Rain or Shine...well almost

The twenty miler was this morning and my partner in crime, Misty and I missed out. Me due to a cold and being on antibiotics for a painful urinary tract infection (fun times peeing blood...not so much). I decide to listen to my doctor who advised against any activity for another week. Really does not make sense to run down an immune system which is already low. Misty missed due to being tired from her crazy travel schedule and just sleeping through the alarm. It was drizzling out this morning and I was happy to be snug in my bed listening to the pitter patter of the rain. No need to get my brand spanking new asics dirty just quite yet. We did join 10 of our fellow Salazar group members at an early dinner at Esputus to learn about the Florence course from marathon veteran George. He told us to bring all our own munchies like oatmeal, cliff bars, shok bloks as they do not have that stuff in Italy. Apparently 5 miles of the later part of the marathon is all cobblestone...I can just see a few of us getting sprained ankles already. Portable potties are also not always were they say they are going to be so he said to bring klennex and be prepared to find a wall or bush as the average wait for the portable bathrooms is 15 minutes or longer. We all cracked ourselves up by suggesting wearing Depends...I seriously doubt anyone is going to go to those lengths. Everyone was in good spirits after stuffing ourselves on various grilled meats...yes, we had flank steak, lamb chops, pork loin with parmesan, grilled prawns, chicken heart, and beef ribs...along with paella, 10 different salads...wonderful brazilian food. I definitely will go back...Hal this is the perfect buffet place for you...all you can eat! The next couple of weeks we are running 10 miles then we have our 23 miler on October 13. Cannot wait to get to Italia! I better get my rosetta stone language cd asap...

Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do. - Pope John Paul XXIII