Last Post before the Race Report

Thanks to all of you for your supportive comments on my last post. This blogging community is great - as are all my running friends. Runners are the best!

I'm getting excited about crewing for Rob and especially about the chance to hang out with Olga again. It going to be a great race from the crewing perspective. The only downside is that I'll have to wash and clean out the car afterwards. I hate that, but I can't expect Eric to do it when I'm the one that's caused the mess. Dang. But, hey, that's what car washes are for, right? And it's an Element, so it's easy to clean out the inside. Okay, I've convinced myself it won't be too bad.

I can't believe it is August and we are running in the dark again. Of course, right now it is getting lighter as we go, but I'm having to start out with my flashing lights on. It's dark for Eric's entire run. It's still warm and we only have one reflective vest that we share - that's because in fall and winter it's cold enough that we both wear our neon yellow running vests. We use the reflective vest briefly in the spring and late summer when it's too warm for the others. It's one of those lightweight net thingies - Eric has been going out the door with it on in the mornings. Plus he's wearing his headlamp again. I really hate that net vest - I'm going to get one of these. It looks like you can fit them better than the vests. That'd be good because the vest always slides off one shoulder and is too loose.

I'll let you in on a little secret. We have recently received two AARP ads in the mail - because someone in this house is sneaking up on 50 years old come Monday. That's right, I'm married to an older man! New age group coming up - this weekend will be Eric's last race in the current one. I'd tell you what I got him for his birthday, but he is off work for a few days and might read this before he gets it, so you'll have to wait to find out.

Eric ended up working late last night to wrap a few things up before his time off, so he missed the last train home. I drove into Seattle to pick him up after I got done with my class. My reward was a stop at Red Robin on the way home for my favorite food - french fries! It doesn't get much better than Red Robin french fries with ranch dressing. I try to be good, really I do. This is a limited treat - once a month if I'm lucky. My family laughs at me if we go there for dinner because I get a dinner salad and fries. For some reason they don't consider that a "real" dinner. I do, I mean come on - I have salad! That's healthy! The fries are a bonus. French fries have always been one of my weaknesses (that and chocolate). In the last few years I've become more particular about wasting my calories, so now I only order fries if they are the kind I really like. I like the fat ones or the crinkle cut ones, or the steak fries like Red Robin. None of those skinny ones or the ones made from ground up potatoes put back together in fry shape. No way - I'm a purist, I want chunks of real deep fried potatoes.

This has been a relaxed running week. Jenny, Sonya and I had a nice and easy one on the six mile hill run yesterday, and today Barb and I had an easy four mile run through our two local parks. I'm going to walk at the track tonight, then I'm taking tomorrow and Saturday off from running (though I've still got Pilates), and then the half is on Sunday. My total for the week will be 29.1 miles. Monday will be off, then it's time to focus on the marathon. I've got three 40 to 42 mile weeks coming up with long runs of 16, 18 and 20. Sonya and I have already planned all our routes and are rarin' to go!