THANK YOU!

(I apologize for the delay)

You can ask anyone who knows me, I am not often rendered speechless. Even if I can't think of something incredibly witty and charming to say I can inject an enthusiastic "Dude!" or "Whoa!"

When I spoke with Denise a day or so before the event, she told me there was going to be about 12 volunteers and 7 dogs working the crowd. I will admit that I was a little disappointed. I knew this was such an amazing opportunity to network and schmooze and I had hoped there would be more. But I didn't let it bother me...I just knew those folks and doggies were gonna have to "work" it hard all day.

As I turned the corner right before mile 26, I saw Julie Wright and Ewin (well I saw their goldens first!). And I got really excited. They then started running to the others to let them know I was coming....or at least that is what I HOPED they were doing! I didn't think they were quite the type to taunt me with "See? We're faster than YOU are!! Neener Neener Neener!!!!"

When I passed the group I saw quite a few volunteers and quite a few dogs....but I will admit I was in a bit of a haze at that point. Everything seemed a bit distorted especially the distance to the finish line...as I've said people often forget the Point 2 of the 26.2 but those last .2 miles were excrutiatingly long! It could have actually been 1 dog and 1 volunteer with my vision and brain playing serious tricks on me.

Julie V. and Elaine and Kate (Or at least I thought it was Kate...if it wasn't I apologize!) greeted me and Elaine walked with me to the booth, which was quite a distance (probably only about 50 yards but it felt longer!) I see Julie and Ewin with their 2 beautiful goldens and just got the best feeling. I know I'm biased but seeing beautiful goldens after a run is just the best way to restore. I then see The Guru and Beth with their doggies, Comet and Daisy. I got hugs from all 4 and when I looked over Beth's shoulder, I saw the booth. My breath caught in my throat and tears came to my eyes. The booth was PACKED! I saw so many wonderful volunteers and so many goldens and I imagined harps playing and angels singing because this was heaven!!!!

Denise told me, and of course I saw the pictures later of all the volunteers and the 16!!!!! beautiful goldens that were there throughout the day. I'm told that we were the most popular booth in the festival, that there were lines of folks wanting to pet the goldens. I know that Denise has thanked those wonderful folks who helped make this an extraordinarily successful event but I would like to thank them again.

Thank you so much:
Jan, Cecily, Jo, Diane, Kriss, Patricia, Cindy, Tom, Tina, Mary, Jessica, Linda, Eva, Joanne, Elaine, Julie, Sandra, Kate, Joan, Ed, Bobby, Beth, Colleen, Denise, Paul, Cameron, Garrett, Tom, Nestor, Jennifer, Dan, Julie, Ewin, Cindy, Bruce, Pam, Carole and Ron.

Without you folks, this would not have been as successful as it was. I am truly blessed to know all of you.

I especially would like to thank Eva, Joanne and Elaine for going above and beyond in helping us get the booth set up. They rented a hotel room to make sure they would be there early on race day and I just can't thank them enough.

I would like to thank all of you who helped to raise money for this amazing organization.

I would like to thank all the folks who picked us as their charity of choice. Last year we had 41 participants racing on our team. This year we had 66!

I would like to thank Mr. Art Seagren who gave us a superb piece of real estate at the festival. Our location right next to the entrance/exit made us highly visible and was a big part of our success.

And Denise. Oh Denise. Thank you for making the finish line festival booth what it was. Thank you for taking on the responsibility of calming my butt down when I would be freaking out about, well, everything. I'm sure there were times when you REALLY didn't want to take my phone calls, but you did and I appreciate that more than you know. Thank you for being my friend.

Thank you Mr. Marty Friedman, Marathon Guru for all of your help and encouragement. You have become a great friend and I once again couldn't have finished without you.

It's funny, I hadn't been finished with the marathon for 3 minutes before I started getting asked if I would run again next year. Probably because last year, I was insane enough to say yes right away. This year, I was like "I don't know....THAT would be CRAZY!"

My goal this year was to finish in under 5 hours. I didn't come close to that and I will admit that I am a little disappointed with my time. I thought I was prepared and honestly, I wasn't. I didn't train nearly as hard as I should have to achieve that goal.

In the few days since this year's race, I decided that finishing in under 5 hours is a goal that is important to me. So instead of training to finish in the 5 months before next year's race, I will train for speed starting November 17th (Guru says to wait a month before I start training for speed).

So to answer the question you are all wondering.....

YES! I WILL BE RUNNING AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

I hope that you all will be there too!!

Thanks again everyone and PEACE OUT!!!

READY?

So the marathon is in less than 24 hours.

I am as ready as I'm gonna get!

I have siphoned as much knowledge as I could from the Marathon Guru. (Don't worry, I left him a few brain cells to rub together!)

I have my geek-cessories packed and ready to go.

I have my gaggle of kleenex ready to catch the real runner in my family (my nose!)

I will shave my legs to make me more aerodynamic!

I will eat carbs tonight to give me energy.

I fought off the cold that threatened last weekend thanks to vitamins and witch potions.

My bib # is 889

We are almost to our fundraising goal! Even if we don't make the $26,200 (everyone always forgets that POINT 2) we raised a significant amount of moolah for the wonderful goldens! WOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!!!

Thanks Everyone, for everything. I'm so proud of all of you and honored to be a part of this organization!

Peace Out!

LETTER TO MOTHER NATURE

YO MAMA!

I know that you are really busy having your way with us. You know...messin' with the thermostat. I mean come ON Mama, 118 degrees!!! And then going from record breaking highs one week to dumping rain on us the next?! Are you trying to get us all sick? Did the Tooth Fairy tick you off again? The Easter Bunny steal all of your eggs and hard boil the bejeezus out of 'em? Take is easy, Sweetie. Have a massage. Drink a martini. All will be fine.

So there are only 2 more weeks until the marathon and I have a few requests. I know that Pops (Santa) usually takes care of these things but I don't think he reads his letters until December and that you know, would be too late.

So, if you could please get all of your weather shenanigans out of your system BEFORE race day that would be swell. I request a nice 70 degree, clear beautiful day for the 17th.

I don't know how tight you are with the traffic gods but if you could ask them to make it easy for anyone coming to Long Beach as part of the most bestest Golden Retriever Rescue EVER, that would be really nice. Tell them we'll bake them cookies or at least bestow numerous wet golden kisses on them if they do!

Is there some way you could attach, like, invisible turbo chargers to me heels? I mean nothing that requires rocket fuel. I don't think anyone would believe it if I finished in 5 minutes. I'm talking under 5 hours...even if only by a minute. That would be great.

So I know that this is asking a lot. But if you could grant these requests I promise to eat my vegetables...I'll even clean my room!

PPPPPPLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSE MAMA?

Thanks MAMA NATURE!! You're the BEST!

Be well!