Home from traveling/ Meeting today

We returned this week after visiting Jana's daughter & husband (Jamie & Justin) in Kansas City and my recently married daughter and husband (Robin & Ken) in Seattle.








Robin and Ken taking a needed rest in Pioneer Square (Seattle) after Jana walked us all to death shopping (her version of XT)!













We spent a lot of time in the "Public Market" which was celebrating its 100th birthday of local growers selling direct to the public. The selections of flowers and fresh vegetables were upstaged only by the 'aroma' of the fresh fish!!! This market is also the home of the first Starbucks.

TODAY'S MEETING


First, I want to SHOUT OUT (like my friend above) to ALL YOU MARATHONERS !!!!!

I have been very disappointed I was unable to complete the training, but I have been so proud of ALL of you EVERY week! The training, the injuries, getting the "stuff" out on the blogs - it's all been such a terrific journey. I want to thank Mark and Robin for developing this fantastic program that provides such an indepth makeover for our lives.


Second:
For those who have tried to discourage US along the way, I have a special "Troll" picture for them.



This guy lives under a huge bridge in Fremont (an artsy, funky, free-loving district of Seattle). He is made of concrete; and that is an actual Beetle car (concrete-covered) under his left hand.
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Jana has been a real trooper in dealing with this tibial stress fracture. It has been much worse than the heel one. We walked in the hotel pool and did the elliptical and treadmill (her) and the bike (me) while we were on the rode. She is trying to build up her endurance so she can compete AND complete the CM. Today we rode 25 miles on our bikes (from our house in Madison to Campfire Circle - the one you guys run around - and back)!

We are all going to have a GREAT TIME in Chicago. The Marathon on Sunday will be the icing on the cake. As Mark said today - you are basically done training. Please stay healthy and just enjoy Marathon Day in the Windy City!

Clark

Quote for Chicago:

I get a daily humor/devotional email and today it had a great quote that seems appropriate for that BIG DAY in Chicago (or one of the other marathons, for that matter):

It comes from Hebrews 12:1....

"Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Have a Great Day,

Clark

Optimistic temperatures coming !

FYI

Clark

Wyoming Update

Great view of the Tetons on the way to Jackson, Wy.






Any travel log of Yellowstone would be amiss without a picture of the great "Old Faithful". It 'went off' shortly after we arrived at the Old Faithful Lodge and were waiting for dinner. Taken about 8:30 pm !







Getting "close up and personal" with a bison (buffalo) in the park. We saw elk, mule deer, a grizzly, Osprey, wild flowers, fantastic waterfalls and beautiful valleys.






This is 'my' painting crew that painted two bedrooms, a living room and all trim in a single lady's house (church member-center in the picture) in Cody. This was our team's project for Monday.






Monday night we had a Western music jam session in the parking lot of our motel. There were 3 different groups of musicians having a blast jamming - 'The New Pioneers', 'Western Shadows', "Trails and Rails', and 'Bill Barwick'-male western music vocalist of 2005.


Jana has been walking and wogging most days and is planning a wog for in the morning. I will post another blog tomorrow with a few more pics. Work project Tuesday, professional rodeo Tuesday night, white water rafting today. Thursday is a free day and we will do the Bill Cody Historic Center (5 museums), some shopping (thrilled) and start preparing catfish for a huge cooking on Friday. It was 95 degrees today - HOT (even with low humidity). This place is fantastic...... if it just didn't get to -35 degrees in the winter (4-5 months of winter).........

Later,

Clark

Boston Butts on the "Egg"

OK, I will give in and post my recipe/technique for cooking the Boston butt for the party. This is tailored for cooking on a Big Green Egg (BGE) smoker/grill - the last grill one will ever buy!



I used BBQ Rub (as pictured) which I call "Rebel Rub" and worked it into the meat liberally. I scored the fat and worked the rub into the meat of each cut.


I wrapped the meat in clear wrap and let sit in the frig for several hours (24 in this case).


Build a small lump charcoal fire, adding lots of soaked hickory chips. I added the 'plate setter' for indirect heat, a foil pan for drippings and placed the meat in a V-rack. Meat and pit temp probes were inserted, the lid closed and left for 12 hrs.

I liberally basted with apple juice, then returned to the BGE until the internal temp was 180 degrees. I removed them, wrapped them in aluminum foil and 'sweated them' for 2 hours in an insulated ice chest.

These are the Butts, unwrapped and ready to shred into "pulled pork". Serve with favorite barbeque sauce.

Bon Appetit,

Clark

MM Weatherman

Tony Mastro here..... Predicted morning temps for Saturday ----- 65 degrees !!! WooHoo !!

That should make the halfer a whole lot better than the 12 miler 2 weeks ago.

Jana and I rode our bikes this evening (6 pm) and it was 75 degrees - felt MUCH better. We rode about 12.5 miles on Hoghland Colony Parkway from Madison to the round about, but also explored the roads of Cypress Lake sbdvn and the new Township construction. Called in and picked up a veggie lovers pizza on the way home.

Nice outing.

Gotta get to bed. I was on call Monday and only got about 3 1/2 hrs of sleep - I'm getting tooooo old for so little sleep!

Clark

Saturday Run...

Well, all I've got to say is that riding up and down the trails and observing everybody was really impressive! Ya'll are all looking so good. Everyone seemed to be running their own race, hydrating, and actually completing 10 MILES !! Woohoo !

Forget about those ole 'Team in Training' guys - they only ran 4 miles today, NOT 10 !

I rode the whole course twice (20.68 miles-yes it was 10.34 miles according to Jana's Garmin GPS). That is the longest time and distance I have ever ridden on a bike. I had to peel off the bike seat at Fleet Feet ! No injuries I heard of, except a few blisters. Make sure you have the proper running sox (not cotton ones) AND if you bought new ones back when we started this adventure, it's probably time for some new ones - those old ones have likely lost their protective properties.

We will be out of town next week and Saturday. My middle daughter (the 'superachiever' of my 3 kids) is getting married in Boulder, CO on Saturday. This will be my first child to get married - already had 2 stepdaughters to get married). Not all of my brothers and sisters are making the trip :-( , but we are going to have a wonderful, midmorning, garden wedding (75 degrees), a brunch and party to follow. Jana will likely post pix on her blog. She will look outstanding in her new dress, though she's worried about hobbling around ,since her ankle and knees are aching so bad today.

I plan to rent a bike and ride while Jana trains and puts in her 11 miles next Saturday. While you guys are complaining about hills, think about trying to breathe at 6000+ elevation! There are just so many oxygen molecules in the whole city of Boulder and our lungs will be screaming to possess every single one!

We will have our laptops and will keep up while gone.

See you guys at the rez for 12 miles on the 9th! Have a great Memorial Day and stop to remember our soldiers, past and present.

Clark