It's Almost Here.........

Wow, it has indeed been a while!  I have done a ton since I last blogged including running the fastest time at Boston since I was 39, winning my AG by 10 min at the RnR Country Music Half marathon, riding the 384 miles of the GAP with great friends, competing at setting a PR at IM 70.3 Muncie, riding my 1st Century at OneLove in South Atlanta, and training, training, training for IM70.3 Augusta.  Ever since I was about to turn 50, I have set my sites on the Augusta race and well, Sunday is finally my opportunity to tackle the course.  Training has been going very well - that was until last week when I twisted my foot walking my daughter's (cute) puppy, Dodger.  Yup, he went one way and my foot went the other.  It seems to be healing ok, and I know that I could run on it if I had to.  Hoping that by Sunday it will all be ok (figuring adrenaline will carry me 13.1 miles of a run and after that I might not walk for a week - lol).

After life threw me a bit of a curveball in May, I'm coming out the other side and so looking forward to this race.  Screw the personal crap as it has no real bearing on my happiness and life as I will be fine.  I have my running/tri/CHQ community and I always will.  Thanks to all of you as you do more for me than you know - and it isn't just running, riding or swimming miles with me.

My original goal for Augusta was to try to once again break the 6 hr barrier although with the weather looking warm and the uncertainty of my foot, who knows.  My goal now is to finish smartly (due to the projected warm temps) and come out unscathed.  I've got some awesome running events coming up including a Ragnar relay on a team where I'm Grandma and the NYC marathon - both of which I am really looking forward to this year.  I love NYC and I missed running either the full or half last year.  It will be great to share it once again with Chris, Laura, MP, and Colleen.  And then back to Boston once again in April to keep my streak alive.  This year, I'm hoping to train with Jody and Courtney once again through the winter whilst getting Courtney prepared to run a BQ and Jody and I threw the race.  I hope to be able to break 4 hrs again myself, but that will again depend on so many things.  I am glad to have "aged up" though knowing that a 4 hr race is more than good enough.
Here are some pictures from my various events:

  Halfway down the Gap

 Nashville Half Marathon

 Boston Marathon 

Muncie Finish

Presque Isle Half Marathon

 Swimming with the Gang @ Mary Alice Park (I am no longer in (too much) fear of the OWS)

 Start of the BBC Ride

Celebration of Boston Marathoners with Susie and the Riverside Gang