It was my birthday this week and now being 34 I realize that if I live to 99 years old then I’m now 1/3 done with 2 to go. I’ve been contemplating this on my runs lately. I’m not freaked out by it. Instead I’ve been thankful when I think all that’s occurred in my first third of life. Then my thoughts turn to what I want the next third to be like. I have to say the first third of life was a lot more list driven, so many things to get accomplished (school, career, wedding, house, travel, etc.). This next third I want to focus more on savoring. I want to enjoy each day instead of getting tunnel vision and only looking forward to one specific event. I still have lists of adventures I want to experience, but I know they will happen.
In this next third of running I’m excited to spend time getting as strong as I can and enjoy the remaining “younger” years of running. Then as I get older I look forward to adding more running to our travel adventures. Running adds such another layer to experiencing a new location. Much like food and music can frame a culture, running opens up the senses and gives me a chance to see how people who live there every day feel in their environment. I love that!
On my birthday I reluctantly got up at 4am to run so I could have the evening free for a nice dinner with Rob. Once I was finally out the door I found out how unusually cool it is getting. It was 55 degrees and I was happy to have put on long sleeves. I put in 7K Easy and enjoyed my tunes. The sky was a deep blue and all the stars were out. The moon was full and shining like a spotlight on me. It was such a beautiful morning!
Rob got me a necklace from Tiffanys (in the picture below) and tickets to my first Cubs game! I can’t wait!!!
The training this week has been going well and I will post more about it soon. 🙂
08/28/2010 at 7:33 PM
Happy birthday!
I don’t think I have commented on your blog before, but I love to read it, you are such an inspiration to me.
08/29/2010 at 6:20 PM
Hi there! Thank you!! I’m so glad that you like my blog! 🙂
08/29/2010 at 1:51 PM
Happy Birthday!
08/29/2010 at 6:21 PM
Thanks Jamie! 🙂
08/29/2010 at 2:26 PM
ahhh!!! sounds like the best birthday!!!!!! 🙂 love the necklace!
08/29/2010 at 6:21 PM
Thanks Nic!! 😀
08/30/2010 at 7:27 AM
Happy Birthday!
09/05/2010 at 9:58 PM
Thanks Stephanie!
08/31/2010 at 2:16 AM
Age is but a number. You are fabulous! I love the necklace, too, btw.
09/05/2010 at 9:58 PM
Thanks Rebecca!
09/01/2010 at 5:25 AM
Oh no! That means you hit my age group next year! There goes my occasional age group placing! Hope you had a great birthday! 🙂
09/05/2010 at 9:59 PM
LOL 🙂 I don’t know that you have to worry about that!
09/01/2010 at 7:51 PM
Happy Birthday!! I hope you have an amazing week! I also wanted to let you know that I live in your area and I was referred to your blog by Paige from Running Around Normal. How often do you run and are you ever looking for a running partner??
09/05/2010 at 10:04 PM
Thanks Lindsay! Isn’t Paige so sweet?! So glad you got to run together. Hopefully next time you two won’t have to hit the treadmills and can be outdoors. I run 6-7 days a week right now and am in the middle of training for Chicago Marathon. I would be interested in meeting up for a run sometime. 🙂 Paige is also welcome to join us. I will send you an email to see if there is a time to meet up. 🙂