“Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy.”

Thank you Simon and Garfunkel — I AM (in fact) feelin’ groovy!  And your song is bouncing around in my head!

Feelin’ groovy, feelin’ good.  It’s all the same thing.  It’s mental.  And it’s important, especially at this stage.  This morning I got another 5 miles in on the treadmill.  I turned up the speed — pushed myself as hard as I ever had.  And I DID IT!  I feel like I want to run these last runs as H.A.R.D. as I can, sooo when I am out there in the heat on Sunday , slowing down to my normal long run pace…will feel both comfortable AND like a relief.  I’m also working hard to wrap up the work week – get those obligations out-of-the-way.    My boarding pass for my flight to Florida is in hand!  And my luggage is 95% packed.  See?  Feelin’ Groovy!

Some last-minute purchases this week.  My birthday Oakley sunglasses.  Yay!  Thanks Peter.  Bought some sunscreen, the waterproof, sweatproof sporty kind.  Bought an UnderArmour visor.  I figure it’s going to be too hot for a full ball cap, but I’m going to need something to keep the Florida sun off my face, out of my eyes once it comes up.  All predicted-80-degrees of it!  Ohhhhh B.O.Y.!

I loaded up my iPod with some juicy new songs for the plane.  I have a slight fear of flying….especially when I travel by myself, without Peter.  He lets me hold his hand, even when I hold on ridiculously tight.  Like, restricting-blood-flow kinda tight.    But this time, Peter and the girls will be travelling down a day after me, so the girls can finish out the school week.  So tomorrow, I will push myself through it.  The distraction of music, and a load of new books on my kindle will do the trick and get me to Florida.

Peter also loaded my Deepak Chopra meditations to my iPod.  That’s F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C!  I’m in the middle of the Mind-Body Odyssey, which is perfect for Marathon Week.  I might listen to a bunch of these session on the plane, especially if I have a toddler in the seat behind me kicking my seat t.h.e. e.n.t.i.r.e.  w.a.y!!  Which ALWAYS happens to me.

So — I’m holding on to my groovy feelin’.  I’ve banished the N word.  Any remaining nerves I might have, are being rolled into my excitement and groove!  Tomorrow is an early morning — get my next 5 miles in — clean up, and get to the airport.  Time to travel.

One step closer.   More to come….from F.L.O.R.I.D.A!!!

Ciao for now……..Diane