One. More. Week.

17 weeks down. Just one measly week to go.

Since it's been just a couple of days since our last post, we've got a bunch of photos this week. Which we'll get to in good time. First, a re-cap of Saturday's final long run—our shortest long run since JUNE 17th, the second week of our training schedule, at a mere six miles.

Not just any six miles, but first a short reminder clinic about running form and stride cadence at the corners of Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road. Which started at 7:00 a.m. instead of 6:00 a.m. for the first time since the beginning of August. 

The Team Bright Pink and Team Diabetes gang get the 411 from 
Coach Chris (center) while Coach Joy (to his right) looks on.

The reminders and warm up over, we took off on a 1/2 mile loop around the southern edge of Grant Park; east up the hill at Michigan and Roosevelt—the last hill we'll run up before we run down to the finish—then south down the hill on the pedestrian path that mirrors the finishing chute, then west over the rail bridge just before Balbo, and south, past where crews were already erecting tents for next Sunday, to our starting point.

We did that four times. And we hope it gives us the confidence we need to get over the hump at Roosevelt that one last time next Sunday.

Last minute hill training over, we ran the hill one more time and shot down Columbus, past what will be the finish line, past the Art Institute, and past what will be the starting line, on into Millennium Park and up over the BP ("snake") Bridge.

"We are taking this thing VERY SERIOUSLY!"

Looking back over Columbus toward the starting line, the finish line, 
and the two high-rises where we've started all but two of our long runs.

The Teams on the snake bridge.

Mile 1 on Columbus will be just before the

tunnel and through to Streeterville.

East from the bridge to Lake Michigan just beyond the trees.

From here, we ran east and south through Daley Bicentennial Park and across Lake Shore Drive, turning south on the Lakefront Path, and onto familiar territory once again. Down to the Shedd Aquarium, around the back side. New this run: Up to Solidarity Drive and east for a lap around the Adler Planetarium, and back to home base.

Done and done.

Just 12 miles to run this week. Oh, and then another 26.2 miler on Sunday. (We drove the last 13.2 miles today, so we should be good to go.) No big whoop.

And we've raised MORE THAN $7,000 for Bright Pink. Having our minds continually getting blown by the generosity and support of all will never get old. THANK YOU. If you're just now thinking, "How do I make a contribution?" you can do that here.