Kick it up into high gear!

Dear Reader,

The time is fast approaching when I've gotta be, need to be, want to be ready for none other than the famed Soweto City Marathon on November 6th! I have very loosely (and when I say loosely, I really mean it) followed a marathon training schedule. Actually, that's a bold-faced lie...I'm not prepared...but I will be..."don't worry" (said in my best Zulu accent). To prepare (as best as I can...), I'll be doing what it takes to get myself together (read: running my arse off).

Up to so far (do only South Africans/Basotho say this?), I've been fairly consistently running 21.1 km races. I took a bit of a running break while in Ethiopia (although I did run a few times). Next up, I'm planning to get serious and run the BASF 32 km (20 miles) in the Vaal Triangle on October 15th! Eish! Wish me luck!

Well, that's all I've got for today! Oh...one more thing...I'd really like to congratulate one of my good friends for being so inspired as to get serious about his health and well-being. After talking his ear off about all of the positive benefits I've experienced as a result of running, he has not only changed his diet for the better, but now works out regularly with a trainer, and ran his first 5 miles on a treadmill the other day! (***Dani pumps her fists in the air...a sign of her slow and sure way of taking over the world through running...one new convert at a time***evil smirk develops on her face***) He even purchased his first iPod to keep him focused during his workouts! At one point, I told him how I first started off with the Nike +iPod contraption...and how I have transitioned over to my beautiful Garmin to help keep track of workouts. To encourage him to keep it moving, I've decided to pass on my Nike+ thingy to him...with the condition that, once he's on to bigger and brighter things...he too will pass it on to a budding runner! Somehow I don't think he really needs it since, in addition to the iPod, he purchased a sexy watch similar to a Garmin...so maybe it's the positive energy emitted from the Nike + contraption that will provide some level of comfort/inspiration/motivation...like training wheels! Anyway...congrats to my friend...keep it movin'!

Also...I'd like to send a huge AWESOME CONGRATS to my friend Linesiya for running her first race...an 8km! Look at you girl! I'm so proud and inspired! She has been plotting and planning her first race for a while...and now that the race has been won...she is unstoppable! Keep it moving girlie! If you want to read all about her race and see pictures, head over to her blog (found on the left toolbar of my blog)!

Whew! Now, I can finally end this post! So until next time...One foot in front of the ______ (fill in the blank...sounds like mother)...keep it______ (fill in the blank...sounds like groovin')!


Yours in (Soweto Marathon training),

Dani