44

Today I turn 44 years old. You may be tired of hearing about my birthday. That’s life. I’ve got quite the day planned.

9:00 a.m. PT session

10: 00 a.m. Pedicure and eyebrow wax because of these. OMG that is sick:

11:15 a.m. Trip to Whole Food to buy my lemon dream cake and to have coffee with a friend

1:00 p.m. Free car wash (because it’s my birthday)

3:00 p.m. Take daughter to piano

5:00 p.m. Dinner with family and mom and dad. Mom’s making me a surprise birthday meal. Any guesses what it might be? She knows I love chicken/dumplings, homemade pizza and lamb with couscous. We’ll see what emerges out of her magical kitchen. Probably none of the usual favorites.

Notice there is no work on the agenda. Or anything not fun. Well, PT is debatable, but it’s getting me towards a goal, so that makes it okay.

This has been an amazing year, despite some setbacks. Here are 44 highlights (in no particular order):

1. Went skydiving
2. Pooped in a hallowed out tree
3. Became a certified running coach
4. Tried/loved/continued Bikram yoga
5. Fell off the treadmill
6. Had my period 12 times
7. Became an Athleta-sponsored athlete
8. Fractured my left hip
9. Ran the Bolder Boulder in a grass skirt and sport’s bra
10. Went to Vegas twice and lost money both times
11. Taught a Webkinz class to third graders
12. Ran a 10K with Sam
13. Played Bunco once
14. Had gum surgery
15. Saw Taylor Swift in concert
16. Had a bat jump in my lap (crotch) during my anniversary dinner
17. Interviewed Jared from Subway
18. Ran a 5K with Emma
19. Qualified for Boston
20. Became the parent of a teenager
21. Did not buy any new underwear and should have
22. Signed up for my first half Ironman (August 2011)
23. Got Netflix On Demand
24. Taught a yoga class to third graders
25. Had one gyno exam with a cold speculum
26. Was featured in the paper
27. Did not throw up once except a little bit in my mouth on a run
28. Had an allergic reaction while in Mexico that caused my faced swelled up
29. Had a panic attack in the MRI machine
30. My dog lost an eye
31. Did a triathlon
32. Took my first RV trip and emptied sewage (mine and everyone else’s)
33. Celebrated 15 years of marriage with the love my my life
34. Went to a topless pool but did not go topless until my top fell off by mistake
35. Started water running. Did not love it.
36. Learned how to spell asterisk (thought it was asterix)
37. Watched all seasons of Weeds
38. Had one mammogram
39. Played six games of Left, Right, Center and lost them all
40. Got interviewed for a Runner’s World article
41. Didn’t get a tattoo, but thought about it
42. Did not switch to Geico
43. Ran with Dean (did you know that?)
44. Had 297 blog posts on SUAR

What do you think my surprise meal is? Whoever guesses it gets a sticker and a virtual pat on the back.

Happy day to me,

SUAR