2011 in review

argh! I somehow just lost my monumental final post of 2011 - rats!

I actually figured it out when I meant to add a note about wanting to work on this layout in the upcoming weeks (big aspirations, I know).

Happy new years!

let the bodies hit the floor

...or just one.

Today I fell when I was running with Ryan around his neighborhood. More than anything else, the shock of it is what made it hurt the most (well that, and my hands breaking my fall on the concrete...that did hurt a bit too). Minus a few scraps and cuts, I'm fine, but I was really happy I wasn't running alone. If nothing else, it just reiterated my recent thought about needing a Road ID, something I have been thinking about lately. Argh!

Will Run for Ice Cream

...or very similarly flavored gu. Tried this today and it was delicious! I'm hoping it will be served at Christmas Eve dinner tonight....okay, that's pushing it...

weather you like it or not...

...the weather will change. I've really been enjoying it. Don't be fooled into thinking this picture was taken too recently, but I realized I had forgotten to post it! I had taken it to capture the change of season and to acknowledge how appreciative I am for the fact that running allows me to really notice these beautiful changes. It's been warmer than I believe is typical for this time of year, but I have welcomed the 30's with open arms and have really enjoyed the fresh feel of the this (not too!) cold, particularly with a dusting of snow on the ground (which we've had a few times). Fingers crossed that this appreciation continues! If you don't hear from me about by mid-January, I've probably frozen mid-stride.

Sunriseeee, Sunset. Sunriseeee, Sunset.

So contrary to fairly popular belief, Michigan is part the Eastern Time Zone!

Because it just barely skirted into the (second) biggest and baddest time zone, there is a significant difference in sunrise/sunset times as compared with Philadelphia. We noticed it pretty quickly when we got here and I've especially noticed it, as I've been given an extra half hour of light for me to squeeze my runs in after work. I don't mind dark running, especially when I'm with a running buddy (Always thinking about safety MOM!!!), but it's really, really hard to get motivated to first begin a run in the dark.

In other sun/rotation/revolution news, winter is upon us! Based on the info below, it looks like we're on par with friends back east, but from what I hear, that's only as of very recently. We have been in the 30's for about two weeks now, and I surprisingly enough haven't cried/melted yet! It's been really refreshing and I've really enjoyed my cold weather runs (of course, I postponed today's run by a few hours when I woke up to the tune of 19 degrees...but I think being flexible is a positive quality!). I took my new headband out for a spin today and it kept my ears nice and toasty (I even had to shed it towards the end...I was hottt!).

Ann Arbor:

Philadelphia:

Training Update!

Training for the EXTREME team (wait, really? This still hasn't hit me) is going really well, taking into account the normal bumps in the road. I had a really good long run last weekend and today, and I feel like I'm in a good rhythm and things are good. Not easy, but good in that I'm becoming less afraid/more aware of the fact that it's so mental (if I had a dollar for every time I said that...yet still, somehow I'm still working on internalizing this fact). I would like to add an extra day of some other type of workout into my schedule, starting ASAP, which has probably been the biggest challenge as of lately, since I work last 2x a week. I would say that's probably my goal for this week.

40 years of THON!

Received an email about THON today, which included this:

Last year, THON raised $9.59 million for children battling cancer and gave nearly 97 percent of all funds raised to The Four Diamonds Fund. The Fund supports a team of pediatric oncologists, enables innovative cancer research through The Four Diamonds Pediatric Cancer Research Institute, and offsets the cost of treatment that insurance does not cover. Additionally, THON has contributed $10 million to the construction of a new Children’s Hospital at Hershey Medical Center, which is set to open in the fall of 2012.

Holy, holy smokes. Gives me chills. So beyond Penn State proud!

Give Kids the World

Today, we (yes we...because Ryan and I each received our own copies) received the Fall newsletter for Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. My name was listed on the middle insert TWICE! - for the 2010 Summer volunteers and the 2010 Team Hole in the Wall members. It was such a positive reminder of the power we have to make a difference in the lives of others and perfectly timed, since I wanted to share this story anyway. Hank, the founder/mastermind behind Hope Express, shared this story with us this past week.

Thanksgiving

Henry stood still naked. He was standing beside a big wide open hole in the ground. It wasn’t any kind of hole. It had been dug by a bulldozer for a single purpose. The war had progressed on and Germany was losing. The American forces had turned the tide and were steadily making their way to the German capitol. This had no bearing on Henry though. He knew nothing of the progression of the war. He only knew of death and suffering in the concentration camp that was now his home.

He stared down into the pit of dead and dying bodies and knew that his time on earth was over. His hands were behind his head awaiting the bullet that was soon to come. The Germans needed more money for their soldiers on the front line and they determined that bullets were cheaper than the gas chambers. Simple really. Just dig a big hole. Shoot them in the head and cover the hole. Silly they didn’t think of it earlier.

The shots came. Henry instinctively fell into the pit with the rest of the bodies. It didn’t take Henry long to realize that he wasn’t dead. He couldn’t move or he would be shot for sure. He played dead even as the bodies piled on top of him. He decided to wait until dark and try to escape, that is, if they didn’t decide to plow him over with dirt.

Luck was with Henry that day. Darkness finally came. Henry dug himself out from the bodies that lay on top of him. He crawled out of the pit of death and ran into the darkness of night. He didn’t stop running until a couple of days later where he found some clothes on a clothesline outside a house. He had no idea where he was. When the owners of the home came out of the house and confronted him he almost ran away. It is a good thing he didn’t because I would know nothing of Henry and the man he would become.

Henry had managed to run from Germany to Austria. The family in that home protected him until the end of the war. What had seemed like sure death had somehow been redirected.

Years later Henry was now a manager of a hotel in the middle of somewhere on the Florida east coast. The space program was in full swing, and the hotel where Henry worked housed astronauts, the media and many famous people of the time. Henry always made sure he went out of the way to make his guests felt at home. A newspaper was always ready for them in the morning. He would find out the birthdays of his guests and a cake would be made if they were celebrating it while in the hotel. His only concern was his guests and their happiness. He also became friends with a lot of these guests.

After his time on the space coast he had saved his money and he decided to start his own hotel in Orlando. He was doing quite well for himself and one day he was reading the local paper when he read a story that hit him to the core. A young girl who was on the waiting list for the “Make A Wish” program had died before she could get to Disney World. How could this be, he thought? He knew how precious life can be, and he was determined to never let this happen again.

He picked up the phone and started calling all of the friends he had made earlier in his life. He put a network of hotels together so that no child would be without a room. They were given a room over others. He worked with Disney to make special passes available and special preference given to those kids on a wish vacation.

Failures still occurred, and Henry was determined to fix this once and for all. He picked up the phone again and called everyone he knew to come up with the money for a special place where wish kids go insuring that no one would be left behind. That place exists today. It is called Give Kids the World. This is where we spent our wish trip to Disney. If Disney is magical, then GKTW is beyond that. We asked Gabe before the trip what he wanted most. He said he wanted to meet Fiona. We went to the front desk the day of arrival and asked if this was possible. We had heard that GKTW could make dreams come true. They did. You all remind us runners weekend and you can see the video.

That week in Florida at GKTW was amazing for us. It washed away so many of the bad things that had happened to us over Gabe’s treatment. One man. One dream. Thousands of miracles. People come from around the world to keep and maintain the property. They are all volunteers. The full time staff is very small in comparison. Bottom line, no child now has to wait. All of this came from a boy who stood naked over a pit of dead bodies.

Now I have a question for all of you. What excuse do you have for not doing your run? What excuse do you have for not asking or telling your friends to donate to those who cannot help themselves? What excuse do you have? What do you think Henry would do? Do you think he would stop or give up or find any excuse from achieving what he knew in his heart was worth fighting for? Look into the mirror. I think I know the answer.

Carry-on Suitcase features Multiple Sets of Running Clothes

While I've left Michigan twice for home-away-from-homes back East, I had the wonderful pleasure of flying home to New York for the holiday weekend. I was extremely proud that I was able to limit myself to a carry-on suitcase, which is a big deal for me. Even bigger, I packed with the reality that I would be shlepping that carry-on through the airports, onto the train/subway, and over multiple NYC blocks. That being said, my running clothes still made up a significant percentage of my baggage (luckily I foresaw this issue and left a pair of sneakers at home - phew!).

I've been really happy with the schedule I've set the past few weeks and the routine I've established. That's also something I struggle with, but I feel really good about it, and it came in handy this weekend when I easily could have taken a few extra naps on the couch instead of heading out to run (midnight shopping makes me sleepy!). I had two awesome runs: one at hometown favorite for running (clearly a borrowed picture, although it was basically summer weather on Friday's run!), and the other through the neighborhoods that house some of my favorite houses...a route which afforded me a CELEBRITY RUN-IN! Mike Kitt sped past me on his bike, which made me laugh. The distance he covered in about 30 seconds took me several minutes to tackle. I thought maybe I should consider switching my sport, until I was informed he was still at it two hours later. Oh running, how I always come back to you<3.

"In the end I have to hold myself accountable. It is my career and my responsibility to do what I need to do to be the best I can be. I had to make a change if I really wanted to reach the goals I had set for myself. I had to get out of being comfortable and get into a situation that was going to really push me." - Kara Goucher

Major Happenings

I have been slacking, because there is WAY too much for this one post. So much. Big things have been happening.

First off, I found out last week that I will have the INCREDIBLE privilege of running as part of the Hope Express EXTREME Team this February! My amazing family and friends (and their family and friends too!) donated $1,300 to the Four Diamonds Fund/Hershey Medical Center/the fight against pediatric cancer - WOW! The donations and the notes that came along with them overwhelmed me with such feelings of happiness, pride, and appreciation. There is no way I could ever have taken up running to better the lives of children in the first place without this unconditional support. And thank goodness I have this support, because EIGHTEEN miles have my name written all over them (it was done with the same truck that makes the dotted yellow line in the middle of the road).

The second big set of news is that I am officially working at a paraprofessional in a Kindergarten classroom - woo! I have actually been there for over a month now and am really enjoying it. Having never worked in a Kindergarten classroom/spent an extended period of time working with this age, it has been a really eye-opening experience for me. Even in the few weeks I've been working there, it's been great to see how much the students have grown so far. Today, a student was getting upset, saying that he couldn't do the activity the class was doing. The teacher reminded him that a few weeks ago, there were a lot of things him and the other students didn't think they could do...and now they do them with ease. I had to laugh to myself, because it was like SNL was doing a parody of my life. It's so easy to forget how hard we've worked to get where we are. That's just one of the reasons I love this. It's awesome, they kept it honestly real...and it's very, very funny.

pre-pick jitters

Prior to this evening's "cross training work out" of ice skating (which I was really looking forward to..until I realized ice skating = really cold out = winter is coming quickly), I wanted to attempt to capture my emotions of the day. The 2012 Hope Express teams are being selected tomorrow, and I have been shown so much love and support from friends, family, friends of family and family of friends...wow! It's hard to verbalize it all, other than how blessed I feel to be so well supported and how glad I am that I set out to take on something that, if selected, will be a huge challenge for me, but will be for a cause I feel so strongly about. Beyond that, Hope Express is, just as its name suggests, is about HOPE...bringing hope to the Four Diamonds families during their fight against cancer. As I've been shown in the past weeks, also bringing hope to the loved ones in my life...reminding them of how much we are each capable of and the power we have to make an impact on the lives of others. I would be honored to run at part of this year's HE team, and will be bummed if I'm not selected, but regardless of what happens, I am so glad that I know I'll be involved in making the event a success and with continuing to spread the word, the love, and the hope.

And on that note, a BIG good luck to Deanne this weekend as she sets out to dominate 26.2 miles in NYC this weekend for TNT/LLS. We've come a long, long way from slothing it in the HUB...I'm beaming with pride!

highs and lows

"If you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough." - Gretchen Rubin (author of my guide to living)

I had a troublesome run last week and realized afterwards that it was hard to assess how the run actually went when I subtracted my attitude/personal feelings from the picture. No surprises here. When I told a friend about the run, I realized that while I struggled through parts of it, I accomplished what I set out to do and completed the run. Later in the week, I came across the above quote and it really stood out to me. When I decided to start running, I didn't do it because it was easy. I did it, because it was something new and challenging for me, and I knew it would teach me a lot about patience, hard work, and growth. The same way I celebrate my successes, I need to remember the purpose of these more challenging runs as well. Aside from making me just about cry, they should be reminders to me of the overall journey. They're just as crucial as the successful runs.

All that being said, the runs that followed later in the week were all really awesome. I had the lucky fortunate of visiting and touring the Beaumont Children's Hospital, a hospital about 45 minutes from Ann Arbor, that is a Children's Miracle Network facility. The hospital was wonderful, so kid-friendly and attentive to all of the needs of children, not just medically. I thought about the money THON/Hope Express raises for the 7th floor of Hershey Medical Center and the support the Four Diamonds Fund provides for these families during their fight against cancer. I am so blessed in my life, and I don't take that for granted. It's so important to help others who are dealt unlucky hands in life, to lessen their burdens and bring hope and love into their lives. Seeing the Children's Hospital here, seeing what supports are in place for these families made me feel so good and so lucky to be involved with supporting the children being treated at Hershey and their families. You too can help - donate now!

On that note, I'm super excited, because the team of runners that will travel from the 7th floor at Hershey Medical to Penn State/THON will be picked THIS WEEK!! Lots of emotions, excitement and crossed fingers, but regardless of what happens, I'm thrilled to be part of something I care so much about. Stay tuned!

Too good for a title!

Two things I love this week:

1. I am so incredibly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends as I train for Hope Express...wow wow wow!

2. This picture:

Hope Express EXTREME Team 2012!

Family and Friends,

As many of you may know, I had the incredible privilege of running in last year’s Hope Express 2011. The 135-mile, 24-hour journey from Hershey to Penn State was truly magical. We

conquered mountains and miles to bring letters of hope and encouragement from the children at Hershey Medical Center to the an annual Dance MaraTHON. Each year this 46-hour event – known affectionately to most as “THON” - raises millions of

dollars to support the families of the Four Diamonds Fund, an organization that helps families who have children with pediatric cancer. This year I’m challenging myself to be a part of Hope Express’s Extreme Team - half the runners covering the same distance. If selected to be a runner, I will run three 6-mile legs up grueling hills and through whatever unpredictable February weather central Pennsylvania may bring! Running is not something that comes easily to me, but it would be an honor to bring hope to those who have no choice but to stand tall in their fight against cancer.

The Four Diamonds Fund provides both financial and medical support to its families during their battle with cancer. Families’ involvement in THON provides them with a renewed sense of hope, and a reminder to not give up, no matter how hard times may get. Hank and Connie Angus, parents of Gabe, a Four Diamonds child, began Hope Express in 2007 as a way to bridge the gap between THON and the children on the 7th floor at Hershey Medical Center. Families whose children are too sick to attend THON weekend are now able to have some of the magic brought to them, and their words and letters are given to the Hope Express runners to carry on their backs during the 24-hour relay all the way to Penn State.

Please consider supporting me this year as part of Hope Express in honor and support of the Four Diamonds families. Every donation, regardless of the amount, brings us one step closer to conquering childhood cancer. Personally, I have set a goal to raise $1,800, and I can only achieve it with your support. Donations can be easily made online. If you prefer, however, you may opt to mail a check - email me and I will send my address. Even though the run is not until February, I would greatly appreciate it if donations are made by November 1, as this is when runners will be officially selected for the Extreme Team.

As I train for the relay, I am able to explore my new home in Michigan in a new and unique way, and it helps me to feel connected to the things that matter to me most, even if I’m far from home. I am so grateful for all of your help, love, and support, which inspire me to give to this incredible cause. As always, please feel free to follow my journey by visiting here often, as I will continue to write about running and my experiences training for the big event.

For the Kids,

Darian

s&m

Today's topics: Sneakers and Mountains

Sneakers

I purchased a new pair! I was due for a some new kicks, and decided to have myself actually fitted for a pair, instead of just picking blindly. It was pretty painless and I'm glad I did it! Now that I know I need a "stability" shoe, I can actually get into the Runner's World shoe guides...exhilarating, I know! Anyway, I didn't really think ahead before heading out on today's run (weather/course wise), so when I got home, my shoes looked a bit like those "Spot the Difference" picture games in the magazines...everything is the same from one (shoe) to the next, except a few small changes.

(I would've written this part upside down if I could: 1. Big spot of dirt)

Mountains

When I was little, the thought of the slow and deliberate climb to the top of a roller coaster made me want to hurl. That slow, steady clicking of the car inching its way up...ugh. At Dorney Park, I remember watching the cars become tiny dots (okay, maybe not tiny dots...) as we climbed higher and higher. The anticipation, the sloooowww moving of it all..it killed me.

And that's exactly what running such (or any, really) inclines are like for me. I let the anticipation get to me and it makes me crazy. I ran on some new roads last week and didn't realize how many bumps in the road there'd be. Not knowing, I was unable to dread them for the minutes leading up to them. Nevertheless, once I saw it up ahead, I'd start to panic. There was one that I almost had to laugh to when I got to it though. It was nothing. Even though it had looked like the car on the street were driving up a 90 degree angle, it appeared as though the sidewalk was doing its own thing. All that worry for nothing! I realized I need to stop psyching myself out and stop panicking about it beforehand. Most of the time, I blow it up so big in my head that the mountain in my mind is not even a close relative of the minor hill that lays before me. ESPECIALLY in anticipation for Hope Express EXTREME team (all will be revealed: next post!), I've decided to (slowly) start embracing these challenges, and have stopped completely rerouting runs when they fall before me. It's good. This is good.

Ahhhhhh!

Ordinary people doing EXTRAORDINARY things

"My goal has always been to introduce other people to running. They might accomplish something they never thought they could." - Grete Waitz

The arrival of this quote in my inbox was so appropriate (as always, since the person who sends them out stalks me/my life/this blog apparently...always perfectly timing them). In the past two days, I have had two fellow runners (who I look up to and admire for their passion for running and dedication to achieve once unfathomable goals) paid me the biggest compliment by telling me that I inspire them to run, encourage them to push themselves. It is really the best feeling, especially as I begin to start mapping out my next training plan (re: HOPE EXPRESS EXTREME 2012! More to come! Donations being accepted now!). It's what I love so much about running. Everyone can do it...really. It's just having enough courage to believe in yourself.

As part of a surprise trip home to the East this weekend, I spent a few hours at the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton to cheer Ryan's dad, Rege, on in his first marathon (at which he did AWESOME!!) and one of the SICKEST runners I know, Rachel Wise. It was neat to be at a different kind of marathon, since my only other marathon experiences were in (much!) bigger cities. It was really nice to be able to travel with ease throughout the course and really great to be able to get up close and personal to finish line, watching the wide range of ways people handled approaching the end of 26.2 miles. It was pretty awesome.

Congratulations to Rege and Rachel on kicking butt yesterday. It was a lot of fun cheering you on and seeing all of your hard work pay off!

Hello Scranton!

Congrats on your first marathon!

(This is pretty much what Rachel looked like yesterday)

Gallup Park

So today I decided to check out a run a little further from home (a 5 minute drive down the street...) and I LOVED IT! I really enjoyed this run, and just like in Philly, there are so many little runs along a longer path/trail that can be connected to make new and different runs. I like that. I can work with that.

It's really neat to map a route in a place I have never been and then to run it out...it's so nice to be able to see my new home this way. What's super cool about this run was that it looped around not one, but TWO (itty bitty) bodies of water! Lots of bridges. A few islands. Many, many benches (not too significant to running, but worth noting..right?).

I liked this tree a lot (mostly because it reminded me of Fern Gully)!

Philadelphia LOVE

One year ago today, I ran my FIRST HALF-MARATHON!!!! I think above all, it makes me nostalgic for Philly and so thrilled that I chose to run my first big race there. Philadelphia will always possess a large piece of my heart and the half-marathon being today along with Penn State playing at the Linc yesterday/ESPN's beautiful shots of the city...sigh. Melts my heart.

On this afternoon's run, I thought a lot about all the running I did in Philadelphia and the different perspective it gave me. I certainly fell in love with a different part of the city when I explored it on foot. The first time Ryan and I ran here together, we ran alongside of a river we live right next by and he commented on how it smelled just like running on the Schuylkill did. It was such a small thing, but was a nice reminder of hours spent on the Tow Path. Most of my runs in Manayunk were over the same streets and paths, again and again, and now, given the distance, what was once almost too familiar, I realize now was so nice to have. Runs in the overwhelming heat and through the snow, in the morning before the sun lit the day and in the black of the night. Alone with my thoughts and almost needing to stop to catch my breath from laughing so hard with friends. Until now, I didn't realize what an impact running had on my time living in Philadelphia, but I am so thankful to have that. Looking back now, it's so nice to have so many wonderful memories, made almost accidentally on my path to the half.

Along the path in Nichols Arboretum

the power of kindness

Ten years later, it's incredible how the tragedies of September 11, 2001 can feel just as close as they did that day. Every year on the anniversary, I feel so overwhelmed with sadness, confusion, and helplessness. I wonder how things could ever continue to go on and how life will resume, and then, just like it did in 2001, it slowly does.

It's said often, but the kindness and sense of community that was displayed in the weeks following that historic day give me such a feeling a purpose and truly rekindled my spirit. The same way the anniversary so clearly brings back the feelings of loss, it also reminds me of the incredible power of humankind to reach out to one another and to be kind (perhaps that's why it's humankind...right?). There are so many stories of bravery and courage shared from that day (and other tragedies), but it is still never mundane or simple. If watching the footage of 9/11 evokes a level of sadness, the anniversary and sharing and celebration of lives lost provides me with an even greater feeling of hope.

Ryan and I went to a memorial service this morning and while he was speaking, the Police Chief asked everyone to join hands, just as we so easily did in the days following 9/11. It was such a powerful moment. When life gets busy, we all too often get consumed with the little details that make up our days, too busy to pause for a complete stranger. Holding the hand of someone I had never seen before and quite possible never will again reminded me that each moment, each interaction still has such great value.

A little while later, we were walking through a book festival and I saw the perfect magnet that read, "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." I had to laugh, but appreciated the creative approach to making the point. Each day, we have the ability to impact the lives of all those we encounter, and even if we are just running errands or walking down the street, that's still a lot of people. Someone chased me down the street the other day to give me my sweater that had fallen out of my bag and I was so grateful, and even surprised that he took the time to do that. These things put it into perspective for me and help to remind me that these little moments or touches make all the difference in the world. This kindness should be the norm.

When I think about the way running has made me feel about myself, I recognize that there is no greater gift I could give than to pay it forward and help others to feel that same success and the same wonderful way about themselves and their ability to reach their goals and dreams. Of course this isn't exclusive to running, but it's something I want to do in this next year of running, to help others in that way. I think about the way people, even complete strangers, can lift one another up. It shouldn't take immense tragedy for this to happen. It should be happening every day.

Lots of Water!

There are so many new things here to see, and strategically planning my runs is an excellent way to explore! I had wanted to start taking more mid-run pictures (an idea I thought of AFTER running throughout all of New Orleans...argh!). The first isn't a run, but it was a big day, because I finally mustered up enough courage to try out the lap lanes at the pool..and it was awesome! I'm really excited about it and am looking forward to something else to mix it up! It's also worth noting that these pictures were taking days apart, but it was 90 degrees in the first and low 60's in the last....burrrr!

Public pool near our apartment

Taken on a little bridge (that looked like I shouldn't be crossing) over the Huron River, right across from our apartment

Summer 2011 in Review

ek! I hate that I have been MIA, but I'd like to think it has been with good reason. I haven't been able to write in a little while since I haven't written in a little while, so I want to cut to the chase and break the dry spell! Here it goes (A LOT happened...so I'll try to stick to what's relevant, as dictated by my iPhoto account):

Over 4th of July weekend, I enjoyed some wonderful group runs, including a visit to Central Park.

(I think this was: Gold star to you for running! Sindy is a marathoner, so she was not as excited/didn't feel as impressed with herself as we were...)

Penn State Roommate Weekend = Lots of dancing and running in place to up Amanda's step-counter numbers.

In honor of becoming a Master, Lani and I went to celebrate Christmas in July (as well as in 100 degrees) with the Phillies and I FINALLY met the man of my dreams, the Philly Phanatic. Dreams DO come true!

Trips to Whirled Peace required some walking...and lots of spoon lifting.

I don't have any pictures of my AM runs with LB, but they were the glue to my summer. Oh...and we accomplished our long-time dream of running to Conshohocken!

And I moved to Michigan....

Pictures from one of my first runs in Ann Arbor with Ryan's dad, Rege. Ann Arbor is FILLED with parks (157 to be exact), so it makes for beautiful runs...and hopefully more frequent posts.

horo-RUN

I know I've been slacking....the next two weeks will be focused on getting back into a routine so I can begin training again (I stopped to think about that - if I really NEED something to get me going again and it feels good to actually think that I don't! I might always need a little break after training and running a race (different from racing!), and it just so happens that now it's approaching time to start training if I'm going to run Akron in September!!). Anyway, so I went for a run this morning (another tangent - it was so nice to leave in the afternoon work and know I'd already run! woo!) and I'll admit....it's been hard. I'm paying for my weeks off. My pace is off and just my normal ish is MIA, but as I was running, I began to think about how aside from "getting it done," a morning run is such a good predictor of the day...even better, let's say, than your horoscope (not to say I don't live by mine...).

When I started my run this morning, it felt fresh and good and I naturally thought, "This is easy. I've got this." It's not long, however, before I realize - ohhhh boy I'm going too fast! There are the mind games that throw me, the good songs that lift me, the ups and the downs. When I count the landmarks, it crawls by, but when I lose myself in the song, in my natural thoughts and I'm just running, just being - it's so perfect! When I know the final incline up before I'm done is coming, as always, I psych myself out...waiting, knowing, anticipating..but then I remind myself that I can do it, that I've done it before, and that I, of course, will do, because aside from how easy it would be to stop and give up...I know I can't.

And that's exactly how my days go these days, so as you can imagine, it feels pretty good see it end as a success all before 7am :O)!

the BFB! (big, friendly BRIDGE)

So while it took a while to happen, I decided that in honor/celebration of a YEAR of running/blogging, I wanted to do something special...and that something special finally happened when Lindsay and I ran Big Ben (I realize that none of these nicknames actually apply...but give it time...they'll stick), from Pennsylvania...all the way to NEW JERSEY (running OUT of NJ makes a little more sense than running towards it..but all logistics). While the day was more grey than I would have liked, it was pretty cool to do...especially since this big anniversary came during quite the dry spell...! It got me thinking about my running goals, hopes, and dreams (okay...just my goals) for the upcoming year, and how, as they should be, they're growing and changing, and therefore...require training...like now. So my current goal is to get back at it this week, to ease myself back into the routine, because I know the hardest thing for me is getting back to it once I've slowed down (...to a halt). Once I can do that, it'll be easier for me to share all the other goals :O)! Here's to another year of running!

Crossing into New Jersey, the view of the Camden Riversharks' Stadium (which I love...)

View of Philadelphia heading back!

Scared?

Gripping the railing...

Bucket List

Not without trying, I have yet to be able to create a list of "must-run races." I've thought about it, but when it comes down to it, I thought that any destination race I choose would be just that..selected for the location, rather than the race, and really, I'm not quite ready to plan my few vacations a year around careful rest and eating, as well as excessive exercise..let's be honest. So all that being said, it was just as surprising to me as it will be to you that when I received the email announcing the registration details for the 2011 Nike Women's Marathon (which is coupled with a half, of course), I felt my heart skip a beat. (For those who don't know, it should be clearly stated that rather than being given a medal when you finish, a specially designed Tiffany's necklace is your take away!). It's shocking to me that maybe I DO, after all, have a race to go onto my list and receiving this email solidified that! It should go to say that I think the idea of a women's running event is really super awesome and while we're at it, let's add a few more of them to my must-run list!

running = more room for birthday cake.

This quote has been sitting in my inbox and I had to laugh when I reopened it to post it and realized it's from my new celeb crush...sigh...

"That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful life is." - Kara Goucher

Birthdays (well....just mine really...), especially those which coincide with the anniversary of this blog and my relationship with running, make me particularly nostalgic, and as always, I do appreciate the chance to step back and reflect. I think about all the highs (even the lows, which I can still appreciate) I've felt this past year connected to running. I think about the top-of-the-world-and-how-the-heck-did-I-get-here?! feeling of completing TWO half-marathons, the incredible sense of gratitude running the middle of the night as part of Hope Express (and let's be honest...that entire experience, being surrounded by so many incredible people and amazing runners!), runs in the dark at night with Lani, running in the early morning with Lindsay, running (because yes...again..it DID happen) a sliver of the NYC Marathon with Sindy....runs in the early morning to avoid the heat and runs in the peak of the day to avoid the coldest cold. Runs through PA, NY, at the boardwalk along the beach, in New Orleans, through Montreal, in DC, in Vegas (okay okay...a treadmill in Vegas. I'm not THAT hardcore), literally ACROSS Central Pennsylvania, through the paths at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, around Villanova (big shoutout of love to the "first race!"), weaving through State College and Penn State....

May this next year be filled with so many more wonderful memories made running with friends, FAMILY (that's right...it's going to happen!!!), and I'm proud to even say, sometimes all by myself!