OK everyone ..... here is my humongous catch up!!
Mel - Congrats on making the National Championship Game!!
Craig - I agree with you about Gu. The stuff works miracles. However, be VERY careful with powerade and Gu. I learned that lesson the hard way last Saturday. I usually only take water on runs with me, but instead I took gatorade. Gu and gatorade don't mix especially Vanilla Gu and Mango Gatorade. I almost upchucked right then and there. It took everything I had to stomach down the rest of the Gu.
Judy - I am so sorry about Mists trial. I hope she accepts your offer to buy her.
Kim - Be careful about a hot tub after a run. I used to do that at the gym, get in the whirlpool about 30 minutes after my run, and I started getting shin splints something fierce. As soon as I stopped doing that and started taking ice baths the shins splints stopped.
Colleen - That was me too. I have run 20, 22, and will be running 24 on Saturday. Then I start my taper. You are also not the only one who's friends and family worries about them on LR, especially the ones in the dark. I run on an old Rail Trail, and before the sun comes up it can get a bit scary. There's woods on both sides of the trail, perfect place for someone to hide, and the only thing I carry with me is my cell phone. Then last Saturday I forgot my cell phone in the car and DH tried to call me, after about an hour of not being able to reach me he started driving out to the trail, and had already asked his parents to come help him look for me. Luckily I got back to the car and phone before he got to the trail, but he was scared to death. I HATE running alone.
Steve - Sounds like my plan for while we are at WDW. Except I am gonna get into a cold tub, and let DH do the ice runs for me!!
Kelley - Don't feel bad, you aren't the only one who has been having a hard time keeping up. Between this and the photo contests I feel like I am constantly behind.
Christa - Maybe this is why I was so sick during and after my 22 miler. See my response to Craig for details......From the article you posted "In addition, never wash down gel with a sports drink instead of water; if you do, you'll end up with a 'molasses stomach' (gel must always be swallowed with the right amount of plain water)." I guess I know what NOT to do this Saturday!!
Pat - you are definately not the only one feeling a bit paranoid. My kids both have horrible coughs, and I keep praying they don't pass it on to me. And Every day for the past 3-4 days there has been a car accident REALLY close to me (within a couple of cars), so I am hoping it's not my turn next.
Well, I have been a complete and total bum. I haven't run AT ALL since Saturday. I am not hurting, just not motivated. Add to that the fact that it is freakin' cold, and I just haven't been able to get my behind out of the house. When it's cold in the morning the last thing I want to do is stick poor little Lucas in a jogging stroller and make him suffer so I can get my run in. I have a 24 scheduled for this weekend, and then it's taper time!!! The low is supposed to be 38 on Saturday. I don't know how to run when it's that cold outside. This is Florida people it isn't supposed to get that cold. I keep telling myself to just suck it up and do it, that way if it is cold during the race I will be prepared for it, but at the same time I keep trying to talk myself out of it. So far I have tried telling myself that I already ran 20 (plus 3 mile walk), and 22, that I don't really need to do 24, and I can just start my taper now!! Does that work?! DH has tried to suggest that we buy him a bike and one of those buggies you attach to the back of the bike for the kids, and that he would just go with me so I wasn't running by myself. The problem is I don't know ANYTHING about bikes. I walked into Target yesterday and felt completely dumb. I don't know what all of these different things are for. I just want a bike we can attach a little trailer to that will go 24 miles!! By the way, if any of you bike savvy people have any advice I would be very greatful.
With the holidays so close I feel like a chicken running around with it's head cut off. I have pies to bake for a family get together this weekend. I have cookies to bake for my son's Christmas party at school. I have an entire Christmas dinner to do for my family, and Michael just got invited to his first birthday party with friends at school. Try to add running in there, along with Christmas shopping, and keeping the house taken care of. Well, I'm sure you all know, it's enough to make me wanna bang my head on a wall!!
Dana
I did a 12 MPM the 1st year with Bree BTW....
) He walks about a 17:00 mile, obviously not fast enough at Disney. So Stephen and I always say that the sweeper bus is going to be chasing after him, right on his tail as he is frantically trying to stay ahead and they are going to chase him right up to the finish line and go crashing through the grand stands in the attempt to sweep him. 
