8 days and counting...

My sister and her husband came into town last night. I didn't actually see her until 2:30 am when they came home. Which is fine but I wanted to be up at 7 am for a run. Oh and their drunk friend called at 3 am...Yeah, I hit the snooze button...

Even though I had a rough night of sleep (meaning I couldn't sleep) I dragged my butt out of bed at 8am and was out the door 30 minutes later - everybody but the cat sound asleep. I had 8 miles on the ole schedule today. I thought I would be draggin after drinking a couple brewskies last night (GO CUBS!) and the lack of sleep. Instead I had a good run. I decided to go a little beyond just the 8 miles, probably closer to 9 and I actually had to tell myself to slow down and the second half. Don't want to use up all the reserves before next weekend! The legs and I did our morning jaunt of my legs saying "no, I don't want to you can't make me!" and me replying "but you have to - I don't have time to do this later and I'm already up so let's get it done". Finally (and luckily) shortly into the run they agreed to stop protesting and do their thing. The run lasted around 1 hour 20 min but I am not sure on the exact mileage. I was happy with it and I probably could have kept going. Now I hope that happens next Sunday.

Good luck to everyone who has races this weekend! I am looking forward to reading everyone's race reports Sunday/Monday!

Rabies Awareness 5K Fun Run

Did anyone see the season premiere of The Office last night?!? LMAO! First of all if you didn't see it Michael decided to raise money for rabies awareness after he hit Meredith with his car and she ended up in the hospital for a broken pelvis where she need to get a rabies shot. So Michael becomes obsessed with rabies and has the great idea of making everyone run the 5K (which he thinks is 5,000 miles) to raise money. At one point Dwight tells Michael that he spiked Toby's coffee with Imodium (yeah he meant to use ex-lax) and cut to Toby saying "This is my best run ever, usually I need to use the bathroom at this point". Michael tries carbo loading and someone else discusses chafing. The episode is hilarious and all you runners will greatly appreciate it! I suggest if you didn't see it to check it out on nbc.com. It is free to watch there for a week. Enjoy!

And on to my running. I'm back! I had a great run this morning, everything felt good, the weather was cooler. I kept to my 9:30 minute miles on this run - it is taper week 1 and I have an 8 mile run tomorrow. Now after such a great run I am motivated to get this condo clean.

I Need to Hire a Maid

I got in a short 3 mile run on the treadmill yesterday after work. I struggled through it. This time I am going to blame in on the bad tv show and the fact I couldn't find the remote to change the channel. I would have manually changed it (for all you who think I am so lazy I need the remote) but it was a wall mounted tv and I am too short to reach the channel buttons, I was only able to reach the volume. Sucks being average height sometimes!

The schedule called for a 4 mile run today and I may still get it done if the plane shows up and leaves on time. If not I'll do it tomorrow. Tomorrow (Friday already?!?) I need to find some time in the middle of trip report writing, teleconferences, cleaning the house, and grocery shopping to get the run done. Probably on my lunch break. My sister, her husband, and their friend are visiting this weekend. Which would normally be fun but they 1) aren't really coming to visit me. They'll hang with me in between seeing all their friends and my condo will be like their own hotel 2) I haven't been home in 2 weeks except for a day or two. My condo isn't the cleanest (more like a couple of frat boys live there) and I haven't been able to shop for groceries in awhile (we eat out every weekend) . So another busy, busy day Friday. Luckily they won't be getting into town until 6 or 7pm ish so that buys me some time.

Plus side, the house will be clean for the most part for next weekend (RACE WEEKEND). That's when both sets of parents come to town to meet for the first time and stay with us. In hindsight, having mine and Jacob's p's meet for the first time (mind you we have been together for 5 1/2 years) the weekend of my first marathon probably wasn't the best idea I have ever executed. Oh well. I've warned all I am not walking all over Chicago to show them the sites or go shopping. And for me to say I'm not shopping downtown takes a lot! They say the understand now, hopefully that's the case next Saturday. Maybe they'll get along splendidly they won't even realize I have disappeared out the side door to go home and watch tv :)

Back Running

Today was my first run since Friday. I ran without a watch because halfway through my warmup I realized I didn't have it on and wasn't about to turn around to go get it. Running has been a struggle for me lately. I have been really tired and feeling weak. I'm not too sure if it is because of the running schedule or because I have been so busy with work and everything else. Probably a combination. Plus the weather here is still humid and gross. I usually don't pray for cooler temperatures as I love the summer and want it to extend as long as possible but not this year. I need some 60's!!!

Headed off on another business trip today to lovely Pembroke Pines, FL. Looking forward to the time in my career when I won't have to live out of a suitcase because I am traveling every week.

10 years and still the same

Best friends since 8th grade

Sarah, Mindy, and me catching up

Back in Chicago after visiting my hometown Medina, OH for the weekend. So the 10 year reunion...I don't think I'm going to another reunion for a long time. 10 years apparently is not long enough to get beyond the high school mentality. I was in a class of over 350 students or so. Only about 75 people showed up and a quarter of those were dates! Not many have changed and nearly everyone stayed in their high school clicks all night. I was surprised that a lot more didn't show. Plus, all the people who didn't show were the ones I would have liked to have seen. Luckily I got to catch up with some good friends and that was a lot of fun. I had a little headache this morning :) My poor boyfriend was so bored! I owe him a nice night out after putting up with me and my friends and being our sober sister for the night...

No weekend workouts due to trying fit everything and everyone into the short schedule. I will get back into things tomorrow (hopefully).

Mental Struggle

What a horrible run this morning. Ugh. My legs felt like cinder blocks and my stomach was upset. Not good. Never, ever, ever will I eat Mexican food and drink a maragarita (or two) the night before a long ever, ever again as long as I live. And I really didn't eat that much but it was enough to make me feel like crap. Oh and the fact it was just an overall crappy run. But it's done. I went out slow, I came back slow but I finished.

I am starting to hate the taper but have realized one thing which makes me appreciate it a bit more. This is not just a time to let my body heal as much as it is time to continue the mental training. These short runs are seeming more difficult than any of my long runs (with maybe the exception of that one 17 miler I did and I thought I was going to die) physically and mentally. Today was a mental fight and test. I didn't want to be out there, I kept thinking "f***, I'm only at ___ mile" So I had to practice pushing those negative thoughts out and remind myself there are going to be times during the marathon my body is not going to want to continue but I KNOW I can do it. I proved that I could get over my mental hurdle this morning. I wanted to give up, start walking, and find a phone to call home collect for someone to pick me up but I didn't. I convinced myself I wanted to finish and I had to get to the next spot and it worked. I'm not saying the negative thoughts weren't there. They were and I allowed them to pop in once in awhile to say their piece but then I learned to send them back so I could keep going.

Confirmation Ticket and Reunion

It is official, I am running on 10/7/07. Well I guess it is official when I actually do the race but today I received my all important confirmation ticket in the mail that allows me to pick up my race packet at the expo. All of you who will be in the Chicago area or checking up on the progress of the Chicago Marathon my bib # is 43914. I barely made the cut...

So I have decided to alter my training schedule once again in lieu of this reunion weekend. I caught an earlier flight home by 3 hours today. Woo hoo! So I went for a "quick" 5 mile run before going to dinner with my man. By quick I mean I ran. My legs felt like 100 lb weights for the first 2 miles. Just getting acclimated to running outside after being a treadmill runner earlier this week but still not fun. So annoying but two runners ran into me without apologizing. I asked one where his manners were. When you pass on the right, come from behind, and hit someone the least you could do is mutter a sorry. Manners are underrated lately...

Instead of doing my long run Saturday in a new place around Akron, OH I am going to try to wake up early and do my long run Friday morning before work. Good thing I work from home and no one cares what time I start! Then off to Ohio. And now I'm nervous to go to this reunion. Basically b/c I want to make a good impression and of course have nothing to wear. I have lost weight since high school (about 25 pounds) and I need to look good without looking like I am trying to hard. Such dilemmas! I am resorting to high school mentality I know. It's hard not to when you grew up where I did. Alright off to pack!

A little tropical depression never hurt

The morning gym gods were against me today. I went to bed late and had the alarm set for an early a.m. run. I hit snooze only to convince myself the short 4 mile run needed to get done on the dreadmill. My site I was at doesn't like to do any of their work and has a lot of major issues that only causes me stress. So my short runs keep me sane and when I don't get them done it's not pretty...It was early and there was a tropical depression so no way I was running outside. This brings me to reason #792 on why I hate weekly business trips. Possible tropical depressions that lead to possible hurricanes. You may be asking yourself really how many times does one get in the middle of a tropical depression. Well only three times...but enough to know it would be better if it was zero.

So anyways the gym gods...The same treadmill I had used only 13 hours earlier was broken. I hope my big butt didn't break it but you never know. I think I'll just blame somebody else's big butt ;) Then I thought aww what the heck I'm up so I'll do the stairmaster. No dice, the right foot stepper - broken. So okay, the recumbant stationary bike then....not so much. So at 6:30 I went back to the room to do sit-ups and push-ups. Very exciting I know. Even though I was delayed into Atlanta due to the lovely weather and mechanical issues I still made time for that dreadmill. I ate dinner late and now I can't sleep but I got it done.

I am supposed to run tomorrow but I think I am going to switch the routine up and take the day off b/c of my traveling schedule. I would like to do something rather than nothing but I also value what little sleep I have been getting lately. Friday I am going home to Ohio for my 10 year high school reunion (yikes!) so I'll get an outside run done before I have to sit in a car for 6 hours. I'm sure I'll have plenty to report after this weekend of my crazy family and people from high school I haven't talked to in at least 5 probably even 10 years!

Catch Up

After the 20 miles on Saturday I haven't done much working out. A bit of strength training at home yesterday before my 10 hour travel day. Blah...traveling for work. At least I got some sort of workout done before the long day. I am planning on a run this evening after work/before dinner in the hotel. The tapering has begun now that there is only 19 days to my first marathon! 19 days people - that's crazy!!! I remember 8 months ago when I was just thinking about signing up and trying to get back into running. It seems like last week I was making my final decision and sending in the paperwork. Where does the time go!?!

I am both excited and nervous and vacillate between the two extremes at any given moment. The taper is starting to make me question "Am I ready?" and "did I do enough to prepare / could I have done more?" I am having weird dreams about running that I'm on the wrong course or I show up on the wrong day. And they seem so real! I have to have trust in myself that I did enough and I am ready. No pesky negative thoughts need to sneak in anymore.

On a side note regarding my weekend activities. I took Jacob to Family Guy Live. HILARIOUS! A little crass though but I enjoyed it. It was the creator and 8 others associated with the show (voices, writing, etc) and they did a table read for a favorite episode with some improvisation then they did a couple singing numbers, and finally an answer/question session. Did you know the creator also does 3 of the voices on that show and can freely go between all three so he is essentially having a conversation with himself. Awesome. I tried to upload a video from youtube but I can't figure it out. Maybe later!

Oh! And my girl Jami got engaged - so happy for her!

Take 20, part II

Went better than my first 20 miler two weeeks ago. First, I want to take the time to thank Jacob's cousin's mother-in-law (even though she'll never read this) who has run several marathons (including Boston) for recommending that I run 2-3 20 mile long runs. My schedule didn't call for it but I am glad I did it. Definitely not as sore this time around either. This run did a lot for my confidence.

I left the house around 7 am to head towards the lakefront and dang it was cold! 43 degrees, I had to break out the gloves. A little chilly for just walking around but great running weather! The second song on the ipod happened to be "Long Trip Alone" by Dierks Bently. Yes, it was going to be...but no problem, I've done it before.

The run went smoothly with the exception of every single running group being on the path this morning. There is a big Ready to Run 20 mile "race" tomorrow that has 3,000 CARA runners using the entire lakefront for 5 hours so everyone else tried to get their run in today. The narrow paths made it a bit tricky maneuvering around running groups, bikers, and walkers but it is just prep for the big day when there will be 40,000 runners. I would have done the race but they were charging $45. No thank you, I can run by myself for free! As usual I started to feel the aches and pains around mile 15 as I was headed up and over that damn North Beach bridge. But I was keeping a slightly faster/hopefully close to race day pace on this run. Jacob ran from our place and found me with 1 1/2 miles left in my run so that was nice. It was pretty much around the time I started slowing down due to my hips yelling at me! But since his legs were fresh he wasn't slowing so I kept up my pace until the end. Yeah!

I didn't stop my watch during any of my water or gu breaks and I finished the run in 3 hours and 10 min. If I could do a happy dance I would but that hurts too much right now. Instead I'll just dance from the waist up :) I am on target to finish the marathon in just over 4 hours...woo woo!

daily happenings

Overall a decent run today. Another 5 miles was on the schedule. I did an easy 5 1/4 mile with 1/2 mile cool down walk. I didn't even bother with the watch today. Just me, my ipod, and running shoes. And it was another beautiful day in the city. Had a close call on the running path. I wasn't paying attention, looking up ahead thinking about who knows what and I nearly tripped/twisted my ankle over a small piece of a broken tree. It woke me out of my running trance to remind me to be in the moment. Funny how most insignificant daily happenings have a larger effect on me.

Tonight I am headed out for dinner with my friend Jami. Yes, I have a friend with the same name and yes we very similar personalities. Weird I know. Plus, people who meet us together for the first time always think were messing with them. We are going to new bar - Fat Cat - in my hood. It has upscale bar food and a retro theme. I'm looking forward to a cold beer, good food, and good conversation with a friend I hardly see! Even though she is a non-runner she asks questions and lets me vent and talk about all things marathon. It is very nice of her and I am sure Jacob appreciates it! Plus, she is turning down a sort of family obligation to support me on race morning - so sweet! I am going to need all the help I can get.

Tomorrow is a rest day then Saturday morning is my second 20 mile run. I am getting knots in my stomach just thinking about it.

best 5 mile run EVER

Holy crap what an awesome run for me today! Could it be the weather? I'm sure it had something to do with it. In the 60's just absolutely perfect running weather after the sweltering heat. Or maybe it was my new lighter haircut. I swear I lose 5 lbs everytime my hair gets thinned out. YES, my hair is so thick and unruly I have to thin it out every time I go. Otherwise I look like something between a shaggy dog and a lion's mane. It's not cute trust me.

It took me awhile to physically get my butt out the door but once I did everything felt right. I had a 5 miles to run today, 3 at 5k pace. I actually ended up doing over 5 b/c I had to go the grocery store which is further north... The run ended up looking like this and I'm now wondering if maybe the lakefront path mile markers aren't measured properly!

mile 1 - Not sure b/c they blocked my original entrance for construction so I had to do some manuvering. Once I got to the mile 1 mile marker my watch said 10:25. Thinking my run took me a bit over 1 mile

mile 2 - 7:56 (WHAT?!? I never run this fast)
mile 3 - 8:00 (Crap, I'm actually going too fast but it feels comfortable so I'll roll with it)
mile 4 - 7:58 (Again?!? Dang I rock)
mile 5 - 8:30 (That's more like it)
last 1/2 cool down run.

So yeah, I'm pretty happy right now - hang on - doing the happy dance right now!!!

Lou Malnati's I luv you

Ohhhhhhhh....I am so full....why do I do this to myself?!? I love food that's why. And I haven't had Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza in such a long time! I rationalize it being okay for me because I get the "lou" which has spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes. But then there's the ooey, gooey, cheese and the delicious buttery crust... And I almost forgot the dessert which is always good but never good for me. I love food. And beer. and more food. Good thing I run...

I thought this training for my first marathon might motivate me to eat healthier so I could lose weight. Not so folks, not so. I am prime example that exercise isn't enough. Calories in exceeds calories out on more days than it should out of the week. I'm not really sure why I tried to convince myself this time would be different from the half marathons I ran.

For all of you looking for a good place to eat after the marathon - Lou Malnati's is where it's at! It isn't the Chicago style stuffed/sauce on top but it is pretty damn good.

Oh yeah and I ran 5 miles this morning. Nothing eventful to report. I was tired and on a treadmill. And yes I know 5 miles doesn't even put a dent in what I just ate. But I don't care b/c I love food way too much :)

One thing after another

Today was just not a good day...In trying to help Maggie finagle something from behind the office door I nailed my forehead on the corner of a shelf on the wall. Not exactly sure how I did that but it hurt like hell. Now I can't look up or scrunch my forehead (which I tend to do a lot) without out shooting pain. Never mind the headache that won't go away.

Next, I had documents to ship priority mail on the way to the airport. But the post office decided to change the size of the package they accept in the parcel bins. I am so use to running in, using the automatic station which takes all of 3 minutes, dropping the large envelope, and going. As quick and painless as possible. Not so...no more packages accepted in the bins over 13 ounces due to security concerns. What?! Why Now?! So I had to wait in line...yeah that trip took longer than expected which in turn made me leave late for the airport.

Thirdly, Chicago traffic in the rain plus construction. Need I say more.

Finally, this morning a nice lady from United called saying that my flight was "on time but in an over sell situation so we are asking people to take the later flight with a confirmed upgrade, no cost to you". I thought why not, what's an hour or so later leaving. I don't want to go anyways. Bad idea. United made me use 2 of my precious upgrades and when I complained said there was nothing they could do. PLUS due to the rain that started immediately following the flight I was originally booked my new flight took off 2 hours late. I am finally in the hotel about 5 hours after I expected and I can't sleep. And I need to wake up in 6 hours to get my 5 mile run done. blah.

On the upside the Cubs beat the Cardinals 12-3. Go Cubs Go!

Sports Sunday

Cubs...Bears....Blah... Sunday was a bad sports day for Chicago fans...

Lung Run 5k

The alarm went off at 6:31 am for my run of 12 miles today. I finally made it out the door around 7:05 am. My legs weren't really having the early morning run this morning. It took about 8-10 min for them to catch up with the rest of my body. After that I felt good. The weather was gorgeous; it was clear and in the 60's this morning. It warmed up to the mid 70's by the time I got back home. If only it could be like this year round! I ran into a headwind around mile 4.5 but luckily was turning around for the tailwind in 1.5 miles. Then at mile 9 I ran into the Lung Run 5k so I decided to stop and sign up - why not something different to throw into the training mix. I had about 20 minutes to register and check my gear and then I was off. The race went well! Even after 9 miles of running I ran the 5k in about 25:40. It wasn't a chip timed so I was going off my watch (no garmin yet just a timex) and the course clock. I didn't know anyone there and no one was meeting me so I grabbed my gear after finishing and walked the rest of the way home. The walk ended up taking me about an hour. Yeah, I should have taken the cell to call J to pick my butt up. So after leaving my house at 7am or so I returned about 3 1/2 hours later. But it was quite a productive morning! Now I'm starving and need to find lunch!

Best Intentions

Today I meant to run, really I did. The greatest intentions somehow have a way of changing. And getting in the way of my good intentions was very busy / catch-up work day that kept me inside until the storm came through. Instead I did some cross training that included the elliptical, treadmill, and weights. I am finding it difficult to get my weight training in while training for the marathon. Not that I am some huge weight lifter - quite the opposite. BTS (before training started) I would lift weights twice a week. Now I'm lucky if I get it done once a week... and I have really been skimping on the leg weights and that's where I need it most b/c of my bum knee and foot from playing sports year round until high school. I'm not going to beat myself up about it I just wish I could figure out a better way to train. So 45 minutes at the gym not too bad. I would have liked to spend a little more time but J had to get home to get ready for steak night with the boys. I have to get ready for a night of catching up on the DVR with the cat :) (I think Maggie is really looking forward to it!)

"Shorter" run of 12 miles tomorrow. I may run 9 and then sign up for a 5k that will be happening on the running path. J thinks it's silly to do when training. I think it would be fun and a change. It's for a good cause (lung cancer) and I haven't run an organized race since April when I did the Run to Wrigley. We'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow.

Not happening today

It just wasn't going to happen. I had my running clothes laid out, bottle of gatorade ready to go, and alarm set for 5:45 am all for a 5 mile run before work. Unfortunately, I had issues with sleeping last night - falling asleep, staying asleep, the whole process just wasn't happening for me. Then the annoying hotel beeping alarm woke me in the middle of a good dream too. You know the one, it starts out all slow and slightly annoying until you can't find the button to hit snooze and it quickly beeps faster and louder until it is so obnoxious you want to throw it out the window. Well that's how I feel about it anyways! The overall point is I value my sleep a lot more especially when I didn't get much in the first place and opted to reset the annoying alarm for an hour and a half later. So no running for me today. So another unexpected change in the training schedule but it's okay I'll run back in Chicago tomorrow outside in the cool temperature of 73 degrees when I'm better rested.

A charmed run

I'm in Atlanta right now not wanting to work. That's the norm, not wanting to work. I go home Thursday that means not too long here for this week. I'll be back next week... I'll be glad when this study is over... then I might actually get to take a vacation. I haven't found any great running areas around my hotel plus it is still in the 90's here so I took the run indoors today. I had to break the 8 miles in to two 4 mile runs. The monotony of the treadmill was wearing me down. I took about a 5 minute break between the 2 runs to stretch and grab some gatorade. The second 4 miler felt really good, I got in my groove then. I just wish I could have been outside and feeling good. At least the charmed ones on TNT kept me pseudo entertained for the duration of the runs. Yeah, that's right I just admitted I watch Charmed reruns and enjoy them!

It all started with a local 5k...

I have been running consistently for about 5 years now. It started with a local 5k a friend from work was running and progressed to my first 1/2 marathon with the same friend about a year later. I have now run 3 half marathons and several 5, 8, and 10k's. I have trained for all of those races on my own. Not because I don't want to join a running group but rather because 1) I never really thought of myself as a runner until lately. 2)I never believed I had the sort of dedication a running group has and 3) With my travel schedule it makes it virtually impossible to commit to a weekly group. Over the years I have learned what training schedules work best (or when I should merge two and make my own), when I need rest days, what to eat, what not to eat, what to wear, and so on and so forth all through talking to the one friend who got me started on this whole running journey as well as other research. While out running my 5 milesthis morning I realized I how far I have come in 5 years and especially in the last 8 months with my current training. Last year I never would have been able to run 1 mile let alone 5 miles two days following a long run. After my first half marathon I couldn't walk for a week, literally. I seriously considered a wheelchair during that week. I swore up and down I was never doing that to my body again. I went out too fast as I tried to keep up with my friend who runs a full 1 -2 min a mile faster than me and hit a wall at 10. I had to walk then I got myself going again to finish in a respectable 1:58 and some change. I was in pain, lots of it. I didn't stretch or take care of myself properly during that training and I ended up having take some time off from running after that race. I was burnt out and promised to never run anything longer than an 8k again. Until the next year when another group of friends started training for a different half marathon. How quickly I forget the pain. All I remembered was I've done it before and I did pretty good for my first time so I can do this again. Most of the co-workers bailed and the remaining I couldn't find before the race so with the exception of the first 3 miles I ran the race in the rain by myself. This race was a PR and with a little less soreness. I went out slower, used a different training scheduled before and after. With each race I learned something more about myself and this thing called running. Yet, I always think I am never going to do a distance run again - it's crazy I did it once why do it again?!? I'm sure I'll say it after the marathon as I'm devouring my lunch - Alright I did it, I'm good. Until someone I know says "hey, did you hear about ______ race in ______. I just started training you have time to sign up why don't you it'll be fun!" Then I'll think maybe/why not/I've done it before and it wasn't so bad, see the shoes in the corner of the room and head out for a run to prove I still have it in me.

Labor Day Weekend

I love 3 day weekends! Especially when each day is as warm and sunny as the next! No running for me after the 20 miler on Saturday. I was scheduled to cross train yesterday but took the day as a rest day instead. I had a condo to clean and food to prepare for our cookout last night. After running errands today I decided to do the much needed cross training. We took an hour long bike ride along the lakefront. Being down by the beach and seeing the lifeguard chairs laying flat the unofficial end of summer became a reality. Although I do love the cooler running weather September brings. Hopefully everyone enjoyed their 3 day/Labor day weekend as well!

Surprise, surprise

I'm still amazed that I ran 20 miles by myself yesterday! I didn't really believe it was really happening until mile 15. At that point of the run I have to run up and over a short bridge that goes over Lakeshore Drive. Going up the bridge - oh my. At this point I noticed all my parts were achy. But I kept moving. Around that point I could feel myself slow slightly. I just kept focusing on getting to the next point usually a mile and a half away. Then J surprised me! He was waiting for me on his bike by the 17 mile mark. Yeah! So happy to have someone to talk to. So I turned off the ipod and told him all the stories I had from the last 2 hours and 40 minutes. And surprisingly a lot had happened along the my run that morning. I wouldn't say the last 3 miles went by in a breeze; that was hardly the case. My hips, ankles, and feet were on fire! At 20 I was in amazement that I was actually there and shock. It is like my brain separated from my body so I don't fully believe that I just ran all that way. I slowed to a walk for the last 1/2 mile home. The walking hurt more than the last 3 hours of running.

Later in the day J and I went for lunch and ran some errands (slowly). Then J surprised me again! With a massage!!! Oh what a sweet surprise... I walked in hobbling and 1 hours later walked out almost normal. I could squat down and pick up things with very little pain. I am sore today but it is not unbearable - Thankfully!

My first 20

Just finished my longest run ever...20 miles. I'm sore, really sore. Kind of walking like an 80 year old who just had a hip replacement. Stairs are a challenge, standing up after sitting is a challenge, heck shaving my legs was even a challenge. I'm not sure what I got myself into here...I sure hope adrenaline takes me that final 6.2 miles.