Sheesh, I'm horrible at keeping up with this.  Sometimes I wish I had the nike+ipod thing so I can update people with my running without typing a word.

Anyway, the marathon is less than two days away.  We'll be headed up to vancouver sometime tomorrow.  I think I'll be ok, though training has been tough.

It's been awhile since I've posted so here's a quick recap:

• Been doing physical therapy for awhile.  They think it's a combo of a back and ankle/hip thing
• I am now wearing green superfeet
• I went to NYC and ran in Central Park (it was 70 degrees!)
• My last long run (20 miles) was when I got rained, snowed, and hailed upon
• Despite the weather I felt pretty good
• I've only run about 3 miles since then
• For the last week, I've been trying my darndest NOT to get sick in spite of all the people around me and me being tired/stressed/swamped
  

To say that this was a rough training season is an understatement.

All in all, I am looking forward to the run.  At minimum  because  my wife and I are running together (sorta as she's doing the half).  And, we love going to vancouver.

thanks to everyone who has provided encouragement through this training.  back in a few days!

PT update -- I went to physical therapy the other day and apparently my back is messing with my right leg.  It seems that when I run, I over rotate my upper body to the left (counter clockwise) so one side of my back is a bit stronger than the other -- no need for hunch back jokes.  Anyways, long story short...I now have back exercises to help my leg.  I'll be doing PT for a little while...and I'm still running (thankfully).
...
After my PT session today (second one), I ran for 5 miles on the treadmill.  At first, it didn't feel all that good but then realizing I needed to rotate clockwise, I decided to change my gaze to the right.  I found that by looking at 2 o'clock, my leg didn't seem to hurt as much.  Is it psychological?  Is it physical?  both?  I don't know but i figure I'll keep doing these exercises and keep looking towards 2 o'clock.  Weather permitting, I might shoot for a 14miler this wknd.

I've been trying my best to keep at this running thing, despite some travel and lack of motivation.  When I was in Hawaii, I was able to run (about 3-5 miles) about 5 times.  I was surprised at how hilly and windy it was where we stayed.  Anyway, since getting back to Seattle in mid-Feb, I've been out on some longer runs -- 8, 12, and 12.  Unfortunately, my right leg has been bugging me as of late.  I got a new pair of shoes (New Balance 768s) after years of Brooks GTS.'  I made the switch in part because my leg has been bugging me.  Anyway, I ran in my new kicks, and while it was better...my leg still bothered me.  Anyway, I now have a meeting with a physical therapist (first ever).  Let's hope for the best.  I'll let you know how it goes.

in planning a work trip, i realized that i need to start ramping up my training for the vancouver marathon.  for the past few weeks i've only run max of 17 miles a week.  that's running 5 miles one day, and then four on two other days.  it doesn't sound like much, and indeed it isn't.  really it's just how much i can run before work at the gym in a short amount of time.  to get up to speed, pardon the pun, i need to start getting way more milage in the next few months.  fortunately, i don't think that should be a problem.  after my 5 mile runs, i still feel like i can go longer.  maybe not on a treadmill, but in general.  as for my shorter, 4 mile runs, i've been ramping up the pace/speed on the machine.  i used to run at a 7ish pace (setting 8.5 for those interested).  this seemed to work fine, but now i've been running at a 9.0 setting.  i've also been messing with the %age elevation on the shorter runs to mixed results.  two weeks ago i did a week of more of an incline.  this past week, i increased pace.  maybe next week i'll do both?  who knows...

anyway, i'll post more on my progress in the weeks ahead