Gatorgirl - allergens are in the air in NJ big time. We are all dragging and sneezing and sore throats.

I am sitting here trying to decide if I have enough energy to walk.

I booked a flight today to go see BF. Ironically enough he was sent to the Natchez Trace in Mississippi to do his field training and since I'm originally from Mississippi I've decided to fly home for a long weekend and see him for a couple of days and see the family as well. It's not until early June that I go and he will actually be coming home by the end of June and part of me thought I've gone this long without seeing him I can go another few weeks but then the other part of me decided that it would be nice to be able to see him and spend some time with him before he comes home because by the time he gets home it's going to be in the hectic season of his job and there will be no easing back in to things.

Leany happy belated birthday. It seems like it was a great one!

Redfoxfan you are one strong lady! I don't think that surgery has slowed you down at all. Be sure and take good care of yourself though.

Mel sorry you missed your race but good for you for realizing you didn't have it in you and getting in that extra sleep which was obviously what you needed.

Bo congrats on the 0.6lb weight loss and no longer being overweight! You rock! I hope that your leg is better so that you can run that race in a few weeks. When does your DH arrive in Alaska to help you start packing?

Nhmommy I got the Nike+ for Christmas but have yet to use it. I did do the research though and concur with Bo that you can buy a thing that attaches to your shoe strings and don't necessarily have to have the Nike+ shoes. Thanks for sharing the pictures. It is a beautiful place that I work and live isn't. It's pretty crazy to see that picture from the top of Angel's Landing and know that my Zion office is in the bottom of that canyon.

Stillpluggin it seems that you've got your next several days planned out as far as getting ready for the big day. I'm so excited for you. The other day I was chatting with a couple of co-workers about running and something came up about the Boston Marathon and I said "I have a friend running in that!" It was kind of funny because it came out as if you were someone I know in person

Thisyear (((( )))) I'm so sorry that you are struggling to stay OP, although glad to hear you are still having good runs. Hang in there you've done it once and you can do it again.

Happy good for you for facing WI and moving forward with a good workout and grocery shopping for Core foods. Unlike my last bad WI where I just said screw this and went and ate a cheeseburger and fries Butternut squash sounds yummy I haven't bought any in awhile and have just added it to the grocery list after reading your meal plan.

Sorry if I missed anyone and hello to all of you who haven't checked in with us in awhile. Hope you are all having POP days and great runs!!

Monday 04/14/200

Chili-rubbed pork chops

Salad

Green beans

Tuesday 04/15/2008

Tilapia (blackened)

Salad

Lima beans

Wednesday 04/16/2008 - Weight Watchers Weigh In

Jerk Chicken thighs

Asparagus

Brown rice

Thursday 04/17/2008 -

Mini meatloaves

Brown rice

Some vegetable

Friday 04/18/2008 -

Steak Diane

Baked potatoes

Salad

Saturday 04/19/2008 - invite DS friends over for dinner (not very core!)

Spaghetti and meatballs

Salad

Italian bread

Tomorrow is my follow up doctor's visit and then it is back to work on Wednesday. Today I walked, did laundry, prepared dinner and slept every time I sat down. I guess I might be doing a little too much too soon. Hope I can stay awake at work on Wednesday!

Popping in to say hello. I love that you all have your races posted in your thread. That is a really good idea. I have been doing CORE for about 5 weeks now and I think it finally clicked this week. The weekends were HARD (starting Easter) and I didn't lose (or gain) for 3 weeks. I finally got completely back on track this week and wouldn't you know it I am down 1.5lbs. Too bad I am going to Mexico for vacation on Wednesday. How CORE friendly do you suppose Mexico is? I find that CORE is great for runners. Very easy to fuel your body well. So, anyway, I lurk around your thread every so often and hope you don't mind me popping in every now and then. Feel free to poke around the Long Haul. We're a motley crew, but fun. Take care folks!

Valerie

P.S. Have any of you tried the 1 point giant latte ww bars. They are amazing.

I ran my first 20-mile training run yesterday and man, did it start out ugly. Maybe it was time change from the east coast or the fact it was bloody cold here yesterday morning and the wind was whipping all over the place - but I had a hard time convincing myself to actually 'get started'! I then told myself that it would be good practice in case of a yucky day in Green Bay for the actual marathon and that I NEEDED to do this run. I had set aside the time to do the run and ate for it on Saturday and Sunday so it was time to get the butt in motion. StillPluggin - you were right there with me during a LOT of this run. When I was running into the wind along Lake Michigan, I kept telling myself that the wind was making me stronger and that if you could do it - I could do it! My tummy decided it was not a happy camper so I had to stop once to find a bathroom. Then I just plugged along and when the Theme from Rocky came on my shuffle - it was turning point! The sun came out and things started to warm up and I was 12-miles into my run and then told myself I was just running an 8-miler! When I'm doing my long runs - I don't look at my time - just the distance. I decided if I could get through this run - I could get through anything. I even went back and analyzed my childbirth analogy of running and decided that the 20-mile mark is the transition time and the next 6.2 miles will be like pushing - hardest work you'll ever do but at the end - look what you got and all the pain fades from memory. So - yippee skippee - I DID IT - and was pleasantly surprised/shocked/happy with my time 3:10:13. By the by, I did end up with a blister on my left foot pad - any 'healing' suggestions? I'm using moleskin right now. Doesn't feel too bad this morning.

Bo - Bless your heart with the IT massage! That is NOT the experience you want for a first massage. Having work done to the IT and piriformis hurts like h*ll! Tell them to give you a bullet to bite down on the next time!!! My daughter actually made a 'Huggy Bear' at Build a Bear Workshop for my clients to hug when I'm working on those muscles. On the other hand, it feels soooooo good when they stop and you can actually 'feel' a difference. How is the new stretch working for you? Have they made any mention of working on your ilio-psoas muscle? I would wait for the new shoes until you see how your leg shakes out after therapy. Then I would get my gait analyzed so they could see how I run to determine the new shoes. I loved your three feel good moments - you go, girl! Hope the head swell continues! Congrats on the WI - double yea for no longer being overweight! Woo Hoo for you - maybe this will be the week or maybe next for goal.

Happy - Good for you for heading straight to the store to stock up for the week after your WI. You did crack me with your WI report - I think we all pretty much know how things are going to go although everyone once in a while we get a 'pleasant' surprise when the week hasn't been good. You DID need more protein to get through the morning after a run. I hate it when hunger catches up with me and I haven't planned for it. Good thing you had a South Beach Diet bar to get you through. Hopefully your tummy growls didn't compete with the prof's lecture! LOL.

RedFox - I hope you get a good report from the doctor today. Maybe they are going to attach velcro to you to make you slow down a bit!!! Wish I was still in the city today - it would have great to meet up. Your mini meatloves sound really good - care to share your recipe? We're having curried chickpeas for dinner tonight - I woke up craving something with curry and it was the first thing that popped into my head. Must get some groceries today - we were scrounging for dinner last night. I had 'high' hopes of shopping after my run yesterday but I had an eye doctor appointment that added another mile walk to my day (which was probably good for helping to stretch everything out) but by the time I finished - lugging groceries was the last thing on my mind. I had a Healthy Choice meal in the freezer and DH had a hot dog! I'm glad your SIR made it to the funeral. The open house at UM sounds like it was worth attending. Glad you were able to pin down housing - regardless of what DS's dad has to say about it. Give new hubby big ((( )))'s for being there with DS. Sounds like he is a real winner and DS will learn so much more from him how to be a man. Grrrrr to your ex for second guessing everything when he didn't even bother to show up.

StillPluggin - Hope you are having a good DOR. I like your food/hydration plan for the week. One of my DH's co-workers is running Boston. He leaves Chicago on Friday - not sure when he is planning to return. That gives me two people to track - it is going to be soooo exciting. Can't wait to see your ribbons flying in the wind. That is absolutely awesome. Any 'first' weather reports yet? Good luck with the allergies this week - get them under control - lots of stuffy noses and watery eyes here too. I can totally see a difference in your face from your original pictures posted on the website. I bet you had a good time stuffing packets AND earning that jacket. You're right - it's a Boston Marathon jacket and you earned it - who cares what it looks like! The race shirt sounds awesome, though and I like all the other goodies!

Gator - I hope you are getting relief from your allergies. Amazing how quickly they can throw us for a loop and then it sucks the energy right out from under our feet. You probably needed the extra three hours of sleep more than you needed to run on Sunday morning!

I'm not finished with my reply but have to get to WW for my WI and then errands after. I don't want to leave this open and then have it 'disappear' while I'm gone so I'll finish later. The sun is shining so hopefully the theramometer is going up too!

~Darlene