Nice Surprises!

There's been some nice surprises for me in the past couple of days. I got an email yesterday morning from Active.com:

This message is generated as confirmation of your recent registration on Active.com. You have been successfully registered for the following:

Registration: 2008 Nike Women's VIP Marathon and Half Marathon
Purchase Date: 10/03/08
Category: VIP Marathon Registration
Name: Julianne

Congratulations! You are now registered for The Nike Women's Half Marathon and Marathon, a race to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Sunday, October 19, 2008
Race Start: 7:00am
Union Square, San Francisco, CA

Holy cow!!! I really really had given up all dreams of running the Nike Women's Marathon in 2 weeks. Yes, you heard me right. 2 weeks until the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. I had been trying to get into this race for several months but it's been sold out for a long time now. My friend who works for Jamba Juice corporate told me that they had a waiting list for their corporate spots and would add me on... just in case anyone dropped out. I had no news from my friend... UNTIL Thursday afternoon. There was a spot for the marathon and she asked me if I still wanted to run it. I said, OF COURSE I DO. SIGN ME UP! That's when I got the email. And it also says I'm registered for the VIP Marathon? Not sure what that means but I'll find out soon enough, I guess. (This registration was also free thanks to Jamba Juice!) I am so excited. I've run the Nike Half before and I really wanted to run the full. There is a slight problem, though. I have not been training for a marathon in the past month or so! After I gave up my dreams, I've been training for my Rock n Roll Half Marathon in San Jose tomorrow!! Yes, tomorrow. (As Duane is making our potluck dish for our cousin's son's birthday party, I am typing away in the kitchen. He is such a great husband!) And then we have to hit the sack to get up early for tomorrow's race! Anyway, back to the Nike Marathon. I am so not ready and I don't want to injure myself so I plan to take it easy. Run at a good pace but not overly pushing myself and WALK if I need to. Especially those lovely San Francisco hills.

Also, I also received an email from Tom and Amy from the Runner's Lounge! I was selected to receive an autographed copy of "The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life" for contributing to this week's Take It and Run Thursday (TIaRT) : Life Lessons Learned from Running! Wow. Talk about nice surprises! I've read many of the TIaRTs from this week, which left me touched and inspired... And I am truly honored to be selected!

Today, D and I drove down to San Jose to pick up our race packets for tomorrow's race. And ran into a few unexpected friends who are also running the race. I also had an opportunity to meet up with Audrey finally!! It was kinda neat. Our virtual friendship finally connected in real life! So, of course, we had to take some pictures. Good thing I had my battery in my camera, unlike someone who shall remain nameless: A u d r e y

Audrey & me

Audrey & me at the expo sign

I also picked up this awesome license plate from Women's Running Magazine (formerly Her sports) by subscribing to their bi-monthly magazine. $20 subscription for a year and a half and the license plate was something I couldn't pass up. Aren't these cute? If you see a 1997 green Ford Mustang with this license plate, it's me!


I am really excited about the race tomorrow!! Ok, I really need to hit the hay now!!

Person Audrey & me

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