Happy New Year!!!

With all of the holidays, partys, get togethers, and outings, this has been a very busy couple of weeks for all of us. Hopefully you've had fun and haven't done to bad as far as neglecting your training. But now it's time to hit the ground running, literally! We've only got 8 days until the big day! Can you believe it!!!

I've been trying to throw in some last minute training this last week and for the most part, I think I've been doing pretty well. All last week I went out and wogged (including Christmas Eve and Day) some, wether it was a mile or 8 miles. Food was a little difficult, but hey, it's the holidays, right?

On Monday, I went 8 miles (I actually jogged, not wogged, a full mile!) Yesterday, I did a 3 mile maintenacne walk and today I did a 6 1/2 mile wog.

I also figured out my game plan for race day. During the first mile (with maybe a warmup walk around the parking lot before the race) I'm going to be simply walking. Since traffic will be so conjested anyway, why not walk anyway? Once I hit Mile 2, I'll start walking for 2 minutes then speed walk for 5 minutes, then jogging for 3, then repeat. This way, I can maintain roughly a 13 1/2 minute mile. As I warm up, I'll be able to jog more and walk less.

I'm going to really test this on Saturday. I'm hoping to put in at least a 10 miler (should I up it to 13?) then. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

With that out of the way, here's a little video for the new year.

HAPPY 2009 EVERYONE!!!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your's a very Merry Christmas!

Full update coming tomorrow... See you then!

My Tentative Schedule of Events

Mongello! I thought since I didn't wog today (resting up for a big long wog tomorrow) and I was bored and wanted to post something, I'd post my tentative schedule for the trip. It's tenative for the most part because our departure date may change. So here we go:

Monday the 5th- Since we're driving (UGGH!) we will leave Brookhaven at around 8:00ish and arrive in Gainesville later that night.

Tuesday the 6th- Leave Gainesville and arrive at WDW around mid morning, then possibly head to the Studios

Wednesday the 7th- Head out to Animal Kingdom early in the morning, have an early lunch at the Yak and Yeti, then head over to Epcot and waste time until about 6:00 and head over to the Polynesian for dinner at 'Ohana. After dinner, go down to the beach and watch the fireworks (they do play the show music down there right?)

Thursday the 8th- This day is main part of the trip for most of my party (would be for me too if I weren't meeting all of you guys!). That's because we are all going on the Keys to the Kingdom tour! I'm SO excited about this!! I've ALWAYS wanted to do it!!! So we have to be at the Magic Kingdom no later than 9:15.

After the tour, we'll probably just hang out at the Kingdom until that evening until whenever Rantfest over at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is kicked off (What time do y'all want that to start? EVERYONE is invited!)

Friday the 9th- Head over to Wide World of Sports for the Friday portion of the Packet Pick Up Meet. I've talked to someone about this, but I can not remember who it was and what we're doing. Whoever you are, please remind me what we're doing! I think we said that we were meeting at around 9:30.

Later this evening, heading back to the Magic Kingdom for the Crystal Palace dinner. Not sure what I'll do in the gap between the Packet Pick Up and the Dinner, may head over to the Studios or something. After dinner, going back to the room and crashing!

Saturday the 10th- Getting up at some ungodly hour so I can get ready and be over at Epcot. I'm not sure what time I want or need to be at Epcot (maybe I could hitch a ride with a fellow Pop guest? hint hint!), but the race starts at 6:00 so I'm guessing I need to be there no later than 5:30.

I really have no idea what I need to do, as far as preparation, what time I need to wake up, etc. on race morning. Any tips you guys could give me would be appreciated.

After the race, I'll probably hang out at Epcot for a little while, but I'm ultimately going to go back to the hotel, shower and change, then head back to Epcot and hang around World Showcase until the We Go On meet is kicked off. Then I'll just be with you guys until the evening is over.

Sunday the 11th- Time to leave and go back to the real world. We will be leaving Pop Century ASAP and driving all the way back to Brookhaven. It's a 14 hour drive. Fortunately, I can sleep most of the way. As soon as we pull into my driveway (approx. 8:00 pm CST), I have to load up my car and drive to Clinton. I have school the next day! Luckily, Clinton is only about an hour and a half away, but still it's going to be a LONG day!

Ok... I'm through for now. Sorry I threw all of this info and these questions at you. Honestly, I wasn't even sure I was going to make it this far for a while, so now I'm playing catch up on preparedness. Thanks for listening and for all of your support!

Well Here's the Damage

I went out for a wog yesterday, just like I said I would. It went pretty well considering. I was able to up my mileage slightly, going 7 miles. (Ok... I had the time, but I just hit "Clear Logs" on my iPod's stopwatch... Dang it!!!!! I think it was about 1:30:00 ish - That pisses me off!). I was SO sore this morning! I did another 3 mile walk this afternoon to help ease the soreness.

Anyway, I think I'll be ok. I have roughly 3 weeks to work on it, so we'll see. I won't be able to run much, but I do think I'll finish with the rest of you. Hopefully with the adrenaline, support, and a little bit of luck and pixie dust, I'll make it. If not, Mike and Chris can carry me the rest of the way!

Let's start sending everyone our cell numbers. I don't have everyone's email so just send me your number to mattj4226@yahoo.com, then I'll send you mine. This way we can keep in touch while we're down in the World.

See ya!

Ok... It's Go Time!

Hey guys! Again, long time no post...

Training has still been very slow, but since finals and the job interview is over, now I can start obsessing over that now. I'm just afraid that it's too late. I'm going to go out as soon as I'm through writing this and wog as far as I can and see what the damage is. Hopefully, whatever I've lost, I can regain before the big day. I'm just very iffy about the whole thing.

Anyway, the interview went well I think. It was very casual and laid back. We basically just talked about how things in the office work and things like that. I didn't really hear anything as far as me getting the job but he did say that if I get it he will let me know either the first of next week or after Christmas. I'll let y'all know as soon as I hear anything.

Even if I don't do well during the marathon, I'm still very excited about the trip, the race, and meeting all of you guys! We've only got 2 weeks and 2 days!!!!

NO SNOW FOR YOU!!!!

Hey guys...
I'm sort of ticked off! The entire Southwestern portion of Mississippi has been hit by an ice storm. Thus the entire area has had at least an inch or so of snow. All except Clinton! That TOTALLY sucks! Oh and get this... My hometown (Brookhaven) got eight inches. Yeah, that's right... EIGHT FREAKIN' INCHES!!!!! All of these years, it has always snowed in the Jackson area and never in Brookhaven. Now that I move up here, it snows down there! WTF?!

Anyway, due to the ice storm, the entire area was practically shut down. I know you "tundra folk" are laughing right now, but if there is so much as a flake of snow or an icicle, everything shuts down. We're just not equipped to handle ice storms. So, my interview was rescheduled for Tuesday. Now I have finals AND the inteview to worry about. I probably won't get any sleep this weekend.

Hope everyone is having fun at Mousefest!

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Hey Guys! Long time, no post! I know... it's my fault...

Although food still hasn't been going well, training has been ok the past week. Averaging 6 miles a day, some days more some less.

This week has been a little different though. Since this is the last week of school (PRAISE THE LORD ALMIGHTY!!!) all of the teachers are craming in last minute tests and presentations in at the last minute. Then, starting on Friday, I get to endure my first group of Final Exams at MC. Sounds like SO much fun.

And to top it off, I have a job interview with Sen. Thad Cochran's office tomorrow. I am a nervous wreck! I'll let you guys know how it went when I get back from the interview. Hopefully I will do well!

Well that's it from me right now. Sorry I haven't been reading blogs lately, I'm trying to catch up.