Warm Fuzzies with 5 days remaining.

I had the pleasure of meeting another local gal (Hager City) on Monday night & actually running with her before we both go to Boston next Monday. Her name is Amy Engnes & she's a super talented, speedy, little woman who can kick my butt in a foot race! We're going to meet up at the Expo on Sunday where I'll meet another runner from Hudson who's in my wave & then we'll hopefully see each other around the finish line as well. On our run we didn't stop talking once, not even on the steep Ellsworth hill running by the English Lutheran Church. Ha! What a blessing it has been to have met her & get some insight into what to do/not to do with regard to Boston, since this is her second trip there. I'm excited to have met her & for running together in the future as well.

Additionally, I want to thank everyone for your outpouring of love shown to me in these final few days before Boston. Thank you for the encouraging phone calls, emails, for the "good luck," the marathon questions, the gifts, and the "we're proud of you" comments. I've been feeling overwhelmed with the kindness and encouragement and I hope to do you all proud.

Yesterday morning, my boss, Mr. Stoesz, pulled all of our staff together to send me off and it touched my heart so much. I'm so thankful to work with such wonderful teachers & staff here at Ellsworth High School. They put together a care package of water, Nuun tablets, GU, a running magazine, and a pile of chocolates. It was so thoughtful and I was speechless at the sweet gesture and that they all took time out to get together & support me.

Another friend stopped in and gave me a card, telling me there was money inside for me to get myself a "treat" upon completion; which she suggested a commemorative charm, or something that I'll be able to keep & hold on to.

To all those who've reached out with encouragement, I just want you to know that it all means a great deal to me and on April 20th, I'll be thinking of all of you and feeling grateful for this life. Love you guys and thanks so much for caring.

Now if ya'll could just do me one last favor & pray that the forecast gets just a bit better...

April Fools Day...April 20th is almost here!

So do you include the day you are currently living with a count down to a day when an activity occurs? Either way, Boston is coming quickly & I'm feeling ready.

21.2 DONE.

Since I last wrote, my butterflies were conquered and I've actually gotten TWO 21.2 milers under my belt. Last weekend was harder than the one prior, but I forgot my GU at home so that was part of the reason why, that and headwinds fighting me as I returned home. I added a much more hilly route these past two weeks, running out to 850th at the top of the Pechacek hill.

The week prior was also probably much easier because after I'd gone about 12 miles, I thought this woman was just pulling over to let her sons relieve themselves in the ditch or something, but then they all go to the back of their pick up & start jumping, clapping and cheering me on. Thanks Rhonda, Ray and Jack, your cheers & encouragement propelled me when I was doubting. It made my day, I couldn't stop smiling with regard to your sweetness all the way home. When I needed that extra push & strength of the Eagles, God took care of me and I honestly felt better running 21.2 that Saturday, than I had the week prior in a very difficult 17. He's got me covered in this, I feel strong & able.

I've increased to 41-43 miles per week and now I will begin to slowly decrease. This coming weekend only 16 miles, the following 12, and then 4 the Saturday before Marathon Monday. I cannot believe how fast the days are passing by. I received my Boston Passport in the mail on Saturday after returning home from my long run.

If you are out and about this coming Saturday, I'm planning on knocking the run out early, around 7-9. I'm planning on running my route from C, to V, to 63, to 10. If you see me, a honk or wave would be greatly appreciated!

Everything is coming together & becoming less a dream and much more reality. I'm excited to travel & to enjoy & live this memory as it plays out. I've got reservations for dinner set the night prior, I think we understand the subways & know how to get around & I'll be able to find Ryan once everything is complete.

As I drive around for work, going between jobs and running errands, I think a lot about everything that has gotten me to this point. The hundreds of hours on the road, purple lips and cold, cold limbs, sweat pouring on hot humid summer days, flash flood rains that have snuck up outta nowhere when I'm miles away from home & I've just continued to run, with blurred vision through mascara stained cheeks. I was watching a video (Why I run - Laura Fleshman) by Laura Fleshman who says,
"Running is tattooed on her heart" and that is a great way to put it. I've never gotten a real tattoo because I've never had anything that meant enough for me to mark my body, but in this way I do have one.
I feel that way as I recall these running memories, paths taken that weren't traveled, silly situations, letting off steam, training my dog, pushing the jogger stroller up so many, countless hills, realizing that maybe this 40 lb boy might be too heavy for this contraption once and for all...Ha; rain, sleet, snow, ice, wind,etc; all of it building and adding to my story. Many people think I'm crazy & I can't always explain my passion where I'm able to get another person to comprehend it, but once you fall in love with running, its going to be apart of you, forever.

Time is going too fast.

So that being said, I'm also a mom & as a mother, of two goofy, crazy sons, that are growing WAY too fast. I gotta' think of some good April Fools day pranks to play on them today. Hmmm...the ideas are brewing...Ryan is a far better prankster than I am...so I think I'll discuss this with him.

At the dentist last week.

Helping me at my office.

Harry Caray

Losing this game, but learning cribbage very quickly.

Ol' Dead eye shootin' BB Gun.