Marathon Day - we did it - go TEAM!!!!

what a day! I wish you all could have been here with us...amazing! the day started w/ the alarm going off about 5am....you know...snooze-time for a bit, of course! then fixed the oatmeal and got all geared up..... left my hotel about 5:50am...headed over to the host hotel where our virtual team was meeting to catch the bus out to the start-line! 7:55am....national anthem.....8am on the nose....START!!!!! by now it was about 50 degrees....I still had my gloves on! We traveled along the Glenn Highway for about 6 miles....then began our 10+ miles off-road.....gravel roadway mostly.....and I must say---so glad I did that "railroad tracks" training....it really paid off! we had a little rain on this part---but nothing to get worried about---thank goodness! back onto the asphalt pathway...schwew!!! mile 17.5 - Tim and Shanna were there with water and Nuun replenishment drink! traveled along and along and there they were again at mile 22....with a little more "treat" and away I went again.... we finished with a 15% incline on the last 3/4-mile and on into the finish line! took me about 5hrs 23minutes - a bit over 12minute/mile...but not much.... was an awesome experience all the way around!!! LLS-TNT people were not the only participants....but we sure made up a good portion of the field! We heard last nite at the inspiration dinner that over $700m had been raised by the LLS-TNT participants for this event! pretty incredible....don't you think? and so many stories...why people are doing what they're doing.....I cannot wait to tell you some of them....from the guy who was running in honor of his best friends in combat, to the guy running for his student, Jamie, who's winning her fight against leukemia, to the lady who's still volunteering because she believes in the mission of LLS and so did her husband Bill!

MANY thanks to YOU for your support - there's no way I could have done this without you...!!!!!

it's 9:10pm Saturday nite!

just have to write a quick note...we had a nice day...went for a quick practice run w/ my VIRTUAL team-mates this morning in DT Anchorage.....then pretty much just hung around and chilled! went to a place called Humpy's for lunch - blackened halibut sandwich! nice!!! then we joined TNT'ers from around the nation and Canada for the traditional inspiration dinner....of course, it was a pasta-feast as well! we're all ready for tomorrow....it's a great thing we're doing and I think you all for your support and love!

on the way to Anchorage!!!

it's 2:10pm Seattle time---we left Vero 4:50am....Vero time...............plane's supposed to leave from here 3:30pm and head to Anchorage! getting psyched....just checked the weather in Anchorage---low's to be 46 on Saturday and 60% chance rain........I've made Tim and Shanna promise to have my coat and dry shoes ready for me after the race!!! anyway...getting psyched....and am so grateful for everyone's support!!!!! together we will make a difference!

good morning all! 8.5miles this a.m.----hitched a ride over to beachside w/ Tim on his way fishing....and ran my way home..... got to see the sunrise at ConnBeach! man-o-man!!! lotsa good reasons why we've been on this journey together....and I'm convinced we're making a difference. Luv you all....thanks for your support! I'll send you a note next Saturday or Sunday......from Anchorage!

we're tapering.............

so Saturday was fun.....I had decided it would be a morning for just a short-short bit of exercise....so I slept in....... had my runnin' shoes on by 7:40am'ish..... it was a beautimous morning...... then my fone rang!!! what a treat....good friend Yvonne and I got some good quality time in and chatted and chatted..........while I walked and walked! and so by then I had reached the 17th street bridge....and decided to call nephew Conor......he didn't answer----but walk on I did! got to his Nana's house and woke him up....and away we went - to South Beach.......played in the surf some w/ nephews R2 and Roger, and MeeMaw too............then Conor and I walked back to his house!!!! Kristy took me home---she was ready for a "Dunkin break" anyway....and boy was I glad.....11+ miles later!!!!!




and then came today - we're tapering (thank you CoachJoe!).....so that means I only had 16 miles on the agenda for today! you know the routine
....3:15am....snooze.....oatmeal....snooze....ibuprofen.....grease up and get dressed! out the door/drive-way by 4:3oam! what a georgeous moon this morning! did you see it?!!! wow!!! stayed in the neighborhood....just cause I could......today - works out pretty good......from our driveway to 20th - 1mile..........easy to calculate! out-and-back and out-and-back and so on...! about mile 11 I was getting a little bored....so did some looping around's............worked out great!!!! just about the time I was finishing up........got to talk to Linda----and wish her a most fab day in O-town at the show!!!!! averaged about 11.5minutes/mile.......not too bad.... I'm wondering tho----will this humidity help us out in Alaska?!!!!!!!!!!!! here's hoping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

so that's how I started my day........it got better from there..............breakfast w/ the newphews.....then 5th grade graduation/celebration for Robbie2-----------wonderful day!!!

here's to you all----thanks as always for your support------- did I tell you? part of my "virtual" Leukemia Team was in San Diego this weekend----the Rock-n-Roll marathon was yesterday.......that was my first marathon.....12 years ago! I know they had fun......and many thanks to them too for all their hard work and fund-raising efforts!!!!!!!!!!

thanks R2 for the run this evening!

was a good workout.....3.51miles from the mapmyrun.com site! you did good---and I appreciate your "coaching"!!!!! and wasn't it fun taking Terri a treat?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

encouragement.....

thanks JenS for the encouragement! yes indeed---u'r a grand mentor and I appreciate you so much! I had planned on doing my training run Sunday morning...so when I got your email Saturday afternoon....and learned that you and Joyce had done 22 already-----well.......I knew then that I too would do more than the 20 that was on CoachJoe's schedule for the week!

Sunday morning came w/ lightening and much rain........so----back to bed I went (I knew I had Memorial Day still to get done!)...........

Monday came - 3:15am the alarm alarmed! I said a quick good-morning to Tim and headed out to the couch.... then snooze I did as usual..... 3:45am----oatmeal was in the microwave! all the other rituals took place....you know what they are! 4:40am----out the door and away I went..........beautiful morning......cool'ish and a light breeze.........was glad I waited til Monday!!!!! check out the map.......I've not done so much zig-zagging and zag-zigging before! but wanted to get some extra variety in and just a tad bit more mileage.....some beachside travel (o the sunrise was amazing!), 4 bridges, some rocks along the railroad tracks and then decided to turn down Uncle Bruce's road to see if he might be outside....if I had figured right....that would put me at almost 22miles-----he was and we had a great chat while I cooled down............and I was reminded again why we're all doing what we're doing and have a couple more names to add to my t-shirt!!!!!

21.5 miles later - I thank you Jen and thank you everybody else for your encouragement and support-----together we will make a difference and win this battle.................

listen to your coach....that's what I learned this week!

what a beautiful day Sunday was-----I left the driveway about 5:40am.....a little later than I should have....but still----o.k.! an ever so slight breeze...birds starting to awaken and chirp....a very few cars moving around.....and DoughBoys lights were on and smellin' up the neighborhood already! yes---a beautiful morning! from the house, I made my way up to the 17th Street bridge and around the bridge-loop two times.....then uptown and back home along the railroad tracks!!!

we're getting close to June 19th......thank you all for your support.......amazing you are!!! I have a new tshirt for this weekend's 20mile'r! I'll have to take a pic and show you!!!! xoxoxoxoxo

Sunday's run!

Sunday's run was great...it was! and I made good time....4hrs---20miles......not bad.......could be faster.......but not bad - still have a month to try to speed it up a bit!!!! Left the driveway at 5:40am (Morgan--that better?!) .....went around the beach----did an "out-and-back" loop....means I did 4 bridges........hope that's enuf for AK!!!!! AND I tell you all again....THANK YOU for your support.....surely couldn't be doing this without you and your encouragment!!!!!!

and speaking of "time".......I had such a wonderful time on Saturday with my Mom and Dad at the Aligator Farm in St. Augustine.....now that was FUN!

I ran like a Mother!

indeed I did!

so Ky called me yesterday wondering why I've not been running.......well---I have been, but hadn't "posted" lately!!! so...here I am this morning.....blogging!!! tee hee hee!!! discovered too that last week's post was stuck in "draft"---check it out...really----I had pic's last week!!!

did about the same routine this week - alarm went off 3:15am....snoozed for a bit....had oatmeal....left the driveway about 4:35am! beautiful morning...simply beautiful.... made my way over the 17th Street bridge and around the Barber Bridge and back over the 17th Street bridge..... 2nd time was a charm I must tell you.........sunrise was incredible.....big pink sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean.........(sorry I didn't take my camera this week----most sorry!)......but I did call Tim and get a grand GOOD MORNING..........checked out the beach, turned around and headed back over the 17th Street Bridge (that made 4 bridges this morning!) and home! what a way to start Mother's Day!

Looking forward to the rest of the day.....HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to everybody.......LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Saturday - day92 - 18miles and beyond!!!

it was an amazing day indeed - so let me tell you a little about it..................alarm clock went off the first time at 3:15am........yes--I like to hit SNOOZE!!! by 3:45am I got up and fixed some oatmeal and ate it by 4:20am or so.........was out the driveway by 4:40am with my trusty snack/drink/camera belt wrapped around me! the morning was still (no wind---can u believe?) until I got to the 17th Street bridge......then.......the wind helped me along the rest of the way over to the beach and up A1A past JI and past Wabasso Beach Road....and finally to north Jungle Trail! yep---and then there was my knight in his white chevy chariot!!!!! thank goodness....Tim picked me up and had a banana and towel waiting for me!!! we headed for a quick breakfast, got home quick for a shower and .............. grabbed Shanna----headed to Lakeland for Brittany's graduation from Florida Southern! what a treat....we got to share dinner with her family....way grand!!!!! so then it's about 6pm....I called Diane to see how Lauren and the IRSC girls softball team were doing in the state championships......by chance, they were playing in Auburndale.........well----they were in the 2nd inning of their 3rd game of the day........... you guessed it......we high-tailed it over there and got to see the rest of the game!!!!!! fabulous---simply fabulous!!! what a grand day........ and all along---I was counting my blessings and being very grateful to everyone who has supported LLS and is supporting and encouraging me along this journey......THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

training update (and more)!!!!!

Saturday - what a day! 16miles was on CoachJoe's schedule for us VTNTer's- so 16miles is what I planned - and did! and better yet - I started early enuf [4:30am...yes indeed] so that I could finish in time to cheer Jennifer across the finish line of this year's Hibiscus Festival 5k!!! along the way.....can u tell? - the "way" was from DT Vero, east on Royal Palm [hey Elaine!], over the BarberBridge, and then north on A1A to JI {hope y'all are good Fred & Pattie.....I passed you about ten to six and waved a BIG HELLO!} and back to DT Vero -....along the way, I thought about all the folks who've contributed to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for me and are inspiring me to train and stay committed.....THANK YOU ALL.....couldn't do it with out you!!! made it back just as Jennifer was crossing the finish line (literally exactly at the exact minute!) and then we enjoyed a great pancake breakfast with her family and R2 and Roger too!!!!! then walked around the "festival" - grand....absolutely grand!

and then there was Sunday - a REST day for training - and a fabulous day for an adventure - thanks Grady and Ky for the peach orchard tour!!!!!

today - Monday - just a regular day (in paradise I might add!) - 40minutes out on the road - from work to home this afternoon - along the "boulevard" and then some railroad tracks!!! then Tim and I visited with Uncle Elzie at the hospital, had dinner with Shanna and am now making sweet potato pie cookies for my pal's at work!!!!

Monday!

check it out - left the bank for a little run/walk around 5pm! got a fone call from Ky---got to get a nice visit in while getting warmed up! ran to the lacrosse field (behind Leisure Square) so I could watch R2's practice! took a breather....then ran from there out to almost 58th and back.... called Linda to see if I could take R2 to dinner! she came to the field, we had a nice visit and then R2 and I left there (walking and talking!) and headed back to the bank to get my car and head to dinner.....in the meantime, called Shanna - she was hungry, so she came and picked us up at Old Dixie, just before the RR tracks! went to I-Hop......had a great dinner (thanks SHANNA!).........stopped by Station#3 to visit Uncle Tim on the way to drop R2 at home! what an evening!!!!!!!!!

R2......remember to look up the HS lacrosse game (Tuesday/regional) - find out what time - maybe we can all go together!!!!

R2....remember too to find out what time and where your next game is - Aunt Ky wants to know too!!!!!

yesterday was Day71- 12miles!

it was a beautiful morning....yesterday....I intended on getting up at 5am, having some oatmeal, and then going for my run.....well----the snooze button kept calling my name! fortunately, it was a cool morning and when I started (from South Beach) at 7:40am....it was poifect!!!!! was slower than usual---but sure did enjoy the morning anyway! then....went to sweet Addison's b-day party! another treat!!!! found out too that a special freind's planning on signing up for the Marine Corps Marathon (tweet tweet Clare!) and I'm so psyched for her!!!! so....on to this week's training----concentrating on "time"!!!!

9:05pm....what an evening!

3.9miles.......a slight breeze....lotsa folks out there too! 45minutes---2x over and back! nice!!!

Day66 - it's warm again!!!!!

yes---it's warm again!!! I'm so happy!!!!! left the office parkingLot at 5:20pm....ran down to the "boulevard" and up the 17th Street bridge....came back over and around to the carwash----just in time to grab a bottle of water and a "rest of the way" hitch home w/ Tim!!! he had 2 trips today---so was just finishing up his day too!!! 4.12 miles----just at about 10minutes/mile....not too shabby---but don't think I could have kept up that pace too much longer!!!!! happy Monday everybody!

10.58miles - Sunday - day 58

another beautiful day in paradise!!!! 11.48minute/mile - keeping my avg steady.... Donnie and Amy and Lauren are here from Ohio for spring break---I dropped my drink bottle "out on the road" and Lauren helped me find it----a "bonus" adventure....as Lauren says...-----thank goodness!!!!! Shanna's home today from her 4-day jaunt to g-ville and j-ville....we're excited for her to be home --- cannot wait to hear about her trip!!!!!

day 53 - some rocks along the railroad tracks!

the "ROCKs along the railroad tracks" are only one block - from 8th Street to 4th.....but man-o-man....a good workout!

Bridge Day - #52

decided I needed some "bridge"-work - so parked at the Manatee observation parking lot at the westside base of the 17th Street bridge. over and back. over and back. almost 4 miles. wind was coming hard out of the west/northwest......so coming "back" each time was a bear!!!! but managed under 12minute/mile again!!! happy Monday!

12mile SUNDAY - 3/21/10 - day 51

A beautiful day.....a tuff run! well---it is fair-week you know! so....to be honest, I've not paid great attention to my diet, to my hydration, or to my training plan.....just haven't!!! but---sure had fun at the fair!!!!! and especially to celebrate nephew-Conor's b-day today.....Tim got me up at 6:15am....I made oatmeal and was in the truck at 7am hitching a ride w/ him over to the boat-ramp! you can see the route - boat ramp up to A1A and all the way up to Fred Tuerke Drive close to JI.......then turned around and headed back down A1A, hit the Conn Beach boardwalk and on down OceanDrive and then thru Riomar and across the 17th Street Bridge and home......did a less than 12minute mile again this weekend---YEAH---but it sure was tuff!!! Tim has said the wind would pick up about 9am....well---sure enuf----9:20am just as I was heading up the bridge......indeed, there it was.....coming from the southeast.....directly into my face! o well---I'll pretend that was special training...to help me be faster on a windless day! All along the way, I was thinking about why I'm doing this and how grateful I am for all the help and support I've gotten............we're all helping LLS make progress in the fight.............thanks y'all for inspiring me!!!!!

8.14 miles - day 43 already!!!

what a beautiful morning....it's getting habit to hitch a ride w/ Tim to the firestation and starting from there!!! gives me a chance to eat my oatmeal too!!!!! so how do you like seeing my route? neat -huh?!!! went westward and then eastward today---nice sidewalks most of the way!!! and....drum roll pls...!!!......broke the 12minute/mile mark! averaged 11:40 today....fun!!!! not really worried about time----but who can resist thinking about it!!!!! happy Saturday everyone----see you all out at the fair!!!

Bridge work for day 38!

17th Street bridge - over and to A1A and back - what a beautiful afternoon and a grand way to start the evening!!!

Day 37 - 10.87 miles!

what a beautimous day! hitched a ride w/ Tim out to FD#3 about 7am'ish and took off from there.....around Aviation BLVD (many planes taking off and landing!) around and thru the country club, over Barber and 17th Street Bridges, and home along IR BLVD.....nice!!!! avg'd just over 12minute miles----not bad....not grand, but not bad for this ole'lady! and much time to think about my family and friends and all my special folks who are running along w/ me every day by way of my t-shirt---and I must say, I'm feeling very grateful for so very many things!!!! And last nite at our Cancer Society Spaghetti Dinner (way to go WachoviaWellsFargo StarChasers---awesome job--- u all rock!), I found a new friend (thanks to Dan Long!)----little Vincent....he's a survivor and is now going w/ me too on my VTNT events!!!!! So now I've had a nice run, a wonderful chat with Ky to catch up on our worlds, getting ready to have some lunch w/ Shan before she heads to Fliegal's baby shower, and and and..........this afternoon, Nathan and Roger and mabye R2 too and I are gonna go see the dinosaurs at McKee Gardens!!!! cannot wait!!!!!

what a day already - happy Sunday everyone!

p.s.----more exciting news.......another good friend made a significant contribution to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recently and has pushed our VTNT fund-raising OVER goal!!!!! Many thanks PATTI....your contribution and your encouragement is greatly appreciated and tell your brother he too is with me every day!!!!!!

Day 34 - Thursday/TEMPO!

@ Charles Park tonite - cold!!!!! but a great work-out!

1 mile warm-up
1/2mile hard / 1/2mile easy /1/2mile hard
1 mile warm-down

Day 33 - a short run and then Edward's ball game!

and they won! was freezing out....but that didn't stop the Hale's Angels!!!! So I left the bank and ran on over to the Rosewood Little League Fields..........Nicolace family was there----fabulous! simply fabulous!

Day 32 - getting home from work!

Left from the bank about 5:30pm'ish.......got almost to 16th Street and my good friend, Jennifer Jones, called my cell! I was looking forward to her call so of course I answered........'cause I just knew she would tell me all about the Gasparilla 15k she did last weekend in Tampa! Well---she had a grand time....the masses of people were amazing she said....the expo Friday nite was fab!!!!! then she came home and did the Sunrunner's 10k on Sunday! crazy girl that she is.....and what an inspiration!!!! HAPPY RUNNING Jennifer---we'll have lunch soon....I cannot wait to see your medal and the pic's!!! so--anyway----we talked and laughed and then I ran some......got to the railroad tracks at 8th Street and ran along the rocks to 4th! then on home!!!! really nice way to end my day!!!!

see you all out on the road...........xoxoxoxox

Day 30 - 6miles - only 20.2 to go!

yes...today's Sunday! decided yesterday to go for a walk w/ Tim instead of doing my long run! but then I knew I had today and that today was gonna be beautimous......and indeed it was! I hitched a ride with Tim over to the boat ramp....he was to take Sach fishing! it was 43 degrees with a wind chill of 37............. so I took off with 4 layers on my top half.....and the pink wind-breaker even had the hood up! by the time I reached Jaycee Beach.....wind-breaker was off and tied around my waste! Ran on around to Dahlia (Humiston Beach) and then westward to Riverside Park, over the Barber Bridge and to my office! what a grand way to start the day......averaged about 11:43minutes/mile......better than last week!

and then later on this afternoon - Linda and Rog and I took a nice long walk - on the trails "under" the Barber Bridge! You didn't know they were there, did you? well----come with us next time.........was WAYYYYY nice!!!!!

love you all - have a great week!!!

Day 22 - Saturday's are the LONG run of the week!

last nite, friends Dan and Sandra and Tim and I attended the Stan Smith Tennis Tourny (benefiting Shan's BBBS!) and then enjoyed a grand spaghetti dinner at Vincent's..... after that, this morning's run was fab! a little slow--avg'd a little over 12minutes/mile for the 9 I did----fabulous none-the-less!...... left w/ Tim and rode out the FD Station #3 (out by the airport) and took off from there. was about 50 degrees----yeah---warmed up just for us Sat.morning.runners (how was your run Sandra and Princess Team?!!!!)! Went around Aviation BLVD, thru VBCC and then around IR Boulevard.....didn't plan on a "bridge", but as I was motivating along.....I got to thinking----I "am" going to AK, so I better do some hill work------decided to do the 17th Street Bridge (over and back) before hitting the home stretch! Glad I did......what a beautiful 15 minutes up there on the top of the world!

so---good morning everybody----hope you have a most wonderful Saturday! love ya,

Day 20 - TEMPO Thursday!

o what a blast.......5:45pm at Charles Park...........and as Ky said---who was chasing who? well....let me tell you..... TEMPO this week looks like: 1mile warm-up; 1.5miles @ 1minute hard, 2minutes easy; 1mile cool-down........ and WE DID IT! R2 and Roger joined us this week - we all did the 1mile warm-up together..........then for the TEMPO piece.....R2 timed me and went along --- and Uncle Tim and Roger did their 1mile TEMPO (Uncle Tim says Roger's a real slave driver!).......then the cool-down! awesome - was tons of fun......come join us next week if you can! after we got done -we had turkey sandwiches and potato chips for dinner at the park!!!!!

Day 16 - 20minutes only!

following the plan! 20minutes was what Coach Joe recommends....so that's what I did............after work again today cause this a.m. was COLD cold.......like 38 degrees I think!

Day 17 - it's a Tuesday and I'm off work!

it's cold out....well---that's relative, isn't it.......it's about 46 degrees and the wind's gusting maybe 15-20 again! I got to sleep in today---just 'cause I have the day off....just 'cause-----so I didn't run until 8:30am! way nice.....nice to go so late and nice that it was still cool out. the sun is up and the sky is BLUE! today's training was set for 30minutes....I did about 40.....went about 3.55 miles right here in the neighborhood. took all my people w/ me in spirit, including those that have been added to my shirt in memory and in honor!!!!! makes me feel good---glad to be a part of "it all"!

Day 15 - Week3/long run - AND inspiration

I am inspired.........by so many people and challenges and opportunities! I am inspired by my family and friends who have decided to support my LLS-TNT event - THANK YOU ALL....we have met our fund-raising goal and I promise you I'll keep my end of the bargain!!!! I am inspired by our local LLS-TNTers who had their "long-run" Saturday getting ready for their event in March - the Princess Run at Disney.........they allowed me to cheer them at a water spot and have coffee with them after we finshed running.....and my-o-my.....was it a cold beautiful morning-----they and their coach, Teri, and their coordinator, Messina, inspire me! I am inspired by my new VTNT mentor, Jen - she lives over in The Villages and this in her 10th year with LLS! She called me Saturday to "check in" and be sure I'm doing o.k. - inspiring indeed!!!!

and thanks to Coach Joe...for keeping me inspired to RUN.........Saturday (2/13/10) was the first day of week 3.....the "long run" of the week......I manned the water stop for the Princess Team.....they all got by me by about 5:45am..........so-----off I went.....south from Royal Palm Pointe/IR Boulevard to and across the 17th Street Bridge, to A1A (north), to Riverside Park and over the Barber Bridge, around Royal Palm Pointe and to the car! what a way to start the day!!!! I cannot remember the temp---but I think about 40 degrees with wind gusts up to 15-20mph......

Day 12 - good morning!

good morning....Tim went too! 30minute walk/run in the neighborhood - up and down the close streets! bundled up....cause weatherman said it was cold....bundles felt good---but wasn't too bad actually! watched the sun come up'ish....... gotta go----have Firefighters Fair committee meeting this morning before work!

Day 10 - 25minutes!

it's Monday - it was cold this morning - so I waited for my run until after work........glad I did! it was a beautiful afternoon and the fresh air after a long day was just what I needed! left from work and ran over to the Publix/Stein Mart shopping center---and around there some.........then picked up my car........got new brakes at Smith's Auto Sales!

Day 8 - Saturday long run

2nd week starts with 4 miles on the schedule....it was such a beautiful morning----I left the house about 6:50am.....ran towards FD#3 to meet Tim as he was getting off work..........it worked! he met me at about 4.5miles out!

Day 6 - Thursdays are TEMPO RUN day

yep! 1 mile warm-up; 2 minutes hard / 2 minutes easy for 1 mile; 1 mile warm-down....... that's what this work-out was like! Actually.....Tim and R2 came with me to Riverside Park....Tim's knee wasn't feeling so great---so he walked the whole way.... R2 tried to do the "tempo" w/ me...mostly he did (!!!)....but when he couldn't anymore----he still watched the tempo-time w/ Uncle Tim's watch and yelled out the time for me. You wouldn't think 2 minutes is a long time---but schwew....it is...when u'r running at full blast! Don't laugh---my "full blast" is probably not what your "full blast" is....but I'm trying! We actually did the warm-down down by the river....wow---you wouldn't believe the stench of the dead fish.......from tiny bait fish to very large snook.......dead on the shore from the cold.......not good.......... finished up the evening w/ dinner at TooJay's with Shanna! GREAT WORK-OUT!!!

Day 5 - JUST DO IT!

yes...small steps....make all the difference! this morning left the house at 6:28am'ish.....thought it would be warm out---but came back in tho for my thermal....was "cold" and windy! glad I got up and went! it's beautiful out and a great way to start the day! since this is the beginning of the training plan----today was another short run.....25minutes or so!

and......this morning wayyyyyy early......I finished all thank-you notes to my wonderful LLS contributors!!!! nice to have them appreciated properly!!!!!

Day 4 - marathon training

so.......don't tell anybody - I decided this morning to NOT go for my short run....schedule called for 25minutes only ---- I thought it thru thoroughly...I did! Figured I could "run" home from work in plenty of time to get a quick shower and then get to Grayson's jazz band concert at VBHS/PAC.................well----that was a grand plan..........until I got to work and reviewed my "calendar" for the day and was promptly reminded about a 5:15pm Cancer Society meeting that I was hosting-----------so guess what....no "run" today...........Spaghetti Dinner is planned tho----March 6th, Elk's Hall........mark your calendar!

long and short of it is this............all training must be done in the morning before work.....MUST BE........period, end of story! have too many other fun things to do in the evenings!!!!!

by-the-by........sometime in the last year or two......Grayson has become quite the SAX player! I knew she was playing......but didn't quite "get it" to realize how REALLY GOOD she and her group are!!!!! fabulous---simply fabulous!!!

Day 1 - Alaska marathon training has started

Saturday, 1/30/10....marathon training has officially started! thank goodness it was a beautiful FL day.....I left at about 7:30am from Young Park and made my way to South Beach Park and back........was a great run.....slow and great! Can u make out my trail?!!!!!