I'm glad I waited until today to get a book on these parks. Pictures of mountain hikes, kayaking on lakes surrounded by mountains, hikes by geysers, bighorn sheep, and moose have pushed all thoughts of my upcoming marathon to the back burner. This may be a one time trip to these parks and the thought of passing up an unforgettable hike in the hope of running a 3:33 marathon instead of a 3:35-3:39 one is easily dismissed.

Maybe after hiking at an altitude above 10,000 feet, I will not only be sufficiently adjusted to the altitude so that the race start at 6,600 feet doesn't bother me but I will also be able to tell myself that I am training like a Kenyan when I run those trails.