Life is Good...Thanksgiving

Katie and I have been down at the beach with my fam for the last few days. This year we're thankful for family, friends, good health and all the other normal stuff. We're also thankful that Katie has started to run and bike again. She's started out slowly and everything seems to be going well. Physical therapy starts Monday at 10:00am, as long as her company doesn't decide to announce their next round of layoffs during that time. It wouldn't surprise me though. They do seem to be the "Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, You're fired" type.

I'm off to run a few miles. Nothing too heavy as I'm running the Memphis marathon on December 6 and then the Huntsville marathon on December 13. I don't think anyone would advise running two so close together, but as I've said before, "I'm stupider than I am smart", and I like it that way. Hopefully my body will hold up.

Lastly, I predict that Auburn will beat Alabama today. Call you bookie and and put a few dimes on the tigers. WAR DAMN EAGLE!

http://www.stjudemarathon.org/

http://www.runrocketcity.com/

JG

Life is Bananas . . .

About all I can manage post-wise this evening.

Bananas for all . . .

Cheerio . . . Chump

So. J. is off watching some UFC brutality. I'm supposed to be working on my second paper--ahem--which I am--sort of. Just happened to take a "short" break to surf the net. I ran out of interesting things to read about, so I happened to do a search on YouTube for running technique. And I came across this . . . .



1. From what I can tell this is not a joke.
2. But it looks like a SNL skit.
3. Brits (at least this one) wear some daringly short, colorful skivvies.
4. Next time I "tuhn ouwt" for a run I'll remember to "peeck mah feeat uhp a biit highuh" and look out for "ruhts" so I "don't fall ovuh."
5. Although most of the info is "No shit Tonto" it's good for a laugh.

Downside . . . 10 more pages to go--and no real insight as to why I look like a duck when I run. Upside . . . fairly amusing--although I don't think it was intended to be.

Cheerio dahlings!

Life is Good...Weekend

Its the weekend, thank God. I met my running group this morning at 5 am. Today was our final training run for the Memphis marathon, which is in three weeks. We'd planned on running 22, but decided to be ambitious and ran 26.2 miles, which went very well.

We watched the first half of the Auburn game with RBA (Katie's dad). Katie spent the afternoon writing a paper for class. We're off in a few minutes to eat dinner at La Dolce Vita with friends, which will be followed by watching the Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-view. I will have probably been up at least 20 hours before I find the bed.

Katie will probably spend much of the day at the JCC tomorrow doing non-running strenuous activities. I have at least 1 million leaves to get up. I'll be very glad when she's able to run again. I miss my #1 running buddy.

JG

10 Things About Running a Half Marathon

Meg's Half Marathon

Click above for pics from M.'s first half marathon!

M. I think J.'s E-mail sums it all up. I love you and I am so proud to be your sister. Pay special attention to #9 and #10. In J.'s pre-race words (and after the event, mine):

1. The hardest part of any race is the training, which is over. (unless you've signed up for another one . . . )
2. Running the race is merely a celebration of that training. (which is why you've probably thought about signing up for another one)
3. Don't ever downplay this accomplishment. It is one of significance that most people will never have the courage or will to complete. (Many estimates indicate less than 1% of the U.S. population will run a half marathon this year.)
4. At some point in the race you may feel poorly. Remember that there's magic in misery. (You didn't ever look miserable. Logical conclusion: you can run farther . . . Chicago 09?)
5. After it's over don't hesitate to tell people you ran a half marathon. Upon hearing your story people in your circle of influence may be inspired to start running.
6. You'll be surprised how quickly time will go by during the race. (I think Support People A & B and the shiny red cow bell probably helped with this one.)
7. Katie and I are extremely proud of you. There will be others that are proud, some that think running is stupid, and some that just don't care either way. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. Run this race for you! (You did it for yourself. Satisfaction with what you've accomplished is better than any praise anyone can give you.)
8. Have fun. (And keep running :)
9. Party when its over, you've earned it! (I vote that #8 and #9 are the same.)
10. Sign up for another race. (Mercedes--on your birthday. And ice that hip flexor!)

JG (and KG)

And A Word About Yesterday

Yes. We. Can.

Countdown for M. . . . 2 days!

M. You've done this all on your own! I remember running 3 miles with you in the snow on the parkway and you said 5 felt like a really long way. Can you believe you're going to run 13.1 on Saturday?

And you're going to be great! I'll be there at every point I can be cheering you along and wishing I could be by your side.

I'm so proud of you (mostly for reasons outside of running), but I'm so glad you know and understand that you truly are capable--whether it's 13.1 miles, starting an I.V., or 26.2 . . .

You got it girl!

Here's one of my new favorite songs (and the cheesy music video) to get you PUMPED up.