Been a tough week to celebrate the annual Holiday of LOVE.
Fever & lack of energy, day after day after day. Hadn’t missed a [non-marathon] day from work in YEARS, but this… can’t seem to shake.
So 2K20… most thankful for those PRESENT in our lives.
Those who show kindness and love when you’re down & need it most.
Many thanks Ash for bringing by food. Thanks to friends texting/for checking-in. And thanks most to my best pal, Ro. BESTEST companion EVER. I love ya buddy 🐾
Happy Valentines Day 2K20 ❤️
“Where there is great love, there are always miracles” ~ Willa Cather (1927)
Valentines Day FUNNY (niece & her comfort cat)
“It doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’
There is a lot of satisfaction in that.” ~ Fred Lebow
Woke early cheerleading myself; only 3 to go. Little bounce day-over-day. Legs stopped moving day prior – think ‘lead legs‘ the new norm. No real recovery. Lack of sleep taken its toll. Trained for ‘miles‘ & throwing multi-day distance. Never foresaw sleep deprivation. Mind fuzzy/cloudy, nothing’s ever crisp. Reality/dream states blurred. And emotional. Even at Christmas, my family… we’re not huggers. Certainly not weepers.
Suck it up buttercup, it’s Race day 6 – and today, this day I’m running 26.2 in the Red, White & Blue 🇺🇸
Sunday. BIGGEST race field of all 8. Hundreds of participants. Flat course & NYC confidence. Crazy fast field. End of Lap 1: Ash & Tom. Taste of HOME, my Colorado FAMILY. Lap later, had it settled in my head. I got nothing to prove. I’ve got folks who love me. I’ve been to Chile, marathon’d in Antarctica. Nothing left in the legs, spirit dinged. Finish the Half & heading HOME. 5 continents in 5 days. I can live with that.
Lap 2, no Ash. Text’d to meet at the tennis courts. It’s just ahead; they were geocaching. Got it! Thankful they weren’t hanging idle while I’m slow-slogging ‘round Long Island. New York State not… ‘the City’.
Ahead on the right. There they are. Smile. Short wave.
Left. Look LEFT. Tunnel Hill mirage. So weird. Same headband, same hydration vest. Smiling, laughing. Talking. No, it’s REAL. Half-a-country away from her St. Louis home. She’s HERE. HOW?
Long embrace. TEARS. No words. Sis – in Garden City, New York ❤️
And Ash. And Tom. And my in-law bro, Paul.
They’re all here.
Run, walk, crawl but finish. I can do this. Triple 8 FINISH.
NY Sibling SURPRISE
Arkansas family, Connecticut family, Colorado family.
FAMILY. It’s the secret glue that makes me tick. It’s the well I go to over & over. The flood of balloons Ash packed for my 50th. Hump Day phone gifs from my Bro. Sis who travelled to Ireland to celebrate (& run) marathon #100. Mom who daily shines a light. Filimin lamp/orange & family’s spiritual warrior.
Folks I TREASURE and draw Mile 22 strength 😊
Manchester – DC – Chicago – Denver
Busy Christmas morning… but it all worked out. Ash & Tom’s home 2:30 COLORADO time.
Comfort food Christmas. LOVE, LOVED. Homemade chicken pie. ‘Gallon-size Ziploc of CHEESE’ mac n’ cheese. AWESOME double/triple helping-size meal. (Diet starts tomorrow.)
Year’s gift giving? Southwest funds & new/improved Garmin for Ash & Tom (future 2020 Seattle/Portland adventures). Pup’s first doggie sweater for Rowan O’Roark. Plush toy for grandpup Marty.
And Dad? Christmas Coupons.
Homemade meals (with all the fixin’s) & 2 airport drop-off/pick-ups. PERFECT for the guy who has everything. They’re right ya know. My life IS full. I want for nothing.
Merry Christmas to the BESTEST family! I HEART y’all ❤️