1,000 miles does not equal 1,000 blog posts

Written by: Amy
16 Feb 2011
Dedication Run, Hashery, Inspiration, Life Purpose, Personal Stuff, Yoga

Amy’s Runs: Tuesday, 3m treadmill run; Wednesday, 90 minutes of hot yoga with Molly, Bridget and Megan; Thursday, 3m treadmill run; Friday, rest; Saturday, 7m run with Bridget through Georgetown, Rock Creek Park Trail, down the Mall to the Capitol; Sunday, 3m run on the Mall and Dupont with Bridget and 90 minutes of hot yoga. (Hot Yoga was at Bikram Yoga Dupont)

My year of a thousand miles will not equal a year of one thousand blog entries (many of you on my Facebook feed will appreciate that fact!).  At the yoga studio last week, someone said, “It’s so nice it’s not January, the classes aren’t as crowded.”  The opposite is true on the streets in DC.  The warmer temperatures and tour buses have people out exploring this great city.

I am proud to be one who hears the crunch of the gravel beneath my feet on the Mall, smells the fried doughnuts outside of Crispy Cream, listens to the music playing on the outdoor patios in Georgetown and anticipates the budding cherry tree blossoms.   Bridget and I have been logging longer runs on the weekends and it feels good to push a little further and pick up the pace.  We aren’t speed demons by any stretch of the imagine, but we are out pounding the pavement and learning more about yourselves and our friendship through the miles.

Next Tuesday marks the fifth anniversary of the passing of my good friend, Bruce Hogan.  Running brought Bruce and I together in MaCall, Idaho.  We spent the fall gardening and picking apples together.  In the winter, I made him oatmeal and warmed milk for his breakfast while learning about his rich life and the painful truths of death & cancer.  I’ve celebrated his life in the mountains of Tibet and on a beach in Vietnam.  I’m already looking forward to running with Jenna through the streets of DC to honor his memory and celebrate friendship.

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Trust on the Open Road

Written by: Amy
31 Jan 2011
AmeriCorps, family, Yoga
Amy’s Runs: Thursday, 90 minutes hot yoga with Molly; Friday; 90 minutes hot yoga with Molly; Saturday, 90 minutes hot yoga with Molly & 3.5m run with Bridget and Carla; Sunday, 90 minutes hot yoga with Molly and 5m run with Bridget, Jennifer, Emily, Gina, Megan, Lauree, Melanie, Jessica and Jessica’s husband. (Hot Yoga was at Bikram Yoga Dupont)

Hot yoga has been the necessary break I needed from trudging out in the cold to chip away a few miles.  Since it had been 3 days since I last ran, I looked forward to the run today, whereas, generally I mostly look forward to seeing my friends.

From the beginning, my focus was on connecting with people through running, but I was thinking mostly about me.  After 81 miles, I realized my “project” is also allowing others to reflect on their journey (a thousand miles or otherwise), meet new people, spend time with old friends and share an experience.  I also didn’t realize it would be so much fun to rally people around something that makes me excited, and that it would expand the depth and friendships of those brought together as much as it already has after only 30 days.

I’m continually grateful that so many people make time and take energy to join me on my journey of one thousand miles.  This week my journey has included 450 minutes of Bikram hot yoga.  A friend of mine, Molly, has signed up for her own challenge – 90 yoga sessions in 90 days.  After just 5 days and 5 sessions, I am in awe of her commitment.  For the next 70 days, I’ll will be inspired knowing that at some point Molly will be in the studio sweating it out for all 26 poses and moving one pose closer to reaching her goal.

The friends I’ve run with are so willing to open up and share real things that are happening in their lives that make the miles just slip away.  It doesn’t matter if we last spoke a few days, weeks or even years ago.  We don’t tip-toe around the subjects, and we ask thoughtful questions of one another.  It’s in the space of the road that I’ve found a real trust with friends.  And, my favorite is when the open road leads up to a place where we are able to share a meal after the run.  Sunday was filled with moments of truth on the trail and around the table that showed the level of trust shared between friends.

Thank you, ladies, for your patience with my slow pace, constant support and trust.  Love, Amy
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Taking Risks

Written by: Amy
11 Jan 2011
AmeriCorps
Amy’s Sunday run: 4.8 miles with Bridget and Gina.  To White House, on the Mall, to the Lincoln Memorial & back to Dupont with a cool down through the farmer’s market.  Monday: travel from 7:30am to 5pm (silly snow & driving), default rest day.

Under other circumstances (for example: being alone), I would have churned out 3.5 miles and called it a day.  Sunday was my lucky day.  Actually any day I get to run with friends, I consider a lucky day.  Gina, another friend from my AmeriCorps days, joined Bridget and me on our usual [2 weeks :) ] Sunday run.  Layered up and ready to brave the cold, we set out into the blustery, yet sunny outdoors.

The miles just tick by when we’re catching up on our weeks, talking about goals, aspirations, and challenges that lie ahead.  Ok, let’s be honest, they don’t “just tick by” … but at least there is company & the gasping for breath is broken up by bits and pieces of conversation.  And, I never end a run without a nugget of wisdom to take with me.

I found out that Gina has a blog where she documents her life as a professional educator in a high-needs school.  She tries to find what works, what doesn’t and how to keep the magic alive.  Through the blog, she hopes to be “just a bit more like Lance Armstrong, building [her] stamina and honing [her] practice.”  It’s insightful, witty and thoughtful (just like Gina!), so check it out especially if you want to see what kids are giving teachers for holiday presents.

Gina, Bridget and I talked about the risk associated with writing and “publishing” (even if it’s to a blog that our friends and family read … thanks, everyone … all 7 of you!) the material.  I’ve felt a sense of fighting my inner demons who want to tell me all of the horrible things I don’t want to happen: “you can’t do it,” “you won’t be able to run 1,000 miles,” “you’re lazy.”  And, each day, each post, each run helps me overcome that “can’t do” voice.

Bridget commented on my “Easing in to My Thousand Mile Year” post:

“I like this post, especially your last question.  I’m not much of a risk taker and often find myself thinking about risks in a negative way, so sharing them other people is intimidating.  Good food for thought.”

In my year of 1,000 miles, I hope to provide a safe place on the open road for myself and others to talk about their fears, make plans to overcome, try, succeed and celebrate, fail and pick each other back up again to take on the next risk head on.
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