Welcome! ...and other mundane topics.

Welcome to my blog. I created this as a place to sound off about my life. A place where I can talk about running 24/7 and not drive everyone else nuts. Yes, running isn't the only aspect of my life. My children are wonderful, and being youngsters, caring for them takes up a huge portion of my time. But I am creating this blog as a place where I can focus on the run. And all those mundane details of the run that I always overshare with my family. Instead, I'll overshare to an anonymous group of strangers who may feel free to close the Web window at any point. Given that fact, I won't feel guilty for going on and on in detail about my fleeting thoughts while running.

On that note, I'll begin my sharing that I consider myself a hobbyjogger. I'm not a fast runner, I'm a jogger. But I still love it, and still try to improve. I'm not always great about doing speedwork as often as I should, and I could probably afford to lose a few pounds and "trim down." I'm not overweight per se, but I certainly wouldn't be considered skinny, either. But I jog as well as I can, given my family and time constraints.

Now if you know me, you know that I hate the cold. I still run when it's cold outside, because it beats out both of the alternatives of not running or running on the treadmill. But I don't care for it.

Tonight, it is cold. Very cold. The single-digit kind of cold. And I am inside and just dreaming of running, because it's dark also. Very dark. When the sun rises, it will still be cold but at least it won't be dark. And at that point, I will contemplate running. And then I'll run.

I want to go on the kind of run where one loads up up a water pack and snacks and just goes off for the entire day. The adventure kind of run! Adventure running is a term that Dean Karnazes uses (he's one of my favorite running authors). An adventure run is a run that renews your spirit, that allows you to breathe in a little bit of the elixir of life.

I'm turning the corner on 30. Soon enough, I'll be the dreaded "old." No longer in my twenties, no longer young and free. Tied down, small children, living the standard home life. Nothing wrong with a bit of stability. If only it hadn't all occurred while I blinked.

This is why I need an adventure run. A moment when I realize that life is still full of spontaneous joy. I think I want to begin a tradition of running the number of miles as the age I will be, either on or near my birthday. 30 is the perfect age to do this. It's a nice round number.

I've run two marathons, so jogging (not racing) 30 miles is not beyond my ability. Will it be difficult still? Definitely. But assuming I just plan for this adventure myself, rather than attempting to race the distance, it avoids all the normal race-day stresses. No lining up and waiting for the gun; I can just go when I feel like it.

And that is my plan. To go when I feel like it. To add a little adventure back into my life. To sip the elixir that is the long run.

Have you ever done an adventure run?