It is the most grueling race about which I've ever heard. Oh, this was a walk through the daisies in compared to adventure racing. Those folks are hard core. We did three runs each, and I only ran a total of 2 hours. It was hard - mostly due to lack of sleep, and sitting in the van stiffening up - but it was really fun. Most of the 2,000 vans were decorated, quite a few teams wore costumes, or had matching shirts. The comaraderie was really great. Everyone cheers for each other. The volunteers were the total best. I can imagine wanting to run and participate, but you've really got to appreciate someone who will voluntarily spend 5 hours directing tired cranky people to the next baton exchange, parking space, porta-potties and road turns. Our team, and as far as I gathered, most teams, just had runners in their vans. Six runners per van (usually a mini-van), and one runner drove while they weren't running their leg. Maybe the elite teams had staff like Rob says. They've got sponsors too. And WOW were they ever fast. I got passed like I was running backwards by one of the elites. He had to be doing sub-5 minute miles. Probably easy for him - that section was only 3 miles long. Wish I could figure out how to move my feet that fast. It took our team 27 hours 35 minutes to complete the course. The elites did it in around 17 hours. Like I said, I spent all of about 2 hours running. The rest is all van shuttles, cheering, handing water to our runner, showering at high school locker rooms along the way, sleeping all wadded up in the van, and visiting porta-potties. There was a BIG party at the end. Music and food and a beer garden. About 20,000 people participate and I think they said 70,000 people go to the party. Next time I want to stay over - lots of teams get houses, condos, motels, whatever for the night. I doubt there was a haystack left to rent in Seaside last night. Great fun. Sorry about the hijack, Elia.

I'm not a tomato connoisseur and where I live you can get only "small" (meaning cherry) tomato seeds or "big" (slicing size) seeds from the garden center --we don't seem to have the myriad of varieties available elsewhere. That is ok with me as what I am interested in is food of any edible variety. Last year I grew 7 cherry tomato plants from seed and got not enough produce for one person with them all combined. From the compost I've been cultivating I've gotten dozens of 'volunteers' -- there were some of the cherry tomatoes produced from last years' "crop" in there but many more cherry and 'big' tomato leavings I'd gotten from the store/vegetable stands tossed in there. The compost 'volunteer' seedlings are about 100 times more robust and healthy than the new cherry tomato plants I started from seed. My question is essentially, what will give me more food -- the unknown variety of 'volunteers' that sprouted from the compost or the rather sickly, in comparison, cherry tomatoes I've started from seed?

Leashed dogs in an area full of unleashed dogs are likely to become defensive - and are unable to get away while leashed if the entire dog park decides to come for a sniff and say hi. It sets a bad precedent and mood right from the get go. Our dog park is leash-optional. No part of it what so ever is fenced. You unfortunately see all too many people panicked trying to find fido because they just assumed fido knows not to go too far. We leashed ours at all times. Not because I didn't think they'd stay with us - we have them off leash all the time outside of the park, when we go camping and such, and they're fine. But at our parks you see far too many dogs who have escaped their owners - and I don't want to be put in a position to defend my dogs when the other owners weren't even there to witness anything that happened. The second last time we ever went - big guy got cornered by two large huskies. We had sat down at a bench and the dogs were lying at our feet. Having a water break, it was hot out. Up come these two huskies and they started to circle big guy and spike up. They were snarling and growling. And he was cowering - which he hardly ever does. He'll puff up usually and stand up for himself but I could tell even he knew he wouldn't win this battle if it came down to it. So there we had over 300 pounds of dog between the three of them - ready to break out in a scrap - and no owners in sight for the huskies. 2 of us to wrangle 4 dogs all together, two of which were very angry. I had to put my little self inbetween the huskies and our big guy, while my boyfriend was poised and ready to get our little one and the big guy outta there should something happen. Then the owners come trotting along and go "Oh, there you guys are! Making friends I see!" I have to admit I didn't exactly handle it with the most friendly language. But it was literally the first time I was afraid big guy would be hurt badly. Usually I am worried that if the owner doesn't come along soon, big guy will hurt their dog - but this time I KNEW they'd do some severe damage to him if anything happened. It would be nice if obedience schools had dog parks of their own - where only members who have completed (and passed) their training would be allowed in. At least then you could expect a certain level of obedience. I think everyone would feel more comfortable then.

I would never allow my dogs into a dog park without being solidly protected from parasites by their monthly heartworm prevention and flea and tick control. As long as your dog is thoroughly protected, the other dogs' bugs won't bother him. But I'd do a fecal sample is done at least once a year to check for intestinal parasites, just in case. HWP is not 100% effective in controlling all intestinal parasites, especially in the face of overwhelming doses. If mosquitoes are bothering your dog, you can use VIP fly repellent ointment (check at feed stores and places that sell products for horses) to keep them at bay. The mosquitoes won't be able to transmit heartworms if your dog is on regular prevention, but they are rather annoying. I would be concerned about zoonotic diseases such as cutaneous, visceral, and ocular larval migrans from hookworm and roundworm infections in HUMANS. Not every dog at the park will be on appropriate parasite control programs, and because of that people are at risk for some serious zoonotic infections, especially young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. It is extremely important to practice good hygiene while at the park- no eating, drinking, or playing on the ground; wear closed-toed shoes and socks, etc. I would wash your hands very thoroughly as soon as you leave the park. I'd also make sure your dogs are vaccinated for Bordetella once every 6 months (intranasal) to 12 months (injectible), and be sure all the other vaccines are current as your veterinarian sees fit given the exposure risks. I would love to take my dogs to a park, but none of them around here are escape proof, especially for my Tatyana who can easily climb a 6 foot chain link fence. She needs a solid 6 foot tall fence, a double gate system, and something to prevent her from digging under a fence. That maximum security park has yet to be built here. But she'd love to run free if given the opportunity. I sure as heck can't keep up with her going full speed (she's a Husky). As long as you are aware of the risks of taking your dog to the park, I think it can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.