My friend, Daniel, goes to Hell every year...Hell, Michigan that is. He and his buddies, and now his boys run a 62.5 mile relay that travels through the woods (and not a trail), water and mud. It's called Dancing with Dirt (DWD).

When I asked him "why", he told me, "We first chose DWD to try something different.  We each had run marathons and were looking for something new and different.  We had so much fun running the relay that we've done it for 7 years in a row as a team.  The relay is 62.5 miles and you are supposed to run it with 5 people.  Our first year, one runner became sick and so we ran it with four.  As a tradition, we have done it the same way every year - - shorthanded.  Sometimes with only 3 because others opted (or were dared ) to run the 31 mile Ultra. 

We chose to run it our second year because we had so much fun the first.  It was quite an experience running in a relay because running is normally such a solo sport.  When you know someone with fresh legs is waiting on you, it helps motivate you to keep going.  The main thing that keeps me running it even though I moved out of the area is the camaraderie.  We camp out the night before and after the race and follow traditions we started based on the first year.  Like all my running, I also do it just because I can.  I recognize that some day will arrive when I no longer can.  Until that day, I do."

Lara bars are one of my favorite food bars. Many of the flavors are made of simply fruit and nuts. I just tried a new flavor called, "Lemon Bar" and it's delicious. The ingredients are simply dates, cashews, almonds, lemon juice concentrate and natural lemon flavor. Not for everyone though...my husband said it reminded him of fruit cake (which he doesn't like). Frankly, I don't like fruit cake either but I love the simple taste of Lara's.