I just got home from Phoenix. This will be a very short post, because I am uber tired, in pain and need some rest tonight. Today’s marathon turned into a half-marathon for me due to severe pain in my left leg at mile 9. I struggled through four miles and was able to get the halfway point before I decided to retire for the day. Since that tim, I’ve been in an unbelievable amount of pain, and tomorrow night, I plan on seeing the doctor.

I’ll go into details when I have more time to write.

Now I know what it feels like when an athlete loses in the playoffs. It sucks, bad.

On a brighter note, I got a medal for completing the half-marathon.

Apologies in advance as I am writing this blog from my phone.

Its the afternoon before the big day and I just got back to my hotel. Tom and I went to the Phoenix Convention Center to pickup my goodie bag and race bib.

I was a bit disappointed with the goodie bag since the only things in it were a bunch of coupons, brochures and other random papers that will be recycled.

The rest of the day will involve a whole lot of relaxing and doing nothing. We may go catch a movie. Relax is the key word….calm before the storm.

I’m still nervous though….

First off, Happy New Year! It’s been a while since I’ve last posted. I didn’t really have much to update because I was slowly tapering my weekly runs so that I am ready for the Arizona Rock N’ Roll Marathon coming up….this Sunday!

Earlier this week, I had a nasty bout of a 24-hour flu. I’m recovering and should be all set to go for the big day. For some reason, this bug has me all dehydrated, so I’ve been trying to drink as much water and juice as humanly possible.

I’ve battled all kinds of insane injuries in the weeks leading up to this marathon, but I’ve survived. Ingrown toenails, sprained ankles, shin splints, side aches. You name it, I had it. It’s time to move on.

If you want to track me, you can probably click here, and type in my runner number 11440.

This will probably be my last post until after the marathon. I do want to point out that this marathon helps fund the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). I know that the LLS is one of the many reasons I have two really good people in my life.

Having said that, I want to make sure that I take time out to dedicate this upcoming marathon to those two: my good friend Rob Sunga and my cousin, Vikrum Ingle. Although they have never met each other, they have lots in common. They know me, they live in New Jersey, and I dedicate this next marathon to both of them.

Rob is one of my old college friends from when I was involved with PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America). We met at a conference and always kept in touch. Last summer, he was diagnosed with Lymphoma. This brave guy has battled several rounds of chemo and is now on his way to recovery, thanks to his great caretakers, and especially the heart that Rob brings to the table. This week, I will run for Team Rob!

Now I’m going to talk about my cousin Vikrum. I apologize in advance, because I am going to overuse the word “cool”…but it’s the only way to describe my cuz Vik. We weren’t in touch as often as we would have liked, but we always knew that we were family…and it was cool.

He doesn’t know this, but I always thought he was cooler than me because he lived near New York City. Little did I know that he was cooler than me because he was just cooler than me. I got to know him a bit in my visit to NYC in 1998, I got to know him a little bit better. He was so knowledgeable about “city stuff”. He was a cool kid. Later in his teenage years, he battled lymphoma. He fought through it and is now as strong as ever.

I dedicate this marathon, for Rob and Vikrum.