November 5, 2011: 5 miles along Lake Monona, down State Street, up Bascom Hill, up State Street, around the Capitol and down to Willy Street [Madison, Wisconsin]

I’m afraid to look.  It’s November 4 and I haven’t tallied my miles since June.  Yikes.  Will I make it to 1,000?  The jury is out.  I promised myself I wouldn’t add them up and make a predication for myself until I finished writing this post.  My goal was 2-fold.  Run 1,000 miles and meet people doing it.

Today, I ran 5 miles with Ryan (my cousin), Ricardo (Dana – and now my – Madison running partner) and Ricardo’s friend (I can’t remember his name, but he was a great addition to our trio, I’m terrible with names).  After running the 4 of us did hot yoga and then drank a Bloody Mary.  By the end, all had offered to help me move, suggested future times for running and getting together so they can meet the one thing in my life that I have a long-term relationship with … my dining room table.  I have hit my Madison stride.

I haven’t “announced” anything on the blog, but since I last wrote I’ve moved back to Madison, Wisconsin to be closer to my the “DCC Waterbeds headquarters.”  It feels like I’ve been in transition for most of 2011 (new apartment in DC, new job, new goals – of 1,000 miles, half marathon, full marathon, new “5-year” plan, new car, new city – Madison).   And those are all just excuses.  The truth is, I lost focus.

I ran 5 miles today, and I feel great.  So whether or not I make it to 1,000 I am going to celebrate the remaining miles and time I am able to spend with those gracious enough to run with me.