It's almost here!

The run on Saturday went well - it was cold, but after about 2 miles or so my body temperature warmed up and the cold didn't really bother me. Our route took us along the Boston side of the Charles up to the Arsenal Street bridge, across the river, and back along the Cambridge side. I ate one of the gel bursts at every bridge, and I think that helped. I was tired by the time we got to Mass Ave, but I was running with 2 other folks and we kept pushing each other. I really like running with other people, it gives you someone to talk to, and someone to keep pushing you. I think that we kept a fairly consistent pace, and finished in about 2:25, just over a 10:00 mile pace. We're on our own for the long run this coming weekend, and then next weekend, February 13, we're doing a group run with Children's Hospital out on the actual Marathon course. We'll be starting around mile 9 in Framingham and running into Copley Square - I'm a little nervous for that one!

Dr. Grayson Kimball came to talk to us before we ran on Saturday, and he put a lot of my fears at ease. It's perfectly normal to be nervous about the race but that shouldn't get in the way of your training. Keeping a positive, can do attitude is essential. Set goals, but keep them manageable. And the biggest thing he said? If you need to take a break, take a break. For me, that's the hardest part, I have this fear that everyone around me would be judging. This is definitely the most challenging and exciting thing I've ever done.

Today also happens to be Oscar Nominations Eve, my 3rd favorite day of the year after Christmas and my Birthday. Here are my predictions in the major categories:

Best Picture
The Hurt Locker
Avatar
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
Up in the Air
An Education
Star Trek
District 9
Up
Invictus
Alternates: (500) Days of Summer, , A Single Man, Nine
Long Shots/Shocker: The Hangover, A Serious Man, The Blind Side

The top 5 are locked and loaded, and if there were only 5 nominees, those would be them. After that, there are about 7 films vying for the final 5, and I wouldn't be surprised if Up and Invictus don't make the cut in favor of one of the alternates. There should be quite a few blockbusters in the mix - there's a reason the Academy upped the nominees to 10.

Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Neil Blomkamp, District 9
Alternate: Lee Daniels, Precious
Long Shot/Shocker: Clint Eastwood, Invictus

3 of the 4 are locks (Bigelow, Cameron and Tarantino), and Reitman is a pretty safe bet. The last slot is between Blomkamp and Daniels. I think the Academy will take a risk and reward Blomkamp for his sci-fi drama, although he's already won an Oscar for Alive in Joburg, the 2005 short film District 9 is based on. If they want to make it a landmark year, they'll nominate Daniels, who'll be the first openly gay African American nominee. But really, it's all about Bigelow and Cameron.

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Alternate: Matt Damon, The Informant!
Longshot/Shocker: Ben Foster, The Messenger or Viggo Mortensen, The Road

This award is pretty much Bridges' to loose. His performance as Bad was exceptional, even if the story was a little trite and overdone. If I had a vote, Jeremy Renner would win hands down. His performance is nothing short of extraordinary - I can't single out one specific scene. I'll say it again, if you haven't see The Hurt Locker, stop reading and watch it.

Best Actress
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julie
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Alternate: Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Longshot/Shocker: Zoe Saldana, Avatar

Meryl is on her way to a record 16th nomination, and it's down to her and Sandra for the win. I've yet to see The Blind Side, but I've heard that SaBu's performance elevates an otherwise pretty weak film. Congrats to Sidibe and Mulligan for having great break-out roles. Here is where you can tell the barometer of the Academy - if Zoe Saldana gets the shocker nomination (and it will be the biggest shock of the morning if it happens), then it's all over - Avatar has a tidal wave of support. Game, set, match.

Best Supporting Actor
Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Stanley Tucci, Julie and Julia
Matt Damon, Invictus
Alec Baldwin, It's Complicated
Alternate: Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones or Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Longshot/Shocker: Anthony Mackie, The Hurt Locker

Might as well skip the formalities of a nomination, Christoph Waltz wins this in a cake walk. Nothing more to talk about.

Best Supporting Actress
Mo'Nique, Precious
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Diane Kruger, Inglorious Basterds
Alternate: Julianne Moore, A Single Man
Longshot/Shocker: Melanie Laurent, Inglorious Basterds

See above - Mo'Nique steamrolls to the podium.

Best Original Screenplay
Inglorious Basterds
The Hurt Locker
Up
(500) Days of Summer
A Serious Man
Alternate: Avatar
Longshot/Shocker: The Messenger or The White Ribbon

Best Adapted Screenplay
Up in the Air
District 9
An Education
Precious
Julie and Julia
Alternate: In the Loop
Longshot/Shocker: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Best Animated Feature
Up
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Coraline
The Princess and the Frog
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Alternate: 9
Longshot/Shocker: Ponyo

So there you have it, my EXPERT predictions. Be sure to set your DVR for all the major morning news shows and E! for the nominations, live at 8:30 am.