Three local area runners looked at the washed out trail along the east side of San Francisquito Creek, approximately 500 yards north of the Decoro bridge. It's completely gone. The creek at that point is flush with a hillside. Apparently, to judge from the bank above and below that area, the only protection against the creek was some burlap to protect new vegetation on the banks. What were they thinking? The fix will not be easy or cheap. Who will pay for it? While Newhall Land put in the trail, it most likely deeded it, and all future liability and responsibility to the City. Meanwhile, the City is looking at Riverpark stability issues. Link

Jack Brown is still a tough hombre. Ten years ago, at age 60 he set one of the more impressive club records, that is, 70:24 for 10 miles. At the time he did that I (then being 50) thought that could be tough to beat. Now almost 60, I think I will beat it. But I had to strongly object to someone's recent characterization of the mark as being no big deal. The 60 plus mark before that was held by Jack Brown, 74:26. Now just think of some of the tough and talented older guys who are about Jack's age. I'm talking Barry Truex, Prebon Poulsen, and Mike McSkane. So far as I know, as Seniors, they never got below Jack's 74 minute mark. The sad fact is you can train your heinie off, but the inevitable aging process (going at a pace you can't control) will mostly be responsible for what you can achieve.

Bob Dickson fine column on John Wooden

Good stuff today on RW Online, including an extended essay on Ritz and an interview with Lasse Viren

While it is hard to think beyond The Big Showdown, other important racing will happen this weekend. Some Saugus kids will do an all-comers meet. Debra Jorgenson will do the Fat Ass 50K. And Brian Frank will lead a SCR contingent at Las Vegas. I asked him who else, and he advises, "Most importantly, Kelly Schranz (with Frank pacing her) will be trying to run a 4:15 to qualify for Boston and Cyndi Hoelzel (with Danielle Harper pacing her) will be trying to run a 3:45 to qualify. Nina Miller (probably running another P.R.), Ron Eichler and Ray Reyes are also running and Marilyn Noble is running the half."

Of course I like this story about a 94 year old who races up the Empire State Building

In the current Runner's World (the magazine) there is a good article on the stairs racing, and about training on stairs. I know most of you don't want to hear it, but it is a fact that running, or just walking stairs will improve your times, much like hard hill repeats. For a few years, I did both. I used to work at the Trillium in Woodland Hills (6400 Canoga Blvd., I think), and I worked on the 15th (of 17 stories). I would walk up at least three times a day. This was before the casual clothes days, but it was over so quickly that I didn't raise a sweat. And the pace was just steady, one step at a time. Also, when on a business trip and it was not a good time or the weather was crappy, I'd run the hotel stairs. Super workout.

Someone asked me, what's with Phil and the hamster pix? Was Phil a hamster? The answer is no, Phil is not now, nor has he ever been a hamster. As a matter of fact, I believe we have Paola to thank for the term. I'm told, during some late night Saturday party, that Paola was the first to have referred to the Sunday morning 25 milers as hamsters. When we heard about it- on a Sunday run as a matter of fact- we all just roared (if not sqealed hysterically). Yes, it is apt. Hamsters do most of their workout in the dark, toiling endless, incessantly on their wheel (our route is unchanged in 19 years). There is something a little manic, compulsive, to doing the same thing, at the same time month after month, year after year. (And, yes, Kevin has beady eyes, though the rest of us are reasonably unremarkable.)

I think Phil, being a periodization guy, would agree long runs are good, though not necessary beyond 20 milers, and certainly you need not, and probably should not do a 25 miler every 7 days, 52 weeks a year.

How did it start? 19 years ago, Steve had run many more marathons than Don. Steve was doing a weekly 24 miler, alone, and Don was doing a weekly 19 miler, alone. He agreed to try my 19 miler. After it was over, I asked him what he thought. "Well," he said, "it's an ok longer run..." Because he is sensitive and nurturing, he didn't go on to say it was, well, sorta lame and whimpy, and it wasn't going to get me under three. So I agreed to do the 24, and the rest is history.

Like certain tribes in Kenya, some tribes of American Indians have produced some really outstanding runners. Of course we remember Billy Mills and Jim Thorpe, but there have been many others. Because of the awful poverty and lack of a support system, many of them fall through the cracks and never achieve their potential. There was a good story about Brandon Leslie at the 2004 trials, and you can read it here