Social Media....Thank you. #RunnersWorld #TCSNYCMarathon

January/February Issued of Runner's World Magazine.

     January 21st, 2017. It happened. I looked at it about 15 times. It really happened.

That's my mug. That's me. Woah.

     Rewind to about an hour before I found this picture in the magazine.....this was my Facebook status. My day that started out as being pretty fabulous turned to crap, real quick like. I didn't see it coming. Crappy weather. Crappy day at work. Just overall crappy day.

     I got home from work and decided that I would NOT look at Facebook or too much social media for that matter for the rest of the day. I have a love/hate relationship with it anyways and today I'm in NO MOOD for the nonsense. Sorry if it sounds harsh but it's the truth. I value friendships and relationships and find myself reading waaaaaaaayyyy too much into things that I see online. Therefore, out of sight, out of mind. Today was just a day that I wanted to be left alone.  Works for me. Sorry Social Media. I'm out.

     Fast forward a few minutes later into my bubble bath. I read every article of this month's Runner's World Magazine. Once a month, I make time to sit down and read this magazine. I make no apologies, Runner's World Magazine and all of the people that are associated with the magazine are just the best. I've had the pleasure of meeting with several of the editors and becoming friends with Mr. Runner's World, Bart Yasso, himself and they are all really class act. I've been a subscriber for more than 10 years and have DREAMED of seeing my self in the magazine. Heck, I've even applied to be on the cover. I thought I might spot myself when I ran the Runner's World Half Marathon two years ago. Nope. Didn't happen. And then I thought I might spot myself in the magazine when the magazine posted an article on my local running group in Birmingham, Al. a few months ago. I'm pretty active in the Birmingham running community. Again. Nope. Didn't happen. Oh well.

     So seriously...fast forward into my bubble bath. I get all the way to the end of the magazine. OMG. I see myself!!!!!!! And not only do I see myself, but I see myself on a page with the Runner's World Crew and on a page about the TCS New York City Marathon.......well. that's it. Life made. <3

     Haha. Don't take me that seriously. My life was certainly not made just from one picture in a magazine. I'm not that petty or vain. However, it's a cool magazine and I thought it was just a cool thing. And I thought it was cool that it was a picture about TCS New York City Marathon.

 

Jan/Feb issue minus my address.😁

This was the version of the pic that I had on my phone! Lol.

     The first night that I landed in NYC to run the TCS New York City Marathon, Runner's World was hosting a 50th Anniversary Shakeout run through Central Park. Confession: This was my first time to run through Central Park. Remember that I'm from Alabama....I've never ran a race in NYC before. I was just a little bit excited to run through Central Park....and with the Runner's World Crew?! Heck yeah.

     So I got to the TCS New York City Marathon Village a few minutes early to take some pics, see where I needed to go etc. It was a GORGEOUS night in New York City. The sunset was beyond amazing. It was one of those nights that I just wanted to run and enjoy running. No watch. No directions. No distractions. Just a beautiful run through Central Park.  I didn't know a soul that was running besides myself and the folks from Runner's World Magazine. They gathered us all up and I stood in the back. I wanted to run by myself. I wanted to take it all in. I wanted to take the whole weekend in....that was my ONLY plan for TCS New York City Marathon. Take it all in.

Post run photo with Bart Yasso.

     I couldn't have asked for a better first night in NYC. Somewhere along the way, I ended up running four miles with Bart Yasso, his girlfriend and another girl (I'm sorry but I didn't catch her name.)  We talked about all things running. I could listen to him for days....so many experiences. So many marathons. One thing that stood out to me was that he told me the story of the guy who was the very first subscriber to the magazine. I love stuff like that. Running a zillion races is great but I love hearing the "real" stories. That's where the running nerd in me comes out.  The run was supposed to be a three mile run but we kept talking and kept running. My gosh it was HOT!! Super fun way to kick off my weekend!!

     So that's the "RunDown" on the group photo in the magazine. I couldn't have been prouder. I have so many thoughts about TCS New York City Marathon.....It was really one of the best experiences of my life. I'm working on putting all of them down in a blog post but I keep typing and I keep deleting. One day I'll finish the post.

     As for now, I think I'm gonna rip that back page out of the magazine and frame it up on my wall with all of the other running things that no one else cherishes in my house except me. I started not to share it with anyone. It would just be a picture that represented my weekend. Just take it all in. For me.  However, I dont' have it in me to do that. I am proud. I do want to share my experiences and more importantly, I want to make sure that the right people know that I'm thankful.  That picture was definitely a highlight for me and gave me a new found motivation to keep using social media for what I like to use it for. Running. Races. Life Experiences. I will only compare myself to ME, I will quit looking at all of the other nonsense on Social Media ....and I will promise that I will take more Bubble Baths. Seriously, Life is just better with Bubble Baths.

     Now that I've gotten home and come down off of my TCS New York City Marathon High...the reality is that I've missed it terribly and I'm super excited to run the United Airlines Half Marathon in March. Again, I'm running by myself and I just want to take it all in. I hope to meet lots of new friends and see some old ones on the course too!!

     I cannot thank Runner's World Magazine and New York Road Runners for lighting a must needed fire under me!! I love you guys more than you will ever know!

Happy Running and see you REAL SOON in the Big Apple!!!

    

Runner's World 50th Anniversary Shakeout run through Central Park.
I'm all smiles because I'm all happy.