Beautiful Tempe..

Well we made it here yesterday. The only glitch was arriving to the "host hotel" and they had no idea what race we were talking about on Sunday-so what shuttle? Then we went to get into our room and found someone else's belongings (must have been a man-WAY too little stuff). While it might have made for an interesting encounter, we opted to tell the front desk that HE may not want to share a room with us. Woops-they had made a mistake, well not them-HE had decided to extend his stay. Wow-why can't people just say "We blew it"?

Anyways, after that and getting a very nice new room, we were off to register for the race. The venue is only about 1.2 miles so will get a little warm-up in the morning on the way to the start. There were hardly any folks here yet so we got our packages-no sweat. The venue is beautiful, on the Tempe Town Lake, or river as is looks to me..I will try and get pics later. I am number 902-lucky I am sure. H & I each got stretching done from one of those booths although this AM I really need a neck massage so will go for one of those today..Still have the sore throat, which is a puzzle, no other symptoms. It suddenly occurred to me when i woke up (as I removed my night guard) that maybe that thing carries critters and i should be more sterile in cleaning it..

When we arrived to our hotel, the first person i met was Duane at the front desk checking in too! Was great to see a friendly face although i was embarrassed because of course i was bitching to the front desk person about not having a shuttle to the race on Sunday, which she had no knowledge of at all. Yes Duane, I am that bitch at the front desk! We chatted a bit and was great to meet a fellow "blogger"..

I slept really well until someone seemed to be trying to get into our room at 6:15 this AM. Kind of freaked me out but I will assume it was someone confused about their room..Lot of water and carbs today-we will do a little swim this afternoon and mainly rest before the dinner with the gang at 5:00..

Last minute jinxes (or the full moon)

Yesterday I was gazing out my window in the mountains watching Hartley feed the deer right out of his hand(they like graham crackers). It was so lovely and then the full moon rose over the mountains-life was perfect-almost..

Jinx time:

It all started this morning when I put my socks on at the cabin and proceeded to trip and fall down the stairs (2nd time i have done that over the years-this time I was dead sober and knew where I was-we'll save that for another story about my past life). I am a little banged up and sore but nothing major. I have a bandaid on my left finger, a small lump on my right arm and a slight twinge in my right knee-oh please god-not the knee..Hopefully in the morning I will be fit as a fiddle, whatever the hell that means. I just want to not be injured in any major way. Thank goodness for those Calcium pills I have been taking-no broken bones-something I never thought I would be saying 10 years ago..

ALSO-last night I felt like crap, had a scratchy throat and I think a fever-this seems to be somewhat subsiding today but what is up with that? I have been training like crazy with no illness-now I stop and I feel like i am fighting a cold? I read somewhere this is typical-that people get hurt or sick before a big race sometimes..I would like to stay clear of that statistic please????

H & I are off the the not so temperate Tempe Town tomorrow AM. The temp there is holding in the 90s but NO WIND! Darn! All that training in hurricane force winds to no avail :) Note to self-bring salt pills..I feel excited about the race actually, besides the full moon activity or whatever my calamities seem to be related to..I just need to put shoes on while I walk from now until the race or better yet, not climb any stairs! I am in denial about the sore throat and will stay that way until after Sunday..

The carbs are comin' in. It is really difficult to shove food in my mouth when I am not hungry unless it is chocolate or pastry. I mean really, eating an apple on a full stomach is not my idea of dessert. However, I am committed to follow the nutrition plan that I had for IM Florida-well, some modifications since it is half the distance but me and carbs have not been too buddy-buddy lately so it is a challenge. Tomorrow starts the Gator Aid, and the ever tasty H2O..Oh and ensure. I like to go to more liquids than solids for a couple of days before the race so I don't become the running queen of runs! There are not enough porta-potties for me when it gets that bad. I think I have it down to an art now on how to prevent that (note to self-pack Immodium just in case).

I started looking online at the dreaded competition this week because well, basically I like to feel bad about my athletic abilities before a race and just for kicks googled a few of the 15 women in my AG. They are all FAST runners (of course). So my secret dream of being in the top 5 is slowly dissolving but I would be happy to have a PR or better yet a PR and feel good at the end of the race (yea right!). I like to think I can still place in the swim?

More during travel and racing..

This puts it all in perspective..

and is very inspiring also..

Randy Pausch on Oprah

I am one lucky woman..

4 days and counting..

til Soma..We are up in Chama really tapering now (like doing practically nothing). I feel creaky and old not training so will be doing a few yoga moves and a couple of short runs while up here. We got here yesterday and surprise, surprise-we have no heat again. The heater is not working, which is the problem that caused the original flood. It is so hard to get someone up here to work, it's incredible..So we built a fire in the woodstove we have that heats at least the upstairs. Me-being the pioneer woman that I am-actually got up in the middle of the night and "stoked the fire" again so we are pretty warm unless we go downstairs..The sun is rising above the mountains and we have lots of windows so should be pretty toasty soon..

Now for the heater problem-we are in a dilemma. If we can't get anyone up here in the next 2 days, Houston we may have a problem. We may have to live up here all winter, stoking the fire so the pipess don't freeze again..

I guess it could be worse..(see post above)..

It will be 90 degrees in Soma-now that will be a shock on the body for sure. I am excited for the race! To see friends, see H finish his first half, to see if my running really is better, just to be alive enough to do a race is enough really..