RACE WEEK!!

It's finally here.  It's race week.

I am just a mess of feelings this week.  I have tons that I have to get done for school before I leave and besides school I'm feeling nervous, excited, anxious, scared, worried and many other things.  I have worked really hard for this race but I definitely don't feel as prepared as I did before my first one.  With the injury I just wasn't able to get in the mileage that I was able to last time.  I also don't feel nearly as in shape as I did before my first.  Yes, I know, I can run 20 miles, how can I be out of shape?  But, I am.  Oh well, I can't focus on those things now because there is nothing I can do about it!

I had a rough running week last week recovering from my 20 miles the weekend before.  My hip has been bugging me and my knee has been hurting me.  I've just tried to stretch a lot, roll on my foam roller to try and keep knots out of my legs and do some massage on top of lots of icing!  That being said I've taken it easy running.  I didn't do as much as I would have liked last week and I went 4.5 yesterday which was a little rough.  Part of it being my hip and knee and part of it because I could feel all of the not so good for me food and drinks I had last weekend because my best friend Sarah Heinbigner was in town from California.  I'm thinking I'm going to take today off but am hoping I'll be able to do short runs tomorrow and Thursday and then 2 miles on Saturday just to move my body a little the day before the marathon.

FUNDRAISING!!!  I am getting so close to my goal!  $200 to go...come on guys!  If you haven't donated this is the time!  It is seriously such a great cause.  Even in the past 2 months I've had 2 friends have their pets go missing.  One found her little dog a week later and the other is still looking for her cat.  PAWS is a safe place for these poor animals that go missing.  Like I've always said, I know money is tight for most of my friends, but even $1, or $5 helps.  That's one less coffee from Starbucks, one less drink at the bar, or one less trip to McDonalds!  Please help me and homeless animals out! :)

I want to thank everyone who has already donated!  This being the first time I've ever really fundraised (besides for selling candy bars, magazine subscriptions, etc. in elementary school and what not) I've found it to be an amazing experience.  Not only because it has made me really push myself in training thinking about how I'm not just doing this for me but for a cause that is very important to me, and not just because I've been able to see the way that other people are passionate for the same cause, but because I've gotten to see the amazing support of family and friends that I am lucky enough to have.  It is truly touching to see a lot of these donations and people who are supporting me.  I don't think I would have been still planning on running this weekend if I didn't have that support.  This injury was not easy to come back from and I definitely cannot say that my knee is even close to 100%, but I know I'll be able to push my way through it and that is in big part because of your support, so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I want to make sure to specifically thank those of you who have donated in the past few weeks: Amanda Bulman, Paul & Barb Morin, Corey Stone, Heather Sahr, my mom's clinic Flying Cloud Animal Hospital, Michele & Randy Knutson, Rachel Kay my fabulous roommate, Pat & Adrienne Morin, Kevin McDonough, Sharon Dibella, Jack & Sheila McDonough, Bill Hull, Rick Berken and Rick Schoeller.  Thank you so much!! It is greatly appreciated!

So one final push!!  I'll stop bugging ya'll for money after this week!  haha...no more annoying emails!

I'm extremely excited for the trip to Chicago!  I haven't seen my former roommate Sarah Pruitt in a whole YEAR!!!  That's craziness for us!  So we're going to have a fabulous time catching up and getting to spend time together.  Also both of our parents will be there.  I haven't seen her parents in over a year so I'm excited to see them!  Plus, our parents have a pretty darn good time together so I know they're looking forward to it as well!  One of my best friends from high school and her husband who live in Chicago are volunteering at the race so I'll get to see them on the course!  And they are being nice enough to take me in for the night on Monday for a little slumber party!  We also have family, Pat & Adrienne and Joe & Pam who we will hopefully get to see!!!  I'm thinking it is going to be a great weekend!  And I don't want to toot my own horn, but definitely a weekend I think both Pruitt and I deserve!!!  :)

So please, keep me and my beaten up body in your thoughts and prayers as there is a possibility I will need them!  But only positive thoughts from me from here on out!

Please visit my fundraising page to make your donation!
http://pawschicago.kintera.org/teampawschicago2011/kellymcdonough

Or, send checks made out to PAWS Chicago, w/Team PAWS 2011-Kelly McDonough in the memo line to me @ 10601 Zinran Circle, Bloomington, MN 55438 or send them directly to PAWS Chicago, Attn: Team PAWS, 1110 W. 35th St., Chicago, IL 60609.  If you send them directly to PAWS it is very important to make sure my name is in the memo line of the check, otherwise it might not get credited to my goal!

THANKS a MILLION!!  Emma sends lots of puppy kisses as well!  :)