One last thought

Five Days to Go

Total miles run since entry to NYC marathon/this year: 200.61/522.05
Calories burned since entry/this year: 29,499/90,521
Weight: 200.0
Beers in last 24 hours: 0
Total raised towards goal: $10,000

HOLY CRAP! Now it really has hit me. I'm running the New York marathon. Today, I walked out into the living room and said, "Heidi, can you believe it? I'm actually running New York."

To all my friends and family who have continued to support me by sending donations - thank you. Between all the money we've raised for children, and the fact that I'm actually running the New York Marathon, well, it's all just starting to sink in. What an amazing, incredible, insane experience this is going to be.

I'm supposed to write something now for the placemats at the dinner. I have to go. To many of you in NJ: I guess I'll see you soon.

- Ed

A side note ...

Go to this link: http://www.azfamily.com/health/marathon/stories/KTVKMarathon20061016_track-workouts.44472003.html

Click on the Watch the Video link when you get there. Have fun laughing ...

- Ed

And then there was less than a week

Total miles run since entry to NYC marathon/this year: 200.61/522.05
Calories burned since entry/this year: 29,499/90,521
Weight: 200.0
Beers in last 24 hours: 0
Total raised towards goal: $10,000

There's just a week to go. Actually, less than a week. In six days and about 10 hours, the 2006 New York City Marathon will start, and I will be there, on the starting line, waiting to begin. I'm actually really, really, really excited to go. And while finding the time and energy and drive to train has been more difficult this time that any other time (training in the summer in Arizona is particularly brutal), you guys have all really pulled me through.

Through all of your generosity, we have raised over $10,000 for at-risk youth ... This has really been an incredible journey, and on these last couple days before the marathon, I plan to share my thoughts with you each night ... And, I think after the marathon is over, I'll probably keep this blog going from time to time, just as a place where friends and family can catch up if they ever want to.

Today was just a really nice day. I got to spend almost all of it with Beckett and Heidi. This morning was cool and cloudy and there was dew on the grass. The leaves on the trees in the back yard are finally just beginning to change color. It actually felt like fall. I taught Beckett how to catch a football today and we ran and play and tackled and dove in the grass ... awesome. I also took him and his mom on a wagon ride around the neighborhood.

Later we had lunch in the park with our friends Becky and Gib and their three boys. When Beckett got up from his nap, we went to the running store and picked up some last minute supplies. We also went to the Sugar Bowl, this old time '50s diner in old town Scottsdale where you can get real root beer floats and sundaes. Good times ...

Then we came home and relaxed. Perfect Sunday ...

Just five more days and I'll be NYC-bound. Can't wait ... just the thought of crossing the finish line in Central Park. Damn, what an experience ...

- Ed

30 Days to Race Day ...

Total miles run since entry to NYC marathon/this year: 169.61/491.05
Total miles swam since entry to marathon: 1.38
Total miles biked since entry to marathon: 27.12
Exercise calories burned since entry/this year: 26,499/87,521
Weight: 199.0
Beers in last 24 hours: 0
Total raised towards goal: $7,437

Just about a year ago today I was finishing up my first triathlon (I got sick for a week afterwards - and I was sick before I even did it). But it was the first race event I completed after Beckett's birth and it got me started back on this exercise kick.

Anyhow, with 30 days to go until NYC, I finally feel "ready" to run the marathon. While I've not trained as hard as I have for past events, I've done this enough times now to know that I will finish and finish strong. Hell, on Saturday, I'll surpass 500 miles run for the year. To put it in perspective, that's like running from midtown Manhattan to Raleigh, North Carolina or from Phoenix, Arizona to El Paso, Texas - and then running another 80 miles after that. Hell, I'll commend mysels for that.

For all you PHX based friends, please remember that Sunday is the final wine tasting event of the chairty season. It will be at Methode Bistro (6204 N. Scottsdale Road) from 4 to 7 p.m., admission is $25. And on Saturday, November 4 there will be a charity pasta dinner at the First Reformed Church of Lincoln Park (60 Chapel Hill Road, Lincoln Park) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dinner is $10 for adults, children are $5 - all proceeds go to Team for Kids, and donations are tax deductible ...

Busy, busy, busy, busy ... but all in a good way. Hope you're all well.

By the way, if you can't attend and you'd still like to donate, you can do so by clicking here

Registration number is TFK06
Last name/Team name is TEAMPHOENIX

Thank you,
Ed