Cheap folding water cup

...Sandwich-sized zip-lock bag

Most of my runs are on routes with drinking fountains. Although many of those fountains provide a good stream of water, some have a very low flow and it's a pain to get much from them easily.

Today I had a small zip-lock bag with me (original use was to carry some Shot-Bloks). I filled the bag mostly full at one of those low-flow, barely bubbling, water fountains. Then I pinched one of the zip-lock sides into a loop for pouring, tipped it up, and drank it down. It worked great, weighs nothing, and takes up little room in a pocket. I never thought of carrying a little zip-lock bag for use as a water cup so maybe this tip will be handy for you too.

--Mark

Coming up: Afton 25K and the Keweenaw trail series

I'm excited about running the Afton 25K on July 3rd. It will be my 3rd time in that race - 25K in 2007, 50K in 2008. Missed it last year due to family obligations. I chose the 25K this year. This was mostly because I run best in races 25K or shorter. Also, I'm running a bunch of trails one week from Afton....

The weekend after Afton, July 10-11, I'll be in the UP of Michigan to run what I think will be a nice trail series. Saturday there will be a ~6K hill climb run in the morning followed by a 12K trail run in the late afternoon. Sunday morning is a 25K trail run. This is the Run the Keweenaw series in Copper Harbor, MI. I ran only one of the races last year (10K then) and loved it. I'll be spending about a week in the area and am looking forward to some peace and quiet and a few 4-6 mile easy runs sandwiched between the Afton and Keweenaw races.

For 2011, I hope to do the races above again. In addition, since Helen said the Bighorn Trail Run was "BEAUTIFUL", I've been reading about that event and looking at pics. I want to enter Bighorn next year at the 50K or 50M distance. Whether I finish, or DNF, I'm expecting it would be an event to remember.

--Mark