We made it!!

Before I go crash for a well-deserved nap, I glanced online and started reading about the race, the water shortage, the mixed messages from race officials, etc.

I came over to the MM2007 blogs to see who was still awake today, if anyone, after yesterday's workout. I read Matt's forum post and it made me feel so good about all our efforts.

Then I remembered the marathonfoto.com website where I could look at their race photos which are posted by bib number. To my wonderful surprise, I found ME! I was looking official, I was moving forward, I was flanked by my two walking buddies, Sue Ellen and Priscilla. SUCH A RUSH to see it in living color! Go have a look at yourself online! We walkers got our miles, starting at 5:15 a.m. from the hotel lobby and not getting off our feet until about 1 or 2:30 p.m.

Looking forward to continuing October training: I WILL be there.

16 days

MM has gotten me out of my chair, and into the world of the physically active. The more I do, the more I feel like doing.

My metabolism has obviously gotten a boost, because my calorie counting weight loss efforts are finally working. I sort of laughed quietly when I heard the Jenny Craig counselor tell another middle age client last Saturday morning at my weekly weigh in: "Ma'm, I think you'll lose more weight if you add a little exercise next week." Well, that never worked for me in weight loss - a "little bit of exercise." I had to train for a marathon for MONTHS to get my metabolism going. Its been a pleasant surprise to see the pounds fall off, now that I am pushing back from the table and avoiding little debbie emotional treats.

The thought of NOT getting up on a Saturday morning and getting into my walking trek clothes just sounds dreary. Its much more fun to go walking a long way on a Saturday morning, than stay home and think about cleaning house.

I will be curious to see what number Mark comes up with for the final marathon count. I am guessing 100 people. Thanks to Sue Ellen and Priscilla yesterday for the team "walk" effort. I did my five hours, and am officially READY for Chicago. Let's go! By the way, J. Craig informed me that I lost 2.4 more lbs last week. Reasons to celebrate!!!!

Yet another fun Saturday morning, back with the group, this is 3 Saturday's in a row that I have risen in the dark. Sue Ellen and I went along again, and we were the LAST ones to complete our trek, traipsing in at 8:30 a.m. Complete, not compete.

Afterwards, I went to Jenny Craig and got the big news that I have lost 5.1 lbs since last week. A good friend is doing J.C. too, both of us resolving to get control of our bad eating habits. Jenny Craig is easy, and its mainly just healthy portion control eating. Obviously, I have cut out the little debbie treats and hershey products.

Looking forward to next Saturday, then three weeks till The Emerald City. I am ready to see the running Elvis-es. So what name (words) to write on my MM singlet: Amy or something else? Something funny? Inspirational? Political?

Another Saturday a.m., another spooky dark start ( I have a huge imagination). Thank you Sue Ellen for making the trek with me this a.m. I felt energized and renewed after the 10 miles. I can see Chicago looming ahead, like the Emerald City.

Okay, I have not blogged in VERY LONG TIME. Just want to say what a GREAT BIG FUN TIME I truly had on this past Saturday, finally joining the group in the dark of Sat a.m., my first 5 a.m. group trek since well before the 13 mile half marathon Sat. gathering. I've just been doing my own thing on saturdays, since perhaps May. However, 5 hours with THE GROUP was soooo much more fun than five hours by myself at the rat's maze of Strawberry Patch. It was so strange, walking along in the dark, not sure of the trail. I finally caught up with Tiffany, then she tripped/fell/hurt ankle and had to ride back with Robin. Then I joined up with another Amy and Suzanne. Well, Amy had to leave us before it was over, riding back with Robin. So Suzanne and I went on, made our five hours. Our trek back across the bridge was done under a completely gray cloudy sky, thankgoodness. I had been dreading "the bridge", thinking of no shade and endless heated pavement. It was a pleasant surprise at the end of the trail to have an overcast sky. Thanks group! I had forgotten how fun it is to be with you on Saturday mornings. I am looking forward to group again tomorrow a.m. at Fleet Feet. Its a dove hunting morning at our household, so I can get up with the hunters and make it easily to our group trek with no problem. See you then!

Road trip & Roy D. Mercer

Getting ready for tomorrow's trek - loading some more stuff onto my Ipod - including Roy D. Mercer and some Prokofiev, and Beach Boys. Its pretty exciting knowing that the morning is coming, and it will be a BIG milestone event. Anybody else excited about this? In 12 years, I will be 60 - I want to be able to do this when I'm 60, Lord willing. Just random thoughts in anticipation of tomorrow's a.m. Its like I'm getting ready for a road trip!