Happy Birthday to me!

• 3 • Thoughts

On my birthday I often look back at the accomplishments over the past year and think about goals for the next one.

But this year I’m more inclined to celebrate moments.

In the past year of my life, my brother’s third child was born. My sister got married. I went to three big 40th birthday parties, was in two weddings and attended two more. I read hundreds (and hundreds) of books to my children.

I clinked glasses with my siblings. Sat in the evening over a bottle of wine with Greg.

Sailed on my parent’s sailboat.

I had accomplishments, too. I talked to strangers about food choices and the environment. Knocked on doors for the November election. Spent hours in the pool taking lessons. Took five million different classes at the gym (I’m rounding up here). Ran my 8th half marathon.

But when I started looking back through photos from the last year, it’s life that smiles back at me and not accomplishments.

It’s me and my girlfriends dressed up and grinning at each other over our wine glasses.

Greg and I snapping selfies on the plane to send to our parents and children as I join him on a business trip, or we travel to a college friend’s wedding, or head off to Amsterdam for our 10 year.

It was seeing my sister try on the wedding dress for the first time.

My son and I beaming at a photo station at his friend’s birthday party. Me on my bike. Me at the ocean. Us at the ocean.

Will with his first deck of Pokemon cards.

Our cat Nemo tolerating the kids’ affections.

Life.

Scrolling through photos made me excited for next year. Yes, for the accomplishments (I’d like to see a sprint triathlon in the summer and a half marathon in the fall) but really for the moments.

For Greg and I out trying a new cocktail together while our children get read to by grandparents and then tucked into bed.

To stand around the soccer field talking to friends and watching the kids play.

For more moments clinking glasses with my siblings, watching my kids splash in the pool with cousins, and searching for seals on my parents’ boat.

Why this sudden revelation? Maybe I’m older and wiser. (No.) Or I was less accomplished this year. (Maybe). Definitely, I’m thinking of my grandfather who I shared my birthday with, and whom we lost last year to cancer. Moments and people matter.

So this year I say cheers…. not to me this time (my birthday posts are usually a big long “Cheers to me!” which is also super fun and cheers to that too, cheers all around!) but cheers to life, and to another year of it beginning today. I’m grateful to be here, grateful for the people who share this life with me, and excited to live another year fully.

Feeling nostalgic? (Me too, it’s my birthday.) Here’s me wishing myself a happy birthday in 2015, 2014, and 2013. Cheers.

Pup, in one of life’s beautiful moments worth celebrating.

Women’s March on Boston

• 5 • Thoughts

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Confession. I wasn’t going to attend the Women’s March on Boston. I had a weekend away planned with Greg, and I felt as though one person wouldn’t make that much of a difference in the crowds. And selfishly/self-care-ishly, I wasn’t sure I wanted to experience the roller coaster of emotions.

I felt as though I’d done my march when I campaigned in Nashua, and I’d keep quietly working on the sidelines by voting, supporting the free press with subscriptions, contributing to organizations at risk, and volunteering my time to fight climate change with our local Green Schools and Sustainability groups.

In the end, I couldn’t stay away. My mom arrived with a hand-knit pussy hat for me made out of vegan yarn she’d hunted down. Our “weekend away” was conveniently located in Boston. 

I went. Me in pink hat at right.

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It was powerful to be surrounded by thousands of other people who are also concerned about equality, climate change, affordable health care, rape-culture, international diplomacy… the list goes on.

Whatever your politics are, there’s no denying that our current president has said things that our country cannot be proud of. There’s no denying that our climate and environment are at risk. There’s no denying that the end of the Affordable Care Act without adequate replacement would mean millions of people losing their health care.

The turnout at these marches far exceeded organizers expectations. The New York Times posted photos from marches on every continent.

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I hope it sends a message to the world that the United States is not united in hatred, misogyny, bigotry and climate denial. That like them, many of us are concerned about international peace and diplomacy under our new leader.

I realize the momentum will fade. But I hope this historic turnout is evidence of a new rise in political activism and involvement that will help challenge the negatives of this administration.

Because this isn’t just about disagreeing about how to reduce unemployment or the least expensive way to provide people with health care options. It’s about what we’re doing to our environment for generations to come. It’s fighting the racism and number of hate crimes on the rise after the election. It’s about international peace and avoiding WWIII.

More than 4 years are at stake here.

That’s it for politics for now… and hopefully for a while. But I wanted to share these incredible photos that Greg captured at the Women’s March in Boston.

I hope that you will hold your own values strong over the coming months and years and whatever your political allegiance, do your best to ensure your vote makes our country and world a better place. Women’s March on Washington published 10 actions for the first 100 days if you’re in search of inspiration.

Tomorrow, I’m taking The Pursuit at the Equinox. It’s a cycling class where they post your stats on the wall. No pressure 😉

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A beautiful video and great Instagram account to follow

• 0 • Thoughts

Abby Glassenberg just shared a beautiful video story she found about a grandfather who draws every day for his grandchildren and posts the pictures and stories on Instagram. It’s beautiful and uplifting. A great reminder to find ways to connect with the people we love, and of the power of the internet to bring us together… not just distract and divide us.

I’ve followed Drawings For My Grandchildren on Instagram for a daily reminder to reach out to family that doesn’t live nearby as well as to see something beautiful and good each day in my feed.

If you have any accounts you follow that make you smile, I’d love your recommendations!

Classic cyclist and pedestrian sign in London

No one wants to hit a cyclist – here are some tips for safer driving

• 3 • Thoughts

That time I almost doored a cyclist: I had just parked next to Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge.  I opened the door to step out and was immediately shocked from my daydream about pancakes by a cyclist whizzing around and by.  If they hadn’t zig-zagged, they would have slammed right into my open car door and suffered potentially serious injury.  We live further out in suburbia, and I don’t parallel park next to a bike lane often.  It was a shock to open up my door and see a cyclist zooming around the car.  Would I have hit them parallel parking if they’d been a few minutes earlier?  I’m not used to looking for them, and that’s a problem.

A recent biking tragedy in Boston had me thinking about the experience, and wishing the road were safer for cyclists everywhere.  What can I do to help?

I asked some cyclists for the advice they’d give drivers.  Here’s what I learned:

  • Watch out for double parked cars:  One of my good friends shared this: “I had a cyclist hit my stopped car while trying to maneuver around a double parked delivery truck.”  Also, don’t double park your car over a bike lane!
  • Look before you open your door.
  • Make sure you’re 3 feet away from cyclists when you pass them.
  • Cyclists can’t always see you signaling them to go if there’s windshield glare.
  • If there’s uneven terrain or obstacles, cyclists are allowed to pull further into car lanes to avoid them.  You still need to give them three feet of room if you’re going to pass them.
  • Cyclists may be going faster than you think, use caution and don’t cut them off.
  • Honking can put them on edge and make things worse, rather than letting them know you’re there.
  • Bike lanes are often only 6-12 inches wide. They’d like to give you more room. They can’t.

A scary story: I asked my running coach, Jake of TriJake Fitness (pictured below) about cycling safety.  Here’s his story: “I was hit head on by a car 2 years ago, forcing a reconstruction of my left shoulder.  I was lucky to make it out alive. I was riding in the bike path in Newton, and the car made a left hand turn from the opposite direction, striking me with the front right bumper. I believe my accident happened because the driver didn’t realize I was traveling at 32 MPH and thought he could beat me to make the turn.”

Jake’s advice: “I ride a lot outside, and I feel there is a lack of mutual respect between entitled cyclist and resentful motorist. In reality we are all traveling the same roads and should allow each their own space.”  He recommends that cyclists take safety courses, saying that he feels safer since taking the course and changing his riding style (and always conforming to traffic laws).

Always4ward in South Boston #cycling #trijake #triathlon #fitness #winning

A photo posted by Jake Maulin (@trijakefitness) on

We can all do better: I agree with Jake that taking a cycling safety class is a great idea for people riding bikes.  I’ve seen plenty of cyclists breaking traffic rules, and putting themselves at risk.  I acknowledge that this isn’t a one-sided problem.

But as a motorist I have a part to play in preventing accidents.  I can be a little more patient.  I can look for bikes and not just cars.  I can put directions into my dashboard navigation and not into a phone I need to glance down at.  I can avoid texting and talking on the phone when I’m driving.  I can wait a few minutes to pass so there’s extra room and I can go into the other lane.  I can NEVER race a cyclist turning at an intersection.

Trucks: One of the biggest dangers for cyclists is tractor-trailer trucks.  A lot of biking fatalities are caused by tractor trailer trucks.  Something scary; the truckers don’t always realize they’ve hit someone.  We can help by stopping behind the white line at intersections so trucks can take wide turns more easily, and by supporting bills like this:

“The bicycle activist group MassBike is supporting a bill on Beacon Hill that would require trucks registered in the state to install truck guards, which they say will prevent bicyclists from being caught under the wheels.” Source.

Save a Life: None of us wants to injure or kill someone.  Be safe out there.

Thank you to all the cyclists and motorists who helped with this post! 

Especially helpful were @dkathunt, @ofsevit, @JWLevitt, my coach Jake of TriJake Fitness, and my friends Katie and Beth, all quoted here.

Run Life Balance – Red Sox Game the night before a long run!

• 0 • 13.1 Training, Thoughts
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My brother and I at the game 🙂

Last night I had the chance to go to a Red Sox game!  I don’t think I’ve been since before Will was born.  My brother was going to be in the state for business, and my husband was already going to the game with a friend and suggested that I find a babysitter and go with Alan.  One of my husband’s coworkers had season tickets that weren’t being used, one of my babysitters was free, and just like that we were at the game!

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These were our seats. No big deal. (!!!!!!!)

The only thing is… I’d scheduled my last long run before my June 8th half marathon for today while Will was at school and a babysitter watched Andrew.  I could push it off to the weekend, when we’ll be in Maine visiting with family, but I don’t want to take the time.  I could not drink any beer while unexpectedly at Fenway Park for a Sox game for the first time in almost 4 years, and the first time ever with my big brother (and even bigger Red Sox fan).

OR – I could drink three beers over the course of a few hours, chow down on peanuts and french fries, watch a couple drunk guys get kicked out of the park, sing SWEET CAROLINE with the joyous frivolity only that third beer can invoke, and have a damn hell of a time of it…. and then get up the next morning and do my long run anyway.

After all, I accepted a month ago that this half marathon wasn’t going to be a PR.  I just want to run it and enjoy it and keep motivated to be in shape enough to run half marathons.

So I ran 7 miles this morning instead of 9, but I had an AMAZING time last night, I have all weekend to focus on being with my family, and I know I’m going to make it across that finish line on June 8th.  I didn’t let the Sox game prevent me from my run, or my run prevent me from enjoying the Sox game.  I feel pretty much awesome.  (Which is better than I felt after a late night and waking up to Will at 5:45 a.m. hell bent on the earliest breakfast EVER.)

Would I have made the same decision if I’d trained really seriously for this event and wanted a solid last long run under my belt?  Probably not.  But luckily for me, I slacked off this spring, so I can live life to the fullest!  Also, nothing detoxes you from $30 worth of stadium beer like a 7 mile run.  Sweat it out, guys, sweat it out.

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DO IT. CARB LOAD. YES.
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A whole food, vegan option at Fenway Park – AND a baseball classic! Doesn’t get better than that. (But don’t forget the french fries, those were another good moment in my night.)
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I love seeing fans who still fill out scorecards… this gentleman was so intent, and I could just picture him here at Fenway 40 years ago with a different score card in hand, contentedly filling in each statistic and soaking up the atmosphere of the ball park.