I've made it back to Minnesota for a relaxing week with the family to celebrate Christmas! It is one of my favorite times of year, not because of the presents, but all the love that goes around (picture the airport scene in the movie Love Actually). It is a time for multiple family gatherings of celebration, remembering our loved ones that have passed and teaching the young ones the magic of Christmas. To me the greatest gift is being able to be home to hug my family.
The holidays do bring an interesting challenge to marathon training- it is very hard to keep up with in between family gatherings, snow storms and another glass of that special egg nog! I was able to step outside yesterday and hop on one of my favorite running routes as a light snow dusted the ground.
The run was along the Mississippi in St. Paul. I ran the farthest distance I have been able to since surgery without stopping to rest which was a big milestone for me. I was taken back to the days when I first fell in love with this distance running as this was the course where I ran my first 10k and first half marathon. I envisioned my family along the course cheering me on just as they were 6 years ago. The crisp (others may say frigid...) air was refreshing as I reflected back on how far I've come with running since then. The thoughts of all the people who I am running for in this upcoming Boston Marathon were on my mind as well- it truly puts your life into perspective and makes you value the little things more than ever before. I hope to have many more runs like this during my time home that take me back to those special memories.
I'll can't say enough how much running with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge team has changed my life and my running for the better. It makes running seem more purposeful and life changing knowing that every step you take both running and in fundraising makes a huge impact on someone battling cancer. It truly is a challenge in multiple ways, but the rewards are priceless when it helps bring us closer to a cure for cancer by funding those incredible, hard-working researchers!
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and are able to spend time with the ones you love!
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
-S
