Blue Monday

According to a UK psychologist, today is known as "The Most Depressing Day of the Year." The combination of no holidays, cold weather, and failed New Year's resolutions makes people feel really down.

Well, maybe that's the case up in New England, but in Ravenstown, it was a pretty good day.

The Ravens weren't the only ones tearing it up this weekend, as the kind weather made for some solid runs. Of course, right after I sent the email I noticed that BRRC had already posted results from yesterday's GPS 8 Miler in Loch Raven. Jack Flowers finished runner-up in 47:42, and Joel Brusewitz laced 'em up to finish 4th in 50:19. Great to see Joel starting the year off right! Denise Knickman had a great race, winning (for the second week in a row, as she also won the BRRC Frozen Finger 5M last weekend in 33:33) in 55:07. Just two seconds behind her was Terry Decker, in 15th. Meg McNew finished 2nd among women in 57:38. She used it as her long run - and by long I mean LONG. She ran up to Loch Raven, and then did the race. Crazy! Molly Eagen finished 20th in 1:12:36.

At the Maryland Invite, Liz Laseter finished 4th in the 5000m, running 18:22.17. That's a great time early in the season, especially indoors.

Out in Tempe, AZ, Bob Villanueva paced a friend to a Boston-qualifying 3:33:01 at the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n Roll Arizona Marathon.

Down in Baton Rouge, home of the Bayou Bengals of LSU, Pete Mulligan ran the Louisiana Marathon. He was pacing the 4:20 group and brought them in at 4:19:19. Terrific job Pete, and since he had to watch the Ravens game from the airport following his selfless pacing of others, he earned this week's Purple Drink Athlete of the Week.