Week 3 2010 / Friends new and old....

Week 3 (recovery week):

Week's Running totals: 36
Running Total for 2010: 139.37
Weight training: 2

Friends: I’ve thought a lot about them recently.

Yesterday I ran with fellow blogger, Tara, on local trail that is convenient to both of us. How cool is that, huh?? I never met Tara before; only things I knew about her is what I’ve read on her blog, but I could tell we were a lot alike. You know, you can just sense that stuff. She’s training for the Colorado Marathon, her debut marathon, which is two weeks after I complete (hopefully) Boston, so we’re both trying to rack up the miles as we get on a schedule and we both love the idea of an occasional running partner. The weather decided to turn blistery cold and windy for the weekend (of course) so we didn’t have time to chit chat much before our 5 mile run but we hit it off instantly; I had a great time getting to know her. The miles flew by in seconds, despite my frozen hands (even with fleece gloves) and her lungs bellowing because of all her messy, ickiness she endured with that nasty embolism last year. Poor thing, I felt so bad. She’s an itty-bitty, tiny thing and cute as can be - I just enjoyed every second we were together. In typical ADDness, I forgot my phone and my camera battery was not charged but I did manage to get some unsuspecting bystander to get one picture snapped. Tara’s great, I consider her a new friend and I can’t wait to run and/or workout at the gym-y with her.

Another blogger, Meg, called me upon the completion of her marathon today. Where she’s been calm and collected about her upcoming marathon, I took it upon myself to be stressed and nervous about it in her behalf. That’s what friends do for one another, you're welcome, Meg! I've got that stress thing down pretty well! I’ll let Meg tell you her marathon victory story but for someone I’ve also never met, Meg and I have a blast emailing our nutsoid life and kid stories – and we are going to be sharing an over-priced Boston hotel together. She is a wonderful new friend which I truly feel blessed to have in my life. I think we’re going to have a lot of laughs in Boston together. Oh, and run our hearts out, of course! And then we're gonna celebrate in style with all those bloggers out there in true Blog land style: FUN!!!

These new friends I’ve met via the world of running blog addicts, like me, are the people who cheer for each other up hills, through intervals, when we don’t feel like running, on that loooooong run and on race day. Miles forged together create a special friendship and intimacy.

I’ve been blog land “tagged” a few times lately (sorry, Beth, you are indeed in loserville by no one asking ya - haha) to list some number between 7 and 10… of “things” about me. Us in blog land don’t get the opportunity to meet many fellow bloggers; the select few I will be fortunate enough to cross live paths are just a small fraction of those that I actually read about daily and become attached to. So these lists, I suspect, are a means to learn a little more about the runners we cheer for each day. I wrote one of these lists a few weeks ago but I keep being tagged again so instead of me doing another, I gathered up some older friends, both runners and non, from my past to do a list for me. About me. Of me. Anything they wanted to say which WAS any part of me. So here’s a few:

Elaine:

1) you love being a Mom
2) you love to run, and run RIGHT
3) you dig mountains and other like challenges
4) you are crazy busy trying to make ends even remotely be in view of each other in this economy
5) you love sugar
6) you are looking for something deeper and more soulful
7) you are in process of becoming even more amazing

M.B.

Emotional vulnerable

Borderline obsessive when it comes to running

Great smile

Intelligent

Always has encouraging and positive comments for other people

Loves her kids and is very protective

Take on too much as once. Can read as “over ambitious”.

K.D.

Runner

Determined

Smart

Attractive

Funny

Inspirational

Stressed

Lisa:

Good Mother

Good Natured

Loving

Funny

Emotionally needy

Caring

Lots of fun

(I apologize for the spacing issues....err!!!)

I gotta love Elaine for having those deep insights. (she’s a great runner and super smart - just took her LSAT’s in her mid-life and passed with flying colors. Way to go, Elaine!!!) I have a few others who wrote but will leave it at that because for the most part, these lists are from people who evidently know me pretty well. I often wonder how I got so lucky to have friends like these. I could laugh and half-kiddingly say that once they find out what I'm really like, all bets are off. But the thing is, they already know, and seem to keep me anyway, cracks and divots and all.

So bloggie friends out there, what do you think you know about me? Maybe you can make up your 7 (or 10) things about me from what what I’ve written - go ahead if you want. No feelings hurt (I mean, Lisa called me “emotionally needy” and I forgave her – eventually :)). In my next blog, I’ll share my thoughts on what you’ve said.

But no matter what, I’m truly blessed for each and every one of you! Thanks, guys!

Entering Boston training week #4 with feeling good legs and ready to ramp up the pace and the miles. A strange numbness around the front of my left knee...but I'm ignoring it. Run well , friends!!