Less than one week to race day!

I've been neglecting this site in the mad craziness of Christmas, but I have been managing to keep up my training (for the most part). Having a goal so soon after the holidays has really helped me stay in line. There are days when staying on the couch and playing another round of Princess Monopoly is the only thing I want to do, but that race isn't going to run itself!

I had my last "long run" on Christmas Eve. I ran ten miles and it really wans't bad at all. At this point, the running is the easy part. I've found a comfortable pace (slow, but comfortable), my knees and ankles feel good, my lungs are clear. Blisters are still a huge problem for me thanks to some wonky anatomical engineering south of my ankles. Cliff has been a great help in working with me to keep my feet healthy and last night, had the Dremel tool out to file down a rough spot in my running shoes. I'm about to give them a 4 mile test drive to see if the shoes feel better.

Speaking of shoes, I've been breaking-in a shiny new pair of Brooks Ariel sneaks which are the nicest sneakers I've ever owend. The lovely folks at PR Running spent a good half hour with me analyzing my gait and having me try 7 or 8 different shoes to see which ones gave me the best support. It was sort of strange running around the parking lot knowing someone was staring at me, but it helped me find the right shoes.

I've also been experimenting with Skin Lube. I can't figure out whether it's helping me to get fewer blisters or if it just reduces the feeling of heat associated with the blisters. Either way, I will be carrying some on race day to re-apply along the way.

Mags and I fly to Savannah on Tuesday to spend a few days with my dad and Gail before heading to Orlando on Thursday for some park-hopping fun with Arwen and her fam before the race! My mom, Marc, aunt and uncle will arrive sometime on Friday and we will all take to the course on Saturday morning with some of us walking, some running. Arwen and I are going to try to run the entire course together.

We'll post final info on our bib #'s here so you can follow our progress this weekend. Afterward, we'll be sure to post plenty of photos and write a long wrap-up.

Many thanks to all of you for you donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and for your support and encouragement.

Happy New Year!

Saturday I ran to the Y, exercised on the elliptical for 3 miles and then ran 6 miles. I walked down hills. Asheville has quite a few hills so I walked a little more than I really wanted to. Disney has no hills (phew).
I did ok. I called Trey from half a mile away from the house and asked him to get ice ready but there was no fibula dislocation issue, there was no aerobic issue. It was good.
My knees were sore after but I think I will have to start building muscle around my knees after the race.

I have a running problem. At 5-6 miles it appears I dislocate my fibula. It pops right back in but it hurts like a mofo. Not what I needed 3 weeks from the run.
Ugh. Ugh. Ugh

First everyone should know about Podrunner. He is the bomb. He makes one mixes at different speeds and they are fun.
Here is my running mix:
screenwriter's blues - soul coughing
rental car (remix) - beck
do you remember - jack johnson
Whine and Grine - The Beat
clampdown - the clash
the littlest birds - the be good tanyas
one more time - daft punk
hotel intro - moby
the rockafeller skank - fatboy slim
blank expression - the specials
here it goes again - OK Go
Out of the Sun - Joy Zipper
These arms of mine - otis redding
flagpole sitta - Magnificent tracers
don't stop - brazilian girls
A message to You Rudy - Specials
Mr Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Mix) - The Killers
Train in Vain - The clash
Youth - Matishayu
Such Great heights - The Postal Service
You're wondering now - specials
Give It Away - RHCP
Body Moving - Beastie Boys
This Woman's Work - Kate Bush
Feel Good Ing - The Gorillaz
Pioneer Skies - The Chemical Brothers
Respect - otis Redding
Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers
Mambo Sinuendo - Ry Cooder
Wish Coin (Diplo Remix) - Beck
I'll Be your Mirror - VU and Nico
Angel - Massive Attack
A New England - Billy Bragg
Teardrop - Massive Attack
Temperature Rising - Les Nubians
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
Shake Em Down - North Mississippi Allstars

It slightly varies run time to walk time but each iteration is 10 minutes. I need to work on a few areas. I have Massive Attack to far down the list. They are great to run to.
Run Strong!

So we all know Team Mimi is a remote training team. Arwen and I and basically train together online and over the phone. We call and chat several times each week to compare notes and talk about how we're faring on the road. The following is a rare glimpse inside one of our 'online training sessions':
Arwen: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/6212080.stm my cat really is senile

me: ooh lulu was senile too, poor thing
Arwen: whoogs is so sweet but she has a remarkably vacant stare
me: lulu stared at things and then started peeing every time she was stressed which was pretty much any time someone outside the family entered the house or she heard a noise outside or she was just having an emo kind of day
Arwen: lol I loved Lulu
me: bless her -- she had ISSUES
Arwen: Whoogs doesn't do any of that, she just walks around the house at 3 in the morning caterwaulling it wakes Trey every time and he thinks Elizabeth is screaming
me: communicating with the spirits --i just ran 3 miles in 33 degree weather
Arwen: you don't sweat :) );
me: plus side: no sweaty head
Arwen: did you do galloway?
me: down side... when you finally go it it feels like the flesh is going to melt off your body- yeah i'm basically 8/2
Arwen: sweet that is where I am
me: and still managing about an 11 minute mile on a really hilly course
Arwen: on saturdays they make us do 1 mile and 1 minute (which is like 11 / 1) and it stinks
me: oh we won't be doing that
Arwen: I am between 11 & 12 when running 10 miles but that is with the evil 11 /1
me: no no no
Arwen: with 8 / 2 I can stay conversational
me: yay
Arwen: which is what we want me: i'm rebuilding the running mix as i type this... Arwen: cool ); me: i think i like the new one even better
Arwen: I will email you mine if you email me yours
me: btw- the song that killed the music on my ipod?
Arwen: heh heh yes
me: wind it up by gwen stefani which may be the best running song ever
Arwen: I think it is corny
me: dude- she sampled the lonely goatherd song and made it work... she deserves SOME credit Arwen: I agree
me: corny maybe, but infectious.
Arwen: but she is corny cobrastyle is infectious
me: in a campy way, not in a wayne newton kind of way
Arwen: if you ask Elizabeth what her style is she will tell \'my style is the bomb\'
me: can we put this conversation on the blog?
Arwen: yes me: we always say we're going to and then don't. okay then,so no swearing
Arwen: I can't access blogs but you can post it let's post our running mixes too
me: and nothing to offend our gentle readers okay!
Arwen: gentle right are we going to edit this
me: what? my typos aren't endearing? nah, let it rip
Arwen: i thought more about my swearing
me: no- everyone who knows you is well acquainted with your filthy mouth

*it was edited... just a little, but only to protect the innocent ;)

I have met my fundraising goal! Thank you, everyone, who has supported and reads the blog. I think Kara still needs some support so if you can find a couple of dollars to toss her way I would really appreciate it (as would she).
I ran 10 miles yesterday. Yesterday my knees hurt. They burned, they ached and I was sort of pathetic. I iced and elevated and vaccumed (don't ask) to try to work out the kinks. Today I have a little pain in my right foot but my knees feel better than they have in weeks. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I will go to yoga today and rest tomorrow. Yeah!
All the travel issues have been worked out. Things are shaping up down south. My friend Amber finished the Marine Corps marathon a few weeks ago and I want to post pix:

Here she is at the beginning (I hope I look this good at the beginning). Do you think she loks a bit cocky? Yep. That would be Amber.

This was about half way through. Great form. Here she is completing her first marathon. Congrats Amber, you did great!