The good, the bad, and the scary.......................................

Granted I am not familiar with the Detroit area, but I never in a million years would have thought driving the marathon course would take us close to three hours. Even that fact that it took us a good thirty minutes to get out of the tunnel due to traffic, that still seems like a long time. When you think about the fact that the winner of the marathon will most likely take less time than that it IS a long time.

Driving the course did give me new appreciation of those course Marshalls (and having been one I actually know what they are called now), and how important it is having someone there to make sure you are going the right way.

When we came up to the bridge into Canada I had a total freak out and cursed my idea of driving the course. That sucker is BIG, and LONG, and UP HILL! And did I mention I am afraid of bridges? Has to do with a re-occurring childhood dream. But after I called my youngest (she is running that portion of the race with me) I calmed down and now I have the picture in my head to be able to meditate on and visualize me running fast and strong over the bridge, all the while having a great time.

In my mind, the race is made up of three parts. Downtown with all the concrete and buildings. This is the beginning and the tail end of the race. Then there is the exciting part, the bridge and the tunnel. Not being a normal running path it is going to be neat to be able to say I ran over and through them. The final part is the pretty part. Running along the water, around Belle Isle, and the residential area after Belle Isle is pleasing on the eye and will be great for keeping your mind off any aches and pains as you take in the scenery.

Even though it was hot and humid, we did stop and run the three miles around Belle Isle. I was glad that leg wasn't longer.

All in all I can think of a better way to have started my fiftieth year. We even managed to fit in ice cream and a movie (with a small popcorn, but heck it WAS my birthday, and my HR monitor said I had burned close to 4,000 calories the day before, so I figured the splurge was okay) before having to be home to relieve the OP caregiver substitute.

I think one more day and I will be back to walking normal after Saturday's run. Funny, this morning I work up and my forearms are achy. Since I didn't do anything that I can think of to cause it besides Saturday's run, it must be from the position I had my arms in for almost six hours, but it is just showing up three days later. Maybe my body couldn't spare any pain signals for the forearms as they were all busy letting me know how much my quads didn't like what I put them through. Get over it quads, we are doing it again in less than two weeks! And I can't wait!