M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Here we go! Today I am working then packing, organizing and fretting over details but tomorrow we are off! Children have counted to the sleeps to 1 and I believe I spent more money in the last 2 days then a few months ago when we actually paid for our trip.

Thanks to everyone for all the encouraging words and now all I can do is go and do it! I pray I don't let anyone down and that we have a perfect family vacation.

Good luck to all others running Disney this weekend and if you see a blond woman wearing a lime green singlet that says "Joints and Motion" and a hat that says " Reese's Runners" , who may or may not be in motion at the time - feel free to kick her in the butt and say "Get MOVING!" :)

Three Weeks and Counting

I must apologize for my absence this week, it has been crazy busy.  I am just starting to get caught up on the blogs so I hope I didn't lose anyone!  Anyway, I am not feeling to great today and I am praying that it is not a drive down bug because this could possibly be the WORST timing for that!  Christmas is a few days away, I have to finish up a few more things for work before holidays and I am in the final three weeks of my training for Disney.  Let's hope it all works out. 

Today I met with my training gods, Marci and Moe and managed to get in about 17km in the dome (round and round and round...).  This morning when I woke up I felt a bit funny and nauseous but when we got going, I felt better.  I was banking on 30k+ today and felt pretty good about it early in the run.  At about 10k I started to feel a bit off and by 15km it was awful and I was sure I was going to be sick.  I had some water, a gel, and kept going.  At 17k I had to pack it in because I was sure I was going to lose my lunch on poor Marci (sorry for the graphic details but there really is no dainty way to say it is there??).  This has me a bit stressed as that was to be my third and final 30k + run before the marathon.  Not to mention, this crazy winter weather is making outdoor runs nearly impossible so the bulk of my final weeks will be indoor.  Both Moe and Marci were very certain that I will be ready but I am very nervous...much more than I ever thought I would be.  

Well, I think I will soon head to bed as the toast I had when I got back from the run is also disagreeing with me.  Here's hoping this is nothing more than a 24 bug as I think my children will be devastated to have a wiped out Mommy for Christmas!  

Friends and Enemies

Not to worry, my subject is not nearly as ominous as the title sounds. I was thinking yesterday that there are so many things that make me happy in running and then other things that are driving me crazy.

Friend: Disney! Can't wait, we are very excited and not just for the marathon but for all the super fun things that we are going to do. My children talk about it every day...if we don't see Lightening McQueen or Nemo..there will be trouble :)

Enemy: INJURIES! Most know of my nagging foot injury that put up roadblocks for several weeks during my training. I will not say that there is no pain but lots of massage, physio, orthotics and proper coaching really made a great difference. Sunday I did 35k and the pain was no more than the rest of my body! There is nothing more frustrating than having an injury after you are doing something so great for your body, mind and overall health.

Friend: My new Asics running shoes!

With all my research on how to alleviate my foot pain, it was suggested that I give the Cumulus or Nimbus models a try. LOVE THEM. For the first time, I am really having no foot or heel pain while I run. From a dedicated Nike girl - I am converted.

Enemy: Darkness. This time of year, it is dark - a lot. If I run in the early am it is dark. If I want to run in the evening, I have to go by 4:00 if I still want to be in daylight. Sometimes I don't mind the darkness but I can sometimes get talked into slowing down or walking for safety reasons or because it just seems so late and I am tired (even though it might only be 5:00). Here's to the planet speeding up the rotation process.

Friend: I have discovered a great benefit to running that some people talk about more than others (I am thinking men vrs women). Great Jeans. And no, not the genetic kind.

It is fair to say that I am not walking down any catwalks anytime soon but I enjoy that some of the more jiggly bits are little tighter and firmer. No woman out there can honestly say great jeans don't matter - just admit it. Let's not get crazy though, lots of parts are still a little too big and a lot more jiggly...perhaps I should do another marathon after this to keep working on it?

Enemy: Icy Roads.

For many of you this is not a problem. Here in Canada we have winter so ice can be a nightmare. As long as people clear their walkways and driveways, ice on running routes are not always a problem. However, quite often there are patches and sometimes they sneak up on you. I do hate treadmills but sometimes they are a necessary evil so I don't break my neck.

Friend: Support. This blog and my blogging friends, family members and non running friends who pep me up when I am tired, offer to babysit when Daddy is away. Friends that run really far distances with me when they don't have a race they are training for (thanks Moe/Marci). A great husband who makes sure I get the time I need and gives the green light on YET ANOTHER pair of shoes and kids who drive by with Daddy to cheer me on. Support is vital to success and I could not ask for more.

So there it is. My thoughts for today!

2 Months To Go

Tomorrow is it officially two months until my marathon in Disney.  While I have not fully recovered from my PF injury - I am sucking it up and moving on.  I have a great coach with the Joints in Motion team and he has been really thorough on helping me get back to it.  

I don't normally summarize my training plan for the week (usually out of shame) but here it is:

Monday - 5km

Tuesday - running rest but doing Body Attack class at work (learning to instruct)

Wednesday - 8km (this is also tennis night but I think I may cancel for this week because hubby is away and getting a sitter is impossible)

Thursday - rest

Friday - 4-5 km

Saturday - 6km

Sunday 12km (followed by my traditional Sunday spree at the bulk barn where I endulge on very healthy and nutritious items - that happened to be dipped in chocolate.  Come on...you know you do it to). 

I know I should be much higher on Sunday but as this is my first full week back to running post injury, we thought keeping it lower would be best.  Next week I make a bigger jump and the week after that (provided all is well) we are back on schedule.  I was originally planning for 4:30 but now I just want to finish.  Besides, the trip is already hit our VISA and the kids told Nana they wanted "Mickey Money" for Christmas.  NO turning back now!

On the upside, I have raised $6,300 for the Arthritis Society so far.  It is a little lower than the $10,000 we had dreamed of but higher than my original goal of $4,000.  Do you think if I don't finish, people will want a matching percentage of their money back?? :)

Big Day Tomorrow!

Monday morning I have an appointment with my family Dr. and my Podiatrist. I will get new orthotics and will discuss the possibility of running again this week. I am a little nervous because I still have that "twang" in my right foot(P.F) that jumps out with some regularity. However, I have done everything as instructed and have barely run at all in the past two weeks. I have decided that I will not make any decisions about Disney until mid-November. That is not to say we won't go (it is already paid for!) but the question is whether I will just run the 1/2 or maybe not at all. I prefer not to think about this option but it is out there.

Here's hoping for a positive outcome!