A Runner's Prayer

Dear Lord...
Thank you for waking me with a starry sky
a promise that you're watching with a twinkling eye
as my feet are lifted to the floor
place my shoes on my feet and head out the door
Thank you for the crisp September air
and the subtle breeze that catches in my blonde hair
thank you for the friends that bring a smile to my face
and a painfree body for this 70 mile race
Thank you for comforting our restless nerves
a grace in which not one of us deserves
you place your hands on our wheels until we park at the start
and press your ear to my chest to keep my steady heart
Thank you for the dew, and the foggy sunrise scene
for my teammates and I to run into at a time so obscene
thank you for the silence and the cricket churps too
the hills and the hurdles that we all had to work through
Thank you for my muscles, stretched and warmed up for strength
and for removing my mind of worry, doubt, and angst.
Thank you for family and their encouraging words
and thanks for the humming of insects, the chirping of birds
Thank you for each breath: whether short, sharp, or deep
that carried us up and down bridges, slippery and steep
Thank you for headlights, reflecting vests so bright
and getting us through the 77 miles all alright!
Thank you lord for my teammates, for our competetors too
and we all survived the madness that is this sport that we do
and as I lay my head down at the end of the night
I say this runner's prayer and turn out the light.

Bucket List Item #39- Run a Full Marathon

Twenty Six point two miles. When you write it out, it doesn't look as scary. But put in numerals, the 26.2 mile trek has intimidated me since my first 5k, occurring when I was only fourteen years old.

Running cross country in high school up through my freshman year at college, I always tucked the idea of running the golden shrine of all running races into my back pocket to be forgotten. The coup-de-grady of all running races... if you will. But since quitting track in college due to a back injury, I have been asked over and over if I would go on to finally finish the fierce challenge. 

After a handful of flat out "no's", laughing in their faces, and eye rolls, I knew I couldn't ignore #39 on my bucket list any longer. 

Yes, it finally happened... I conquered my first full marathon. And not just any marathon... but the Disney Full! 

The weekend began with my arrival on Friday night to spend a day in New Smyrna with my parents and grandparents. Saturday followed with an amazing breakfast down on the marina, a walk through the farmers market, then a drive to Orlando to pick up my pre-race packet and carbo load.

Sunday morning came too early- a 3:30am wake up call and we were off to the starting line. Fireworks, a gun shot, and a pair of black ears later- we were off.

And a near four hours later... I crawled across that finish line to meet my incredible parents who picked me up off my tired feet and hugged me until any remaining lung function I had was completely depleted. Needless to say- even though the training process spanned from July to January and my feet underwent multiple injuries... It was worth everything and more!

 

 

Thanks Mickey! You made this some-what painful race into something magical and completely unforgettable! #39... You've officially been crossed off the bucket list!

Trading Coast for Coast- Michael Morse Joins Mariners

Michael Morse is no stranger to the NorthWest. Beginning his professional career with the Mariners in Seattle in 2005, Morse was already a promising player. Starting out as a short stop and making his way to becoming a utility fielder at first base and left field, Morse worked his way up the ladder of respect within the MLB. So it's no shocker that he is elated to be leaving the east coast only to end up back where he first began his climb to success...

(Photo Credit)

The move for Morse impacted the fate of two other players across the nation. The newly implemented 3-way deal also included A.J Cole from The Oakland Athletics and Seattle's John Jaso. Cole, originally playing for the Nationals, makes his way back to DC after only being traded for the notorious Gio Gonzalez's Nat debut last winter. John Jaso will be suiting up for The Athletics this year after lending the Mariners his left-handed-hitting success and ability to get on base repeatedly. In other words, he fits perfectly into the Oakland playbook.

But back to our main-man Morse. Although he was suspended for a total of 10 days near the end of his rookie year for his use of performance enhancing drugs, Morse came back swinging- and through multiple injuries at that! In 2006, he suffered a torn medial meniscus, only to be plagued with a torn labrum a little over a year later. Unfortunate for a batter with a .492 batting average in spring training.

In 2010, Morse played 98 games with the Nationals and batted .289 with a .352 on-base percentage. He also accumulated a.519 slugging percentage. With 15 home runs and 41 RBIs, fans can’t deny it’s not a bad position to be in… especially as he went on to be in the top 10 in the National League in all three categories in 2011. And who could forget his epic episode that awarded him with the 2012 Gibby Award for Oddity of the year? A bizzare twist of events when a smash hit baffled umpires and once re-ruled, commenced his pantomime home run against the Cardinals on Sept. 29 in St. Louis

Morse was recently noted for telling the press, “I knew there were teams involved and I knew Seattle was one of them. That was one of the teams I was hoping for. I love it out there and I always felt like I had an unfinished business feeling in Seattle.”

One thing is certain- All of this switching and swapping may mean three different men playing for three different teams, but we’re all in for one year of great baseball!

Credits-

How and why Mike Rizzo traded Michael Morse-James Wagner-January 17, 2013 - Article

Mariners trade for Michael Morse- Associated Press- January 16, 2013-Article

My Achey Breaky Foot

This past weekend was a whirl wind. What, with Christmas right around the corner and all. Christmas lights were up all around the tri-city area from Frederick to Baltimore to DC. Temperatures were frigid, wind was howling, and skies were decorated with buoyant clouds of threatening navies and grays.

With a great gathering of family and friends on Saturday at the barn, it was a fuel building affair with pork, oysters, potatoes, and baked beans. Good eats warmed our bellies even as the wind whipped through the pastures and our fingers grew to popsicles. Good conversations and close friends also made the afternoon worth braving the incoming winter force.

With all of the festivities on Saturday, it was nice to have planned a run with a few ladies that used to share the track back in our high school days. Reuniting at the party, we planned a Christmas light run as the sun set below the Blue Ridge.

Since my marathon will be happening in *gulp* 18 days, I had to get in a long run before my legs gave up the idea of a soon-to-be 26.2 mile race. Tackling 11 miles with no one but myself and my spotify playlist, I conquered the majority of the run unscathed. Scooping up my friends along the way, we completed six more miles reminiscing of simpler times before adult responsibilities and looking at red and green lanterns around town.

As we stretched out our tired legs and said our good byes, I noticed the arch in my foot began whimpering in pain (or maybe that whimpering was coming from my own two lips). After a long soak in a pan of ice and popped pills, my foot was starting to feel a tad bit better. My legs, on the other hand, were ready for bed at 7:30pm. Too bad, I informed them, it's Christmas movie time with the pup.

While the legs rested and gave the rest of my body mercy, the right foot is still not in the best of moods, cramping up with too much activity and aching when elevated. But here's the deal, aching arch- I'll rest you for a bit and feed you the best anti-inflammatory medicine CVS has to offer... but you better carry me across that finish line in a little over two weeks! Mickey is waiting for you!

Saturday Thoughts

I listen to music way too much. I mean, WAY too much... or maybe just enough.
Being a vegan is making my eyeballs whiter. Weird? Day 4 on the V Tree!
Does yoga make people happy? Or do happy people do yoga?
I want a French Bulldog more than I want anything else. And name him Sir Charles.
Kors watches. Period
Men's forearms are sexy
There's a dog hair on my ring finger, almost mistook it as my own. Ew
I need to vaccuum...
And nap (not necessarily in that order)
I'm seeing my favorite Lizzy Boo tonight. Bring on the adventures!
Wimbledon. Sharapova
Olympics. Beckham
Go make cake, self! I finally got a big girl job (cross that off the summer list) more about this on Monday
Is it Autumn yet? I want scarves and a soy pumpkin latte, pwease!
Pinterest, you always save me from wasting time during my morning insomnia episodes
I found a jump rope!
I look goofy in bowling shoes.
Does Vanilla Ice melt?
My veins free flow with coffee
Maybe I'll start a photo journal
Putting up a help-wanted ad: In need of a good cuddle buddy
I am building a life, one small brick and smile at a time. Hashtag-Success
I moved to a pretty wonderful city...

 

Love Thy Momma

I am sure I am not alone when I say that our Moms are one of our greatest treasures. This woman is my hero above heroes, my rock, my incredible idol and example of beauty in my life. So for Mother's Day yesterday, we treated my mom to a home cooked breakfast, coffee on the porch, and a surprise visit to see HER mother, my Meemaw!

Then we spent the day in the sunshine, watching baseball and collecting smiles. I couldn't imagine a better day in honor of a woman so incredibly special to our family...

I hope everyone had the chance to spend some time with their pretty mommas yesterday!

Happy Monday!