I think that I am late to the party...

[smhall]

Well, gdeann and I have just finished Week 9 Run 1!! All of those runs and it has taken me this long to post!! I am indeed late to this party!! I am happy to report that the first run of this week went well for me. I tacked on the extra minutes to get up to the full 30 and even took a few seconds off of my time!! I am sad to say that this was a much harder run on my lovely wife. With about 6 minutes left, she developed a kink in her knee and struggled through the remainder of the run. I am very proud of her for finishing!! We are hoping that it was just a combination of way too much alcohol last night (Oktoberfest!) and not enough water today! Thanks for all of the great posts...we have both found great wisdom and a lot of chuckles in them!! Keep Running!!

[Soozz Graduate]

Hi small. Well done for your first run of the final week. When you have got this close to the end there's no doubt you will graduate. Sorry to hear of gdeann's cranky knee - hope it's a passing tweak and nothing serious. You both finished the run anyway!

Oktoberfest sounds rather fab. Does it go on all month??!

Only 2 runs left! Woo hoo!

[smhall Graduate in reply to Soozz]

Thanks, Soozz!! Oktoberfest was a wonderful time!! It is only a one day party here, but that is probably a good thing!! If I drank like that every night my running program would be out the window!!

[Soozz Graduate in reply to smhall]

Sorry I left the h off your name. Predictive spelling and early morning a bad combo!

[smhall Graduate in reply to Soozz]

No worries, my friend!! I am actually surprised that noone has taken the time to make any "small" jokes!! I have been called much worse!!

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

good morning small -- running in munich? wow!

[smhall Graduate in reply to DeliaItaly]

Good morning, DeliaItaly!! It appears that I may have been a bit misleading!! Not Oktoberfest in Munich, Oktoberfest in our little town in Kansas, USA!! As Americans, if we can't find our own reason to party, we will gladly borrow one from another country!! We have a fairly large German population in our region, so we use that as a good excuse to eat German food and drink massive amounts of beer!!

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to smhall]

Excellent excuse to be German!

[Mitts Graduate]

Better late than than never, and get well soon to gdeann's knee.

The thing that always amazes me about Oktoberfest is the way these waitresses lug these enormous beer glasses around about eight at a time, they must go into training beforehand...

You two just have 2 runs to go now!

[smhall Graduate in reply to Mitts]

Mitts, thanks for the encouragement!! Oktoberfest here in our little town in Kansas, USA doesn't sport the mug-toting waitresses that you mentioned...although there was one that was very impressive!! It seems that she had made a whole outfit out of almost NO material!!

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Its about time we got to meet you smhall, we've heard so much about you all these weeks.

I do hope you didn't run through the streets of Munich in your shirt and tie

Good luck to you both for the final two runs and hope gdeann's knee is OK.

[smhall Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Thank you, Oldgirl!! I hope that the things she has been saying about me have all been good!! It appears that I have misled yet another one of you!! Our little Oktoberfest here was just a tiny party compared to the actual German one!! We simply stole a reason for a party from the Germans!! Oh yes, not shirt and tie when I run...but that isn't a bad idea. That way when I fall over from lack of oxygen and over exertion I will already be dressed for my funeral!!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to smhall]

Oh you don't need an excuse to party, I did wonder cos I knew your lovely wife was in USA but assumed you were on holiday duh!! Now just listen to your body while your running, there is no member of this programme and site going to die of lack of oxygen we have all been too well prepared and trained. Good luck for your graduation runs both of you.

[canuckgirl Graduate]

Glad that you are here now! Sounds like your runs are going well... That is terrific news.

Graduation soon!

[smhall Graduate in reply to canuckgirl]

Thank you, canuckgirl!! Our runs have been going fabulously!! Graduation is right around the corner and I am looking forward to it!!

[gdeann Graduate]

Great job hubby! note to myself today: alcohol consumption is not the same as water consumption the night before a run. so happy you finally posted here! It is a cult but no reason to be afraid of them!!! only 2 more runs until we graduate!

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to gdeann]

Just remember to take it easy to start that way you won't leave him dragging behind gdeann I'm looking forward to reading both your blogs when you've graduated. Do you notice how we all say "when" not "if" cool runners that's what we all are.

[Chewy]

You two are most excellent, running together and blogging together is very cool. Glad you both enjoyed the run.

I love the idea of Oktoberfest in Kansas, probably a lot warmer than the German version. Do you have all the leather shorts and thigh slapping and wenches with... Sorry, I'm getting carried away with memories of a German evening a long time ago

[smhall Graduate in reply to Chewy]

Leather shorts...thigh slapping...wenches...Chewy, I want to party with you, my friend!!