Blog #7: We Are Actually Running, I Promise!

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A number of people have asked how the training for the race is going, so I thought I would start this blog with an update on our training.  I have to admit that I have little to complain about when it comes to my training path.  We live in the Lakes in Tempe and it really is quite beautiful to run around the lake this time of year.  People are out cruising around in their pontoon boats sipping wine…sunset hits the water, man do I love October in AZ.  I can officially say that I can comfortably run about 3 miles because Dave made me run the Maggie’s Place 5K last weekend J.

As for Dave, I think we all know that he could go out and run a half-marathon without any training.  I am having to convince him he can do this.  He often rides his bike to and from work (~15 miles each direction).  He could out-play anyone in a marathon tennis match, soccer game, etc, etc.  But running is not his favorite thing to do.  Plus, his reconstructed ankle is really giving him some problems.  Last weekend he commented that he just didn’t know if his ankle could handle the wear and tear of the half-marathon training.  I commented, as I stated above, “you have to be the only person I know that could just go out and run the half-marathon without any formal training.”  I suggested he swim more regularly and keep biking and then just run the race the day of.  I think he has bought off on this and I can assure you that our ice maker is thankfulJ.

In other updates, the boys and I have been reading CS Lewis, “The Magician’s Nephew” for a few weeks now and it cracks me up every night.  Lewis has an amazing skill of ending each chapter at a point that begs for you to read more.  The boys get so angry when I stop at the end of a chapter, saying “what happened?!  keep reading!”.  I have even caught Ethan reading ahead.  The book really is amazing..and as an adult, the imagery and desire to really think deeply through his message and whether his vision could be reality has really been quite fun and mentally exhausting.  The boys seem to be a bit grumpier than usual lately, especially Ethan.  They know that we are leaving for the hospital tour of duty on Monday for a few weeks and I do worry a bit that they feel just a little abandoned.  Like I said, especially Ethan.  When he started kindergarten a few years back, Isaac, Emilia and I left and spent three months at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and I do think he felt like he was forgotten…poor little guy, he definitely is our sensitive one.

There are a couple of minor hiccups we have discovered this week with our pending trip to the National Institute of Health and the hospital at Columbia.  For one, we realized yesterday that Dave and Emilia are on one flight, and Gigi and I are on another.  We didn’t plan it that way.  In fact, we were able to actually tell the NIH which flight to purchase for Dave and Emilia, but sadly we mistakenly told them the wrong flightJ.  Fortunately we leave and arrive at very similar times, but unfortunately we arrive at totally different airports more than an hour apart from each other, whoops.  Here’s hoping the NIH shuttle service hasn’t been furloughed at both airports!  

The second hiccup’s impact is unknown at this point.  Did you know that it is essentially illegal to rent out your apartment in New York City for short-term leases (like the week we currently have booked with a New Yorker)?  Yeah, me neither.  There are some cases that it is legal, and it may be the case that the person we have leased from is following those rules, but we really don’t know.  From everything I read, it doesn’t seem like NY enforces the law unless someone is a large property offender, but the comments chastise you for making living in New York more expensive for natives because you are encouraging the use of these properties for short-term leases.  Here’s hoping our VRBO rental is a legal gig and is as cool as the pictures….

Today the TGen Center for Rare Childhood Diseases had their official Grand Opening celebration.  Emilia, Gigi and I attended (with the help of Kelly Carrizosa).  My highlight was getting to meet “Princess Isabelle” as Emilia refers to her.  She is the actual researcher that discovered Emilia’s genetic mutation.  She is still doing more research on her gene for potential treatment, absolutely amazing!  Can’t help but be hopeful… such a refreshing conversation.  Kelly took the pic at the top of this page at the grand opening…Emilia posing with the official ribbon cutting scissors, too funny.

This time next week we will be at the NIH.  Will likely do a few more updates throughout the week, shorter in length to keep you all abreast.  We appreciate your prayers for Emilia as she endures additional pricks and pokes over the next few weeks, for wisdom for her doctors, and for the boys as they stay behind (with Grandma Carole Crowell, thank you, thank you).