Sitting in my car here at 7am on Sunday two hours before the High Cloud Snapple Half Marathon is set to begin. We will traverse 13.1 miles on the C&O towpath to run our race today. It is currently 34 degrees.

Why am I here so early you ask? Because there is about 1/4 parking for the whole of the racers and I didn’t want to take a shuttle. My seat warmer is on and I put little hotties in my shoes while I sit in the car. Ah the things we crazy runners do…

I have no goals today other than to finish. I didn’t train for this, I just wanted to run it. So, no lofty thoughts of PR’s today. I am not a “race number on = racing” person anymore. Sometimes I run races just because I can without worry of time or place.

Do you ever run a race just because? Have you ever done something crazy just to get a decent parking spot?

I think I may have developed a strong affinity for cranberry kombucha. It fills my craving for fizzy and sweet and it has a nice glass bottle. It fulfills so many of my beverage desires…

I will blog again should I feel the need for an intervention.

Based on my fall 13.1 time and recentish 5k times I was placed in the 8:40 group. Say What?? Huh? Me, run 8:40 pace in a half…not since 2007 my friends…But um, ok. I am going to trust that I’m in this group for a reason even if it hurts. I want to do 9 min pace for the half, so if I can train faster, awesome.

Just got an email this morning from my coach. He is really funny and I think I’m going to like running with him. And I’m going to try not to be a total suck-up but you all know I will end up that way. These are his rules:

1.  We start on time, every time.  If the workout says “6:30pm” that is the moment we start the warm up.  Same with Sunday long runs.  Sooner or later, I will screw up and be late to a workout.  Don’t wait for me, get going.  You will know what to do.  I will catch up.

2.  It’s winter time.  It’s cold.  Dress appropriately.  If you need some guidance on this, please contact me and I will try to help you as best I can.  BUT, if you need to bitch and moan about how cold it is, you have the first mile of any workout to do that as much as you like.  After that, you may only whine about the weather if you have purchased that privilege in advance.  The price: you must arrange to purchase one adult beverage for any teammate in the group.  A cappuccino or a vodka martini?  That is between you and the teammate.  If you have dressed appropriately for the run, then after one mile you should be warmed up and the cold should not bother you.

3.  You are not allowed to be hit by a car.  This ruins everyone’s day.  Don’t do it.  We run as a group, and we pay attention to our surroundings while we do it.  Every car is being driven by a sociopath who wants to kill you.  Adjust accordingly.  We are good running citizens who keep to the right; we allow faster runners to pass us easily; we give a warning before we pass slower runners or civilians; and we are unfailingly polite even when we encounter rudeness on the trail.

4.  No teammate runs alone.  If for some reason you have to drop back on a long run or turn around early, someone will go with you.  Sometimes that’s me, sometimes another teammate.  Stuff happens sometimes on a run, and it is always easier to deal with in pairs.

5.  Nobody is required to do anything (see exception above, #3).  We are all adults here, and everyone made a choice to do this.  The program will provide two key workouts per week and all the guidance we can offer, and after that it is up to you.  I do ask that you keep to the program as best you can while we are here.  If this group is too challenging pace-wise, move down.  If it is not challenging enough, move up.  Unsure about the decision? Come see me, and we will work it out.  Lots of people will change pace groups, it happens all the time and it is not a big deal.  Our target race pace is a 1:53 half marathon or a 3:47 marathon.  For the half-marathon group, I would expect that you have run a <26 min 5k or a <54 min 10k race in the last year.  For our marathoners, it would be a <24 and/or a <50, respectively.  If those numbers look crazy-fast to you, then you may have bitten off a bit more than you planned to chew.  If that is the case, come see me.

I like his rules. I’m going to pretend I didn’t read the second to last sentence in #5 because I want to give it a shot. I totally want to make this work for me this time round. The cold sucks. Trying to go fast sucks. But in the end, I think I can do it. I really do. Game on, friends….

(Can you see my anticipation and my love for cold weather as demonstrated @ Baltimore in 2010?)

• Raw Kale Salad. I have made my own based on a whole foods model. (Tahini, Olive Oil, Garlic, Braggs Aminos, Salt, Pepper, and Lemon Juice)

• Pinterest. Hello Holiday Time Suck…
• My new beverage machines! My family knows me so well that they got me a Soda Stream and a Keurig Special Edition for Christmas. I love drinking! (coffee….bubbly soda pop….water….)

• Anticipation for starting my new training program. I’m joining the half marathon program with MCRRC in January!!!
• Hiking and Chilling with Parker. He may have given us a super expensive and emotionally challenging scare last week when he spent 24 hours in the doggie hospital for eating 20 0z of dark chocolate but….he is our baby. 
• Podcasts from church. The preaching at my new parish is so strong that I need to hear the thoughtful words more than once.

What do you love these days???

Fr. Sari Ateek preached about the inconvenience surrounding Jesus’ birth. He brought to light the truly challenging circumstances in which God came to life on Earth. Mary-an unwed mother, Joseph-a righteous carpenter, angels making proclamations and generally freaking people out, riding across the desert on a donkey as a 15 year old, 8 months pregnant woman, labor in the middle of nowhere….you get the gist. God did not claim that the life he was bringing into the world was one that would be easy. He brought the life, in the body of Jesus, to the world so that we would never lose sight of His message. God is  with us. Emmanuel-God with Us.

So it is from this message that I came to re-affirm God’s presence in the “inconveniences” of life. Be they replacing seals on a transmission, working through challenges of weight gain and exercise, pulling together family gatherings, or fighting cancer, coping with divorce, or paying the rent with two pennies and prayer. God is always present. God is always with us. We may not always choose to acknowledge His presence, but He is ready for us, whenever we are ready. He did not promise us an easy life through faith; but He always promises the greatest promise and gives the greatest gift-Himself.

Merry Christmas.

This weekend I had the delight and pleasure to join my family for a jaunt to the National Christmas Tree. We headed out in the brisk Washington, D.C. evening to visit Santa, look at the glorious lights, and enjoy a meal together. We walked The Extra Mile on our way to dinner and delighted in learning about volunteers in the US who made an impact on their community and nation. This was a fantastic evening of shivers, hugs, running, and the beauty of two little girls laughing. These girls are hilarious and smart and so many positive things. They are such a delight to me. Almost 9 years ago, I became an Aunt and getting to know these two little humans is such a great pleasure. They have been masterfully raised by their mother, my sister, to be polite, curious, adventurous, and thoughtful girls. I am so blessed to know them.

As my cold, wimpy muscles were dealing with the hills, the automotive congestion in the first five miles, the rocks, and the lack of aid stations, I started to think about “how can I be thankful for all the good of this day” and so here goes….

I have two legs, two arms, two eyes, a heart, two lungs, two ears, 10 fingers, 10 toes, a brain, and two ample breasts that all work relatively well and are cancer-free. I can say that I know lots of people who cannot say the same about one or more of all of these things. I get up in the morning sometimes before dawn and walk a dog. I run on a treadmill. I see beautiful art. I hear amazing music. I type with my fingers and wiggle my toes. I use my non-stop adhd brain all day long and my heart beats a happy beat of anxiety on a regular basis to remind me I’m alive. And let’s just say the ample, cancer-free breasts have always been the highlight of others ogling and/or jokes…

So despite all of the crazy of the morning and the abuse that my body takes because of poor food or lack of exercise, I am so grateful for it. I put this body through a lot and I push it beyond its happiness on a regular basis. It reminds me of its distaste with aches, pains, gastrointestinal distress, and anxiousness often, but all of those things continue to remind me that I am alive. And that, my friends, is something for which to be grateful.

I am already so tired of the hustle and bustle of Christmas. The focus on presents, purchasing, sales, consumerism. Even the over done lights have caused me to be a bit Grinchy this season thus far. I fight my own demons with consumerism and am not saying presents or lights are bad, I just feel the scales are way out of balance. I’d like a little more church a little less macy’s this year.

To get things kicked off right for DDG (Daily Dose of Gratitude), I’m going to share the words of my freshman year roomie from Hudson C116. Jealaine Marple is a pastor within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I have followed her ministerial path with envy and delight but this video is the first time I’ve heard her preach. Her unique blend of humor and profundity remind us that we have all the gifts we ever need. Oh the waiting of Advent….I am so grateful for you and your gifts.

Jealaine Marple-A Season of Waiting

I give thanks for…

A great and awesome God who daily provides me comfort, challenge, and hope as I constantly fall short of His will for me.

A loving, patient, and forgiving family. They offer wisdom, humor, love, and kindness as I slowly grow on this life journey. Our re-definitions can only multiply love. And without love, we are nothing.

A loving, patient, funny, and lovely partner in life. He offers me support and calm in the midst of any storm. He doesn’t ever mention all the weight I have gained or judge my inability to break free from coca cola. He is a great co-parent to our beloved muggle pup.

A super great muggle pup. He is a mix of cuddling love, rambunctious delight, and encouragement to exercise.

Two hilarious, intelligent, and beautiful nieces. They are daily in my heart and prayers as they learn and grow into amazing humans.

Friends, near and far, who always remind me of who I am and where I have come from. I will forever be grateful for them and constantly wish they lived closer.

A challenging, fun, rewarding, and affirming job, co-workers, and the best boss I’ve ever encountered. I pray that I continue to learn and grow to make an impact in the lives of children.

The daily basics of life. Food, shelter, heat, and the abundant blessings I so easily take for granted in a world full of consumerism.

A healthy body. I have not treated it well this last year but especially after last weekend I offer my thanks for a body that continues to function even when it is abused by inactivity and processed food.

There are so many blessings that abound within my life. I am happy, healthy, and free. I feel loved and often respected. I pray that I continually offer my gratitude for these gifts and remain ever humble in my life and work. I pray so deeply for those who are without this day, those who are infirm in body or mind, and those who find themselves without a table today. Finally, I pray for forgiveness from my missteps in word or deed and offer thanks for a loving, forgiving God and His redemption.

May you be blessed today dear reader with love, family, a full belly, and a content heart.