What? It's done? I did it? Wait...I'm getting ahead of myself.

Last time with the group was Wednesday night at Bayshore. Tapering, tapering, tapering. Easy 3 mile jog. Nothing to it. Kinda dark but exciting...this is the last group run before the big run. Wow.

Running with Coach Steve and Debbie. Hit the dark area. Sidewalk turns to driveway. Concrete turns to blacktop. I turn to talk with Steve. Debbie makes a slight misstep. Steve lurches toward Debbie to steady her. Debbie gets her balance. Debbie glides onto the blacktop like a gazelle. I sidestep like a lumbering bear. I step onto the blacktop. I topple like a house of cards. I drop to the blacktop and try to roll. I smack my forehead. I drag the top of my knee along the blactop. I slide on my forearm near my elbow. I roll my arm mysteriously and slide along the top of my forearm. I stop. Wait....I am in training. Try everything you are going to do in the half marathon during training. I don't need to fall during the half marathon. I get up. Steve says to wipe the blood on my forehead because it is about to go in my eye. I say no way until he takes a picture...I earned this for all my training.

I left bad mojo on the sidewalk because Marai comes up behind and trips in the same spot and twists her ankle.

Wow...maybe that was one training session too many.

Well I am okay and the bleeding has stopped. Judy has just landed at the airport from her business trip. I tell her about the fall and my battlescars. I am heading home when the flashes of white light start to flash in my right eye. Hmmm...concussion? Maybe I should have this checked out.

That was 8:00 PM. Got home from the hospital at 2:00 AM. Cat scan said I was okay and they couldn't find anything to stitch. Unproductive time spent and now I am pooped. Got some ointment to prevent infection.

We that is all behind me now. The event is Sunday.

Fly out with Judy and the team on Friday to Phoenix. Southwest makes a great announcement for the whole plane about us and our involvement with TnT and L&L Society. Wow we're celebrities.

Landed and met up with Jenn and then Frank Lisa and Miranda. Got a big van and headed for Flagstaff where we had rented a house for the week. Great run through Sedona and the Red Rocks. Beautiful!!

Back to Phoenix on Saturday to go to the Expo and get souvenirs, stuff, and our race packages. Met the team for shirt decoration and last minute instructions.
Short night sleep in the hotel and an early start with the team.

Bus ride to the starting area and met up with Jenn. Did not see Lisa but since she is going faster, she is in an earlier corral than Jenn and I.

We are jammed in with 1,000 half marathoners looking to go at our pace. There are a lot of slow folks here but all are really excited. We move forward every two minutes as another 1,000 move on. About an hour after the initial gun, we are off.

So incredibly exciting. The bands were terrific...the cheerers were terrific...the race watchers were terrific. Wow! Am I having fun.

We passed some, some passed us. Lots of purple jerseys of fellow TnT participants.

Frank got pictures from the van about the halfway mark. Judy got some near the end. Bea took our cameras out ahead and got some of us coming along.

The bridge from Scottsdale to Tempe was pretty and the night concert stand was being readied along the roadway. We are approaching mile 13. Down a narrowing chute as we approach the finish line. We are actually going to make it. I remembered Bill Conway's advice to enjoy the final yards....got time for some good pix. Cheered and displayed my honored teammates for all to see. What a great feeling. Crossed the line to the announcer's comments and learned that with the right preparation, mighty terrific results can be attained.

Team Daniel was united at the finish line and we celebrated, got pix and then went to join the rest of the family. Lots of hugs, cheers, and some stiffness.

After the post race festivities, it was off to the hotel for an icy cold tub to fend off the inflammation and an hour or so of power nap to get ready for the victory party.

Lots of fun and exuberance at the party as well as dancing. Roaring cheers for the results of the fund raising by TnT for this one event of over 3 Million Dollars.

The rest of the week was spent in enjoying Arizona's sights and the trip house with the hot tub and the trampoline. Note to self....13.1 miles is do-able with minimal distress to the body. 13.1 seconds on the trampoline nearly did me in.

Flew home on Friday and woke up on Saturday wondering what to do with all my extra time since I am not doing grueling distance runs to prepare for my first Half Marathon. I did however give some thought to another. Virginia Beach has another Rock and Roll Half Marathon in the summer which will net us our 26.2 mile pin to go with the 13.1 mile pin we have now. Well maybe another blog can be anticipated.

Three cheers to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for their great work. Three more to Team in Training for making such a successful program to support their work and to support all the athletes who Train, Endure, Achieve and Matter. Go Team!!

Three more for the great folks in Suncoast Chapter who were so supportive all the way along. Coach Steve, Mentor Marai, Aimee, Bill, Marianne, Robin, Sandy, Rick, Coach Bea and all the others who helped me through this very memorable process. Old and fat...a Clydesdale...but now I can add the title of Runner.

Also special thanks to my new friends who were out there both first time and alumni, Linda, Kelly, Joe, Phil, Eric, Tommy and all the rest for your great spirit and sharing this with me, you are a great group.

Lastly, my one more really big cheer for my inspiration, Janice...I hope you know how much you helped me on this and I know we will do more of this together.

I guess that is all for now....thanks to all those that made contributions on my behalf...You are all heroes....thanks from the bottom of my heart.

And thank you Judy for all your support.

Go Team!!!!!