almost there

So I haven't written since the lovely day that I entered taper. I began taper, the period before the race that you decrease your mileage and workouts, right after I finished my twenty miler. It has been a nice break to say the least.

Let's see.... I ran 14 the Saturday after Thanksgiving with Wendy and some ladies she runs with regularly. It was so wonderful! It was really really cold, but we ran the greenway trail and it was beautiful. We even saw a little family of deer crossing the trail. Wendy and I had wonderful conversation, per usual. I have just met some really amazing and wonderfully inspiring people through this whole thing. I feel so lucky.

Last weekend was 10, which I ran with Wendy again, except she had to keep going for another 10 after I was done... no fun! It felt unbelievable, literally. I couldn't believe it was my last Saturday run with the Team. It was definitely bittersweet- I am so excited for my race and so proud of myself, but I also feel like I'm losing something that has been such a huge part of my life for the last six months. I guess I never imagined the time would actually go by so quickly. I remember hearing about other teammates who were training from earlier races, they would be running 12 or 16 when I was doing 8 and I just never really thought I would ever get there, you know? And now here I am, two nights before my race and I just can't get over how surreal it all feels.

I know some people are probably reading this and wondering why I feel so attached to a running group. It's because it is so much more than a running group. I have raised over $3,000 for an amazing cause, I have met really interesting and wonderful people. I have put my mind and my body to the test, and I have learned that I am so much stronger than I ever thought. Team in Training has given me a purpose for the past six months when I've been trying to sort out my life, it has allowed me to somehow fight the disease that affects my family and so many others.... what an amazing gift this has been. I just can't get over how great an impact it has made on my life in such a short period of time.

Up next comes the race.... THE BIG DAY IS FINALLY HERE! My family and I leave for Kiawah tomorrow morning, so we can relax and take a look around and my Dad and I will get all signed in. Then, tomorrow night, there is an inspiration/pasta dinner. I've heard it's a really emotional experience, they have survivors and participants talk to the Team and just make us realize the real reason everyone decided to do this, to help fight leukemia and lymphoma. It should be a really great motivator for the next morning. Saturday morning will start early with a team meeting, and then the start at 8am. I'm really excited and really really nervous all at the same time.

My whole family is coming to watch, so is my boyfriend Doug, and three very special friends from school. I'll also have the thoughts and prayers of so many wonderful friends and supporters, it will be great. I really appreciate all of you who have been reading this blog throughout my training. I hope I have been able to provide some insight, and some proof that anyone can do this. It has been such a cool way to look back and track all my mileage, I'm really happy I did it.

This isn't the end, I'll be writing more when the race is over. I really am so thankful to all of you, thanks for taking the time to care :) Think of me on Saturday morning at 8 (and 9, 10, 11, and 12) while I'm running.... I'll need all the help I can get!

Anybody can do just about anything with himself that he really wants to and makes his mind to do. We are capable of greater than we realize. - Norman Vincent Peale, author

Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?
- Peter Maher, Irish-Canadian Olympian and Sub-2:12 marathoner