Update on the Plan of Record

Okay, so here is my basic thought process for this adventure:

1. Register the both of us for the marathon

Status: Done! Woohoo!

2. Lock down the travel dates

Status: I think I have done this. The Marathon is on Monday, Oct 27 so our best bet is to fly Friday night - Oct 24 - which arrives in Dublin on Saturday morning. This gives us a few days to adjust to the time prior to Monday. I also think we should maximize the length of our trip so we should return on Sunday, Nov 2. Time works in our favor on the way back so we should be able to arrive at a decent hour. YES we will be tired the next work day, but I say it's worth it!

3. Buy airline tickets

Status: Per my prior post, Aer Lingus can only book 11 months in advance so this will have to wait until January.

4. Book a hotel in Dublin while there is still vacancy

Status: Done! See this post.

5. Let YOU plan the rest of the trip

Status: The fun part of this gift/adventure is for you to decide where we should go and what we should see when we're in Ireland. After all, it's been your dream to go there so you should decide what we should see. My only thoughts here are that we should start our trip in Dublin running the marathon so we can r-e-l-a-x for the rest of the trip and enjoy it (ie drink many pints).

6. Get my ass on a treadmill

Status: In progress. Once I realized that this was going to be your "gift", I also realized that I will need more prep time for the marathon than you will. That's why I started working out again recently. You will laugh at Christmas once you know about the trip and make the connection why I started working out before the holiday season was over. It's funny because you have asked me at least twice "Why don't you wait until AFTER Christmas and New Years to start exercising?" Well, now you know the answer.