Being Sick is no Fun!

So taking time off training has been good, but I knew I would probably get a little cold when I stopped my normal workout routine.  I was prepared to get a little sick, expected it....really expected it right after the marathon.  Except it didn't.  I didn't have any cold symptoms right after all my training and finishing the marathon.  So a couple of weeks into my recovery time, my down time, my I don't have to train for anything time....then I get sick.  My hubby had caught something, and I was working hard not get his sickness.  Apparently that didn't work for me.  I worked through my week, even though I didn't feel great.  Seems like everyone at work was getting sick too.  So hard to work and be happy around people when you really just aren't feeling that great.

Yesterday I thought I might be starting to feel better, but I didn't want to do to much.  I didn't go to my dental hygiene board of trustee's meeting.  I did end up going to the kick off meeting for TNT, but it was only for an hour.  I immediately came home and went back to bed though.  I've slept a 12 hour night, and 3 x 10 hour nights this week.  I woke up this morning and thought WOW, I'm finally going to feel better.  I could breath through my nose, it was great.  I took my dog for a walk and still felt pretty okay.  When I got home, it all started getting congested again.  I feel like I'm hacking up a lung.....sounds like fun right?  I guess getting it all out is a good thing though.  Right??

I need to be feeling lot's better by tomorrow.  I've got big plans.  Like I'm going to work with the earbud testing crew and have a fun mask on my face while I ride my bike for 30-40 minutes on a trainer.  Sounds like fun....right??  Well it is fun if you are feeling up to it.  (minus the mask...that thing is not fun).  I like being able to be apart of testing though.  It's been fun.

Ohh, and P.S. - Scout seems to be doing with his meds and keeping him from being to crazy (restricted movement).  Hopefully this will get him all better and he'll be 100% soon.

Scout gave us a little scare...

So anyone who knows me in "real life" knows I love my dog.  Scout is an almost 9 year old Chocolate Lab, who has been a part of our family since he was about 13 weeks old.  I feel like a rescued him, even though I did get him from a breeder.  Needless to say Scout had and has a few issues, mostly though he's just the cutest dog in the whole world (I'm sure I'm not the only person who thinks their dog is the cutest thing ever).  With my other friends animals having severe problems lately and my radar on high, Scout "decided" to start limping on Sunday.

Scout at Christmas with his new Hedgie.

Weird thing:  I took Scout out for his morning walk on Sunday and he was just fine.  I took him out to pee and get ready to go for a car ride to meet the girls and Sophie (Scout's girlfriend) to go for a run, and he's limping.  I did not take him for that run, thinking I didn't need to injure him farther or aggravate whatever was going on with him.  It was Sunday, he didn't really seem like he was in distress except of the limping, I decided to wait and call the vet on Monday morning to get him in.  I had the day off on Monday, I would be able to go in and talk to the vet and see what was happening.  Except that when I called, the 2 vets that I prefer to see were out, or booked up for the day.  I had to option of taking one of the other vets (there are 4 in the office) 1 who I just don't see eye to eye with (although lot's of other people like her), and one I just didn't know (therefore don't feel comfortable with), dropping Scout off and letting the vet I knew and liked check him when she had time throughout the day (but not in an exam room with us there) and picking him up later in the day (not a good option since he'd be sitting around in a cage/crate all day), or taking an appointment on Tuesday.  I took the appointment on Tuesday, well, Jason took the appointment on Tuesday.  Scout was still limping throughout the day, but it didn't seem to be getting worse, and he wasn't complaining about it (not that dogs really do).

Scout looking through the glass door at Granny J's House

Yesterday: Tuesday.  I went to work.  Jason took Scout to the vet.  Dr Lewis did a great job of checking him over.  They ended up taking a couple of x-rays on his left leg to check (no sedative to do that).  All his bones and joints look good, no sign of anything else (like cancer) happening.  They think it is probably a soft tissue issue a sprain or strain.  Or it could be something with his spinal column, but she said that was pretty unlikely.  Not sure how he strained or sprained his foot (left) while laying around the house, but it is possible that he did.  So for now he's on anti-inflammatory meds, and on restrictive actions, which mean just leash walks, no playing time with jumping or running.  So no D-O-G P-A-R-K for him for a couple of weeks.

I slept 12 hours last night, it could be because I needed some serious stress reduction sleep to happen, or I might be getting sick.  I'm going to hope that it's the first.  And now you know why my stress levels might of been a little high. *smiles*

Look at that sweet face!

The Disney World Marathon (TNT event #6)

I woke up at 2:45 am.  Yep that's early.  We were meeting in the hotel lobby at 3:15 am to do a team picture and get on the busses to go to the start. We got our picture taken, we all gathered together, and we walkout out to the busses together.  I love my TNT teammates!!

We headed over to the race start.  We gathered together outside the bag check and corrals.  We hung out for a little bit, ate our breakfasts, tried to stay calm, or tried to wake up.  Some of the people in our group were up this early for the second or third day in a row.  They were doing the Goofy Challenge (and one doing the unofficial Dopey Challenge).  The Goofy Challenge is where you do the 1/2 marathon on Saturday and come back and do the full marathon on Sunday.  GOOFY...right??  So as time was getting closer, I made my way to the porta-lets to finish off business one last time.  Then back to the group, through bag check (they had a great system for the bag check) and walk to the corrals with our coaches (well they got to come part way).  I was lucky enough to be let in to the corral with Sarah and Phil, and Cara (doing the Goofy).  See I forgot to put a qualifying race in when I signed up, so I ended up in the last corral (ooopp's).  So I went into the corral before the last corral with my friends...I kinda bullied my way in.

We huddled around at the back of the corral waiting for our turn to start. It was a little cold and very dark out still.  They had big fireworks at the very beginning start, and then mini-fireworks for all the different corral starts. I was in corral G, the corrals went to H. We slowly made our way to the start line, it took about 40 minutes to get there.  We saw the elite runners going by before we even started (to be fair the guy who one the marathon ran a 5 minute mile for the entire race, 2:19).  Finally we were crossing the start line and on our way.  I stuck to my 4 minute run 1:20 minute walk for the entire race, minus the first interval which I ran the walk (because I was cold) and when I stopped to take pictures with characters, and one bathroom stop.  I had an AMAZING time.  I had so much fun for the entire race, no joke!  Of course my feet were hurting by the end a little, but I was truly enjoying every mile, I really wasn't expecting this!  It was like the PERFECT race for me.  My time was nothing to write home about 6 hours and 15 minutes, but you know what, I finished it, and I had a blast!  I stopped and took lot's of pictures along the way.  It was so cool.  I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.  I just want to add, that I wouldn't of made it through this entire journey without all the love and support of my family and friends, and mostly my TNT peeps!  The coaches and support on the course were AMAZING!!  The reason for doing this marathon makes my heart so happy.  Finding a cure for cancer, and crossing that ultimate finish line....A CURE!

Getting pumped up before the race! (Sarah and Phil)

Yeah, we are totally getting ready...and the moon shines so bright! (Ben and Phil)

Just chillin' at the pre-race area.

Marie my roommate from the weekend, staying warm.

walking to the corrals (with Sarah)

Walking to the corrals and staying warm (Ben)

Walking to the corrals and Phil being Phil!

Alex trying to stay warm on the way to the corrals.

Me with my throw away sweatshirt and $3 blanket walking to the corrals with Coach Peggy

Sarah and Phil, cause they are so adorable!!

Waiting for Cara at the last potty stop before we go into our corrals.

The Start, Fireworks...but not a great picture ( on the other side of the road was all the other corrals)

Cara and I in the corral (she was doing the Goofy)

Heading into Epcot the first time.

Made it to Mile 3!  WOO HOO!!

My first Character.  One of the Ca bolero's 

Briar Bear and Briar Fox

Now at mile 6.  YAY!!

The 3 Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf was coming out after I went by.

Scotty Mc Duck, Daisy's uncle.

ready to head into the Magic Kingdom....after a little loop around.

Classic Car Show on the run!!

they were cool cars!

This one sorta looks like my father in laws car.

and some trucks too.  They had race cars before this, but I didn't they looked as cool as these cars!

at mile 10

in the Magic Kingdom with Cinderella's Castle.

Alice and the Mad Hatter (the girl running did the whole thing dressed like pinochhico)

the back side of the castle

Prince Charming, and the Step Sisters and Step Mom.

Woody

Mary Poppin's and the Chimney Sweepers

Tigger and Pooh

The Evils

Mile 14!! (Over Half Way Done)

This guy looked just like Johnny Depp

Mile 15 and still smiling!

Smee, me, and Captain Hook

John Smith and Meeko 

A Screech Owl on our way into the Animal Kingdom

My picture with a different owl

I asked the Macaw if he wanted to run 26.2 miles with me, he said yes!

An endangered tortoise. (they had rabbits too...the tortoise and the hare...hahahaha)

Petting the donkey

Me and Jiminey Cricket

Rafeki and I in the Animal Kingdom

King Louie and Blue from Jungle Book.

Expedition Everest in the distance, I heard a couple got out of the race to ride it and then came back to run the rest.

Mile 17!  Chuggin' right along.

The smallest Minnie Mouse I've ever been near!

mile 18

Mickey on the way out of Animal Kingdom.

The signs leading up to this Photo Op where things like "This may be your FINAL REST STOP"

Made it Mile 19!!

Up the hill and into Hollywood Studios I will go... Move it Move it!!

How Incredible!  I got to hang with the Incredibles!

Max!

That's right...it's Mile 24!

And here I made it to Mile 25!!  Still loving it! Back in Epcot.

Duchess from the Arsticats.

The Beast!

Jasmine

Mushu

Another Ca bolero 

Duffy, apparently Mickey's new friend.

Parks were open, and people thought we were crazy (I'm sure).  Space Ship Earth behind me.

Mile 26, I got a little choked up at this one.

Right before the finish there was Minnie and Mickey, and I just had to take the Photo Op!

I did it!  And I've got the BLING to prove it!