I live in a fairly rural area of Connecticut. There are still working farms here and you can't spit without hitting a farm stand or an Agway. That's one of the reasons why I like living up in the middle of nowhere (well, that and the cheap real estate prices-by Connecticut standards anyway).

All summer long and into the fall, there are dozens of small town country fairs. They involve lots of food (mostly fried), farm animals, tractors and country music. And more food. Plus the craft vendors. And kettle corn...yummm. Good times, really.

This morning at 8:00 a.m., I arrived at the Brooklyn Fairgrounds for their 4th annual 5K. I was greeted by the smell of hay and the braying of a mule (for real...it was hilarious). I parked in a field. When I was warming up, I passed a girl walking her cow and had to dodge some old guys with even older cars. On the way to the restrooms, there was a whole display of rabbits, ducks, chickens and roosters. You get the idea.

It was warm and humid (I've been saying that a lot lately) for the 8:30 a.m. start. April-Anne asked me what my goal pace was, and I just said I was there to run for fun. Michelle and her hubby were also there. Then just before the gun went off, the woman who always beats me, Dena, tapped me on the shoulder and said "Hi!" Oh no. The competition's here!

The gun sounded and we went off fast. We passed by the momma pig and her piglets (soo cute!)...the sheep...the cows...the tractor pull...the food booths and then out onto the road.

I had heard that there weren't any mile markers so I didn't look for them (found out later that there WERE markers. Dammit.). April-Anne and I stuck together, running our hearts out. At one point she said (breathlessly) "Dianna, we're cruising!" But all I could manage to say back was "Shhh!"

And the hills. Oh the hills. Rolling upwards. And up some more. I swear I only remember two downhills but lots more uphills.

(I cannot wait for the New Haven 20K next week and all it's flat glory.)

I could see Dena ahead of me - maybe about 30 seconds between us. At one point, I was right behind her and I had to slow up because I didn't want her to see me too soon. I was trying to strategize like an Olympian. I couldn't hold back and passed her with some friendly banter (really). But. I. Was. Too. Cocky. Dammit!

About a 1/4 mile later, she passed me and had some friendly banter for me. Sigh.

I had no kick left. I had kicked too soon. For the first time ever in a race, my feet felt like lead and my calves felt incredibly heavy. I managed to speed up just a tiny bit before the finish line when I realized I could PR. But my arch-nemesis had beaten me again and she would now bump me out of the first place standing in the Point Series. Bah!

But. As I exited the chute and shook her hand at the refreshment table, I said "You got me, but because of you, I was able to PR today." And to me that was more satisfying.

My time? 5K=23:53. I got a fancy, frilly red ribbon for placing second in my age division. Yes, a red ribbon just like the ones the cows and sheep earn for their competitions (and the apple pies).

*Don't miss today's other post on side stitches...see below!

Weekly summary:
Mon: rest
Tue: 8.00/1:12:55
Wed: 5.50/50:21
Thu: 12.00/1:48:20
Fri: rest
Sat: Biked 12 miles (road)
Sun: 5k/23:53 - PR

Total miles: 28.6

Much like the common cold, the "ideal" diet and the ice-cream brain freeze, finding the perfect "cure" for side-stitches has been the bane of many runners. I have read many theories about why stitches occur and how to get rid of them and offer some of the information I've gathered here:

Theories on why:

1) Dehydration
2) Ate too soon before running
3) Ate a specific food too soon before running (i.e. banana)
4) Breathing too hard; went out too fast w/out warming up
5) Muscles too tense

Theories on getting rid of a stitch:

1) Stretching: Like Mark said in the previous post's comments, stretching the side that the stitch is on may help. Reach for the sky, bend slightly to the side, whatever it takes to stretch out that area.

2) Stomping: Hit the ground HARD with the foot that corresponds with the side that the stitch is on as you run. Exhale forcefully as you stomp.

3) Breathing: Deep belly breaths, extending your belly as you inhale. From what I'm told, this can be umm, "uncomfortable" but it's not as bad as the stitch. Or, just take some deep, relaxing breaths - slow and easy- as Richard suggested.

4) Finger-Jam/Massage: My personal favorite. Jam one or two fingers directly into the spot where the stitch is located. Hold there until it goes away. Or until the run is over, whichever comes first. Massage area as needed (I ran an entire 5K race like this once. It was fun. I said it was my favorite...I didn't say it worked well.).

5) Bend and Breathe: Similar to stomping. Bend to the side that the stitch is on and exhale forcefully at the same time as you strike the ground with that foot--done while running. Truthfully, this one has worked for me.

6) Walk it Off: Pretty straight forward. Stop and walk it off.

These tips came from various books, magazines and websites so I cannot attribute them to once single source. I'll bet a search at Runner's World or Cool Running (or similar) would produce some additional tips as well.

Feel free to share YOUR solution in the comments section! And may your running be stitch free!

Even though I am anti-headphones while running...this little gadget is very tempting...I just read about it this morning, so maybe it's only news to me, but check it out:

MP3RUN

Why do they torture me with amazing toys!?

In other running news, last night's run was OK, but not the greatest. Within the first mile, I got the WORST (of all time) side-stitch that just wouldn't quit. I felt horrible for slowing my partners down to a near crawl as I tried to work it out. I did every trick in the book to get rid of it (breathing, stomping, stretching). I even made them go on without me at one point so I could walk for a few minutes. As they ran on ahead, I watched them take a wrong turn on the trail, and called out to them to turn around. That was just enough time for me to muster up enough energy to start back up, but the stitch held on for about 3 miles total. It finally went away and the last 2 miles felt much better. We did about 5.50 miles total in about 50 minutes.

A big thanks to April-Anne and Michelle for hanging in there with me! I don't think I could have pushed through the run without them..at one point, all I could think about was stopping. Having them there made all the difference!

First, I did the unthinkable. I took a day off from scheduled running.

I made the decision to eliminate my planned Monday 4-miler from the schedule for this week. My legs said they needed a rest, and I obliged. Besides, I have a 5K race on Sunday so my weekly mileage will not suffer.

Today I was up and out before the sunlight even got over the tree tops. And it was just a spectacular morning to be out there. The air was cool, but not cold and the sky was crystal clear and brightened with each passing moment. Just brilliant.

I bumped into Mr. and Mrs. Hops-a-lot (the bunny parents--see previous posts) as I left the driveway. I scolded them for their poor choice in housing and encouraged them to carefully research any future neighborhoods. They scurried off into another yard, to yet another house with dogs, without so much as a glance backwards. Sigh. Some folks never learn.

The run went well, although I could tell that my muscles were still a bit stiff from Sunday's 16-miles, especially the hamstrings. I've also noticed recently that breathing feels different...almost like I've been swimming for too long. My lungs are feeling the strain and are trying to adjust to the new, added effort. I'm not uncomfortable, just more aware of my breathing than I was before.

My energy level was good - started off with a 8:45 mile and finished up with a 8:19 mile. The in-between miles were probably in the 9-9:30 range as I finished up in a total time of 1:12:54 (which was within my goal time - go me!).

I was singing that song in my head as I ran..."morning has broken"...not a particularly upbeat tune, but it kept me amused for a mile or so, as I struggled to remember the words (unsuccessfully, I'd like to add) and sang off-key, in my head, on purpose.

Great way to start the day and leave all the troubles of the past few weeks well behind me, exactly where they belong. =)

*Interesting note about the long Sunday run...I didn't get hungry. At all. Did not have to eat my gel. Drank some Gatorade but that was it. Can you believe it? I'm still in shock.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Based on the weather report, I had decided to move my 16-miler to today, which proved to be a wise decision. The weather yesterday was just plain awful. Lots of thunderstorms, rain and humidity. Emphasis on "lots of rain."

It seems that my idea to change the date of my run was the only good thing that happened.

I went to get my hair done, and wound up with my bangs a bit shorter than I like. Hair grows, so I'm OK with this little set back.

By the time I got home from the hair-choppery, Jason was gazing sadly at the box-o-bunnies.

Uh-oh.

Within a matter of hours, one bunny had ceased to be and the other one was barely holding on. It was so sad to watch and Jason was trying desperately to help the remaining bunny. He'd been able to feed them successfully, but getting them to eliminate the food by-products hadn't been going well. And that was ultimately what took their cute little faces away from us. I was on the verge of a total emotional break-down, between the bunnies and Annalisa's Lenny, I just couldn't bear the heartbreak. After some tears and restrained sobs, I pulled myself together so we could go to a picnic.

I did mention that there was lots of rain, right?

Off to the picnic...long story short...we drove through a deep puddle, one of the belts in our engine came off and turning the steering wheel was no longer an option. We were about a quarter mile from a car dealership/service place and had to PAY TO BE TOWED THERE. And that is where the vehicle is at this moment...about 45 minutes away from where we live. Sigh.

On the bright side...at least we were together when it happened, it was daylight, in a well populated area, and my parents were at the picnic so we had a ride home. Gotta find the silver lining somewhere right?

When we get home from the picnic (which turned into a garage party because of the rain), the dog that doesn't eat bunnies (Darren) was so excited to see us, that he spit up all the water he had just consumed. On our bed. Deep sigh.

And I was worried about my impending run since I didn't get a chance to follow my normal pre-long-run eating regime. I ate picnic food (burger, beans, chips) and wasn't hungry for anything else but FORCED myself to eat again at 9:oo p.m. I tried to chose good carbs like sweet potato and rice and oatmeal and kept my fingers crossed.

Today dawned a much more promising day...I'd like to thank my Canadian friends for sending me the most beautiful day of the summer so far! Near perfect running weather as far as I was concerned! Temps in the 60's-70's (F) with a clear bright blue sky. Cool in the shade and just warm enough in the sun with a great breeze.

I set out with a goal of finishing my 16-miles in 2 and a half hours. And I planned my route so I would NOT be able to stop at the house to use the bathroom and get more to drink. I want to try to keep my long runs as close to race-day-realism as possible.

Looking back now, the run seems surreal, like I didn't really do it. It went by quickly somehow and I stopped once for a few seconds to shake out my leg muscles right around mile 12.

I also had to stop at the local volunteer fire department and ask them if I could trouble them for some water. I had just enough Gatorade to get me back home, but I was feeling thirsty and my legs were getting tight. I didn't want to risk getting leg cramps only 2.5 miles from finishing. The firemen were more than happy to help me and I was able to finish the run confident and strong with my restocked bottle. I plan on dropping off a case of water to repay them for their kindness! It seems that I may have to hide an extra bottle along my route somewhere to avoid this problem in the future.

And I met my time goal, hitting the driveway in 2:29:28 with a 9:00 minute mile at the end.

I suspect that I will be sore tomorrow even though I cooled my legs in a cold-water bath and drank a recovery drink. I'm feeling sore and leaden at the moment and can't imagine that it will get better before it gets worse. The positive side to this: I haven't been sore from a long-run since the half-marathon last year, so it seems that it now takes 16 miles to make me hurt. That's progress right?

I spent two hours with my legs up as I watched an incredible marathon unfold in Athens. Thrilled for Deana Kastor...she planned a smart race and it paid off in BRONZE! I was also crushed when Paula Radcliffe had to drop out at 22 miles. To me, I don't care which country/runner wins...I'm just so in awe of all of them. Heck - they ran 16 miles an HOUR faster than I did...how inspiring is that?!

Weekly Summary (8/16-8/22)
Mon: 4.30/36:53 (Trail)
Tue: rest
Wed: 4.00/34:51 and biked 45 minutes
Thu: 8.00/1:14:51
Fri: Rest
Sat: Rest
Sun: 16.00/2:29:28
Total: 32.30 miles

Last Week's Summary(8/9-8/15)
Mon: 3.10/24:51
Tue: 7.00/1.00.36
Wed: Rest
Thu: 15.00/2:21:00
Fri: Rest
Sat: 5 mile race: 39:37
Sun: Rest
Total: 30.10 miles

It's been an interesting week, to say the least.

My father and his wife will be leaving today to return to Arizona. And taking all the drama with them, thankfully.

I've had to modify my schedule a bit, but I've still been able to get in the distances I need for my training. And while it's been good to get out of the house and use the running time to get away from the drama, the stress of it all has taken a toll on me. When I'm feeling stressed, my stomach goes haywire and food isn't always an option...I find myself NOT hungry, if you can believe that! I also don't sleep very well, which combined with the lack of food results in a less-than-energetic Running Chick. But all that will soon be behind me and my running-life will return to normal.

That being said, I was excited to have April-Anne join me for my 8-miler this morning. It's been tough to get motivated lately (another by-product of the stress) and knowing that someone else would be shuffling along with me made a BIG difference.

As always, our initial pace was too fast, and we kept trying to slow down. It took some decent sized hills to finally take the wind out of our sails and I'm pretty sure we actually did more that 8 miles, finishing up in 1:14:51. It was warm and muggy (isn't it fall yet!) and my chafing returned. I will get BodyGlide before Saturday's 16-miler!

Oh...you want to know about the bunnies? This is definitely Off-Topic, so if you are only here for the running, you can stop reading now (and thanks for visiting).

My dog discovered a nest of baby bunnies close to our house. So close, in fact, that I question the sanity of the rabbit-parents that set up the nest. I can see it now...Mr. & Mrs. Hops-a-Lot are out for an evening hop in our yard, when her water breaks...Mr. Hops-a-Lot, in typical "nervous dad" fashion, says "How about here! This looks good!" as he selects a spot RIGHT NEXT TO OUR CENTRAL AIR UNIT right outside our back door.

Good job guys. Glad you're not MY parents.

So Jake, the dog-that-eats-everything, discovers said nest and brings a baby into the house to share with me. I am HORRIFIED. Jake has managed to really hurt, but not kill, the poor little guy. So I find the nest and return the injured bunny, hoping that Mr. & Mrs. Hops-a-Lot might know what to do. I call the hubby in a panic.

When hubby gets home from work at midnight, he builds a special enclosure around the nest to keep the dogs out (but allows room for mom to get in). Within 12 hours, Jake foils the plan, gets into the nest and another bunny life is lost (the first one died, even after Jason administered first aid). Needless to say, Jake was under house arrest for the rest of the day.

Last night, Jason gets up home at midnight and takes the remaining two bunnies into the house for special protection. He WAKES ME UP to show me how cute they are when he feeds them (incredibly cute-worth getting up for). Jason has done extensive research to find out how to feed them and what they should eat.

Currently, there are two baby bunnies in a storage container in my bathtub. We're not sure if they'll make it, and we've called a Wildlife Rehab person but haven't heard back from her yet.

I've gone from scaring bunnies out of my way on the trails to sharing my bathroom with them. Too funny. I only hope there's a happy ending to this story!

Today is my racing anniversary...a year ago, I ran the Deary Memorial 5-Mile Race as a racing "virgin." Not sure how to classify myself now, but I was glad to mark the one-year anniversary with a new PR! (For a report from last year's race, click here.)

April-Anne and I met minutes before the start of the race, determined to stick to our 8-minute-mile plan. We wished Michelle "good luck!" as the gun went off and moved ONWARD!

It was a sunny, beautiful morning...almost too sunny! I had actually been looking forward to some of the clouds and rain that seem to be moving our way from Florida.

Mile One: We can hear the woman calling out the splits...I hear her say 7:18 before we get there....we clocked in at 7:32 - WHOA!! Way too fast. Holy Smokes. Gotta slow down!

Mile Two: There was little to no shade during this mile and post-race I heard a few runners mention that they had a hard time here...our split was 7:56. Better pace. But could we hang on to it?

Mile Three: I was getting really hot and feeling parched, even though there was water at each mile. April-Anne was still going strong and I could feel that she had more energy than I did. I kept telling her to pull away. We clocked this mile at 8:23.

Mile Four: I was running through every patch of shade and hose water that I came across. I was warm and grumpy. I started thinking things like: "What am I thinking, doing these races while I'm marathon training!" April-Anne finally pulled ahead and I was shouting "GO APRIL GO" in my head. I didn't have the breath to spare to shout it for real. I clocked this mile at 7:47.

Mile Five: I watched April-Anne increase the distance between us, and I just started repeating to myself, over and over: "Live Strong...be a survivor, not a victim." That really helped. Of course there was an incline on the way to the finish line, but I was so determined to make it in 40 minutes. I pushed myself for a nice, hard kick at the end and according to my watch, did the last mile in 7:31.

Watch time: 39:31
Official race time: -39:47 39:37 (10th in division)

Either way, it's a PR. So I have that going for me, which is nice! And not bad, considering I did 15 miles just 2 days ago!

Hope everyone else had a great weekend running and racing!

It's been a busy week with my father here, so I apologize for the lack of comments. I'm still catching up on the blog-reading! He leaves next Thursday, so my attention to the RBF may be slightly diverted until then, so bear with me!

I ran 7-miles on the trails at Mansfield Hollow State Park on Tuesday with April-Anne and Michelle. I did the first 4 miles alone, in 34:21 and then met them up with my partners in the parking lot. I was glad to have a few minutes in the middle of the run to stop and EAT and drink some Gatorade. I was feeling a big sugar crash coming on, and ate an entire CLIF bar in the parking lot before we set off for the remaining 3 miles.

Of course having two partners made the second leg of my run go by much faster!

Today was the Big Test for me. Ever since this marathon training started, some 10 weeks ago, I've been looking to this week with some apprehension. I had 15 miles to conquer today. My longest distance ever to date.

And you know what? I survived.

It was hot. And humid. Again. I just can't catch a break with the weather and my super-long runs.

I planned a figure-eight loop with 8 miles and 7 miles, stopping at my house in the middle for a Gatorade refill and a wardrobe adjustment (ditched the shirt and hat, put on sunglasses).

And I survived. I muddled through. I chafed. Chafed! Another first for me...it must be all the humidity (and vaseline didn't seem to help, dang it!).

I also managed to screw up the timing with my watch and had the timer stopped for a couple of miles. But from what I can tell, I made it through in about 2:21:00. Not too shabby.

Onward to my 5-mile race this weekend!

Note: Interesting article in the New York Times today about the differences between elite runners and the rest of us (Registration may be required to view it).

On to other news:

I'm going for a "flexible" approach this week with my schedule since I have some family visiting from Arizona. Instead of running with April-Anne last night, I went out on my own for a quick 3.1-miler while dinner was cooking.

It was a fast one for me. The first mile is usually fast, since it's mostly down hill and last night was no exception - plus, I had left my father in charge of the roasting chicken and I didn't want to be gone too long (when I came home, he was basting it with an ice cream scooper).

The second mile was fast this time because I was all fired up about a litter-bug. For real. My anger made me run harder. Here I was, running along the trail that I VOLUNTEER AT EACH MONTH TO CLEAN UP, and I watch as the young man ahead of me, walking with his girl, just tosses an empty soda can onto the side of the trail. And then he and his girl LOOK BACK to see if anyone saw them. Oh, I SAW THEM.

So, as I am running up behind them, I grab the can off the ground, crush it in my hand and pass them, staring eye-to-eye with the young man the whole time. I reached my turn-around point and as I'm heading back at them, I say "I volunteer an hour of my time each month to clean up this trail. What do you do?"

I got nothing but blank stares in return.

Jerks.

I swung by a dumpster (that they had passed by and could have thrown the can into themselves) and threw it out.

And then mile three flew by too, since I was all fired up about confronting someone and writing about it in my head. And worried about the chicken (it came out fine, in case you were worried too).

Made it home in 24:51. That's like race-day fast for me.

If you're behind in your blog-reading, be sure to check out Friday's post. I still can't get over the fact that SIX people I have never met have donated to my marathon charity!

It was another fitness-heavy week for me! And everything was all topsy-turvy too. Monday's evening run got moved to Tuesday morning. Thursday's biking was moved to Wednesday. And Thursday's morning run was moved to Thursday evening (damn thunderstorms).

The best part was today's long run with April-Anne and Michelle. It really makes such a difference to have some company out there. I planned out a 6 mile/4 mile figure eight loop around my house. We ran the first 6 miles together in about 54-55 minutes. I warned my partners about the hills and I didn't hear them complain once! I was worried that they would hate me for it...but Michelle summed up the attitude perfectly when she said "I love hills."

The 6 miles went by very quickly...and then I was back out for the final four miles on my own (after a stop at the house for some Gatorade and a couple bites of a CLIF bar I'm "testing" for the marathon).

I finished up the run in 1:30:42, which put me right in my 9-minute mile training range, so I was pretty pleased. Not to mention the fact that the weather was FABULOUS. The I took the puppies for a walk with my friend Tamieka.

I'm off to volunteer at a local country fair, frying up "onion blossoms" to raise money for the Willimantic Lions Club (which we will donate all the proceeds to various charities). Since I ran ten miles and then walked for 40 minutes, I'm pretty sure I can enjoy a few treats at the fair without any guilt! Fried dough anyone!?

Weekly Summary:

Mon: Biked 7 miles
Tue: 3.1/27:03
Wed: 7.0/1:02:48; Bike 5.75 miles (trail)
Thu: 4.1/34:46
Fri: REST! Phew.
Sat: 10/1:30:42 then walked to cool down for 40 minutes
Sun: Bike? Hike?

Weekly Total Miles: 24.2

And a special thank you to the RBF members who have donated to my marathon charity (from yesterday's post). I cannot even begin to express how overwhelmed I am by your kindness and generosity. I think it's just amazing that people I've never met "in person" would be willing to do something like this for me. Wow. I am so fortunate to be part of this community. THANKS!

So I guess telling the RBF (Running Blog Family) about my marathon plans wasn't enough for me. I had to announce it to my friends and family...thought you'd like to read the email I sent to them today:

To my friends and family,

I’d like to announce, officially, that I am insane.

I must be, because I intend to run the Hartford Marathon. And only crazy people run marathons.

That’s right, you heard correctly. The same woman who SWORE she’d never, ever, ever run a marathon, has decided to tackle the 26.2 mile beast. Yes, all at once. In the same day. Saturday, October 9, 2004. Bushnell Park.

Logically, your first question is “Why?” To which I have a few good answers, surprisingly:

1) I am running the marathon because I can. Simply. Because. I. Can. I have the physical ability and psychological fortitude to do it, so I am going to ‘Just Do It.’

2) I am running the marathon to prove to myself that it’s possible to accomplish scary, outrageous goals. I need to remind myself that I am brave and I can achieve anything I want to, as long as I set my sights on success.

3) I am running the marathon because I want to inspire others. If my dedication to running inspires any one of you to run, bike, swim, walk, rollerblade, kayak or just get off the couch and move, then I will feel that I have made a difference. Life is to short to be static…we need to learn to love movement.

Your next question, I hope, is “How can I help you, even though you’re insane?” And I have a few answers to that too, from which you may pick and choose:

1) I’m running for charity. Jeff’s Running Partners to be exact. My goal is to raise $300 for a great charity. Please visit this link to learn more about the charity and to make a secure donation. http://www.justgiving.com/pfp/runningchick. If you prefer to NOT donate online, please let me know!

2) I will need people to cheer me on and hand me food/Gatorade along the race course! I should be able to hold my own until about mile 10 or so. Then I’ll need to see familiar faces and hear people shouting my name. And I’m always hungry, so passing me some food or Gatorade will probably be a much appreciated (and necessary) gesture! By the end of the race, I will have burned about 2400-2700 calories. That’s more than I usually eat in one day!

3) I can also bet that I will really need some extra encouragement right around mile 18 or so and would love if anyone would like to jump in a run a few miles with me. At that point, I doubt I will be running any faster than 9:30 min/miles (even though my goal is 9:00 min/miles for the whole course, I’m being realistic). So if you are up to the task, let me know -- there are some official rules about “helpers” on the course.

If nothing else, just be sure to wish me good luck. Knowing that people are rooting for me is a big help and will bring a smile to my face when the going gets tough.

If you'd like to read about my progress as I train for this event, feel free to stop by http://runningchick.blogspot.com. I update the page every few days.

Thanks in advance for your support and for not making fun of me for doing what I swore I would never do.

April-Anne and I weren't able to connect last night for our weekly run together, which was both a blessing in disguise and a curse at the same time.

While I certainly missed her company and our up-beat, chatty Monday run, it was hot and humid and running was going to be challenging to say the least. I was finding it difficult to motivate myself for a lonely run, so I decided to take the opportunity to take my mountain bike out for short ride.

It was certainly much cooler on the bike than it would have been running, and the breeze felt wonderful as I cruised along at my meager 10 mph. I rode for about 4.5 miles on the road and then hopped up on to a rail trail that leads back towards my house (about 2.5 miles or so). I had plenty of company in the woods as the deer flies were their usual friendly selves, buzzing all around me and even taking nibbles of my butt (ouch!). I was especially fond of the flies that would get stuck in my helmet and then buzz furiously until they got free (like it was somehow my fault).

I scooted off the rail trail on to the trail that leads back to my street and encountered some decent sized puddles. I was careful to avoid the frogs that were desperately leaping out of my way as I crossed through the puddles. I loved the mud and water flying all over the place. I fought my way through the sand pit where the ATV's come to play and eventually made it out of the woods. Once I hit dry land, the mud that had caked into the tires started to fly off in chunks, hitting me in the chest, arms and face. Since I'm seriously considered doing Muddy Buddy next year, I couldn't very well complain about a little dirt.

Between some recent adjustments to my bike and the fact that I was alone and relaxed (and therefore not focused on appearing confident) the ride felt really good. I felt much stronger than I have and some of the technical things are happening more naturally.

My 3.1 mile run this morning was not the least bit affected by the ride last night, so that was another bonus. I guess everything happens for a reason!

Three sides notes:

1) Thank you to everyone who replied to last week's questions about running and blogging. I will let you know when I am done with my surprise (it's nothing web-based, just something creative).

2) Stop by and say hello to Runnin' Momma, the newest member of the RBF as well as a fellow Connecticut runner-friend.

3) If you STILL haven't answered the questions from last week's post, SHAME ON YOU. Get to it, buster.