I ran 22 miles today!!! 22!! That's the longest run during training. Thank goodness. It was hard and the wind was HORRID. I felt like one of those cartoon people leaning against the wind but not actually going anywhere. But overall, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought that it would be. I have had a really hard time with the 18 and 20 milers. I didn't even completely finish the 20. My knees have been really bad but I cut back on my runs during the week as far as distance, got some anti-inflammatory ointment from my orthopedic doctor and pop Advil like an addict. They were much better today. the doctor said that if I'm going to keep running after the marathon, I have to get orthopedics. But you can't make those kinds of changes 3 weeks before the marathon so I'll have to do that later.

I have $200 more to go. Follow up letters are going out tomorrow. Hopefully, that will take care of it. I have a commitment of $100 from one couple but I'm not sure they can do it. We'll see.

Anna is doing okay, relatively speaking. Her family is trying to wait until after October 11th when she has her next MRI to make any decisions about continuing treatment. They hope to not have to make any before then. One of Anna's friends that she met through staying at the Children's Hospital passed away last Friday. He was 10 years old. 10 years old. Middle age at the age of 5. Once again I'm astounded at the strength of faith his family has shown throughout. Please pray for them and for Anna and her family. I know that her time is limited, but pray that it can last as long as possible without suffering.

I'm back

My computer is finally up and running. Finally!! I was going to post through my friend, Lisa, but she inexplicably couldn't open the last post I sent her so I just decided to wait until I got my computer back.

I've been training consistently. The long endurance runs are SO hard. SO hard. Last week was a 20 miler. This week (tomorrow) is a 12 and then next week is 22! 22 miles. My tendinitis has started flaring up at about 12/13 miles. Hopefully I can get that under control. After the 22 mile run, we taper way off for the three weeks prior to the marathon. And then it's the big day. I'm actually really excited about it.

I worked a fundraiser today for five and a half hours of sitting/standing in the sun. I'm sporting quite a sunburn but it was fun. We were working at the Triathlon - where people swim 2.4 miles, bicycle 112 miles (no, that's not a typo) and then run a marathon (26.2 miles). Masochists. I can't believe that anyone can do that. But they had several, several hundred contestants.

Anna. Anna is not doing well. She was able to go home after the pneumonia and she is doing one more week of antibiotics. But she's getting sick regularly - severe weakness and a myriad of intestinal problems. Yet, she'll frequently have short periods where she bounces back. She really is amazing. There is a little friend of Anna's that she has met through her own illness named Mitch. Mitch is nearing the end of his battle with cancer. His family is facing the difficult decisions that I can't possibly imagine. Please keep both of these families and these two innocent kiddos in your prayers.

Had a great 4 mile run this evening. The getting darker earlier is interfering with training a bit, but not too bad. Sunday is another 'longer than I've ever gone before' endurance run. 18 miles this week. 20 miles the next, then 12, then 22 ( I think) - after that the endurance runs dwindle significantly until the marathon. I can't believe it's as close as it is.

Anna is showing some improvement on the pneumonia front. She is on less oxygen now and starting to have a little bit of an appetite, although admittedly not much. She's resting better and I don't think struggling quite as much to breathe. I'll keep you posted. Please continue to keep her and her family in your prayers.

I have been trying to post lately but have found it ... difficult. I usually, before Anna had these latest difficulties, started with discussing training. I was trying to keep mind preoccupied this morning during my 10 mile run - i noticed that runners are illogically nice to each other. They always, always, always greet each other with a 'hi!" or "good morning" between their gasps ... gotta be some sort of masochistic bond.

But it all feels rather insignificant and useless. It could be that Anna will never leave the hospital now. It seems unlikely. I guess it's never enough - I remember praying for her to please be here to go on a real family vacation with her family this summer. Then I prayed that she would just get to start kindergarten, now I pray for more. It's not enough when you have to pray for a five year old to make it to this or that, not even daring to pray that they make it to six.