boston.

yesterday morning, i sat with my computer watching the final miles of the elite men and women running in the boston marathon cross the finish line.  i could feel the excitement from the crowd.  i imagined how the runners felt, all of them, as they would cross the finish line.  i remembered my own excitement at every race, as you head toward the finish line, and then cross over it.  accomplishing something you set out and worked your rear off for.  so many emotions happen when you cross the finish line.  happy, sad (didn't meet expectations), relief, joy.  i watched the winners recieve their awards, and then i had to turn it off and head to work.  imagine my surprise a couple of hours later, when i looked at my twitter feed and saw the words bomb, boston marathon, and finish line all together.  what?!  it didn't take long to find out what happened.

at that moment my heart broke.  it broke for the spectators, and it broke for the runners.  i felt the sadness.  many of those runners didn't get to cross that line, or get their medal that they worked so hard for.  it was taken away by an act of violence.  boston marathon is the bucket list race, if you can qualify for it.  just qualifying to run in boston is hard work, i can't even imagine being close to a qualification time to run there.  i know someone who did a couple years ago.  i know of "cyber" friends who were there, running or spectating.  thankfully, they are safe.  i felt for the runners, their moment was taken away from them. for those that were stopped and told there is no finishline.  i felt for the spectators, who must have been so confused and in fear.  

the social media outlets immediately came up with ways to support those in boston.  ideas were posted to run 4.09 miles (4:09 was the time on the clock when the first explosion occured), or 2.62 miles in honor of the race distance.  wearing yellow and blue, or a race t-shirt from any race, to show support.  #runforboston #prayforboston were hashtags that we all used to connect and to show support to the people at the marathon.

runners are strong people.  you can't scare us away that easily.  we are a community.  knock us down, and we will fight right back.  we are determined, i mean we run crazy mileage for fun.  we are stubborn and we push through.  while i was unable to run due to some foot issues, i put on my princess half shirt in honor of boston. i was proud of my mom for wearing her one and only shirt from a race that she walked in a few years ago. (Check out Amy's post of many t's being worn today here) (see a video of shirts worn all over the country here, to the most appropriate song from epcot's illuminations, love that song)

while i am not sure i could ever run the boston marathon, it has made me think of adding one of the boston atheletic association's races to my race to do list.  maybe a 5k, 10k or half will be in my future.  and when i run my next race, you can bet my mind will be on those in boston.  i will be running for them. 

versatile blogger award.

did you know i tweet now?!  i do!  i joined as part of the process of the disney blog stalking for the meetup for the princess half.  i didn't get in.  but i did meet some fabulous friends via the twitter, and many of these tweeps have blogs.  most are disney obsessed, rundisney fanatics, fitness and running conscious; just like me!  i have already learned a lot from these people, and they help keep me motivated.  thanks to twitter, i have a lot more blogs to read now!

last night, just before bedtime, i was tagged in a tweet from the fabulous pavement princess (aka ashley), letting me know she added me to her list of versatile bloggers.  i was touched!  thanks, ashley!  i didn't know that this honor existed, but i'll take it!  i don't have many readers, so it warms my heart that someone put my blog out there for sharing.

the rules for the versatile blogger are as follows:

1. add the versatile blogger award photo on a blog post.

2.  thank the person who presented you with the award and link back to him or her in your post.

3.  share seven things about yourself.

4.  pass the award along to 15 favorite bloggers. contact the chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

with #1 and 2 done above, here is the rest.

 7 things about me.  this is so hard.  i am an uninteresting person, and this is totally going outside my box.
1. born and raised in ohio
2. i dabbled in figure skating in college.  i was no olympian, but i had some tricks up my sleeve.
3. i am a sweet toothed fanatic.  i can't go a day with out some sort of sweet dessert, and fruit doesn't cut it.
4. diet coke is a staple for me (only in a can, sometimes bottle).
5.  i have nannied for the last 11 years, and been with the oldest child for 13.
6. i am excited to go to the annual vera bradley outlet sale this weekend!  it's a yearly tradition i enjoy, being the vera addict i am.  love the deals, it's the only time i buy vera (unless there is a super deal online or at the outlet stores).  i have lists to shop for others who can't go which i enjoy doing as much as for myself.
7.  i enjoy doing laundry, but i hate to iron or vacuum!

here are my 15 nominations for the versatile blogger award. i have included a couple of blogs i have followed for years, and some that are newer to me, but i have to read them all almost daily now! (some of you may have been nominated before, since some of us "run in the same circles" (no pun intended, lol), but i wanted to include you because i enjoy your blog!)

1. through heather's looking glass

2. this runners trials

3. according to kelly

4. margaritas, miles, and the mouse

5. life in pink

6. twins run in our family

7.  we run disney

8.  shiawaselife and outrunning the monorail

9. once upon a run

10.   run walk fastpass

11.  mom's magical miles

12.  scoot a doot

13. over-reacting to (almost) everything

14.  only in new york, kids, only in new york

15.  pumpkin to princess