After 1 full marathon, 2 half marathons, a couple of 10-milers and numerous 5Ks, I still don’t think of myself as a true runner. It doesn’t take much to throw me off. Too hot, too cold, too wet, or too icy, and it’s not pretty. I might eat too much or eat too little, not get enough sleep or just not be having the best day, and my run can be a disaster.

However, every once in a while, the stars align. We’re in Spring Island, SC visiting Dad for Spring Break. It’s my favorite place to be. The Low Country of South Carolina is stunning.

It was time for my second-to-last long run, and the day could not have been better. It was in the high 50s with plenty of sun and a light breeze. It’s hard to express the degree of improvement over running in Minneapolis last week with a wind chill in the 20s.

I had to run 16 miles, so I set out hoping for the best. For the first time this training season, everything delivered. I felt great and ran faster than I have all year. I watched the birds, admired the scenery and generally just enjoyed being outside in springtime.

It was a much-needed confidence booster for the marathon. With less than a month to go, I am in the final week of intense training before the long-awaited taper.

From a fundraising perspective, things continue to exceed our wildest expectations. We have raised $14,370, thanks to the generosity of 82 donors. Check out our fundraising page to learn more.

We have 1 more week of hard training to go, and then 3 weeks of tapering. There are lots of big developments to come between now and April 26, so stay tuned!