Happy Birthday to Me!

In less than an hour, I will turn 21. Ok, not really, I will turn 34. Wow. 34 years old.

As I reflect upon the past year of my life, I think about what this year has held for me. I entered my 10th year of practicing law. What a milestone. I lost my sister-in-law, Amy, to breast cancer. What a tragedy. I began running. What an accomplishment.

October 30 was always such a cool birthday to have. As a kid, I always had a super cool cake - of course it had something to do with pumpkins, spiders or witch hats. As a college student, how could you beat partying on Halloween for your birthday? As an adult, I was lucky enough to share my birthday with my sister-in-law, Amy.

When my husband I first started dating and he learned that my birthday was October 30, I think he was secretly relieved. His sister's birthday was also October 30. Wow, he would never forget that, right? Over the next nine years, Amy and I shared cakes, rousing rounds of "Happy Birthday," and each other's special day.

Tomorrow, Amy would have turned 40. How I wish I could call her up and hear her say, " Hey You, Happy Birthday to Us."

A few weeks ago I made the decision that tomorrow, on my 34th birthday, I would celebrate it by running 17 miles. What better way to celebrate this day, and honor sweet Amy, than to run a half mile for every year that I am old. And, if I am very lucky, and not too tired, maybe I can throw in one to grow on.

So tomorrow, I will be lacing up my running shoes, hitting the trail, and celebrating in a way I never thought would ever happen - with one long, long, very long, run.

Happy Birthday, Amy. Happy Birthday to Us.

My Wish

Today my best gal pals, along with thousands of other runners, will run the Marine Corps Marathon. And I will be there cheering them on to an amazing finish.

Last night, we all gathered at Leesa's house. After a yummy "carbo-load" dinner, we sat down to strategize when and where we would see our runners. My goal: see my girls as many times during the race as I can. The outcome: We'll have a hook up at Miles 4, 10, 15, 19, 23 and the finish. Its an ambitious plan. But for my girls, I am going to make it happen.

Although I hate to admit it, a teenie-weenie part of me wishes I was running it with them. However, I made the decision months ago that my first marathon had to be Disney - it had too much symbolism for me. So I threw myself into what historically I do best: Cheerleader.

When it comes to the MCM, I fancy myself as somewhat of a Cheerleading Aficionado. I have cheered on numerous friends and family at "The People's Marathon" over the past eight years I've lived in D.C. I'm not happy with just seeing my runners at one spot - its a race for me too. My goal is to see them at every place I can. And I'm good at it.

I can't help but love it. I love the spirit of this race, I love the course, with all of the monuments, I love seeing the military men and women running in honor and remembrance of our fallen, I love the patriotism, pride, and inspiration, and I especially love seeing runners cross the finish line.

What I don't love is seeing runners at the finish line who are suffering, whether it be from injury or fatigue, I've seen some pretty scary scenes. I always hope and pray that once those runners get home, they get better.

I can't wait to cheer for my runners today. For them, and all the other runners, I have one wish: a good run with a healthy finish.

So listen up Leesa and Kim - run your best race today but keep in mind, you're going to be expected to raise a glass in a toast to your success later tonight, AND, more importantly, run another 26.2 miles with me in two months.

I'll be seeing you soon - just look for me. I'll be the crazy girl at Mile 4, 10, 15, 19, and 23 cheering her heart out.

Warning: Running Might be Contagious

The gene pool in my family was not kind to my sister or me.

Between the four kids in my family - my two brothers, my sister, and me - my brothers got the good stuff. Long eyelashes, fast metabolism, perfect teeth, all the things my sister and I would kill for. Not fair. Come on, tell me, what boy needs long eyelashes?

Its just par for the course that my brothers are totally athletic. They rock climb, run, bike, you name it. My sister and me? Well... not so much.

So this morning, I cannot describe the excitement I felt inside when I received the following email from my sis:

To: Jenn
From: Kimberlea
Subject: I am finally doing it...

http://raceofthedead.com/

I am going to do this 5K on Halloween!

Well, I'll be! I am so proud of her. This will be my little sis' first 5K. I wish so much that I can be there to cheer her on. Or better yet, run with her.

A few months ago, I was visiting Kimberlea in Chicago. Over the course of my visit, we'd been taking about running and how much I'd been loving it. We had a few hours to kill before she took me to the airport and we were trying to figure out what to do.

After the usual exchange - "what do you want to do?" ... "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Kimberlea had an idea - "Will you go with me to the running store?" OF COURSE!

That day, Kimberlea got herself a pair of running shoes and some cute running outfits (For these sisters, cute outfits are a must. If you're going to do this, you've gotta do it in style!) and she vowed to start training.

On Saturday, October 31, Kimberlea will run her first race. I cannot begin to tell you about how proud I am of her. Despite the fact that these two sisters were passed over when our family tree was handing out athletic genes, we are going for it anyway.

Kimberlea - I wish you an amazing run on Saturday, October 31, 2009. Although I will not be there in person cheering you on, I will be there in spirit, running right beside you.

I Love the Fall

I love the fall. For so many reasons.

1. Longhorn Football. Yes, it is true. I bleed orange.


2. The leaves change. I grew up in the Texas Panhandle. We didn't have leaves. Now that I am in D.C., they are a glorious sight.


3. My two favorite holidays arrive back to back. First my birthday on October 30th and then Halloween. (Maybe you don't consider my birthday a holiday, but I do.)


4. Good-bye swimsuit season!

Since the official start of Fall, I have decided that I have one more reason to add: Amazing Runs.

I read an article in Runner's World a few months ago about how heat impacts a runner's performance. A runner must exert themselves at a higher level to run in heat than they do when they run in mild temperatures. No Kidding. I learned that real fast when I kicked up my training schedule in June. My only choices - Run at the gym or at the crack of dawn.

How soon I forget how much harder running in the summer really is.

Earlier this month I ran the Army 10-Miler. My plan was to finish in 1:47:30 - a 10:45 pace. As the gun went off and the race began, I felt like a speed demon. I finished my first mile at a sub-10 minute mile pace.

Whoa. I needed to SLOW down. WAY down. I don't ever want to be one of those runners who poop out after mile two 'cause they were too fast out of the start. So I tell myself, I'll slow down after mile two. At mile two, I tell myself that I will slow down at mile three. And so it goes.

I finished the Army 10-Miler in 1:43:04 - a 10:18 pace. I finished at almost :30 seconds faster per mile than I planned. I finished over 1 minute faster per mile than my last 10-miler - I shaved TEN minutes off my race finish time. HOLY... WOW!

On Monday night, my training schedule told me to run 2 miles. As I sat out for my run, I fully intended to do just that. Keeping an eye on my Garmin, I realized that yet again, I was going too fast. And it felt good. It felt good then. And it felt good 6 miles later.

I have a summer and a winter wardrobe. Maybe I have a summer and winter running pace too.

One Person's 5K is Another's Marathon

I have a friend named Jenni. Jenni and I have lots in common.

Besides the obvious, the same name (come on, we were born in the Jennifer-lovin' 1970s), we share a love for some of the same people. Jenni was one of my sister-in-law, Amy's, best friends. Like me, Jenni was not immune to Amy's inspiring influence. Like me, Jenni started running earlier this year. Like me, Jenni is NOT athletic.

On October 3, Jenni, along with Amy's family and friends, ran the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Houston in honor of Amy Ellis Oliver. Jenni trained for this race for nearly ten months.

A few days ago, my husband and I were driving in the car and I thought about Jenni. I wondered out loud. Wow. Ten months of training for a 5K. Do you think she will keep going? Run more 5Ks? Run longer races?

My husband reminded me of what our friend, Jeff, always says: "One person's 5K is another person's marathon."

I have a friend named Jeff. Jeff and I have nearly nothing in common.

We love some of the same people and going to wineries. That's about it. Jeff is an amazing runner, I'm not. He runs 100 milers like I run 5. Jeff's "marathon" is a race with a distance I can't even begin to imagine running. Despite the fact that he has run countless ultra-marathons, he always celebrates my running accomplishments. "A 10-miler, Jenn, that is awesome!" "A 3-hour finish time for a trail half-marathon, great job!"

One Person's 5K is Another Person's Marathon.

Jenni ran her heart out on October 3. Maybe she will keep training, run longer distances. Maybe she has run her marathon. Regardless, I am so proud of her.

Jenni documented her race with a beautiful video. I share it with you below.

Watch the video. Think of Jeff's philosophy. And I ask you -

What is your marathon?

New Shoes, Round 2

Experts say you should replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles or every 4-5 months.

I've been running ten months now. I replaced my first pair of shoes, my Asics Gel Nimbus 10s with another pair of Nimbus 10s back in June. Since that time, I've run two half-marathons and logged well over 300 miles. It was time for a tune up.

I headed down to my local running store. Now that I am a seasoned runner, I wanted to have an knowledgeable conversation with a shoe fitting professional.

My first, and only, shoe fitting resulted a great pair of shoes, not that I assisted in that process. I don't really think you can call the feedback I gave to the clerk "helpful." "Well, these shoes you just handed me are nice... I like the colors."

So here I am, at the running store, and I start my conversation with the clerk.

Me: "I'm training for my first marathon."
Him: "Nice"
Me: "I've been wearing Asics Gel Nimbus 10s, but I'm interested in trying out a new shoe."
Him: "OK. First, tell me what you liked and didn't like about the Nimbus 10s."
Me: "Uhhhhhhh???"

What did I like? Ummm, the colors? Oh no, not again! Think, Jennifer, Think. What do you like about your shoes? Besides the colors?

I was at a loss. I had to admit it, and I did. And then my eye caught a sign hanging on the wall. Oh the shame! Ten months of training and I still cannot tell you how I feel about my running shoes.

Me: "I can tell you that they don't hurt my feet... and that's about it."
Him: "It's OK, that's what I'm here for, to help you figure out what you like and don't like in a running shoe."


I walked out of the running store a proud owner of Asics Gel Nimbus 11s. Along with my new shoes I also took with me the knowledge of two things: 1) that I like these shoes because of the wider toe box due to the way they lace up, and 2) that the likelihood of a career in running shoes is not in my future.

Silly girl, you CANNOT buy running shoes by the color.

Go on. I dare you.

Deep down inside we all have a secret goal - a reach for the moon, land among the stars kind of goal. Something that we dream of doing and that's it, we just dream. Until we are pushed to do it.

A few years ago I was helping a friend of mine move. While helping her pack I came across a piece of paper where she had written down a list of her goals. Some of these were funny, like owning a pair of expensive shoes. Others were serious, professional goals. On this list : Run a Marathon.

From time to time, I've thought about that list of goals. I don't care to own expensive shoes (I'd rather have an expensive purse!) and my professional goals differ from hers. However, I always thought it was cool that she wanted to run a marathon. I wished I could run a marathon. I knew it would never happen. I'm just not athletic.

Then I got the push.

So I have to ask you. What is your secret goal? What is it that you dream of doing but you are afraid to try?

Think about it.

Next to my training schedule on my fridge, I have a few quotes, my simple inspirations:

"If we did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."
~ Thomas Edison

"You decide what it is you want to accomplish and then you lay out your plans to get there, and then you just do it. It's pretty straightforward."
~ Nancy Ditz, Olympic gold medalist

For me, those quotes sum up the way I feel about my secret goal. I had no idea what I was capable of. I had no idea that I could run a block, let alone a half marathon or more. I decided that one day I was going to do it. I laid out my plans, and I'm doing it. You're right, Nancy, it is pretty straightforward. You're right Thomas, I have literally astounded myself.

Whether your dream goal is like mine, to run a marathon, or if it is totally different - applying for that job, going back to school, starting a family, making a move - You may literally astound yourself.

So here is your push.

Go on. I dare you.

Tryouts for Girls Cross-Country Are Next Week?

Yeah, I think I'll pass.

I have probably gotten a bit too big for my britches. I've been walking around for the past few months thinking that given the chance, I would have tried out and made my high school cross-country team. 3 miles, sheesh I can do that in my sleep.

I got a dose of reality this weekend when I actually went to a cross-country meet. Whatever I was smoking when I thought I could make a cross-country team was quickly put out as I watched the 7th and 8th graders (yes, these kids were not even in high school) run 5 and 6 minute miles, cross-country.

My husband's entire family converged upon Oklahoma City this past weekend for a family reunion. Item three on the agenda, right after lunch at Sushi Neko (Yes, sushi in Oklahoma City - guess what, it was awesome. Goes to show they can fly fish anywhere, even to Oklahoma) and shopping for some new cowboy boots (super cute black and white numbers) was cheering at Chandler's cross-country meet.

First off, let me tell you about Chandler. She is an amazing runner. She runs a six minute mile - sub-six when she tries. This, coupled with the fact that she is beautiful inside and out, you can't help but love her.

Second, let me tell you about this race. I can sum it up pretty quickly in three words: Mud, Cold, Wind.

Here we are, all of Chandler's family, braving the cold in borrowed rain boots and wrapped in blankets, cheering her on. Her instructions to us, "When I run past, tell me how far ahead I am of everyone else."

The gun goes off. I don't have to suffer in the mud, the cold, and the wind for long. Chandler runs past us at the half way point. We yell to her that she's logging a 2 minute 50 second half-mile. She's on target for a sub-six minute mile finish. She's so far ahead of the other girls, we don't even bother telling her. And then, just like that, the race is over. Chandler won first place. She hasn't even broken a sweat.

As we pack into warm SUVs and head back to Reunion HQ for some yummy Tex-Mex, I know in my heart, I've got a long way to go before I am a cross-country gal. Now that I see the competition, I know in my heart that if I tried out next week, I would never make the team. And I know in my heart, if I try real hard and train just right, maybe one day, when I grow up, I can be just like Chandler.

My Best Race Yet

This weekend I ran my best race yet.

I did not place in the top of my age group.
I did not run a PR.
I did not run without walking.

I ran with my three little nephews at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We ran in honor of their Mommy, Amy.

As I lined up at the starting line with my family around me, tears came to my eyes. Amy should be here. She should be wearing a t-shirt that says "Me & My Family for the Cure." She should be running with her boys, her husband, her brother, her family. She should be running with me.

I hate breast cancer.

Amy was with us as we ran those three miles in Oklahoma City. She was with us as Wynn, Jax and Bennett ran their little legs off. She was with us as we all took turns carrying Bennett on our backs when he got too tired. She was with us as we ran to the cheers of our family. She was with us as we crossed the finish line together.

I ran this 5K in my slowest time yet, 46 minutes and 33 seconds. I averaged a 14 minute 59 second pace.

I ran beside some of the people that mean to most to me in this world.

Like I said, this was my best race yet.

Hello Old Friend

This last month and a half has been the craziest that I have had in a LONG time. Between foreign bank account filings, the September 15 extended corporate filing due date, IRS e-File, and new procedures for "check the box," my life has been turned upside down at work. I know, I know, it just sounds so darn fun and exciting you can hardly contain yourself. I know I can't. Oh the life of a tax attorney.

But seriously, the life of a tax attorney has gotten in my way. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am a workaholic. One of those girls that makes little lists every day of all she wants to accomplish. And sets out to do it. Even if it means staying at work until 9 pm ... and then working at home later that night.

I have to tell you, this workaholic thing just doesn't fit with the new "running Jenn."

I have done my best over the past month to keep up with my training program for Disney. I take my running stuff to work and hope to get out of there in time for a quick run before it gets too dark ... as if. I've cut down my training schedule to three days a week so I can try to possibly complete each week ... as if.

So after this last month and a half of crazy work Jenn, I decided to say enough. After getting another nasty-gram from HR about how I should be taking vacation (Studies have shown that employees that take vacation are more productive. Thanks, HR, for that intel. I'm too busy being productive to take a vacation, thank you very much.) I took the day off.

Yes, it is true. I took a day off. And I didn't have a reason to do so. No family was coming in town. I wasn't going anywhere, I didn't have a dentist appointment. I truly took the day off.

What did I do with this glorious day off?

Did I sleep in? Well... yes of course.
Did I get a manicure and a pedicure? No... I wish.
Did I clean my house? No... I hired a housekeeper.
Did I go shopping? Nope.

I went for a ten mile run.

And I actually enjoyed it. I headed out to Burke Lake Park on a beautiful afternoon. As the sunlight streamed through the trees and the only sound around was my feet hitting the trail, I couldn't help but smile. I'm hooked. I love to run.

Hello old friend, I've missed you so much.