Stop and Smell the Roses

This year is going to be my year of enjoyment.  With my Grammie's passing at the beginning of the year, I lost focus in my running.  I had stopped running altogether.  I recently got back into it, slow and steady, but I still didn't know what I wanted for 2011--did I want to focus on half marathons, train for my first full?  I definitely would not be able to run the LA Marathon on March 20th like I planned a few months back because I hadn't been training.  Did I want to run my first full at all this year?

Yesterday morning I went for a beautiful 5-mile run and the weather was unreal for February.  75 degrees and perfectly clear.  I enjoyed the sunshine, the ocean, and of course my sparkly engagement ring which I can't seem to stop staring at :)  I'm getting married this year!  Weeeeeee!!!!!

Then it hit me.  I am going to stop and smell the roses this year, to enjoy everything.  I have no plans on the running front, and only one goal--to have fun.  I will run small races here and there (5Ks and 10Ks) but I want to run to have fun, without trying to hit a target pace or specific number of miles.

I'm really excited about this non-goal goal!  2011 is going to be a memorable year!

• I've recently taken up yoga, which I've always wanted to do, and I have to say I'm obsessed with it!
• Work is very busy and I'm enjoying every minute of it.  I can honestly say I love my job :)
• I'm in my second semester of grad school and it's going to be a fun one!  I already got my first marketing case and it's Nike!
• And of course, this is the year I'm getting married to the man of my dreams and the love of my life :).  And I know my Grammie will be with us in spirit (she sure loved Sean!)

So this year I am focusing on enjoying every minute of everything.  In the famous words of Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."  So remember to stop and smell the roses. 

Cheers to a joyful and exciting 2011!

"Good Morning, Dear"

This morning I went for a run for the first time in a while. My Grammie recently passed away, and it’s been a very difficult time for me and my family. She was the only grandparent I ever knew, and she was my namesake, which only made our bond stronger. As I write this, I can’t help but cry, but I am comforted by the fact that she lived a beautiful and healthy 92 years, and I am blessed to have spent all my 25 years with her. I went for a short run the day after she became my guardian angel, but I could barely put one leg in front of the other.



This morning was different. I told myself before bed last night that I was going to get my bum up and run. I did, and it was the best run I’ve had in a very long time. I hit the pavement just before sunrise, and as the sun came up it filled me with so much warmth that I knew Grammie was with me and saying “Good morning dear.” Instead of crying, I smiled so big that my face almost hurt. In that moment I realized how fast I was running and how strong I felt (I didn’t have my Garmin, but I would bet anything I was running an 8:30-8:50 mile, which I’ve never run…I’m usually an 11-12 min mile). I only ran 2 miles but it was cathartic and felt incredible.


I look forward to many more great runs this year and beyond.


Happy 2011 everyone! It’s good to be back in the running swing of things :)