Party! Saturday, August 4

Out of the funk ...into the countdown

Well, I am so happy there are only three, yes, count them, three, long mileage days left before the Marathon. Of course, they're doozies -- 18, 20 and 22 miles -- but there's just THREE LEFT! Isn't it funny how the "short" 9 and 10 mile Saturdays in between don't hardly even seem like much of an effort?!

I will be in Colorado the weekend of the 20 miles -- planning on a 6-8 hour hike, whatever miles that ends up being, to count for that day.

I am out of town more weekends than not these days, and I am off every other Friday, which works out right now to the weekend with the long distances. So I've been walking on Friday morning and then making my trek to Shreveport. So I have missed seeing everyone ever since the half marathon.

I did the 16 from my house on Friday. I was hot, tired and sore when I got done but it sure was a good feeling when I was through! I am wondering, though, how I'm ever going to be able to do anything in Chicago after the marathon other than crashing in the bed and sleeping! Maybe adrenaline and pride will be enough to keep me awake and able to walk to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner on Sunday.

So, the party at my house on the 4th of August is on. I am making sure that one of my sisters goes to Shreveport that weekend to stay with my Mom, so I can stay home. I will probably, though, walk on Friday the 3rd as I don't think I can do 18 miles on Saturday and host a party Saturday night. I will come by the Rez on Saturday morning, though, and make sure everyone has a map to the house. I'll also get Mark to send one out the group next week.

I know that I have not been one of the more visible people in the group. It is not been by choice, but by circumstance. However, I faithfully read everyone's blogs, and am so proud to be part of this effort and to have made the friends that I have. I am looking forward to the party to making even more. (I will have name tags, because I, at least, still need them!)

...but I don't want to....

Back in March, I blogged about being in "the house of pain" (stage two) as we move through stages associated with training for the marathon. I find I am now in stage three. I am a little more "competent" at wogging -- I can handle the distances and the weather. BUT I am not as committed. (Or maybe I should be committed for ever agreeing to do this.) I am still sticking with the training program. I'm wogging the miles and time as expected. I am still riding my bike for XT. I'm just not very happy about it. I don't know if it's the heat or what, but I suspect it's the time commitment on Saturdays. It is difficult to get up at 4 a.m. on my day off! It is difficult to spend hours in the heat, humidity or perhaps the pouring rain. It is not that difficult physically, but it is difficult mentally. I just don't really want to do it. I guess that's as blunt as I can get.

All of this is not to say I want to or will quit. I will not quit! I will be at that starting line in Chicago in October. I can even say if I had to do it over again, I would (I think). I have met many new friends, I have lost 30 pounds, I can run (some) and I have wogged 15 miles all at once! Wow! So that's what I have to keep telling myself. All of the benefits of this endeavor have been worth the time and discomfort.

So I need to quit whining and complaining.

After not doing XT last week when I was travelling, I did bring my bike today to ride home from work. I've even inspired a couple of people I work with to ride to work a couple times a week. I just hope it doesn't rain this afternoon.

I have been looking at the calendar, and I'd like to try to host a party with the MMers on August 4 after the 18 miles. Anybody up for that? It would be a covered disk and BYOB as after the half marathon. I will post the proposed date on the bulletin board to get feedback. Maybe we need another get together to charge us up for the last two months of training. I will be out of town four weekends after the 4th, so that's the best time for me unless we want to wait until after the 22 miles. I feel like I need a party before then!

Greetings from Vermont!

I know it's been a while since I've posted or commented on others' blogs. I have been reading everyone's blogs and it sounds like the "run in the rain" was fun. Sorry I missed it. I am afraid I will miss several more as my life is getting really hectic now - and doesn't look like it's going to let up any time soon.

I am sitting in a hotel in Vermont tonight...having made a whirlwind tour of our Nuclear plants in the the Northeast. My job has expanded from being resposible for leadership training for our nuclear plants in the South (Ark, LA, Miss) to being responsible for all of our plants -- and we have two in NY, one in MA, one in VY and one in MI.

I started this trip by flying into Syracuse, NY and visited our plant it Oswego on Monday, drove to our plant in eastern NY near NYC on Tuesday, then to Plymouth, Mass, and then to Vermont today. Will fly home on Friday. I'll go to Michigan in a couple of weeks.

I have worked in MOST of my training. I did the 15 miles on Friday from my house as I was going out of town to see my Mom on Friday afternoon. I did not get rained on, but it was pretty hot. I wogged in Oswego Monday night and in Little Neck, NY this morning. I did miss exercising on Tuesday. I will walk in the morning before my meeting starts. I don't know if I'll make the group run on Saturday -- I'll have to see how I feel once I get back home.

I was so looking forward to some cool weather up here, and wouldn't you know the heat followed me up and they're in the middle of a heat wave. It did rain today on my way to Vermont, and I think a cool front is moving in -- so maybe I'll have a day or two of cooler weather.

I am ready to come home. It is so fast-paced up here. I like the slower, more "genteel" culture of the South. Plus, the traffic isn't nearly as bad -- even on County Line Road!