the mock-up.

As is probably evident from the fact that it is 11 in the morning and I am sitting at my desk going over production dates and not stretching on a soggy Boston Common as The Most Annoying Race Announcer in the Western Hemisphere (tm) yells cheerful things about the rain, I elected not to do the Tufts 10K. Many, many people told me I was crazy to take a day off to run a race I don't really enjoy, and I started to agree with them. Also, my sneakers still haven't dried out from yesterday. So Hell Weekend 2005 will be postponed until 2006 (or until the Tufts 10K organizers bring back the Dove Bars). I feel a little guilty but I suppose I'll get over it.

Yesterday was good, soggy fun; I knocked two minutes off my time from last year despite the fact that I haven't really run longer than 7 miles since June. Balance sheet:

• Pros: Great course (it goes through the zoo!); immaculately organized; Early in the morning (which sucks at 5:45 a.m. but is entirely awesome at 10 a.m., when you can start enjoying the rest of the day).


• Cons: They eliminated the Fenway Park loop from the course a couple of years ago. Total bummer.