I had a dream last night....

Okay, for all of you dream interpreters what does it mean when I dream that I am in Chicago, get half way through the race and then stop at the half way point to help George Alliston or Chuck Gautier -- I'm not sure which one it was -- write a term paper. After three hours go by I realize I really need to get back out on the course but now am worried as I'm only half way and 6 hours have gone by.

There were some other parts to the dream that are pretty fuzzy by now, but the whole dream reminded me of those dreams where you go to class to take a final exam but haven't been going to class or studying, or those dreams where you're naked or partially dressed and find yourself at school or work. Weird stuff! The weather, though was perfect!

Hope all is well with everyone. I'm still travelling and keeping busier than I'd like. Leaving Friday for Colorado, though, so I'm a happy girl.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

Marathon Maintenance more info

I just want to make sure that everyone understands my only intention in the post below was to identify those folks who are not participating in the Blues Marathon training and see if they are interested in getting together, as we can, for a group run/walk on a route of their chosing. If they are, then we would set up an email distribution and whoever is interested in setting up a route would use that list to let the group know where, when and how.

The Jackson Bike Club members routinely send out emails to its membership saying "Hey, I'm leading a ride on such and such a date, starting at such and such a time and place. Join us if you'd like". That was the model I was working on -- an informal group who wants to buddy up when then they can, but for whatever reason are not now participating with Mark's group. If I have stepped on toes or offended anyone, please accept my apologies. My only intent was to provide some mechanism for folks who "were going through withdrawal," as I heard several times in Blogs and at the Halloween party, to keep in touch and in shape.

I hope that those who are training for the Blues or who intend to train for the Chicago Marathon in '08 will do so with Mark's group as there are many, many benefits to what he provides. I certainly do not want to compete with or take away from that. I was only offering this idea for those who chose not to participate in the Blues Marathon training and who may or may not be participating in Chicago 08 -- but even if they are planning on training for Chicago are waiting for that training to start in late January.

Marathon Maintenance

I am not participating in the Blues Marathon, nor am I, at this time planning on Chicago '08. (Ask me again next January)

At any rate, I do not want to lose what conditioning I have achieved and have been managing to do some distance walking on Saturday -- 10 miles this past Sat.

At the Halloween party a few folks mentioned they were not participating in the Blues Marathon but were going through "withdrawal" of sorts from the group. So I'd like to suggest for those of us to want to continue to train as a group on Saturdays that we could create a Marathon Maintenence club. We could create an email list of those interested and someone each Saturday would take the responsibility of deciding on a route (6-10 miles), meeting place, and time and emailing that route to the group. That's it! The rest is up to the participant -- to bring their own hydration and show up at the appointed hour. The organizer is only responsible for sending out the route to the email list.

This gives anyone who is interested an opportunity on Sat. (or even Sunday afternoon if the organizer so chooses) to meet with others, visit, get some exercise and maybe we could even plan on breakfast someplace after the run.

eMail me if you're interested, and I'll create the email list and solicit "organizers" for each weekend. (Kayra, we'll even come to Hazelhurst if you want to set up a route down there!)

I will be out of town the next four weekends or I would volunteer for this Saturday. But I will handle trying to get this somewhat organized and creating and distributing the email list.

Remember, the only thing the organizer for that weekend would do is determine the route, start time and place and email the distribution to see who's interested in joining in for that day. Anyone who comes is responsible for their own hydration and should bring a copy of the route that was emailed to everyone.

I hope this makes sense. Bottom line, if you're interested email me and we'll go from there.
(cellsa1@bellsouth.net) (Note: that is the numeral one before the @ symbol in my email address).

Trick or Treat

Thanks to all who came to the Halloween Party! It was alot of fun. I have had one every year for the past 8 years (except for one when my Dad was ill) and I must say, this one was the best and it was because of all our Marathon friends that came. You truly were the life of the party!

I didn't get a chance to take too many pics, but here's a few I did. Christa's were better...

Check it out!

Check out this video on YouTube. At about 39 seconds into it, you'll see the wheelchairs fly by 4 ladies in bright orange shirts...one of whom, with a bright pink hat in her back pocket whips out a camera to take their picture as they fly by. I think I recognize those ladies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNejR3um3gw

Just checking in

Was in Shreveport last weekend and did my usual route there, completing 8 miles. It's still amazing to me that 8-10 miles seems so ordinary and easy. Still walking, not running as my achilles tendon has been very sore lately. Trying streching and ice, but am afraid to stress it too much right now. Walking feels good after I get warmed up so I'll stick with that for a little bit before I start trying to run intervals.

I have really enjoyed everyone's pictures that they've posted from Chicago. I took a few on a dispo camera, but haven't had them developed yet. Frankly, I don't expect them to come out very good. I went off and left my little digital camera at home and was so mad at myself! I've never been very happy with the dispo camera output.

I am so tired of the hot weather! I went out this a.m. at 5:30 and it was YUCK! hot and humid. I hear that is going to change tonight and tomorrow. I guess we're never satisfied and when it's cold this winter I'll be wishing the heat back.

House is getting pretty festive, getting all the Halloween decorations up. Lots to do before Saturday! Hope to see everyone Saturday night. I've had a Halloween party every year since we built our house except one. So this is Halloween party #7. Usually it's mostly work friends who come. I can't tell you how happy I am to know that many of my Marathon friends are coming this year. It will make it all that much better! If you are planning on coming and haven't let me know yet, please do, so I can make sure we have enough food and drink! You don't need to bring anything but your smiling faces! (Note, I said BRING anything...please do WEAR more than your smiling face!).

Moving On...

Well, it's taken me some time to get my thoughts together and plan "what's next". I am so very, very disappointed about Chicago. I do think it was absolutely the right thing to cancel it, but am so sad that it had to get to that point. We won't even talk about the denials and failure to even say "we're sorry" after the fact by the race "organizers".

I felt like I had a marathon in me -- albeit a walking one. But I must say, it was pretty lonely in the back of the pack on that Sunday. I was doing fine, staying hydrated and walking a pretty good pace, but dang if they weren't pulling the course up right in front of me. I only hit the 5K step off pad -- all others were gone before I got there. Most of the mile markers were down and I was worried I was going to be swept up by the street sweepers. I made it to mile 13 before the race was called. So all of that made me realize that I really had no business out there unless I could meet the minimum time requirement -- with a little margin. It's ironic that I decided to start with the race start rather than leave early as I wanted an "official time". Joke was on me on that one! I truly believe if I had started with those folks who went early that I would have finished. I am so proud of Onetta, Lisa, Amy and anyone else who left early and finished the whole course. What a great accomplishment!

So now I have this unmet goal and, believe me, I am goal oriented and I am conflicted. I feel so bad that I didn't finish but I just cannot continue on a Marathon path at this time. Between work, family and the holidays coming up I cannot bring myself to spend the long Saturdays I need to in order to really be ready for a marathon. I don't want to right now.

I am very happy with all that I have accomplished since January. I know I could have done more, but as I put on my marathon shirt DLF>DNF>>DNS (DEAD LAST FINISH (I think I was on course for that!) is greater than DID NOT FINISH (oops, that's where I ended up) greatly trumps DID NOT START). Mark's blog reminded me of the real goal -- to get to the starting line -- and I at least did that.

I do want to keep working on my fitness and pledge to not "back slide". I have done my morning walks last week and this week and even did a brisk 6 miles on Saturday. I am determined to be able to actually run, but with a goal of short distances for now. When I get to the point where I can actually run a 10K -- all the way -- then I'll entertain the idea of training again for a marathon. I will not do it if I can't get to the point where I can at least maintain a pace that will assure that the course remains open while I'm on it, and that will require some running on my part.

Like others who have blogged recently, I, too plan on checking in on the group and supporting everyone whenever I can. I'm always ready to party, so if you need a party place, just let me know!

Speaking of parties, don't forget about the Halloween party at our house Saturday, October 27th. I hope to see you there!