I am positively tickled pink that a local news site has asked me to blog for them from now until Marathon Monday.

Why the Hopkinton Patch would choose me instead of some real runner like, oh, say, Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, Teyba Erkesso or any of the other elite runners in the field remains a mystery. But this little ‘ol Children’s Hospital charity runner is completely honored. Here are my first posts:

First column:
1st-Time Marathoner Joins Hopkinton Patch
Christine Johansen started racing triathlons last year as a way to combine her love of exercise with her competitiveness. Now she’ll run the Boston Marathon for charity

Second column:
To Get From Hopkinton to Boston, Runners Need Fuel
Here’s a day’s worth of vegetarian meals this first-time Boston Marathoner has ready in her fridge to keep her energy level high.

In other news, my foot is doing slightly better–thanks to all for the concern for both my body and wallet as I fight this darned plantar’s fasciitis 😦  I’m nervous about this weekend’s 20-mile race, that’s for sure. Yesterday I got through five miles of fartlek training (non-runner buddies: that’s a funny Swedish word for a killer speed workout) but it hurt on the cool down. Didn’t help that I was attacked by a really nasty Bichon Frise during the final minutes of my run! I’m laughing about it now, but this ankle-biting dude had fangs like you wouldn’t believe!

Enjoy the day,

– cj