I trudged through another sluggish 6 miles this morning...a nice morning to view the woods but the slow pace (9 minute miles) makes me feel like the training is not working. I think if I push through this training wall the last month heading up to the race will fall into place. It's kind of like mile 20 of the marathon...mind over miles! Yesterday's short run was made a little more exciting when I noticed a water snake on the edge of the trail. I didn't have a camera but Bill Vanko, the WBAL Radio morning news man and snake freak, was able to identify the snake through my descriptions and he assures me that although people frequently mistake this species for a copperhead, it was most likely a water snake. The snake didn't bother anybody, his pale eyes were probably an indication that he was about to shed his skin, according to Bill. My new motivational partner, pictured here, didn't seem to mind the snake either. Pete, our 2 year old Field Spaniel, just loves to run and run and run....he whimpers when he sees me leaving on a run without him, so I've decided that I'll run to make Pete happier...anything to get the running mojo back!

Tom Tasselmyer