I can say I'm ready. Well, anything that I do that is going to get me ready for it has to be done in the next two weeks. It takes two weeks for fitness to show and I have a week taper also before the race.

Things are going well, just some tendonitis in the knee. I'm tired but just try to focus on five months away.

What are the daily rewards? Most of all, feeding the horses in the evening. Watching them eat is so relaxing to me. Hearing the cicadas and crickets at night: it's almost the sound of the earth breathing with the cresendo of the cicadas. Sounds of summer. The smell of the foliage...the sights of fireflies.

Coming home to the cats...

Considering I'm up at dawn and watching the deer feed and the occasional wild turkey on the trail, these evening sounds mean a fulfilling day.

In somewhat over  a month, I go from fifteen hours a week to 18-22 hrs a week training.  Keep life as stress free as possible. Concentrate on the business, training and the horses.