Getting Older, Getting Wiser?

Birthdays should ALWAYS be cause for celebration, not lamentation!  Eat cake!

There was a time when I really cared about fitting in.  I cared about liking the right things and discounting the wrong.  I wore clothes others thought looked great even if I felt like a clown parading around like a queen.  Those days are long gone.  I'm older, and hopefully a little wiser.  With age comes experience and the experiences I've had the last year have opened my eyes to a whole new world- a world in which my contributions matter more than my size.  My relationships matter more than my weight.  My creative output matters more than my race times.  I've taken a step back the last twelve moths and reevaluated my trajectory and come to the conclusion that life is short.  We should make it matter.  I can enjoy the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and still be the intelligent woman who can debate the merits of a political candidate.

Click on the link below to read more.

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865648267/Getting-older-and-wiser.html?pg=all%3Fref%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Fdesne.ws%2Fscmf%2FOrMCe04Lcp0lOEFKBL9G1hMM2DYDODlJEAlDTp6-RtIT7D8zfz5DLRUKOk0ER5DJxfQiUmcjxE_yF9swgNyF7G40RbK5fkQoIfLu3uityvkzL-5fGDGJnyWn6cKvRXKdJQ%2Fobn

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Marie Murray

Marie Murray and me after a wonderful 20-mile run with the HHH team, just weeks before the 2013 Boston Marathon.

A couple weeks ago I was on vacation, getting in my morning run.  I was on lap 28 of 40, trying to run 16 miles on a ship deck in the middle of the ocean.  At one point I found myself completely alone, the sunrise right in front of me and the gentle mist of ocean spray in my face.  The sound of the waves intermeshed with the sound of my feet put me in an almost trance-like state.  My thoughts turned to all the good things that make up my life.  Of course, Marie Murray is one of those things.  For the first time in weeks, when I thought of her I smiled instead of cried.  How she would have loved to run mid-January in a tank top and shorts with the sun beating down on her shoulders.  I tried to put into words my feelings for my dear friend.  Click on the link below and get to know a girl like no other.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865647180/Running-with-cancer.html

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Patti Paul- When Life Gets Tough, We Get Tougher

Patti Paul running her first half marathon with her husband by her side for support.

Runner's are a resilient bunch.  We are stubborn to a fault, but sometimes that is just what we need to be.  Patti Paul had a stroke last year.  Not one to let outside forces dictate her life, she fought her way back and ran her first half marathon just 8 months later.  Her story was a source of real inspiration in an age where "inspiration" is applied to everything from You Tube stars to cute kitties playing with yarn.  Patti's the real deal.  Click on the link below to read more about her incredible story and more incredible comeback.

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865645541/When-life-is-tough-you-get-tougher-Utah-mother-runs-half-marathon-after-stroke.html

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Marie

About 5 years ago I got a Facebook message from my friend Rick asking for advice on behalf of another friend who had just qualified for the Boston Marathon and was making her first trek to run those famous 26.2 miles.  He sent me her name and contact information.  I texted her, messaged her and set up a time to meet her at the Boston marathon expo.  It was there I met Marie Murray.

Our 2015 Epic Relay Team.  Marie is in the center, joyful as always.  We ran for her.  

It was a quick visit.  She and her husband wanted to go on a Duck Tour.  I was in search of pizza at the North End.  We chatted a bit and parted ways.  Little did I know the impact this woman would have on my life.

Isn't that how it goes?  One small moment can change us in lasting ways.  Over the next few years I would run many relay races with Marie.  We were Huntsman Hometown Heroes together.  In fact, it was her cancer story that was the final push I needed to join this special team.  Diagnosed with breast cancer almost ten years ago, she seemed to beat the odds.  She was invincible.  Ever positive and full of joy, it seemed unlikely that life could ever leave her.  But it did.  Last night she passed away and we are all a little emptier.

It's weird, this grieving thing.  I'm both sad, but at peace.  I love this girl and I'm sad she's gone.  I'm sad for her family.  I'm sad for us.  I'm sad for her and all she will miss.  But I'm relieved this burden has been lifted.  Cancer sucks.  It just does.  There's no eloquent way to say it.  It sucks.  It seems strange that the world continues on.  It feels like everything should just stop a moment.  But that doesn't happen.  Life goes on, and if Marie taught me anything, it's to make every moment count.  Cherish those you love.  Nurture your gifts and talents and use them to bring joy to others.  Marie did. And that's why her spirit will continue to live on.

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Huntsman Hometown Hero Time!

The fabulous Marie Murray and I after a 20-mile training run with the 2013 Huntsman Hometown Hero Team

As many of you know, each year I run/bike to raise money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  What does my biking and running do for cancer?  Nothing.  Except I'm so grateful for a healthy body.  I show my gratitude by doing what other's can't.  Raising money for cancer research is another great way to give thanks and Huntsman have given me a way to do both.  Like 2015, for the 2016 season I will be biking 100 miles at the Little Red Riding Hood Century with the Miles for Marie team.

Marie Murray has been a Hometown Hero almost as long as they've existed.  She beat the cancer odds once ten years ago and is fighting her way to beat them again now.  I love this girl's spirit and I love this girl!  I'm also raising money for my dad, aunt, and countless other friends who have battled this disease.  Some are with us still, some are not.  But all are remembered.  Help me honor their memory and donate to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.  100% of your money goes to research and they are making incredible strides.  It's an exciting time to be a Huntsman Hometown Hero!

Donate using the link to the right of this page under Huntsman Hometown Hero.

And thank you!

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New Season- New Goals

My, on the far right, claiming my third place prize at the 2015 SoJo Marathon.

My 2015 race season is finally over.  And while it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, it was as good as it could be given my lack of training.  Looking ahead to 2016, I'm not sure I'll ever get back to where I was, but I know I want to try.  The SoJo Marathon was a big disappointment for me.  After winning two years straight, I came in third with my worst course time by 13 minutes.  I finished in 3:13, which by most standards is great, but knowing how fast I ran the course before makes that time hard to swallow.

In any case, it's over.  It's time to look ahead and move forward.  I'll take the next couple of months off of any real training and just focus on enjoying my workouts.

 Click on the link below to read on, then go out an enjoy this perfect fall weather.

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865639914/Fall-is-the-perfect-time-to-set-new-running-goals.html

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