Random news and notes about running:

• There was a nice article in the Erie Times-News' sports section today about Title IX and Erie women in sports. Reporter Mike Copper talked to a couple of my personal friends and role models -- Barb Filutze, 61, and Joyce Quadri, 73.

• Our state legislators finally got their act together and the crisis (closing of Presque Isle) facing this Sunday's Presque Isle Half Marathon was averted. The state budget mess is settled and the race is on. Shame on our state legislators and governor for letting things get to the point of closing state parks -- including our beloved Presque Isle State Park -- yesterday. By the way, it's not too late to sign up for the race, but you will pay the higher registration fee of $30 per person.

• Results from the K of C Liberty 10K from the 4th of July can be found here.

• I stepped on my barberry bush while I was painting my pool fence yesterday (yeah...painting in 90 degree weather -- real fun) and spent most of the night trying to pick prickers out of my left foot in fear the tiny barbs would throw off my running gait and leave me with an injury for the 1/2 marathon on Sunday. Digging those little suckers out of my skin was enough to make me think about yanking that barberry bush out and replace it with something nice and soft, like some more daylilies or hosta. I have no qualms about killing nasty plants -- I buried a cactus under two feet of concrete when we renovated our house just because I was sick of it stabbing me. Of course, rather than resorting to planticide I could wear shoes and gloves when I'm working around the yard.