Okay, here we go, Saturday is the marathon in Albany and I'm not really nervous but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't apprehensive. My training has gone well which wasn't that difficult because the difference in training for a marathon to 'race' vs. training to just 'run' is the difference in throwing a bullet and shooting one. If this goes well then I will train to 'race' the one in Alaska, but let's finish and enjoy this one first. It's been a long time since the (stupid)Tucson Marathon and though I'm not 100% - I'm close enough. This is one of those I fully intend to take some of my own advice and start slow and enjoy the day. The weather looks to be terrific so I just have to put one foot in front of the other and play follow the leader! Truly, a run for the medal (and beer). My other hope is that many of those who did so well training for and running Mercedes will continue to run and have fun. I see some of them on the street and I really miss those group runs. Over the course of September through February we build some great friendships and I can't keep ALL my groups running together forever (said Father Goose, wistfully) so I try to assimilate them into the running community with the fond hope that I'll see them at some of the Pub Runs or various other gatherings. It's a bonus what running a slow trickling Fountain of Youth gives us; not only does it slow and in some cases reverse the aging process. It also makes us healthier, stronger,and leaner. It can also be a refreshing fountain for our souls as we make new friends to grow fond of and that grow fond of us. You know you have a friend when you can ask someone to wait or watch out while you duck behind a dumpster to go to the bathroom. That's the kind of friendship that lasts! So try things to keep it new, trail running, new courses, different times (c'mon - you can do ONE morning run) or even if it's not your best time, meet them at the end of the run. You're still a friend. Keep running, when something is that rewarding on so many counts, why stop, ever?