As a little girl, I played Monopoly with my younger sister. I often lied, cheated and quit.  Of course it was my turn, I was always the banker and I decided when the game was over.  I was 10.  Ok, maybe 12. (She stopped playing with me at some point.)  I just wanted to win.  I was bigger, smarter, stronger … so why shouldn’t I be the winner every time?

I thought about this as I ran on the treadmill next to my dad this week, and realized I will fall short of my 1,000 mile goal.  Every day this week, I’ve been reminded that my dad does not lie, cheat or quit.  He’s worked hard every day – often spending hours on the road and many nights away from home –putting one foot in front of the other even when failure seemed imminent.  He’s defined and redefined success and what his goals are throughout the years.  He welcomes change.  He is not afraid of a little shit (figuratively and quite literally).

I am now 31 and rather than pad my miles, add a few 2012 runs in or quit, I’m owing up to it.  I will not reach my mile goal, but I achieved many others.  I’ve run in 4 different countries (5 next week when I’m in China), over a dozen states, in multiple cities with dozens of different people along the way and completed my first marathon, as well as a half, too.

Inspired by my dad, I will not quit trying.  I might not get in the 10+ miles I’d need to reach 1,000 by the end of the year, but I will continue to chip away.  I’ll reach out to those around me to join me in a run.  I will bundle up, and hit the road.  I will not lie, cheat or quit.

Dad, I love you. – Amy

Somewhere in the middle of the year I thought I could do the 1,000 miles alone.  I stopped asking for people to help me.  I’m not sure if it was pride, or an inflated self-confidence.

“I ran a marathon, I can do this.”

But what I forgot was that I didn’t run the marathon alone.  Bridget, Fred, Molly G., and Michael (among others) spent countless hours running our favorite routes around DC to help me train.  Dana and I exchanged daily texts.  My sister traveled hundreds of miles to surprise me for the marathon and ran 15 miles with me, encouraging me at the end of a rainy, cold run to the finish line.  My cousin, Ryan, ran 20 miles with me.  My cousin, Brett, tapped me on the shoulder at mile 9 (awesome surprise!) and ran 11 miles with us. Dana and Ricardo started the run with us, starting a fun Spanish singing/translation tradition, and plugged along finding strength along the race route.

I did not run the marathon alone.  Somewhere after mile 26.2 I stopped asking for help.  It wasn’t until last week that I realized what had happened.  I need help.

After realizing I needed to run 7+ miles a day last weekend, I was determined to run every day. So, I ran alone on Sunday and Monday.  But, the entire point is not running for the sake of running, it’s running for the sake of making connections and sharing these 1,000 miles.  Last night, Bill and I enjoyed the miles beneath the moonlit sky and twinkling city lights.  There were moments of good conversation, silly “don’t stop believing” singing and silence.  It was a comfortable run, in my home (again) with a new friend.

Sara Grace, your comment resonated:

“Yay Amy!! Go for it! If you finish strong, you won’t care whether you have exactly 1000 or not. So excited to watch your miles stack up – it may even inspire me to get off my yoga and get a few miles in. :) Can I run miles and donate them to you?”

As a long-time “full-time volunteer” I’m familiar with asking for donations.  And, I can see now that I need help.  I am going to push to finish the year strong and run as many miles (with as many people) as possible.  But, yes, Sara, I would love to accept your miles as donations.

And, I’ll take help from anyone else who is willing to donate theirs.  Just add your mile total in the comments, and I am sure we’ll get to 1,000 miles together.

I am trying.  Not quite the 7.3miles I need to average, but I’m having fun hitting the road again.  It’s amazing how quickly my body reverts back to wanting to run.  Yes, wanting to run.  It’s only been 3 days of running in a row, but there’s something missing in my day until I lace up my shoes and step out the door.

In my first 13 miles of my commitment to finish strong, I’ve been thinking a lot about setting goals.  I’m a big believer in setting realistic goals.  The truth is 1,000 miles in 365 days is not unreasonable.  After I ran the marathon, I lost focus.  I thought I was farther ahead at reaching the goal than I really was and assumed the miles would run themselves.  I forgot how hard I worked to train for the marathon.  I forgot that I made running (and finding people to run with me) my top priority.  I fell into a trap of letting other things in my life influence the decisions I made – namely, that I chose “easier” things (going to happy hours, meeting friends for dinner, focusing on work, wasting time fretting over things that didn’t matter) than making running – and meeting my goal of running 1,000 miles – a priority.  I allowed myself to make excuses.

In just 3 days, I am re-energized to finish the year with the same gusto I started.  I’m hopeful that I’ll find a few people as dedicated and fun to run with me in Madison as Bridget and Molly G. were in DC.

Rest of May = 38.6 miles

June (conservative estimate) = 20 miles

July (conservative estimate) = 20 miles

August, September, October = 60 miles

November 4 = 5 miles

Total = 590.1 miles

Harsh reality … when trying to run 1,000 miles and not really running for 5 months … you have a lot of miles left to run in November and December.

I have 409.9 miles left to run in 56 days. That’s 7.3 miles a day without a rest.  I know that is not good for my body.  It will not be good for my soul.  But I am going to put “409.9″ in my car (because that’s where I spent a lot of my time these days) and I’m going to chip away at it.  I am going to try.  But I am not going to die trying.  This goal was about logging running miles and meeting new people.  I am going to keep my eyes on 1,000 and focus on meeting more people in the last 56 days.

Wish me luck.

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.

One of the first things friends ask me: “Where are you at in your 1,000 miles?”

So, it’s no surprise that in “mythousandmileyear.com” I’ve thought a lot about distance.  I’ve also been thinking about distance as it relates to growth – personal, professional & friendship – not as easily measured in miles.

As I enter the second half of my year, I’m grateful for all of those who have logged miles during the training that helped prepare me for the half marathon and the full marathon (shout outs to Bridget, Dana and the Mollys, as well as my sister to making a special trip to Madison for the marathon & running 11 miles!).

I’ve also spent time reflecting on those who have allowed me to grow personally and professionally.  I was able to spend the weekend with one of the people who have been the most influential in my growth, Holly.

Physical distance between our houses has ranged from 15 feet (last summer when we were roommates) to 5 miles (when we both lived in Boise, Idaho) to 4,500 miles (when we both lived abroad) to the current 280.  Our friendship has grown over the past six year from a once-a-month or once-a-quarter “keep you updated,” to a day-to-day friendship with a strong foundation, which includes honesty, trust with equal parts listening and sharing.

On our 2 mile run this weekend, I enjoyed the chance to share an important part of reaching one of my 2011 goals and listening to Holly share a recent realization in her life.  It wasn’t all about 10,360 steps on Sunday, rather it represented many more that brought us to the necessary level of trust to bring us together that day.

Holly, thank you for making me a better writer, friend and person. Love, Amy p.s. Neva, we missed you.

As I approached the White House tonight Akon’s “Freedom” started playing.  I got goose bumps.  It’s 85 degrees.

I was immediately taken back to China & the feelings I had on my runs there.  A typical run included seeing the 80-year-old woman picking recyclables out of the trash, store keepers hauling boxes, workers taking a nap at the construction site, families eating around a small table outside on the sidewalk and I’ll never forget the little kids yelling “HELLO” and “lao wai, lao wai, lao wai” (foreigner).  Whenever Michael Franti’s song “Oh My God” would play I got goose bumps, too.

I hit repeat on “Freedom” & kept running.

Sunday; nothing.

I spent the last week on an island about the size of 2 city blocks (approximately 6 ½ acres) as a volunteer counselor for a high school leadership camp.  Rather than dizzy myself running around the island, I decided to take in the other activities like canoeing, kayaking, swimming and boating that I cannot enjoy in land-locked DC.  I also spent an afternoon learning a dance routine.  I have no rhythm, but a lot of soul and a very patient teacher (thanks, Erin!).

Jenni, a friend from high school, has told me about the camp she volunteers at for at least five years.  She talked about the transformation she’s seen in the students over the years (it’s designed for campers to return for 3 consecutive years) and adult volunteer leaders.  She talked about the inspiring speakers, the energizing atmosphere and the space necessary for reflecting.  Jenni always ended with, “There’s just no other place like it.”

“You should volunteer next year.”

I finally took her up on the offer & have already marked my calendar for next year.

There’s something special about the people and place that make liquid sunshine out of the challenges faced.   I found myself watching as the magic of letting go, living simply and having fun took over the shy and self-conscious teenagers, as well as the “grown ups.”

My “mileage” for the week is zero, but the distance I traveled isn’t easily counted in miles.

Jenni – Since JV basketball with Mr. T, you’ve always taken me under your wing & encouraged me to give everything my best shot.  Although, I didn’t live up to my full potential as PAM at LTC, I reconnected with myself in a way that wouldn’t have been possible anywhere else.  Thank you for welcoming me to such a special place to you, including your home. Love, Amy

Quite a few people have asked if I would recommend running a marathon.  The simple answer is, “No.”  Just like I answer “no” when people ask if I recommend joining Peace Corps or AmeriCorps.  The same goes for working in a family business, bike commuting or doing hot yoga.

I’ve done or am doing, each of the things listed above, but I am intimately aware that they are not “for everyone” and having a positive experience has as much to do with timing as anything else.  It also has to do with goals.

I’ve been thinking a lot about goals … and as I write this I am thinking about my goal for next week.  I will spend a week as a volunteer counselor for a high school leadership camp in northern Wisconsin.  My goal is to be fully present at camp and connected at camp, and I’m off to get a good night’s rest & not stress over thoughts left unsaid in this post.