Let's get it started...

Sadly, some of our "team" of runners did not get picked through the Broad Street Lottery.  I guess it will depend on how much they really want to run -- there are other avenues for acquiring a bib.  This weekend the weather is supposed to break somewhat, so my plan is to get out there and run, at least a little, and get this training thing started.

I'm really looking forward to it.  This is "the year of Pam" and I am completely and totally embracing the idea of doing things that make me feel strong and confident and, basically, just all around amazing about myself.

I am 49 years old.  I have been through highs and lows and sometimes even the pits of life, but I'm still standing and I'm still growing and still making improvements along the way.  I am a work in progress and I have finally reached that point in my life where if something isn't bringing me happiness, adding joy or at least bringing me a sense of accomplishment, making me feel good about me and what I am doing with my life I just don't find it necessary.  I love my kids and my family and my friends and they love me back and that's a good thing.  People are complicated and I am no exception to that.  The trick is surrounding oneself with those whose complexities make life interesting and stimulating and rewarding.  Dull is just not an option.  Life is way to short to not enjoy the everyday, to find something to laugh about and spark a little bit of joy.

This was the first organized race I ever ran -- it was cold and my attire was a mismosh of things intended to keep me warm.  I still really don't care what I look like when I'm running -- comfort is the main objective.  I also had no idea they snapped pictures along the race route -- not that that would have probably had much of an impact either way.

Tonight I am going to the gym to get going on the treadmill and design my training plan for Broad Street -- I made it last year, I ran the whole thing and I finished, but this year I want to do better, be better.  I don't want to be fighting off injury and hoping to just finish -- I want to really DO IT, enjoy it, embrace the whole experience. 

I'm hoping some of my friends/family will be there to cheer me on or see me cross the finish line.  Knowing me, the me over the last 49 years, it is impressive that I completed this event last year and simply amazing that I want it again so badly.

The countdown has begun.

In with Finn...

I'm in!!!  Again this year I have been selected through the Broad Street Run lottery, as well as some of my running buddy friends, Sam, Leon and Elaine Finn.  Elaine, Sam and I started this whole running thing in September 2014.  We ran a couple races and felt so good about ourselves that we signed up last year for Broad Street and we all got in.  We ran, we trained, we completed the race and we celebrated afterwards.  It was awesome.  Elaine is moving home to Ireland this summer, in either May or June, so running Broad Street together again will be kind of our last big thing to do together.  I'm psyched that we will do this together again and that I will have this as a lasting memory of our friendship.

RunnerGirl is back at it and I couldn't be more pleased.  Ten miles down Broad Street makes me feel a little bit like a warrior princess, I must admit.  I've never been athletic, but this is an accomplishment I am so proud of and I am so happy I get to repeat.

Fat Thursday...

I know that normally people have Fat Tuesday and that I am kind of cheating -- but today was the day already established to celebrate my birthday with friends at lunch, so it was my Fat Thursday.  We had lunch, we celebrated, I enjoyed a Starbuck's Molten Chocolate Latte :-) YUM.  It's all good and now, tomorrow, we run, we get back on track, we start the training for Broad Street.  Today I have also been tempted to sign up for the Philly Rock N Roll Half - Hmmm, I think I can, I think I can...

Run run run just as fast as you can...

Okay -- it's that time of year again.  I signed up for the Broad Street Run Lottery and I hope that my luck is as good as it was last year - fingers crossed that I and all of my closest running buddies will be selected for the 2016 Philadelphia Broad Street Run.  It's time to dust off my running playlist, lace up my shoes, and start running again.  I'm really excited to get back in to the RunnerGirl mode.  Last year I kind of felt obligated because of all the trash talk we did to get each other motivated and going, but my heart wasn't really, really in to it.  I had a couple injuries and set backs and kept going because I wanted to be able to say I did it, but this year I'm really feeling it.  I cannot wait to get back to it.  I'm going to start nice and easy, indoors on a treadmill to build up some endurance and then, once the weather breaks and it is bearable again I'm going to get back out on pavement and RUN again. Go me :-)!