Two years ago when my oldest was in kindergarten and loving books, he began to pump the brakes and suddenly was less interested in reading to me and more interested in being read to. I know, I know these are the problems we should have, but I wondered what was causing his hesitation. When I inquired he let me know that hew as afraid that if he learned to read that I wouldn’t read to him any more. That day I promised him that no matter how old he got, I would always read to him and he could read to me. Introduce Covid lockdown and we had A LOT of time for reading. Summer of 2020 I read aloud the first four Harry Potter books. We would sit for hours and read…because we could as we weren’t doing much of anything else. As we got back to normal, some things changed but reading aloud together has not.
Now we work to pick out “just right” books for him to read on his own or to his brother and then what I like to call “just right plus” on the top end of his just right reading level that we read together. He reads a page, I read a page and little brother listens. But then we also pick books that are too hard for him to read, while still being age appropriate and I read those aloud to them. Spring Break has allowed us to rekindle our reading aloud. While we each read every day- it’s not always aloud reading. The aloud reading is something special because it allows us to talk about the story, make predictions about what might be coming next and explore topics of common interest. Even the books when I’m exclusively doing the reading, I know he’s following along. So, while the book might be too hard, his reading ability is growing because he’s more than likely following as I read and committing those new words to memory.
We’ve gotten hooked on reading series. Magic Treehouse originally started as series I was reading to the boys. It quickly transitioned to a book that J and I were reading aloud alternating pages. And then before I knew it, he was devouring them on his own in one sitting. He plowed through the entire series and then added Merlin’s Missions to the mix. When he finished he said he was both happy and sad. I think we can all relate to that feeling when series ends and there are no more books to read or shows to watch. We’ve been reading the Ballpark Mysteries aloud for a while now. We are through the initial series and now on the last of the four book Super Specials. So we are about to hit that, we loved it and sad to see it end moment in our read aloud world. I’m not sure what’s next for us. There’s a two book “series” that J recommended from school so we are going to do that one next, but we need another longer series to keep us occupied.
The fun twist to our read aloud adventure is the my youngest is now reading aloud too. It’s come full circle as he is bringing home from school books that J used to read to us. That and our friends Piggy and Elephant are back! C is now reading them to us. It’s truly something to see his excitement as he has his turn reading aloud.
My plan is to continue with reading aloud for as long as possible. How long will the boys want to continue? Time will tell. But for now I just enjoy the fact that it’s a regular part of our days. The family that reads together stays together!! Happy Reading!
Six months from today I will toe the line for my second World Major Marathon and third marathon in two years. When I started running again in February of 2019 I did not see marathons on the horizon. I just saw the chance to go back to something I had enjoyed doing some twenty years prior. My running snowballed quickly and before I knew it marathon running was the answer!n Running has been the right thing, at the right time for me!
Like many runners we register for a new race as soon as we finish a race. For me, on the ride home from the NYC Marathon in November of 2021 I was already planning what was going to be next in my marathon journey. There are plenty of marathons to choose from. It’s not as though the only marathons are the World Majors. But the major marathons allow me to run for the Alzheimer’s Association. They allow each and every training run and the 26.2 miles to be for more than me. I run for those who can’t! I also run because I am blessed to be able to.
Who are the miles for? The miles are for my dad, who lost this fight with Alzheimer’s in August of 2021. But they are also for each and every other family who will hear an Alzheimer’s diagnosis- who will watch a loved one suffer -for every person who yearns for a cure and works toward one every day- for everyone who loses someone to this terrible disease. Making the miles matter is what helps me dig deep on the harder runs and when the going get tough during the course of 26.2 miles. When I reflect back to my NYC Marathon run- I for some reason never doubted that I would finish the marathon. It wasn’t overconfidence- It was more the fact that I had set the goal and I had come to do it. So maybe I was overconfident or maybe I was just being me and doing what I set my mind to do. I kid you not, running a marathon is not a walk in the park. The first half was magical. Around mile 16 things started to get harder. By mile 18 I was kind of questioning my sanity. But with each mile I pushed along. With each mile not only did I know closer to the finish, I knew if I had to I could walk to get to the end. There was a point in the Central Park (probably 2-3 miles to go) when I accidentally called my sister. I actually asked her if she had called me because I didn’t even realize I had called her. My hamstrings hurt so badly and I started to cry because those last miles seemed really LONG! But I can do hard things!! And my pain was temporary. For those with Alzheimer’s there is no finish line. There is no end in sight. So I run through the pain and sometimes the tears…because I can! I will keep running until we find a cure.
At the start of this week I knew the six month mark to marathon day was coming and I began reflecting on what the process would mean this time around. It’s an amazing opportunity to talk about not only doing something but giving financially as well. What I didn’t count on was my eight year old bringing up the conversation with me. His class is participating in The Giving Square. He is learning at school different ways that you can be philanthropic. He was explaining how you can be philanthropic with different parts of your body, i.e. feet, hands, heart. They are taking the idea of doing for others and making it age appropriate so the kids can think about ways they can give back to their communities. He started brainstorming ideas of ways he can be engaged in the community. For example, helping at the farm at school that donates food to the Maryland Food Bank. But the conversation then shifted to how you can combine giving of dollars with doing something. He’s participating in a charity 5K with me in a few weeks. So we were able to talk about how you can fundraise for a charity, while getting out there and doing something like running. Lightbulb moment, he says “like the marathon.” Yes, son just like the marathon. The marathon is more than miles. It’s more than early morning long runs. It’s a giant life lesson on so many levels from being active, to “using your feet to help others” to raising money and giving money to an organization that is meaningful and important.
While I’m doing the running, as a family we are participating and learning from the journey. The boys are already looking forward to going to Chicago. Jeffrey and I are looking forward to taking them to a new city to create memories. I’m looking forward to what will be a flatter 26.2. But I’m also looking to take what I learned in NYC and my training over the next few months to run strong with the ALZ Stars! And to use my son’s lesson from school- I’ll be using my feet and heart to raise awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association!
When I started this blog over two years ago I was a stay at home mom. We were pre-pandemic (can you remember life before then) and I was looking for a way to use my brain a little bit while capturing my running journey. In the last two years and two months a few things have changed. Let’s see- there was a global pandemic that kept us locked down for months. Both of my kids are now in school all day and I went back to work full time. That’s really some broad strokes for what the last two years have entailed. It’s not surprising, that my focus has shifted a little bit with my blogging. While I remain engaged in blogging (not nearly as much as I would like, but hoping to make some more time for it again) the things I want to share have changed a little bit. What started as Inspire Active Style- as I was not only trying to remember my inspiration in being active…while looking good and selling activewear has become a little different.
Different how? The running focus is still there. Running is a huge part of my life and something I truly enjoy. But at the same time, it’s not quite as much as it was when I started this blog. Truth be told, there are only so many hours in the day. Running is a part of the day, the week, my planning for races and such but there are a lot of other things happening at the same time. Capturing how I’m feeling both physically and mentally as I prepare for a race, especially gearing up for the Chicago Marathon in October are important to me. It’s the sociologist in me- I want to memorialize and also be able to look back at the experience- what worked, what didn’t and the lessons learned along the way. But I’m looking to broaden my horizons.
Something that I reconnected with during the pandemic and then again during my time subbing in the library at school is my passion for books and reading. Reading has always been an integral part of our house. The boys have been exposed to books basically since the moment they were born. We have more books in our house…than I care to admit. Yes, I know there are amazing places called libraries. For the longest time that was one of our most favorite outings. Then you know the story- Covid came and we started buying books to fill the time. I also think about how my grandfather had tons (I mean tons) of books that he collected from garage sales and thrift stores, etc. I see this in my future! You know, I told the boys the other day when we were heading to a local independent bookstore- we were going somewhere that they would see something we had a lot of, but could never have too many. The point is that we love books, we read daily and reading is a family affair. So, why wouldn’t reading and books be part of my blog story?
It makes sense. We are all multi-faceted. Why should a blog be about just one thing? All this to say- in addition to sweaty running selfies, you’re in for shelfies and book stacks. My favorite Book of the Month, authors and places to get books. Not to mention on the fun book “stuff” I acquire along the way. Because we all know, once I go down this rabbit hole of the book world there will be so many goodies to share!!
So, my blog is here to stay. It’s focus-is a little bit different. You can still find me on instagram as @inspire.active.style, but you’ll see the added byline of Read.Run.Repeat. So that way I can remember from where I came and to where I am headed. Life lesson- we are always evolving and growing. Don’t be afraid to see where you wind up!
Have you ever found yourself basically just going through the motions? You are sticking to your routine- still getting your workout done, but really kind of ho hum?? Welcome to my post NYC Marathon world. I kept up with my runs. I had gotten into the routine of fairly easy miles while catching up on my shows on my iPad. I became lax about Saturday runs, which used to be my favorites because I didn’t have as much time pressure. The reality is my body deserved some easy miles after a marathon training cycle and running the marathon. Let’s be real- if I’m being truly honest- my mind and body needed a little respite. I went back to work full time in July after being home for nearly 8 years. My dad died in August. I started marathon training the week after. We are still negotiating a pandemic. So seriously- if I take a moment maybe I would give myself some grace. But instead, I’ll admit I was in a funk!!
January rolled around and I went back to being committed to adding strength training into the mix. I’m convinced my hamstring pain during the marathon came from my lack of focus on core strength work during my last training cycle so I’m doubling down on my efforts. All this to say- I was still kind of in an overall workout funk. I was looking for more flexibility than my current online program offered along with more runner specific strength training.
Lightbulb moment came at the end of January when I remembered that the health insurance at work included a year free of the Peloton app. Clearly the Peloton App is not something new, but somehow it was new to me. I have plenty of friends who use the app and own the bike, yet I had never given it any serious thought. No harm in giving it a try. Let’s just say that I quickly became addicted to the app. I could now schedule my various workouts to keep a balance of the activities that I’m trying to achieve. I literally laugh each time I pick a run. Why? Because I swore up and down I didn’t need someone “telling me how to run” when I was running. Clearly, I was wrong. Whether it’s reevaluating my breathing or cadence the guided runs have been helpful. Not only that, my treadmill has seen inclines that I didn’t even know were possible. I’m mixing up my paces, inclines and types of runs. I’m pushing myself again, while at the same time not overdoing it. In thinking about my form and cadence, I’m working towards a more effective running style. I feel stronger and refocused on not only my running but my strength training.
I really love the opportunity to participate in Live classes. Live classes have been particularly helpful on Saturday mornings when I’m tired from the week! 8:30 Live classes with Becs Gentry have been my Saturday morning go to. Even my family is now planning around my 8:30s with Becs. It sounds so simple, but adding that little bit of accountability can make all the difference when you are feeling lazy after a long week.
Susie Chan has helped me take my runs to a whole new level. Incline and speeds- pushing me outside of my comfort zone and reminding me why I’m on the treadmill. Not only that she’s super responsive on Instagram. Translation she responds when I tag her after a run. Again, having this extra cheerleader is so valuable in pushing past the ho hum and moving towards strength and inspiration in your miles. Susie in London so I have yet to make a live class until today!! I’ve been in my workout clothes all morning anxiously awaiting her 2:30 ET 45 minute pops run. Truth be told my left knee has been a little funky, but I can’t miss out on this spring break opportunity to catch a live class with her!!
Why do I share my new love of the Peloton app? Maybe you are like me and trying to negotiate life getting back to “normal” post pandemic, with kids and work and all the other things that come with life and you need a little inspiration with your workout. So I’m here to say- don’t be afraid to try new things. While not every new thing is going to work out- there is that chance that you could stumble upon something great and make it a part of your life!
Why not?? When I registered to run the NYC Marathon in March of 2020 I really had no expectations of what it would mean going forward. I planned to run NYC and hadn’t really given any thought to what would come next. Then what should have been a eight month time period to fundraise for the Alzheimer’s Association and train for my first marathon really became twenty months. In those twenty months a lot changed. Covid hit- the things we or I should say I took for granted changed and we found ourselves enjoying the smaller pleasures in life. The simple things if you will. Quieter times at home with family and/or our pod family. Running took on new meaning. But man, living in pandemic times can be exhausting. Somewhere along the way my running outlet started to feel a little bit like work. The uncertainty of training for races that wouldn’t happen became frustrating. Then my Dad died. And I dug deep to remember why I was running and that it was for more than myself. While I’m reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and setting a good example for my boys, I’m really running for those who can’t and recognize that there will be a day when I can’t so I run while I can.
Training for a marathon takes a lot of time. It’s not so much the weeks of training as it is the hours each week as the mileage really builds. Finding the time when we were still somewhat limited in what we were doing because of Covid was much easier. Come 2021 with work, kids being back to school and a little more “normal” it was a little harder to find the time to train. For me the process is also emotional. I find it truly amazing what we can push our bodies to endure. November of 2021 marked my second full Marathon and first “real” marathon that happened to be one of the major marathons. Go big or go home, right?? I truly had no appreciation for what it mean to run a Major race as my first in person marathon. But once I did I had a whole new appreciation for the fan/crowd support that comes a long with it.
So it would be fitting that on the way home from NY I would start considering what was going to be next. I still had a combination of runner’s high mixed with exhausted body so maybe I should have given myself a little bit of time. But I liken it to giving birth and then immediately saying, sure I can do that again. Maybe it means more because I was still sore and was like I want to do this again! I also felt like I had learned so much from the experience that I had to do it again. I needed to take what I had learned and improve upon it!! My marathon experiences are tied to fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association. So my first email was to the contact in Chicago to see if I could run with their team in 2022. I got an immediate response with all the details and began the process. There is something special about running as part of a team. Seeing other in their singlet on race day and knowing that not only do you have the same goal of running 26.2 but also ending Alzheimer’s adds to the camaraderie and excitement of the experience.
Sure, I could run a marathon anywhere- but since this has become a family affair why not take the boys to another fun city?! Will I run another marathon after Chicago? I have no idea. Will I continue to run to #endalz? Most definitely for as long as my body will allow me. And even when I can’t run, I’ll continue to raise awareness and dollars for this important cause.
Yes, the pun was intended, I couldn’t help myself. But in all seriousness this really is a running list of the books I’m reading in 2022. In 2021, I saw a total uptick in the number of books that I read. I use Goodreads to keep track of what I want to read and what I’ve read, but then about 3/4 of the way through 2021 I had a lightbulb moment that I should keep a list and some thoughts on the books. As I’m constantly learning- rather than have to go back and think again about what I read it would in fact be much easier to do this as an in time regularly updated blog post. See- work smarter…not harder! 2021 I set a goal of 36 books for the year. Three books a month seemed reasonable. Some months, especially in the beginning of the year when I was extra busy with NYU application review I didn’t read that many books. I know longer have the NYU position, but I am working full time. Since I like to unwind with a book at night- reading is still on the horizon. All this to say I’ve set a reading goal of 52 books for 2022. The thought being that some months will generate extra books and it will all balance out in the wash. Or this could be like when I tried to go to 1300 miles in 2020 to 1500 in 2021 and I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Time will tell. Check back regularly as I’ll give a review of the book (hopefully without any spoilers) that I just read and let you know what I’m reading next. I’m looking forward to watching this blog evolve over the year. Also, I’d love to hear about what you are reading and who your favorite authors are too!! My TBR list is always growing!
Book 1- Lucky, by Marissa Stapley (12/30/21-1/1/22)
I read the 256 page paperback version of Lucky. It was a QUICK read. The story developed quickly and I literally read 100 pages in my first sitting with the book. So really this was the last book of 2021 and the first book of 2022. Overall I really enjoyed the book. I was left thinking about the characters after. It was a solid 3.5 – 4 stars. I will check out Stapley’s other books to add to my TBR list. Also, I love when authors are real. Stapley reposted one of my stories that I posted while reading and followed it up with a quick message when I was done. If you are looking for an easy- mystery- fast paced book. I would recommend Lucky.
Book 2- Lily and the Octopus, by Steven Rowley (1/1/22-1/7/22)
I devoured Guncle and the Editor by Rowley in 2021. So I knew that I needed to read what was actually his first book Lily and the Octopus and that I wanted it to be my first full book of 2022. While reading the Editor and tagging Rowley during the holidays he was super kind and appreciative. He responded to my stories post and we chatted a little bit on IG messenger. Again, an author that is a cool person and appreciative of readers combined with awesome books. I’ll read everything he writes. I knew from the beginning that this book was going to be a tear jerker and sure enough it was in fact. Ruby is a pro at sensing my emotions and began licking my face as I cried towards the end of the book. While it was different than what I was expecting, there was the constant that I’ve come to anticipate from Rowley. His voice can be heard throughout. While I enjoyed Lilly and the Octopus, I would have to say that The Editor or The Guncle are my favorites.
Book 3-Somebody’s Daughter, A Memoir, by Ashley C. Ford(1/7/22-1/9/22)
Part of the reason I joined Book of the Month was to diversify my reading. Then I started following all sorts of monthly reading groups, like Read with Jenna and Reese’s Book Club so I have a variety of ideas beyond my normal go to mystery and thriller books. I added Somebody’s Daughter to my TBR list at some point last year, so when it came up as a Book of the Month I knew it was finally time to read it. I enjoyed the opportunity to read this heartfelt story from Ashley Ford as she shared the trials and tribulations of her life. She offered me a new perspective. While this wasn’t my traditional read, I’m glad that I gave it a try.
Book 4- Black Cake, by Charmaine Wilkerson (1/9/22-1/16/22)
Another huge benefit of Book of the Month– early access to books and debut authors like Charmaine Wilkerson. While I initially had a little trouble getting into this book, it quickly picked up and I was hooked. The multiple points of view throughout the book and flipping back and forth between the past and present make it the story easy to read and engaging (even for a book that’s almost 400 pages long!). But for Book of the Month, I’m not sure that Black Cake would have been on my TBR list. I’m glad that I’ve branched out and I’m reading a wider variety of books!
Book 5- A Flicker in the Dark, by Stacy Willingham (1/16/22-1/20/22)
Reading debut authors has been another amazing benefit to Book of the Month!! Stacy Willingham did not disappoint with her debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark. This twisty, turny thriller was not only fun to read, it left me thinking after I finished it. This was a super quick read and I look forward to more from Stacy Willingham. I highly recommend A Flicker in the Dark!!
Book 6 MalibuRising, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (1/21/22-1/23/22)
Malibu Rising was on my to be read list and my book pile since this summer. I do not know what took me so long to finally read it, but I’m so very glad I did. I couldn’t put this book down and got it done just one weekend. As soon as I closed the book I was looking up TJRs other books to add to my TBR list and to purchase. As a child of the 80s I enjoyed the fact that part of this book was set in that time period. I also enjoyed the multiple perspectives and back in forth in time. Hands down one of my top reads lately- I highly recommend Malibu Rising!!
Book 7 The Maid, by Nita Prose (1/24/22 – 1/30/22)
Another debut author read in January. This was an add on to my last Book of the Month box and it didn’t disappoint. While, The Maid, was a little slow as it was getting started but then began to pick up and couldn’t wait to finish it. It’s a combination mystery, who done it, romance novel with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. I look forward to more from Nita Prose as she develops as an author. This was a solid debut book!
January in review- My goodness I’ve never read quite so many books in one month before. A combination of Winter Break, some quieter weekends at home and some awesome books helped me read several from my TBR list. You’ll notice it was also a heavy Book of the Month- month. I love the selection from Book of the Month and the wide variety of books that they offer. Including- early releases like Black Cake. I was never one to be reading the “latest books” but now I’m much more in tune with what’s coming out when and adding a wider variety of books to my TBR list. Three more Book of the Month Books coming my way in February. And I pre-ordered The Paris Apartment, by Lucy Foley too. She was one of my newly discovered authors last year and I can’t wait to read her latest book. Hoping that February will allow me to read just as many books!!
Book 8 Maybe in Another Life, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (1/31/22-2/2/22)
I couldn’t put Maybe in Another Life down. It was a captivating and quick read. The chapters alternate if x happens then this if y happens then that. Showing how one choice can ultimately impact our overall lifeThe fact that the entire book continues in this fashion in a cohesive and captivating read is truly amazing. I highly recommend this masterpiece by Taylor Jenkins Reid. One of my favorite lines from the book: “If our fate is determined with every step we take…it’s too exhausting. I prefer to believe that things happen as they are meant to be.”
Book 9 Vladimir, by Julia May Jonas(2/3/22-2/5/22)
Vladimir was a February Book of the Month. It sounded like something that while it was outside my wheelhouse would be intriguing as it involved a college setting. I had high hopes for this debut from Julia Jonas. While it was still a relatively quick read, it was a short book coming in at 260 or so pages. The writing was heavy and dense. There were times I had to look up words. I can appreciate a great vocabulary, but using complex words just to use them detracts from the book. Ultimately the story was fairly interesting, but overall I would not necessarily adding this to your TBR list.
Book 10 It Ends with Us, by Colleen Hoover (2/5/22-2/8/22)
This was my first book by Colleen Hoover and let’s just say I added four more to my TBR list this afternoon. I cut my morning workout short to finish this book…that’s how much I needed to know how it ended. I basically couldn’t put this one down and will be thinking about it for a long time to come. If you are looking for finding love in unexpected places with twists and turns along the way I highly recommend It Ends with Us. One of my favorite take away lines from the book: “Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can be. We shouldn’t waste time on things that might happen someday or maybe even ever.” (p. 213)
Book 11 The Guilt Trip, by Sandie Jones (2/10/22-2/13/22)
Truth be told this book was fairly ho hum to start. It felt similar to other books that I had read and while it wasn’t terrible it didn’t fully pull me in. The last 100 or so pages however, changed all of that and bumped this up to a four star book for me. Once I reached that part of the book I couldn’t put it down and read through my Sunday morning just to get it done. So in the end, I would recommend The Guilt Trip for a quick mystery, thriller.
Book 12 November 9, by Colleen Hoover (2/18-2/20/22)
I must admit that I am late to the Colleen Hoover party and I’m just shocked that I’ve been in the dark about how amazing her books are for so long. I’m already counting down the days to the sequel to It Ends with Us. I thought November 9 started a little slower and took a little more to get into but once I was in, I was in and couldn’t put it down. Again I ready 150 pages straight through because I just had to know what was going to happen. 5 Stars!!
Book 13 Verity, by Colleen Hoover (2/21/22-2/26/22)
I have no words after finishing this thriller by Colleen Hoover. I will not go into much detail as to not ruin the book for the reader, but I will say- page turner, that is disturbingly amazing. Basically, after finishing it I went and ordered several more of Hoover’s books for a Spring Break read-a-thon. Who wants to join me??
Book 14 The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen(2/27/22-3/5/22)
I’m really starting to love the fact that I can get books before they are released from BOT. I’m not really sure when I started having to read books as soon as they come out, but here I am. The Golden Couple was a thriller that was filled with twists and turns. It kept me guessing and was a quick read. Highly recommend it! It was a solid 4-4.5 star book!!
Book 15 The Paris Apartment, by Lucy Foley (3/5/22-3/12/22)
I was introduced to Lucy Foley’s books in 2021. I really enjoyed The Guest List and The Hunting Party, so I actually pre-ordered The Paris Apartment and received it on publication day on February 22nd. However, life got int he way so it took me a little longer to get to start it. Then work was crazy and it took me much longer to finish than it should. I found the first 100 pages or so a bit slow. Ultimately, it was a good book, but I wouldn’t say it was one of my favorites from what I have read so far this year. I was little overwhelmed after much anticipation.
Book 16 Wish You Were Here, by Jodi Picoult (3/13/22-3/16/22)
It’s been years since I read Jodi Picoult. Her books are like a window into the soul of life issues, but fiction. Wish You Were Here, starts on March 13, 2020, so it seemed incredibly fitting to begin reading it on March 13, 2022. While Covid is still here and we are not completely on the other side of it, I thought taking a trip down “memory lane” and realizing how far we have come would be symbolic, since two years ago at this time didn’t know what to expect. I plowed through this book and I’m still thinking about it after I finished it. This for me is the indication of a great book!! If you are in the mind space to “relive” the early Covid days I highly recommend Wish You Were Here.
Book 17 The Love of My Life, by Rosie Walsh (3/17/22-3/19/22)
Truth be told, this was an add on to my Book of the Month March box. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect- and then started to see it pop up all over as a recommendation. Needless-to-say- it was a quick read. The nice weather afforded me the time to read outside, while the boys played, so I basically read it in a day and a half. While some of it was somewhat predictable, there were definitely parts I didn’t see coming. I’d call it a “thriller lite,” more like a mystery. I highly recommend it. It was a solid 4-4.5 stars!
Book 18 Reckless Girls, by Rachel Hawkins (3/19/22-3/21/22)
Back to back Book of the Month reads. Despite being 320 pages long, this was a super quick book to finish. It’s told from multiple perspectives and alternates back and forth between the past and present. A thriller filled with twists and turns, along with an unexpected ending made this a solid 4 star book. The end had my adrenaline so high I needed to do a five minute meditation before bed. Fair to say I would recommend this to any thriller book lovers!
Book 19 One Italian Summer, by Rebecca Serle (3/27/22- 4/2/22)
This was the first book that I read by Rebecca Serle. It was a quick and enjoyable read, that really made you think that there is more than what meets the eye. This was not my typical read, but I’m glad I picked it up when the boys and I ventured to the Ivy bookstore. Once I had the book at home, I realized that I have had In Five Years, also by Serle on my TBR list for some time. I will read that later this month!
Book 20 The Wife Between Us, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen(4/5/22-4/13/22)
I was a huge fan of the Golden Couple, so it seemed logically to go back to some other books written by Hendricks and Pekkanen. Did you know they write the whole book together?? My book loving friend said that this was a must read. The book was full of twists and turns and oh wait what just happened moments. There is no good explanation for why it took me so long to read other than I was too tired to read at night and continually falling asleep. It had nothing to do with the book, because at the end I devoured it. Stay tuned for a review of another of their books coming soon because I’m sure to read them all now. Highly recommend The Wife Between Us!
Book 21 In Five Years, by Rebecca Serle (4/16/22-4/16/22)
While I enjoyed One Italian Summer, I devoured In Five Years. I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one day. This was a quick and engaging read. Serle hit it out of the park with this book. I loved the fact that it was set in NYC, involved a total “type A” lawyer protagonist. I laughed, I cried and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Read this book!!
Book 22 You are Not Alone, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (4/17/22-4/23/22)
If you have been following along, you know that I’ve recently learned of Hendricks and Pekkanen and have really been enjoying their books. Enough for this to be third book of theirs that I read within a two month window. Not going to lie, this wasn’t my favorite from them. While it picked up at the end, I didn’t enjoy the overall plot. While the writing is strong, this book just didn’t do it for me. Still highly recommend The Golden Couple and The Wife Between Us!
Book 23 Like a Sister, by Kellye Garrett (4/25/22-5/4/22)
I wanted to like this books, honestly I did and I had high hopes, but ultimately it was just kind of blah. The first two thirds of the book kind of dragged. Then when you got to the meat of the book it was as though the author was in a rush to finish. This was not quite as bad as “the Wolf book” that I use as my barometer for books I don’t like, but it’s not on my list of recommendations.
Book 24 Book Lovers, by Emily Henry (5/3/22-5/7/22)
Emily Henry was one of my newly discovered authors over the last year through Book of the Month. I really enjoyed her other books Beach Read and The People you Meet on Vacation, so much so that I had Book Lovers on pre-order so I could get it on publication day. Even with a completely crazy week at managed to read this nearly 400 page book rather quickly- because I just couldn’t put it down. Throughout the book, Henry had me laughing, crying and I caught myself smiling while reading. If you are looking for a fun rom-com I couldn’t recommend Book Lovers more. It’s the best book I’ve read in quite some time and highly recommend it. I literally woke up sad the day after I finished it because I loved the characters so much!
Book 25 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (5/8/22-5/13/22)
Taylor Jenkins Reid has done it again. I recognize I’m quite late to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo party, but nonetheless, she captured my interest in this historical fiction novel. Basically, I was still seeing this book everywhere as a must read. And while I had read the description the book went in a completely different direction than I had originally anticipated. That said, it was a quick read that of course left me looking for more Tayler Jenkins Reid. So I’ve marked my calendar for August 30th for when Carrie Soto is Back gets released.
Book 26 Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez(5/13/22-5/14/22)
In the same week that I read a 5 year old book I also read two newly released books, including Part of Your World. I’m not really sure when my reading took a turn to romantic comedy versus thriller/mystery but I’m enjoying the feel good reads! Part of Your World makes the reader really think about what the non-negotiable are in life and what you’d be willing to give up for love. Despite being 400 pages I plowed through this book in less than 24 hours. It was a fun, quick read that introduced me to Abby Jimenez. Off to add more of her books to my TBR List!!
Well, I’ve just crossed the half way point to my goal of 52 books for the year. What I will often do at this point with my running goal is move the mark and reevaluate the goal. But I’m going to just leave it at 52 and see where I wind up. Each week/month is different. Last month I read four books. This month I read four books in two weeks. So it might all average out in the end or I’ll blow past the original 52 book goal. In reviewing what I’ve read so far, I still tend to gravitate towards mystery/thriller books. But I’ve also read memoirs and historical fiction. I’ve been introduced to new authors that I love. I have so very many books on my to be read list and so little time!
Book 27 The Summer Place, by Jennifer Weiner(5/14/22-5/21/22)
This was my first book by Jennifer Weiner, despite having That Summer on my TBR list for some time. I enjoyed the Jewish humor and references. While not a serious book it allowed the reader to think about the various life choices that are made along the way to get us to where we are at a particular point. While I enjoyed this book- I laughed, I cried and thought deeper about my own life and I will read “Big Summer” this was a 4 star read for me. I really liked it, but I didn’t love it! The more I read, the more sense I’m getting for what I like and I don’t like. Still a great book and worth a read!
Book 28 The Friend Zone, by Abby Jimenez(5/21/22-5/23/22)
Abby Jimenez was a new author to me, but that’s not to say she was new. Remember, how I’ve said that Book of the Month indirectly introduces me to new authors- this month was a total win. I actually almost skipped this month and at the last minute added Part of your World to my box to see if it was worth all the hype. It was in fact. Then a friend, with similar reading styles shared how Jimenez was her favorite author. I learned Jimenez had three other books…all in paperback. Added to cart and to the night table TBR pile. The Friend Zone was another super quick and enjoyable read. I love the humor, sarcasm, and feel of Jimenez’s books. Somehow she manages to take heavy issues and break them down, lThis was another winner!
Book 29 The happy Ever After Play List, by Abby Jimenez (5/25/22-5/28/22)
I thought long and hard, was I going straight to another Jimenez book or was I going to read something else in between? Then I realized that The Happy Ever After Playlist was a sequel. YES!! Love a good series. This was another quick read, with the added bonus of a longer car ride…I only made myself a little car sick to get it done. There were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming in this one, which made it that much more enjoyable to read. Needless to say, next up will Life’s Too Short. Then I will be anxiously awaiting the next book from Jimenez.
Book 30 Life’s too Short, Abby Jimenez(5/29/22-5/30/22)
This could quite honestly be my favorite book by Abby Jimenez and that’s saying a lot because I loved them all. Another example of an author that I am late the the party. I’ve now read all of her books and will have to anxiously await another. Life’s too Short really pushes to the reader to think about making the most of each and every day. Sometimes we all need a reminder to be spontaneous and try new things!! Highly, highly recommend Life’s too Short.
Book 31 The Newcomer, Mary Kay Andrews(6/3/22-6/6/22)
Again, I’m late to the party. Apparently Mary Kay Andrews has been writing books for 26 years…26 years. I basically read 70 percent of this book in a day. Stayed up late, got up early to finish it. LOVED it. A combination of mystery and love story! My two genres expertly intertwined in “The Newcomer.” Now I’m off to research Andrews other books to add to my TBR list!!
Book 32 The Hotel Nantucket, by Elin Hilderbrand (6/8/22-6/13/22)
This was my second book by Elin Hilderbrand. Again, I know, late to the party since she has dozens of books. My first book by Hilderbrand was “Golden Girl.” Spoilers ahead, not going to lie, I didn’t love Golden Girl. Possibly, because it involved a mother runner getting hit by a car and dying. A little too close for comfort. But, I know how other readers rave about HIlderbrand and I wanted to give her another try. I’m so glad that I read “The Hotel Nantucket!” Another bonus of Book of the Month is that we occasional get an early release!! Yay. So I’ve finished this fabulous book before publication day!! A great story, with multiple levels of intrigue. “The Hotel Nantucket” has me ready to book a trip to Nantucket. I’ll eagerly add more Hilderbrand to my TBR list.
Book 33 The Lies I Tell, by Julie Clark (6/13/22-6/17/22)
Book of the Month continues to allow me to get introduced to new authors. TheLies I Tell a redemption story with a Robin Hood twist. This was a good book. I wouldn’t say great, but good. I enjoyed it and getting introduced to Julie Clarks writing. While it was semi predictable it was still an enjoyable read. That said, it wouldn’t be one of my top recommendations. But everyone is different and that’s why there are so many books to choose from!
Book 34 The Wife Upstairs, by Rachel Hawkins (6/17/22-6/19/22)
Reckless Girls was my introduction to Rachel Hawkins. It was intense! Like I needed a meditation app to go to sleep. So my expectations going into this book for the level of intensity might have been a little off. That said, this book contained lots of intrigue and kept the reader guessing a bit. I would have liked a little more from the end of the book, which felt a little bit rushed. Again, not a bad book, but not one of my favorites.
Book 35 That Summer, Jennifer Weiner (6/22/22-6/24/22)
The Summer Place was my introduction to Jennifer Weiner. I know, I know I was late to the party. She has many books that have been well received. As it turns out That Summer had been sitting on my TBR shelf for probably a year. I truly enjoyed this book! Weiner successfully built intrigue and levels of connection between the characters. Ultimately creating a friendship when you would least expect it. That Summer is on my highly recommend list!
Book 36 The Homewreckers, by Mary Kay Andrews(6/24/22-6/26/22)
I know, I know another one that I’m late to the party for- Mary Kay Andrews. I really enjoyed The Newcomer so I knew I had to read The Homewreckers! Despite being over 400 pages I quickly got through this witty, who done it, romance, meets HGTV gem. Time to look up Andrews other books and add them to my TBR list. This is another highly recommended book!!
Book 37 Every Summer After, by Carley Fortune (June 26-July 1)
I was seeing Every Summer After just about everywhere on reading blogs, Instagram and the like. So of course I had to add it to my to be read list. This is a debut novel for Carley Fortune and she hits it out of the park!! Told over a series of years this book tackles young love, angst of the teenage years and reflection on what has been lost. I cannot recommend this book enough. I laughed, I cried and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I need to know what happened to the character.
Book 38 The Bodyguard, by Katherine Center(July 2- July 3)
Katherine Center has many books. So while I’m late to the Katherine Center book party, I’m happy to be here. I’ve found that the more I’m engrossed in the book/reading community the more in tune I am to new releases. This is a good thing for my TBR list is getting longer and more diversified, while being a bad thing for my wallet. The fact that Book of the Month had The Bodyguard as an early release had me beyond excited. Who doesn’t love a tough as nails female protagonist who learns that she might have to let down her guard just a bit and shift her focus in life just a tad to have it all. The Bodyguard kept me on my toes until the final pages and it was a solid 5 star book!!
Book 39 The Measure, by Nikki Erlick (July 6-July 13)
The Measure was such a thought provoking and inspiring read that in order to do it justice it needed its very own dedicated blog post.
Book 40 You’re Invited, by Amanda Jayatissa (July 15-17)
It was time to add a thriller to the mix. This was the book that my bestie and I selected as our Book of the Month read for July. Maybe it’s because I’ve just come to expect too much from a book that this one fell a bit flat. It was good, just not great. There were some unexpected twists along the way, but overall I would say it was a three star read.
Book 41 A Shoe Story, by Jane L. Rosen (July 18-July 23)
Shoes, love, Yiddish, food, and NYC were the perfect combination in this winner from Jane L. Rosen. While it felt a tiny bit slow to begin (or I was just too tired to read at night, which is a real possibility) I ignored my Saturday morning responsibilities to binge the last 150 pages of this book that had me laughing and crying. Highly recommend A Shoe Story.
Book 42 Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid (July 24-July 25)
I have yet to meet a Taylor Jenkins Reid book that I don’t devour in 24 hours. The tragic start to Forever, Interrupted pulled me in and I was eager to keep reading. A solid 4.5 stars. Now I’m off to read TJR’s other books before her new book is released next month. It’s always great to find an author whose style you just love.
Book 43 The House Across the Lake, Riley Sager (July 28-August 5)
This was my first book by Riley Sager. He has a ton of thrillers, but was an author I was not previously familiar until The House Across the Lake was one of the most anticipated books of summer. The book was intriguing and kept me on my toes. I must admit that it got a bit extreme in the last 1/4 or so, but with that sad I will look at some of Sanger’s other books in the future. While I love a good thriller, and I can’t wait to read House Across the Lake I’ve been tending to steer towards “calmer” reads of late.
Book 44 After I Do, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (August 6-August 8)
What if the only way to save your marriage was to take a break from your marriage? Taylor Jenkins Reid has another winner as she weaves together a story of a couple who take a one year break to hopefully save their marriage. With no contact with one another for the entire rear they are left to deeply consider what went so wrong to hopefully come back together. Filled with laughs and tears, and surprises another quick read by TJR left me smiling.
Book 45 One True Loves, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (August 8 – August 10)
What if you thought your husband was dead, so after years of grieving you begin to move on and find yourself broken but able to love again only to learn that your husband isn’t actually dead and he’s coming home?? Can you have more than one true love? Emma, Jesse and Sam are about to find out. Seriously, I don’t know how TJR does it, but she continually finds new ways to write thought provoking, truly enjoyable reads. Another must read!
Book 46 Daisy Jones & The Six, by Taylor Jenkins Reid (August 10-August 13)
I thought TJR had finally written a book that I wasn’t going to love…but alas I was wrong and I was sucked into drugs, sex and rock and roll of the 1970s in this interview style book. Reid really set the stage (literally and figuratively) for the decade of music, while weaving in the relationship of the band, addiction and the struggles of life on the road. Completely different from all her other books, but again a winner!
Book 47 Daisy Darker, by Alice Feeney(August 14-21)
I was eager to read another book by Alice Feeney. I enjoyed Rock, Paper, Scissors. This was a dark, twisty turvy book filled with family drama, death and who done it. There was a time that I was reading primarily mystery/thriller books. Following the intensity of this read, I’m going to follow it up with something “lighter.” It’s hard to really review this book without giving away too much. That said, there was definitely a moment when I said “I didn’t see that coming.” A solidly good, not quite great book!
Book 48 The Unhoneymooners, by Christina Lauren(August 26-31)
The perfect romantic comedy “lighter” book to follow up Daisy Darker! This was my first book by Christina Lauren. I know, I know late to the party again with an amazing author. It will definitely not be my last. This feel good book, reminds of finding love when we least expect it. I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish it! Highly recommend.
Book 49 The Most Likely Club, by Elyssa Friedland (September 3-5)
Hello, the 90s are calling. This was a much anticipated book for me this fall. I’ve been following Elyssa Friedland on Instagram and enjoyed all of the advance fun she was providing by way of Blockbuster cards, CK cologne and the like. I’ve greatly enjoyed her other books as well. This was a fun, skip my long run to finish kind of book. It really made me stop to think about where I thought I was headed in HS and the road that came after. Five stars!
Book 50 Carrie Soto is Back, Taylor Jenkins Reid (September 5-11)
If you have read any of my reviews, you know that TJR is one of my absolute favorite authors. This was another book that I pre-ordered and had waiting for me on release day. While I don’t know much about professional tennis, I was sucked into the story. This book was one of those that I was sad that it as over because I wanted to know more about where the characters went after. A book about life, expectations and our own misgivings about ourselves. Another must read by TJR.
Book 51 When we Were Bright and Beautiful, by Jillian Medoff, (September 11-20)
The bar for books this month was set high. I’m not completely sure what I was expecting from this Book of the Month book by Jilian Medoff. The best words to describe it were raw emotions and intense. While fiction, this book tackled some serious issues. I read to not think about serious issues- so this was a little much from that perspective and might be why it took me so long to get through. Honest thoughts- pass on this one there are too many other great books to read.
Book 52 The Dinner List, by Rebecca Serle (September 21-27)
I needed the comfort of a favorite author after my last book. I’ve been carrying around The Dinner List for well over a year. While this too was an intense book, it was thought provoking and enjoyable to read. Had a great aha moment. There were definitely laughs and tears along the way. Signs of a great book!! Highly recommend this quick read by Serle.
Book 53 Eight Hundred Grapes, by Laura Dave (September 27-October 2)
Dave became one of those authors that I wanted to read her “backlist” of books. While this was a good book, it fell short of great and wasn’t my favorite by Dave. I gave it a solid 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. This book did inspire me to want to visit wine country.
Book 54 The Winners, by Fredrik Backman (October 2-October 23)
I have been waiting and waiting for the final book in the Beartown series from Backman. His books are nothing short of amazing and The Winners did not disappoint. While it was 688 pages long and it took me the better part of the month to read…life got in the way. Backman has this amazing way to pull at your emotions in ways you didn’t think possible by a book. I finished this one when the boys were out, so they missed my full on ugly crying. Another 5 stars for Backman!
Book 55 It Starts with Us, by Colleen Hoover (October 23-October 24)
Colleen Hoover has the amazing ability to write a book that must be read in basically a day. It Ends with Us, the prequel to It Starts with Us, was an emotional tear jerker for sure and I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter in Atlas and Lily’s lives. The much anticipated sequel was again full of raw emotion, but some unanticipated twists and turns along the way. Another 5 star Colleen Hoover rating!
Book 56 The Ex Hex, by Erin Sterling (October 24-November 1)
Not once in a 1000 years did I think I would be reading a book about witches. Witches?? Erin Sterling is really Rachel Hawkins. She writes under a pen name?! Who knew. I love her other books and I was intrigued by the synopsis of a Halloween themed, romance books. I’m so glad that I gave it a try!! This was a fun, light read especially for Halloween week. I highly recommend giving this one a read!
Book 57 The Kiss Curse, by Erin Sterling (November 10-November 11)
Two witch- romance books in one month? But of course. The reason I learned about The Ex Hex was because this new book The Kiss Curse was coming out and I picked them both up from Book of the Month. This is the beauty of Book of the Month, getting introduced to new books, new authors and thinking outside the box with the books that I select. I devoured The Kiss Curse in just about a day, so it’s fair to say that it was a quick and fun read. Thank you Erin Sterling for giving me two fall favorites!!
Book 58 The Family Game, by Catherine Steadman (November 11-November 18)
After two witch themed romance books I thought I would go back to my wheelhouse of thriller/mystery genre books. This was my 24th Book of the Month book on the year. It was intense. It was interesting. But, I would say that it was just good, not great. I’m not disappointed that I read it, but I won’t necessarily seek out other books by Steadman when I already have so many on my TBR list.
Book 59 Desert Star, by Michael Connelly (November 20-November 23)
Michael Connelly is one of my must read authors. I’ve read all of his books. Bosch and Ballard are two of my favorite characters and I had my calendar marked for when this book was released. I made the mistake of starting it the week of Thanksgiving. I got completely sucked into the book and found myself preparing Thanksgiving dinner and unable to put the book down. Another gem by Connelly. A who done it, with political spins and a tug on heartstrings. 5 stars, must read!
Book 60 In a New York Minute, by Kate Spencer (November 25-November 25)
After an intense and emotional read with Desert Star, I needed a feel good romance book and In a New York Minute did not disappoint. The Friday after Thanksgiving was basically my recovery from the crazy week day and I plowed through this book. It left me smiling. This sat for my TBR shelf for way too long. I wish I had read it sooner, but so glad I finally read it.
Book 61 Something Wilder, by Christina Lauren (November 26-November 30)
I’ve been working to get through some of my “older” TBR books. Something Wilder is one of those books. The dynamic duo of Christina and Lauren combined a little mystery with a romantic book. It’s a winning combination. I promptly went and ordered some additional Christina Lauren books for winter break. Stay tuned because you’ll hear more from me about their books in the coming weeks.
Book 62 Lessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus (December 3-December 7)
Lessons in Chemistry, is a book that was all over the place this year. Barnes and Noble Book of the Year. Hyped in many book pages. It was on rotation on my TBR stack until it was the book club read at work. I’m so grateful that I got that push to finally move this books up on my reading list. It was AWESOME. Many books aren’t worth all the hype. The strong, determined female protagonist in this book tackled so many life topics. While set in the 50s/early 60s many of them still apply today. This is definitely on my MUST READ list!!
Book 63 In a Holidaze, by Christina Lauren (December 11-December 12)
We are entering the holiday reading stage of the year. I have a serious stack of a variety of holiday books. Kicked off the feel good, romance holiday book reading with In a Holidaze. Not going to lie, I was a little confused by the start of this one and it took me a little while to get into it, however once I did it was a fun, feel good read. This gem pushes us to think about what we really want in life and how our path can be changed by one decision or choice. A fun read, but probably not my favorite from Christina Lauren.
Book 64 The Matzah Ball, by Jean Meltzer (December 15-December 17)
What, a Hanukkah romance book?? Indeed this is a book with Jewish humor, food, talk about Hanukkah and more. Doesn’t everyone deserve the opportunity fo find their true love? Is it possible as an adult that your one true love is your summer camp archenemy? You’ll have to read to find out. Such a perfect way to kick of Hanukkah with this book by Jean Meltzer.
Book 65 The Santa Suit, by Mary Kay Andrews (December 18-December 18)
The best way to describe this quick read from Mary Kay Andrews- is a Hallmark Movie in book form. The beauty of winter break allowed me to stay up super late and read this in one day. It was a great addition to the holiday book trend I was going for in December.
Book 66 One Day in December, by Josie Silver(December 20-December 22)
Let the holiday book reading continue!! One Day in December was my favorite of the holiday reads. It includes a little bit of friendship, love, family and London (one of my favorite places to visit!). 5 star read that I highly recommend.
Book 67 This Time Tomorrow, by Emma Straub (December 23-December 23)
What happens when your flight gets canceled and you find yourself on a coach bus for 19 hours to your destination? You have the chance to read a book that has been on your to be read list for over a year in one day. This was a very emotional read for me and I’m glad I gave it some distance from my dad passing. It was thought provoking and a tear jerker for sure. I’m so very glad I had the opportunity to enjoy it all in one day. Another must read recommendation!
Book 68 Winter Street, by Elin Hilderbrand (December 23-December 26)
Back to winter themed books. I stumbled upon this oldie but goodie series of four books from Elin Hilderbrand. I brought the first two with me on vacation and then was sure to order the final two to have to read as soon as I returned. I enjoyed the “realness” of the characters and their life struggles. The first book introduces us to the family and makes you eager to keep reading. So glad I was late to the party on these as I was able to read them in quick succession and not have to wait for a new one to be released.
Book 69 The Perfect Marriage, by Jeneva Rose (December 27-December 28)
Added a thriller to the feel good, holiday book reading. This one was a gift, so I added it to my books to take away. I would say it was good. Not great. I’m not disappointed that I read it, but there are better thriller, who done it books out there. That said, we never know when we are going to stumble upon an author that we love and I appreciate reading new to me authors and books.
Book 70The Great Alone, by Kristin Hannah (December 28-December 31)
A heavy book to get to seventy books for the year. This Kristin Hannah book had been on my to be read shelf for…basically forever. I’m not sure why I kept skipping over it. While the subject matter is intense, her writing is divine. You feel as though you have been transported into the book. While this is a long read, I was determined to get it done to finish up the year, that and I couldn’t put it down. Will have to make sure I don’t neglect her other books on my TBR list for so long. If you haven’t read The Great Alone, please do. It’s amazing!
In 2019 I started running again. Small distances with the goal to just get moving for 30 minutes a day. Truth be told, I didn’t even really keep track of my mileage anywhere. Before I knew it I set my sights on running a half marathon. Then I started paying more attention to my training schedule. But honestly that first year I really had no idea how many miles I had run. Turns out, because I went back and checked it was 578.5.
Here comes 2020 and I set a goal of 1000 miles for the year. Totally makes sense, right? I should be able to nearly double my mileage now that I’m a more regular runner with longer races planned. Bam- welcome Covid in March of 2020. I doubled down on my running to maintain my sanity. With the boys home from school from March until August I had a lot more flexibility to when I could run. Less time pressure meant more miles. Quickly it became clear that I was going to blow past 1000 and then set a modified goal of 1300. I finished up 2020 with 1310 miles.
So like any good runner when it came time to set a goal for 2021 I went big and said 1500 miles. Why, on earth I would think that I could surpass my 2020 miles by nearly 200 I have no idea. But that’s the goal I set and for the first half of the year I was on target to hit that goal. Then you know life happened. I started a new job- YAY- but I was balancing working full time and momming and trying to have some fun because it was summer. I hit a wall so to speak with my running as my dad became sicker. It just lost its luster for a bit. A few weeks of not feeling it meant lower mileage weeks. I never stopped running all together, I just cut back considerably on my miles. Cutting back on your miles when you set a lofty goal makes you reconsider your goal. I started wondering why the number of miles was important. Wasn’t the point to still get moving each day? Post marathon it would have been really easy to pack it in for the year, but I knew I wanted to finish the year strong. I did something I never do and I took an entire week off after NYC. My body was tired both physically and emotionally. I actually felt up to running by Wednesday following the marathon, but knew that I was just exhausted so I listened to my body and rested. Then picked up right where I had left off, but with easy miles.
If I’m being honest I’ve had a mental shift. Not to say, running isn’t still important to me, but rather than focus on the quantity of the miles I want to go back to focusing on the quality of the miles. Maybe that means running somewhere new- i.e. the Grand Canyon. While it was only three miles, they were some of the most amazing miles I have ever run.
As I’m finishing up 2021, I feel blessed that I ran (knock wood) without injury. That’s not to say that I didn’t have some hip pain from time to time but nothing like in 2020. I got back to racing in person and it felt so good!!! First up was the Baltimore 10 Miler. This race was practically in my back yard and I made a last minute decision to run it. It was HARD. It was humid and the course was crazy hilly- but I was back to racing in person so I didn’t care…until the next day when my quads were on fire!! Up next the Frederick Half Marathon. This was my first half in person in over 17 months. And one of the many races that I deferred from 2020 when racing was canceled. I had a solid showing and again was just so happy to be back to “real” races. My favorite of all races, The Charles Street 12 was in the Fall. I had a huge PR in that race and finally felt like myself again. That’s all before the NYC Marathon. For a year, when racing in person didn’t start until the summer, I would say that from a running standpoint 2021 was in fact a success. Did I hit 1500 miles- heck no. But I’ve truly realized the number of miles isn’t nearly as important as I had once thought.
So what’s next for 2022? I’ll float a mileage goal in my head for a bit. Maybe I’ll go back to the original goal of 1000 miles and see what happens. But I think I’m going to set a consistency goal, rather than a mileage goal. I would like to consistently run 4-5 days a week and cross train/strength train at minimum one day a week but more like 2 days a week. If I can consistently cross train in addition to my running I know I will be in better shape come October and the Chicago Marathon! I’m also going to build some rest in as well. I’ve come to realize that rest is important too. Yes, I know this should have been a no brainer, but sometimes I’m a little dense.
As for races- I have about a half dozen in mind and it appears I’ve already registered for 4!! I’m registered for: the Frederick Half Marathon in May, Baltimore 10 Miler in June, the Chicago Marathon in October and the Rocky Run in Philadelphia in November. I’m also looking at a a half marathon in March- 5K in May as well as my favorite 12 Miler in September- Charles Street 12. Looks like 2022 is shaping up to be a full year with lots of opportunity! Cheers to a new year and a blank slate to create a new running journey and vision building off of a successful 2021!!
“Covid times” renewed my desire to read. I’ve always been a reader, loving books and reading from when I was in elementary school. I can still remember the first “big” book that I read. Little Women. I remember laying on the couch reading it, the feel of the book. Reading has always been a huge focus with our boys. From before they knew what was happening they were being read to and have adopted the same passion that Jeffrey and I have for books. Life has a funny way of getting in the way of our hobbies. For a long time life got in the way of reading and I would read a handful of books a year. Sometimes 10 or 12. So, I guess, I was still reading, but not quite to the same level I’m reading now.
I suspect I’m not alone when I say I have a “type” of book that I generally gravitate to. I read all the legal/mystery books. Gravitating towards Michael Connelly, David Baldalcci and the like. But there came a time when I had read all of their books and then bam I’d have to wait for the next book to come out. Welcome to 2021 and Goodreads. Seriously Strava and Goodreads are my social media picks of the year!! I love learning about new titles and authors through Goodreads. Building my to be read (TBR) list is something in which I take great pleasure. So I went from what in the world am I going to read to how am I possibly going to read all of these books. As if Goodreads wasn’t enough my best friend from college and I joined Book of the Month(BOT), ah even more books to think about each month. What started as we were going to read one book a month and discuss quickly became three or four books. Then I started following Read with Jenna and Reese’s Book Club. Seriously- I just want to send the boys to school and read all day!!! While that isn’t an option I’m still managing to get 3-4 books in a month.
I thought it would be fun to take a closer look at the books of 2021, along with the new authors that I discovered and will now read everything that have written!! I truly love finding an author whose books I can devour. That is until I realized I’ve read all of their books and I’m anxiously awaiting their newest release. Here’s the lineup in order read the books of 2021. While the year got a slow start with reading because of reviewing NYU applications, it took off in March and I never looked back.
Books
A Time for Mercy, John Grisham – I’ve been reading Grisham for more years than I can remember. I enjoyed catching up with an “old friend” in A Time for Mercy. A great read to start the year.
Handof Evil, JA Jance– I learned about JA Jance in the fall of 2020 as I was preparing to run my virtual marathon. The first book I “read” of hers was actually on Audible, while I ran. I loved the fiesty character Ali Reynolds and started back at the beginning of her books. There are many more to read and I’ll have to start adding them back in my TBR list.
Cruel Intent, JA Jance– Another Ali Reynolds thriller from Jance.
Fifty Words for Rain, Asha Lemmie Part of my challenge to myself this year was to read books that were different from my typical crime/mystery/thrill category. Fifty Words for Rain took me to Japan and did just that. I did a combination of reading and listening to this book on Audible and it did not disappoint.
Corrupted, Lisa Scottoline Lisa Scottoline is another “old” friend when it comes to authors and books. I’ve read nearly all of her books and had the opportunity to go to several of her book signings, even bringing Jackson to one as a baby. She’s an amazing woman and author.
Beartown, Fredrik Backman Years and years ago a friend suggested I read Beartown. I remember thinking, why on earth would I want to read a book about a hockey team?? Oh my this is about a hockey team and so much more. I can’t believe I waited so long to read Backman’s books and then devoured them in quick succession!
Anxious People, Fredrik Backman While I was new to Backman, Backman wasn’t new to writing. This was one of his newer releases and I eagerly read it while I I figured out that Us Against You was the sequel to Beartown. It didn’t disappoint.
Us Against You, Fredrik Backman This follow up to Beartown was even better than the original. I’m so enamored by the community that Backman has created and cannot wait for the third book to be released.
Britt-Marie Was Here, Fredrik Backman While this wasn’t my favorite from Backman it was still a great read and I’m happy that I read it.
A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman I didn’t think Backman could get better than Beartown, but somehow he did. This book had me laughing and crying. Truly an amazing read!
Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine, Gail Honeyman I had this on my TBR list for some time and finally got to it. I enjoyed reading something different and thoroughly enjoyed it.
How Lucky, Will Leitch (BOT) This was my first Book of the Month read. And the first time I read an actual book versus on my Kindle in a very LONG time.
Good Company, Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (BOT)Another choice from Book of the Month. I quickly realized that I was going to be addicted to looking forward to what new books I choose from each month!!
The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett This book was all over the top must read lists. It was again, something I wouldn’t have typically selected on my own, but I’m so pleased that I went outside my comfort zone and gave this book a try.
The Guest List, Lucy Foley I can’t quite remember how this got on my TBR list but this interesting read, told from a variety of perspectives was so good that I also read her previous book The Hunting Party.
Beach Read, Emily Henry This was a solid, RomCom. Who doesn’t love a good romantic comedy every now and then?? A quick and fun read.
Early Morning Riser, Katherine Heiny So many new authors this year and Heiny was another. A book about sacrifice and untraditional families was a tear jerker.
The Midnight Library, Matt Haig This was another one of those- must read books of 2021- completely different than what I would normally read and again I was not disappointed. Have you ever considered the different lives you could have lived??
The Maidens, Alex Michaelides (BOT)Book of the Month has not disappointed. This wouldn’t have necessarily been a book I would have selected but for it being one of the handful of BOT books. It would have certainly been my loss had I not had the opportunity it read this twisty and turning book that kept me guessing to the end. Once I learned that this was Michaelides’ second book, I knew I would have to read the first.
The Last Thing He Told Me, Laura Dave (BOT) This was my first introduction to Laura Dave and I’m so glad!! I literally read this book in two days. I couldn’t put it down. Once I finished I was off to look up her other books and read them as well.
The Hunting Party, Lucy Foley After reading the Guest List, I was looking for more Lucy Foley. Not going to lie, this was remarkably similar in feel to The Guest List. That said, I really enjoyed this book.
Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid I challenged myself to read different kinds of books this year. Such a Fun Age was something that would have not really been in my wheelhouse. However, it was a though provoking and quick read.
Red, White & Royal Blue, Casey McQuiston Reading about the first son’s relationship with the Prince of England. Highly entertaining. This was a funny and enjoyable book. I look forward to reading more from McQuiston.
The People we meet on Vacation, Emily Henry (BOT) So I had this BOT to read before I read Beach Read, yet somehow I read Beach Read first. Emily Henry writes quick and enjoyable books. I look forward to more books from her.
Golden Girl,Elin Hilderbrand. This was my first from Hilderbrand. I know that Hilderbrand is HUGE. She has a ton of books and generally people LOVE her. The jury is still out for me. It’s possible that this book hit too close to home…spoiler alert it involves a runner who dies in a hit a run. But I’m also just not sure that Hilderbrand’s style is for me. I have a few more books on my TBR list from Hilderbrand so stay tuned in 2022.
The Guncle, Steven Rowley– I didn’t stop laughing. While this book had highs and lows-it was a funny book both while I was reading it and listening to it on Audible. I was a huge fan.
We Are the Brennans, Tracey Lange (BOT) Another quality read from Book of the Month. I’d say it was good. Not great, but not bad. It was a solid read.
The Last Summer at the Golden Hotel,Elyssa Friedland– Think behind the scenes of Dirty Dancing. Not so much the main story of Dirty Dancing but rather the operations of the resort. This was my first introduction to Elyssa Friedland and you’ll see that I was quick to read another one of her books. Two thumbs up.
The First Husband,Laura Dave– When I find an author with a style that I like I want to read all of their books. Laura Dave doesn’t disappoint. I enjoy her relatable style and the thriller/mystery component of her writing.
The Floating Feldmans, Elyssa Friedland- True story, I’ve been on more than 15 cruises. It’s what we do as an extended family in December practically annually- you know barring COVID. So I knew I had to read this book. It was funny and relatable. Definitely a great read.
Once There Were Wolves, Charlotte McConaghy (BOT). This was my first really total dud of a book from Book of the Month. I plowed through despite really wanting to not finish it at all. This is the benefit of picking books with a friend- a little “pressure” to finish a book even when it’s not great.
Rock, Paper Scissor, Alice Feeney (BOT). I’m a critical reader. I pay attention. I rarely have a holy cow did that just happen moment. Looking for twists and turns- this one is for you!!
The President’s Daughter,Bill Clinton and James Patterson– While some of this book jumps the shark so to speak, but overall the book is really well written. Long- but a quick read. Definitely recommend.
The Silent Patient,Alex Michaelides– this is one of the best books I’ve read EVER. I’m not going to say anything other than you NEED to read this book!!
Hello, Sunshine,Laura Dave– Clearly I have a book crush on Laura Dave as I work my way through all of her books. This is probably not my favorite book of hers, but still a decent and quick read.
Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty, Laura Weisberger– Honest review- this was just OK. It didn’t really give me anything to think about after and lagged at points.
The Lincoln Highway, Amore Towles. (BOT) Heads up- this book is practically 600 pages. But, it didn’t necessarily feel that long. It was good. I wouldn’t say it was great. Historical fiction is a little out of my wheelhouse of regular reads. I’m glad I read it, but won’t necessarily need to read others by Towles.
A Little Hope, Ethan Joella (BOT). I had so much hope for this book. Pun intended. But, it just didn’t do it for me. Less than 300 pages so not a huge time commitment, but so much focus on grief and loss. Life is too serious to read a bummer of a book.
Beautiful Country (BOT), Qian Julie Wang Truth be told I struggled with this book. A memoir is well outside my typical book choice. I started it and stopped to read something else and then went back to finish it. In the end I’m glad that I gave it a second chance. The story is important to consider and Wang does a good job discussing the challenges of poor immigrant families who had much more in the their home country of China, but came to the United States for the many opportunities.
The Collective (BOT), Allison Gaylin I’m still not quite sure what I think of this book. It was INTENSE. Some of it was a bit much to really think about. It was definitely different. Glad I read it, but wouldn’t necessarily say it was on of my favorites on the year.
Class Mom, Laurie Gelman I jokingly said that this was “research” for work. This was a quick read from Gelman. And I’ll be sure to follow it up with You’ve been Volunteered. If you are looking for light, mom humor give Class Mom a read.
The Dark Hours(Renée Ballard, #4), Michael Connelly– Connelly remains one of my favorite authors. I will always read his new books and The Dark Hours did not disappoint. Ballard and Bosch are a dynamic duo. If you are new to Connelly- start at the beginning of his books. While you don’t have to read them necessarily in order, the context of the series is helpful.
Mercy,David Baldacci– Baldacci is another one of my absolute favorites. This is book 4 in the Atlee Pine series. For these you really need to go back to the first book in the series to fully appreciate the story as each one builds off the other. So if you are looking for a four book series- this is the one!!
The Editor, Steven Rowley– historical fiction with Jackie O from one of my new favorite authors. Yes, please!! I plowed right through this book that hit on so many “real” life topics yet again. But with so much humor and grace. Cannot wait to read Lily and the Octopus.
The Magic Hour, Kristin Hannah– this book literally took my breath away. While I had heard wonderful things about Hannah’s books, I just hadn’t gotten to one yet. This book was powerful and a tear jerker. I highly recommend it and can guarantee I’ll be reading more of Hannah’s books in 2022.
New Authors that I LOVE!!
There’s something to be said when you read an author’s new book, only to realize they are just new to you and you can go back and read their other works. This year I had the opportunity to discover new authors that I loved and went back to read their other books. See- exploring new books and genres opens up a whole new world! My top new authors of 2021 are:
Steven Rowley– I started my Rowley reading with The Guncle. This laugh out loud book was also filled with a variety of emotion. I loved the easy to ready style- more like Rowley was having a conversation with the reader through his characters. While The Guncle was primarily funny, there were serious components and “real life” moments explored through the book as well. I enjoyed it so much that when asked for recommendations from friends it was always on my list. Which meant I had to back and read Rowley’s other books. Plus you’ve got to love when an author responds to your post on Instagram stories. All this to say, I hope to have the opportunity to meet Rowley in person at an author event!
Laura Dave– It all started with a BOT book that I literally couldn’t put down. Upon completion I quickly researched Dave’s other books and started crossing them off my TBR list. It’s possible I have a few more in the stack by my bead to ready in the new year.
Frederik Backman– Easily 10 years ago a friend recommended the I read Bear Town. At first I didn’t think I was intrigued by the plot but finally gave it a read. It was amazing, as has been everything else that I’ve read from Backman. As you can I took a deep dive into his other books. If I had to pick a favorite it would likely be A Man Called Ove. That said, you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Alex Michaelides– If you are looking for a what in the world just happened, holy cow that was amazing book then please read Michaelides. And please let him write more books!! It’s possible that The Silent Patient is one of the best books I’ve read…ever!
I cannot wait to see what 2022 brings in the world of books and reading. I’m continuing to add to my TBR list over on Goodreads. In 2021 I implemented a hybrid reading plan. While I want to buy all the books…I can’t buy all of the books. So some of them I read on my Kindle borrowed from the library. While I mostly read “real” books. Now to figure out where I’m going to put all of these books. But as I always tell the boys- you can never have TOO MANY BOOKS!!
As I approached 40 I caught the marathon bug. 2020 was the year that I was going to run the NYC Marathon. The biggest, greatest, marathon of all marathons. A classic if you will. March 8, 2020 I registered to run as part of the Alzheimer’s Association team, in honor of my Dad who was suffering from Alzheimer’s. Two short weeks later COVID-19 began to impact the United States and the world more profoundly. Everyday life as we knew it had changed. Slowly but surely all races were beginning to be canceled- by June the 2020 NYC Marathon was like all others and it too was canceled. As was the case with many runners, I grieved the lack of racing opportunities, but this one hit hard. For a variety of reasons I was determined to run a marathon in 2020- big birthday around the corner, the 50th running of the marathon and I wasn’t sure my Dad would live to see November 2021 and wanted him to know that I had accomplished this bucket list item in his honor. I had two choices- pout that I wasn’t going to be running five bridges and boroughs in 2020 or do something about it. Despite the marathon being canceled I continued my fundraising and I decided to start my training cycle with the goal of running the Virtual NYC Marathon. I knew that with every training cycle I learned something new, so having a dress rehearsal if you will before the “real deal” seemed like a reasonable backup plan. Everyone says, be sure to carefully select that first marathon experience. Look for great crowd support- a course that will help you to go the distance. My first marathon was anything but- I ran in loops from my house. My crowd support consisted of some deer, squirrels and the guys taking down trees in my yard, until mile 20 or so when my family/friends came out to give me the final push to go the distance. While this was far from the NYC experience of running a marathon, I controlled a lot of the factors that you don’t get to control when running a major marathon. I slept in my own bed the night before. I was able to get up when I wanted and eat my normal breakfast. I listened to NY, NY by Frank Sinatra with my boys and hit the road. I didn’t listen to music. I didn’t have loud crowds cheering me on. Instead, I listened to an audio book and ran my solo 26.2. For what will likely be the only time I broke the tape that my then 5 and 7 year old children created as I crossed the home made finish line completing my first marathon. While I was initially disappointed that NYC didn’t happen, I honestly wouldn’t change a thing about this first marathon experience. Not many people can say they finished their first marathon in front of their home with their family and friends around them.
LIke many others when given the choice of my future guaranteed entry I selected 2021 as my first choice. Truth be told, I didn’t really think there was a chance of the marathon going off in 2021. So much felt unsettled at the time of making my election. However, I knew that I wanted the chance to run the 50th NYC marathon. I would still have the chance to do it during my 40th birthday year. But, as I suspected, I lost my dad a few months before the marathon and instead of running in his honor, I ran in his memory. This added to the meaning of the run.
As the date got closer, I was cautiously optimistic that the marathon would happen. For a long time, I was afraid to get my hopes up because I didn’t want to be disappointed by another canceled race. But this was the real deal and it was going to happen!! In contrast to my solo run, I spent the days leading up to the marathon taking in the sights with my family. We had the perfect few days of enjoying great meals, seeing the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and the Central Park Zoo. The weather was perfect. I was so distracted by making sure everyone had what they needed for the morning of the race- proper layers, snacks, and knowing how to get to the grandstand, that I lost track of the fact that I was about to run the biggest race of my life. I started the day by walking down Fifth Avenue to the bus to Staten Island. It was truly surreal. Crisp. Quiet for NY but not truly silent. As the city never really sleeps. Busses were lined up for blocks to take the runners to the base of the Verrazano Bridge. Fortunately, I made friends waiting in line who helped to pass the several hours we waited before our start time. While it was cold waiting in the start village (I knew that would make for the best running weather)- the time passed quickly sitting along the Verrazano Bridge, taking in the people, the sights and trying to settle my nerves. The energy was high and before I knew it I was making my way to the starting corral. On the top level of the Verrazano Bridge I stood in awe- thinking of all the times I had driven over the bridge, never once thinking that I would run across it. How would I describe the experience?? Intense. There is such a buzz at the start of the marathon where there are no spectators but all the runners are so excited. Once we crossed the bridge there were spectoros, music and excitement for miles. The only other really quiet stretch was the Queensboro Bridge. But then you have the spectators waiting on First Avenue to cheer you on. I’m still amazed at how many volunteers and spectators gave of their time that day to make the race possible. I wore a bib with my name on it and it was as though the spectators knew when I needed a boost and would call out my name.
I like to think of my two marathon experiences as my first marathon and my first “real” marathon. Trust me, anyone knows that 26.2 whether you do it alone or with 30,000 people is a marathon. But there is no describing the energy felt for the 26.2 in NY. In NY I was running as part of a community. When I ran alone it was a very personal experience. It was something I had to do for me. In NY it’s as though the entire city was cheering me to the finish. The sense of community with the runners, many of whom had been waiting two years like me to run in NYC was profound. But one thing remained the same- my husband and boys were there at the end. No, we weren’t in front of our house and they didn’t get to squirt me with water guns like in 2020, but when we called out to each other and locked eyes it was like no one else was there as I crossed the finish line of my first “real” marathon in the greatest city in the world!
For two years I had been mentally preparing to run the NYC Marathon. Fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor/memory of my dad. For the three months prior I was focused on my training plan and staying healthy, all while being just a little bit afraid the race would get canceled. Then Chicago and Boston both successfully happened and I felt comfortable that New York would happen too. We had turned the trip to the marathon into an extended family weekend. We had quality family time leading up to the race- hitting all the highlights. We saw the Empire State Building, Statute of Liberty and even enjoyed the sea lion show in the Central Park Zoo. We caught up with friends and had dinner at some of our favorite places. Quite honestly worrying about all the logistics of the weekend combined with having fun with frineds really kept me from thinking about the fact that I was about to run the biggest race of my life. That at 40 years old I was going to stand on top of the Verrazano Bridge and run the NYC Marathon. Even I still can’t believe this happened.
Did you even run if you don’t flat lay??
I’m a planner. Planning and making arrangements is my thing. I had all the details worked out and that kept my nervous energy busy. But there were so many things I couldn’t control. The weather, the fact that I had to get the bus at 5:15 AM and didn’t start until 10:40. Or that the logistics of how to get into the Grandstand seating for Jeff and the boys didn’t make any sense. I’m telling you all this “extra” worry kept me from thinking about running the largest marathon in the world. That is until I sat myself down along the Verrazano Bridge and took in the grandness of the experience. Listening to music I looked around at all the other folks about to embark on the same crazy experience of running five bridges and five Burroughs through New York. What was I thinking?? Primarily I was thinking how am I going to find Jeff and the boys at the finish so we see each other after they wait so long for me to finish. Not for a minute did it cross my mind that I wouldn’t finish. Crazy in hindsight- but also at about mile 20 when my hamstrings hurt so badly that running was a challenge- but we will get there.
I started out with the 4 hour pace group. Running sub four was my goal. It felt realistic. Felt- because I may have underestimated the hills on the course a tad bit. I felt healthy to start, I was fueling and hydrating appropriately and had a solid first half. Even chatting with the others in the pace group. Then I had to stop to go to the bathroom and lost my pace group. I had to work to regain my mojo a little bit. I enjoyed the camaraderie of running with a pace group for the first time. Plus now I had to do a better job of monitoring my pace since I was on my own. I remain completely blown away at the number of people who came out to support the marathon. I’m talking that some sections of the race were practically single file runners because the streets were full of people. While this amazing energy is profound for me, it was also a little unsettling. I’m not a huge fan of big crowds. Are you laughing- because I was running with 30,000 people? Yeah, I’m laughing too. But anyway, there was a stretch that was so congested with people that it really took me off guard. I felt claustrophobic and actually tried to put my headphones on to get into my own zone for a little bit. Shocker- it was actually too loud with all the people. Trust me- this is a blessing in comparison to the dreaded Queensborough Bridge. While I knew there was this quiet stretch coming I underestimated how long that damn bridge was going to feel when all you could here were feet. While the elevation gain is not the same as the Verrazano Bridge it…was…HARD. For the first time I had this little piece of doubt creep into my brain. Was I going to finish what I came here to do?
Mantras are important to me. So I dug deep literally and remembered that “I run for those who can’t” and damn it “I can do hard things!” My hard was short lived. The hard of those suffering for Alzheimer’s doesn’t get to come and go. When I started this marathon quest it was to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of my dad. My Dad lost his battle with Alzheimer’s in August so the marathon became even more meaningful. I know he was with me the whole way- but seriously dad I could have used a little help around mile 20 when my hamstrings knotted up so tightly that I again wasn’t quite sure I could in fact finish what I had come to start. When I finally got off that damn Queensborough Bridge I saw my friend from HS who I in fact haven’t seen since HS. She came out to support me that day and seeing her couldn’t have come at a better time!! Seeing the other folks out there in their Alzheimer’s Association singlets was awesome too. While the race is personal and individual, we were still running as part of a team. I’m not going to lie- I knew that there was a cheer zone for the Alzheimer’s Association and I had committed it to memory but somewhere along the Queensborough Bridge anything I had committed to memory left my brain. Until I started hearing tons of shouting from our cheer zone. Thanks to my Alzheimer’s Association friends for the support along the way. I honestly don’t remember what mile that was- but I love that you were there!!
I feel like my face says it all- so very tired but so happy at the same time!!
Pregnant women joke about pregnancy brain- I’m here to tell you marathon brain is a real thing as mine became mush. Another fun example of that would be when all of a sudden in my headphone I heard “hello.” It was my sister. Me: “Did you call me?” Ashley: “No, I texted and then you called.” She had been texting me all morning along with other friends and family who were following along on the tracker. That “crowd” support also meant so much. So here I was in Central Park with less than two mile to go delirious getting water and Gatorade saying to my sister- “Yeah I’m not so sure I can do this.” Now really, I knew that if I had to I would have crawled from that spot and I could finish. But man, my hamstrings hurt so darn badly. Shortly after I ran into that same friend again. I was on the far right side and she was on the left side- and I basically did a crazy car lane change across the traffic to give her a big hug for coming out. Basically I had been thinking about the fact that I should have stopped when I saw her the first time to thank her and here she was giving me another chance. A little more than a mile to go. Out of the park and onto Central Park South and then back into the park again. At this point I was kind of doing a run walk combination. No matter what I did I couldn’t quite loosen up my hamstrings. I was well aware that my four hour marathon dream died somewhere along the Queensborough Bridge (notice I’m not a fan). But I was the only one who cared about that silly time goal. My people- my husband, and two sons waiting at the finish line could careless what time I finished- just that I finished. Up to Columbus Circle we came- and back into the park. It wouldn’t be long now. We had walked the finish the day before so I knew there was one incline, but I also knew they had it marked. 800 to go. 400 to go. 200 to go and there are my boys jumping up and down, ringing their cowbells with huge smiles on their faces. In that moment it was if we were the only ones there as we connected and then I went the final 100 to cross the finish line of my first “real” marathon. Final time 4:18:55.
I’m not going to lie, the walk back to the hotel was the longest walk of my entire life. Thirteen blocks felt like thirteen miles. I slowly but surely put one foot in front of the other and made my way back. All I wanted was a hot bath, champagne and pizza!! All of which were quickly arranged. The perfect end to the perfect marathon- and the perfect weekend. I would be remiss if I didn’t again say thank you to all the friends, family and strangers who donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor/memory of my dad. Another huge thank you for the support in the months…years leading up to the big day. I promise a small break in marathon talk for a bit. To my co-workers who supported me, made me signs and surprised me with a celebratory lunch- I appreciate you all so very much. And the biggest thank you to my amazing husband who supports my crazy ideas- encourages me to do my best, while at the same time take pause and realize that my expectations might be a little much- and who entertained our two boys for 5 hours so they could have front row seats to see me finish. I am truly blessed!!
So, what’s next? There’s always a next, right? Shockingly to my boys I took off all of this week and haven’t run since Sunday. It’s not that I don’t feel good. I actually feel great. I’m just recognizing the awesome thing my body accomplished and giving it a little bit of grace. But then I’ll be back it. Slow and steady to finish up 2021. With my sights on a new big goal in 2022. I’ll continue to raise awareness and advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association. Check out what’s next for 2022! Psst….See you in Bean Town in October!!
