My Road to Boston: 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.