A Message to Irene

Dear Irene,

I've heard it from reliable sources that you're planning to come to town this weekend. You won't remember this, as you hadn't been born yet, but others may recall that your older sister, Hanna, pulled a similar stunt during my training for the 2008 3-Day.

I realize you have much on your mind and that you're busy planning your journey, but I need to trouble you for just a moment of your time. You see, two weeks from today, I'll begin the 2011 Breast Cancer 3-Day in San Francisco. This weekend, the weekend when you plan to come to call, marks my last long weekend of training after having trained for the 3-Day for the past several months.

I know you probably don't care, and that you've got much more important things on your mind, like maintaining your wind gusts and your forward speed, but I have important things on my mind, too. Like wanting to get two more long walks in before I start tapering down.

So, please, if you don't mind, would you perhaps consider changing your itinerary? I hear the Atlantic Ocean is particularly nice this year, especially the part of it that is several hundred miles offshore. No offense, Irene, but I really don't feel like visiting with you this weekend.

Thank you, Irene, for your consideration of my request.

Yours,
Diana

PS--You probably don't know this, as you were vacationing down in the tropics earlier this week, but this has been quite a few days for the Washington, DC, area. We endured a once-in-a-century earthquake on Tuesday. I think that one natural disaster per week is enough for us, don't you? And while we're on the topic, if you wouldn't mind asking your earthquake cousins to stay away from San Francisco between September 7 and 12, I would be quite appreciative.