Nice to see you post! I am super proud and thrilled for both of you. I know you're glad to be back home, and I would imagine you had a dog and cats awfully glad to see you, as well.

I know what you mean about the long drive. I drove straight through from AngelFire for 18 hours at xmas, and I'm not positive I want to do that again. (although it was pretty sweet to be able to crash in my own bed that night!)

I'm gonna think of both of you, and how badass both of you are when I'm down in the bottom of that canyon running and sweating..and sweating, and hopefully still running some more. When I want to quit, I'm gonna remember you both kicking ass in the pouring rain for more than half a day. It will keep me going, I feel sure of it!

(Reply) (Thread)

Thanks so much. I'm sure I'll be seeing you out on the trails as I prepare for the Sunmart 50 miler. :)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

are you in the Rogue Sunmart training? If you're free and need to do some trail miles on various Saturdays that we're having field trips, you're welcome to tag along with me. Joe doesn't mind people coming along, we had several from other groups, and others that were just friends.

If you'd like to see where we're going and when, I put the schedule up at http://ical.me.com/extempore7/paloduro2008

Note that the distances there are for the 20k training schedule, but we have folks training for the 31 miler and the 50 miler who will be doing bigger distances. In most of these places, they are big loops, that the big distance folks do multiple times.

This Saturday, the Enchanted Rock loop is gonna be 7 miles. Looks like the 50 miler folks are gonna be doing 18 miles (probably 21, so they can just do the loop 3 times) Anyhow, we'll be all over the place and if you don't have field trips of your own planned, you should come along!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I tried not to mention too much about your race in my race report, because I wanted you to be able to tell your own story. Hopefully that didn't come across as "don't care".

I'm so proud of you. You were dealt a crappy hand this training season, but despite all of that, you managed to have a fantastic race, an amazing bike on a hard and rainy course, and a PR. I can't wait to see how you tear up the course on the next IM we do, when you have a GOOD season of training. I take the checkbook every time, because I know some day soon we'll be writing you a check for Kona.

Thank you for an amazing vacation!

(Reply) (Thread)

Matt, it was so much fun tracking your progress at IMLP! Congratulations on a wonderful race.
Cathy

(Reply) (Thread)

I constantly thought of you during during the race; thanks so much for the positive energy!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

"...it definitely gets harder as you get older..." omg - you young whippersnappers, you! Seriously - congrats!

(Reply) (Thread)

Thanks! It's been great to see you again this trainign season, even if mostly just in passing. We'll have to make time for wine and fun now that we'll have some free time again. =)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

You did an awesome job, Matt! Coming back so strong, especially on the bike after your spill (and that weird squishy hip thing!), was mighty impressive...

It's been lots o' fun training with you - and by "with" I mean starting at the same time :) I can't wait to see what your next PR will be!

(Reply) (Thread)

Since we've pretty much decided that Longhorn's on our plate now, I hope you're ready for some more of it!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

you had a great race in spite of a rough season and a rough race day. That's impressive as hell.

Looking forward to the race report.

(Reply) (Thread)