A Little Piece of Central Park in Idaho

My husband is out of town.  It’s like a shift in the Universe.  My schedule has to mold into a different shape.  My partner in crime, no longer here for a few days to help out.  My teammate has left the field.

My independence comes out after the initial changes.  I soon realize that I can do what I want with these few days.  Eat popcorn and sherbet for dinner in bed with my snuggly cub, workout when I feel like it, monopolize the DVR shows, stay up until dawn reading without feeling like I might disturb him with my book light.  My workouts vary.  Missing a class this morning, only to get in a fabulous long run.  I work out hard, mad with his travel, and then hit that runners high, feeling on top of the World and then into almost tears from my achy heart.  It’s only a couple of days.

It is a muscle, the heart.  It feels a little weak and torn down when his office sits empty.

My morning coffee, cold in the pot, and not on my night stand first thing.

The trash…oh yah, put the trash on the curb.  I think I hear the truck.

Will I have to GET GAS in my car?  The horror!

Did I feed the dogs?

Things I think about on my run.  Then I let the mental list go.  And just run!

Today I ran, thinking about running in Central Park, where he is.  I am running hard.  Hills.  Angry, New York City, music pumping through my IPod.  I felt strong.  Imagine I am running in a Nike commercial.  I am drenched in sweat and heat and humidity.  My legs become heavy, tight with tired muscles, and I push just a tiny bit more.  I love when my run feels like that!!  I love when I can visualize so much that I can hear the traffic, smell the city.  And when I stop, my body is completely used up.  With nothing left.  

Now, I have an entire day to my self.  Girls are gone, Grandma is picking up today from school for a little celebration!  This is the unhinged moment, because as much as I miss the G, I also adore these days as well.

Showered off of sweat after my Central Park run, there is silence.  Absolute silence.  Time to read, bake some goodies, try out some new recipes, have some great prayer time, talk to an old friend, walk my Yorkie, lay on my living room floor at my back door when the sun is just right, streaming through the window to heat my skin, take a bubble bath.

A whole day of me!

I do sneak a few peaks into his office….

A Carpe Diem Run

YES, it was one of those days!!  One of those winter days in Coeur d'Alene that we all love.  All look forward to.  After snow, and grey, comes the sun.  And it was stunning.  Six mile run with a perfect blue sky, and that gorgeous ball of yellow and orange reaching down out of the sky to kiss our cheeks.  Fingers long with warmth.  A seize the day, seize the moment kind of day.....and we did!!

~“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the 'Titanic' who waved off the dessert cart.” 
― Erma Bombeck

Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold

As per the usual, many runners, including myself get up early, before the sun is up, or as it is rising, to get our beloved run in.  We don't have many thoughts, other than putting on the clothes we have laid out, lacing up our shoes, grabbing our fuel belts, spibelts, water, and we are off.  Out the door to greet the day.  Our only thoughts are the sounds of our feet pounding on the pavement, the sounds of our breath...its our favorite time of day.

I personally never give a whole lot of thought to anything else, certainly not that tragedy could strike.  On January 7, 2012 the running community lost a special person.  Sherry Arnold.  A teacher, a mother, a wife.  A runner.  She left her home this morning on a run, and the events that took place that morning are tragic.  They set me back when reading about it.  Taking for granted life, which is so precious.  Taking for granted the "safe" place I feel like I run.

I followed fellow runner, and blogger Shut Up + Run (read the story here) as the events played out.  This is her cousin.  It has been heart breaking.  It has rocked the running community to its core.  

It has given me every known emotion.  First shock, then great sadness for her family, her school and students, her community, then anger, fear, uneasiness and apprehension about running on my own.

What now??  What can we do as a running community?  On Feb 11, 2012 there will be a Virtual Run/Walk to honor Sherry.  I urge you to participate.  

Facebook Page: Here

Printable Bib: Here

More info: Here

Gather a group of friends, your running group, your Tri group, your training group, your group of girlfriends and walk, run, hike, skip, jump.  Print your bib, and GO.  Run with Sherry in your memory.  Honoring her, and her family!!

Be safe out there.  Never take a day for granted.  Every single day is a gift.  And may Sherry forever be in our hearts and minds, and may she be resting in Peace.

***For us local runners, there will be a group of us running together from Fleet Feet on the morning of Feb 11, 2012