I am not cheerful right now.

I know that I am supposed to be cheerful so that people will donate to Team for Kids, but I do not feel cheerful.

I am SO SICK of running.

I'm slower than I've ever been.

I'm currently dealing with the following: Achilles tendinitis (better now with my new shoes and inserts, but still not great), this golf-ball looking protrusion on my right foot, and a major strain/sprain/who-the-hell-knows-but-I've-gotta-complain on my left calf muscle.

I always said that the reason I could stay so injury-free while training for marathons was that I cross-trained in a pool once a week. I think it's so good for the joints. But now I no longer have access to a pool.

I hope no one reads this. I am writing this to get it off my chest. I feel like I can't complain about marathon training because it's my own stupid fault I'm doing it. And it's not even like marathon training helps me get a sexier bod because even though I ran seven miles today, I also ate two ice cream sandwiches and a bunch of Oreos, which negates the whole run.

I do not know how I am going to run 15 miles on Saturday.

And then I have to give blood to save lives even though that is going to cause me to have a Major Meltdown.

I am pathetic.

And I have too much homework.

That is all.

I hope you didn't read this. =(

WHICH CELEBRITIES WILL RUN?!?!

What do all of these celebs have in common: P. Diddy, Katie Holmes, Anthony Edwards, Lance Armstrong, Ryan Reynolds, Edward Norton, and Alanis Morisette?!?!?

They have all run the NYC Marathon!

I really hope some celebs run the marathon this year...and I really, REALLY hope that they all run at my pace, and I get to chat with them!

[Do you think when celebrities run, they run with bodyguards? Probably. I probably wouldn't get to chat with the celebs even if they were running at my pace. Darn.]

AM I REALLY A MARATHON MANIAC?

In short, the answer is NO.

The website "Marathon Maniacs" includes a set of questions designed to determine whether or not a person is worthy of the designation "Marathon Maniac." I shall now answer the questions.

1. Do your thoughts switch to the next scheduled race immediately after finishing a marathon? NO...I don't have multiple races scheduled.

Are you signed up for more than one race right now? See above.

Do you know specifics about many of the marathons? Dates, courses, years run, etc.? Not really.

Do you know the story of how the marathon got started? Also why the course is 26.2 miles? Yes, but that's because I'm a Mythology Maniac, not a Marathon Maniac.

Do you read books on marathons like Marathon and Beyond? Never heard of it. But I did read Marathon Training for Dummies four years ago.

Is www.marathonguide.com book marked on your computer? Do you look at the race schedule more than once a week? No. Hell no.

Do you start to feel down when you haven't run a marathon in a while? Sometimes...but only because I realize I need to do something to counteract my inability to stop eating sweets.

Are your closets and dressers filled with marathon t-shirts? I have a few...

Do you have so many marathon medals that you've run out of room on the hook they hang from? Haha...no.

When asked about your racing from none running people, do you find yourself talking with great passion to the point that the person that asked the question regrets ever asking? What is a none running person? *smile*

Have you run marathons on back to back weekends? Or better yet back to back days?
That sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Have you run a marathon as a training run? Or just to pace a friend?
No I have not. Next question.

When asked by loved ones what your plans are for the weekend, you feel guilty telling them your running another marathon so you tell them "it's only a half this weekend"?
No. This scenario has never once occurred.

Do you plan all your vacations around a marathon race? Decidedly not.

Well if you answered yes to any of these questions, you just may be a Marathon Maniac!!!

THEN IT GETS EVEN CRAZIER!

Here is the criteria to be a "bronze member" (AKA the lowest level) of the organization: two marathons within a 16 day time frame OR three marathons within a 90 day time frame.

If you want to reach the elusive "titanium" level (there are nine levels), you must do 52+ marathons in 365 days OR 30 marathons in 30 states, countries, or provinces in 365 days OR 20 countries within 365 days.

WHO CAN AFFORD TO BE A TITANIUM MEMBER OF MARATHON MANIACS? Forget the toll on the body; what about the toll on the wallet?

This non-marathon maniac is off to ice her Achilles tendon and grade diagnostic compositions! xoxo