Cleared to Run (on Monday)!

Hooray! I went and saw Dr. Osterman today and he said I could start running on Monday. He made me two new braces, recommended some insoles and sent me on my happy little way. He is the perfect doctor for runners -- no silly lectures and he encourages me to get out and run as quickly as possible. And, he didn't try to make me purchase expensive custom orthotics until I had tried some inserts first.

Yay! I will finally have something running-related to write here. Marine Corps Marathon training started this week, so if I can start running by Monday I should be ok for the October 30 race. I also signed up for the Virginia Happy Trails Women's Half Marathon Trail Run lottery of sorts and should know some time next week if I am in the Sept. 10 race.

I drove into DC today for the appointment...as you can see from my car...I don't drive very much. I drive so little in fact that spiders are creating webs between the driver's side view mirror and the door. Hopefully you can see that from this picture:

That said, I will be getting a lot of driving in this weekend. My baby brother and me (and by baby I mean much bigger than me and 28 years old) are driving to Chicago today to see my mom for the 4th of July weekend. We are hoping to get halfway there tonight. Because for some unknown reason my brother Patrick still doesn't know how to drive a stick shift (even though I've owned one for more than 14 years) we are taking his car...we will be driving in his luxury 2009 Ford Focus that has more miles than my 2007 VW Jetta.

Here's the route we are taking:

I'm about to run out to 7-11 to pick up some snacks...my shopping list is full of nutritious snacks to keep us awake and alert on the long drive:

• Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper
• Funyuns
• Cashews
• Coconut Water
• Peach Rings (peachieos)
• Combos
• Pringles
• Cheese sticks
• 1 Peach (already on my counter)

That should sustain us until we come across our first Cracker Barrel. I recently went to this one near Peoria, Illinois -- yum! I can't wait to have it for dinner tonight ....mmmm hashbrown casserole! I don't think Patty knows he is in for this yet...