September

It's been a long stretch, but life goes on. I have returned to running, and have been pounding out a consistant 5-6 miles per day again, with a couple on the TM on Saturday morning. My legs seem ok and knees seem healthy, hopefully it will all stay that way. Although Chicago is still out of the picture, I think the Crossroads Half, the Denver Half, the HCOTR Half, and the PF Chang Half are all still in sight. I'm really going to try to be attentive to my weight during this stretch, but all the while I need to probably start thinking about a spring marathon, or at least if I have it in me to run another one in the spring. I think more and more that I may stick with shorter stuff for now. I am really struggling with my concentration it seems. I'll let everyone know when I make that decision.

Jaz has been steadily improving, but a trip to the vet on Friday revealed that her weight has not moved since her surgery. She looks so much better, but after a quick blood test and and couple hours, we have found her to be hypo thyroid. Basically they said that I could feed her so little to the point that she might starve and still exercise her, and she probably wouldn't lose weight. 13 dollars worth of pills later, and they say it's quite possible that she'll be 10 pounds lighter in a month. She just has to take 2 a day for the rest of her life. Her coat feels so much better already. :-)

Tour De Fat was Saturday here in Ft. Collins, although I didn't get to participate because of work, I did get to spend some time in Old Town afterwards having a beer and talking to the people around

You can see how people are dressed and how busy it was down at the Trailhead. I actually spent the day before over at New Belgium Brewery, taking the tour, sampling some beers, just hanging out with Jaz in tow. The staff was already dressed up, getting in the spirit. One guy was wearing a lime green suit, but in the pocket were a turkey feather and a claw. He reached down to pet Jaz and she grabbed the feather out of his pocket and turned to me to give it like she had just retrieved a bird. Everyone thought it was the funniest thing.

There she is guarding the door of one of our watering holes.

With fall coming came the growing of the beard. This happens every year around this time. I think it's the long weekend for Labor Day that I don't have to shave over. I made it 11 days this time before the itching took it's toll. I was inspired by Tyler Foos, winner of the Horsetooth Half last year and bartender at New Belgium's Tap Room. I was thinking that his speed came from his beard, plus Squirrel has one too, but turns out that's not the case, as I am still slow. The beard is gone and that gets rid of my once a year urge to grow one. Plus I think they suck to run in anyways.

That's all for now.