PR!

Last Saturday I participated in one of my favorite events of the season: the annual YMCA Christmas Run. My family tries to do all the community marathons and races offered in the city, including the Great Potato Marathon, the New Years and Christmas runs, and the Big 5 Run. The Christmas run is a super easy jaunt through downtown Boise--just 2.5 miles (although there is a six mile run which my dad did, I chose not to because my knee has been acting all crazy again and I don't want to blow it for good). There are kids running and parents with strollers and dogs; it's not at all a serious run like the other races are. I'm very proud to say I beat my personal record during this run by about 3 minutes--and sure, relative to a lot of people I'm not very fast, but seeing the improvement of how far I have come since my first year of serious running makes me so happy. I also hadn't been running much in Asheville, so I'm glad I can still run fairly quickly. But honestly, I could have probably shaved off about 30 more seconds due to the horrible bottle-necking at the beginning of the race. There were like, people with dogs and kids at the front, so obviously as soon as we started running the dogs freaked out and attacked each other. About the first minute or so in these races are so slow, just because there are so many of us with such a thin line to start at, and it's pretty difficult to dodge through all of the people.

I absolutely love running. I may even stretch far enough to say that it is one of my favorite pastimes. It's wonderful to see how far you can push not only your body, but also your mind. People aren't lying when they say running is mostly mental and partially physical. It takes long, grueling practice and time  to find it, but once you cross that threshold you can let your body soar. I guess that's one of my strange traits--I really can't understand how people don't like or feel motivated to move and be active. The body is just so fascinating, and I find it hard to ignore exploring all the possibilities it has to offer. Feeling stronger every day, feeling faster and more challenged. Feeling the pulse in your veins so prominently  you feel drunk. I love feeling strong.

I'm proud of all of my family. Ethan, Lexi, and my dad all ran this year, and my dad placed second in his division. Go us!