A little talk with my knee.

"All right. Months of training, and you pick NOW --- right before the race to act up and start hurting?

What do you want from me? I bought you new shoes. I've been stretching like crazy. I rested for weeks, which did NOT do wonders for my training schedule, let me tell you. I'm throwing bags of frozen peas on ya when I get the time. Can you help me out here?

I know, I know... I need to lose a few more pounds. That might be a break for you. But to get rid of that last ten, we're going to have to go without ice cream. It's a tough call. Extra weight and some pain --- or sacrifice the yummy calories and MAYBE find some relief. Is it worth the gamble? What if I give up the Dreyer's and the pain stays? I guess it would be nice to be able to fit everything in the size 8s again. Then I might go and get pregnant anyway and you, your partner, my back, my hips and my feet would ALL be complaining with renewed vigor.

Ya know what? You're not even the worst pain I've got. The WORST pain is my self-doubt. Now THERE'S a monster! Somehow, though, I think I can kick him in the butt and still make it to the finish line. You're a little iffier.

Please hang in there. We only have a few more miles of training left and then it's the big day. I can suffer some... but you better hold up. I don't want some gnarly tweak of yours to get me on mile 11 breaking me down to the dirt on my face! Okay? Can we pull it together for another eleven days? I'm counting on you. Suck it up."