I never complain about the heat. I love it. I hate to be cold, really I hate it. As summer ends and everything fall like begins, for me that would be school and football - two of my favorite things, I looked forward to the turning of the leaves and warm autumn days but I know it is only the prelude to winter! I dread  it every year. Sunday marked the first day of summer and with it the knowledge we are now counting down the months (only two) and days  to the Parkersburg Half Marathon. I have been busy getting the two mile ready and Chip is always busy preparing for the half marathon. I am often glad I am in charge of the little sister and not the "big" one.  I joined the crowd of runners from the Parkersburg Half Marathon training for a very hot (I would not complain) run from McDonough Park Monday night. I am positivie Mother Nature has a sense of humor because this run is always hilly, of course, and HOT. Tom Kramer does a nice job of setting up water stops and encouraging runners/walkers before the group sets off, but that does not make the course any easier. I have caught myself telling several people who are losing a little of their enthusiam for the sport that the training is the tough part. The training group is running in the heat of the day, the race is early in the morning. The training group runs without traffic control, the race is policed by Parkersburg's  finest - the Parkersburg Police and a host of volunteers. I would never say the Parkesburg Half Marathon is an easy race, but I will always tell you this is a great race. You get two great meals, a cool race bag, great shirt (I am hearing new shirt this year, but not confirmed), a finish line that is second to none and good people on the course to cheer you on. I could go on for pages naming all the amenities this race offers, but let me just say don't give up. If you need a pep talk, email me or ask Chip (race director) and he will tell you, "Dag gone it, you are doing great."