Hello Everyone and Happy Friday!!
Well, I’m nearing the end of my marathon training journey, and I wanted to give you one last update before the BIG DAY (October 19th)!
Tomorrow, 9/27, will be week 20 of my training, and how appropriate is it that I’ll be running 20 miles as part of my training?! Yup, that’s what I said…20 miles!! The concept is still a little too large to wrap my brain around, so I figure that I’ll just wake up tomorrow at 5am, go to training, and just run. Over thinking it at this point will do nothing beneficial for me. hehe…
So far this month we’ve had a couple of big runs:
1) 16 miles in Escondido (20 miles East of where I live) on 9/6 – Can we say “Hot”? Not only that, but it was on a trail! Trails, heat, reflections off of lake in your face, as your trying to not break an ankle on the rocky terrain (dried up lake bed), flies, more heat…wasn’t my favorite, to say the least.
2) 18 mile “Train Run” 9/12 – We met up at the Solana Beach train station at 6:15am, took the train up to Oceanside (approx 16 mi), ran 2 miles around the neighborhoods, then ran back to the Solana train station. It was all coastal, with lots of wonderful overcast weather and cool breezes. This was a piece of cake after that hellacious Escondido run.
At this point, all I have is my 20 mi. run, then we taper off until Marathon Day! JOY!
As for the Marathon, Bryan and I will be departing with the team on Friday, October 17th to San Francisco (yippee!). We’ll be enjoying a couple of days of site seeing, marathon expos, and pasta parties! Sunday will be Marathon Day, with a victory party that night. We fly back on Monday, in which I’ll be working on all my pictures for your viewing pleasure..oh, at my desk of couse, bc my legs may want to fall off?! 
Also, my fund raising has been a HUGE success, but I still have a little left to go before I reach my goal! For all of you who have already had the chance to donate, thank you soooo much!! Also, a Huge Thanks to Arsenault Consulting for opting to be a corporate sponsor!!
For those who haven’t had a chance to contribute for my fund raising, for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Now’s the Time! There’s only 1 week left until my deadline, and I know I can get there! Again, Anything is appreciated…$5, $50, $500, whatever you can do.
I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for all of your support and generosity! You have all made an impact for a very important cause.
To make a donation on my site (very secure), simply click the link and follow the prompts:
If you would like to mail a check, please email me, and I’ll provide you with my mailing info (checks made to the LLC).
Thank you again and wish me luck!!!!
Love,
Phia
I found your site as it popped up on my daily Filtrbox briefing for some reason. As a marathoner who tomorrow will run around 20 miles I loved your post. I well remember my first marathon and I do hope you have fun most of all. I fell in love with marathons and only wish my body would let me do more. Good luck on yours and whatever you do keep on running!
Mark,
thank you so much for your inspiring words. I trust your 20 mile run went well! The marathon is almost here and I’m nervous and yet excited. I’m sure this is the beginning of a long hobby with many more miles ahead of me.