Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow . . .

Mother Nature showed her bad side to much of the mid-section of the country this weekend, including here in Hog Heaven.  Along with spring-time temps, we got spring-time storms.  I also noticed from reading the Colorado Springs Gazette that northern Colorado was expecting snow--up to a foot in higher elevations.  Since I'm running the Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins in three weeks, it's not exactly encouraging news.  But, it's spring-time and anything can happen in three weeks: good and bad.  Weather = variable.

Despite the weather, I managed to get in a one-hour recovery/maintenance run yesterday.  Today, for cross training, I took a brisk 3+-mile hike.  I'm registered for a 5k race next Sunday (April 22), so this week's training schedule breaks down like this: cross training on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; 90-minute maintenance run on Monday; hill workout on Wednesday; one-hour maintenance run on Friday.  Let the taper begin!

Of course, one of the world's preeminent marathons is coming up on Monday: Boston.  For live coverage of the marathon provided by Runners' World and Running Times, see here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-239-506-0-14256-0,00.html 

Unfortunately, the weather forecast for Monday's marathon is dicey with highs in the 80s forecast.  The organizers are going so far as to offer runners a rain check (heat check?) if they choose not to run.  Any qualifier who chooses not to run tomorrow will be allowed to defer his/her entry to 2013.  That's how dangerous they think the weather could be.  Just another reminder of how frustrating marathoning can be.  You can train for four months for an event and have all your carefully-laid plans upset by something (the weather in this case) that you have absolutely no control over.  Running marathons and ultras is a good way to learn humility. 

I noticed that the Boston Marathon is expected to generate $137.5 million.  For most of us, running is  recreation. For others, it's serious business.  See more here:  http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/boston-marathon-expected-to-generate-137-5-million_50679 

I took a chance a couple of weeks ago and ordered a pair of the new ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer.  I'm registered for the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile in September and figured this would be a good shoe for that endeavor.  Since I'm still training for the Colorado Marathon and haven't been on the local trails yet this spring, I haven't had a chance to try the shoes.  But, it's encouraging to spot reviews like this:
http://www.irunfar.com/2012/04/asics-gel-fuji-racer-review.html