Check out my new blog about training and running ultramarathons and getting ready for my first full Ironman.

Debbie (and whoever else is interested), drum roll please....I wrote the story and it's coming out maybe today. Yeah!! Thanks for your patience and pressure.

So, when's your birthday and what are you going to do for a birthday challenge?

Dutch Fashion Model

Okay, I know I've already finished my challenge and I am working up to writing the story. Here is a picture of me with a fantastic shirt from my best friend who lives in Holland and has great fashion sense. Thanks, Deb. This will have to tide you over for now.

I'm going to write the challenge report soon. I promise. I just did a 50K in the Santa Monica Mountains on Saturday and sorta bonked afterwards. I barely made it to Santa Barbara and got a cup a joe at the Roasting Co. I couldn't even drink it, I had to climb into the back of the car and rest before I could drive home. My birthday challenge went better than that, though, so stay tuned.

Party Schedule

Okay friends, here is the plan. I could really use some help at the winerys. If you plan on tasting wine with me it would be very helpful if you could go ahead and order the wine, so that when I arrive I can just drink and move along. I may not need to stop at all of the wineries listed, but this is the general idea.

I'm very sad to say that Lisa is not going to make it after all :( That's okay, though, because I have all of you. The schedule is only a general idea, so using cell phones will be essential. Don't forget your cameras.

Please email, call or comment in the blog to let me know if and when you will be involved. 805-245-4295

Happy Birthday to me!!!

• 
  Friday
  4:00 leave for red rock
  drive, walk to boulders, boot up.
  5 - 6: 30 boulder problems 6:15 leave red rock
  drive to Y- 7:00 start swimming
  9:00 - finish swimming
  Run to Tastes of the Valleys 2.5 miles
  9:30 - 10 - taste 6 wines
  10 - run back to Y 2.5 miles
  
  Saturday
  5 am start riding Figueroa from south
  9:00 finish ride
  9:30 begin run 5 miles
  10:15 Los Olivos Cafe run 5 miles out foxen
  11:30 Curtis winery run 1.5 miles
  12 - Fess Parker run 1.5 miles
  12:30 Koehler run 5 miles
  1:45 Daniel Gehrs run 2.5 miles
  2:30 Buttonwood winery run 6.5 miles
  3:30 Kalyra winery run 1 mile
  4:00 sunstone winery run 4 miles
  4:45 Gainey winery
  Finish drinkin'

One present opened, 36 to go...

I received this gift today from my little brother, Chris and his fiance, Daniella. I haven't counted, but I'm guessing there are 37 bars in there. This is great!

Thank you Chris and Daniella. I will think of you as I feast on each tasty bar during my challenge.

2 more days. I'm a little nervous. I went on my last run before Saturday, today and thought of how far 37 miles is to run after the Figueroa bike loop. Ugh. Why am I doing this again?

PEEPS

This is Tim. He is "the landlord" as Calvin calls him. He is a good sport and is eating a peep, while wearing the bunny ears. He dosen't seem overly pleased with the peep.

We tried to eat some "peeps" tonight. This is gonna be terrible. The kids could hardly eat them. That's a bad sign. I have to eat 37 of these little guys. I found some new flavors, though, like cocoa peeps.

The kids thought I ought to eat a solid milk chocolate bunny, too. They are the worst for coming up with new things for my challenge. They have no idea what I'm about to embark on. Well, neither do I which is why I'm still up for it.

AAAhhhhhh!!!!!!!!