Marathon Mondays

Ok, so the workout portion of this post will really focus on a long run done on Sunday, but I just can't resist a little title aliteration. I ran 8 miles this past Sunday with my good friend JE who is training for this year's Boston Marathon. I am so proud and inspired by this girl. She ran her first half marathon this past fall, and on Sunday she logged 15 miles! Her longest run ever! (And I got to be a part of it). Not only are her fitness goals a huge inspiration, but she is also one of the most caring and generous people I know. When I say generous, I mean being-the-only-match-to-a-family-member-in-need-of-a-kidney-so-going-under-the-knife-and-donating-that-kidney kind of generous. That's right, JE donated her kidney to her uncle and saved his life. As a result she has a list of "one kidney goals," and she recently added running the Boston Marathon to that list. (NBD.) (Did I mention she has one kidney?!) However, not only is she running the Boston Marathon, she's running it for one of her favorite charities Cradles to Crayons, and she's ALREADY reached her $10,000 goal!! I mean, is this girl a saint?! Seriously, though, I'm extremely proud and inspired by her all the time, and I hope this inspires others to follow in her health/life footsteps.

So on Sunday I ran 8 beautiful but chilly miles with her from Newton-Wellelsey Hospital to Brighton. We ran on the marathon route, and even climbed the dreaded beloved Heartbreak Hill. Every time I run any part of the course I get nostalgic. I have run three Boston Marathons, including the year of the marathon bombing. The Boston Marathon is unlike any other, and without a doubt the best race in the world (although I am biased). JE, thanks for letting me take a trip down marathon-memory lane, and I can't wait to cheer for you as you take a right on Hereford left on Boylston.

Stretching it out after killing 15

I have no great recipes to post as of late. I've actually had a less than healthy weekend/beginning of the week, but I also have a  pretty good excuse: Tomorrow is my birthday. It really snuck up on me this year. I'm going to be 27. It's not that 27 seems like it's that old, it's just that I can't believe how long ago certain things happened. For example, I can't believe I'll be attending my five year college reunion this spring. Five years?! I've been out of college longer than I was in?! That really doesn't seem possible. I can't believe that I studied abroad in Ireland seven years ago. Seven years ago (almost a decade!!) I was running around Europe and drinking all the pints I could get my hands on with the Galway Girls... Seven years, they go bye in a blink. I can't believe that my mother had me when she was 27. That she'd already been married for three years... I can't say that I feel any real pressure (aside from the fact that Aline said she'd watch my future kids any time I needed help this past weekend - thanks, Mom...), but I am amazed at how it feels like time is speeding up. I think as a goal for my 27th year I am really going to try to appreciate time - weeks as they approach, days that seem insignificant, moments as they pass - really stop and take a second to think about what's happening around me and how lucky I am to have lived such full and wonderful 27 years, rich with friends, family, and adventures. I can only hope for 27 (and more) future years.

26 has taught me some very important lessons. The most important lesson is that we all have a clock, and we never know when our time is going to run out. We should squeeze every last second out of every day, and we should never be afraid to share a kind word, to speak the truth, and most importantly to tell people that you love them. You never know when you're not going to get another chance. CM sent me the following today, and I think it's the perfect thing to leave you with. Spend wisely.