Sunday, October 31, 2010

Postcard from Greece- Day 4-The one where Amie runs on the path of Olympians


I’m running a marathon today. That's the first thought when I open my eyes at 4:30am. Truth be told, it’s the fifth time I’ve woken up tonight. I just can’t seem to stay asleep. Probably has a lot to do with the time change and the new country and the lack of sleep in general.


I didn’t know Greece did daylight savings time change. So on the positive side, I get an extra hour. On the negative side, I spend that hour wide awake, scared I'm going to sleep through my alarm and miss this race I have been waiting for over a year to run. I had set a wake-up call for 5a, and at 4a the automated hotel system called me to wake me up. I call down to the front desk to ask what time it is. They say it’s 5a. I ask, 5a? Really? They think for a moment and say, No madam. It’s 4a. Okay. So back to the bed I go. At 4:30, still awake, I get out of bed and decide to get ready to go. I hop into the shower to wake myself up and start getting dressed. At 5:02a the phone rings with the hotel system telling me it’s time to wake up. Again. I laugh and put my shoes on.


I head down to breakfast and smile as I see everyone in their bleary-eyed excitement. People have on their numbers and all their cold-weather gear. I meet up with Joel and Mary and Dawn, who have plates of food in front of them. I don’t play that though. This is the one meal I reserve myself and don’t partake of the yogurt. It breaks my heart a little, but today is not the day to be sidelined with tummy troubles. I have some bread and some coffee and I’m good to go. We all climb into the shuttle bus that will take us to the starting line. There is laughter and talking and excitement about the day. We take pictures and watch the city start to wake up.


The race starts in Marathon and there is really only one good road to get there from Athens. We drive on the opposite side of the street where we will be running and laugh to watch the numbers get lower as we get closer to the starting line. We hit a small patch of traffic when we get into Marathon and I can start to see runners climbing out of buses and stretching and warming up. Runners get so impatient. Maybe it's just the knowledge that we can walk anywhere, so why wait for traffic. But I have always felt very content sitting on the bus, even in stopped traffic, because I know that for the next 5+ hours I will be running around.


The bus drops us off and I start taking pictures of everything that interests me. I know from experience that if I see something I need to snap it at that moment. It won’t happen again and I am not going to feel bad for taking the extra 30 to get a neat picture. Probably one of the big reasons my time doesn't get better all the time.


There are men peeing on the side of the road in the orchard, but I don’t take pictures of that. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen someone pee on the side of road I would be a millionaire twice over. Joel and I head to the starting line and hit a wall of foot traffic. Everyone is pushing and pulling and trying to get to their start position. Luckily Joel has a good attitude about everything and she keeps me smiling. It takes about 20 minutes to walk through everyone, but we get there. Once we get into our starting choral I look over to my left and see a flame. It’s the MARATHON FLAME! I tell Joel we’re going to go take a picture.


We climb up the steps, take a picture with the flame and I look out over the thousands of people who are there to run. Literally thousands of people. All different countries (we count 7 just from the people around us wiaitng to start) and all different goals in their mind. Everyone just wants to finish. We hear the starting flare and the first wave goes. And twenty minutes later we're crossing the starting line and I head out in a smooth jog. I’m ready.


The course is really hilly. Most of it is uphill and no one is happy about that, although we all were prepared. I notice five people dressed as Spartans, in full regalia, and I applaud their tenacity. It’s hot out here! People stand and watch us by. They all shout “Bravo” and cheer us on, waving olive branches and flowers. I gather olive branches as I run, putting one in my belt, one in my hat and carry one with me. I am smiling and truly enjoying the day. It’s a clear sky, no wind and the sun shines down like it’s almost smiling. I have a great pace going, probably too fast for the hills, but I’m feeling really good. I take pictures of the interesting things I see and the funny things. I listen to my iPod and say my prayers for the people I’m thinking about. It’s in kilometers, so everyone gets two kilometers instead of 1 mile. It’s fun to keep doing the math in my head and it keeps me distracted.


And sooner than I think, we are at 39k, the kilometer I’ve devoted to my father. And like a comforting sign from above, his song pops up from the shuffling iPod. Tears come to my eyes as I give a kiss to the sky, think about what I’ve just put behind me and what I am running towards. In the past 5.5 hours I have forgiven friends, forgiven past lovers, forgiven myself and worked through the frustration of my job. I’ve given thanks to where I’ve been, thanks to the people in my life and thanks to the many blessings I have in my life. I know exactly where I am in the world and I am more present than I have been in a really long time.


I hear the crowd get louder as I approach the stadium. The stadium where the 1896 Olympics finished. Where the 2004 Olympics finished. Where thousands of people before me have crossed and cried and triumphed. I feel the energy of everyone as I step onto the stadium track and finish the .2 of the race. It is over whelming. It’s amazing. It’s powerful and it is by far the coolest thing I have ever done. I feel a sort of elation I have never felt before. It’s mind blowing.


I walk to get my medal and my bag of food goodies. I join the other Marathon Tour runners in the stands and let the awesomeness of what just happened wash over me. I did it.


And now I need a nap.


Saturday, October 30, 2010

Postcards from Greece- Day 3 Part 2- The one where Amie gets lost in Athens


I didn’t really finish what happened Friday. I think we last left me standing in a room filled with people who all run around for 26.2 miles and then try to figure out where to put the medals we get at the end of it.

The reception is going strong when I head upstairs to the lobby to meet Laura. She had posted on my fb wall that she was going to be in Athens for one night while she waited to board a ship for her next contract and, as luck would have it, I would be there too. The universe gave me a night with a friend I haven’t seen in over 5 years. We chatted a few times via fb and phone calls and finally agreed to meet at 7p in the lobby of my hotel on Friday night.

So I get there. And wait. And wait. I start to get worried, but figure it was probably more that she was tired and had fallen asleep after the long flight. So I go downstairs and have another glass of wine and some baklava. I head upstairs at around 9 and se I have a message. Laura had called and said that everyone ate so late anyway and we should head out around 9 instead. A minute after I hang up my phone she calls and I pick up, shocked at the perfect timing. She says she’s going to get on a bus and head over, meeting at my place around 10p. Great. We hang up and I lie down, set my alarm and fall asleep.

Well, I sleep through the alarm. No surprise there after four glasses of wine and severe jet lag. I awake at 10:45 in a panic that I had missed her. I run downstairs to see if she’s in the lobby. Nope. I head back upstairs and try to think of what to do. Five minutes later my phone rings and it’s her. She had gotten lost on the way to my hotel and had just arrived. Hooray!

We walk around the Plaka for a while, taking side streets and trying to find a good place where we can talk but still feel the vibe of the city. We wander for probably 45 minutes, talking and laughing and catching up on everything. This is what I love about women. We can talk for hours and still enjoy each other’s company and still have something to say. We find a cute little organic restaurant on a side street and head in. Laura orders some wine, I get water and order a salad and a plate of meat and cheese. Very European. We about relationships, cute boys, clothes, careers, starting families and what we each want in life. It’s so nice to talk with someone about everything. And there is no long talk of the past, considering we went to college together I imagine there might be more to talk about there. But we both look to the future and talk about what we want and where we’re going. It’s a wonderful evening and I can’t stop smiling.

At 1a we head out for Laura to catch her bus back to her hotel. I’m sad to see her go. Such a nice piece of the USA on my Greek trip and I’m so thankful. I put her in the bus with her hot chocolate and, with the Acropolis on my right, head back to my hotel, certain of where I’m going. Certain that, if nothing else, I will at least be able to find signs that will lead me to The Temple of Olympia Zeus and then I can find home from there. I walk with a purpose for 20 minutes, always looking for the Acropolis to get my bearings. I turn and walk up a very steep hill, certain I’m going the right way, only to turn full around and see the Acropolis directly in front of me. Crap. So down the hill I walk, desperate to find something that looks familiar. (And hoping to not walk past someone I have already passed, showing my foreign confusion about streets and directions.)

I finally do. 45 minutes after leaving Laura on the bus I find myself back where I had left Laura, taking a left this time instead of a right. I feel slightly panicked as I search for clues to my path home. I know I can’t just sit down on a stoop and sleep (as I want to do) and there is this strange feeling of determined resignation I feel as I know I have to get myself back to the hotel. Not finding it is not an option. Soon streets start to look familiar and slowly I put the pieces of where I am together in my head.

At around 2a I come upon a set of ruins I recognize from my tour book and it just makes me laugh. I love being in a city where you can drink a coffee made 5 minutes ago, carry a purse made 50 years ago, walk on streets paved 100 years ago and “stumble” across a set of ruins from 1000 years ago. The ruins I in front of me at 2a is the Roman Agora- the central meeting place of ancient Athens. I can’t go into it, but it’s lit with floodlights to give it a regal glow. I walk slowly around it, taking in all the shadows and history.

Then, with my bearings once more and the Acropolis on my right, I head to the hotel. I know where I am now (this is where Joel and I got lost yesterday) and I am ready to be back in my room. I have to pee, I’m thirsty and exhausted. 20 minutes later I cross the street to my hotel and walk into the lobby.

I never felt unsafe in Athens during my late night walk. There were people out eating and drinking and dancing and laughing. I never felt threatened or scared or out of place (other than when I was lost. But even then I knew where I was headed and that made it okay.) It is a very nice city with really nice people. I feel very proud of myself for finding my way home and getting myself into bed safely. Tomorrow begins another adventure

Friday, October 29, 2010

Postcard from Greece- Day 3- The one where Amie walks around Athens. A lot.


Today I finally get my Greek yogurt! I have been waiting and waiting for this moment. And it is everything I thought it would be. Thick and creamy and I put honey all over it so it is sweet and amazing. I am literally in heaven as I eat this amazing Greek treat. The rest of breakfast is pretty good. Runny scrambled eggs (I steer clear of those) some sausage (also not amazing) and grilled tomatoes and mushrooms. I like! I also am a fan of the pies they have. Spinach pies, cheese pies, cream pies. They are like little piece of tasty heaven.

I'm eating alone as I haven't really met a lot of people yet. I slept most of yesterday. I know that will change though. I finish breakfast, which also includes a piece of chocolate cake with hazelnut spread and a whipped cream thingy with pistachios. I head up to my room and get ready for the day. We are heading out for a bus tour of Athens, including the Acropolis, so I wear jeans and a t-shirt and bring my jacket. Bus picks us up at 9a and there is a big debate over the pink bus. I head over for it since I know it will be easy to find in the throngs of people at the tour sites. I get on the bus and sit next to a friendly looking woman, who I learn is named Carol from Arkansas. She turns out to be a loud seat partner, someone who reminds me a lot of my mother in her ability to talk with everyone about anything. She is also a teacher and is soon making us laugh and all talk with each other.

Our tour guide is an older woman and I wonder how she is going to be able to maneuver the steps. Her accent is think, which is endearing at first but soon becomes hard to follow and I try to stay focused and not tune out. We get to the Acropolis and she tells us we have until 11am to walk around. Thank goodness I have my book. Soon Carol, Ben and I are off on our own with the aid of Rick Steve and his walking tour of the Acropolis. At Bruele Gate (the gate that opens up into the Proplyea at the west end of the Acropilis) we meet up with two women who are traveling together. Joel is a teacher from Maryland and Mary is a pychologist from Conneticut. They join our group and the five of us are soon walking around, taking in the sights and learning from the book. There are tons of people up there already this morning. Lots of tour groups and a few groups from schools. Everyone has a tour guide, but we are sticking with the book. As we enter through the Proplyea up to where the Parthenon stands, we run into Clyde Drexler. I don't know who he is, but I do immediately see him. He is a 7 foot tall, good looking black man in the middle of tourists and school children. When Carol finds out he's "famous" she runs up to him, asks for his picture, and then comes running back to us to ask who he is. Ben, being a guy, knows who he is and all his stats. We are star struck, but don't go bother him. We wave and smile and watch as other groups overtake him for pictures.

We continue our walk around the Acropolis, breaking away from each other and then coming back. We all take tons of pictures and ask lots of questions. We learn about the Greek revolution, the history of Athena's temple and what all the ruins on the Acropolis used to be. There are dogs all over and I ask one of the tour guides what the story is with them. She tells me they are stryas, left by locals, and the government takes care of them. They collar them, give them names, give their shots and neuter them. Then they are let back onto the streets and fed by the locals and the government. I smile at a country that thinks to well of it's animals and understands that they are not a nuisance, just a part of life.

I begin to see that is a lot of the Greek mentality. They just embrace life and everything it gives, the good and the bad. It's the oldest civilization in the Western world and I'm sure that kind of wisdom comes with the age and the history. America tries so hard, all the time. Tries hard to be the best, stay on top of everything and continue to imporive, at any cost. Greece just tries to live the best life it can. I like that.

We finish up with the Acropolis and meet the bus back at the base of the hill. The parking lot is packed now and I am thankful we have a pink bus to find. We all pile in and start talking to each other. I meet a couple from Florida, a couple from Delaware and a mother/daughter couple from Virginia. We chat for a bit and watch the city pass us by. Not very quickly though. The streets are small and trees are low so the driving is slow going. We marvel at the tour bus' ability to get around without hitting anyone. The next stop is the Stadium, where the race finishes on Sunday. We all get out for a quick stop and take a few pictures and some people use the rest room. We meet more people from other buses as we stand there. It is proving to be a great group of very friendly people and I feel completely at home. The stadium is amazing. It is made of marble and can hold 50,000 people. I close my eyes and imagine running through the opening on Sunday. I like to think there will be 50,000 people cheering me on as I finish. The thought makes me smile.

We load back on the bus and head to the Temple of Olypian Zeus and then to the expo. The Temple of Zeus is quite a sight. It is 7 columns and used to house a 70 foot statue of Zeus. The Romans came and added their touch of design (they did that to a lot of the buildings when they took over) and the whole ruins is a park where you can go in an take pictures and walk around. I become the unofficial tour guide, as I have a loud voice and am holding the book. Everyone in the group is really nice and all are awed by the history we are looking at. We walk across the street to the expo to get our packaets. Not much to say about the expo. Sometimes a race expo is filled with samples and stores and things to look at. This was a maze of people and small booths and not much to go with. I end up hanging out with Joel for the whole day, and she and I have a good time. We have the same temperment and outlook on life. She is much more outspoken than I am, and just celebrated her 60th birthday, but we get along quite well. After the expo we start looking at where we want to walk around. We decide on the Plaka, the oldest part of Athens which is now a huge market for anything you can want in Greece.

We get lost getting there. The streets of Athens are winding, not very well marked and don't realy give a direction. We do know that as long as the Acropolis is on our right we are heading to the hotel. So we walk for a bit, ask for directions (One time getting the answer "walk down to the end and turn left. From there ask another person.) We stop into stores and browse for a while, periodically buying what we see. I pull out my spreadsheet of gifts (I have too much time at work) and Joel laughs at me. I shrug, but I know it's the only way to keep myself on track with buying things.

We come across another set of ruins, a library, and walk through that and take pictures. I get yelled at when I sit on one of the marble pieces. But all in all it is a quiet place. It is amazing to be in a bustling city and standing in the middle of ruins that have been there for centuries. It is peaceful, quiet and awe inspiring.

After the library we head to the hotel. Sounds easier than it is. We walk around and find another couple also trying to find their way to their hotel. They are from Canada and are on a six-week tour of Europe. They did the islands of Greece for three days and are leaving on Sunday for Italy. A feel a pang of envy that they have so much time to do that. Someday....

Long story short- we find the hotel. We have been walking for about 5 hours and are both exhausted. But it's the night of the cocktail reception so there is no rest for the running. We head to our rooms and I take a quick shower to was off the traveling. At 6pm I head down to the ballroom where there is an open bar, with Greek wines, German beers and American pop, and waiters walking around with chicken, beef, smoked salmon and spanikopita. Our group meets up, adding in Carols roommate Heather and a woman named Dawn who Mary and Joel know. We meet up with Greg and his wife Ally who are from Florida and are great fun. Always smiling and living a full life. They look like people you want to hang out with.

There is much laughing and eating and drinking. I have white wine and lots of food. Laura, my friend from college is scheduled to meet me at 7pm so I head up to the lobby to find her. 20 minutes later she still hasn't arrived so I think that maybe her plane got delayed or plans changed. I head back down stairs and am met with plates and plates of sweets. The baklava is amazing. Little bite-sized pieces of honey filled heaven. I eat three in one swift motion and have another glass of the white wine. We are all laughing and talking about races. Runners love to talk about their races, what they've done and what they're doing next. I have never heard so much running talk. Everyone is so pasisonate about this hobby we have. I am in a room filled with people who completely understand why I do what I do and why I love it.

There is more to this day- meeting up with Laura and getting lost in Athens at 2am- but for now I leave, off to another adventure. I'll write more soon.

Thanks for listening!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Postcard From Greece- Day 2- The one where Amie sleeps a lot.

I wake up in the room and realize I've missed the afternoon run. That's okay. I'm in Greece and I'm on vacation. And my body has no idea what time it is. I'm pretty sure it's Thursday, but I check in with CNN to be sure. CNN and BBC are the only English stations we get here, so I know that by the end of the week I will be fully up to date with current events. I go back to sleep. I wake up to my phone ringing at 8pm. Ben, one of the travelers from San Diego, and his friend Sarah are going to dinner- do I want to join them? Well heck yeah I do!

So off we go into the Athens streets. We walk up toward the Acropolis, which looks gorgeous lit up by flood lights and regally sitting atop the highest point in Athens. Little do I know that this landmark will serve to get me home on more than one occasion. We marvel at the people who get to live in view of this icon every day. The apartments are so cute! We walk back down the path and decide it's time to start looking for food. And boy do we find it! Lots of little restaurants open for late night dinner. We stop into one that promises live music and good food. You can't say no to that combination. I'm glad we didn't. We sit down at a small table and I order a carafe of wine. There is a man playing guitar and singing "Fools Fall in Love". I immediately feel at home and yet very far away from everyone.

I order a plate of gyro, meat that is marinated and then roasted vertically over a fire. It is delicious. It is served with pita bread, onions, parsley and tadiki. I fall in love with the yogurt spread and dip the pita as well as the table bread in it as I chat with my companions. I finish everything on my plate and sit back to enjoy my wine and the music. Not too soon after that one of the waiters invites me up to dance. I of course join him. I, along with two other ladies, shuffle through a traditional greek line dance and soon we are all laughing.

We leave the restaurant with full bellies and smiles. Thankfully we have a nice walk back to the hotel to digest. I get up to my room, with a good night to Ben and Sarah, and run a hot bath. I can't tell you the last time I took a true bathtub bath. I put in the bath salts I brought from home and settled in for relaxation. My body is very thankful for this. I'm not sure it has forgiven me the 24 hour sleepless travel. I listen to my Greek lesson on my iPod and zone out, thankful the day is done and that sleep is sure to follow. I go over in my head the day I had what is planned for tomorrow. When I finally lie down in the comfortable and warm bed, play some bejewelled and close my eyes, I realize that being a true citizen of the world is feeling at home no matter where you go. And I feel right at home.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Postcard from Greece- Day 1- The one where Amie travels to another country

I have quartet rehearsal tonight and thank goodness my soprano (Becca) is awesome and lets me use her credit card to book my shuttle. Time just got away from me and I realize that if I don't book my shuttle right now I am going to have to walk to LAX. I might as well have, when I see what time the shuttle is coming to get me- 3a!! For a trip that takes only 20 min without traffic. But I book it, sing some carols with my peeps, cry a little bit, and then head home to pack. Because it's not really a trip until you wait until the last minute to pack your things.

I get home, put Harry Potter 1 in my dvd player (I WILL watch all 6 movies before 7.1 comes out) and start on my list. I have been obsessivly making lists for the past month. Didn't want to forget anything important. Lists about what to pack, what to buy, where to buy it, how much money to bring, budgeting out what I get to spend and where. Luckily I have a job that affords me such time luxuries!

I finish packing at around 2a and start in on my International Marketing homework. My goal is to get everything done so I didn't have to bring anything even resembling homework with me on this trip. That means doing a weeks worth of homework and class worth for both my classes in two days. I succeed! I get everything done (including sending out a transcript request for grad school aps) A few last minute freak outs about remembering everyting and I'm ready to meet the shuttle at 2:45 when it pulls into my driveway.

Thank goodness it's so early! Read the sarcasm there. We get to LAX and it's EMPTY! Just me and about 50 other people waiting for the gates to open and the day to start. I find a chair in the corner, put my feet up on my suitcase, wrap my arms around my carry on and put on my Greek lesson in my iPod. And promptly fall asleep. At 4:30 I wake up to find the airport much busier. I check in, hand over my bag to the Gods of Delta and procceed through security into the gate area. And I still have 2 hours before my flight leaves. So I find another corner, put my iPod back in and close my eyes one more time. I wake up in time to hear the first boarding group being called. I quickly step into the ladies room, then fill up my water bottle at a water fountain and I make my way on the plane.

A flight to JFK where I sleep through most of it. An hour lay over in NYC then on the flight for Athens!! I settle into my seat and see that there are movies right in front of me. I have my own little theater to watch movies and TV shows. This flight is going to fly by. I should sleep, but I spend the time catching up on all my Netflix movies that I have wanted to see. "Just Wright", "Letters to Juliette", "Twilight: Eclipse" (which I put in so I can sleep through it, which I do. Thank you Stephanie Meyers for writing such droll plots so I can get some sleep), and then "Knight and Day" which was much better than I thought it was going to be.

I only freak out once. This freaking out when traveling is new to me. I didn't ever freak out with flying before, but as we pass over the Atlantic Ocean I start to get a little panicky and have to stop thinking. The idea of being suspended over the ocean really bothers me and I can't wrap my head around the logistics of it. When we start to fly over the dry land of Europe and make our way south to Greece I can feel myself physically relax.

We land and I start to wrap my head around the idea of being in a foreign country. I'm in GREECE!! I make my way through the airport, through passport checking (where I correctly said "good morning" and "thank you" to the agent in Greek) and to the currency exchange. I now have Eruos in my pocket and time on my hands. I meet up with the people from Marathon Tours and we make our way to to hotels. I learn there are 900 runners with the tour and lots of people from all over the US. I meet a guy and girl in from San Diego and we commiserate about the long flight.

We get to the hotel and check in. There is a run at 4p and I am certain I am going to make it. I need to run after sitting for 15+ hours. But just a quick shower and nap. My hotel room is small, with no window, which I am still battling. I do not like not being able to see outside. It really bothers me. But I take it as a sign I need to be outside my room more!

So here I am in Greece. GREECE! And I'm taking a nap. Finally. My body ius quick to remind me that it hasn't slept more than 4 hours in the past 48 and maybe lying down is the best thing. But there is nothing cooler than napping in a foreign country with the thought that when I wake up, anything is possible.

Greece Before....

My phone just rang and an automated voice came on to tell me that my shuttle was 1 hour and 15 minutes away. My suitcase is packed and in the corner, my flight is scheduled to be on time, Harry Potter has kept me company for the past few hours and I have brushed my teeth. I've been awake all day and am running on the pure adrenaline that only comes with the thought of getting on a plane in 4.5 hours.

I also have been crying for two days without any reason. Well, I'm sure there is a reason, but it seems to come from nowhere. I'm about to get on a plane to a country I've never been to. I'm going alone and I'm not sure what I'm walking into. I"m tired of traveling alone. When I booked this trip I truly thought I would be going with a boyfriend, someone to share this experience with. Yet again, it is me and a camera. And some Greek yogurt, I'm sure. And there are deeper things. I miss my father and wish he was here to talk to about this. I wish my mother was coming with me. I would love to have 10 days with her. Or my sister, either of them.

This is a short entry and probably not the most thought out post I'll every write. But I'm here, I'm nervous and I'm heading out the door shortly. To Greece.

GREECE!

I'll update as I go. I'm running a marathon, having dinner with a college friend, seeing the ruins, shopping, eating, sleeping and going on vacation. Going on vacation. Ten days with no phone, no facebook, no internet, no texting, no homework.....just me and Greece. That is a great thought.

See you in Athens!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Greece in 5 Days!!

Busy, busy weekend ahead: my last day of work, seeing a show with a good friend, caroling rehearsal, flying up to see the family for a few days, taking the GMAT and two quartet caroling rehearsals. Not to mention all the little business things that have to get taken care of before I leave for Greece. Wait, what? Greece?!!? That’s right baby!! I’m going to GREECE!!

I have never waited this long for anything. Have been paying for this trip in monthly installments for over a year. Have been putting money away, making lists, researching places to eat and what to buy, and just generally getting my head wrapped around the awesomness that is this trip! So in five days I will board a plane to Greece and be there for 10 days. 10 friggin’ DAYS!! Alone. Well, I’m with a group of fellow runners, but I don’t know any of them and I have a room to myself so for all intents and purposes I’m travelling alone. Also something I haven’t done in a really long time.

My first marathon ever was in a foreign country. That’s when I fell in love with them. I crossed the finish line in Paris and decided this was what I wanted to do. 8 years and 15 full marathons later I am heading out to run in the footsteps of legends. I am running the same path the Olympians ran in 2004. I’m running the mythological path of the original marathon Philippedies ran 2500 years ago. It blows my mind. I have a feeling I will spend the entire run with my jaw dropped, taking in all the sights and thinking about the people who have run the race before me.

When I signed up for this race last September I booked it for two people. I wanted to bring someone with me on this adventure. I’m tired of traveling alone, tired of running races alone, tired of bringing back pictures of places I went alone, with most of them being one armed pics of me standing in front of something really cool. I asked a few people but most couldn’t afford the time off or the trip itself. And I can’t blame them. You have to really be devoted to make this part of your calendar for a year and sacrifice the money. And I have made this a priority. There are shows I didn’t audition for because I knew I would be gone. My quartet has done extra rehearsals because they are losing me for a block of time. I have to continue to scrimp after I get back because I just don’t have the vacation time to fill an entire paycheck. But it’s worth it.

I guess that’s all people who are passionate about something say “It’s worth it”. This silly hobby of mine that leaves me sore, bruised, tired, poor, hungry and weathered also leaves me filled with a kind of drive I don’t have in many aspects of my life. It makes me feel powerful, energized, accomplished, well travelled, excited and looking at life with a smile. This is a passion. In 5 days I get to fulfill a dream and live out a passion. This is what life is about. This is what life is for.

Well, that and a good piece of chocolate!