The Sunday report (June 23)

Jack charged me with managing the masses today and writing all about it. He had a flight to catch and wasn't going to be able to do his usual duties. Hence, I actually arrived on Park Avenue early! Christine, via bicycle, was there already and Atif too.

I had arrived with a clipboard and pen to take attendance for Jack. Everybody signed in, but. boy, the masses must have heard Jack wasn't going to be there because the masses weren't there. Then Jack showed up for a  cameo appearance. He ran from home to Park Avenue and then returned, for four humid miles which, he lied and said, wasn't too taxing. His flight was at 11 a.m.

The Running (the boring part). There were three groups of runners this morning: the fast crowd, led by Mark, with his pal Vincent, Atif and Ralph. Until the Bonita water stop, they were accompanied by Marcus, who just came back from doing a half-marathon in San Francisco. He mentioned something about hills and not having anything like them here in Florida. Uh, I believe him.

The second group was Christine and Cheryl (Marcus' better half) who also ran San Francisco last weekend, but who did a full marathon. After the Bonita stop, Marcus fell back with C&C.

Jack, Rose and I were in the third group, loose as it was. Jack pulled off after one mile. Rose and I went another mile, then we split up and I used shortcuts to reach the fast crowd at the Bonita water stop. From there, Group 1 went the 10-mile route. I did my own 8-plus-mile route. Group 2 did a seven-ish route.

For me, it was another record week, with the longest single run this year and a most-miles week (17). Nothing special but I'm aiming to be at 11-12 mile long-runs by the end of July, when training really kicks in and my northeast summer races toe off.

The Notes (the better stuff).  So Atif was full of stories today. There was the time when he was 12 that he was teaching his sister how to cast a fishing line and managed to lodge the hook right in her cheek. An emergency room visit solved that whopper.

Then there was the conversation about people honking at runners. Sometimes they're jerks trying to run you off the road. Other times, they're people who you might know. Then there're the women honking at cute guys. And the guys honking at cute women. In the latter two cases, the runner usually picks up speed. The man to impress. The woman to get away from the possible threat.

There was plenty of other banter but it's been hours of yard work since then so I forget the other stuff ... but it was good! So good you should be there next Sunday when Jack returns with a Bob Raymond report and, hopefully, others will turn out full of stories and ready to dig in and carry out the summer weight-loss sauna program.