Happy Holidays

And so the crush of holiday sales, holiday parties, holiday cookies and drinks, holiday cards and holiday shopping is in full force. I struggle to keep my caloric consumption down and my burpee challenge on target (Day 83, I think!). I try to remember that there is no job security and that deep discounts do not mean spend with abandon. But it's hard.

(Jenny, Jim (coach), me and Steve from Endurables 08)

I realize I've bought few presents and utterly missed the boat on my great - earlier - idea to make gifts for everyone this year. Where did November go?? Is this that pivotal time in life when you become the adult who starts saying life flies by? I'm not ready to be that person! I've always considered life to move at its generally appropriate pace. Slow at times when life is slow. Frantic and fast when there are a million things going on. I hate when people say time flies by the older you get. No! I refuse to believe it.

This past weekend was, ironically enough, filled with non-holiday celebrations. A birthday party for Helen, a run with my HLP Jessica after months of not training together, and a party to celebrate the end of our Endurables group for 2008. It was a nice mix of people to spend time with which is, of course, what the holidays inspire - bringing people together to celebrate. It was fun to wrap up the Endurables experience with an event that brought people out away from the trails, dressed in real clothes, some with partners in tow, sharing stories of their races. There is already much discussion about 2009 events. So exciting!

It's too bad that so much gets crammed in at the end of the year like this, but I guess the end of the year is what makes you reflect and feel grateful for the people and experiences in your life. It's what inspires you to find the perfect gift or write just the right note in a holiday card. It's what inspires you to make plans night after night after night to get together with the people that helped shape your past year. To celebrate, to commisserate, to lubricate.

One more week and then I'm off to Utah to share a one bedroom with my family of 5 1/2. Good times. Happy Holidays, everyone.