A few people to thank

12 Hours 40 Minutes to Race time.

In just over 12 hours the race will begin. Before that happens, I need to thank a few people whose encouragement and support have helped get me here. This is as close as I'll probably get to giving an Oscar speech...so here I go:

Anita. What can I say about someone who has done so much to support me? When I first started my weight loss adventure, she gave up some of her own favorite foods to support me. She has been behind me every step of the way, and by the end of tomorrow she will deserve a medal as much as anyone. I love you!

The kids. Thanks to Sarah and Rashel for always making me laugh, and for coming to the Y with me lately and for not drinking my Cliff energy drinks, and for letting us go without you :-) And to Elsa for letting me give her a big hug when I had just come back from a run and was all sweaty and smelly.

To "le vieux" for his advice from his own mythical marathon career and the love and support he has given me over the last 42 years. Y a Adri tambien, por supuesto!

Some good friends who have also made this possible include Colleen and Brian for not only taking S&R for 10 days, but also the 8 week-old yet-to-be-named puppy we got one week before leaving for Paris. Diane for subbing for Anita's french class, and Nathalie for hosting us in Paris in her beautiful apartment just a few blocks away from the start line.

And finally thanks to everyone who has been following this blog and posting comments that have kept me going. On the plane over here the other night, Anita and I were saying that it was hard to believe that it was actually happening, and we wondered if this would have become reality if I had not started the blog. I must admit, keeping the blog going was a huge motivating factor...it would have been so easy to just say "eh, whatever" and forfeit my 75 Euro entry-fee. But knowing that people were reading this and rooting for me did give me a boost, so thanks to everyone!

That's it. The next post will not be "Running to Paris", but "Ran in Paris". Keep your fingers crossed for me.