love letter to DC

Dear Bo Obama,

While I'm disappointed that I didn't see you this weekend at the half-marathon, I wanted to take a moment to write you a note. I would've thought a lover of running would have been out there on the sidelines barking us on, but that's another issue...

Before I get to the meat and beans of how MY run went, I wanted to tell you how utterly glad I was to run my second half-marathon in DC! It happened by "accident," in that I didn't intentionally set out to run DC specifically, but I'm so glad it happened. The course itself was fun (and I feel fair saying that because it was still a challenge for me....many little slopes up, which is not typically my scene), and the perfect weather/sunshine didn't hurt! But what perhaps made it so enjoyable for me was all the love and support from the sidelines! There were a bunch of crowded cheering sections that had me laughing, dancing, and smiling a tonnn! Fun signs included: Chuck Norris never ran a marathon/Naked cheerleaders one mile ahead! HOW FUNNY! There were two sections when we ran through Howard University that were just going nuts and perhaps, for me, the love from the city was summed up when I saw what I'm pretty sure were workers from Safeway standing outside literally just handing out full bottles of water from the store...like they saw all these people running by and thought, "They need and deserve water! Let's just literally give them water!!" I was just so happy and impressed and glad to be a part of such a well-received group of runners!

Some mid-run shots!

Now Bo, although you weren't there to show your love and support, I know you care...so let me quickly tell you how it went. My ankle had been really bothering me for about two weeks. It was fine when I ran last weekend, but I felt it constantly when I walked and being on my feet all day at work didn't help. Also, to lay it completely out there: I was completely freaked out. Running a half-marathon will always be a huge task for me, and I certainly didn't attack this one like my first. Instead of focusing on what I HAD been doing over the past few months, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I hadn't been doing. Well, once the race started, I blocked all those thoughts out and just ran! The entire race went well and I managed to hop right over that mile 10/11 wall I was terrified of. I kept a good pace the whole time and when those hi...I mean, slopes appeared before me, I imagined AJG behind me cheering me on (my mental images got a little more creative than that, and may have included Kevin Little AND Kevin Bacon on a motorcycle...with bagpipes) and kept me LAUGHING!), a shout out to a MISERABLE run last June! For that, I'm forever thankful! I was SO ELATED to finish in 2 hours, 6 minutes - 6 minutes faster than my time in September!! wow! I actually, literally wanted to cry the moment I crossed the finish line, but I was breathing hard and thought that, along with crying, would escalate things quickly...and I didn't want the people around me to think I was having a panic attack, rather than just being really, really happy!!

As always, I never would've been able to have such a great day without all the love and support of those around me, both here in DC and from afar. All the texts and facebook posts warmed my heart and if nothing else, pressured me into doing my best! It was SO wonderful to be with Dave before the race, so I didn't psych myself completely out (he, by the way, did completely awesome on his FIRST half-marathon and raised a ton of money for LLS!). Beckerman, Terri, and my ever supportive boyfriend, Ryan, the love of my life who is always rooting me on - thank you all for being along the course, for fighting the cold and the blocked roads and supporting me all along the course :O)!

So Bo, I thank you and your city for a great run, for an awesome time, and for an overall plain 'ol fabulous weekend! Write back soon and stay out of the trash can.

With Love,

Darian

Waiting with Dave for the race to begin!

Action shot...!

I made it!

you people never eases to amaze me

yes! YOU!

Just when I think that I've seen and felt it all, that I have officially "gotten" it, something else happens to remind me of the incredible power of the human spirit. Most recently, it seems to "wow" me when it's linked to running/other such activities (of course, this doesn't exclude all the other acts of kindness, good heart, and passion), as I realize how time consuming training is and how simply ONGOING it is. Committing to run a marathon for the good of others isn't just about writing some letters or planning a fundraising night. It's about waking up early on Saturdays, about prioritizing in a way that oftentimes doesn't come natural, in making choices that every part of you, excluding your heart/especially your soles, tells you not to. Some people are naturally inclined to do these things..the rest of us can only do so with a purpose behind us, and even then, it's not a simple task.

Just when I felt myself hitting a plateau with my feelings towards running (not particularly good timing with a 13 miles approaching this weekend!), I received a pleasantly surprising email from a friend from college who will be running the NYC MARATHON this year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with Team in Training! WOW WOW WOW! While I DID run appropriately 2% of last year's big event (although the picture link failed me, it's true! I was there!), I am completely FLOORED with the selflessness it takes to commit oneself to not only 26.2 miles for others, but, (and to me, more importantly) all that leads up to it! I am so beyond thrilled that I went to witness the sheer magnitude of the marathon this past November, because an event of that magnitude naturally means that many more incredible acts of love and dedication. The number of runners I saw who were doing it for causes they felt strongly about...it was amazing!

I am so lucky to have such amazing examples all around me of what it means to give, to love, and to live with a purpose. I saw it x 15 during Hope Express with a group of former strangers and I am so proud of how many of the people in my life choose to give so much of themselves on a regular basis. It is only by these examples that I can even dream of making a difference in this world.

With this wonderfully exciting news (along with my being inspired by dear friend (let's be real...we've crossed the border of friend-of-a-friend...right??) Dave Romanelli who is running for TNT this weekend as well...and will be done with his half marathon before I cross the half of a half mark...really...he's that amazing!), I feel REFRESHED and while this weekend's race isn't for anyone other than me (and even that is a push...kidding! think happy thoughts!), it renews my spirit and reminds me of the POWER that comes with running. I feels so wonderful!

Want to know how you can help? Support Deanne and her journey to run 26.2 miles, 26.2 miles closer to a cure!!

round two!

So I have not been good about posting at all...but what's fitting about that fact is that it kind of matches my level of training for the half-marathon I will be running next week in DC. Since Hope Express, I feel like I've been out of sync with my running, kind of in need of a break. Weekends have been super busy, especially with having a graduate class Saturday AM already, so fitting in those long runs have been....hard, if at all. Ekkkkk!

I received the details of the race and it was a WIDE mix of emotions, including "I want to vomit" and "oh yeah! this is exciting!" I think once I get this weekend's run in I'll be able to just take it as it comes/is, instead of worrying that I will flattened like a pancake when those around me run OVER me as I lay down for a mid-run break/rest/general nap.

My Feelings (Journal)

I regret having not posted in a few weeks. My lack of words shouldn't be read as not having anything to say; it's actually the complete opposite. Although Hope Express was just 24 hours long, returning to Philly and to "regular life" was a huge adjustment back to reality..away from the pure magic. I've told people it's like the summer camp effect: time slows down and what normally takes weeks or months to happen occurs in just days, or in our case, hours. Incredible bonds were formed, trust built, and just so much love. It's been so hard for me to share this experience, but I know it's so important, because it's so important to me now, and it's something so special that MUST be shared! I don't want to keep rattling off cliques or generic statements (i.e. excessive use of the A/I adjectives: awesome, amazing, incredible, etc), but it's so difficult to put into words what happened in those 135 miles. It just felt like magic...it was magic.

I've really struggled with maintaining that FEELING of appreciation for life throughout the daily grind. We get so caught up in the little things, it's so easy to lose sight of the big picture. During my middle leg, 3 miles of rolling hills, somewhere in the middle of PA, between 2 and 3am, I felt it. I remember just looking up at the clear sky over and over again, deeply breathing in the night air, just wanting to cry tears of joy, because I felt so incredibly lucky to have the chance to be there, to just run with me and the small lights of the Hummer behind me...and that's it. So peaceful, making it seem all so easy.

Some of my amazing teammates outside Hershey Medical Center!

Taking a break from our dance party on the side of the road :O)

Hugging Morgan at the end of my last leg!

View of BJC from the top of Tussy Mountain!

The Hope Express 2011 Team....more love than even the Feelings Journal could hold