Lots of developments lately.  The absence of an update is indicative of how busy I've been.  It's hard enough to keep the training portion updated, but here I am now.  I'm working on a few things for the International Rhino Keeper Association (IRKA) - mainly, our fundraising calendar and helping to organize the Board of Directors election - and Tampa Bay AAZK - our next fundraiser.  I have a few more things to work on in order to apply for a promotion at work, so I'm sticking with that obviously.  I heard back that I was not chosen as a finalist for the Conservation Ambassadorship to Zimbabwe for Painted Dog Conservation.  I'm okay with that...it is disappointing, but there's always next year.  I've had a few other unpleasant personal setbacks, but life goes on...and so must I.

On the plus side, I've heard back from Save the Rhino.  They accepted my application!  They sent me a finalized registration form to fill out and send back (which I did) and once they process my application payment, it will be all set!  Then I'll receive their instructions for donations and training and be well on my way to London next year.  I also recently weighed below 200 pounds for the first time in at least a decade, which is amazing - and something I owe to running.  On a related note, I traded in my work belt for a smaller one, and my size 36 work shorts for size 34 shorts.  Woo hoo!  They are a little snug...but they do flatter my rear end.  ;o)

The Disneyland Half Marathon is September 1st.  One month away!  Donald, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy are waiting for me...I'm very excited.  Training amps up a bit in two weeks --- with the longest run of the fourteen week training period (10 miles) on the docket.  I will most likely be running that in Massachusetts as I go home for five days to visit family and hang on the beach in Maine.  I'm hoping the heat does not follow me north.

I had first heard of the Disney races through a friend (that works at Disney) of a friend (that I worked with at the Houston Zoo).  I ran my first half marathon on February 24, 2013 - a day that holds special significance for me - and I completed it.  I had heard that races were like tattoos - you never do/get just one.  Well, I got my first tattoo on St. Patrick's Day 2010 and that's the only one so far.  I thought maybe running would produce a similar result - one and done.

Imagining the feeling I would get when finishing in no way compared to the actual feeling.

I'm a fairly emotional person.  I will cry watching a sports championship; the visit from family on Day 35 of Survivor leaves me bawling and clutching a blanket; a text-video of my friends' daughter taking her first steps got me good - you get the idea.  I was a wreck when I crossed the finish line at Disney - the video (taken by MarathonFoto) is not pleasant to watch.  :)

That being said, I'm getting emotional doing research for the London Marathon.  And I'm craving that feeling at the finish line.