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First 2014 Update

In two days I will turn another year older. I love birthdays. I do not love getting older. Unfortunately, those two things are not mutually exclusive.

I did finish my 60th half marathon.

I hurt my back really badly and ended up in the hospital with major migraines. I haven't been able to walk well for three weeks.

My car broke down and the repairs were in the thousands of dollars. Ouch. Now I have my car back thankfully. Hopefully it'll stick around for a little while longer. I'm quite attached to it.

I did see some new places this year along the West Coast.

I went to a taping of the Queen Latifah show and got to meet her.

Happy New Year: NYC Marathon, 2013 in Review, 2014 Resolutions

I didn't blog on my newest adventure. After London I headed to NYC and completed a marathon there, then five days later I headed to the Big Island of Hawaii. I didn't travel for Christmas and spent my first Christmas Eve and Christmas with no family. I did hike on New Year's Day to watch the first sunrise. Everyone around me cheered. It was better than ringing in the year at midnight. I feel like I earned this more.

 Here are the highlights of 2013:

1. Traveled to Ireland and completed another marathon
2. Traveled to London
3. Finished the NYC Marathon just days after Ireland. Neither went well.
4. Completed five more half marathons, bringing my total to 55.
5. Bought a new place and now own multiple properties
6. Got braces again and now have straight teeth (again)
7. Moved twice
8. Went to Hawaii
9. A happy life memory I wrote into a short story and had it published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book

I had some losses. My uncle and dog passed away. I lost my hair. I lost my desire to do some things I used to do.

Here are my resolutions for 2014:

1. Complete another marathon
2. Travel to at least one new country
3. Complete at least 3 half marathons
4. Volunteer more

I have other resolutions, but don't wish to make them public. All are written on paper and posted to my fridge and can look at them all year long to make sure they are completed.

London on Halloween

Spent two days in London and saw all the typical sites: changing of the guard, riding London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, West End...etc. Busy, beautiful city.

Ireland Marathon--Medical Tent, Horrible Time and All-Round Cluster Fudge

I signed up for two marathons less than 6 days apart. You think I'd be smart enough not to do that, yet here we are. 

First up was Ireland. It did not go well. It was actually my worst race ever. I got my worst time and then hyperventilated at the finish, collapsed and passed out. I was rushed into the medical tent via wheelchair and had blood work and all kinds of tests done. They almost had to contact my family in the US.

Then as I was walking back to my hotel I started to pass out again. I was holding onto a lamp post to keep me up when I watched a girl walk into the street in front of oncoming traffic and try to commit suicide--right in front of me! 

I dubbed this race "Murphy's Law Marathon." Here's why: 

At mile 13 I stepped on and killed a gecko. So not only do I feel sick, I feel guilty, too. 

I ran out of nutrition because I didn't expect to be in the race so long.

I lost my lucky sunglasses in the medical tent, which is just as well because apparently they aren't so lucky anymore. 

There was a 100% chance of 40mph winds, which meant there was a 100% chance I'd be miserable. I was. 

I saw a girl try to kill herself, which is kind of ironic because that's what I was telling myself all during the race: I just want to die. Then I watched someone try to die and I realized, no, I really don't want to die. I won't say that again. 

I blacked out. That's never happened. 

My body is rejecting running. It used to feel so good to run. Now my legs always feel like jello and I just can't do it. Even running a 5K feels like work when I used to sprint the whole thing. What happened? I got sick and never recovered. I think in 2014 I may just give up running for a while and come back to it and hopefully start fresh. I've tried fighting it, but my body just can't run right now and I have to accept it. 

Sad face. 

Number 54 and 55

I finished half marathons 54 and 55 less than 24 hours apart. So hot and so salty. I am in escrow right now for another property and hopefully it'll work out. I think 2014 will be a good year.

Visiting Napa, Missing My Dog

My dog passing away has been utterly sad. I miss her and think about her a lot. I did have a planned trip to Napa Valley, my first time there. Unfortunately, Friday night I ate something bad and ended up with food poisoning for the entire weekend. I found Napa pretty and pretty boring, both at the same time. Full of vineyards (I don't drink), shops (full of stuff I wouldn't buy) and bistros full of delicious food (that I couldn't eat because of the food poisoning), I didn't have the weekend I planned. I got in too late and the only room available was a smoking room and now I have brought home the stench of cigarette smoke all the way from Napa into my bedroom. And I haven't eaten in two days. I feel like aliens invaded my body.