My first race back was great. Not great in the sense that I am satisfied with my performance, but great because I felt strong and eager to come home and ramp up my training. The NY Mini 10K celebrated its 40^th anniversary this year and along with that, celebrated the life of Grete Waitz. Grete was a huge inspiration to me and a pioneer in women’s running. Much of her success happened in Central Park, as she won the Mini many times and the NYC Marathon 9 times! What a feat!

With all this accomplishment, the most noteworthy of her successes came from starting youth running programs with the New York Road Runners. Because of Grete, the youth programs of the NYRR have helped over 100,000 inner-city school children to choose running. And we all know that if you run, you are pretty much choosing a life of success because of it. Grete wanted to share the sport she was so passionate about because she knew that the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other had a positive impact on every nook and cranny of our lives. Running makes you better at everything you set out to do.  What an amazing sport we have all chosen. To help honor Grete, we should get out and recruit people to share in this wonderful journey.

With my first race behind me, I mostly look forward to training in Mammoth Lakes this summer. Once I am more fit, I look forward to running a Rock n Roll half event somewhere in the US. Maybe San Jose, Virginia Beach or Philadelphia. Hope to see you there!

It’s a joke that every time I sit down to write a weekly blog it is snowing outside.  Check out the date and we are still getting snow!  It may seem trivial to talk about the weather, but this is really notable.  We are talking breaking records!  In December Mammoth had the most snow of any ski resort in the world.  It’s been snowing ever since.  And as we pack for our first family trip to New York for the Mini 10K we are reaching far back in the closet for summer clothing.  Far past the thick tights and storm-shelter jackets I just know there is a pair of running shorts and a matching tank top.  It’s difficult to pack for a trip when the weather is 50 degrees warmer than where you begin the journey.  Nevertheless, we are excited to get to New York and share this other world with Piper.  We just know she will love the lights, noise and pulse of the city.  We even hope the added stimulation has her sleeping more when the sun goes down!  Wishful thinking, maybe.

Well, my racing uniform fits (thankfully) and my racing shoes are packed already.  My fitness could use an extension, but I’m so excited to race.  The elite field will have almost 50 women toeing the starting line.  I may not win, but I’ll be the happiest one out there!  Back at it after all these months.  Here comes my first race of a long and anticipated season of racing.  I look forward to sharing it with you in person or in my next week’s blog.

Hope your Memorial Day was memorable!  This time of year I find myself going on runs and trying to access higher trails to see if the snow has cleared.  I set out from our house and tried the bike path at the nearby ski lift.  Despite 5 inches of snow this weekend, the path was clear.  I ran to the creek to find that there was a beautiful bridge that crossed over the water.  The bridge must have gone in last fall when I was pregnant and couldn’t run.  I was so excited to see the bridge in place of the bouncing board that previously stretched across the rushing water.  Years past I would stick my arms out for balance to get to the other side.  I never fell in.  Now I never will.

It was 31 degrees this morning and the bridge had a light covering of snow.   I made my way to the sunny side of town and ran where it seemed warmer.  I couldn’t wait to head back home over the bridge and up the hill.

With this never ending winter, we are excited for our first family trip to New York in a couple weeks.  The NY Mini 10K will be my first race back after giving birth to Piper.  At three months old it is also Piper’s first airplane trip.  I am more anxious for the flight than the race itself.  I couldn’t help but notice it was 90 degrees in NY this weekend.  At least we can leave our down-jackets behind and pack a little lighter.  Though packing “light” is relative when we now have to travel with a car seat and stroller!  I can’t wait to share NY and the running community with Piper.  Hope to see you in the Big Apple!