This t-shirt thing is addicting. Here's a chance to earn another cool one this weekend -- click on the Reindeer, then on the online registration button to register for this 5k for a good cause. This is also a chance to run with some of the guys from Back on My Feet, an organization that I have recently become involved with. Back on My Feet uses running to promote confidence, self-esteem, and self-sufficiency among the homeless population here in Philadelphia. I've only been running with BOMF for a few weeks, but I can already attest to the fact that they make miracles happen--my getting out of bed to run with the group at 5am is nothing short of one. I'll write more about them later, but Saturday is a chance to see some of the runners in action...

Thankful for...iPods...ice packs...Body Glide...GU...

This Thanksgiving, a few of us will begin our Thursday with a strange new holiday tradition. Where Thanksgiving mornings were once a time for football games, foggy heads, and crowded sofas, a number of the Paris 12 will be waking early, lacing up their sneakers, and going for a five mile run--not a precedent shattering distance, and not significant in comparison to some of our recent personal bests (well done, Fred, showing the half-marathon who's boss), but it's a gesture that seems like evidence that some of us are taking to running and, dare I say, might even be thankful for it. Maybe. I still feel like one who runs, and not even close to calling myself runner, one of those speedy bounders who don't slobber or wheeze or wince when they are passed by a woman jogging with her Maltese (had one pass me just last night). The gulf between our world and the runner's world might yet be a yawning one, but let's remember that we all started at zero miles three months ago, and some of us are now running six, seven, or twelve miles in one clip without need of medical assistance. The marathon might still feel ridiculous, but so did five miles once. So let's be thankful for our progress, and remain open-minded to the absurdity that is 26.2.

Welcome home to Cristin, recently back from Dubai, and congratulations on your nuptuals! Happy birthday to Joe! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Ice, ice baby.

So, yesterday I finally was able to see my doctor after getting checked out initially two months ago, ordered to do x-rays and an MRI, and the standard cancellations, rescheduling and organizational chaos that seem central to trying to get anything done in this region. After all that, I don't know if I am much clearer on what is going on with my knee. It appears to be an overuse injury (duh?). My doctor said there was patellar pressure. He didn't mention any conditions that have become familiar to me after all my obsessive online research so I'm still a bit mystified. He did however make me feel like a complete idiot for trying to train for a marathon. The exact flow of the conversation is now lost to me but I can share with you some highlights of his pep talk:

-why would I want to do this? (he asked this about 4 times)
-a marathon is a completely unhealthy and unnatural thing to do to your body
-the first person to ever run a marathon died right after finishing
-he has treated a man who ran 2-3 marathons and now cannot walk properly
-I could give myself arthritis later in life by training for a marathon
-it would take a year to be ready
-basically I will never be ready by April
-why don't I just go swimming?

Awesome. He should write for the New York Times. Maybe it doesn't sound that bad, but to me it was a bit devastating. I was hoping to finally find out what is wrong and be told how to stay healthy and keep going. Instead, I felt totally confused and disheartened. I knew I'd have to explain myself to some people as to why I'd want to do this. I just didn't plan on a doctor having such a completely negative reaction.

My knee has been manageable for the past few weeks. By manageable I mean icing it 3-4 times a day and ignoring its existence for the first 5-10 minutes of each run. My bag of frozen peas is my best friend these days. I am just about up to running 4 miles straight. I know you are all well past that but I hope I can catch up eventually! As long as it doesn't get worse I think I can keep going. Kneeling during my wedding ceremony will be interesting though! My hometown of Westfield, NJ hosts a 5-mile "Turkey Trot" every Thanksgiving. I'm going to give it a shot. I feel like my running is about as graceful as a turkey so it seems fitting that this will be my first race.

I thought the hardest part of this project would be sticking to the plan and putting in the time and effort. I thought that once I decided to go through with it, my body would just comply and deal with the punishment. But navigating the minefield of running injuries has become my greatest challenge. I just want my knee to stop bugging me and let me get on with it! My fear of it keeping me back is just about equal to my fear of actually having to run for 5 hours.

On a happier note, my wedding is coming up in about 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to being home in a week and experiencing my first run outside (that isn't preceded by crazy Dubai drivers nearly running me over). And I hope I will be able to finally meet and go for a run with my fellow teammates! I will be in Philly November 27-28. I'd love to get together the morning of the 28th. Hope to see you then!

Congratulations to those who "Ran the Bridge" yesterday. Great job. And a big thank you to Fred for eating raisins after his race. I have been trying to get my kids to eat raisins for years. I keep putting them in their school snacks, and finding the unopened boxes in their lunch boxes after school. Until yesterday, that is. In the car on the way home from the run, Katie was plowing through her second box of raisins. I asked her why the sudden change and she replied, "If Fred likes raisins, I like raisins."