The last time I wrote I told you that I was going to run the mini marathon here in Indy. It is now less than a month away, but I have been training relentlessly. Okay, maybe not relentlessly but I think I can say aggressively. Hmm, well, at least give me credit for consistency. I usually make it out three times a week. On my long runs I am up to nine miles. I should have run 10 miles last Sunday but the weather has been bad. I think I will get it in this afternoon. I’m pretty sure that barring injury, if I can run nine miles now, I will be able to run the 13.1 miles for the mini. The big question now is how long will it take me to finish?

I have to say that every week on that long run something new hurts. First it was my right foot, so I bought metatarsal pads to keep the pressure off the ball of my feet. The next week it was my left knee. It feels like an old injury from snowboarding that shows back up every once in a while. I did run with the metatarsal pads in both shoes that week and I thought that the pad may have affected the way my foot hit the ground and stressed my knee. You can’t be too careful so I stopped using the pad in the left shoe and started wearing a knee brace on the left knee. So every time I get ready to run I’m taping pads to my feet, bracing my left knee, putting on my heartrate monitor and GPS watch, filling my pockets with mace, my iPod shuffle, my cell phone and a Clif Shot energy gel. And that in addition to two or three layers of clothing for the cold Indy weather. It’s a lot like getting ready to make a pass in the race car. I have to start twenty minutes early just to get out of the house.

I have also gone out with Tommy a few times on the bikes. That would definitely be less abuse on my body. We rode 18 miles about a week ago. The distance wasn’t that tough of a workout but I’m not use to spending much time on the bike seat yet. My butt hurt for days!  Last weekend when Tommy was in Las Vegas for the race my friend Michelle and I took our dogs out to a trail that runs through Indianapolis. We all had a great time but one of our yorkies, Peanut, decided he would just as soon take in all the scenery without all the work, so I carried him about the last third. Here he is zonked out afterward.

Tommy’s birthday was on Monday after Vegas, so we took it easy that day. He got to sleep in and then we went to IHOP for breakfast/lunch. He had a massage in the afternoon and then we went out to eat that evening at Capital Grill. That was our first time eating at the Indianapolis location but we always enjoy their other restaurants. I gave Tommy an iPod touch so he has been busy loading it with games and music.

On a racing note, the team is still hard at work trying to get back out on the track. The Atlanta race is next weekend and that is where the team is based now. We are still implementing the Get Screened America program and I’m sure that we will be entertaining some potential sponsors over the next few races.  Car owner Roger Burgess and teammate Ray Commisso will both be running the ProMod cars in Atlanta next weekend. Based on their impressive performances in the last two races I think it will be a good weekend.

Well I’m off to run my 10 miles for the week since we finally have some nice weather. I’m sure you will hear from Tommy sometime soon.