The Honeymooners

View of beach

While visiting Vis, one of the Dalmatian islands, we decided to check out a more remote beach on the island. At most, there were a dozen people there, and we ended up sitting next to two families from the States. After they randomly offered for us to use their snorkel gear (which we did- it was awesome!), I mentioned that we were on our belated honeymoon. One of the woman said, "When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we decided it wasn't over until we said it's over. That was 29 years ago. We're still on our honeymoon." When we ran into her with her husband later that night, he shared it yet again. Hearing their advice for a second time, I realized this was clearly something they had lived by for the past 29 years. Regardless of where they are - the incredible Dalmatian islands or the kitchen of your own house - they are still on their honeymoon. 

Even after more than two weeks of a time out from the "real world," flying over the Atlantic Ocean now, I can't help but be a little bummed that our trip is coming to a close. Anticipating this moment, I've thought a lot about that couple on the beach and their advice. Sure, we will return home this weekend and while I won't even go back to work immediately, there will be chores to do, bills to pay, inevitable must-do's. I can't stop that from happening, but that wasn't that point of the motto of this couple. Yes, there are daily obligations we must attend to that sometimes cloud the vision of the bigger picture, but there are also things, and more importantly, people, who make our lives what they are.

I've spent a lot of time considering this motto, or really, attitude, over the past week, and naturally connected it to running. Lately, I've run pretty routine runs and have built them into these larger-than-necessary things. Because I want to stick to my training plan and hit certain targets, I have been trying to balance being away with my desire to stay on track to train for the half. I can't always change the facts of these runs and how they turn out, and I don't even need to really, because I can control how I approach them, and choose what set of glasses I view them through. The same run means two different things depending on how I view it. 

Celebrating our first anniversary!

Similar to the word vacation, the word honeymoon carries a certain connotation. Reflecting on it this past week, I realize that so much of it is mental. I know it's easier for me to brush aside the little things when I'm away, but why? Why can't this be an attitude I at least strive to maintain regardless of where I am? 

As the couple on the beach suggested, we don't need to pack away our honeymoon mentality when we return home. My hope is that as Ryan and I unpack our suitcases, we will forgo the routine of putting away the metaphorical (sun)glasses with which we have viewed the past 2+ weeks, and really, this first year of marriage. If honeymoons are mental, then we can, and I hope we will, continue this trip throughout our entire marriage, and rival this couple for the world's longest honeymoon. 

Written last month, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean

If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home Already

Top of the Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna

This post was written last month, while in Europe.

We arrived into Zagreb, Croatia's capital city, late last night. We're staying in an apartment in the center of what seems like a fairly small, but bustling, city. When we were first looking for places to stay, I was quickly won over by this one's balcony, hanging seven floors above the city- I'm a sucker for a good balcony. I love the easy access to fresh air, but I also love the birds' eye view it gives us. In Prague, we visited the Prague Castle which, high up on a hill, is a step back from the city, and yesterday, when we made a quick visit to Schönbrunn on a stopover in Vienna, again we were able to see the whole city from afar. On this balcony though, I can look out and see far...but I also get to look down and see the details- professionals rushing to work, people biking through the streets, vendors setting up at the market. Like a fly on the wall, I get a peak into life in this new place from the perfect distance.

View from our balcony in Zagreb

While we were in Prague over the weekend, we walked over to the farmers' market near our friends' apartment. It was a beautiful day, without the humidity that makes spending time outside back home something to avoid. Strolling through the stalls, I thought how if I lived so close to this, I would spend much of my Saturday mornings there. But just as quickly as I thought it, I realize that across the world, I do live near a farmers' market. It's not foreign and sure, they don't serve beer, but I have access to it twice a week, a five minute walk from my apartment...and I rarely go. Away from home, it's easy to forget the mundane tasks that fill up much of my free time- laundry, paying bills, completing endless to-do lists. It's easy to get caught in a web of what if's. 

Just before we left Ann Arbor, I was running through the Arboretum near our apartment, and saw a poster on the notice board at the entrance that said "If you're too busy to run today, then you're too busy." For me, this is just another reminder

of something I have spent much time thinking about in the last few years. On vacation, it's easy to stand back from my every-day life and see all the potential that lives in a place. I get to watch people doing what they enjoy, outside of work and the mundane tasks they must complete within their homes. For me, of course, I get to enjoy that, with no restrictions on what I have to do, nothing being dictated. I get to imagine a life where time is a gift, rather than a restriction. But there has to be a middle ground, I place where I can continue to "live like I'm on vacation,"even after I have returned home. 

Maybe it's like wearing metaphorical bifocals. I'm not going to ever be in a financial position where I can just travel and peek into others' worlds, and I don't even want that. I like being connected and settled.  Instead, I seek the feeling of wonder, perspective, appreciation. I don't want to be so busy that I don't have time to discover the new things, or enjoy my favorite things. I know you can't make more time, but you can certainly find it, and I don't need to travel around the globe to find time to pause and just be. 

Dobrý den Praha!

With our amazing hosts!

And we're off! Last week, we left for our 2+ week European adventure/belated honeymoon. To start off our trip, we stayed with my dear friend from college, Amy, and her boyfriend, Pete, who both relocated to Prague for work back in January. It's been several years since I've been to Europe, and over 10 since traveling to a country that doesn't natively speak English. I don't think I realized until recently how different visiting Italy now would be from doing so when I was in high school. Living in the US, everything feels, and really is, much newer and modern, in terms of the landscape of a city. Ten years ago, I felt a disconnect to things that were so unfamiliar. Now, I'm finally at a point where I can appreciate it. 

Walking through Prague, it's impossible to not acknowledge, and admire, the drastic differences between what's before me and what I see in my everyday life - the cobblestone, the randomness of narrow and windy streets, the newness of something unfamiliar. Traveling is exciting, but, as a co-worker recently pointed out, for her, and me as well, it can push you to the point of almost uncomfortable at times. Even for the most organized person, exploring a new place brings about a level of uncertainty. Especially for those of us who like to be in control, it can be stressful, to the point where it's possible to even lose sight of the reason people visit new cities in the first place. 

The Dancing Man &
The Dancing House

Recently, both in traveling and in my everyday life, I have found that acknowledging that potential for mild chaos and confusion can be enough to restore my sense of comfort. As Jillian Michaels encourages in a yoga DVD of hers (and thus, perhaps in real life as well), "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." Life throws us curveballs, and oftentimes, we throw them at ourselves. Whether we see it coming or not, these things - traveling, changes, relationships - challenge and push us in different ways.

I feel fortunate to have been able to see where our friends in Prague are living, a window into this new life they've created for themselves. From the other side of the ocean, I can easily forget what a shift this has been, and continues to be, for them. Living alongside them for a few days, I can better appreciate, and admire, the courage it has taken to stray from the known to the unknown. I'm honestly not sure I could ever do what they've done, uprooting their lives and moving to an unfamiliar place, to the extent to which they have.

Glowing in front of the Vltava River

In an effort to maintain some kind of base for the half-marathon, we set out on Sunday morning to get in a few miles. Running, particularly on vacation, has become a priority beyond how it makes me feel. I've written about it before, but, even if only briefly, I enjoy seeing a new place that way. Running along the Vltava River, I couldn't help but feel a bit bothered that I wasn't able to bang out four quick miles with ease. Sometimes it's easy to lose sight of a bigger picture- despite four jam-packed days of exploring the city, stuffing our faces, and catching up with Amy and Pete, we still fit it in, and that's something I have to be proud of.

And I guess that's what's most important. It's easy, and even natural, to size ourselves up against others, or even another version of our own self, overlooking what we are doing because our focus is on we think we should be doing. I have a lot of friends traveling this summer, and I often listen enviously as they rattle off the list of all the places they're going. Instinctively, I question if we should have planned to do more, packed more in to our time abroad. It's easy to get swept up in others' dreams and plans, but ultimately, I have to be true to myself and more than anything or anyone else, I need to know myself. We are doing a ton in our two weeks in Europe, but that's not even what matters. What's most important is that it's a trip that matches us, that fits us and what we want out of it. And it really is.

There will always be people who do more than me, and likewise, people who do less. I write a lot about reflecting on changes I've made and comparing me to myself, and I guess I started this post, nearly two weeks ago now, thinking that's what I was doing here yet again. I don't want to compare myself to others, but I'm realizing that when I notice these differences, whether it's with regard to traveling, running, or otherwise, they can push me towards feelings of appreciation, instead of inadequacy. What's "uncomfortable" for me is different than what it is for anyone else, but the commonality is that we're each striving, I hope, to be our best, happiest, fullest versions of ourselves. Our starting lines are not the same, so how can our finish lines be? 

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.

2013 Year in Review

And thus, the end of another year is upon us again. 

Martian 10k in April (Dearborn)

As much as there is to reflect on personally and professionally, my gut reaction is to say that there is equally as little to reflect on in terms of my running. While Ryan and I did run a 10k together in April, this is the first year, since starting to run in 2010, that I didn't run a half-marathon. 

Color Run in May (Ypsilanti)

Memorial Day Weekend (DC)

Oddly enough, that leaves me with something different to be proud of - despite not having a race to keep me on track for much of the year, I was able to maintain some semblance of a routine. In some ways, I enjoyed it more. Since I don't have the proof of a half to assess my year, I looked back at the calendar I keep as a loose record of my workouts. In addition to running, I started going to yoga (wow - it's really been a year!?) and had a sprinkling of barre classes in there as well. Looking back on the year now, I can appreciate the positives that come along with not feeling the pressure of a big race. Instead of solely focusing on mileage, I was able to really incorporate fitness into my life overall - something I'm constantly striving for long-term, so it becomes a seamless part of life. 

Incredible BBQ (Birmingham, AL)

While we haven't used them as much as I'd like, we received camelbacks for hiking and took advantage of them when we went up to Traverse City for our mini-moon. I enjoyed runs with friends as an excuse to spend time together and even see places.  A reflection of my running life in 2013, I managed to use three different apps to track my stats, so while I can't pinpoint the exact number, it looks like I ran about 175 miles this year, which is certainly a number I can be proud of. 

Rebuilding with SBP (New Orleans)

Of course, there's so much I could say about the events of 2013 - I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with my family and friends in leading up to our wedding; 2.5 weeks of service learning, perspective, and community building in New Orleans; a wedding that was more  than I could have ever dreamed of; a birthday back in New York with some of my oldest friends;  a breathtaking bridal shower and bachelorette party filled with thoughtful surprises and a crazy amount of laughter. I'm not sure exactly what 2014 will have in store - while I'd like to run 

Hike on Our Mini-Moon in August (Traverse City)

another half-marathon, reflecting on a year without one makes me see that I don't really need one as much as I thought I did. After a year of wedding planning, it's exciting to think about the possibilities of the blank canvas of a new year. Regardless of what this next year has in store, I'm confident running will in some way 

Visit to the White House
(July)

be part of it. It's something that will continue to keep me grounded, appreciatative, and grateful, which is something I wouldn't trade for anything.

Letting Go

In February, I wrote about the feeling of calm that comes before the rest of the world wakes up on a snow day. Today, I was reminded of that same feeling, as I stepped out onto our balcony overlooking the bay here in Traverse City. It's certainly not that early, but early enough that no one else has made it down to the water just yet. In the busy world we live in, I can appreciate even the illusion of quiet and calm. 

It's been almost a week since our wedding and I've spent a good part of the past week looking for words to talk about it all.  I don't think there's any way to summarize something as wonderful as this...so I'm not sure it's worth trying. Leading up to last weekend, I was surprised as how generally calm I was. We needed to bring nearly everything to the venue several days before the wedding, so it was good to get those things completely done and off our hands early in the week. It was a strange feeling though to have little to do leading up to a day we had spent over a year planning. At times, it felt like I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop...for something to catch me off guard and send me off my rocker, like a detail I claimed to not care at all about that suddenly was going to ruin the entire weekend. I'm proud to say I made it through the whole weekend without that though. I had thought about it a lot beforehand and I didn't want to spend the whole wedding so busy worrying that things wouldn't go right that I missed all the amazing things that were happening.  I can see how easy it is to get fixated on it needing to all be perfect, especially if you're someone who has an eye for these sorts of things...decorations, colors, flowers. We, being me and Ryan, our parents and our bridal party and friends, spent a lot of time over the past year preparing for this one day, and it felt good to finally just let go of all the worrying, and be in the moment. 

I was talking recently with a friend who was impressed by my having run a few half-marathons. Having only known this person since I've moved to Ann Arbor, it was hard to emphasize how I haven't always been a runner...it has been and continues to be a lot of work to be able to say I've run that distance. When I think about why I have and will continue to do it, a big reason is all of the emotions that come along with it, particularly at the end. Like planning a wedding, training for a race takes months of hard work, compromise, and commitment. While the days leading up to a race can be overwhelming and even frightening, I'm always reminded that at that point, the hard work is (err, or isn't) done. All you can do is let go, enjoy the time you've put in, trust yourself, and be present in the moment. For me, it's worth the months of hard work to just be able to let go. It seems we're always so busy, there's always going to be something big going on. We always dream about this idea of "later," when things aren't so hectic, but is there really that time? Oddly enough, for me, running is a chance to stop, feel, and just be. 

I always hear people say that their wedding was the best of their life and I've realized now that that's possible - we are all going to have different best days. I feel a little like I'm jumping on the bandwagon, but for me, it's true as well. As crazy as that day was, there were moments within it that I will always remember so clearly, moments I've deemed my "mental snapshots" (thank you Jim and Pam), where their memory brings the exact emotions of those moments back - breakfast with some of my best friends outside on the patio that morning; seeing Ryan for the first time that afternoon; sandwiched between my parents, deep breaths taken just before walking down the aisle; watching from the balcony before being introduced to what would be a ridiculously perfect party. 

I'm going to throw it out there and guess that life is never going to slow down. There will be moments we remember to take those mental snapshots, but the rest of our days will keep flying by. Having things that anchor us - runs that give us nothing but time to think, races that allow us to appreciate everything and everyone in our lives - help make sure we remember to slow down, stop worrying for even just for a little, and enjoy it...things that make sure we don't just drift through it all. 

The Paradox of Summer

It seems this happens nearly every summer. School's out, and with all this "free time" (which is really an illusion), I fall out of the daily routine. While I do still think about blogging, there never seems to be a good time or moment to get it done. Well now...THIS IS THAT MOMENT! 

This summer has been, and will continue to be, filled with so many amazing people, places, and events. I returned to New Orleans for 2+ weeks, went down to DC twice for super fun weddings, attended two conferences for work, and have now returned East in anticipation of our upcoming nuptials. While I am so thankful that I have the time off from work to do these things, traveling always makes maintaining any kind of routine a challenge, especially for me. For once, it seems, I was proactive though, and knew this would happen. While a shortage of time and energy in New Orleans left my sneakers untouched for quite some time, the rest of the summer has been filled with a lot of different alternatives to "just" running. I got a 3-class free pass to a gym in Philly and a month membership to a gym in New York, where I'm excited to take advantage of their diverse class schedule. I'm enjoying the variety in work-outs (especially with the wedding just over two weeks away, of course!). 

When I think about what I get out of running, it's mostly about having time that's kept separate from any to-do lists, a chunk of my day that's reserved for me. It's time to think... or time to not think at all. While my schedule has Mr. Potato Head'ed itself these past few weeks, I guess I have found a roundabout way to maintain some kind of routine. I am still getting what I need for me - some time for myself, a chance to burn some calories, and of course, an excuse to buy some new workout clothes :O). 

Zoom In, Zoom Out

When I was landing in New Orleans on Tuesday morning, I loved the chance to test my geographical knowledge of a city I have now spent a significant amount of time visiting. The curves of the Mississippi can make navigating New Orleans a challenge for out-of-towners, so it was exciting to be able to local certain landmarks and neighbors in the area as we began our descent.

On the occasion that a city’s airport is actually near that city, it’s a good feeling to be able to identify certain sites and appreciate a familiar place from a new perspective. As we began to near New Orleans, I realized that my two favorite ways to see both my favorite cities and new places are completely the opposite – from the air and on foot.

On several trips down to New Orleans specifically, I’ve had the chance to run in different parts of the city. When I visited with my family a few years ago, an early morning run that looped through some downtown neighborhoods left me a much better understanding of what was what and how it all connected. When I went back last summer, I was able to explore even more parts of the greater city, seeing things I most likely wouldn’t have had the chance to if I weren’t running it.

Seeing cities from the air can be the same thing. You see them in a different way – who knew there were so many pools around here? – and the big picture provides you with a much different feeling than when you’re up close.

I think about my relationship with Philly, a city I feel so connected to, but in a unique way, having not grown up there. I can easily think of a handful of routes I’ve run throughout Philly – our usual jams in Manayunk, running up JFK through Love Park and to the Art Museum, the Independence circuit, tackling the Ben Franklin Bridge, crossing the East Falls Bridge, the Kelly Drive loop – and I feel all warm and fuzzy. I am grateful that I have not only spent time doing things in these places, but having run them makes that connection stronger. While I no longer know all the curves of Kelly Drive, I am confident that running was an avenue for me to get to know the city better, both on a geographically surface level and on an I-love-everything-about-you level.

No longer living in Philly, I not only love going back, but I love flying back (especially since it means 10 less hours in the car). The airport is in the perfect location for me to see it all in one big, beautiful picture. While I know and love all the separate parts, when I see the whole city together as one frame, it feels like a deep, fulfilling exhale. I guess it’s hard to explain if you don’t love places like I do, almost like they’re people, but just as our relationships with people grow as we do more together, so do our relationships with places. Seeing them from different angles – by foot or by plane – can add to our appreciation, and deepen our love.

Taking Risks

Good morning from high above somewhere in Pennsylvania! I’m en route to New Orleans via Cleveland and after indulging in some back issues of Runner’s World during takeoff, have decided to update the old blogaroo.

Spring break started last week and I feel so fortunate to have this built-in time to visit with family and friends, both locally and back home. Without the stress of work looming over me, I feel more at ease to go out with friends and enjoy being in the moment, something I struggle with at times on a day-to-day basis. This time with people I care about has allowed for many conversations with loved ones and while they spanned topics and level of seriousness, I noticed a common thread popping up in many of them: taking risks.

When I started running and “racing” (the act of running in races) just about three years ago, I was terrified. I knew it was a huge risk to not only set out to achieve such a huge goal, but to incorporate so many people who mattered so much me. I started blogging about running and through fundraising for the Serious Fun Network, worked hard to spread the word about what I was doing. When for the first time ever, I was running 4-11 mile training runs, it was constantly a thought in my mind that I had a lot to lose if I couldn’t accomplish what I set out to – time, confidence, face. When I think back to that first half-marathon and take the time to relive those feelings, I don’t question for a moment if the risks I took in committing to a half-marathon were worth it. The high of the day and the rush of every part of it were invaluable.

As I reflect on conversations I’ve had these past few days in particular, both with others and with myself, I think about how the fear of taking risks can control us. We are afraid of the unknown so it’s normal to want to play it safe, but when I think about what there is to gain, the picture changes. Instead of jumping off a cliff, it feels more like a roller coaster. When we choose to care about someone or something else (such as rooting a college basketball team and immediately feeling sick with nerves, hypothetically speaking of course), commit to a race or physical challenge, or apply for a new job or position, it’s scary. The fear of the unknown makes taking risks a mind game, but we must think about the benefits of doing so. Some races won’t go the way I want, relationships may cause us pain or grief, obstacles we set out to conquer may leave us on the wrong side of the mountain, but instead of focusing on what might not be, I think we need to focus on what can be. In a world of half-full and half-empty, it’s been proven that a positive, optimistic attitude can yield better results – results that might not be possible if you never dare to dream.

In the roller coaster of life, maybe all we can do is be our own biggest cheerleader, thrive off the high of the peaks in the ride, and remember that after the clink-clink-clink of the incline and the stomach-in-your-throat feeling of the fall, we almost are always ready to push through the turn-style and ride it again. 

A Lesson from Science

The holidays are filled with the best of things, but it sometimes feels like that comes at a price. I've noticed a reoccurring theme in conversations with friends and family this week, as the guilt from neglecting any resemblance of a healthy living has crept its way into our lives. I feel fortunate that I have a significant enough amount of time off from work that I can come home to visit family and friends and have time to relax, but as special events, visits, and gatherings invade my schedule, it becomes challenging to balance it all. Ironically enough, it's sometimes just as hard for me to "find time" to run or work out when my day is completely empty. It began to snow in the afternoon yesterday and I immediately thought it was a great excuse to stay in and spend some extra time on the treadmill in the basement. It never happened though. I found my way to the couch....and never left.

In a conversation with my cousin on Christmas Eve, my mom randomly but so timely paraphrased Sir Issac Newton - "Objects in motion stay in motion. Objects at rest stay at rest." It so perfectly summarized something I had been hinting at for months (if not forever, really). While we oftentimes complain of wanting and needing more time in the day, I know for me, it's hard to have a semi-busy day. It either is or isn't. It's either a rushed run or a non-existent workout. On free days when I have nothing but a run scheduled, I often find myself still managing to skip it. Sometimes when I have the most time, I get the least done.

As many people have, I have accepted that the best way to overcome this is to start early in the day. This morning, I smashed the Laws of Motion by getting the gym out of the way...and then slowing down to a snail-like pace the rest of the day. Take thatttt all-my-science-teachers-ever!

Journey//Don't Stop Believin'

Last week, I received the answer to 10 questions I had responded to a year ago, during the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (really cool – check out 10Q). Especially since I was just beginning a new chapter in my life one year ago – moving to a new place, not even having a job – it’s really cool to read about where I was then and to reflect on the journey from there to here.

Having this blog has really allowed me to quite literally track my progress, or really, my journey through the past few years. While I was stretching the other morning, I flipped the print-copy of my blog (thank you friends!) and read back over some of my firsts – first struggles with finding a balance to get it all done, first 6-10 mile long runs, first half marathon. While life is always flooding us with new musts, goals, and things to reach for, it's important to remember where we're coming from...and sometimes, just how far we've come.

  

Lani after her first half!

In addition to it being the start of the Jewish new year, this week has also been the mark of many journey ends and new beginnings around me. Even though Lani only just signed up to run her first half back in February, it has certainly been an ongoing journey of a few years even, especially as she battled through an injury that delayed her initial race earlier this summer. Beyond that, I think back to all our runs together in Philly and think how awesome it’s been to watch her come so far. Yesterday morning, she crushed her first half in Denver, the place she now calls home - so proud of her!

Dr. RJW

While she was doing that, I was back in the Mid-West, checking out South Bend and touring Notre Dame. I love seeing new campuses, especially when the tour guide is a friend who feels the way I do about my alma mater. Tour guide/favorite friend, Joe, just moved back to ND after 5 years away, taking with him his new, shiny doctorate degree. Oh and by the way, he put us in our place this afternoon when he informed us that while wrapping up his dissertation, he was banging out first-time mileage at a pace that leaves me gasping for breath just thinking about it (warning: you will be pressured into running a half soon). Anyway, talk about JOURNEY!

Life is ever changing and all we can hope is that when the changes come, we can appreciate them. If they’re not easy changes, I try to find a reason for it or push myself to make the most of it. I think it’s these things that help us to become problem solvers, as we strive to be content and satisfied, to be fulfilled, regardless of the things that come our way.

Running has taught me a lot about "the journey." They say it’s not about the destination and any runner who runs loops around the block or does a long run, just to end up back where they started, will confirm that. While we hope our destination – where you live, where you end up professionally, the finish line of your first race, the beginning of a new chapter after working hard in the last one – is one we love, it’s true that it’s all about the journey we took to get there. It’s about the unexpected things we found along the way, about the lessons we learned, and the people we met. Each journey gives us something different and it’s up to us to take that gift…and run.

Forever True to You, Dear Old White & Blue

Last weekend marked the end of a summer of galavanting and travels. On our drive back to Michigan, we decided to spend the night in State College, which set us up for a longer run on campus Monday morning - the first day of classes! In addition to being the first "first day" I've been on campus for since 2007, it was the first time I have really been on campus on an normal day of classes at all. Throwww backkkk!

The entire run was nostalgic and gave me a lot to think about. The Penn State community has had a challenging year as we strive to remain focused on the things that matter most to us and work hard to prove that we are not defined by the actions of a few people. The extended alumni community is made up of thousands of people who are excelling at what they do and making a positive impact in their fields. Over the past ten months, a cloud of tragedy and pain has allowed outsiders to make blanket statements about a place nearly half a million people call home. When I think about the people who I associate with when I think of Penn State and the way they carry themselves, I know these generalizations are just that. What transpired there this past year, or rather decade+, is disgusting, disturbing, and hard to even accept as truth. I cannot let it define who we are, because they are the actions of a few people, not the majority.

During the run, I watched students walk to class - leaving East Halls for their first college class ever, waiting to take the blue loop across from SBS, walking across Old Main's lawn, stopping in McLanahan's for a breakfast sandwich - and I thought about the four years I spent living in State College, ultimately becoming the person I am today. My time there provided me with the foundation I use every day in my classroom as a teacher and it gave me leadership experience to take initiative in my school and community. As we ran past both Rec Hall and the BJC, I thought about the four THONs I attended - the countless hours spent on our feet dancing, canning, cheering, supporting, all in the name of finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Running along Curtain Road, I thought about the opportunities I've had to come back as an alumni and combine two of my greatest passions - running and the Four Diamonds Fund. Running through the new Arboretum, I was reminded that no matter how much you love a place and think you know it, there's always something new to see or learn about it. With every step that I took, I was reminded of how lucky I am to have met the people I did during my time there - people I don't need to even be reminded of. When I left State College in 2008, I left with some of my greatest friends and of course, the love of my life. 

Especially this summer, when I have been lucky enough to return to so many of my favorite places, I'm reminded that as we move through our lives, we leave a piece of our heart in all the places that matter most to us. Rather than feel empty without those pieces, we benefit from feeling connected to them when we return. Little pieces of my heart are sprinkled all throughout University Park and State College - Brumbaugh Hall, Chambers Building, the HUB, the Waffle Shop, the Cafe, Mad Mex, - and when I am fortunate enough to return, the memories of those places and the people I shared them with always come back to me....and as always, you can cover a lot more ground when you're running. 

Summer Reds and Oranges.... and Blues

If the summer were done, I'd be able to talk about how amazing it was and all that jazz. I still have a few more days of glory, so I'm reluctant to summarize it all and wrap it in a pretty bow. I am feeling grateful for such a special summer, yet I am nearly ready to head back to my work and become a productive member of society. I am a creature of habit, so especially where running is concerned, my regular routine has certainly suffered. It's been a struggle to enjoy all the freedom of summer has to offer without feeling the impact of it. On Tuesday, Ryan and I were able to finally squeeze in a delayed long run and I felt the difference. It was roughhhh. Usually I am an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of  girl and I am complain for miles, yet forget it as soon as I return to the comfort of my couch... but definitely not in this case. THAT'S how rough it was! So you live and you learn. Fingers crossed the next long one goes a little more smoothly...with less complaints and more high fives! Rah rah! 

Chicago

Last weekend, I enjoyed a great getaway with the Philly girls in Chicago! I was excited to check it out for the first time and obviously excited to see some of my favorite people..in my part of the country, no less.

In between deep dish pizza, batting cages and the Cubs in Wrigleyville, and taking "the picture" at the Bean, I managed to carve out some time for some pretty awesome runs. On Sunday, Lani and I got up early for an overeager 6 miles...and we did 6.5! Running with your best friend among the sites of a new city makes for a pretty great run. We stopped to take a few pictures and bandage my aching toe, and at the end, I realized I didn't even listen to my distance/pace alerts. Running with a friend completely shifts your focus and attention. 

The Secret to Summer Running

I have figured it out and I am now ready to share it with fellow runners, family, and friends. To beat the heat, you must....literally beat the heat. As in get up early. MYSTERY SOLVED!!!

Of course, easier said than done! I have been blessed with some weeks of true vacation to return back East and visit with family and friends I've missed living in Michigan this past year. That being said, maintaining a semi-regular routine has been challenging and while for some people, vacation = throw the routine out the window, that poses some problems for me. I do better with structure.

This became all too clear when Ryan and I decided to sleep in a little on Tuesday and paid for it in the WORST WAY with what felt like the hottest run of my life. It was a rude awakening and definitely made me think about my approach to training, particularly in this summer of freedom. The hour-by-hour weather forecast has always been a good friend of mine, so it's time I bump our relationship up to the next level and settle down. Commit. Make it official.

When I trained for Philly two summer ago, I definitely made major adjustments to my schedule based on the weather, and I honestly just need to get back there. It could be for a whole variety of reasons, but I don't feel like I had as gradual of an adjustment this summer. Either way, if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen (so you can go to bed and wake up early!).

Anyway, I didn't need to get up "real people early" this AM, but setting my alarm DEFINITELY helped to make this morning's run more enjoyable/less like a close encounter with the devil.....AND if I was too hot, I got a nice cool-off when it started to downpour. It was more funny than anything else, until I walked into my garage and my phone stopped working. It's soaking in a nice rice/jambalaya mix as we speak, so fingers crossed he'll be resurrected!