Was it something I said?

Wow, what a lot of comments you left yesterday! Thanks very much for taking the time to – ahem – weigh in. Heh.

WS, your experience and advice is so very reassuring. I feel like I have a real coach, albeit a long-distance one, and I appreciate your taking the time to answer my novice questions.

Mr. Shrinking Knitter's son finished the Columbus Half in less than two hours, with no training to speak of. Then he worked the rest of the day. When he came to our wedding celebration in September, he ran 15 miles in the morning, then toted supplies, moved furniture, mingled with guests and stayed out pretty late in the evening, without falling asleep in his dinner [my grandchildren both did!]. His ears surely were burning the next day, when Mr. SK's cousin and I couldn't help but be amazed at his stamina and energy. We both agreed that 15 miles of running would have sent us straight to bed, if it hadn't killed us first!

Proving, of course, the old saying: That which doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Jen, that's so cool that you've also run the Columbus race. Thanks, too, for the advice to get blister-proof socks. I just found out there's a running store about an hour away from me. I might not make it there before the race, but I will pick up a pair sometime to try them out. Right now I like the shoe-sock combination I've been training in, and from everything I've read it's not a good idea to change anything on race day.

Race day. Yikes! Less than two weeks now. Can you hear my heart thumping?

Andrea suggested that maybe the rain is contributing to my aches and pains. Not so much; they're gone the morning after a long run. And a week later, so are the memories of the aches and pains. Kinda like childbirth. Heh. [Although, to be honest, I had two C-sections, so, truly, I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies. Unless a surgeon is present.]

Welcome, AZ Hiker Chick! And I wish your passion for yoga was contagious. I do love yoga when I'm doing it. It's so easy for me to put it off until later, and then not do it at all, day after day. LME is another yoga proponent; I keep hoping that the inspirational fairy godmother will hit me with her wand if I keep reading about it. Although I don't think it works that way.

It's still raining here. It rained off and on all day yesterday, all night, and presently it's pouring. Those nearby rivers I love running along are going to flood if it doesn't stop soon. I've lived here almost 10 years and we haven't had a major flood in all that time, but shortly before I came here the town of Alderson was devastated.

On days like this, I can't help but think about the inmates at Alderson. Most of them don't work on Sunday. They live in big dormlike buildings, two women each sharing 500 tiny cubicles. The TV rooms also are filled with cots because the dorms are so overcrowded.

They walk endless outdoor laps around the compound when they're not working or taking a class. Today, though? No walking laps, no softball, no volleyball, no place for private thoughts or peace. No matter how you feel about prisoners, we all need that.

No running for me today, either, unless the rain lets up later on. I'd like to get out for a three- or four-miler, but I doubt if it happens.

Thirteen days until race day.