One Week til race day

Well, this time in one week I will be at home, having run my first marathon.

Can you believe it?

Yesterday Michelle, Danielle and I drove the entire Marathon course and really got a good idea of what we will be doing next Sunday. It was exciting and a terrifying at the same time, but mostly exciting.

After being so sick for the last 10 days, I finally felt well enough to run again and joined the Roadrunners down at Venice Beach on Saturday morning for our last 8 mile run. Everyone was so excited about race day and enjoyed the last training session of a 6 month program.

I felt ok during the run, probably at about 85% in terms of energy but it felt great to stretch out my legs and really start to visualize what it will be like to run the marathon.

It was awesome driving the course will Michelle as well, the one who inspired all of this. I am sad that she won't be running with me as everything is always better when she is around. But she can't run because of her back and that is why we called the runners 'The Running Backs' because we are all well and able enough to take on a marathon. Michelle's scoliosis means that running is probably one of the worst things she could do.

Eventhough she is not running the race, she is a crucial part of the team,providing inspiration and support to all of us runners.

The next week I am on an "extreme taper" which means very little running and lots of rest. I have had a head start on most other people because that is what I have been doing for the last two weeks.

With one week to go, I want to share with you my wishes for this project for the next week:

- That Michelle feels incredibly supported and loved by her community;
- That all Running Backs have an amazing experience in the lead up to and during the marathon;
- That we raise enough money to send Michelle to Minnesota for another intensive treatment and we can buy scoliosis chair for the network; and
- That we collectively inpsire more people to take on their health in a proactive way and that communities work together to support each other to achieve their individual and collective goals.

I know a lot of people are intending to donate so please take the opportunity now to give what you can, please leave a message of encouragement on this site or on the chip in site. The money that you donate will buy extra years of life and an increased quality of life for Michelle and other patients at the Clear Institute.

Thank you to everyone for your support

Rebel

final countdown to marathon - feeling terrible

With ten days until the run, I am feeling very anxious and nervous. I have been sick and pretty much in bed for the last week with the worst flu I have ever had. Sinuses infected, ears blocked and sore and just as i was starting to feel better two days ago, i got conjunctivitis (pink eye = gross).

I am so exhausted, my head is still blocked and i haven't run for a week. Everyone keeps telling me that I will be fine on race day but I am really starting to get worried about how exhausted I feel and how much trainging I have missed.

I need to stay positive and upbeat for everyone else who is training hard and traveling to LA to run and I really just feel like going to sleep and not running the race.

Well, obviously my preference would be to run the race and feel great and have a great time with friends while raising heaps of money for michelle but that feels like it is slipping through my fingers at the moment.

I will just keep sleeping and trying to feel better and start focusing on race day.