It's a big media week! Today I was on the front page of the Pitt News.... check out the story here. I've already been in contact with a graduate student who wanted to donate to the Fund. This has been such a great opportunity to connect with people!

Today with a 20 mile run, Chris and I are officially tapering for Antarctica. This is pretty remarkable considering I started training almost a year ago and have run about 1,200 miles in the process. I still feel under-prepared, but I have realized there is likely little I could do to feel confident about this "race." I know I'll need to take it slow and enjoy the experience for what it is worth.

As part of our taper run today, Chris and I met another runner who also is going to Antarctica in two weeks (omg, do I really leave in two weeks?!). We've seen him running all winter and just happened to stop and chat today. What are the chances that of a hundred or so runners, one lives in Pittsburgh, and we were running in the same place on the same day and happened to stop and talk? He seemed really nice (runners are), and I'm really excited to meet great people on this trip.

In order to prepare, final planning is underway. We have received our official race gear... my jacket is hanging in my closet, ready for when it will possibly be too warm to wear it when I return    We also received some final planning information. Apparently both Jenny Hadfield and John Bingham will be on my ship. That is just insane. Also, with the help of  my professional photographer friend, Jaime (aka the Blond Photographer), this morning I finally bought a digital SLR. I have been drooling over one for quite a while and with recent media interviews about the race (I'll post them as they are published if they're not too embarrassing), it was too hard to watch people use incredible cameras and know that I didn't have a camera adequate to capture the beauty that will be Antarctica. I am SO excited because I have always said if I could do anything I would travel the world as a photographer.

There are still many details that need to be figured out in the next two weeks. I'm currently second guessing the gear that has served me well all winter and I have no idea how I am going to pack for three week of temperatures ranging from 0-35 F (Antarctica) to 70-90F (Buenos Aires).  But, if I'm going to run a marathon in Antarctica and that's all I'm worrying about, then I'm okay with that!