Because it's the best therapy money can buy...

and it doesn't cost a single dime.

I am a runner. I am not a fast runner. I am not a competitive runner. I am not a group runner. I am not the kind of runner that spends time planning routes. I do not run long enough distances to warrant wearing a water backpack. I do not own a sporty watch that beeps at me to tell me how fast my pace is because I do not care. I run to enjoy the feeling of being completely alone, to mentally work through the days successes and failures, and because I have more than a just casual affinity for ice-cream.

And it feels so good to be back pounding the pavement again after almost 11 months off. Here are some of the songs I am loving sweating to this summer:

Barton Hollow-The Civil Wars
Free Me-Joss Stone
What Makes You Beautiful- One Direction
Stronger-Kelly Clarkson
Princess of China- Coldplay and Rihanna
Love you Like a Lovesong- Selena Gomez
Faster- Matt Nathanson
Free- Graffiti6
Somethin' 'Bout a Truck- Kip Moore
Part of Me- Katy Perry

and then the cool down....

New York-Snowpatrol
I Wont Give Up-Jason Mraz
Poison and Wine-The Civil Wars

California Dreaming Part 1-The Marathon

This week Eli and I are vacationing in California with my parents, grandparents,

sisters, brother-in-laws, and nieces and nephews. We kicked off the week, with a siblings

only trip to San Francisco to run in the San Francisco marathon. It was my goal to complete my second marathon, but after several unexpected set-backs and injuries I had to settle for

running the half. My sister Sarah ran the full 26.2 miles and I did the first 13.1 with her and then Kim stepped in to finish off the last 13.1. The scenery was beautiful and we got to run across

the picturesque Golden Gate bridge and along the cost. The hills, however, were relentless and made every mile a struggle. It was so great to run with my sisters and have a night away from the kids. Now if I could only stop limping...