Coming soon...

Do you want to see the weather for where I will be after the race...?

A wet one.

Okay. Here's the race forecast as of this morning. A little warmer...a little wetter... It looks like it will still be gloves weather.

Nerves.

I guess it's time for the pre-race jitters to kick in. There are always lots of worries: will my alarm clock go off? will my legs hold up? will I need to pee right before the race? will I eat enough but not too much?

The forecast is getting me quite worried; it's going to be chillier than I thought. The forecast is for forty degrees and thirty percent chance of rain! I did not do much outdoor training at the tail end of winter and don't really have the right clothes. Crikies!

Tomorrow morning I pick up my bib and other race stuff. Maybe I should buy a pair of long running pants if they are selling them? New clothes combinations for ten miles is risky...

These shoes were made for running.

Last weekend the D.C. Marathon passed by two blocks north of my house. It was a cool and misty day--perfect for running. It got me pumped for my own race this weekend: the Cherry Blossom Festival 10-miler. 10,000 people will be racing!

I love the graffiti on the wall in the lower photo. I hope Snake and Fatz will be cheering for me on Sunday.

Bring it.

Okay. So I've been on a big facon kick lately. What can I say? Yum-o.

Am I getting a lot of mileage out of these Key West photos or what? The most relaxing day of them all was the very last one. Jim, Marc, and I walked from our guesthouse all the way down to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. EYW isn't known for its beaches, but this one is beautiful with its wispy pine trees and blue water. Being off the beaten path makes it a great place to relax.

This is Fort Zachary Taylor. In the background are the horrible cruise ships that dock and unleash their passengers on the town.

Cold and windy at Mallory Square!

Marc and Jeff!

 

 

Here's the crew!

Happy Spring!

More from the Southernmost Point

One of the great things about Key West is wandering through its tight, bungalow-lined streets. You can find all sorts of things: tropical flowers, roosters, cats lazing in the sun.

Or these handsome guys on the street.

Shots from my favorite EYW stop--the botanical gardens nestled in an old pre-Civil War fort.

The blue bottles lining the fence represent the lives of black slaves that died nearby. The trade winds whistle through them and create an eerie effect.

 

There were sculptures placed around the garden. This medium-sized tree had black metal birds perched all through its branches. They were very realistic and kind of spooky since they were silent and still.

So, trying to take pictures of black objects in front of white or blue sky is difficult. Here I used Picasa to do a shadow kind of effect. Below is a flash of the birds (don't really care for the bright light).

 

You gots to be kidding!

I just about fell out of my chair reading this news summary from Yahoo's most popular news stories. Way to go, Associated Press. For a long time I've thought the quality of web news to be absolutely abhorrent. Most of the time it seems the news outlets are racing to be the first to post their stories; grammar and spell check come later! I even see postings where the headline is updated and the main body is updated later (for example, when they want to be the first to post new sports scores).

This weekend Marc and I went to see the movie Maxed Out. It's an entertaining documentary about the level of debt we Americans are buying into and reveals the slimy side of the banking industry. Oh, and it also reveals another slimy side (is there any other?) of the current Administration. According to this movie, MBNA was Bush's largest campaign financier. They show ample footage of congressional hearings and Bushie's signing of the new 'Bankruptcy Reform' law. It's un-American after all: it is our patriotic duty to shop, shop, shop! I was happy to see the movie well-attended. Thanks Marc for suggesting!

From Fandango:
Synopsis: When Hurricane Katrina ravaged America's Gulf Coast, it laid bare an uncomfortable reality-America is not only far from the world's wealthiest nation; it is crumbling beneath a staggering burden of individual and government debt. Maxed Out takes us on a journey deep inside the American debt-style, where everything seems OK as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. Sure, most may have that sinking feeling that something isn't quite right, but they're told not to worry. After all, there's always more credit. Maxed Out shows how the modern financial industry really works, explains the true definition of ''preferred customer'' and tells us why the poor are getting poorer and the rich getting richer. By turns hilarious and profoundly disturbing, it paints a picture of a national nightmare, which is all too real for most.

Weekend Run

In case you missed it, there's a great tool at USA Track & Field (usatf.org) that allows you to map your exercise routes and see the mileage and elevation changes.

How many people can say they ran down to the White House or National Mall on their long run? I'm training for the Cherry Blossom Festival 10-miler on 4/1. And I'm behind! Satuday was my longest run at only 5.5 miles. Uh-oh!

Currently

...it's a Saturday at home and I am rocking to Madonna so hard. I know. You're jealous.



Yeah, you made me feel shiny and new.

EYW

Recently I took a sort of surprise trip to Key West with a bunch of friends. '07 has been a cold and snowy year for this area which has been nice, but it was also nice to look forward to a warm-weather vacation. Unfotunately that really wasn't to be found in EYW. A cold snap hit the day we arrived until the day we left with lots of wind and temps not much higher than 60. Even in the jeans and sweatshirts we packed it was chilly!

Taking a shot from the Southernmost Point. I took this same shot last year. Is it just coincidence that they were similarly cool and cloudy days? Still can't beat the blue blue water.

Hibiscus flowers make me think of my father. I liked these double blooms. (I recommend clicking to see the full size.)

Check back for more pics!