the end of 2008 mtb racing.

(photo: Naz) Saturday's WEMS will mark the end-end of trail racing season for me. It's been an odd year. What with the wedding, and then Ben's season starting up in September, and all the rainouts and reschedules and whatnot, it's been a last-minute half-assed sort of season. And ending it on that note, Saturday's 10 hours of John Muir will be just 8 for Audrey and I, since I have a family commitment in Chicago at 6pm. We won't even be bringing a tent, since that has to go to DeKalb for our race.

Either way, we'll be the WEMS 12 hour women's team champions for the second year in a row, almost entirely because we're the only people in that category. Last year at least there was a smattering of folks trying it here and there for fun (though we were the only team registered for the series) but this year, by my count, it was us and just one other women's team that raced once. I'm afraid we might lose our category- completely understandable- in which case we'd race in the 12 hour open team and do it the same as always. I just wish some other ladies would come out. It really is soooooo much fun. We're also one woman down on our team, so if you're interested for next year, check us out. No need to own a mtb- we all share mine, making our trademark bike handoff between laps.

And one year after doing my first 5-mile run ever, I'm cranking them out every morning. It's that time of year where I broke out the wool yesterday and I'm getting on the sidewalks before the streetlights are out and the cool weather is making me fast. Coach says, "you have to run fast to run fast," and he's right. It seems like every day I'm pulling seconds off my best times. I'm working, so it's working.