valentine's schamlentine's

It was this day in history back in the 1st century that St. Valentine was beheaded.  When you buy your roses and chocolates and stuffed teddy bears for your sweetheart, that's what you are celebrating.  Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, right?

When I was in high school, Valentine's Day was a big deal.  Every one wanted to have a Valentine.  The student council even sold roses leading up to V-Day that people could purchase and write a note to go with it.  On V-Day the student council representatives would go into the lockers of those with roses and leave them while the rest of us were in class.  Those girls who didn't get a rose?  We all got carnations.  It was obvious who had people who loved them and who didn't.  My friends and I dubbed our yearly carnations as Loser Flowers.  To this day, carnations remind me of being lonely and unhappy in high school.

Fast forward a few years:  I'm now a healthy, emotionally adjusted adult (most of the time, ahem!).  Now V-Day is no longer about the boy who doesn't give me flowers or the candy no one brings me.  It's not about reminding me that I'm single (it is NOT single-awareness day!).  It's about celebrating all kinds of love in my life.  Especially the love that I receive from my heavenly Father.  His love knows no end and He will love me more than anyone else could and more than I will ever comprehend.

One of my loves is running - duh.  And tonight, I've got a 6mi date with these new bad boys - and I cannot wait!!  Flowers fade, candy has empty calories...but a pair of new running shoes will never let you down.  ;)

2012 > 2011

Let's compare 2011 with 2012.

Feb 2011:  I went to the gym for 11 workouts in a row due to the cold, wind, snow outside. Marathon training didn't really begin until Feb 28th.  It was winter at it's worst. 

Feb 2012:  I have been to the gym twice in the past month, both for speed workouts.  I have run outside in short sleeves, capris and without gloves, hats and jackets.  Marathon training began in December!  This is winter at it's best. 

I don't even miss the snow!  Not at all!  However, it turns out that snow is headed our way.  Just in time for my 18miler scheduled for tomorrow.  I seem to recall this happening a few weeks ago when I planned a 17miler...  Hmmm. 

Instead of just skipping it and doing it another day, like I did with my 17, my friend, John talked me into running in the snow or sleet or rain or whatever mixture we get.  I mean, what if Marathon Day is nasty weather?!  I can't postpone that!  Might as well train in the stuff...

While I don't mind taking some risks with this, I don't plan on being foolish.  I was going to run a beautiful North Shore route to and along the ocean.  Alas, I'll stick close to home (just in case!).  If I'm a little off on Sunday it's because I went crazy running the lake a million times.  Okay, just four times... 

happy anniversary

It came, and almost went before I realized it.  I was enjoying dinner and wine with friends when I suddenly realized there was a big anniversary that I'd almost missed. 

Saturday marked 11years that I've been living in the Boston area.  Happy 11th anniversary, Boston.  We've certainly had some good times together:

• learned how to take (and appreciate) public transportation
• rented my first apartment 
• ice skated for the first time
• hiked an actual mountain - not just a hill 
• met some of my very best friends
• got connected to an amazing church family and ended up working for that church
• fell in love with serving Middle and High School students
• transitioned from a grown up kid to an actual adult (ie, I go to bed at 10pm now, not 2am)
• developed a passion for running long distances after spectating at the Boston Marathon

And that's just the tip of the iceberg!  I've done so much learning and growing and struggling and hoping in this city...it's hard to begin to remember it all. 

While I often wonder where I'll eventually end up, be it Boston or Kalamazoo or wherever, I know that Boston will always hold a special place in my heart.  Thanks, Boston, I love you!

wait, it's february? already?

What just happened?!  Where did January go?!  I literally *just* took down my Christmas decorations. (I'm not kidding, did it on Tuesday.)

Okay...so it's February.  Which means there is only 29 + 31 + 15 days till the Boston Marathon!!!  Aaaaaaahhhhh!  That's not that many...and there is still so much to do:

• run on the course
• run 3 20mile training runs
• make sure I have a cute outfit (it's the important things...)
• make sure I'm getting my shorter midweek work done (so not happening this week!)
• oh, yeah - raise $4000! 

Have you donated to the Respite Center yet?  No?!  Why not?  A donation as little as $10 makes a big difference in the lives of the residents, staff and families of the Respite Center.  Click on the box right there on the right (I know you see it...) and find out more information.  You'll be glad you did.  And I will be too.  

weekends are the best

I love the weekends.  I love being able to move a bit slower, not feel so rushed to pack everything in after work.  It just feels go to know that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.

I took full advantage of that this weekend.  Friday night a friend and I went to a Zumba class.  I hadn't been since New Year's Eve (the flashmob!!) so I felt a pretty good butt-kicking.  Just what I was looking for!  My plans ended up changing a bit after that due to traffic...but I ended up getting home, getting cleaned up, making some yummy pasta and enjoying Thursday night's 30 Rock on Hulu.  How's that for a happenin' Friday night!  Yeah!  :)

Saturday I got up early since it was Long Run Day!  Thankfully there was no snow in sight - unlike last Saturday.  After breakfast and a couple cups of coffee, I headed out for a 6.6mi loop through my neighborhood and around the lake.  There weren't too many people out yet, which was nice.  One thing that does bother me about the lake loop:  walkers who take up the ENTIRE sidewalk.  Seriously, does one person need to take up 3ft of cement?  Sometimes I feel like being the obnoxious person, "ON YOUR LEFT!!!!!!!!"  But more often than not, I just sneak up on them and freak them out.  Ha!

Anyway, I made it back to my house just as my friend was pulling up for the second half of the run.  We hit up a couple smaller hills then headed down into Melrose.  The sun was shining, the wind was only blowing a bit, everything was dry...It was a great run!  We were able to get a solid 7.2mi under our belts.  The only thing I would have done differently on Saturday was to have a Gu before I began the second half.  I was feeling pretty depleted by the time I was done.  But it wasn't that big of a deal.  Next time.

The best part of the weekend was The Paint Bar.  Eleven women from church and I went here on Saturday night and were instructed by the most adorable group of women ever on how to paint a version of Starry Night by Van Gogh.  They made it into a step by step process that anyone can do!  The coolest thing was that while we were all painting the same thing, everyone's came out so different.  We each have our own interpretation and way of painting.  Here's a pic of a few of us:

Sunday was another great day...one that I wasn't looking forward to much.  But God really turned it around and used it for his glory.  No run yesterday, just a 4mi walk around the lake.  It being such a beautiful day I knew I didn't have time for a run but a walk was just what I needed.

Hooray for weekends!

movie quotes come in handy

Due to a poorly timed snow storm, I did not get my long run in on Saturday as previously hoped.  I took a few hours off from work and did it on Tuesday. 

I could not have chosen a better day!  After the snow storm on Saturday (through which I drove to a delightful brunch at a friend's house - hooray for mimosa's at 11am!), Sunday was a jam-packed day of drama, youth group, drama, church, football, drama, church, The Help.  Full day!  Monday didn't seem to be the right day either as I wasn't sure what the weather would be like.  Turns out it wasn't super great...like yesterday was.

Tuesday came with bright blue skies, clear sunshine and 54deg temperatures.  Did you catch that?  54deg.  In January.  So after working in the morning, I changed into my running gear and set out on the Minuteman Bikeway.  I headed toward Arlington and ended up going all the way to the Alewife T stop in Cambridge.

I felt awesome heading out.  The wind was at my back, I had lots of energy, it was a glorious day!  But as I turned around, I began to feel a bit tired out.  Knowing I still had another 10 or so miles I was feeling a bit daunted but kept plugging away. 

It was at the 3 more miles to go point when I'd had enough.  Out of nowhere this mantra popped into my head, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful!"  Over and over and over I repeated this to myself before realizing where it came from.  What About Bob?  Of course!  Some people love this movie, some people hate it but sometimes it comes in handy to have a Bill Murray movie quote stuck in your head.  And on Tuesday it did. 

I also started chanting, "Just.  Keep.  Running."  Over and over, out loud.  On a crowded street.  At some point, I just stop caring what people think of me!  I finished with a grand total of 17.57mi.  Not too bad!!  I was a little stiff and sore that night and on Wednesday, but not the bad kind of sore - the good kind! 

This morning my roommate and I got up early and headed out for a 4miler in some freshly fallen snow.  Some parts were soft and quiet, some parts were hard and crunchy.  Made for a fun run so early in the day.  :)