2022 A YEAR IN REVIEW

 "The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all."
~ Josiyah Martin

Dear RWM Readers,

Just a quick note to say thank you to everyone who followed along on my journey again this year.  With Covid somewhat behind us, life got back to normal in many ways or perhaps we got into our groove of whatever the new normal is and found a rhythm there as well.  Not gonna lie, it was a heck of a year.  Rosie and Grace entered Senior and Sophomore year in high school which, as you can imagine, completely blows my mind.  We started and have officially ended the college process with Rosie who is now waiting to hear back from all of the schools she applied to.  That was a hell of a challenge for both of us, but mostly for her.  And she handled it beautifully.  Grace ran cross country this fall and successfully knocked two minutes off of her 5K time by the end of her season.  If you ask her today, she'll tell you she still hates running and does it purely for the social.  I know, however, there is a small part of her that enjoys the challenge even if it's not while she's running but when she's done and reflects on her effort and what she has accomplished.  Stay tuned on this one.  I think the passion is rising, albeit slowly, and I will obviously be reporting back.  That said, I will say nothing at all that puts pressure on Grace or to indicate how thrilled I am that she is running because that would be very not cool of me and I need really to be the chill mom on this one.  The Lex ladies absolutely slayed as usual both in track & field this past spring and in XC this fall and are continuing to build on that now as winter track begins.  Not a day goes by that I don't realize how lucky I am to be a coach for this incredible group of humans.  And, last but not least, I was able to squeeze 11 races in this year.  Two marathons, two halves, two 10ks, a 5k and a sprinkling of other random distances.  I had an absolute blast in both my training and my racing as I really just embraced each moment for what it was and gave everything I had for that particular day with the main goal across the board being to have fun and not take competing too seriously.  I ran personal bests in everything from the 5k to the marathon at the spritely age of 47 so I must have done something right.  I'm super grateful to my coach and teammates who have supported me along the way as I know I wouldn't have gotten to this next level on my own.  And, of course, to my family who never questions my crazy and always has my back.  I hope all of you had some experiences this year that brought you joy and perhaps changed you for the better.  Best wishes as you embark on this next year.  May we all have another wild, crazy and wonderful ride. 

All the best,

RUNNING WITH MUSIC 2022

JANUARY

Ran the Super Sunday 4 Miler. By far the coldest I've ever been while racing.

JANUARY ALBUM:OMG I MADE IT - PRONOUN

JANUARY SONG:STEPPED ON A BEE - MISTERWIVES

FEBRUARY

Grace turned 15 and remained sassy

FEBRUARY ALBUM:DEADPAN LOVE - CAUTIOUS CLAY

FEBRUARY SONG:SURVIVE VHS COLLECTION

MARCH

New Bedford 13.1 & new half PR & yes I look like I am going to puke.

MARCH ALBUM:LP3 - HIPPO CAMPUS

MARCH SONG:NEXT TO ME - JIM-E STACK

APRIL

Cheap Marathon & new marathon PR which I owe to a stranger with licorice.

APRIL ALBUM:PAINLESS - NILUFER YANYA

APRIL SONG:TIEBREAKER - THE HEAD AND THE HEART

MAY

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Middlesex League Champs

MAY ALBUM:GIVING THE WORLD AWAY - HATCHIE

MAY SONG:BIGGER LOVE - MILKE & BONE

JULY

BAA10K & new 10K PR & came very close to puking

JUNE ALBUM:INSIDE OUT - TOURIST

JUNE SONG:TURNED UP - MIKE POSNER

JULY

Cape Cod & hottest summer on record which was super fun for marathon training

JULY ALBUM:SHAPE & FORM - TWO FEET

JULY SONG:THUNDER - JAGUAR SUN

AUGUST

Falmouth Road Race & no PR but, again, very close to puking

AUGUST ALBUM:ALL WE'VE EVER KNOWN - JAGUAR SUN

AUGUST SONG:EVERY NIGHT - FLOR

SEPTEMBER

First day of school #sniff

SEPTEMBER ALBUM:FORMENTERA - METRIC

SEPTMEBER SONG:LIFT OFF - LABRINTH

OCTOBER

Chicago Marathon w/ my girl CB

OCTOBER ALBUM:COOL IT DOWN - YEAH YEAH YEAHS

OCTOBER SONG:BEEP - M.I.A.

NOVEMBER

Rosie turns 18 and the girls agree to take a photo with me

NOVEMBER:CRYBABY - TEGAN & SARA

NOVEMBER SONG:WATCH HER GO - BIEN

DECEMBER

MILL CITIES RELAY - TEAM CHAMP & last race of the 2022

JANUARY ALBUM:NO RULES SANDY - SYLVAN ESSO

JANUARY SONG:GRATEFUL - MARTIN LUKE BROWN

Listen to these:

RWM SONGS OF THE MONTH 2022

2022 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE & WINTER GIVEAWAY

"It's not how much we give, but how much we put into giving."

~ Mother Teresa

If you've been following this blog for a while you probably know that the holiday season is far and away my favorite time of year.  I love everything about it.  The lights, the festivities and most importantly the giving of gifts.  I get ridiculously excited to dig deep and find goodies for my family and friends that I think they'll like. I also have a really, really hard time keeping them a secret.  It's something I've always struggled with since I was little.  My sister could always get me to crack and tell her what I got her no matter how hard I tried to keep it to myself.  But, I've gotten better.  A little.  Not really.  Just don't ask me, ok?  This year I am somewhat on the ball and have my annual RWM Gift Guide ready to share with you on the early side for a change.  So, as you're making your lists of things to give or that you might like to receive, which in my humble opinion is both acceptable and encouraged, perhaps these suggestions will help spark some ideas.  As always, I've tried to include a bunch of different treats that I think the runner, music lover, brother, aunt, sister's best friend's cousin....basically almost all of you will like.  I personally own, use and enjoy each item myself so I can pretty much guarantee that you or your recipient will be thrilled with any of these.  I've also put together another awesome WINTER GIVEAWAY that includes products from some of my favorite companies.  See all the details below and head over to RWM on Instagram to enter if you'd like.  Happy shopping.  And Merry Everything!

********* RWM HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE *********

ORORO Quilted Heated Vest

Retail price:$189.99*

*Use code rtrax20 to save %20

Ok, so yes, an Ororo heated vest was on the list last year.  But this one is a little bit different.  It's quilted as opposed to puffy so it's softer and more fitted.  It also comes with a smaller battery that lasts longer and a charger that charges quicker.  So, it's basically last year's version but better.  I can't put into words how big of a game changer this is for all outdoor activities during winter.  It is a staple in my wardrobe and I never leave home without it.  The quilted vest comes in multiple colors and sizes and there is both a men's and women's fit.  Make sure to click on the above link & use code rtrax20 to save on 20% on your order.

RUNNERBOX 2022 Limited Edition Holiday Box

Retail price: $40

Runnerbox is best known for their subscription service in which one receives a monthly box that is chock full of products and accessories specifically geared toward runners.  The subscription in and of itself would be an awesome gift for the running enthusiast in your life who loves high quality gear.  They also offer several individual gift boxes and the 2022 Limited Edition Holiday Box is at the top of my list this year.  It comes with all the goodies you see above; basically all the stuff you want and nothing that you don't.  Click here for a full list and details on all of the specific items in the holiday box.

ATHLETIC BREWING Non-Alcoholic Beer

Retail Price:$14.99 for most six packs

*Use code RTRACHSEL20 to save 20% on your first order

If you love beer but you don't love messing with your sleep then your problems are solved.  Thanks to Athletic Brewing Co. you can drink good beer and then sleep like a baby.  These guys make insanely delicious, non-alcoholic beer that tastes as good, if not better, than most beers out there.  These are a daily treat for me when I'm marathon training and I want to have a beer with dinner but I don't want to compromise my health and recovery.  This is the perfect gift for the beer drinker, athlete or for anyone who enjoys treating themselves to a high quality beer. Make sure to use code RTRACHSEL20 to save 20% on your first order

LANDGROVE COFFEE

Retail Price:$16/pound

Coffee.  Because coffee.  And Landgrove Coffee has been and will always be on my list because in my humble opinion it is far and away the best.  It's also fairly traded, sustainably grown and purchased direct from the grower.  Basically, you know what you are getting and can trust that grower and his/her employees are receiving the benefit of all sales.  And the flavor of their beans is incomparable.  Who doesn't love coffee and won't want this as a gift? I can't think of one.

TIME LIFE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME: IN CONCERT
Retail Price:$119.96

So this is for the music fan in your life who wishes they could have gone to every Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that's ever taken place.  Or who just appreciates good music from some of the most notable artists of our time.  This set combines the best performances of the past 34 ceremonies including performances that have never been heard before by artists including Stevie Nicks, The Cars and The Cure.  It also includes unique collaborations by artists such as U2, Fergie and will.i.am that will blow you away.  Or, at least, they blew me away.  I literally can't....stop.....listening.  You will win best gift giver with this one.  I promise.

NUUN Holiday Wellness Bundle

Retail Price: $22.50

Everyone needs this gift.  Athletes, music fans, moms, dads, teenagers; all of us.  This set has three tubes of NUUN specifically made to help you stay healthy and sleep well.  Need I say more?  I think not.

Raised On The 80s by Chris Clews

Retail Price: $19.95 on Amazon

I was so excited when I discovered this gem by Chris Clews.  I can't lie and say a lot of it isn't because I am a child of the 80s and have a special place in my heart for the music and movies that I grew up with. But for the young and old alike, there is so much funny, relatable wisdom in this book and I could not put it down.  I suggest you gift it along with a pen or highlighter as there was a lot of underlining for me as I went through it.  Fair warning, I laughed out loud.  A lot.  Like, embarrassed my daughter on the airplane, a lot.  Sorry.  Not sorry.

 ************* STOCKING STUFFERS ************

The items above are some of my favorite little treats that can be thrown in the stockings in addition to the things that Santa puts in there.  Obvs.

Landgrove Coffee coffee clips - keep your coffee fresh with these clips that seal your bag after you open it.  Then scoop our your beans with the spoon on top.  

Rumpl Beer Jacket - use it to keep your hands warm when you're enjoying a cold drink, beer perhaps, or in my case, iced coffee.  I use it every single day and keep it on my keychain so I don't lose it.

Squirrels Nut Butter - Because winter.  And chapped skin.  And chafing.  Which absolutely sucks.  And is not at all necessary.

Lexon Mino Speaker - tiny little speaker that doesn't sound like a tiny little speaker.  I keep mine in my travel kit and take it everywhere.

JellyBelly Sport Beans - quick, delicious energy on the go.

❄️❄️❄️❄️ RWM WINTER GIVEAWAY ❄️❄️❄️❄️

And last, but definitely not least, the RWM HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!  There are SO many great things for you to enjoy and/or to share with someone you love.  Because sharing is caring, right?  I'm going to hold this giveaway over at RWM on Instagram this year as it's easier to have all the entries in one place.  All you have to do to enter is "like" the post.  Then throw an emoji down in the comments that best represents your current state of mind to lock in your entry.  Yep, that's it.  I'd love it if you'd follow all of these companies, too, as I think they're amazing and worth your time to get to know, but I'm trying to keep my rules to a minimum as we all have enough stuff on our plate at the moment.  If you're not on Instagram, that's ok.  Just shoot me an email and I'll add you to the drawing manually.  Huge thanks to all of the companies that contributed to this giveaway.  The vest will be shipped directly from Ororo.  The beer will be shipped directly from Athletic Brewing Co.  If the winner lives in one of the states listed below they will ship a different product.  Retail value of this prize package is about $500.00. US Residents only for this one.  Good luck!

2 lbs of Landgrove Coffee

1 Landgrove Coffee T-Shirt

1 Landgrove Coffee Clip

2 Landgrove Coffee Visors

1 Ororo Heated Vest (M or W any size)

2 Tubs of Squirrel's Nut Butter 

1 Raise On the 80s Book

2 Athletic Brewing Co. Six Packs*

2 Packs Sport beans

1 NUUN Holiday Wellness Set

1 Rumpl drink blanket

1 Timelife Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:In Concert Set (see photo above)

1 Runnerbox Holiday Box (see photo above)

*cannot ship beer to Idaho, Georgia, Mississippi, Nebraska, Kansas, or Michigan. 

Listen to this:

Grateful by Martin Luke Brown

Martin Luke Brown · grateful

LIVE MUSIC:AWOLNATION

"If you're feeling like I feel 

then run your life like it’s a dance floor

And if you need a little heat in your face, 

that’s what I’m here for."

~ AWOLNATION, 'Burn it Down'

It's been a hot minute since I've seen live music.  For various reasons including work, kids, training and whatnot.  Though, I guess if I'm being honest, the main one is that it is borderline impossible for me to stay up past 9:30 these days.  As I write this I am literally calling myself out on being a total dork but what can I say?  Sleep is life.  That said, AWOLNATION, which is the band I was going to see, is one of my all time favorites and I decided I could put on my big girl pants for one night and stay up late for the sake of good music.  The show was on Sunday night which for any concert goer, young or old, cool or not, is less than ideal.  Fortunately, I had two friends coming with me which kept the temptation to bail at bay.   Knowing there were two bands coming on before AWOL I decided to just go straight to the source and ask them what time they'd be starting so I could plan ahead both in regards to dinner as well as my caffeine intake which I would have to time wisely.  Thankfully, whoever is behind their Instagram account got right back to me and let me know they weren't starting until 9:30.  So, yea.  That's three coffees.  Minimum.  Whoever I chatted with was in the same boat which I could appreciate.

Wendy, Ali and I headed over to Hojoko for dinner on the early side.  All three of us are busy, working moms so dinner out is rare and we wanted to make it count.  Hojoko is written up as "a rock n roll tavern honoring the pulse of Japanese nightlife."  Yes please.  It was loud and hopping with all sorts of people including concert goers, college kids and parents with young kids (just....how?).  It was a really fun, high- energy vibe which is exactly what I needed, and the food, which was super creative, did not disappoint.  We enjoyed dinner while the opening bands played and then settled up and walked over to the House of Blues around 9:00.

Upon arrival we were promptly carded.  Because, you know, they gotta check ID even when they are 100% sure that they do not, in fact, have to check ID.  I mean, we weren't complaining about it.  But, still, it's funny.  I always like to play the "guess how old I am" game which is a risky move as it can reset the tone if they age up.  At the same time, I always feel kind of badass to be one of the more seasoned fans in the crowd at a show; still rocking out despite my age.  

As promised, lead singer Aaron Bruno walked onstage right at 9:30 and they jumped right in with their recently released single, 'Freaking Me Out'.  The crowd seemed to take some time to ease in.  I, on the other hand, went straight into 'jump up and down like a little school girl' mode.  Had to.  I was out late.  I was over-caffeinated.  And I was seeing a band that I love.  I didn't care what the people around me were thinking.  I was leaning in.  And I was having a freaking blast.  They played stuff from all four of their albums and I was that "kid" who was singing along to every, single, song.  Sorry.  Not sorry.  Bruno has such a magnetic personality onstage and his voice, which is an odd combo of both soft and very, very loud is totally mesmerizing.  It is so clear that he loves doing what he does and sharing it with the rest of us.  I don't know, something just comes over me when I hear them play and, not to sound cheesy, but it's pretty special.  It's a unique experience that only live music can provide and I was fully soaking it up.  At the end of the night they came back on for an encore and played their original hit single, SAIL, which is the song I heard in my car when I discovered them way back when.  "I wrote this song 12 or 13 years ago", Bruno told us, "and at the time I thought the only person who would hear it would be my brother."  Thankfully, for us, this was not the case.  

As I said, it takes a lot to get me out for live music these days.  But, once I'm there, hearing and feeling the music in person, I remember why it's worth it.  Go see live music.  There is truly nothing like it.

Listen to this:

Freaking Me Out - AWOLNATION

AWOLNATION · Freaking Me Out

RACE REVIEW:CHICAGO MARATHON

"I'm holding on

To something I don't want

To hold on to

I'm reaching out

For something I can't touch

Although I know I want to" 

~ The River, KT Tunstall

On Sunday I lined up in Chicago for my 29th marathon.  The weekend was a blast.  The race itself went pretty well.  I'll just come right out and say that I expected more from myself.  Aside from a bout of Covid back in July, my training cycle was super smooth.  When my coach asked me how I was feeling earlier in the week I told him that I'd never felt more prepared for a marathon.  Obviously there are a million things that can go wrong on race day and one can only control so much but I still felt confident that if the unknowns (weather, travel, etc.) were in my favor I could probably hit my goal which was somewhere in the 2:55-56 range.  Lofty, yes.  But I've managed to run personal bests in every distance this year from the 10K to the half marathon and hit pace during workouts steadily so I didn't feel like it was out of reach.  More importantly, my coach agreed that it was tangible and he's not one to sugar coat things.  So off I went on Friday, feeling excited, nervous and cautiously optimistic.  My flight was at 1:30 in the afternoon and I landed around 3:00 only to hop in a cab with Achmed, a very nice gentleman from Jordan, who informed me that even though it was 14 miles into the city the ride would take an hour and a half because of traffic.  I got the sense that Achmed wasn't too thrilled about driving into the belly of the beast during rush hour but he agreed nonetheless.  We fell into conversation pretty easily and ended up chatting the entire ride.  We were going about 2 miles per hour but time went by pretty fast all things considered.  In the end, I was grateful for his company and for the history lesson that he gave me about Russia.    

After settling into my room I immediately texted Carrie Birth, a friend of mine who I connected with through running about 8 years ago and who I was planning to race with on Sunday but who I'd never actually met in person.  It's crazy but it's not, you know?  We both used to run for Skechers Performance and have grown very close since we joined the team back in 2016; cheering each other on in racing and in life, and finally we were connecting face to face.  After a very long hug, we dove right in and started discussing our race plan, including pacing, fuel and anything else we could think of that we might be dealing with.  I've never lined up specifically with a buddy who shared my exact same goal and I was really fired up about it.  Obviously things might not work out and we might have to split up at some point.  And of course we both knew this.  But we decided to try and stick together for at least the first 10 miles and then make the call after that.  Stronger together, right?  She and her husband Justin eventually left for their hotel and I went back up to my room to settle in for the night.  Chicago is an hour behind and it was already 8:00 so....yea.  What can I say?  I'm nothing if not predictable. 

I was up very early the next morning and beelined it down to the Starbucks that was IN MY HOTEL.  I know.  Too good to be true.  I sat and drank a latte and then made my way out to the riverfront for the NUUN meet up.  I've been on the NUUN team for 12 years but despite this I did not know a single person at the meet up when I arrived.  It's always a little awkward to arrive at these things solo and even more so when you don't have any connections but I needed to run anyway and all of these very nice people were headed out so I figured I might as well tuck in with the group and get my miles in.  I guess my feeling is this: I'm 47.  I'm in Chicago by myself.  And life is too short to be shy at this point in my life.  Shortly after we got going I struck up a conversation with a really nice guy who ran on the local Under Armor team.  Turns out Under Armor was co-sponsoring the event together with NUUN.  We then started chatting with a lovely gal named Alia who was running her first marathon.  Alia and I ended up turning around sooner than everyone else and continued chatting back to the event site.  As I grabbed some NUUN to sip on I spotted Melia, our team manager.  I have never met her in person either but she emails us all the time and keeps our NUUN world in order so I was thrilled to put a face to the name.  She's an absolute gem and after hanging with her for a while we said our goodbyes and took some pics. Before I left I went back and gave Alia a quick hug and wished her good luck.  Because, as we all know, your first marathon is a big deal.  I also happened to win a water bottle and UA backpack in the event raffle which was an unexpected bonus and had me skipping with a stupid smile on my face back to the hotel.

Next up, the expo.  My plan was to grab my number and shirt and take a quick spin around to pick up any cool samples along with some merch for my kids and then to get back to the hotel so I could get off my feet.  Side note, I did Chicago back in 2019 and had too much fun with my family running around the city and doing all the things but then paid for it on race day so I wasn't going to make the same mistake this time.  At the expo, I got to meet up with my dear friend, Kara Goucher, right before I was leaving.  We've known each other for a while as well and caught each other up on life and what not before she started to get pulled away for photos with fans.  She also happens to very close with Carrie and I knew I'd see her out on the course the next day so I gave her another hug and took off for the Sheraton.

After about six episodes of The Office I got a text from my sweet friend, Kim Pearlman, who was in the city to pick up her daughter and wanted to know if I had time for a visit.  YES!!, I exclaimed.  Please come save me from myself and Michael Scott.  We hung out in the lobby for about an hour and talked family, friends, life, jobs and Kung-Fu among other things.  It was so nice to hang out with her as it had been a few years since I'd seen her.  I was super grateful for the distraction as well.  We said goodbye and I sent her off and then, once again, went back up to my room to curl up for the evening.  I laid out my gear, ate some cold pasta, did some foam rolling, watched a really bad movie and then shut it down around 9:00.  I know, late for me.

I woke up before my alarm at about 4:45.  I made some crappy coffee in the room's little single serve machine because nothing was open yet and I needed it asap.  I had done a test run the day before and knew it was going to be bad so I wasn't terribly disappointed by the taste of this first cup.  Let's just say I've had worse.  

I got myself all packed up, pinned on my bib and then headed out to walk the mile or so over to Grant Park where we would be starting.  I'd been accepted into the American Development program for this race with a qualifying time from my last marathon.  Basically, this meant I got to take advantage of the special tent that was set up right near the start line for a small group of athletes that was both heated and stocked up with snacks and drinks and that we would get to start before the masses.  This is a really nice comfort to enjoy on race morning when you're likely stressed out due to race nerves.  Well, it would have been.  But, you see, every single person I asked as I walked around the area had no idea where the American Development tent was despite the fact that it was marked on the map.  Literally.  No one.  I probably asked about fifteen volunteers and walked an extra mile around the start area looking for it.  And to be honest, I would have given up and just sat my ass down and waited but I needed to find it because I was meeting up with Carrie and it would be the only way we could start together.  By the time I found it I was wicked flustered and had very little time to enjoy the amenities.   Carried hugged me and told me to try to relax, bless her.  I basically was able to stash my gear and re-tie my shoes before we were told we needed to move out.  

It was now about 7:20am and the temp was in the low 40s.  We could not ask for better race weather.  But it was still pretty chilly standing there in a crop top so Carrie and I linked arms and stayed close in an attempt to keep each other warm.  Finally, at 7:30am, we were off.  

THE RACE:

As I mentioned, Carrie and I had decided that we would work to stay together for the first 10 miles and see how we felt.  If we could get into a good groove and we were still hitting goal pace after 10, then we'd buckle down and work to push each other along for as long as we could.  These first 10 miles were amazing.  Carrie is an insanely good pacer and was able to lock right into 6:45.  My first mile, according to my Garmin, was 7:16, which just wasn't right.  Carrie assured me that she had 6:44 and that I shouldn't panic.  Unfortunately, GPS signal is weak or not accurate in the city due to the height of the buildings and I knew this from the last time I'd done it but it's still somewhat unsettling.  I was doing my best to watch my individual splits, trust Carrie and just use the force.

We were able to communicate at almost every water stop.  We'd check in and if we both decided we wanted it we'd grab either water or Gatorade and just share the cup so we didn't have to slow down or split up.  I'm not gonna lie, we were really good at this.  I was super proud of our team effort here.  We were still right on pace through about mile 16 and then we started to slow.  Not a ton.  But enough that if we didn't pay attention it was going to cost us our sub-3 which we both wanted.  And, bottom line, I just didn't pay attention enough.  Miles 16-20 were right around 6:55-7:00. I wasn't looking at my watch and I wasn't looking at the clock.  I was just in cruise control.  Still feeling really good and having a grand old time.

Right around mile 21 I realized my mistake.  I had to get my ass in gear if I was going to run anywhere close to my goal and I only had 5 miles to do it.  I kept watching the clock as the miles ticked by and trying to do the math in my head since my GPS wasn't working.  Turns out, math during a marathon is really hard.  Like, I couldn't do it.  I was able to pick it back up for this last section but it was too late and as I got closer to the finish I knew it.  Regardless, I did everything I could to find a faster gear for my last couple miles and finally crossed the line in a respectable 3:01:08.  Initially I was pleased.  I'd run really steady and my body had held up better than usual.  That said, I'd needed to buckle down and focus a little sooner and I was disappointed that I hadn't done this.  If I'm being honest, I kind of felt too good at the finish.  This never happens.  And it's nice not to feel destroyed.  But I would have rather bit down and finished in pain with a better time and I won't make this mistake again.  Marathon #29.  47 years old.  And still, I'm learning.  Which is a good thing.  Because, as you can guess, it makes me want to try again.  Which I most certainly will.  

I found Carrie in the finish chute.  She'd come in right behind me and had similar feelings about her performance.  She was a bit dehydrated and slightly out of it and she kept asking me questions like the ones below as we walked gingerly back to our tent.

1. Can we sit down?

2. Can we sit down now?

3. Where is our tent?

4. Now can we sit?

5. Are we sunburned?

6. Why are there curbs on the street?

7. In how many minutes can we sit?

For the record, even at the finish no one had a clue where the American Devlopment tent was.  We were dying laughing as we asked every single volunteer we passed and they looked us like we were crazy or apologized and said they had no idea.  I swear you guys, there was a tent.  I think.  Right, Carrie?

Listen to this:

The River - KT Tunstall

KT Tunstall · The River

LONE GULL 10K: A PHOTO STORY

How you've grown

Look back now

And move on

Don't worry

About a thing

Just grab those car keys

And drive into the rain 

~ Car Keys, Jaguar Sun

Keeping it simple for this one.  Because, let's be honest, I don't change it up much when it comes to race day.  Coffee, dogs, drive, race, coffee.  That pretty much sums it up most of the time.  This was my last hard effort before the Chicago marathon which is on October 9th.  It was a great race and a really fun morning in general.  The goal was to push hard and that's what I did.  Back in 2018, I ran the Tufts 10k.  I was 33 years old and it was my first time lining up since having my daughters.  I could not wait to get back into it.  Today I'm 47 and while I'm still after it, I see running and racing in a whole new light.  At this point in my life I'm just grateful to do what I love and curious to see what's possible.  

Lone Gull 10K

Sunday, October 25th

6:00am

Saturday was nuts.  And I'm wicked tired.  But it's a beautiful morning. So, zero complaints.

6:35am

Coffee on the front porch with Clover & Enzo.  Enzo is hiding behind me because he's scared of the camera.  And pretty much everything.

7:15am

41 minutes to get to Gloucester, MA.  Love that for me.

8:45am

Calm before the storm.

8:50am

Walking to the start of the race.  Hoping we don't have to run on this sand. 

8:53am

Almost there.  Still hoping.

9:38am

FINISHED!

9:44am

Post-race with Chloe Pangonis, a super cool chick and now friend that I'm often racing with.

11:02am

It was a good day.  Now coffee

Listen to this:

Car Keys - Jaguar Sun

Born Losers Records · Jaguar Sun - Car Keys