Day 13 of Cross-Country Trip -- Phoenix, AZ

I managed to drag myself out of bed this morning to meet with the team to run. I thought it was just the Staten Island group - boy was I wrong! Not only did the ENTIRE NYC team run together (and we're a HUGE team) - but so did the Colorado, Virginia, Wisconsin and Florida teams - as well as others that we didn't find out their hometown. I met two people from Roanoke, VA! YAY!! It's been an amazing morning.

Don had the great idea of going to Matt's Big Breakfast here in downtown. We waited TWO HOURS for a table. I didn't think the food was that great - but I apparently was the minority.

We came back to the hotel to rest. At 3 PM I have to go to a team meeting where we get last minute instructions, one last chance to totally freak out, and we get to decorate our singlet that we'll wear during the race. I have my list of honorees all ready! It'll be nice to be with the team - but since Don just took the boys to the kids museum and I have the hotel room all to myself and am enjoying the peace and quiet - I think it may be a short meeting for me!! Tonight at 5 we have our pasta party. We plan to eat the dinner and then just come up and rest & relax. We have ALL of the stuff out of the van and are trying to repack while we're here in one place for a few days.

As exciting as this has been, I'm ready to get home. I'm sure we'll see many more great places on the way home, but that Girls Getaway Cruise is just calling my name right now. I am SO glad that the cruise comes IMMEDIATELY after this trip. I am going to need those 5 days!!

Okay - off to get some repacking done before my meeting. THANK YOU to all of you who have been emailing & texting me such encouragement!! I've needed it and appreciate it greatly!!!