4th of July 2007

It's not where you are...

It's whom you are with!



I spent the 4th of July at Woodward Camp for the 1000th summer in a row. This time though, I wasn't working, I was just visiting- as were many of my favorite people.

Up until this point, when people asked me if I missed camp, I typically responded, "No." Who would miss the 18 hours days, hill duties, endless Sundays, walkie talkies, 8am director meetings and high school drama? Well, I of course don't miss that stuff, what I miss are the people. Elena Frew said it best once, Woodward is a place where "forced friendships become true." And I was whole heartedly reminded of that when I stepped foot onto camp.

I arrived at camp on Monday evening, in time for karaoke. As I drove down 45, mere miles from camp's driveway, I told Christina (on the phone) how excited I was to get all the hugs. And once I stepped foot onto campgrounds, I was not disappointed. One after another, I received welcoming hugs and kisses from so many people that I had missed.

Tuesday was the most exciting day- it was the arrival of Christina (my best friend in the whole wide world) and Kate and Erin got to camp as well. Once we were all together (including those who were already at camp for the summer), it was non-stop fun. Whether eating Green Bowl, sitting at the picnic table, or drinking beers at biker night at the Hotel, we never stopped smiling, laughing or loving every minute.

Wednesday was as wonderful as the others. The 4th of July at camp is a magical time- almost like Christmas. People are excited and happy- there are special events like a dunk tank, waterslide and a parade. Everyone wears their red, white and blue and is just excited to be around. We even welcomed a new friend into our circle and had a blast shopping, drinking margaritas, and watching fireworks. Although I didn't cry this time, I was still overwhelmed by how important these people are to me and how much I freakin' miss them!!!

Truly, I could spend anywhere, anytime with these friends because no matter where we are or what we are doing, I'm just happy to be there, with them.

Running

As many of you already know, I am training for the Walt Disney World Marathon in Orlando Florida on January 7, 2007. Just a mere 6 weeks away and I am getting to the height of my training meaning weekly runs that last 17-20 miles. If you know where I live, you know the roads are not conducive to safe running. For this reason, I run at times that are not busy traffic wise and I take extreme caution and maintain the highest level of alert while I run the streets.

All I ask in return is for oncoming cars to slow down and maybe go around me just a bit- a request that will only delay the driver 5-7 seconds. I know this may seem like a big sacrifice and before you think I am wearing my princess tiara in making this request, let me tell you what I do to make it easier on drivers.

Here's how:
1. I run against traffic so I am easier to see. When a curve in the road makes it difficult to see me, I often cross the road in order to be more visible.

2. I wear light, bright colors like white, pink, bright blue, so that I am more visible.

3. I run as far to the left of the shoulder as I possibly can. Keep in mind this often forces me to balance on precarious edges of decaying roads, millimeters away from drainage ditches, or closer than ideal encounters with sticker bushes, questionable garbage and roadkill.

4. Admittedly, I do wear my ipod but I am running 3-4 hours out there, I need something. I keep it on a low volume and am able to hear cars, bikes, etc that are around me.

5. I run during times that are not busy traffic-wise. Typically, I run between 9 and 11am and 1 and 3pm, avoiding the rush hour as well as the lunch hour when many are out and about running errands.

So my requests are not outrageous. I don't expect people to stop driving on the road during the hours that I run or to get out of the car and bow to the running goddess that I am. Just simple actions that you can take when you see someone running to make it safer and a little easier on them:

1. SLOW DOWN. Most people are speeding anyway. I know, it may delay you a few seconds but slowing down makes a huge difference.

2. Don't stare at me.. my driving teacher Norm always told me, ..Whatever you look at, you hit... For the most part I know my close encounters are not a result of the driver not seeing me because so many of them are staring RIGHT AT ME!! Its not all that crazy to be outside running- it's called exercise.

3. Go around me. If there is no oncoming traffic, just cruise over into the other lane and give me some space. I'm not a big girl but that extra foot or two does ease my concern a little bit, and keeps my heart rate down in a manageable range. If there is a car in the other lane, WAIT FOR IT TO PASS, and then go around.

4. Don't BEEP AT ME or YELL AT ME. First of all, it's RUDE. I know you are there and I'm not doing anything wrong. If you yell something like "You're HOT" or "Need a ride" chances are my response can be summed up in one finger and on top of that, you'll startle me and my heart rate will jump to a scary level.

Besides, after mile 6 or 7, if you yell that I look hot, I know you are lying.

I have had too many close encounters with people's side view mirrors and hoods and I'd like to make it through the next 6 weeks, board my plane to Orlando and kick that marathon's ass.

You don't get an ass like this from sitting on it and I'd rather be out there shaking it than in a hospital bed because some asshole didn't have the patience or awareness to make the road a little safer for my fellow runners and myself.


I am training for a MARATHON. I'm not out there running for half hour and calling it quits for the day. I've made a huge commitment to this goal and its important to me. But I guess it isn't as important as the driver's commitment to get to their destination 7 seconds earlier..

Birthdays

'you ask me why i always take the hard road, and i replied, why do you assume i see two roads.' -anonymous

i ran on my birthday. 13.1 miles. as i reviewed most of everyone's birthday wishes and greetings, they were abundant with references to me having one too many brewskis, getting loaded, bowing to the porcelain god, etc. etc.

to many people's surprise, i actually spent the day doing wholesome, productive things. maybe its the entrance into my late 20's, or the idea that i hate being hung over, but i've moved on and maybe matured a little.

first, i woke up at 6am to meet my team in training teammates [who raised 161,000 dollars in total] in the hotel lobby for some last minute pumping up and team photos. then we headed over to the tnt tent where i met up with my girlfriends who were also running.

745am- BANG- we were off. a disappointing two hours and two minutes later i crossed the finish line. after collecting my things and meeting my friends, casey [bridget's sister] decided she wanted to run up the rocky steps of the art museum- so we did.

then we showered and were off to mad mex.

one margarita, a quarter of a burrito, and a lot of guacamole later, we said our goodbyes...

and tiny and i boarded the R2 for Warminster, napping all the way...
believe it baby... i guess this is growing up.

xoxo

Steve Prefontaine

This morning, 4 of my girlfriends and I set out to tackle a 10 mile race down at the jersey shore. We each had individualized goals and plans to meet them. In order to pump ourselves up the night before, we went out for a pasta dinner and then watched "Without Limits- The Steve Prefontaine Story." OK, so the guy was a good runner and died early, but why Tom Cruise thought it would be a good idea to make an entire 2 hour movie out of his life is beyond me...

First of all, the guy was an asshole- cocky, stubborn, a womanizer... Not likeable AT ALL.

Second, he wins the NCAA Championship with 12 stitches in his foot... Stitches he acquired (allegedly) while having sex in a handstand with some hussy he met in Nebraska the night before the meet.

Third, he wins just about every race in his collegiate career but fails to win a medal at the Olympics (He comes in 4th place).

Fourth, he does NOT get the girl

Fifth, he dies behind the wheel of a car with a blood alcohol level of .16.

So, folks, although we still managed to kick ass in the race today, it is in no part due to any inspiration from the Steve Prefontaine story.

[We learned later that there was actually another movie made about Steve Prefontaine that starred Jared Leto... I will NOT be renting that one]

Valentine's Day

i know a lot of people have their opinions about valentine's day and how commerical it is and all of that... sure, companies like hallmark make millions of dollars on cards, flower stores sell a bajillion dozen roses, and chocolate makers work over time to meet the demands of the day. but for what... too many people expect too much and make their significant others crazy with planning, shopping, etc. people have taken the romance out of valentine's day and replaced it with pressure and stress.

romance is supposed to be about what moves you at the moment. you can't plan romance. it doesn't happen on a specific day, at a specific time. it just happens. its spontaneous and fun and whatever you want it to be. you aren't going to find romance in a card or box of chocolates or in the blooms of a dozen roses. you're going to find romance within you, with your significant other, at any time. so don't let st. valentine bully you into thinking that you HAVE to be romantic... share the love on your time, on your terms, when it works for you, because, dammit, that's romance.