Today was my favorite kind of day. It was absolutely gorgeous outside: about 70 degrees at 5:00 p.m., the sun was setting, there was a slight breeze, the smell of a backyard bbq was somewhere in the air, and everything around me oozed "calm."

I craved the calm.

I slipped on my running shoes and of course my knee-high socks (my new trademark!), slapped the nano to my arm and went for a little jog. (Which was also something to be happy about: my body is ALMOST done hating me for not taking much time off from the big run a week ago!) The last half-mile I even had it in me to sprint...!

Is it possible for spring to come in January? Well I'm not getting too carried away because it is absolutely COLD in the mornings. I've recently been feeling the need to warm my car up before we make the treck to school every day. I figure I will enjoy days like these with no complaints because soon it's gonna be too hot to even sweat! (you may think that doesn't make sense, but that's ONLY if you've never been to AZ in the summer!)

(-:

I ROCKED!

So yesterday was the big day: Arizona's version of the Rock 'n Roll Marathon. (Well 1/2 marathon in my case!!) Either way it was a beautiful day. The rain they predicted would spoil this event never showed up (thank goodness!), the injuries that plagued us on and off for the past 2 months were held at bay (for the most part!), and crossing the finish line after 13.1 miles was everything they said it would be (no wait... it was WAY more!!).

THE MARATHON

When I get to be a runner

I will find my joy.

I will train my soul to fly

And I will wind through valleys

And climb up mountains

I will hear the thump of my feet

Hitting the earth

And I will feel the cool breeze

Against my tired skin

And there will be no weariness

Because my legs will carry me

Even when my heart is not in it.

The miles will go by

And my eyes will look to the horizon

Towards a finish line I ache for.

In chasing the other competitors

I will find my joy

When I am a runner.

--AKM 2006

Thanks, of course, to all my fans (-: who traveled all the way to Tempe to cheer me on. ... you have no idea how awesome that was! To everyone who gave me a high five along the way--especially miles 7-10. And Aaron, couldn't have done it without ya, and like I said... would never imagine crossing the finish line with anyone else!! And to everyone I know who would be more than willing to take just a little bit of the pain from my knees if they could (-:

(no, YOU GUYS rock!!)