Oh boy, oh boy, Sally was wrong about the 22 miler!!!!

What a relief. Sally thought that the 22 miler was on Yom Kippur, a Jewish holiday on which we fast both food and water so we were going to have to figure out a way to do it by ourselves on another day. But, I just looked at the schedule, and she was wrong. I'm sure for the first time in her life!!!! But, the 22 miler is on the Saturday in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur so we can do it with you guys! I am SO relieved because I've had to run just one too many long runs on my own. I only have so much will power and drive and wasn't sure I could push myself that far. Doing 20 with Paula on the day that you guys only have to do 10 may take all of the strength and willpower that I have in me! So, now, we can all suffer together on the 22 miler. Let's all be praying for a cold front or some unseasonably cool weather!

I rode my bike alone today at the Rez. Usually I won't go to the trouble to rack it up and take it somewhere just to ride by myself but I did today. It was nice but sometimes scary on the Campfire Circle/Waterwood leg as there are so many intersecting roads where cars can be zooming along crossing the path. There was a great breeze over the Causeway which appears to usually be absent when we are running! In fact, it was so strong on the way back to Lakeshore that I had to battle it as I pedaled along. Go figure--will it be there when we need it on the 20 or the 22 miler????? Then I went to choir practice all sweaty and nasty but I got my crosstraining in and now I'm at work. Procrastinating as I am writing and checking blogs rather than working!

Running in Clinton Kicks my Butt!!!

Okay, I'll admit it, I'm one of those who runs at the Rez sometimes on Saturday when the runs are "short". Mark's blog guilted me into coming to Clinton today--I think I have only run one other time in Clinton this year. I was whipped when I finished and not too pretty during the run! Couldn't even keep up with 2:1 intervals, I guess due to the hills and the heat. I think the Clinton 9 miles is a much bigger workout than the Reservoir due to the hills. So, if I ever plan to do a marathon that is not flat (I hope I don't ever do that), I'll have to make sure to do all my runs in Clinton to get ready! I got home feeling exhausted so bathed and got in bed. Napped for a while and got up at noon refreshed and ready to run errands and come to work. I'm still sleepy though but will try to plod through some work as I'm gonna miss lot of days in this pay period.

Various and sundry--brother and running to breathing pace

Thanks to all of you for good wishes for my brother. Who, by the way, was here today to see the endocrinologist. Can't keep a good man down for long. Refused to take the Demerol in the pump at the hospital as he wanted to "tough it out". Says he is going to the wedding even if he's on a stretcher. Dr. Dyess seemed happy that he was going to the wedding and to England and gave us tips for dealing with the insulin on a trip. He is weak but determined so I say, go for it. We did go and find him a small, light, wheeled carry-on bag for his insulin and paraphernalia. At least some people get to take what they need on a plane!!!!

And, Lisa, as to the cadence of running and breathing. Paid attention this morning, and, actually, I run two steps as I breath in and two as I breath out when in steady state, ie no steep hills or severe gasping due to heat and/or fatigue!!!!! It is annoying but unavoidable for me now that I know that I take about 88 times 4 steps per 2 minutes. I count as I go, 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, etc, ad infinitum and ad nauseum. Rarely, my music will stop me from this or a running partner will distract me but otherwise, I'm off to Number Land. One song I had on my player was actually at the correct pace for me but I don't know the name of it!

ONE sock for $35?????????

Okay, I ordered the Strassburg sock for help with plantar fasciitis because Fleet Feet did not have the regular size. The package came today and I brought it into the room to put on to go to bed. Opened the package, read the directions, and turned around to put the other one. There ain't no other one!!!!! I'm not thinking I would have bought this had I known I only got ONE sock!!!! But, on the good side, I only have plantar fasciitis in the right foot so it should work. If I can stand it. I'm not sure I can sleep with it on. I am aware that it has my foot cocked back a little and I do feel a tiny pull on my plantar fascia. In the front part closer to my toes where it was NOT hurting until I put the sock on. I'm not thinking I'll make it too long in this tonight. Maybe I'll work into it--30 minutes tonight, an hour tomorrow night, etc.

My brother begged out of the hospital this morning. His back still hurts but he wanted to make it to his endocrinologist appointment here in Jackson this morning. Little did he know that my oldest brother had cancelled his appointment thinking he'd never make it. So, he's coming tomorrow morning and I'm gonna meet him there at 10 am. So much for my pre-wedding manicure and pedicure but that can wait. I did manage to get the hair all done up today--haircut, etc. so I'm on the way to trying to look better than I do when you guys see me at 5 in the morning.

Wog on, my friends. And here's to the healing of Jana's leg and foot and Scotty's leg, too. And anybody else's aches and pains as well.

New mode of dehydration

Deb and I wogged at the Rez at 6 am this morning--was wonderful to go a little later and have some daylight but, boy, was there traffic on the way home! Then, I started on the weekly Mowing of the Yard, knowing I was only going to do half due to time and heat constraints. Had my usual cantankerous mower problems and the weedeater is still on the blink. Then I got a phone call that they put my brother in the hospital today. So, while I was pouring sweat mowing, I was sobbing also. Was a good way to help deal with frustration though. He is so weak that every little action of daily life that we take for granted like getting up out of a chair and down into a chair and in and out of a car is an ordeal. His back was hurting him yesterday and he called for some medication but this morning when my nephew went to get him/help him, he must have been really bad because my nephew took him straight to the hospital. I would take this a lot better other than the fact that I am leaving next Wednesday for the wedding, and my brother is supposed to go with me so I can take care of him. Since he has no kids of his own, all of his nieces and nephews have been his kids, and he has spoiled them rotten. So they all love him to death, and we all are going to be so sad if he can't come. And, he has a trip to England planned at the end of the month with two of his good friends that I really wanted him to be able to make as I don't think he is going to be able to travel much more. Again, I say, let us all say thanks to God for the ability and privilege to be able to train for this marathon.

Change to my blog template

I just found a picture from 2005 and posted it so you guys can compare the clothing I had on for teh 2005 and 2006 marathon. Take clothes for any kind of weather although you will be able to watch the forecast the week before you leave and have a pretty good idea as to what temperature and conditions you should expect!!! I was down to my sleeveless shirt only before the end in 2005. By choice! Pin your number on your shorts leg so you can wear as many shirts as you want and take them off!

Back from the Delta

Spent about 24 hours back in my hometown in Cleveland. My bro and I did a grocery store run and then took some food over to my mother's and cooked supper. But, just for us as she got my message confused and had already eaten. Her two blades of grass as I describe it. Now, most everyone in my family LOVES to eat. My mother and I included. I have vivid memories standing over a carton of vanilla ice cream as a child/teenager with my mother and polishing it off in one sitting/standing!!! But now, she eats less than a bird. So little that I do not know how she can subsist. But, I think she may get up during the night and bust into the junk food. And maybe she eats cookies and cake. But, I figure, at 97 years old, you ought to be able to eat whatever you want, huh? This morning, I took my brother to his PT session, then went by the car dealership to have my left blinker light fixed--having a family dealership in a small town is an awesome way to quickly deal with a car problem. And to trust what they say about a tire rod being loose or something. Then we went to drop pants to be altered, then to Neysa's shop, then back to dealership to fax blood sugars, than back to Merigold to fix and eat lunch. I finally got on the road about 2 pm--only four hours later than planned!!!! But I do enjoy the ride up there and back sometimes--I like looking at the open land, and the crops, and all the farm equipment. There was a LONG line of tractors pulling loads of cotton waiting to be waited on at the gym--I wished Deb was there to get a picture of that. Enough rambling. Although I did carry my bike up there, I decided sleeping in this morning was much more therapeutic than any exercise would be! I love sleeping in a Murphy bed.