Thought you could use a VISUAL......

Ok, so as I have said before I've set up "house" at my parents house due to the fact that I will not be able to drive for the next 6 weeks, and I'm stuck on crutches (non-weight bearing) for that entire time. I have to say, I totally under estimated what a pain in the ass it would be to do simple things (pour a cup of coffee, put milk in it, then go sit on the couch). At some point I will go back to my house for a couple days (for sanity and to see my Kitties), but then I'll be back. I am staying on the first floor, more specifically in their living room on their couch (and sometimes the recliner), my Dad's "office" has turned into my "changing room".

So, my parents live on 40 acres with horses, dogs and cats. There are 3 dogs and 1 cat in the house, the dogs believe that the couches belong to them. As you can imagine this could cause I problem because I can't have a golden retreiver (or 2) trying to lay on the couch with me and my cast. SO, we came up with a way to keep them off of my "bed".....check out the sheet from the very early 90's!

And yes, those are the "gates" off of the side of a crib leaning against the coffee table (which now holds all of my important belongings!). I am "protected" from the dogs once I'm behind the gates! For those of you that are thinking "Come on, would they really bother you?"....here are pictures from when I ventured out to the kitchen. The first one is of Spike and Buster...

The second is of Maggie....As you can see, they would actually like to sit in my lap, but since they can't they'll just lay their heads on me so that I can't go back into my cage!

Last but not least, in an effort to stay positive, today I'm wearing my Staten Island 1/2 Marathon T-shirt....that was one of the best days of my life. It was the first time that I really felt like I was "a runner". Here I was in New Jersey for work and I was able to rent a car and drive to Staten Island and do a 1/2 Marathon....something that only 6 months beforehand was completely out of the question. That is a day/event that I am so proud of, it was a huge turning point for me in many areas, it is my goal that the rest of my life is more and more like that day - everyday. I am proud that I had the confidence to enter the race, the confidence to rent a car and drive there on my own even though I had no idea how to get there and no GPS (and there are way too many bridges and opportunites to end up in the wrong state), and to just GO on my own, and make new friends, run the race, and have SO MUCH FUN DOING IT! So, here I am in my T-Shirt....I love you Staten Island!

*Sidenote - I just re-read my post and got totally teary eyed reading about the Staten Island Half.....I really can't wait to run again.....

19 Days 'til Marine Corps Marathon!!!

I'm at the airport waiting for my plane back to "The Burgh"! Dallas was good, lots of good food (note: that does not help in the "get this fat off my a$$ before the marathon plan!!!)!
Thank you everyone for your comments on my 20 miler!!!
Blister Update - It's popped and drained for the most part, still sort of black/purple looking (gross), but feeling pretty good.
Rib Update - Feeling really good, I think I'm pretty much healed! AMEN!!! My obliques on that side are still sore, but I think that will just take some time. Overall it is 1,000,000 times better than it was last week!!!

Sorry that I haven't been able to get back to everyone that has posted lately, being "on the road" has really cut into my blogging time (damn that job)!!!!! I promise I will catch up soon!!!

Here's where I stand on the rest of my time until "The Big Day" (which I know for most girls my age usually means their wedding, this is my version of "The Big Day")!
My TNT Running Coach was really happy with how my 20 miler went! Originally there was another 20 scheduled for the weekend of the 12th. I am going to be in NY/NJ that weekend, so I was hoping I wouldn't have to do that there. He said that since the 20 went so well (yipee!) I don't have to worry about getting in another 20 (THANK GOD!)! So here's the proposed plan -
Thursday the 9th: do 12-15 Miles
Friday 10th: Leave for NY/NJ
Saturday or Sunday 12th: 8 Miles
Come Home Sunday night
Tuesday 14th: 10 Miles
Then continue with taper plan (pretty much standard plan).

However, I just saw that there is the Staten Island Half Marathon on Sunday....that is about 40 minutes away from where I'll be staying. I'm wondering if I could just do 8miles on Thursday, then Sunday do the Half, and then on Tuesday do 8-10 miles?
What do you guys think? I wouldn't do the Half at "Race Pace", I would use it as a regular run. My hesitation to doing the 8 miles on Sat or Sun is that I'm not sure where I'll run in New Jersey (Meadowlands area), and I don't know that it's worth getting all the way into Central Park on Saturday morning to run with the TNT group for 8 miles. I am supposed to be working on Saturday and Sunday in NJ, with Saturday being the most important day....if I had to skip out for a chunk of the day that would be ok, but better if I didn't have to. It just seems like doing the Half would be so much easier in a way.
And let me just be completely honest with you.....I just think it would be cool to do another Half, and in Staten Island on top of that, what other time would I ever do that?
As always, I'll take any and all input/advice/encouragement!!!!
Looks like it's almost time to get on the plane, can't wait to get home!