Beth still probably would of caught me because she ran VERY hard the last 8 miles. I didn't have enough UMPH at the end to have done what she did I know she really cranked out some solid miles. Beth is tough, tough, tough.. I'm just waiting for her to start winning these things. I looked the only way I got the drop on her was the first climb where I took off from everyone. and some on the other climbing sections. She avg 6:47 per mile for the same 8 mile stretch between AS1 and 3..so she ran even faster on that stretch than I did.. maybe we both need to go run a 10k.. :OP The finish line was wonderful. I was so happy to be finished and not stressing about finishing anymore. It was great to cheer on my friends as they finished and hang out with ALL the cool people who finished ahead of me. I feel this race really has a super special vibe at the finish. Everyone is SO nice and SO positive and supportive. It's really a beautiful collective of runners. I'm so happy to be apart of this community.

So I'm looking forward to promise land in a couple weeks!! the IMTR's are planning on camping out! WOO! can't wait!! I'm also looking forward to training for promise land. I know there isn't that much time, but I'm looking forward to getting some good work in to prepare me for the 34 mile journey! :o)

here are some pictures from the finish line!

beth with her LUS jacket and new matching patagonia messenger bag for being third overall female!!

RD Clark Zealand and 2nd overall female Sophie Speidel with her "patagucci"

me and jaime darling ( 4th overall female) at the finish. I have NEVER seen anyone run down such a technical section as fast as Jaime ran down terrapin mtn!! ( and not fall!)

late winter/spring training: JAX WY, CRA and the tacky leprechaun

Hey it's been FOREVER since I've posted it seems! I've been pretty busy with life, training and other adventures all the while preparing for my next race: Terrapin Mtn 50k. I thought I would do a post and share some pictures from what's been going on with me the past month.

Several days after Holiday Lake ( I had a pretty easy recovery from that race, I feel given the fact I ran the first half so slow and conservative) Brock and I jumped on a plane and spent 5 days in Jackson Hole, Wy to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. We had a blast. We stayed at our fav place in the teton village: the snake river lodge:o) We skied 3 days ( it was AMAZING skiing there this year, it snowed tons everyday!) I got in some great runs in the snow, We went to GTNP and got some great wildlife pictures, and we hung out in Jackson a couple afternoons and ate some yummy food! Oh, and I got to see one of my favorite bluegrass bands live at the Mangy Moose: HOT BUTTERED RUM :o)

The snake river in GTNP

a mature bald eagle chillin

a moose ( cow) laying down in the trees

The majestic Tetons ( and some clouds) I love, love, love wyoming...

Brock and Jenny on the banks of a very frozen Jackson Lake and it was about 10F that morning.. BRR!

me in Jackson town square. across from the million dollar cowboy bar and the cadillac grille ( I love the cadillac grill-- they have moose drool on tap :o)

As soon as Brock and I returned back to Va. I had ANOTHER adventure in store for me and I couldn't wait!! I was lucky enough to get invited to go run Catawba Run Around ( thanks sophie!!) which is a 36.04 mile adventure on the AT.. that includes: dragons tooth, the tinker cliffs and McAfee's Knob. SERIOUS climbing over 9000 ft of vert on very technical and rocky trails. Beth, Rick and Doug Blackford also were running, along with SO many of my friends from the VHTRC and WVMTR :o)

The weather forecast wasn't very good. high 40's and rain. :o( boo. I knew going into the run, I probably wouldn't get to see all those amazing overlooks. BUT I knew 1. I'd get much needed time on my feet 2. and get to have alot of fun in the mtns with my friends!

Beth, Rick ( who had ran Mt Mitchell Challenge the week before) and I ran with Dave Sniper and Doug Sullivan and we just had a blast "fun running" We pretty much goofed off for 36 miles.. but the good thing was we were smiling and laughing and pretty much pain free at the finish.. so that was nice! :o) I WILL be back next year to run this event and see all the views and run in the sunshine!!

here are some pictures from that adventure:

in front of dragon's tooth

The IMTR's on dragon's tooth and Sniper captured Rick at a vulnerable angle ( hee, hee)

There were bottles of knob creek all over the place during the run... ( cough gary knipling cough)

Beth and I expressing our opinion of the view from McAfee's that day

Beth, Doug Sullivan, Me, Rick Gray

And this past weekend was the IMTR annual super awesome event: The Tacky Leprechaun trail run. This year we ran our bread and butter 9.3 mile loop on the AT/ IMT in Damascus ( last year we ran 24 miles) but given the fact we had WAY more people this year, we decided to have a fun, light run and stick together as a group. Post run we noshed on guiness cupcakes with bailey's frosting and then went to the whistlepig cafe ( trailside on the Va creeper trail) for a wonderful lunch.

I also have to add that we had a couple new members to the group. Rebecca and Dana Loyd ( love yall!) were nice enough to come run with us! and we hope to share the trail with them VERY SOON! And this is so random, but when we were in the parking lot getting ready to leave this guy ( who was there visiting from Winston- Salem NC and there to bike the Creeper Trail) asked us what we were doing. Rick told him trail running and invited him to come run with us, and he did!!! Viveka: you are a super cool dude for being so spontaneous! I think so many of us could take a page out of your book and live a much FULLER life to step out of our comfort zone and try new things, hang out with new people and check out new places! Thanks so much for spending the morning with us! I know we'll run again together soon!! :o)

Tacky leprechaun Group shot

Kathleen Cusick and I chatting it up before the run

JJ and Dana in their kilts!

socializing with grossman and Annette before climbing up beech grove trail

Eric Grossman in his batik sarong

I love this picture.. sorry kathleen I had to post it even if you are making a weird face... I love JJ's expression in this picture!

my running buddies: eric, annette, kathleen, rick and beth-- love you all!

beth and aliese contemplating... WHY eric's arm sleeves are so baggy

Our newest members: Viveka, Dana and Rebecca

the IMTR's fav hangout THE WHISTLE PIG!!