Happy Holidays-Despite the Confusion!!!

Our 1st real winter in ages hit us pretty hard last weekend. It is still pelting us with nasty weather and the worst of it is coming tomorrow:) Imagine lots of snow, not many snow plows and all these people hopped up on Starbucks!!!

Well I managed to escape it all last weekend and hit a nice 20 miler on trails that skirt the Puget Sound. Mountain views, snow covered trails and not a single soul in almost 3 hours. Pure winter bliss!!!

I brought along my camera to snap some pics and I came across this sign in the wilderness, which I found fitting for the current times. Pure Confusion!!!

A war that drags on, insane bailouts, a new peak of political corruption and an economy that seems to be sputtering like an old Ford pickup truck...but like the old Nike running poster quipped "the roads are always open". So we run. Some more then others. Some faster then others. All in different places, but I know we all love the escape, the aniticipation of that moment when your out the door leaving the real world behind...putting one foot in front of the other, leaving "Confusion" in our mighty wake.

So to all of you I wish you a Happy Holiday, less confusion in the world and some great runs over the coming weeks. Enjoy time spent with family and friends and hope for a much better 2009...for us, for those we don't know(but might pass on runs) and the rest of the world!!!

A very special Holiday Thanks goes out to Jeff and Justin for their service to this country and the honor and pride they bring to all of us.

Virginia is for ''XC" Lovers

Good luck to Kevin and his band of harriers as they jet across the country to race in the 2008 US Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. Enjoy the trip, enjoy the honor and most of all enjoy the "spagetti".

Mechanicsville, VA looks to be pretty chilly on Saturday morning with a projected low of 27 and a 'not-so' high of 42. Pack gloves, hats and extra socks:) Doug and Dan keep them warm and fired up.

Good luck, race well!!!

http://www.usatf.org/events/2008/USATFJuniorOlympicXCChampionships/

Luck, Dry Socks and Band Aids

After having fun with some late summer trail races(13.1 and 22 miles) and getting burnt out on the shorter stuff, I'm excited to look towards a "Longer" racing schedule for early 2009. I think I've run enough 5k and 10ks for a handful of people, so it's time for me to "Just Go Long".

Inspired by a healthy and well supported trail/ultra scene and the beautiful peaks and valleys of the Pacific Northwest, I've found 3, yes 3, 50ks that I want to take on. I say "take on" as a few of these might end up being as bloody or as painful as a UFC fight. To top it off, I want to take a legit shot at running a decent marathon as a season finale(or death march).

Never one for moderation, I'm all in, here is a my 2009 Winter/Spring Racing Schedule:

1/03 Lake Sammish 1/2 Marathon
1/10 Bridle Trails 50k
2/07 Orcas Island 50k
3/01 Honey Wagon 1/2 Marathon
3/21 CHUCKANUT 50K.(The real deal-tough course and some ultra studs will be lacing up!)
5/03 Eugene or Vancouver International Marathon(Goal 2:42)

Nicola is of course worried that I might keel over and die at one of these events, so I've gotta take it easy:) I've assured her that my preparations will be both diligent and mindful of the future(nice Jedi-ism).

Wish me luck, send dry socks and band aids!!!

Junior Olympic National Championships

I'll be traveling with my team back to the East Coast (Mechanicsville, Virginia) for the USATF National XC Championships. The meet is on Dec 13. Douglas and Dan have agreed to be our honorary coaches in exchange for a spaghetti dinner with 30 kids. We've got several top individuals and teams with a good chance to medal. But nobody gives away medals at National Championships so we have our work cutout for us.

Turkey Trot 8K

The watch said: 5:27,5:45,5:54,5:37,5:44:28:27

The odd thing is that it's about a minute faster than last year?

DITC Annual Trip-Nature's Path Half Marathon April 2008

The Annual DITC Reunion brought us to Whidbey Island in Washington for the 2008 Nature's Path Half Marathon in April. Thought the race is sponsored(or marketed) by "the" Dean K. himself we never did get to see him, but we were offered a glossy 8x10 photo of him at the Expo:)

The race itself was really just a reason for all of us to get together for a few days, eat some good food and fix the light fixture in my livingroom(thanks Dan and Doug). Though Kevin and Tim could not make the trip they were there in spirit and we honored them by having a great time!

Our weekend was jam packed as we strolled through Seattle to see the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, visited Deception Pass, and romped around Jude's Marine Lab at WWU in Anacortes. It was great to reunite several families with NC roots. Besides Dan, Pam, and Doug making the trip, the Apple Family(Jude and Carrie lived in Wilmington NC during the CFF Days) were troopers and were in attendance all weekend. We also managed to get Jeff and Sonia Hambleton(former Inside Out Athletes) to come out and show their stuff on Race Day.

Despite what many have called "the hilliest running experience of their lives" the DITC and honorary members capped the weekend by grabbing many of the top spots in the Half Marthon.

Jay Sloane 1:23(4th)
Jeff Hambleton 1:24(5th)
John Collins 1:25(6th)
Doug Liming-running as Particpant Unkown 1:25(8th)
Sonia Hambleton 1:36(12th)

Great job everyone and hopefully we can all be as fit in 2009. See you at the "Battleship"!!!

50 Laps Ya'll,
John