Celebrating Me

Ryan with a sleeping tiger

Using my birthday as a good excuse to travel, we headed to Chicago this past weekend. Ryan and I have each been there once, but separately. I love that we can get there so easily from Ann Arbor, so this was a good excuse to take advantage of our proximity. 

Lion and I 

We lucked out and had beautiful weather all weekend. After the winter we've had, it was perfect (because yes, 40 degrees and sunny is now considered "perfect"). I wasn't even bothered when the sun shining through the window woke me up yesterday morning. I was just glad to see it. We stayed in Lincoln Park, so I was excited to incorporate both the (free!) zoo and the lake into our run yesterday. While we did end up having time to return to the zoo today (because now that I'm 28, apparently I can't sleep past 7am), it was neat to be able to run through a pretty unusual backdrop. Being able to run through it made me appreciate the ability to pack in extra sights of a new place.

Lake Michigan

The run, and really, the whole weekend, was a perfect reminder of why I love spring. Each year, before this beautiful weather becomes the norm, people allow something that was just recently a (literal) cloud over our lives to become something we appreciate. I recently thought about the concept of "spring cleaning," and it makes sense. Spring feels like a new beginning, a chance to realign or reset. Similar to the start of the school year and Rosh Hashanah, or January 1 and New Year's, the arrival of spring feels like an opportunity to appreciate, celebrate, and reflect. Of course it's all I've ever known, but I like having my birthday this time of year for that reason. There have been years when it's still felt like winter and years I even remember some snow, but when the weather is what it's been this weekend, I can't help but use my birthday and the return of nice weather to slow down and be grateful.

Cheering on the Phils in
Chicago!

To me, running is the more consistent reminder of the chance we have reset, each day, without a formal occasion or big milestone. It's a self-given opportunity to slow down and process. My friends and family know that I am very reflective, sometimes to the point of a fault, so perhaps I don't rely on runs to do that as much as I do to appreciate. It can be easy to get caught up in wanting to go farther and faster, but I am still in a place where I can pat myself on the back for simply putting on my sneakers, going out, and running. Birthdays are the day of the year when everyone around you celebrates you, but what about the other 364 days?  Of course there are days when I feel frustrated with where I'm at versus where I'd like to be in my running, but overall, my runs have managed to remain a place where I continue to celebrate what I am doing, rather than criticize what I'm not. It's a chance to start over, even if just mentally, if it feels like things aren't going my way, and birthday or not, that is a gift I can always give myself. 

My new favorite animal, featuring interesting audio

Light at the End of the Tunnel: The Arrival of Spring

After two especially long first months of 2014, I feel comfortable speaking for the majority of people when I say that I finally feel hopeful that winter will eventually be gone. Even in the bitter reality of winter, I have always said that I enjoy living in places where the seasons change, because I do like aspects of winter...one of them being that it leaves. I like the appreciation I, along with most people, have for spring and nice weather when it comes. What quickly becomes the unnoticed norm is so celebrated in the days of early March (or late March/early April/May...). 

Simply turning the calendar to March is the first step. This week, it seemed almost out of nowhere that the sky was already lighting up when I walked out the door at 6:30am, and it has been noticeably lighter later in the evening....past 6:30pm! The high temperatures started to creep out of the teens, even touching the 30 degree mark. And the sun - the sun finally begun to shine! When I moved to Michigan, I'll never forget the person who told me, after I brushed off the cold and snow, that those weren't the most challenging parts of a Michigan winter - it was the blanket of gray that covers the sky for what feels like all winter. The sun has been out more and more in last few weeks, and the feeling I get after these past few months makes me wonder if the Beatles wrote "Here Comes the Sun" in Michigan right around this time of year. 

All of these little things come together as a reminder that the winter blues will evenutally be over, if only we have the patience to wait it out. Yesterday, we took the day off to drive out the State College to celebrate my dad's birthday, and when I woke up a little later than usual for a weekday, the sun was streaming in through every window in the apartment. A distant relative of the person who eagerly runs to the big window to see the snow covering the street, I nearly jumped out of bed to return to the same window to see the sun rising over the day. It looks foreign and is blinding, but it's beautiful. While the snow of the past three months is still present (and will be for what a while still), when I keep my head up, I can block that out and focus on the warmth of the sunshine, and on the good things that are to come. 

I know it's not yet time to return the jackets to the closet and pull out the sandals, but today in State College, the sun is shining and the high is in the 40s. For the first time since December, I'm heading out to run, and it just all feels right. I stick by my words that I enjoy the seasonal changes, which include the hardships of winter, and it's really for this moment. Winter reminds me to appreciate the weather of the rest of the year, even if only for a little. Soon it will be too hot and we'll start to complain at that, even though right now, it's hard to imagine such a time exists. Regardless, right now, it's good to be reminded that when times are tough, there's always a bright side.

Deer spotting!

It's a rare occasion that school is cancelled on a beautiful day...but today it was! We had extreme winds all day yesterday and into the night, and I received a call this morning that we didn't have power, and therefore, wouldn't have school. It's odd to have my second day off, but I'll take it.

So I used a chunk of my morning to go for a nice, not-rushed run. Sometimes I'll hear a rustle in the bushes/grass next me, a squirrel or other small critter, and I always jump a little before even having a chance to look at who it is. Today it was FOUR deer! So close! Normally, by the time I take my phone out of my armband, they've scurried away, or are too small to even show up, but they stayed where they were. It was a nice treat!

We only get what we give

My (running) life after Hope Express has been a struggle. With the fortunate gift of the week off following HE, I gave myself a much needed break from running. That being said, it's been really hard getting out there since then. While at first I felt the usual symptoms of PRD (post-race depression), I quickly realized that my sole reason for running was no longer there..and I had had a really, really motivating reason to run! It stunk.

It was exceptionally beautiful for early March today and yet still, it was a push to get myself going! As soon as I took my first steps though, I was thrilled to be out there. My immediate reason for running has no doubt changed, but that doesn't change my feelings about running and, more importantly, the feelings I get from running.

It seemed perfect that the first few minutes of the run were soundtracked by a new playlist favorite, the New Radicals' "You Get What You Give." The song reminds me how true it is that in order to get all that running has to offer, you need to give (i.e. get off the couch, choose running over more exciting things like sitting on the couch, etc). If I want to keep getting the feel goods from running, I need to keep at it. Seems obvious, I know, but it's yet another minor epiphany.

Anyway, when I was still on the high of Hope Express, I carried through on my intention to register for my next half-marathon - running the inaugural Lansing Half on April 22! I think I've gone through the natural post-event mourning stages, and with all the incredible memories and moments stored in my heart, I am ready to move onto the next event...if for no other reason than I just have to. The love, dedication, and incredible hearts of those I had the honor of running with and running for during Hope Express will fuel me on some many of the miles that lay ahead of me. I am hopeful and confident that I will have the honor of running for the reason behind HE again - the kids - in some capacity, but I need to honest about what I'm running for...and right now, it's okay that I'm just running for me.

Be the Groundhog you wish to see the in the world

Today, Phil predicted we will have six more weeks of winter. I have certainly feared that February (through May?) will feature the winter weather we have yet to see thus far this season, but lately I'm thinking MAYBE we can squeeze by with this one. It was 40 degrees today and awesome for running. It was great...but a little while later when I went out for a walk, it was really cold. It made me realize that I can enjoy an extra long season of warm weather/spring comes extra early for runners!

And on that note, I somehow can get a two week extended forecast through Accuweather. According to this reliable source, TWO WEEKS from today when Hope Express takes off, we're looking at mid-50's (and some rain), but I will take it! TAKE THAT PHIL!