Half-Ass Pre-Race Update

I realize my blog is in need of a serious update, and to my tens of readers and my dad I sincerely apologize. I've been living on the road, at friends' homes and in Residence Inns across the Midwest for the last nine days and just haven't had time to write a proper entry. During that time I've run in several awesome places and several not-so-awesome places, successfully completed a fartlek or two, and discovered that I can, in fact, still run 13 miles despite not having done so in over a month. The latter was confirmed at 13.1 Chicago last Saturday, in which I did not defend last year's title but did still manage to pocket $500 in spite of an unfortunate (but absolutely, 100% necessary) pit stop. Training is still by no means great, but it's getting there. And as I type this, I'm lounging in mine and Caitlin's hotel room in Duluth preparing for tomorrow's half-marathon national championships. A few weeks ago I didn't think I'd be healthy enough to make it to the starting line, but here I am. I look forward to writing a much more detailed entry after the race, not just about the race itself--although I hope to share the details of my triumphant return--but also about the wonderful job the quaint town of Duluth has done welcoming all of the athletes and making each of us feel like the top-tier elite athletes that only a few people here actually are. Until then, it's time to rest, relax, go for an early bird special dinner and get ready to race!

A special present from the Grandma's staff--they've now officially given me flowers one more time than Jordan.

Contents of the gift bag left in my room by the race committee. Wine! Beef jerky! A piece of chocolate shaped like a shoe!