Let's get it on

I have gone from excitement, to dread, to wanting to go home, back to excitement all day today. And it's not over. I've put my d-tag on my sneakers, partially laid out my clothes (still making the big decision over short or long sleeves) and I have my clear plastic bag packed with stuff I can bring into the village. I also did my nails.



Corny? So what. I had to do my nails anyway, might as well get into the spirit of things.

I didn't do much today in NYC. We went to the NSAL rally, which was kind of a disappointment. They had a mobile adoption unit in front of the hotel and there was the sweetest beagle mix who got so scared when they opened the side windows that she was shaking. I tried to calm her down and I thought at one point that I would simply not be able to leave her but then she got into the idea of seeing other people. I hope she got a good home today, she was a cutie pie. If there was any way we could take on a new pup I would have. My husband had to walk away because seeing all the dogs who needed homes got him upset. He feels the same way, he'd take all of them home if it were possible.

Other than that, I've just relaxed with my husband and my friend who came down to support me. Oh, we saw Jared in our hotel lobby. Of all the gin joints in the world, why'd he have to walk into mine? Seriously! Everyone on FB knows how I feel about him! Too funny. Extra motivation, I guess.

Tomorrow's blog entry will be the big one!

I have arrived!!!

I'm here! In NYC! And I've got my number!



I'm official!

The expo was madness but pretty well organized. The line to register coiled all around the center but it moved really quickly. As I got closer and closer to registering I felt like I was getting to the front of a really great ride at Disney. This will be the ride of a lifetime, that's for sure!

I did the classic first-timers mistake at the expo and bought a bunch of crap at the first booth (Asics). I got a shirt that says NYC 10 on the front and "26.2 to hell and back" on the back with the Verrazano in the background. Love it. I also got a windbreaker in black with the logo stitched on the front and back. It's cool. Then I found a shirt I liked at the Nike booth so I got that. They had a windbreaker that was pretty cool too but, oh well, how much NYC stuff can you have? I couldn't believe how many things people were buying, basketfuls of stuff! It's a special thing to be here, everyone wants to take a piece of it home.

I also got my GUs for Sunday and a new running belt that looks less like a fanny pack and more like a belt. I can fit my phone in it and it has elastic loops for the gels. I dig it. I ordered my shadowbox that will have my name, bib, in it. I just hope I get a good picture for it!! I also stopped by the Tiffany booth and I saw the necklace that I had already ordered. I still planning on going to Marathon Monday so there will be different stuff to buy then. Yay!

We had sushi for dinner and now we're just hanging out in our room...excuse me...suite.. It's really nice!

Tonight is the most important night for rest. I won't have my dogs to wake me up at the crack of dawn so I plan on sleeping late. Gotta rest up, I have a lot of ground to cover on Sunday -- 5 boroughs worth!!

It's starting!!!!!!

The expo opened today. Right now, at the Jacob Javit's Convention Center, my bib is filed waiting for me to pick it up! Attached is the D-tag that will keep track of my time, which will be posted to the New York Road Runners site. In less than 72 hours I will be a New York City Marathon finisher. It's really happening!!!!

There were lots of pictures posted from the expo today. Everyone says not to spend too much time wandering around there but some of the booths look really freaking cool. All the big vendors have something to lure you there (of course). Nike is doing customized pace bracelets. I'm not that wrapped up in my pace for the marathon but that's a pretty nice idea. Asics will be selling the limited edition poster for this year's marathon (hope they still have them when I get there). So I'm sure I'll end up spending *some* time there. Since it will be Friday that shouldn't be too bad. My only plan on Saturday is to go to the NSAL rally and then maybe go check out the finish line.

Of all the things that happened at the expo today, I think this is, by far, the coolest.



I am so rooting for this guy. I've been ranting about how much I hate Subway Jared over on FB for weeks. I just can't find inspiration from a guy who had the entire Subway franchise ensuring that this race happens. But Pena, come on. Even if he only makes it halfway (something tells me he's going to do the whole thing though) -- THAT is inspirational.

Today I took Jakob for his glaucoma test (negative!) and picked up a few things for the weekend. The house is in reasonable order for the sitter. I just have to finish packing (seriously, the bane of my existence). Then I can allow myself to slip into full-on excitement mode!

My next post will be from NYC. YEAH!!!

Don't dream it. Be it.

I need a laugh

Today has been all about stress.

Poor Daisy has been having some issues with incontinence. At first I thought she was just mad about something but it's happening 3 or more times a day. So I brought her to the vet because a friend said that she might have a urinary tract infection. The vet thought it might actually be worse than that, it might be a kidney infection which is harder to treat. She's on antibiotics now (horse pills that she hates swallowing) but I have to try to get a urine sample so they can culture the bacteria to make sure they're treating her with the right medication. She'll be on meds for 6-10 weeks. I just hope she's not in pain and that she'll be okay.

While we were there I noticed that one of Jakob's eyes was bloodshot. The vet looked at him and asked me if his pupils had always been different sizes. He showed me that the bloodshot eye was bulging and he suspected glaucoma. So I have to bring Jakob to a specialist on Thursday to see if that is the case and then he'll need to go on meds to bring the pressure down because that can be very painful.

Stress! I love my babies and I don't want to leave them this weekend if they aren't doing well. I'm going to run this race to help animals and I feel terrible leaving my own behind. I know the sitter will take great care of them but, still, I'm going to worry now the whole weekend.

I have so much to do. I have to clean up the house so the sitter can stay here for the weekend. I have to pack which, for some reason, is the most incredibly daunting task. I don't know how I'm going to get everything done other than take Thursday off which I pretty much have to now because of Jakob's appt. Not that I mind taking the day off, believe me, but I just hope there isn't anything I can't finish off tomorrow with work that will be hanging over my head.

I got in my 4 mile run today. It seemed so easy (yes!). I didn't really feel like doing it with everything going on but I knew I had to. I haven't tinkered with the training program in 17 weeks, I'm not going to start messing around this final week. Two more runs before Sunday: 3 miles and 2 miles. Only FIVE miles between me and this race. And it's 5 days from today. CRAZY!

So, yeah, I need a laugh. This is from last year. I love Meb! Number 5 is my favorite.

Let the freak-out begin

When I said goodbye to my husband this morning (he works out in LI 4 days a week), I realized the next time I'll see him is in NYC. We're meeting there on Friday. When that dawned on me I got a little weepy. I think this week is going to be one hell of an emotional rollercoaster.

I don't feel ready. And yet I know I'll never be more ready than I am right now. I have doubts I can finish. Then I look at my training and I have to have every faith that I can.

I still have so much to do! Packing. Last-minute shopping. The dogs need to go to the vet tomorrow. I have a doctor's appt of my own tomorrow afternoon. I'm totally checked out of work but I have a big project due this week. What's a week without stress, right? Oh my god. The stress.

So I find my inspiration where I can. Here is today's:

A week from today...

One week from today!!!! Hopefully, one week from RIGHT NOW (3:37 pm) I will be finishing and getting my medal.

I can't believe it's just one week away. I feel like I have so much to do that I thought I would have done weeks in advance by now. I got a new iPod shuffle for my birthday specifically for the race. I have to synch it up and make a playlist for the race. I have to make a final decision on my raceday outfit. I guess it depends on weather but I'd like to have all options available: long sleeve with NSAL singlet over it, short sleeve with NSAL singlet, or (least favorable) just the singlet.

It's going to be a busy week, for sure. I still need to squeeze a few more runs in. Short ones -- 4, 3, and 2 miles -- but they still need to get done.

Today's run was pretty solid, a good way to end my long runs. I did 8 miles around the lake and it was hilly, hilly, hilly. I just kept thinking to stay strong because that's what the last 6.2 miles in Central Park will be. My pace was good, 9:54/mile. It wasn't my fastest 8-mile pace (9:35 last week) but that course was almost completely flat compared with this one. Look, I'm not kidding about the hills!



Here's my splits. I have no problems with this. All my miles were solid and my average pace was more than a minute faster than my goal marathon pace. I think I can pull it off!



After my run I went for my last pre-marathon massage. She's an artist, I tell ya! She did a new stretch with me today that got right into my hip flexor, exactly where I was feeling tight. I think I'm as physically ready as I'm going to get at this point.

The rest of the week will be obsessing about weather, getting around the city before and after the race, nerves, and excitement. It's going to be a crazy 7 days!