#19847 in your program, #1 in your heart

OK peeps -- we're getting down to the last day of preparation here. I'm very excited. And then all of a sudden, I get this major wave of nervousness. But it's all good. I'll finish my packing today and hope to get in bed early (earliER) for a good night's sleep. I've got to get up very early to catch a 6am flight. But usually in those situations, I wake up all night long worried that I'm going to oversleep and miss my flight.

Hope you all will send me a little rah-rah on Sunday. Race starts at 6:30am. We should be rollin' by 7am for sure (remember, wave start -and we're in corral 19). And don't forget to adjust the vibes you are sending to Pacific Time. That's 2 hours behind us here in Memphis.

Thanks to Linda T. and Paige L. for their donations. My fundraising total is $4401!!

OK, more later....

PS - How cute is that turtle guy up there? Get it? TNT - TEAM IN TRAINING!?!?!

Tough Time for a Type A

Time is just ticking away. I started packing some things last night. I get real fretful about my stuff when I go somewhere. I'll make a list and go over it again and again and again. Then I'll start getting all the things together and pack and unpack and repack. I'll look at everything and talk to myself and put it in piles and then put it in different piles. Travel preparation is definitely one of my OCD's finest hours. Anyway, I'm slowly getting all my things together. I realized that my gels have to go in the little quart baggie thing. That definitely takes up some space, but I think I've got it all crammed in there and left enough room for my saline, shampoo and my beloved hand sanitizer (or 'hanitizer' as Cooper calls it).

I think I just have one more little trip-related errand to do and pick up a memory card for my camera. And I have to continue to finalize the kids' camp schedule for next week - who is picking up which kid, where and when....it's so complicated, it's spreadsheet worthy....

Soooo, mix all that up with my multitude of emotions (excited, nervous, scared, anxious, happy, teary, fired up, worked up) ... and I'm a potential wreck.

I am just so thankful for all the support and encouragement that everybody has given me during these last few months. And now your excitement for me too. It's just special and I'm forever grateful. After all, you've been going through all this with me. You *should* be excited!! {{hugs}}

A friend at work made a little sign for my office door. It has the Rock 'N Roll logo and June 1, 2008 and says "Angie Whitfield #19847". (Thanks P.T.!)

I read this little passage in an introduction to a book that I'm taking with me. While my book is a "compelling and original suspense thriller" and has "masterful suspense and explosive twists of fate" (according to the back cover), the excerpt is actually from a children's book titled "No Matter What". It is a conversation between Large Fox and little baby Small Fox. Basically Small is asking about the unconditionality, limits and endurance of parental love. When I read it, it just reminded me about how Daddy is still here with us. And how he will be with me especially on Sunday. Watching and cheering and helping and pushing me along. I'm actually not sure what it has to do with anything (especially my book)....It just reminded me of Dad and I felt like they were sweet and comforting thoughts. And I wanted to just share them with you, my faithful readers!



Small said, "But what about when we are dead and gone, will you love me then, does love go on?"


Large held Small snug as they looked out at the night, at the moon in the dark and the stars shining bright. "Small, look at the stars, how they shine and glow, some of the stars died a long time ago. Still they shine in the evening skies, for you see, Small, love like starlight never dies..."

Randomness

Hard to believe that this time next week, I'll be packing and repacking and packing and repacking and getting ready to leave the next day.

I got a "Final Event Update" from the marathon with yet more race info. Here are a few tidbits from that email:



There are more than 100 Running Elvi registered to participate in the marathon. What a riot.




They will post live results on the race website that day so you can totally check on me during the race! I'll check it out and post the info later on how you can do that. It should show updates at the 5K, 10K, 10 mile, 13.1 mile, 20 mile and of course FINISH.

The race (or highlights or something) is going to air on FSN on Saturday, June 14. Check your local listings....

I did a little run/walk on the treadmill today. It was fine. Hilareous to me that I do not like running on the treadmill. Remember how hard it was for me to break up with him? I *loved* him. My how times have changed.

I'm having a few little twinges in my shin and am really wondering what's going on with that. My IT band has been trying to rear it's ugly head this week too. And I am *not* allowing that to happen. So I'm stretching a lot and continuing to roll on Mr. Foamy. Same drills..... I've made it this far, I can't fall apart just yet. But man, my feet and legs sometimes just kill me. I told some coworkers the other day that my feet are just so done with me. They don't even want to be a part of my body anymore. But I just need them to hold on 10 more days.....

We're scheduled for 8 miles on Saturday. Sounds like nothing doesn't it? Compared to 20, it's really not! That will be our last official group run. I'm really REALLY REALLY ready to get my Saturdays back. So is my family. Jodi has been beyond great holding down the fort every Saturday since January. I told him to think of it like a 'half day, 20 week hunting season'.....No seriously, he's been so supportive and made it possible for me to 'check out' for a good part of the last 20 Saturdays....Thanks Captain!

I'm trying to complete my list of things to do and things to take. Time is getting short. I can feel myself getting ready to start getting nervous and fretful....

It was a party!!

Last night's "Know Before You Go" party at Lindy's house was just so much fun. It was such a change to see all of us cleaned up, wearing 'real' clothes, with hair done and make up on. We didn't look like our normal Saturday morning no make up, sweaty, ball cap-wearing selves. We are actually quite a lovely group of ladies!

Andrea gave us the low down on the weekend's events. Wowie - there was a lot of info there. I was trying not to get overwhelmed. I went back and forth between being excited and being nervous and being so emotional about it that I thought I just might cry.

Here are some of the highlights:

There will be about 30,000 running the marathon. And about 4,000 of those people will be TNT'ers! She said that every Leukemia Chapter in America has someone participating in the RNR Marathon. (I think she said there were 68 chapters.) I think that's just neat. She said there will be purple TNT jerseys EVERYWHERE! The TNT'ers are very well taken care of by the Elite Racing staff (company that puts the race together) all weekend.

All of us on the San Diego team met -- and exceeded -- our fundraising goal! YIPPEE FOR US!!! We are already winners!!!

The rough schedule for the weekend goes something like this:

Friday - Arrive San Diego. Our flight gets in about 11am. Andrea & George recommended going to the Expo that afternoon to get our packets and to visit the booths since it will be uber crowded on Saturday. This will probably be our last good night of sleep since we'll be too keyed up on Saturday night to sleep much. Should not be a problem since our flight out of Memphis is at 6am. So Friday is a long day to begin with. Sleep should come easy.

Saturday - Pasta Party at 1pm. Followed by a team meeting where we will get last minute instructions. Probably a group dinner after that and then early bedtime for an attempt at sleeping.

There are lots of things to see and do in that area. And, did you know, San Diego is only 23 miles from Tijuana!? (OK, so geography isn't my strong suit...) But it is *right* on the Mexico border. Not really sure how I will spend my free time. Maybe just laying low for a little R&R and enjoying the "away from home quietness". I definitely don't want to do a lot of walking (and risk blisters and sore legs) or do something to get sunburned (like go to the beach) or get arrested in Mexico (just kidding!) I'm always good with a book and a chair by the pool.....

Sunday - RACE DAY! Shuttles will leave the hotel about 4:00 am. The race is scheduled to begin at 6:30 am, but it is a 'wave start' which means they start the fastest runners first and go in order down the corrals. We are all in corral #19. George says it could be about 15 minutes or so before we cross the start line. The long and the short of it for Sunday morning is a lot of sitting around waiting. It will be hard to manage that with the nerves and excitement....

Weather that early could be cool and ground could be damp. George said to bring garbage bags to sit on and/or wear. It was also suggested that we wear an old, inexpensive long sleeved t-shirt to wear early that morning before and during the early part of the race. Then you can throw it along the side of the road. These are usually sent to a local shelter. Which I think is just a neato thing.

Andrea suggested when we get there to go straight for the porta-pottie line and then come out and get *back* in the line and then do that about three more times.

Sunday night there is a victory party somewhere (I missed wherever that will be and really what it is.) and then the post race concert (Pat Benatar). I guess all that post-race hoopla is just tentative for me depending on how I am feeling. Wherever I choose to be will be my own victory party!

Monday - Return to Memphis. Flight is at 8:30 am or something like that. Long day of travel since we are flying back against the clock. Get in at 6:00 pm. Maybe I'll wear my medal on the plane.....

We all got our purple race jerseys! HOORAY for us!!! We have two honored teammates that are included on the jersey. Jordi (It says "I'm doing this for Jordi") is a young girl fighting leukemia. And the Memphis Grizzlies mascot ("Friends of Grizz") is battling lymphoma. Here are some pics of Jessica (brown shirt) and George (easy to identify) and Nicole (red shirt) ironing their names on their jerseys. (If your name is on your jersey, the crowd will cheer for you by name! That will be cool.) It was getting a bit late, so I had to head on home, but I ironed my name on this morning and added Daddy's picture (that says "For My Dad" on it). Turned out pretty nice I think. Take a look.

It was really just a fun night. It was exciting to talk about what we will be doing that weekend -- what to expect and how it will all play out. We've been working towards this major goal for almost 6 months now. And here we are getting ready to do it! I still can't believe it. It was nice to be together - as a team - to visit and laugh and just have fun being together NOT RUNNING!

KBYG Party

Happy Monday!


Feeling good today. Maybe the 4 mile walk after the 12 mile run was the thing to do. I didn't do anything this morning. Just a little stretching.


I am happy to report that my fundraising today now stands at $4,226! Very exciting! Thanks again to EVERYBODY!


Tonight is the "KBYG Party" -- Know Before You Go...


According to Julie the Mentor, tonight we will:

• get our well-earned purple jersey
• go over logistics of travel
• get tickets to pasta party, post race victory party, shuttle bracelets, etc.
• get last minute tips of what to expect race weekend
• have an opportunity to ask questions
• have an opportunity to decorate our new jerseys

So, this is one little event that just means we are that much closer to MARATHON TIME!!! Eeeeek!!! Two weeks from right this very minute, it will all be over and me and my sore legs will be on a plane headed back to Memphis.

Hello, I'm #19847

That's my race number! I got a packet of info in the mail yesterday. Lots of info. My confirmation sheet, a huge race brochure, the course map, shuttle schedules, etc. WOW! It was a lot to digest last night at 9pm, so I'm going to get a closer look today. I was just telling Jodi about it and he said "It's getting more and more real, isn't it?!"

It appears that Andrea from LLS has registered the entire team to have the same predicted finish. Guess that's so we can all be in the same corral at the start. So I'm listed as having a predicted finish time of 5:30:00. Sounds good doesn't it? I was thinking over the weekend, that I may be able to do this in about 6:30:00. Is that too ambitious? My original time estimate when I started this crazy mess was 7:00:00. We put 6:45:00 on my registration form. Oh well, it doesn't really matter how long it takes me. I just plan to FINISH. (Although I do catch myself thinking about the time....)

Look what I found yesterday at Target!!! TURTLE PAJAMA PANTS!!! Just for me! How cute are these guys?! I will definitely be taking these to San Diego.

Starting the To-Do's

The ol' leggies got pretty tight and achey last night and I just became totally exhausted. I put the kids on 'auto pilot' and was in bed asleep by 8pm. Feeling better today. Just a little achey today. But, still overall the recovery from the 20 wasn't as bad as I had expected. I took today as a rest day and thoroughly enjoyed the extra hour of sleep.


Mentally I feel like I've made it over a huge hurdle. The next (i.e. LAST!) two runs are very doable. I just want to get them out of the way and head on to San Diego.


I'm starting to think about things I need to take and everything I need to do before I leave. We fly out 2 weeks from this Friday. Not only do I have my own to-do list, but I have to make sure my kids (and Jodi) are all taken care of too before I head out. Overall, just lots to do. I have started my packing list which will continue to be a work in progress until the minute I leave.


I've printed a picture of Daddy that Jodi is going to laminate for me. I want to pin it to my TNT jersey and wear it during the race. I may change photos. But I do really like this one - it was taken at the beach. Good times there. It's the same one I've got on the front page of the blog. I just added some words that sum it all up for me......





Only 18 days until the marathon!!!

This week's message from Coach George

OK ladies, it's official - it's us for the San Diego Rock 'N Roll marathon, and we are at T minus 30 days and counting!

As you know from the schedule, this is a step back week, backing down to 14 miles, in prep for our 20 miler next week! And after that, we TAPER! You will come to cherish that word, by the way.

So, it is important from now on out that you try out exactly what you plan to use in the RNR on June 1. Shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, hats and other paraphernalia if used. You want to break in everything, be sure all of it fits well, and none of it rubs you the wrong way. Nothing worse than a raw spot developing midway thru the race and having to bear with it for the remainder.

Same with the use of vaseline or bodyglide on your toes or other body parts. You want NO CHAFING! So experiment with these for all of the upcoming runs, even your shorter mid week runs. You don't want to do anything new on race day that you have not experimented with previously.

And, same for beverages and gels. I will bring Accelerade (the brand provided at RNR) tomorrow and the remaining weeks, so if you plan to drink it during the race, which I recommend, need to get used to it now. And remember, the temps in San Diego are projected to be in the mid sixties, so hydration will be even more important than when we have run in cooler temps.

Same with pre race nutrition. Heavy on the carbohydrates, especially of the pasta variety for the days leading up to the race. And something like a bagel before the run works well for me. Don't get out there hungry due to concerns about food not agreeing with you - you need the nutrition and need to see what works well in the hours before the race.

See you at 7 am tomorrow. Shelby Farms lower level parking lot. Angie has mapped out the course.