Hi, everyone! Well, I dragged myself to the gym last night after my weight watchers meeting. It was so hard to motivate myself, but you all did the job for me and I am so inspired by your discipline. I only did 20 minutes on the elliptical and 20 minutes on the bike, and by then it was about 8:45 and I seriously needed dinner. 2 nights in a row gives me hope that I might be able to get back into the swing of things before I have to get into the training plan for the DL 1/2 in a couple weeks. Unfortunately, the next couple days will provide no opportunities to get to the gym, since DD17's final HS wind ensemble concert is tonight, and tomorrow night I have a business dinner. Hmmmm. . . maybe Judy can inspire me to get on the treadmill tomorrow morning and virtually train with her!
I have my first ever 5 miler on 5/27 and am very nervous because it is a very prestigious, crowded, competitive race and Howard and our friend Jim are running it, while I am walking it. This race fills up almost instantly and it is so hard to get into if you haven't run it before, so I registered in the hopes of continuing to do it every year and hopefully, some day, running it. BUT -- I am very self conscious about Howard and Jim having to wait probably 1/2 an hour afterwards for me. Jim is NOT a patient person. Hopefully, he will go sit on the boardwalk and relax until I am done.
Paul -- Glad to hear your knee is feeling a bit better. I agree that you should re-think the shoes.
Dave -- I know you have your hands full with a sick princess and DW travelling and that is probably not improving your disposition toward running, but I hope a brief respite after your 10K will provide a renewed passion for running for you.

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Jodi -- Is your DH flying from a different airport than you? Do you need help figuring out which ones might be cheaper alternatives for him? Personally, I am still desperate for SWA to release their dates for September (they are only taking reservations through 9/12 right now), because I HAVE to figure out airfare to the
Disneyland 1/2!
monte -- awesome pace on the four miles!
Carrie -- I hope you feel better. I am having a really rough time with sinus/allergies this year, too. Sending

your way, kiddo!
AmyBeth-- I am impressed you did that great pace when you weren't feeling like running. I guess sometimes it really is good to just get it done, right?
Kevin -- I can't believe you did lifting, then running! Weren't you wiped out? Are you completely done school for now? When do classes start again?
Dena -- you are definitely one of the amazing WISH team members who inspires me to get out there and do it even when I don't want to. I love that "freaking did it" line -- that is how I felt last night driving away from the gym ''That sucked, but at least I freaking did it!" Oops! Think that will get bleeped out by the mods?
Well, the bad news is that I have come to the conclusion that I can't do Chicago in August. Financial considerations aside, there is so much going on with DD moving into college the next weekend and having to take time off work the week after that to go to performance weekend at DS's performing arts camp. I did look at airfares and the cheapest I could come up with is a little over $500 for Howard and me, and that is just too much for a long weekend in the middle of everything else going on. I wish the temptation of being with my WISH friends and earning that penguin medal wasn't so HUGE! So, although I have yet to get to the Chicago thread to let my dear friends Lily and Liz and Pat and everyone else know, I think I am going to stop spending so much energy trying to figure out how to get there and worrying about all the other things that have to be a priority (including planning and paying for a week in the Anaheim area).

The reality is that having done the WDW 1/2 and the Minnie and having the DL 1/2 and the WDW Full to look forward to, all in the space of a year, is pretty darn good. And I know I am spoiled. So, I am sad, but resigned. And truly grateful for all the opportunities I DO have.