The Birmingham Marathon & Half Marathon will be Sunday 11/20 (weekend before Thanksgiving) and the 5K will be that Saturday - kind of a bummer cause that's the weekend of Flying Monkey, but - what cha gonna do? There will be an announcement forthcoming, but it's gonna be kind of a big deal so stay tuned. Training programs will start up shortly after that; and by shortly I mean by the end of June if you're interested. We'll have a couple of 'Info' meetings and then start running, if you ever wanted to run a 'Full' or a 'Half', now's the time. Birmingham now has 2 great events and it's a shame to miss 'em! Lotsa good 5K's too, especially Ruben's and the KBR5K (Mercedes Weekend). More on this as we get closer.... Took it easy yesterday running wise since it was our (mine and Micki's) 13 year anniversary. Yes, I made her a 'Finisher's Medal' for her 'Half Marathon' of marriage. Mr. 'Arts & Crafts here, and yes it was sweet and 'G' rated. All I can say is Martha Stewart, LOOK OUT! Today we got to do 2 things we haven't gotten to do much of together lately (no, not THAT); we ran together. An easy 11 miles and the 2nd thing we got to do was suffer together. Even when you know it's coming, it still stinks. We started early by over-weight non-runner's standards (7:00) but by 'runner's with common sense' standards, that was really dumb! I for one did not know that the Mojave Desert had relocated to the Birmingham area, or vice versa. It was all fun and games till the camel died. On days like this I see why my friends in Arizona go run at 3:00, take a nap then go to work or church - ye gods! Pragmatically speaking, it's June, it's the Deep South, better learn to 'cowboy up' and deal with the heat...smartly. I think next Sunday we'll start just a wee bit earlier. I can't say this enough (to myself as well), the best way to hydrate is STAY hydrated! Drink a cup of water first thing in the morning, THEN your coffee. Keep a bottle at your desk and sip on it. You cannot 'hydrate' just before a run - your boy doesn't work like that (over simplification). Just give it what it needs all day, water first thing, get water with every meal and drink it, regardless of your beverage of choice - just keep sipping all day. I think the score among runner's is 98% prefer cold weather for running and 2% go for the heat. I love the heat and summer up till about 10 miles, then it's Miller Time. For really long runs only a true masochist, or idiot, would prefer 'blue blazes', just my .02. Soon enough training for all the Fall marathons will commence and there'll be no way around running in the heat. First, if it's a bad day, slow the pace and cover the distance. It's small consolation now, but the weather will be much cooler here, in Chicago, New York, Memphis, Huntsville...where ever your Fall marathon of choice is. When the heat breaks you'll feel like you can fly, remind yourself of that. A positive thought will help push you through to finish your run. Start early, real early. Especially on the weekends, that's why God invented 'naps'; and run with someone - early cause it'll be cooler, with a 'wing man' for company and just in case you're not as hydrated as you think you are. If it's really a bad day, your wing man can help you through or sit you down and save your life. We're having August weather in June, the good news is it will break, the bad news is it will be back - train smart! It's gonna be toasty at the Runner's Boot Camp this afternoon - pretty sure they'll be having so much fun they won't even notice! Just like kids at camp.......