My school concert is in 8 days. I am officially at the point where my expectations are through the roof and my patience is on the floor. I know that I’m pushing my kids but I try to temper all of the pushing with reaffirmations of how much they are loved.

My kids are so wonderful. I can’t believe that I get to go to school every day and teach responsive, motivated, and caring kids. They are not perfect and they are exceedingly blessed–but they work hard.

As the days click by, I must work so hard to find ways to keep praising them when I’m losing my patience with them and most of all, myself.

Keith Olbermann‘s response to the tragedy that is Proposition 8 in California is impassioned, thoughtful, and provoking. I felt it deserved a place here on RST as it describes quite well how I feel about the entire issue. Isn’t about time we all had equal rights?

In pursuit of a healthy day after Thanksgiving I loaded lovebug up in the car and we headed out to Sugarloaf Mountain to take a lovely afternoon hike. We have gone several times over the last few years and it is one of my favorite places to go. I hiked this mountain during adventure camp as a kid and with a few camp friends got quite lost on the mountain; it was a great day then and I have yet to have a visit to the mtn leave me anything but refreshed and joyful.

It was busy up at the mountain. Lots of families, I assume, wishing to burn off their turkey coma with a good walk through the fallen leaves of Frederick County. We drove up to our usual spot on the Eastern view and started along the white trail. We reached the crossroads to head to the first outlook (our usual route) when I decided we should extend the length of our hike on this day. Typically, our hike is 2ish miles and takes less than an hour. But the weather was beautiful on this day, so off we went onto the blue trail otherwise known as “White Rocks Trail”.  This would lead us up to the top of the mountain through a 5-6 mile journey.

This started off quite well. We were having a great time and running into quite a lot of people during the first 45 minutes of our hike. I really enjoyed the new views of expansive forest that was quiet but for the traditional sounds of nature. I think it is this quiet that I truly appreciate about this hiking spot. Yes, it takes about  an hour and a quarter to drive there (I avoid major highways to complete the restful experience) but it is worth every second on the road to escape the noise and bustle of surrounding thoroughfares.

After the first hour, the compatriots along the trail dissapated and we were left to enjoy our trek alone for quite some time. The hills were strenuous and I think I underestimated my recovery from last weekend’s race (not to mention the family 5k on Thursday).  Nevertheless, we pressed on stopping occasionally for water and a carrot. About 3 miles in we finally reached the summit of White Rocks. What a beautiful view of the Frederick countryside and surrounding hills and valleys. It was a clear day and lovely to see and hear the ends of autumn before we creep quickly into winter’s barrenness.

After a rest at the top, it was down the mountain for us, and then the twists and turns of about 3 more miles through the woods. We encountered differing terrain along the path back to our starting point. The thick layers of crunchy leaves led to many wonderful sounds but also a few slips and ankle twists. Even Buddy had one little slip, which I must say gave me a chuckle as I am constantly fighting to keep up with the four-legged wonder. We came to a road/valley where we were to cross and continue through the blue trail until we picked up again to reach the white trail and then back home. Alas, this was yet again a steep ascent for which my calves and glutes were not so excited. Even my furry companion had slowed his pace a bit. I was feeling a bit hungry, but knew that we had to press on.

Finally, after one short wrong turn, we made our way back to the white trail and then back along the road to our car. It was a two and one half hour adventure for us on this day of about 6 miles. We both blissfully accepted the meandering car ride home with a soda for me and a nap (on the drivers lap no less) for lovebug.

Here I sit, two days later, still quite sore from the climbs up and down, but tremendously grateful for what might be the last fall day before the soggy, frosty winter commences. Today as the cold rain pours down and the woody creek is covered in damp grey haze, I’m so glad we made our trek longer. It was a sense of peace that was truly needed before the rush of the holiday season.

As I wake up today after a good family Thanksgiving, I am grateful for where I am today. I am not where I thought I would be, but I must be grateful for the abundance that is provided for me. Yesterday before our meal I shared the prayer below with my family, I think that it is a good reminder to remember that God wishes us to live where we are now, not where we have been or where we are going. Tough, but true.

I was regretting the past

and fearing the future.

Suddenly God was speaking.

“My name is ‘I am.'” I waited.

God continued,

“When you live in the past,

with its mistakes and regrets,

it is hard. I am not there.

My name is not ‘I was.’

When you live in the future,

with its problems and fears, it is hard.

I am not there.

My name is not ‘I will be.’

When you live in this moment,

it is not hard. I am here.

My name is ‘I am.'”

— St. Benedict’s Monastary, Snowmass, Colorado

As we enter the hubbub of the holiday season, may you be blessed and grateful. Peace.

After the hot day in Chicago last month, MM and I signed up for the Philly marathon with hopes for temperate conditions, good crowds, and a nice easy course. What we got was going from one extreme to the other. This is to no major fault of the Philadelphia organizers (though there is still work to be done on their end), mother nature decided her hand needed to be involved and the rest was history.

I knew it was going to be interesting when the sign on the highway said 22 degrees at 6am. A long cry from the 65 degree start in Chi-town. We wore multiple layers at the start and blew warm breath into our gloves to try to keep them from freezing on contact. Our feet were useless to stay warm amongst the frigid temps.

But we shed a layer or two and headed to our starting corral. We headed out on the day, which despite its farenheit reading was quite lovely and plodded through downtown Philly. Our feet defrosted around mile 2 or 3, which helped with turnover. We did not speak of it much, but we knew this would not be a fast day. I struggled with energy and hunger early and so GU consumption was up, but I longed for a giant salty pretzel or some oreos. Alas, not a fan in sight with one.  The fan base was low, given the temps. Our superfans got wind burn of their own from standing along the Schuykill for so long during the day.

In Chicago we laughed as we doused ourselves at water stops and prayed for the next one to come. Here the water in the dixie cups was frigid and burned our lungs going down. We tried to drink just the same. But the extreme irony was definitely the ice. Never have I sliped and slided through a water stop that was a sheet of ice from the spilled cups. Literally, skates would have been appropriate for these stops. We both had moments of slipping and having to catch each other. Hilarious.

We rejoiced when we found the sun and our teeth chattered when it was shady. We just kept being thankful that we had each other and our health. We thought of our friends doing Ironman Phoenix, our friends in need, and those who had just lost loved ones. We counted our blessings. The wind picked up along the river both going out and coming back on Kelly drive, but the crowds in the four miles along Manayunk Main made the long out and back trek worthwhile. As did the beer from HHH at mile 18 and the animal crackers from the random dude at 21. Never in my life have I consumed beer in a marathon but it was the first beverage all day that didn’t have ice chips. My hunger was assuaged a bit as I nibbled my giant handful of crackers and it provided much hilarity at our post race meal. (The gist-my gloves look like giant oven mits and filled with animal crackers, plus my weakened mental state, I looked like something out of a pixar film….)

Having missed our crew at miles 15-16 we were “alone” for miles 12-25 but we just kept trudging alternating pulls on the hills including the new “&*tch” of a hill off Kelly Drive which was not pleasant. MM pulled the last few miles for us as pretty much every part of my legs had shut down from cramps and cold. She is a true friend to stay with me as my body was really weak at that point.  We just kept trudging along the drive thankful for our names on our shirts and the positive attitudes of frozen fans. We finally saw our superfans at mile 25 where they gave us last minute courage to get up the hill. I was “done” but just kept hoofing, attempting to smile or gives a thumbs up to all that called our names.

As we crested the hill at 26 we entered the wall of sound and headed towards the finish, the sun shone brightly bouncing off our windblown faces. We crossed in not our best time, but definitely not our worst. Not making excuses because of the cold but recognizing that this was a day, after two years of being training partners, to share together. The time was not as important as the experience. And running two marathons in six weeks in ultimate extreme (in marathon standards) weather is quite an experience to remember.

I’m grateful for the messages, phone calls, and hugs I got yesterday as I ran my 9th marathon. My 10th will be as I cross the finish line of Ironman Madison next September. The support that I have received is amazing and I look forward to entering a new chapter of my endurance life in January. For now, I sit in defrost mode thankful for my friends and family and most especially the blessing I have to run.

I head up to Philly today for tomorrow’s marathon. It is currently 25 degrees outside my window. The high in the greater Philadelphia region tomorrow is 42. Since the high usually comes around noon, I reckon it will be about 30 at the 7:30 am start of the race. Oh good Lord! I hoped for cool temperatures but I think that my prayers were a bit too fervent.

So I go from one extreme temp marathon (80 in Chicago) to another 30’s in Philly….Alas, maybe this is a hint to stop this marathon thing for a while, or at least head to temperate climates like San Diego for my races?

I go into the race with no major goals other than finish without frostbite. I think the last six weeks have given me good reason not to set time goals. I also look forward to watching my two sisters duke it out as we watch the Ravens (older sister’s team) play the Eagles (little sister’s team) as we sit in Philadelphia but the Ravens play in Baltimore.

So here I go…more in a few days.

So I am a crazy person. I have just signed up for the Team Hole in the Wall Angel Ride. It takes place memorial day weekend 2009 in Connecticut. I will ride 130 miles in two days and raise $1000+ to support Hole in the Wall Gang’s Hospital Outreach programs. I love HITWG Camp and it is a blessing to be able to once again be a team member.

It will be a bit of a busy week however in that week of May. Sunday-Columbia Tri, Wednesday-Final Concert at School, Thursday-Graduate from Hopkins, Friday-Drive to CT, Sat and Sun-ride 130 miles, Monday-drive back and pass out!!! Totally worth it though.  This endeavor is my way of celebrating graduating from Hopkins. It is also a way to see what it feels like to ride that much in hilly terrain.

The best part of all…we stay at camp on Saturday night. So I get one night of experiencing life as a camper. What a hoot it shall be.

Check out my fundraising page here: Sarah’s Angel Ride. For more about Team HITW click here. For more about the camps worldwide, visit Hole in the Wall Gang.

The leaves have blown away outside my sliding glass door in the woody creek that is one of the last remaining bits of nature undisturbed by suburban sprawl. It’s as if I missed the vibrant colors of autumn out the window and now they have all gone by the wayside in the blink of an eye. The birds are still present, undoubtedly pulling together whatever bits of twisted grass they can find to build their nests for the upcoming winter cold. I have yet to see the deer which inhabited this creek last winter, but I do hope they return to frolic about in the tall grasses. It provides a place of serenity and a reminder that some things in life are simple.

I am inside today but I know that it is cold. I can feel it in the air and see it as the wind blows the long vines that curve up and around the woods not twenty feet from my door. I am never a huge fan of cold, but I appreciate the way that winter causes us to slow down. We will try to fight it by heading to the treadmills and bundling up in our down and permafleece but we will lose. The cold will eventually come and lead us to the traditions of snow days, cocoa, and cuddling up to watch movies. The birds too will fly away and the last bits of red leaves give way to crystalline frost.

It is on this day that I wonder what will happen in this winter. So many big things are ahead and I feel as though it is a freight train pushing past the station to a place unknown. I pray that autumn will gave way to the creeping in winter and slow down this process of change. That perhaps for a day or two we will be able to embrace calm or tradition before it is changed forever.

While the autumn has come fast, I fear the winter will be long and leave lasting impressions or repercussions. For on this day, I hold fast to the lingering leaves of red, brown, and gold. And remain thankful for the bits of verdant grass that have stayed hearty through the up and down temperatures of autumn. So that for at least, on this day, winter will not come just yet.

One of my favorite verses from a Waterdeep song is “though I feel alone, I am never alone, you are with me, O my Lord.” I have been thinking a lot about the difference between loneliness and solitude. When I ponder on being lonely, I become sad. When I embrace the gift of solitude, I find peace. So I share this poem I found today dear reader, that speaks in words with which I do not have a gift.

A New Hymn for Solitude

I found Thee in my heart, O Lord,
As in some secret shrine;
I knelt, I waited for Thy word,
I joyed to name Thee mine.

I feared to give myself away
To that or this; beside
Thy altar on my face I lay,
And in strong need I cried.

Those hours are past. Thou art not mine,
And therefore I rejoice,
I wait within no holy shrine,
I faint not for the voice.

In Thee we live; and every wind
Of heaven is Thine; blown free
To west, to east, the God unshrined
Is still discovering me.

–Edward Dowden

After a nice Monday off from the busy weekend, I headed to spin class tonight for a good butt-whippin’. I think I may have my bike positioned wrong because I instead received a quad rippin’.  It is tough to move from the good position of my road bike to the cruddy bikes at the AC. I can never set it just right…

But the workout was good and heading to the treadmill afterwards for a progressive two-miler with MM made it a good brick workout. After an hour of working on report cards I’m ready to take my mushy quads to rest. But…not until Rachel Maddow is over. 🙂