LOUISIANA WINTERS

Well, as the national weather service predicted and the local weatherman promised, we ran in the 50's this AM. We have run at 7 AM the past 2 Saturdays since the race itself will start at 7 next Sunday. Actually the confirmation email says that the "elite" runners will start at 7 and the rest of us (including many really good runners) will start at 7:10. This is an effort to let those that don't need to contend with running around slower movers get off and out of the way of the masses. The race has 17,000 runners which includes the whole and the half. That sounds like a mass of humanity until you know that we ran with 30,000 at the Marine Corp in Washington. That was like running in a parade. There was NEVER a time that other runners were not around you. I wish I could adequately describe what that is like, but it defies description. The real problem with this mass of humanity is that you cannot run in a straight line. You end up having to do lots of weaving in and out which means more energy expended. Not the best of circumstances, but I don't really have an answer.

The race has water & energy drink stations every 1 1/2 mile. Think about the number of volunteers this requires. Each and every station is manned by at least 10 volunteers and many times more. There are also medical tents along the route, race marshalls, and traffic directors. Every intersection has a policeman or two as well as crowd control officers at the spots that spectators can view. It is REALLY quite an operation. The only reason the race would be called would be weather and that would mean excessive heat & humidity or lightning. If it rains-you run, if it is warm-you run-if it is cold-you run. So much work has gone into the prepartions for the final day that it would take a calamity of sorts to stop the process at this point.

We made our final plans for the trip after our run this AM. All is on go. The 13 in our group going including 7 wholes & 6 halves are as ready as we will be. We have a couple with knee problems, but for the most part-everyone else is healthy. The day of the race and the state of your bio-rhythms that day will determine how you do. At this point in time-what will be will be.

As I was chilling and flipping channels earlier, I came across an ad for a show where ladies of above average size are convinced that their size is not a problem and they should pose nude for photos. Where in the world do they get these wierd ideas and most important WHO in the world would agree to be on this show. Are there people out there so desperate for attention that there is no low level that they will not stoop to? Is it just me and my old age prudiness or are some things left better behind closed doors? The other thing I find amazing is that anyone would want to watch this program. Well I guess there are perverts and sleezebags out there that would find this entertaining or maybe enlightening. What in the world happened to "Andy Griffith" and all of the wonderful shows of the past. Perhaps we have TOO many stations and too many options today, but some of the programming would not offend me to be taken off the air. It's not all bad. I do love HG TV, Discovery, TLC, History, & other informative networks, but some of the rest-WELL just take it off the air!