Brent D is THE best training partner

Hey guys!! Is it Christmas YET? Even though I haven't wrapped a single thing yet I'm am ready for Christmas to come just so it's not hanging out there anymore! We've done everything just as it needed to be done, ya know. We both had our department Christmas "bashes" today, so we spent all of last night cooking and getting cards/gifts ready for work today. Tonight we have a holiday get together with some of my former coworkers and on the car ride over I'm going to be working on gifts to take to work tomorrow!! I always give out little rawhide candy canes to Pippin's dog friends and ppl at work with dogs, so I need to assemble those tonight. We (Brent) created little To/From tags with Pippin's picture on it.

So, Brent D is THE best training partner. I didn't mean to come off as unappreciative or anything of his support in previous post, and I know you guys know that. I was just writing what was in my head during a miserable long run. Back last winter when I was training alone for my first half marathon he would periodically drive up and down the path I used (often with Pippin) just to honk and wave for me. And sometimes (even though I always have water) he'd park up ahead and run to catch me with a bottle of water and trot along with me for a little bit. AND, sometimes he would tape a sign to himself that said he was part of Team Rachel. How many guys would do that??? I'm very thankful we can run together, it makes the hobby invade so much less invasive on our personal time and racing wouldn't be a lot of fun if he wasn't into it to. (Although he does like taking pictures of the races when he doesn't participate - especially if he can get a good puke shot). So, he is THE best training partner. The hard part for me comes when he drops out - sometimes in a dramatic fashion. We've been together 10 years this past October (New Year's Day will be our SEVENTH wedding anniversary!). So, I like him a little. When he's struggling, I struggle. Sort of like how I imagine twins must feel. I can read his pace, his breathing, the sounds of his footsteps, and a lot of times I can tell before he can that he's struggling. When he stops all of a sudden and grabs his knee, ankle, leg, stomach, etc and tells me to "GO ON, GO ON" it's a little hard to continue and NOT worry about him and whether or not he'll be able to make it to the car, etc. If it was just a close friend I might worry a little, but it wouldn't be THAT hard to get my focus back. So, we've talked about it this week and he's going to start doing the second half of these ultra ultra long runs with me. (And thank goodness it's about to be taper time!! I can't wait to have a 12 mile long run!!) With him doing the second half I'll have something to look forward to, and he'll be fresh and able to help motivate me more during the second half of the run. Problem solved!!

My department went out to lunch for our holiday lunch today. We went at TWO this afternoon, with the premise that we could leave 'early' after we ate. I work 7.30-4.30, so by the time we ate lunch and stared at each other it was 3.30. Then, some of the headed over to the bar for drinks and I said 'See ya!' Instead of more staring I came home and took Pips for a walk. (It was in the teens this morning so we skipped our am walk). He was VERY excited so I know I made the right decision. I really don't consider it leaving early if you're sitting around staring at your coworkers at 3 in the afternoon with a drink. I'd much rather have some time AWAY from them!!

Well, it's time for me to get dolled up for our holiday dinner tonight! See ya!

Exercise-
Mon - 1 mile am walk with Pips, 5 mile treadmill run
Tues - 2 mile pm walk with Pips