Runner's High

Yesterday I ran my second 5K.  Many of you may find this unimpressive.  But running a 5K was something that was on my bucket list, and after checking it off back in September, I decided one wasn’t going to be enough.  To tell the truth, I don’t really enjoy the act of running.  I actually kind of hate it.  But the feeling I get afterward is why I do it.  A runner’s high really does exist; of this I am a firm believer. 

But isn’t that really the case with any hard thing in life?  When you’re in it, up to your elbows, vision blurred by all the things you have to do, you’re unable to see the reward.  But, in the end, when you look back on it all, you feel a sense of pride at what you’ve accomplished.  You feel glad that you didn’t give up, even though it was hard.  You feel that runner’s high. 

When I crossed the finish line yesterday, after running significantly faster than ever before in my life, I felt exhilarated.  Giddy, even.  Sure, I was exhausted, but I could finally see the reason why I had been training for the last three months, why I had been pushing myself to run in the cold, after working for ten hours.  It was all finally worth it.  That feeling of complete satisfaction lasted me throughout the day.  It required a celebratory breakfast complete with mimosas, and then, later, a celebratory dinner, too.  I just couldn’t celebrate enough.  The whole day ended up being the perfect culmination of the goal.  The perfect reward for all my hard work.  And, even though that runner’s high could never last long enough, even though today I feel normal again, it was enough to inspire me to get out there and work for it again.  To go run some more.  Or do some other really had, but in the end so incredibly fulfilling thing.  Even though it’s hard in the moment, the reward is worth it.  The invincible, in-this-moment-life-is-perfect feeling makes it all worth it.  

2012: A Year in Review

As the year 2012 comes to a close, I felt it only appropriate to reflect back on all the things it brought me.  Some of these things I planned for, but most of them took me completely by surprise.  And, well, for the first time in my life, I am really really loving surprises.

In January, I kicked off the year with family in Wisconsin.  We rang in the new year in a state of utter relaxation as snow gently fell outside.  Then it was off to Atlanta to meet up with some friends for the Passion Conference where we were reminded of what was important and got refocused before getting back into the daily grind.  

In February, my mom and I met up with some family and friends in New York for a girls weekend stacked full with food, fun and fantastic Broadway shows.  

March brought spring break and my first venture to McGuires for St. Patrick's Day.  

With a twist of events in April, I decided to up and move across town into my perfect little apartment.  That's when things really started to change for me...

May was the calm before the storm of change.  With visits from my parents and explorations into my new corner of the city, it was as though life was preparing me for its take off.  

I finished my commitment to Teach for America in June.  When summer vacation kicked off I headed to Fort Worth for my cousin's wedding.  

July found me back in Jacksonville catching up with friends and starting my new job at KIPP VOICE.  I also made a Big Girl move and bought my first car!

In August, it was off to Orlando for a week of KIPP Summit and I began my year as a Kindergarten teacher.  

In September I checked something off my bucket list and ran my first 5K.  

October found me falling in love with this guy on a beach in Cocoa.  We celebrated our birthdays and flew to Kentucky, and I realized I had found a happiness with him I never even knew was possible.  

In true Florida fashion, November found us on the water soaking in the sun and relishing our new found happiness. 

December led us to many adventures: Eric Church in concert, dancing under Christmas lights, and playing in the snow.  

And this New Year's looked quite a bit different for me than the last one, or really any other before it.  Because this New Year's looked a lot like the rest of my life.

Run a 5K: Check

        For over a year now I have wanted to run a 5K.  My mom and I trained in the summer of 2011 for one on July 4^th.  But the Florida heat caused us to tuck our tails and not run.  I seriously have no idea how any one did.  It was honestly sweltering. 

            But yesterday I finally did it.  I ran the Color Me Rad 5K with some pretty amazing people.  I hadn’t really trained like I should have.  I just couldn’t always find the motivation after spending ten hours a day with 25 five-year olds.  Most days I was just too tired.  But I managed to get enough practice in to power through the full race.  I am actually pretty proud of the accomplishment, especially since it was on my bucket list (see Life’s Ambitions). 

            I’m slowly etching away at a few of the things listed.  I finally saw a Taylor Swift concert last year, and although my writing has slowed down recently, I finally feel like people out there are reading it.  It’s a pretty incredible feeling to be able to check things off a list you have made for your life.  But what’s even more inspiring are the people in my life who are motivating me to do these things.  The people who are surrounding me right now are truly amazing.  Truly inspiring.  And, quite honestly, they are worth keeping around for the long haul.