OFF TO VERMONT

Yes, I'm going to the Vermont City Marathon after all. I'm looking forward to seeing some of Vermont for the first time ever; to the foot-tour around Burlington and the surrounding area, to the expo; to sharing the excitement of marathon day with 3000 other runners. I'm meeting Rachelle, the friend of a friend of a friend, you know, one of those friends we all have that we haven't met yet -- she's my age (more or less, within 10 years or so) and runs my pace (more or less, within half an hour or so for the marathon) and is there alone (except for me.) We've got each other's cell phone numbers. We're going to start together and stay together for however long it feels right.

I'm running only to experience a marathon once again, to see the spectators, to explore a new area, to high-five kids, pet dogs, thank volunteers and traffic officers, smile, raise my arms and cheer when people call my name, and generally have fun for 5 or 6 hours.

Because the running part... we'll just have to see how that goes. I have not run for 2 weeks. My last run was 10 miles of running and 6 of walking. 2 weeks prior, 20-turned-16. Three weeks before that, 18 miles. Two weeks before that, 16. So I've had 3 16's and an 18 sandwiched in. The last three weeks of training included 10 days of 10 miles every other day, and a week of 8 miles every other day. But only 16-mile long runs, and, as I said, no running at all the past 2 weeks. I've been moving, definitely: hard physical labor at my new campground job, and, oh yeah, 4 miles of mountain climbing day before yesterday. I still feel the down-trip in my quads a little, even though I tried to take the brunt of it on my upper body via hiking poles. Oh well, maybe that'll dissipate by tomorrow and I'll have stronger quads.

Anyway, I'm off.... soon's I get out of my pj's and throw my gym bag into the truck. Wish me luck!