9 miles today! Felt great! The thought that was reoccurring in my mind today was "one foot in front of the other". Sometime that's the best way to get through the day.

Do you have a good life?

I had been feeling really done today. Money is tight, the rain won't stop, trying to make some big decisions about work. I went for a walk on my break to look at paint samples. While waiting to cross the street the homeless man on the corner walked up to me. I was trying to avoid eye contact. I didn't have any money to give and was trying to avoid an awkward moment. He stepped next to me and asked "do you have a good life?". I do have a good life. Sometimes I need reminding.

It's been a while...

I haven't checked in for a while so I thought I'd drop by. I am officially training for a marathon! In about six months I will be running Portland marathon, 26.2 miles. I have started training and to be honest, the final distance scares me. I've done 1/2 marathons and finished strong but we are talking about twice that distance! It will be a lot of work and time. So far it feels good. I like being scheduled and working toward a goal. I am only up to six miles for my longest training run so far but this week that goes up to 7.5 miles. Not a terribly long distance but the start of some longer, harder runs. Wish me luck!

I have been running quite a lot lately. I decited to do a half marathon with some of the girls from work. I am slowly increasing my distance and working on getting my pace up. I am a little worried about finding the time to train so I can still walk at the end of the race. I don't want training to feel like one more thing I have to do and be more stressful than fun. It is hard to fit in training with my schedule. So far I am feeling good. One thing that comes with running so much is these little mantras that go through my head while I run. They pop into my mind a mile or two into it. It is sort of a moment of clarity. The last one was "I am getting me back".

I had been feeling like I had lost a little of me lately. Feeling irritable, overwhelmed, bogged down. Now working toward something. Knowing that keeping moving will help keep me moving. I am starting to feel like me again. I look forward to finishing the race, to do something for myself. To accomplish something. To work hard for something. For me.

We spent the day at a friends farm. There were four of us girls from work eight kids between us, two dogs, several cows, one slug, and one crawdad. The kids played we lunched while refereeing. We finished the day with rain boots in the creek. The day felt like summer. I loved seeing the kids excitement throwing rocks in the creek, learning all kids aren't much different, and Mommies need to spend more time together.

We have just returned from two relaxing weeks in California. One in the Tahoe area and one in Marin County. I am happy to be home but boy do I miss the sunshine. I went for a run under the grey this morning and the thought that kept creeping into my mind was run away the gloom. I often get a bit depressed and homesick when I get back from a trip like this, but I am determined to keep it away with my prescribed running regimen. I just signed up for a half marathon with some of the girls at work. I am hoping this will motivate me and not add to my stress as another thing I don't have time to do. I am going to try to keep my competing drive out of my mind while training. Trying to be ok with not running the whole thing, walking if I need to. Trying to run without a time in mind. I have found some training programs on line and hope to look at it tomorrow and fit it into my schedule. I have decided to be kind to myself if I don't keep up with my training program. I will run what I can and walk the rest. I will be proud.

A perfect fourth of July. Parade, hot dogs, Popsicles, frolicking, bar-b-que, sparklers, fireworks, bed.