Update: CIM coming up, NY marathon DNS, and Grandmother!

Hi,

I wanted to start off by saying I have enjoyed reading your blogs (if I commented in the past on your blog, then I'm still reading you!).  Sorry for not providing recent comments.  I read them a lot on google reader and sometimes fall a little behind.  Life has just been too busy.

I also had a DNS for the NY marathon.  I "got in" but I did not run it (deferred instead).  I was never committed to running it, but had to "get in" and see how my life scheduled played out.  I hope to run it next year as I am not sure I will be able to defer it again.  I was able to watch it this am and wished I was there.

Even if I wanted to run it, this would not have been the best time.  Unfortunately, I am in So. Cal. for my grandmother's service and mass.  She passed away earlier in the week.  She was 91 years old.  I will miss her greatly.  I traveled and spent 4 days in So. Cal. to be near her during her final week. It was tough to see her during those final days, but I know she is in a better place now and is at peace.

Lastly, I am still training for CIM.  And, doing my training in five fingers.  I've done two 20 mile runs in my five fingers.  I have not ran in "running shoes" in a month.  My knee brace has been put away as well!  I'm hoping to run CIM in my five fingers and without a knee brace.  My first 20 mile run was a struggle, but yesterday I had a strong 20 mile run (it helped to have great running weather).

I started blogging to track my running journey and also to have a place where I could express my thoughts.  So, I'm going to express some of my main thoughts about my grandmother:

1.  I'm starting out with one concept my grandmother taught me.  That is to forgive and forget.  Don't hold onto bad memories.  Don't hold onto hard feelings of others.  Let them go.  Forgive and forget.

2.  Be strong in your faith.  My grandmother was always strong in her faith.  And, she showed it by her actions.

3.  Give to others.  She was very involved in the community and always reaching out to help others.

4.  Spend time with your family.  I was so blessed to grow up near her.  I have countless fond memories of spending time with her and my extended family.

5.  Be strong and believe in yourself.  She was always a strong women.  She had a lot of tough moments in her life, but was always strong.  No matter what life hardship was dealt to her, she fought.  She was a tough women and would not back down.  I'm proud of her.

6.  Most important - Love others.  My grandmother was a tough and strong women, but she had so much love in her heart.  It was felt not only by her family, but my friends, community members and strangers.

My Grandmother with four of her boys and her two daugthers (yes, I have a large family)