i am runner strong.

monday was a bad day. a bad day for the people of boston. a bad day for runners. a bad day for americans. and a bad day for the running community all over the world. it was supposed to be a good day, a great day actually. it was patriots day, the running of the 117th boston marathon, and opening day for the red sox. but it wasnt, it was a bad day. 

source

i was off that day. i had been sick all weekend and still couldnt muster the energy to go to work. on the couch after eating the 1st decent breakfast id had in 3 days, i got the notification from nbc on my iphone that 2 explosions had happened at the finish line of the boston marathon. i couldnt believe it. it couldnt possibly be real. for the rest of the day i watched the cnn coverage of the attack, took a phone call from my very cute concerned aunt, constantly updated my twitter feed to check on friends, and sat there in utter disbelief like everyone else. i couldnt believe it. why would someone take such a sacred and joyous day to turn it into a horribly, bad day.

 

this will always be what i think of when someone brings up
the boston marathon finish line. one bad day doesnt get
to change that. (source)

all day yesterday i read so many people's beautiful, heartfelt posts and just didnt know that i could compete. not that this is in any way a competition! i just didnt know that what i would write could stand up to what they had already said. and so my blog sat, rather quiet for the day, when it should have something very runnery, very inspiring to say.

then i got an email about what i would be doing saturday morning. as part of my new years running resolution i decided i really wanted to volunteer at a few events this year. race volunteers are truly amazing and i thought it was about time i got my butt in gear. so a few weeks ago i signed up for the rage triathlon, the race i did last year, to do just that! fast forward to today and an email bounced in my inbox about what i would be doing. after i got over the shock that iI need to be there at 530a i read on to find out i would be at the swim area to begin working crowd control. after that was over i would head over to the finish line to help for the rest of the day. i was totally stoked! they warned to bring extra sunscreen and comfortable shoes since it would be a long day.

just before the race started last year.

my day continued on and i was totally excited that i would be so involved in the race. and then it hit me, i would be part of the finish line crew, just like so many of the brave volunteers that ran right to where the people that needed the most help where and where the blasts when off. not that this race is anything nearly as big as boston, but it made ya think for about a half a second. and then the true runner/american/spunky girl in me came flying out. no way was i letting some coward make me afraid to run a race, or spectate a race, or volunteer at a race! i LOVE this sport. running turned my whole life upside down and helped me find who i really am. that's the beauty of running, it can be whatever you need it to be.

plus, EVERYONE deserves this feeling.

so this saturday i will arrive at boulder beach at 530am with a very big coffee in hand to be a part of a race. and i will continue to toe the start line of half marathons big or small. and on october 27th i will line up with 30,000 of my closest friends to run the marine corps marathon because it's part of who i am. and no one gets to take that away because i am runner strong.

source

thankful thursday #2

time for round 2! if you didnt catch round 1, here you go:)

1. running

i cant even imagine where my life would be without running right now. so many amazing things have happened in the last 3 years because of it. running is one of the best stress relievers, something that keeps me sane, allows me to be fit, and its kinda fun to tell people you are when that is the last thing they would ever expect! cant wait to see where it takes me in the future.

after my very 1st 1/2 marathon!

2. country music

we grew up on country music, my dad always played it in the car, well truck really. i tried to fight it in the beginning i wont lie lol. but now it is one of the main things i listen to no matter the mood. through this break up though it has been especially helpful and i was so damn excited last night when i pulled out the previous taylor swift cd and found all the songs i had been looking for to express everything the last few weeks. sometimes the only way to truly convey how you feel is through a song.

3. social media

i know it sounds a little silly but i joined twitter about a year and a half ago not really sure i was even into it. now it has exposed me to sooo many more people and networks then i ever could have imagined! it helped me get into the nike womens 1/2 marathon and so many people i have never even met have sent so many well wishes in the last month. getting to share in others journeys to their 1st 1/2 marathons and their everyday adventures is completely in reach because of social media. it brings this very large world were in just a little closer to us all.

betsy and i in san francisco!

4. blogging

since graduating from college i really missed writing but didnt really know what i could use to fill that void. i liked the idea of blogging but was never sure what to write about. when a girlfriend finally suggested writing about living with your boyfriend i knew i had something good to finally write about! now its turned into so much more and the extension of the social media from above. i love the community it has allowed me to be a part of the people i get to connect with.

5. technology

living in our generation we have been very blessed to have the kind of reaches and access we do. it is because of technology that i can still talk to my brother deployed half a world away with just my phone. or allow me to drive and talk to best friends in different states and even countries sometimes. it allows me to blog and find a new recipe for dinner all in the same place haha. it sounds silly, but i dont know what i would do without it!

weve come a long way from these guys:)

stay tuned for round 3 next week!

july foodie pen pal.

is it really august tomorrow?! wow. where did this crazy month go? this month makes it my 5th month in the pen pal world and its so much fun! heres the way it works if you havent heard...

*each month you are paired up with a new blogger or reader in a different part of the country.

*on the 5th of each month you will receive your penpal and have 48 hours to contact them.

*now who you send to will be sending to someone else, so it is almost a pay it forward thing!

*there is a $15 limit on the package you send and it is filled with all your favorite things. local favorites, healthy or splurge snacks. emails are exchanged to find out about dietary restrictions (diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc) and if there is anything you just plain dont like. it may be 1 large item or a few small items, up to the sender. and away you go!

*you must also include something written like a note or card or recipe, its up to you.

*by the 15th of the month you must drop it in the mail and at the end of the month everyone posts on the same day!

luckily kristina had attached the tracker to my package because it was mia for a few days only to find it hidden in my apartment complexs office. i think they keep things on purpose at this point! once i finaly got it i was instantly in love, its like she read my mind. from the time i sent the email with food preferences to her and the time the box showed up things in my diet/food had changed and it was like she knew. i was first excited about the pancake mix with matching syrup! a. because i love pankcakes and b. it was multigrain and organic! abd yes, it even says on the package to use this specific syrup, i love it. there was also some homemade strawberry jam that is super delicious and some hot sauce with avocado for my spicy tooth!

oh yeah!

it was so diverse and i loved it! i even put the pancake turned waffle mix to use the first opportunity i had...some how a few chocolate chips snuck in there, but i didnt mind :)

i also got to send my package up north to leila, check out her reveal to see what i sent! oh and if you havent signed up, head over to this page at the lean green bean blog and sign up for next month!


yum! yum!



the ode to running.

happy national running day! i got my miles in this morning and it was one of the best runs i have had in quite awhile. my legs just kept going and going, you have to love those mornings. it made me, like many others think about my running and what it has done for me in the last 3 years. now i know you have all read the runniversary stories (year 2 and 3) but this is a little different...

i run to...

*have days that start out like today

amazing run!

*enjoy a cupcake from time to time

its all about balance my friends :)

*share the joy of running

ive been lucky enough to be there for some new runners and their 1st steps all the way to their 1st race! if that doesnt renew your faith in running i dont know what will :)

*stay healthy

i know it sounds silly and like a no-brainer. but it has really kept me on track.

*get some bling

i mean really, the clothes and the bling is half the reason i run!

seriously, you thought i was joking ;)

*reconnect with old friends via social media

sometimes you lose touch you went to college or high school with. for some reason no matter how long its been since you last talked, running can be the best ice breaker!

*go from this...

summer 2006.

to this...

today.

*meet new people that push me to the next level

if i hadnt joined my runner group i would have never done a triathlon or gotten dangerously close to my new sub-2 hour goal!

*find myself

before this i dont think i realized how lost i really was. running has helped me figure out who i really am!

so heres to a great new year of running! may you all find the motivation you need to keep placing one foot in front of the other to reach that next mile :)

the may foodie penpal.

can you believe that today is the last day of may?? how did that happen? how is it officially summer? the first part of this year has flown by! may now also makes my 3rd month in the new foodie penpal adventure. it seriously is so fun if you dont already partake, please sign up. you never know, we might get matched up! heres the way it works if you havent heard...

*each month you are paired up with a new blogger or reader in a different part of the country.

*on the 5th of each month you will receive your penpal and have 48 hours to contact them.

*now who you send to will be sending to someone else, so it is almost a pay it forward thing!

*there is a $15 limit on the package you send and it is filled with all your favorite things. local favorites, healthy or splurge snacks. emails are exchanged to find out about dietary restrictions (diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc) and if there is anything you just plain dont like. it may be 1 large item or a few small items, up to the sender. and away you go!

*you must also include something written like a note or card or recipe, its up to you.

*by the 15th of the month you must drop it in the mail and at the end of the month everyone posts on the same day!

 

so onto the deliciousness of this month! i was graciously sent a box by willow and got to put together my own package for a reader named jo ann. ::side note. do you guys send your boxes through the post office?! i know lindsay always reminds us this is a good idea, but seriously it is soooo much easier, faster, and cheaper than going through a ups!:: i got that lovely orange slip in my mailbox on friday afternoon that meant i had a package and richard picked it up for me saturday morning so i had a fun box when i came home from work! there were lots of new things this month and a few that were a little outside my normal comfort zone. but i mean this is the whole point, finding new foods you may never try on your own. 

yum, yum!

i was super excited about the trail mix 1st thing. i have seen it everywhere recently and been wanting to try it. this one has a little cinnamon something in it along with cranberries, its delicious! the raspberry lemonade is yummy, very summery and perfect for this time of the year. i am always up for trying new bars which she included a couple. a new bar in a previous package has become my new favorite. the soy chips i actually passed on to a friend that loved them because im not really a bbq fan. but dont worry, they went to a good home:) willows hand written note explained everything and the last line was my favorite. "and, no box is complete without chocolate!" this was of course what i dug into 1st :) you never know when a wrapping talks about a certain amount of cocoa, but dang this one was/is super good! i am holding on to my last few pieces and am so glad im the only that eats chocolate at my house:) 

thank you willow and jo ann, who i got a very sweet email from thanking me so much for her package! the box was great and filled with lots of new things. if you havent signed up, head over to this page at the lean green bean blog and sign up for next month!

the april foodie penpal.

since i had such a fun time particpating in my 1st foodie penpal in march i immediately signed up for april to get a new pal right away! shopping for someone you dont know has some sort of mystery, plus the excitement of getting a package is so much fun! this month i was paired up with susan to send and erin to recieve. lindsay at the lean green bean has graciously taken on the task of pairing everyone up and helping all particpants along throughout the month! if you havent heard of this fun exchange, here are the guidelines:

*each month you are paired up with a new blogger or reader in a different part of the country.

*on the 5th of each month you will receive your penpal and have 48 hours to contact them.

*now who you send to will be sending to someone else, so it is almost a pay it forward thing!

*there is a $15 limit on the package you send and it is filled with all your favorite things. local favorites, healthy or splurge snacks. emails are exchanged to find out about dietary restrictions (diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc) and if there is anything you just plain dont like. it may be 1 large item or a few small items, up to the sender. and away you go!

*you must also include something written like a note or card or recipe, its up to you.

*by the 15th of the month you must drop it in the mail and at the end of the month everyone posts on the same day!

 

my apartment complex held my box partially hostage again, mostly because we were out of town, i was super excited to get to it and it even came the week of my race. i pretty much tore into as soon as i could to find it full of goodies and new things i had never heard of!



yum, yum, yum!

the peanut m&ms actually might have made me whoop out loud, especially since they were easter themed :) there were also some russell stover eggs filled with peanut butter and marshmellow which are the perfect easter goodies. the pear fruit butter was something different and i believe local to erin, i am all about new! it is delicious on a bagel :) there was also a local candie called gardners that milk chocolatey cripies and erins favorite treat. plus macademia nut cookies and a box of ferro rocher. i think my penpals are getting that i have a major sweet tooth! :)

 

to top off the box was a very cute card wishing me the best and the perfect hand written piece to top off the whole package! erin really took great time to get to know me through my blog and care to put this box together. seriously if you are not participating, you should be! its so fun :) just head to this page to sign up!

 

 

the march foodie penpals.

back in february sometime i was catching up on stephanies blog over at run for funs latest adventure when her post about a foodie penpals caught my eye. i hadnt had a penpal since elementary and the foodie part totally sparked my interest. turns out there is a whole movement darn near that is participating in this nationwide program sponsored by lindsay at the lean green bean! as soon as i read the guidelines i totally wanted in. i mean seriously, when was the last time you had one?!

source

*each month you are paired up with a new blogger or reader in a different part of the country.

*on the 5th of each month you will receive your penpal and have 48 hours to contact them.

*now who you send to will be sending to someone else, so it is almost a pay it forward thing!

*there is a $15 limit on the package you send and it is filled with all your favorite things. local favorites, healthy or splurge snacks. emails are exchanged to find out about dietary restrictions (diabetic, gluten-free, vegetarian, etc) and if there is anything you just plain dont like. it may be 1 large item or a few small items, up to the sender. and away you go!

*you must also include something written like a note or card or recipe, its up to you.

*by the 15th of the month you must drop it in the mail and at the end of the month everyone posts on the same day!

source

now i have to say it was a little harder in the beginning to find something to send. my person actually gave me really great notes and direction to head in. plus i was able to check out her blog and get some extra hints. (i realized i wasnt quite that helpful with my penpal, now i know for next month!) i am not the healthiest person ever, i have a wicked sweet tooth if you couldnt tell, and wasnt sure if my person would like her package. so i tried to have a nice balance! i got to send it off to jacqueline at not born to run:)

but this isnt about me, its about the amazing box i received from dana! she paid great attention and made a fantastic box:) it got here fairly quickly, except my apartment complex was holding it hostage for a few days until one of us could get there during the day. ps they are only open 930a-530p anymore, lame. i was so excited to tear into it i almost forgot to take a picture!

i love it!!

gummy bears that didnt even make it through dinner before i dove into them, red licorice-yum, black bean organic soup, pirates booty white cheddar, cliff bar granola crips-which are my new favorite by the way, and cinnamon almonds-yum! seriously, its like she knew me:) 

plus there was a super sweet note about not bowing down to my haters and showing them how strong i can be. seriously i was so moved by someone i have never even met:) it very much showed me the power of social media and how you can get to know someone just by reading their blog and seeing what they post on twitter. i cant thank her enough, i love it!

*you can simply sign up by visiting lindsay and filling out the form!