The Dog Days of Summer

Step outside today and you know it's summer, eh? Tomorrow is a running day. Hope it's a bit less sultry this week. Anyone who wants to join us is welcome--front steps of the Y at 5:15 am. We'll be gone by 5:16 am. ;-) I'm hoping to try to start getting in shape (yes, I'm a bit behind the game) and run some 800's during the run.

On Thursday, July 31, Wehrenberg Galaxy 14 Cine will be showing a documentary film entitled Ultramarathon Man. The film is about Dean Karnazes, a marathon runner called “America’s Greatest Runner.” This film chronicles his unbelievable feat of running 50 separate marathons spanning all 50 states in just 50 days! (The Rochester Public Library also has a copy of this book.) Showtime is 7:30. Group rates are $7.50 for groups of just 5 or more! Discounts are available for concessions, too. (There are a few options on that, so it’s best for those interested to call and arrange if they’d like.) Group sale discounts have to go through our home office by calling 314-822-4520 and asking for Group Sales. Or, they can email group sales. Here's a link to a preview. I'm hoping that we have a good showing (HA!) for this movie so we get more opportunities like this in the future without having to drive up to the cities. So please come!

Join us Wednesday at 12:15 for the weekly CardioVision 2020 Walk & Win organized walk in front of the Government Center. This week is sponsored by the Great Harvest Bread Co., and if you participate in Wednesday's walk, you will be eligible for the chance to win Great Harvest gift certificates. If it is raining at 12:15, we will meet inside the Government Center outside City Hall for a skyway walk. You can also participate in Walk & Win 2008 on your own with the Walk & Win card. You can find out more information on the program and download a Walk & Win card at the CardioVision 2020 website. Walk & Win Card

From Mike Schmitt: Alberto Salazaar to run TC10 leading a group of 25 Global Heroes who benefit from medical technology.

Shown is Kirsten Kranz and her cute new 'do' after donating her ponytail to Locks of Love on Saturday. The ponytails are used to make wigs for people who are undergoing treatment for cancer and have lost their hair. Very worthwhile cause and very nice of Kirsten to do this. She looks great! Such a cute, stylish cut.

The 5th Annual Historic Riverfront 5K Run/Walk will be held on September 27, 2008. The route starts/ends at Boom Island Park (700 Sibley St NE, Mpls)and takes you through the historic riverfront district and over the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. Click here for a map of the route. Your support will help us renovate the B. F. Nelson Park and other neighborhood activities. All members in your run club will receive a 20% discount off of the registration fee if they register prior to Aug 29th. This includes 20% of early bird registration of $15 (see below). This discount is not available when registering online. It is only available with paper registrations (please have your members include "Runner's Club Discount" and the name of your run club on the registration form). Email Pete Gamades or myself for a printable copy of the entry form.

A belated thank you to Greg Hagen and Dave Morrill for picking up trash while they were running on Saturday. I noticed that it didn't take long for our adopted park (around S.F. golf course) to look "trashy" again, so please feel free to pick it up a bit if you happen to be walking/running/blading/biking in that area. Thanks.

USATF is conducting a pre-run Stretch Study. The purpose of the study is to determine specifically if pre-run stretching of the three major leg muscle groups is beneficial for overall injury prevention or reduction. If you're interested in helping them out, please do.

Sport Beans has two new flavors--cherry and watermelon--which contain caffeine. Running Room Rochester carries them.

Here's a link to the Runner's World article/review of running skirts, in case you don't get the magazine. Thank you, Mike Schmitt, for the link.

Here's an article about RTC member Jim Hannon excelling at another sport--cycling. And he rode stage 10 of the Tour de France to celebrate his recent milestone birthday.



Cooking Light was delicious last night. Everything except for my Pistachio Biscotti. Didn't like them. The recipe contains orange zest, which I don't particularly like. Everything else was a definite keeper. The Sliders were surprisingly good. Mary got some really good ground beef from the butcher shoppe. It's been a long time since I've had a hamburger without ketchup, but this recipe was really simple, yet delicious. Also very good: The stone fruit salad and the poppyseed cake with fruit topping. My favorite wine? The asti made from a muscadine grape. I like the sweet, kind of bubbly stuff. ;-)




Also delicious was the pizza on Sunday evening at our friend's Jay & Joan's home. Yum. Yum. The temp of the pizza oven is around 800 degrees I believe and the pizza cooks in a literal flash (sometimes with a bit of ash ;-). Simply wonderful. Jay used an imported Italian flour, flown in from PA, on the recommendation of Carlo Biondolillo, in the crust which was very good. My favorite topping combination was one that I threw together after the tomato sauce was gone: Roscoe's BBQ sauce, sliced Yukon Gold potatoes, rosemary, chicken, a mix of Italian cheeses. It was really good. That's youngest son, Matt, creating his pepperoni masterpiece.

Hope to see you at the 20-Minute challenge (see previous posts for registration info). There's no downside--walk or run, no time is kept, it's free, you get a free hat!!

"Don't just go where the path leads, go where this is no path." --Unknown