One Month, One Pencil, One Novel...

Yes, November is THE month. The National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. Thousands upon thousands of otherwise normal, well...how about average, people take on the commitment to write a 50,000 word novel in one, single month. Crazy, right? Yeah, I know. I love it.

OK, I'm not really going to use a pencil. Although I usually write my first drafts of my articles on paper (with a pen, not a pencil...I love crossing out, not erasing), the fact that I've got to bang out 50,000 words in four weeks probably means I'll need to go straight to the ol' MacBook this time.

Yes, it's going to be a mystery/suspense novel and yes, I've got a sorta, kinda plot, or maybe an outline, or possibly a organized thought in my head, though it's VERY sketchy. Veeeeerrrrry sketchy.

Check out my progress right...here: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/220161

Wish me luck. I'll need it.

The Latest Published "R"...

Head out to your nearest running store and grab the latest RaceCenter Northwest Magazine. It's got my most recent 1200-word opus titled: "Partner Up." Find out how training partners and running clubs/groups can push you to reach your running goals. Included are quotes from a couple of my teammates from the Ragnar Relay Northwest Runner Team. Thanks Matt! Thanks Tami!

Also in the October-December issue of RaceCenter are articles about cross-country skiing, late bloomers in the running scene, and treating the "big 5" running injuries. All quality articles I'm sure.

And don't forget to check out the Hood to Coast photos on page 56. I may have to volunteer for the Sao Paulo Team next year...Yowza!

I Don't Feel Fortified...

Remember back in the day? Back when you had never even heard of a Power Bar or a Clif Bar, or Lord help us, Gu? Ah, but what about the Tiger's Milk Bar? That's right, "America's Original Nutrition Bar". It says so right there on the wrapper. Remember when you bought one of those things for the first time? You took a bite of that slightly peanut buttery-slightly nasty thing and you could just feel the energy bursting through your veins? I mean, I thought "a couple more of these babies and I'll be kicking some and taking some just like Jan-Michael Vincent on "Airwolf"!

And now, twenty, well maybe thirty, years later, I eat a Clif Bar (chocolate mint) almost once a day, and I get nothin'. In fact, I don't even expect anything. Forty vitamins and minerals, all natural, organic, no trans fat...whatever, it's no Tiger's Milk Bar.

And I've got the guns to prove it.