She Is Water

Those words were music to my ears for most of my swimming life. To hear them again in the context of running is equally amazing but anxiety inducing nonetheless. I have been a swimmer for much longer than I've been a runner. And I was a sprinter. So I have had to work hard to get to this point in my training for Boston. I've had to work even harder at the mental game.  Sprinters don't have time for a mental game.  "Get it done" IS the mental game there.  26.2 miles is a lot of time for head games.  And I play them. Or they play with me.  This winter has been extremely challenging. I could say some really fresh words about this winter. But I won't. Our final DFMC long run was pretty much in a snow/rain storm with a whole lotta wind, temps in the twenties with a real feel of teens and some dark and gloomy skies. That was the theme this winter. Hoping Mother Nature gives us all a well deserved break on the big day. If not, I need another outfit. I...

This is a favorite line in one of my favorite songs.  This is something I hope for him.  I hope the same for her.  I hope the same for myself. Because some days this is hard to do...  I've learned that along the way.  39 years of learning. This journey has been incredible. I am honored to be on it. Honored to run Boston and more importantly for Dana Farber. I am so thankful for the people who have been on this journey with me. You have no idea how much you mean to me.  You all know by now why I run, who I run for and what this means to me. Why I put myself through the training. Why I sometimes "look exhausted" which is what I hear now and again. Why I walk funny after long runs for a few days only to get back in the game the next day. Why I have some aches and pains here and there. Why I spend so many hours away from my beauties when they are fast asleep and on the weekends when they aren't.  I've missed some stu...

I don't even really have the words yet to express my gratitude for those who came out to Four Oaks on Friday night. I wanted to freeze the room so that I could take it all in. Every single detail was so beautiful. Speechless is the only best way to describe it.  Being grateful is something that I was brought up on. Being thankful for your family and your friends. Appreciating the moments and knowing how fleeting they really are. Taking care of your own but giving back being just as important. That is how I'm raising my own. We give what we can, we do for others, we love, we support, we help, we stay kind, we fight for what we believe in. Fighting for the beautiful kids at St. Jude through  SLS Fitness For A Cure Everyone has something that they are fighting for. Something that means so much to them that they want to make it all better. They want to fight as hard as they can for it. That's what cancer has done to our family. Cancer has made me want to ru...

I'm not sure I can even explain the excitement over here. Well, with me anyway. I can't believe we are almost down to 30 days. I often think the following things. Repeatedly. How did I get this far? How am I going to do this? How will I add 5 more miles. I hope I don't have to pee. I hope I don't walk. How will I see all of my people?  I hope they will be able to see me. Can one hold their pee for 26.2 miles? Why is it soooooo far? I think I am more of a 1/2 marathoner. Too late now. I'll find out the answers to all of those questions/statements in 32 days. THIRTY TWO DAYS! Ella is reading over my shoulder and saying,  "Good luck going in a porta potty, no one wants to do that." Thanks Ella. Speaking of Ella Beans, I found this pic from a few years ago. If only I can channel this. Maybe I could get my mental game right. I'm gonna work on it. This right here. Just kidding. Hive fives and hugs for EVERYONE that day. So basic...