And it has nothing to do with the bar at the Iguana, acrobatics over kegs or waking up on Bull Feeney's bathroom floor (none of which I've done, by the way, but I'm sure there's people out there who have).

No, what I did was surprising, but it's all on the up and up. Saturday night I met up with some friends - and when they were heading off to do some drinking in the Old Port, I WENT HOME. Yes, it's true. Unbelievable, but true.

I was determined to get up early to go for a run on Sunday and no amount of nachos and beer was going to sway me otherwise.

So I went home early, woke up refreshed on Sunday and went to the gym. I realize the weather was ideal for an outdoor jog, but I find running on a treadmill is so much easier. Besides, Planet Fitness has TVs (with cable! Praise Jesus!) and I can get my Discovery Channel fix while I'm there.

It's a nice feeling - doing something good for your body rather than seeking out ways to punish it.

A fellow runner, Janice, was kind enough to send along this group photo she snapped last week. It's before the run, which is why we're all still smiling.

I'm taking bets now as to how many people will last through the entire 18 weeks.

The actual Reach the Beacon training started on April 5th - the day after a decent-sized snow dump. There was no way - on day one - that they were going to make us run in that cold slop...I mean, great for Iron Man wannabies, but I'm just a chubby jerk who wants to fit into her pants again.

But we did run - and right after my feet lost all feeling, and right before the snow had collected so deeply on my face that I could no longer see - I was glad of it. For all the passersby knew, I did this all the time - blazing (okay, lightly trotting) down the street despite the harsh weather.

I was hardcore. I could barely breathe, but I was hardcore.

Two miles we ran - running 5 min/walking 2 - and I was more than a little relieved that a) I was fairly on par with the rest of the group and, b) I didn't die.

To celebrate the achievement, I had a cigarette in the car on the way home.