A New Adventure

Posted on April 24, 2013 by

Something that terrifies a lot of people — and don’t get me wrong, it scares me too — is starting over.  Starting over completely doing something new, in some place new, where you know basically no one.  Its a frightening thing to do, but its something that I believe can make you stronger if you can be okay getting outside of your comfort zone.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I’m about to embark on a new adventure this summer.  One that takes me 3000 miles away from where I currently am (and therefore my friends and family) past where my parents live in beautiful Minnesota to Washington, D.C. where I will be starting law school.

Screen Shot 2013-04-24 at 6.20.48 PMThe Bitter Lawyer (this is a fantastic econ/law joke if you get it…nerd alert!)

Yes, yes that means I will be simultaneously be working on my J.D. and PhD at the same time, but I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities that this will bring for my career and how much better its going to prepare for my future.

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As great as this all is, I’m moving 3000 miles away from my friends and family, and moving to a city where I currently have less than 5 friends, two of who are probably leaving for grads chool themselves.  While I’m excited and putting on a happy face, I am also nervous and sad to leave the wonderful friends I’ve made here in Santa Cruz and move to a place where I will be essentially alone, and have to start all over again.  I know that this is the best move for my career, but am still apprehensive as to whether or not its the best move for me personally.

Regardless, I hope you join me on this new journey, as I navigate through a new city, new school adventures, and finding new friends, races and fitness communities.  Thank you for being a part of my adventures thus far — I can’t wait to share the new ones with you all!

– Anyone live in the DC/NoVa area who runs or does triathlons and/or know of a training/racing group?  I’d love to get involved in a group or meet up with people just as soon as I arrive in August!!  If you live there, or know someone who does and would be interested in having a new friend, please let me email me (phdstrides (at) gmail (dot) com)

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Boston Memorial Run

Posted on April 18, 2013 by

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This Saturday, April 20, my running team has put together a Memorial Run for Boston in Santa Cruz, CA.  Check out the link above for details and exact location.  Runners of all abilities are encouraged to join.

We are runners. We don’t have to run fast, or run marathons to call ourselves a runner. A mile is a mile, and 26.2 is still a marathon regardless of the time. Runners are a community. We chase one another, we cheer for one another, and we support one another. At no time in running history have we needed to do the latter more than right now. Therefore, on Saturday we will do just that.

Leaving from Verve Coffee on Seabright, we will head out for the Memorial Run for Boston. The run will be broken into two phases. At 7:15 a group will leave with the goal of getting in 5.5 miles. We will then return to Verve at 8:00 am to pick up any runners that would like a shorter run. Total distance will be 11-12 miles. Please wear Boston gear if you have it, and if not, please wear the trademark blue and yellow.

Tell your friends!

Although I cannot be there (and currently can’t run), I will be there in spirit and know that a lot of SCE, and my good friend Meg will be there.   So, come and run #bostonstrong on Saturday.

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Boston: My Broken Heart

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

The tragic events of Marathon Monday that occurred yesterday hit home hard.  I have been trying to BQ over the past year (it would help if I actually run a marathon), and had so many runner friends in Boston, I can’t even count them on my fingers.

I awoke yesterday afternoon from my daily nap to a text from my mom asking me if I knew anyone in Boston running the marathon, and if they were okay.  Immediately I went into panic mode — I had no idea what happened.  Then, when I turned on my computer and saw my twitter feed, and started clicking through to news site after news site, I started feeling heart broken and the tears started welling up.

How could anyone – an individual or a group – do something like this on such a celebratory day across nations, across religions, across every type of person as we all united over the universal language of running.  How could someone be so heartless, be so twisted to ruin this international day where we are all united on a common ground, where no one is at war with one another, where no one hates one another because everyone is going through the same pain and great achievement.  How could someone attack my family?

My heart broke yesterday, it broke for the running community, an extension of my family, it broke for Boston, and it broke for the individuals hurt and killed, and their families.  It broke for the 8 year old boy who died.  And every time I start to think about it, or read an article, it breaks all over again.

But at the same time, I have been so inspired, so grateful, so in awe of all the wonderful people there are in the world, who have brought a light and glimmer of hope to this dreadful event.

The individuals on the Emergency Response teams who were there risking their lives to help those affected.

The runners who ran straight from the finish line (or lack there of, if they didn’t get to finish) to hospitals to donate blood.

The entire country (and world) for uniting and standing behind Boston, and showing support and love.  Having lived in Chicago, this particular tribute touched me dearly: Chicago Tribune.

The running & social media community, who started movements to show support and love, like #runforboston, #prayforboston, Run JunkEes Runners United To Remember, the pledge to wear a race shirt or blue & yellow in solidarity today and again on Friday, to dedicate a run to Boston, to be together as one.

The responses and stories that are so touching and real, and well, frankly breaks my heart all over again. A few of the articles that hit home the most:  Eye Witness to Bravery, Horror, The Boston Marathon: All My Tears, All My Love, An Explosion at the Boston Marathon, The People Who Watch Marathons.  And the responses by fellow bloggers that have inspired, and perhaps can better express my reactions and feelings: Boston Marathon: Immediate Reaction, Run For Boston: 24 Hours After, Thoughts on Boston Today.

As runners, we have been hurt, but we will not stay broken.  We will unite together, as one.  We all have a common goal in running — to keep putting one foot after the other, to cross finish lines in one piece, to achieve new PRs, to overcome obstacles, to persevere when the going gets tough.  The Boston Marathon bombings have put a small dent in our shield, but we will overcome, we will come out the other side stronger.

As I move forward and dedicate my first run in almost two weeks tomorrow to #runforboston, I am looking to a positive future in the running community, and that this cloud that has been hung over Boston dissipates.  I hope that the 2013 runners are able to enjoy, at least a little bit, all that they did accomplish in getting to Boston.

My heart goes out to all those affected — both in and out of Boston — as united we run.

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