It's my birthday and I'll run if I want to!

As of June 18th, I am officially in my "late twenties". It's quite an interesting transition and I have to say that my life looks a lot different than I had imagined it at this point. I thought I would have my career, my relationships, and my hopes and dreams mostly figured out. Hah! Joke's on me. While I have very few of the above figured out, the challenges and experiences of the past year have certainly shaped who I am. I think so often about Bjorn and wonder about what things he would have done beyond the age of 26. One thing is for sure, as usual, he would have spent tons of his time with friends and enjoying good people, good weather, and all the little things I am so quick to "check off" in my planner. This summer, as my friends begin to get married, have children, graduate from undergrad and grad school, I am consciously taking time to enjoy every moment of what "matters" in my life. Holding my new nephew, wedding dress shopping with my best friends, running on a beautiful June evening, and learning to use a chainsaw to clear a mountain trail have been some of the most recent joys for me. And I find that I'm happier just living day to day than I have been in a long time. I think this year of 27 is going to be pretty darn great. Now, as I plan my next adventure...skydiving?...I am often reminding myself to slow down and just enjoy the moment.

P.S. In lieu of birthday gifts, please consider giving to my run!

Proverbial training hurdles

Many of you have been so wonderful in asking, "how is the training going?!" Well, for the past few weeks...it wasn't going very well. Between learning a new full-time job, going to school and all of life's other activities, I ran myself ragged. As a result, I ended up with shingles (an unpleasant combination of shooting chest pains, headaches, and people saying, "you have what?!" as they slowly back away). Well, after dropping my microbiology class, and taking a few weeks to slow down, I am feeling much better, thank you. Today I put the ol' trainers on for the first time in two and a half weeks. 3 miles in hilly St. Edwards Park taught me that I have some work to do to get back on board with my training. But the good news is that I am well enough to do so now. Keep me in your thoughts and call me if you want to go for a run with me :)

Faubion family gives big!

Gimme an "F", gimme an "A", gimme a "U", gimme a "BION"!!! What's that spell? Big donors!!! Thank you to Jenny, Barbie, Tom and Kristin (Coovert, formerly) Faubion for your generous $100 donations each and for getting my fundraising going! This family has single-handedly helped me to surpass the 5% mark in meeting my ultimate goal...$4000 to give to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Woohoo! Feel the excitement.

Oh, and if you are wondering how my training is going, I went to the gym the other night to run on the treadmill AFTER my microbiology class got out at 9:00pm. (Oh yeah, I'm serious about this training business.) So, I hope that gives you an idea. And this weekend, I will do the "ultimate West-side work out experience". I will attempt to run the Santa Monica stairs with my brother-in-law. Hopefully some hot celebrity with a nice behind will run ahead of me as "motivation". (Please excuse the overuse of quotation marks if you hate air quotes as much as Bjorn did!)

Donation Ins and Outs

If you donate $100 or more, here is the form you need to claim your frequent flier miles from Alaska Airlines: http://www.teamintraining.org/chapter/wa/1316479/alaska_airlines_form.pdf

All donations are 100% tax deductible!

Your company may match your donation...which would be great for me! Please call your HR department to see if they do.