An Ode to Windover ...

What is it about the classically slow pace of the bucolic lifestyle that is so enchanting? Falling asleep to the cool crisp night-time air blowing softly through an open window? Or maybe the 70 year old neighbor farmer rambling down the lane on an ancient tractor at a snails pace? Those evening walks where the sun is just dipping below the rolling hills and the evening fog is beginning to roll into the multitude of dips and valleys?

Needless to say, returning to the hustle and bustle (and work) of the city is always a shocker. I am immediately stuck at my desk struggling to come to terms with reality, my head drifting back to morning dew and homemade blueberry pie. I find myself staring
aimlessly and listlessly out the window, my mind retracing footsteps down narrow trails and over ancient rocks. Perhaps the farming life is really the way to go. Shun the overbearing reality of big city life and cling to the simple, basic necessities. Easy to talk about, not so easy to follow through with.

It was a wonderful weekend though, filled with hikes and walks and doggie play time. Swimming in the Loyalsock (humans and dogs), hiking through Worlds End and Ricketts Glenn, admiring the multitude of waterfalls, and doing a little fly fishing. Sleeping late and waking up early. Quiet evenings and afternoon thunderstorms. It could have been 1905.

Mary Pics

Finally getting some pics of up from the marathon ... been a couple weeks since that little adventure and with all this good weather I am teeming for another. Esp since driving up though Shenandoah last fri - the hiking bug is kicking up big time. These pics will serve as my encouragement for any and all to get off their asses and try a race - I had never run a mary before but the atmosphere and comradery is really awesome. The pre-race expo gets you all pumped and jittery, and the 15 mins prior to the start is pure exhilaration if your into anticipation. And the race has so much going on, be it supporters, aid stations, live music, etc that you almost forget that you are running. really a kick and worth the effort of a little bit of training for sure. I am excited to run the Baltimore this Oct. and probably the P-burg again next May if I am around for it. Since I only missed qualifying for Boston by like 10 minutes that should be a good goal - and I can't even imagine the atmosphere around that bad bay. Plus to be running the same race as one Kara Goucher would be well ... I am gonna leave it at that.

Video of the finish ... hopefully there will be pictures up tomorrow

http://kdka.com/video/?id=56939@kdka.dayport.com

Clock time finish was 3:21:30 - I am wearing a black and yellow-green singlet with black shorts and my flowing locks are bouncing ha ... if you turn the volume up you can hear them announce me about 10-15 feet before I finish and right as some guys SPRINTS past me in the last 10 feet.

and so it is done! the race went really well - never hit any major walls and felt solid the whole time ... im really glad i did it and ready for another (but not for a while haha)

Check it out on pittsburghmarathon.com - bib number 4021

Pictures to follow ...

well well five days and couting ... www.pittsburghmarathon.com

I feel like I am ready and just want to run the damn thing at this point ... and I am still kinda in disbelief that I allowed myself to miss blue-white weekend but somehow 2 days of boozing just didnt seem like a good pre-race weekend agenda ... would have been the ultimate "wrong" decision as tully would put it

got a chance to return to my artistic roots over the weekend with the integral Easter tradition of egg dying. oh the joys, the pains, the multi-colored fingers. I could have spent hours upon hours alone at the table, perfecting every color of dye and creating a dozen perfect eggs. alas there is not enough time in a sat night. ocd? maybe a little. none the less it was fun to be a little kid again, and I clearly triumphed in the easter egg hunt that followed the egg dying (collecting 3 out of the 12 eggs) but failed to previal in the spoon egg race (due to an assortment of runners with longer strides than myself I am sure).

Now its a rainy tuesday (april rains and rains and then rains in dc) and I am patientally waiting for may, for sunshine, and for the marathon which I am both eagerly awaiting and quietly dreading. trying not to wish the days away as they seem to go too slow and then too fast as it is. the passing of time is the only true constant ...

A poem in celebration of spring….

The Breath of Spring by John McLeod

The breath of Spring
Lifting on wings that feel
The pulse of Life
Hope that will bring
A sense of ‘real’
After the shadowy, wintry days
Now gone….

The dawn’s first whispering
Of gentle birdsong ‘wakening
To splendid day,
The heart takes wing
And soars majestically
On freedom’s way….

What joy indeed!
The poet in me
Rejoices midst the gentle need
To happy be….
And counts his blessings!