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It was a long week (out travelling for work!)...but I'm back!. It feels good to be home, I feel like I have been gone for ages and it was only 5 days!.

I did manage to squeeze one run while out there (a short one -2.7 miles-, but I still get an A for effort! ;)). So today when I finally got back (after waking up at 5am and taking a connecting flight)..I actually put my running shoes on and got out there!.

I am not going to lie...it was HORRIBLE. For a short moment I thought I was going to pass out and wondered what the heck I was thinking when I thought it was a good idea to run after the day (and week) I had!.... I think I was dehydrated from the plane (and also because I had been in the desert for a few days!)...so I was a little slower than I was on Monday. I ran 3.75 miles (about 6 km) in a little over 39 minutes...the same distance took me 38 minutes on Monday...you are probably thinking...who cares!...that's just one minute. I care, my Nikeplus thingy tells me my pace and I should be getting better, not worse...lol. Right now I average about 10.25 miles/minute. When I told my dad he said that was horrible...but of course that's coming from the guy that successfully finished full marathons all over the world!. I do plan on working on the speed, just not quite yet. I want to give myself a month of just getting my body used to this running thing. I am hoping by 12/20 (the 10k!) I am running steady at 10 miles/min. Yeah dad, I know..that's still pretty slow and you can probably do that on a brisk walk!! but let's take baby steps ;) hehe

This Sunday is the Walk for the Down Syndrome Association of Miami. I am so excited to meet up with my old friend and meet her beautiful son!!!. You can still sign up and join us!!! (you can even register that same day) Let me know if you would like to come!...we will be there at around 8am and the more the merrier!! (I'm bringing my sister and nephews along!).

You can also just donate (I know times are tough, but even the smallest contributions count!). Join me in supporting Niko :))

http://www.firstgiving.com/teamniko2008

Off to bed!

Happy October! - National Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Happy October!...I am sure everyone is getting ready to decorate their homes and find new costumes for the kids (or the furry kids in some cases!). I love Halloween and will be putting out my decorations this weekend!.

October is also National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I decided to write a little bit about this since this month I will be going on our local walk to support the Down Syndrome Association of Miami. I will be supporting a very special and strong little boy...Niko!. I still haven't had the pleasure of meeting Nikolas in person, but I am good friends with Niko's parents. I know from speaking to Niko's mom how strong and truly special he is...he has beat all the odds and continues to amaze everyone!. Please join me and Niko's family and friends this month and make it truly special!. We will be walking on October 12, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Coral Gables and you too can participate!!!. You can also show your support by donating (as little or as much as you can!) to team Niko at:

http://www.firstgiving.com/teamniko2008

More often than not we get caught up in the day-to-day and forget what is truly important. Love, friendship, humbleness and compassion. If we all made an effort to add a little bit of that everyday, the world will definitely be a better place. I invite you to challenge yourself and try to do something nice for someone every day in the month of October. This can be from visiting an old friend to calling a family member just to say hello....or even give your furry little ones a special walk!. This is my personal challenge for October...are you in?