Start of another session.

Guess what? It is almost time to start thinking about training for the next marathon down the road. OMG! Can this be right? Yes, it is. Very soon, we'll start in earnest in our training for the Route 66 Marathon and half Marathon right here in Tulsa. Along the way, there will be other great races for which we'll lace up our running shoes. The Kidney Klassic 5k, the Tatur Estim8ur (an 8 and 4 mile run on some roads and some trails), the Tulsa Run, and others.Sunday, 120 new runners signed up for our fall session, and Monday, another 116 signed up as well. Then, the phone calls and emails started coming in. "Is it too late to sign up?" "Oh, I forgot, can I still get in?" "Can you sign up my absent minded friend Trail Zombie? I think he is thinking about training for a marathon."

So, we will end up with way over 250 runners committed to getting in shape, getting in better shape, qualifying for Boston, losing a few spare pounds, and/or crossing a milestone goal off their life-list. 250+ runners....if you lined them up from toe to toe and head to head, and laid them down in a line, they would stretch all the way from RunnersWorld past Kentucky Fried Chicken, and all the way to the Mazzio's parking lot. Now, let's say every runner loses 2 toenails, and we collected them all, it would fill a 32 ounce Quik Trip cup up, and the blue lid would not quite shut....you would have to use one of those domed lids that normally you use for the slurpees. (I'll spare you the pictures.)

Some short news clips:Hayley won her age group and took third woman overall at the Aquarium Half Marathon. FAST! And AMAZING!

Joye won third in her age group at the Bristow Wildflower Run. Set a PR as well! WTG!

Deon PRd in the Full Moon 5k. Very cool, that despite getting on up in years, he still manages to shave a few seconds off here and there. Congrats!

Last Thursday's bunny slippers were awarded to Debra. Brian, who had the slippers last week, left the poor bunnies in the car for the whole seven days. I am betting they'll have more fun this week.

Tuesday's runners did a short Boot Camp session led by Clint Howard (not Ron Howard's brother.)

During the Tuesday run, a few of the runners stopped by at the Casino to try their luck at the slot machines. Rock Star Ed plugged the machine with a bill and promptly won 140.....pennies. darned penny slots!

Michael had slightly worse luck at the porta-pot. He did manage to get his dollar back though.

So, all you new runners....you have a lot to look forward to. Bunny slipper baby-sitting, an occasional sneak-off to the casino, (we mainly went in to use the bathroom :p) falling over in a porta-pot, losing toenails, and finishing your goal races! Making lifelong friends is just the icing on the cake.

See ya out there!!