Today we are one week post vacation. My house looks like a box factory. We are moving. It didn't look like it was going to happen there for awhile. We put an offer in on a house back in February. It took until the end of June to sell our current house. It looks like it's all going to come to an end (or new beginning) on Monday, August 23rd. Wow.

I'm trying not to be too sentimental about leaving this house. I love it here. It was our first house. It's the only home we've ever lived in as a family. I don't want to get too dramatic about it, but we have lots of memories here..although I'm sure we'll make lots of new ones at the new house, too.

Running: I started having a little problem with my knee while I was on vacation. As best I could tell, it's the IT band. I went out and bought a foam roller and I have to admit that I was pretty skeptical that it would actually help. I really wasn't totally sure if I was using it properly, but I have to say that I didn't have any pain yesterday (for the first time) after my 6 mile run. I have to credit the roller. That's the only thing I've done different so I guess I'm a believer.

Because I'm following the Galloway plan, I'm scheduled to run 23 miles this week - yes, all in one shot. I can't even believe I'm saying that, but it's true. I have to move the run to a Thursday again because of the whole moving thing going on here. I hope the knee holds up for it. I just want to be able to make it to the marathon on October 9.

I'm going to have to come up with a plan to keep my mind occupied. At the end of my 20 miler, I was out of it. I couldn't think of anything to think about. It was weird. This time, I'll have company for a good part of it. Alyson is back on board now, but her longest run was 15..she's not up to doing 23 yet. I think we decided she should try 18. She's thinking 20, but that may be too much. Our schedules got out of sync when she had a flareup with her hip. We're trying to get back on track again so we can do the rest together.

For me, all that will be left (after the 23) is a 26 miler which seems crazy to do before the marathon itself, but Jeff (Galloway) hasn't failed me yet, so I'm just going with it.

I booked our room in Hartford..we decided to stay at a less expensive place so we can stay for two nights rather than one. We still haven't registered for the race though. We decided to wait until the very last minute since both of us are dealing with injuries. I'm getting excited though. It's really not that far away. I have to say that running the 20 miler has given me quite a bit of confidence to be able to finish out the rest of this plan. As long as this old body holds up!