Something good going on in Miami Public Schools!

So often we hear about all the negative activities that go on in Miami-Dade public schools, from school shootings, stabbings, to bullying. But here is a story of an incredible woman who is making life better for all our children that attend these schools. I know it comes as no surprise that I am an advocate for healthy living (although I do love my sweet treats!). Most importantly I think it is paramount that we teach our kids about living a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, a active lifestyle, and through giving back! Jayne Greenberg is an excellent example of all 3!

So please enjoy the article.

Miami-Dade director reinvents P.E. - Schools - MiamiHerald.com

Unbreakable: The Western States 100

I am so so so, did I say SO, excited about this film. It is a documentary of the Western States 100 mile Ultra Marathon. This race is the "Boston" for Ultra Marathoners. Like the Boston Marathon, WS100 is a challenging race to get into. You must first qualify and then your name goes into a lottery! I've put my name in, but am uncertain when I will get my chance to run WS100! The following is the excerpt from the movie's webpage.

"On June 26, 2010 four of the greatest ultramarathoners on earth toed the start line in Squaw Valley at the Western States 100-mile endurance run, the oldest and most prestigious 100-mile foot race.

 "Unbreakable: The Western States 100" follows the four lead men on this amazing journey. Hal Koerner, two time defending Western States champion, and running store entrepreneur from Ashland, Oregon. Geoff Roes, undefeated at the 100-mile distance, an organic chef from Juneau, Alaska. Anton Krupicka, undefeated in every ultramarathon he has ever started, a graduate student living in Boulder, Colorado. Killian Jornet, the young mountain runner and two time Ultra-trail du Mont-Blanc champion, from Spain.

 The film shadows each runner from the pre-race preparation in their hometowns to the daily life they each lead in and outside of running. While their lives may be quite different, the goal is the same: win the Western States 100-mile run. Only one will win and the journey is unforgiving.

 With unprecedented access, the film takes the viewer on the course and with each of the crews, pacers and family members who are working to get their runner across the finish line. From battling injury to surprising changes in the lead, to in-depth interviews with race champions and ultrarunning figureheads, "Unbreakable: The Western States 100" showcases perhaps the most exciting race of its kind."

 As a side note, Hal Koerner, just won Javelina Jundred (101.4) yesterday. 11.12.11 with a finishing time of 13:47:46. He also started his running store with Ian Torrence (If you've read my other blogs, you've heard me mention Ian. A great Ultra Marathon coach)

Enjoy the trailer.

20 minutes BEFORE my alarm

Yesterday morning I was having the strangest dream when all of the sudden I’m completely startled from my sleep! My slumber is abruptly interrupted by the loudest screech/meow coming from my cat. In the safety of my eyelids I could only imagine that Sir Elton’s worst nightmare had come true. 

I am convinced that his worst nightmare is being chased around the house by a store full of vacuum cleaners, when finally a Dyson DC28 Animal (yes that’s really what it’s called) out runs the Hoover Pet Cyclonic WindTunnel (and we wonder why our pets are afraid of these things?) and catches the tip of Sir E's tail. The  DC28 Animal continues to suck up his tail until the entire ball of fur is swirling around the bagless upright. Around  and  Around and Around. 

As my eyes begin to focus I look down at the end of the bed were the distressed animal is….curled up in a taut little ball….sleeping!!! Seriously! As quickly as he jumped up on the bed and gave his battle cry he had curled up and fell asleep! As I look down at my sweet angelic looking cat I’m confused! Why? Why would my precious little kitty cat do such a thing? 

I should mention that I am NOT a morning person and that being rudely awakened does NOT put me in a good mood.  I am certain that after 11 years of cohabitating, my evil little creature is well aware of this fact! Then it dawns on me…payback! Sir E must be paying me back for THIS

little experiment I did on  him the previous night! He has been an elf for the previous two Christmases so I figured it was time to change it up. Sir Elton the pink nosed reindeer you'll go down in history! So was it worth being in a bad mood all day...absolutely!! It's the most wonderful time of the year!

                                                              XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.

Maria Pontillo...Fitness Magazine's Face of Fitness Finalist

In 2006 I decided to hire a personal trainer. I was having a challenge staying motivated and getting all my workouts in due to my extensive traveling.  I literally hired and fired 4 trainers until I came across Maria Pontillo in a spinning class she was teaching.  I knew Maria was different right away. She has this natural energy for exercise and a special passion for teaching and pushing you to your limits and then beyond! You can tell she LOVES teaching fitness. 

I have never been a dancer and Hip Hop was WAY out of my league of skills. However, I decided to start taking Maria’s HH class and I found it a blast. I mostly was off beat and totally doing the wrong moves, but it didn’t matter I was having so much FUN and getting a great workout. The great thing about Maria is that she encourages you and makes you feel right at home even if you are going left when everyone else is going right!

Having said all of this I can’t be MORE thrilled for her.  She was among 5 finalist for Fitness Magazine’s Face of Fitness Contest. I’ve uploaded this video to show you her absolutely charming personality! She even has the interviewer doing squats! Classic!  If you are in the Fort Lauderdale area, be sure to stop by one of her classes. I promise you won’t be disappointed. She is also a great trainer and has a PHD in physical therapy so she knows a thing or two about injuries!

http://mariapontillo.com/Maria_s_Schedule.html

Congrats again Maria. I know that this Face of Fitness is just one of many great things to come!

                                                                XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.

Christoph takes running or is it tweeting to a whole new level.

NYT cartonist Christoph Niemann drew AND tweeted while running the NYC Marathon 2011. I know we've all had the butterflies and jitters when preparing for a major race, but Christoph takes it to a new level by drawing his thoughts on paper and then live tweeting them!

Christoph is a guy after my own heart. I love the things he is thinking of....like nightmares of unknown name brand sneakers...wearing street clothes on the train...where's the water, where's my bananas...I hope my Ipod battery last the whole race, not to mention all the cool crazy people he meets along the way. The best part is that the majority of his thoughts have nothing to do with competing in the NYC Marathon!!

Racing for me is so much more than just competing in a run and running fast. It's about the experience! The people you meet along the way who inspire (like Ed...90 Marathon guy), people who make you laugh, (roller head lady), and the people who are there for you when you need a banana! Next time you lace up those XYZ sneakers for a major race, remember it's not just about running fast, but rather it's about the experience you are having along the way. Therefore, it doesn't matter if it's your best race, worst race, or somewhere in between, it's about the unique experience! Enjoy Christoph's illustrations.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/new-york-times-cartoonist-live-draws-the-nyc-marat

                                                                XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.

Go Bruins! Yes You Can!

One of my favorite mantras is Yes You Can and here is an extraordinary example of someone who lives his life by that everyday. Next time you are out there racing and you feel like quitting or slowing down, just think YES YOU CAN and visualize yourself pushing Rick Hoyt across the finish line!

                                                                XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.

A bad day at Hallmark

Have you found a card that TRULY stated what you REALLY want to say?  I know I am not  the only one who finds herself at the very last moment standing in the card isle at Target looking for that perfect mother's day card...you know the one that says "I'm buying this card out of guilt...guilt you've given me...HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!"  I could come up with worse, but I'd feel guilty!  Well here are some cards that I'm sure you've wanted to send to someone in your life. Enjoy! And feel free to add your own!

                                       **********************************************************************

My tire was thumping.
I thought it was flat

when I looked at the tire...

I noticed your cat.

Sorry!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heard your wife left you,
How upset you must be.

But don't fret about it....

She moved in with me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking back over the years

that we've been together,

I can't help but wonder...

'What the hell was I thinking?'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Congratulations on your wedding day!

Too bad no one likes your husband.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How could two people as beautiful as you

have such an ugly baby?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've always wanted to have:
someone to hold,

someone to love.

After having met you...

I've changed my mind.

-------------------------------------- ----------------------------

I must admit, you brought religion into my life.

I never believed in Hell until I met you.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am...

that you're not here to ruin it for me.

############################################

Congratulations on your promotion.
Before you go...,

would you like to take this knife out of my back?

You'll probably need it again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy birthday! 

You look great for your age.

Almost Lifelike!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When we were together,
you always said you'd die for me.

Now that we've broken up,

I think it's time you keep your promise.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

We have been friends

for a very long time.

Let's say we stop!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm so miserable without you

it's almost like you're here.

===========================================

Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

Did you ever find out who the father was?

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Your friends and I wanted to do

something special for your birthday.

So we're having you put to sleep.

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

So your daughter's a hooker

and it spoiled your day.

Look at the bright side;

it's really good pay!

XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl. 

  

My Journey to 30 and beyond

I will probably dedicate a lot of blogs to this specific subcategory.

Growing up I always remember women joking that they were turning 29 on their upcoming birthday. I never understood the magic of this number, but quickly began to fear the dreaded 30!  

In fact I was recently watching an episode of Sex in the City where Carrie Bradshaw and friends were comparing themselves to the girls in their 20s, a recurring theme in SITC.  

At the end of the episode I actually was more depressed and felt bad for those thirtysomethings… and here is why, Society has told us that at the very least we should be married and have a baby on the way with one in toe.  

Modern day Society has this unwritten code that you should be enjoying some fabulous career making good money and working your way up some ladder corporate or otherwise.  At the very least you should be like Carrie Bradshaw living in a small NYC apartment shopping for Manolo Blahniks during the day and enjoying cosmos with your 3 BFFs at night!

Well guess what readers, this moderngypsygirl would be hard pressed to find 3 friends, regardless of BF status, to go out and have a drink with any night of the week never mind every night of the week!  And the thought of Manolo Blahniks…well I can’t even afford them on ebay!

So what does it REALLY mean to be 30 and single in 2011?  What do you think?

"This Ain't Nothing"

Today I was listening to the radio and I came across a song I’d never heard before by Craig Morgan called “This ain’t nothing”. 

It made me realize that this funk that I’ve been in really “ain’t nothing”. This “ain’t nothing money can’t erase”. Check out the song here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSdItuvBxc8 on YouTube. I hope it inspires you as it did me and helps put life into perspective that there are things that matter and things that don’t. Let’s focus on those things that matter!

What matters most to you today?

2011- The Year of Sustainability

Normally a new year or new anything is exciting for a gypsy.  However this year is different, despite the fact that 11 is one of my favorite numbers!  However, it seems that another year goes by…job market is shit, and unemployment still lingers around 10% for the national average.  Those of us born on the tip of Gen Y aka Millenials are once again stuck in this limbo; where saving money is of the utmost importance, but nearly impossible with little accumulated savings and even less of an opportunity to save.  So these thoughts make me think about how our grandparents and great grandparents managed.  After all they lived through the great depression.  I think our economic gurus have only termed this turbulent financial period as the great recession…or maybe I just made that up?  Whatever!

Regardless of terminology I have decided to do a little research into how those who came before us and  lived in more challenging times managed.  One thing I remember about my grandparents (always fearful of another great depression) is that they were very, and I’m going to use a trendy word here, “sustainable”.  As a kid growing up my grandparent’s “sustainable” ways were seen as frugal, thrifty, and useless.  I mean, really? Do we need to wash and reuse zip lock bags? They never work quite as well the second or third time anyways!  Nevertheless, Benjamin Franklin did say “A penny saved is a penny earned”.

So in this new decade I’ve decided to come up with some new ways to be more “sustainable”.  Some people may see that as thrifty/frugal/cheap or downright stingy, but the one thing that my grandparents didn’t worry about is what OTHER people thought!  A lesson in and of itself.  Therefore, I’m searching blogs and internet sights on ways to be more sustainable!  One website suggested using all those little shampoo bottles collected from hotels.  Sadly, I have a whole entire plastic bin taking up space in my tiny linen closet of these things.  Time to bring those out! Who knows how long it will take me to go through them all.  I may save up to $8! LOL! 

The funny thing is that all these little ideas save only pennies at a time and really don’t seem that significant, so I’m curious to see if they actually DO save money over time and do they save ENOUGH money for it to be worth my effort!

For 2011 I was completely Uninspired to set any resolutions.  Instead 2011 will be known as “Sustainability-a penny saved is a penny earned”.

What ideas do you have for saving money?

                                                                                                                     XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl. 

I am.....Moderngypsygirl (yo soy... nina gitana moderna)

Moderngypsygirl is a website/blog dedicated to all those Gen Y'ers and Millenials, who haven’t quite found a place to call home!

Webster describes a gypsy as “a laborer who moves from place to place as demanded by employment” Having lived all over the world and moved no less than 10 times in 10 years, I would say I am the quintessential gypsy girl.

Although unlike traditional gypsies, I am not much of a fortune teller, I don’t have any magic tricks, I can’t read palms, I’ve only predicted the future on 2 separate occasions, and I probably won’t steal your clothes or pick your pockets.

However, like a typical gypsy, I am restless, I feel the need to move every couple of years, and I get bored easily. So what happens when you take a gypsy girl and put her in the modern world?  Well you will see.  You get what I call moderngysygirl! Inside the website we will explore all the things I love, interior design, fashion, running, soccer, ultra-running, yoga, spirituality, friendships, relationships, jobs, pets, and did I mention running? And of course traveling and moving!  Will moderngypsygirl ever settle down? Stayed tuned to find out!

                                                           XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.  

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and

narrow-mindedness."         

 ~ Mark Twain

When life hands you Lemons....Make Lemon Bars

I love lemon flavored desserts and this recipe from Williams-Sonoma (one of my ALL time FAVE stores!!) makes the BEST Lemon Bars!!

One of my favorite things to do is take fruits, vegetables, etc. from their natural state to food on my plate! Here is my Meyer's Lemon Tree when it was just a baby, budding tiny lemons.

Here's a picture with the same tree ALL grown up and ready to produce!

And here is the final product. Yum! Yum! Yum!

OK, OK! Here's the recipe!

For the Crust:

1 cup (5 oz/155g) all purpose (plain) flower

1/4 cup (1 oz./30g) confectioners' (icing) sugar

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest. 

1/2 cup (4oz./125g) cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces 

Preheat the oven to 350F (180C). Have ready a 13 1/4 by 4 1/2 inch oblong tart pan with a removable bottom or an 8" in square baking pan with bottom and sides line with aluminum foil and generously greased. 

To make the crust, sift the flower (OK, I never really did this part) confectioners' sugar and salt together into a bowl and transfer to a food processor (I used my blender). Add the lemon zest and pulse to blend. Add the butter a few pieces at a time, processing just until the mixture is crumbly. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press evenly into the bottom and sides to form the crust. 

Bake until the crust is just golden at the edges, about 25 minutes.

Meanwhile make the filling.

For the Filling:

3 tablespoons all-purpose flower

1/2 cup (4fl. oz/125ml) fresh lemon juice (Meyers is BEST!!)

3 large eggs

1 cup (8oz./250g) granulated sugar

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

Pinch of salt

Confectioners' sugar for dusting (I do my best to make patterns with it!)

In a large measuring cup or pitcher, whisk together the flour and lemon juice. Add the eggs, granulated sugar, lemon zest, and salt, and whisk until smooth. When the crust is baked, carefully pull out the oven rack and pour the filling into the crust. Close the oven door and reduce the heat to 325F (165C). Bake until the center is springy to the touch, about 30 minutes. 

Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. (Ok, I've never done this...I don't even own a wire rack!). If using a tart pan with removable bottom, place the pan on your outstretched palm and let the rim fall away or, using the sides of the foil as handles, carefully lift the cookie from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Using a fine mesh sieve (I have no idea what this is---probably why I can't make cool patterns?), dust the cookie generously with confectioners' sugar. To make a striped pattern lay strips of waxed paper (another thing I don't own) across the cookie before dusting and after dusting carefully remove the paper strips. 

With a thin sharp knife, cut crosswise into thin bars 3/4-1" wide. Using a small, offset spatula carefully remove the bars from the foil. Makes 12-16 bars. (Unless I'm cutting more like 9!)

P.S. This is NOT a low calorie food....hahaha! Bon Appetit! 

                                                                                                     XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.  

A Taste of India...Aloo Gobi Style

"Anyone can cook Aloo Gobi, but who can bend a ball like Beckham!" ~ spoken by Jesminder in "Bend it Like Beckham"(only one of the best movies ever made!!!).

I LOVE LOVE LOVE cauliflower. I eat it raw, cooked, as a snack, as a meal, you name it! So it is no surprise that Aloo (Potato) Gobi (Cauliflower) is one of my favorite meals. It is very simple, just potatoes and Cauliflower mixed with some spices. Here's the recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/aloo-gobi-84324

Here are some pictures of my Aloo Gobi Bon Appetit (Because I can't spell it in Hindi)

                                                 XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.  

I think I'll run a 100 mile race in a few months, what do you think?

So as I was reflecting on my 100 mile race I came across some emails from a good friend of mine.  We were discussing my new decision to run JJ100! We were so clueless, it's funny!!! 

ME: “So do you want to join me for at least one lap of the JJ100!!!??  Do you think I am crazy??  Do you think I can do it??  Actually, I think it is like the week before NYC...so probably not a great idea for you!  Angela was telling me I'm crazy and then giving me advice on how to train!!  I heart her!!”

JW: “Are they laps of 25 miles?  I would totally do it but I think it’s only 2 weeks before NYC.  Is there one at the end of the year?  Do they do a 50 miler to or just 100?  How many miles does Lou get up to before the race?  I could ride along with your if you’re going extra long on Saturdays.” 

ME” ÒH, I forgot to answer your questions...the laps are 15.4 miles.  No there isn't 50 miles...just 100, but I think you can do a 100K which is like 60 miles. Too bad you're already signed up for NYC!  That will be fun though.  I would love if you rode along with me, but I think you probably fall off b/c we'd be going so slow!  I'm not really sure how far and how long I should go.  I think Lou gets up to 40 miles in a day…

Any advice is appreciated!!  I told Spencer to read up about Ultras and report back to me!  I know how he loves to get into that shit!  If it's up to me, I would just run, BUT I don't think you can do that with these...need to do some research and prepare!!”

JW: “Check this out.  It talks about nutrition etc.  Says you should do 3 marathons before attempting – but who’s counting.  LOL!  http://www.marathon-training-program.com/ultra-marathon-training.html”

ME: “NICE!  Thanks...yep, I've pretty much seen most people talk about having completed at least one marathon before attempting 50 miles...but I don't really listen to conventional wisdom!

I like how it says. "You need at least 3 years of running experience..." Got it!  In fact I think I have like 28 yrs of running experience. LOL!  I saw this website...challenging b/c the plan is for 6 mo...and I only have 16 wks., but the ideas are good!”

JW: “See – you’re ahead of the game!  Yeah – but a whole chunk is speed and it says you can skip that part if it’s your first because you are just trying to finish.  SO you can cut the 12 weeks base to 8 weeks and then the strength to 6 and then you have 3 weeks of taper.”

ME: “I'm the exception to the rule!!!!!!!!!!!  LOL!  Yep, 8 weeks base...should be plenty, right?  And 6 weeks strength...it actually seems like a long time.”

 Rachel D. La Grandeur

"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and

narrow-mindedness."         

 ~ Mark Twain

Looking back I realize that even though I was so naïve, I still did my research and followed the expert’s advice! More importantly I listened to my body and learned to distinguish between the “I hurt because I hate running” and “I hurt because I’m truly hurt”. 

How do you Train for 100 Miles?

So this is a question that I’ve heard a zillion times and one I even asked myself when starting out.

Truth is I had NO idea when I first started. I did what all Gen Y’ers do and I headed straight to the google god, carefully putting in my quotations marks around “Training Plan for 100 miles” as to eliminate any unnecessary jumble.  To my surprise NOTHING came up!! I quickly removed my quotations marks and STILL….NOTHING! I did find a training plan for 50 miles provided by Runner’s World. I thought about just doubling the distances! Luckily I wasn’t that stupid!!

So out of random circumstances (as is normal in my life) a running friend of mine told me that I should check out McMillian’s running calculator http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/mcmillanrunningcalculator.htm. It is a cool tool for helping one figure out what splits should be for a 5K, 10K, etc.  So while I am wandering around the website, I come across custom training plans, and can you believe??? There is one for an ULTRA MARATHON!!!  Not only that, but they have one for 16 weeks away, which is FAB because I only have 16 weeks.  I quickly zip on over to paypal, pay my dues and fill out the questionnaire. 

My plan comes back in a couple of day…BUT, it DOESN'T have my 100 mile race on it! I truly think my coach (the fabulous Ian Torrence) totally blocked out the fact that 1. I have only been running for 1 year and 2. My longest distance was a half marathon!!  I sent him a message back asking WHERE my race was on the training plan (and I’m sure he fell on the floor laughing, or rolled his eyes, or both).  Promptly, I had a new plan with JJ100 on Oct 23!  I have to toot Ian’s horn here. Ian was amazing!! He made a perfect plan that fit my skill level and challenged me.  Check out his blog here. http://iantorrence.blogspot.com/  So in answer to the question, how do you train…you pay Ian Torrence a small fee and follow his plan religiously, or as closely as I did!!  http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/ctp.htm

So along the way I made a video of my Saturday morning routine (because GOD knows I can’t remember what I was doing at 3-4 am in the morning!!).  So enjoy! 

                                                                XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.  

A look back at the past 365 days

My Birthday is coming up and like all my birthdays it is a time to reflect. Reflect on where I've been in the past year and to make new goals for the upcoming year. Turning 30 was a terrifying moment for me. Mostly because I felt like  I haven't done ENOUGH in my 30 years on this earth.  I know many of you will laugh, but it's true that is how I often feel.  So in celebration of this upcoming event I am going to post my experience on my 30th birthday. It is an account of my challenging, fun, funny, embarrassing, and triumphant moments of my 100 mile race, but before I post it check out my pre-race preparations!

Here is Lou and I talking about all the rumors we've heard.

Here Bridget and I are seriously prepping for our big day! It's all worth it in the end you will see!!

                                                       XOXO,

Moderngypsygirl.  

Javelina Jundred...Oct 23, 2010 aka 30 years on this Earth!

Oct 23, 2010 03:30

Beep, Beep, beep…I crack an eye open and gaze over to the nightstand where my phone is lighting up, violently vibrating, and playing that all too familiar and slightly annoying melody, you know, that melody that doesn’t resemble any song you’ve ever heard, but is just obnoxious enough to wake you out of a dead sleep at 3 am! 

As I crawl out of bed to silence the little beast, I realize that THIS Saturday morning is unlike any to which I’ve ever embarked!  This Saturday is the day I’ve been anticipating for 15 weeks.  I’d visualized this morning in my head, planned for it, and NOW it’s finally here…excitement and trepidation settle in. 

I stumble to the kitchen where I begin to boil water for my oatmeal (Trader Joes Maple and Brown Sugar is a personal favorite).  For the past 10 weeks or so I would begin my long run with a bowl of oatmeal. I find it gives me the boost I need and helps tame my hunger while I’m out on the trail! 

Today is the day of my first 100 mile run.  My first ever Ultra Marathon!!  Some might point out my first ever marathon as well, but I’m not really into minor details!

It doesn’t take me long to get ready, after all it is my birthday and I have chosen to keep it simple and wear my Birthday suit!  Lucky for me the race is being held close to Halloween and the race directors' advertise the race as a “100 mile Jalloween Party”!   There is even a costume contest, so I know I won’t be alone in my “birthday suit”.