You Better Run, Better Run

This morning I ran the Pittsburgh Great Race. It was an exhilarating experience that prompted some realizations: ANYTHING is possible and Pittsburgh is a WONDERFUL city.

When I turned 25 (last summer!) I made a five year plan, which included a number of personal and professional goals, one being to run a marathon by the age of 30. Later on I broke those larger goals down into smaller more manageable goals - run a 5K, run a 10K, run a half marathon and then finally run a marathon. Well, I'm not a runner...I've had knee pain in the past from my tennis days that I thought meant no distance running. This summer after running with my good friend Amy Newland (one of the of the fastest runners in high school), she encouraged me to try the Great Race, a 10K. We signed up and I began training. Much to my surprise, I found that I liked running and was able to run distances! Speed is not my priority right now - finishing and running the entire race are the most important to me. So, this morning I began the Great Race with trepidation but soon realized I was having fun and enjoying every minute of the run! I'm back on track with the five year plan now, and plan to train and run a half marathon next. I believe I am capable of doing it and if I am mentally prepared, ANYTHING is possible.

OK, now here comes the big shocker...write this down friends...I discovered today that Pittsburgh really is a WONDERFUL city. I'm shocking myself just admitting that statement. We all know that I love NYC, Cleveland, DC, Annapolis and pretty much any other city but I do not love Pittsburgh. However, today I realized when running the Great Race that I should be grateful to live in such a culturally diverse, supporting and all-around beautiful city. First, I loved running through the interesting city neighborhoods, which remind me of some of the DC suburbs that I have walked through during the Avon Walk. Also, one of the things that I came to love about the breast cancer walk was the show of community support in DC. Well, that was true today in Pittsburgh as well, and the Great Race isn't even a fundraiser. People lined the streets in Squirrel Hill and Oakland to cheer on the runners, bands from all of the colleges played and small children waved and held their hands out for high fives. And then the most amazing part of the run was coming down Fifth Avenue onto the Boulevard of the Allies and BAM - what a skyline to run towards!! It was thrilling!

Well, that's my two cents about the Great Race! I'm a little sore but excited that I was able to run a 10K and how much fun I had doing it.

I Heart Pinterest!

Ahh, just what I need a new addicition. Friends have mentioned Pinterest in the past and I never really gave it another thought but last night, my friend Alex and I were discussing it and I decided I just had to check it out.

So, I went online, signed-up and waited impatiently for my invitation to join. For those unfamiliar with Pinterest, its this online community and you create boards. Then you can pin items of interest to each board.

Well, the invitation finally arrived in my Inbox and that was it. I spent the next hour browsing, pinning ideas to my boards and just wishing I had more time to actually undertake some of the ideas I was interested in.

What did I pin you might ask? Well, here is just the beginning...

I'd like to go to Italy. OK, pin it to the "Place I'd Like to Go."

I'd like a book nook in my home. OK, pin it to "Dream Home."

I'd like to make graham cracker s'more candy. OK, pin it to "If I learn to cook..."

I'd like to make my own fire pit. OK, pin it to "DIY Projects."

I'd like to make my friend a fabulous card. OK, pin it to "To Give."

The list goes on and on... If only I had a day off to tackle some of these awesome projects or even just spend the day browsing.

Go, check it out! I warn you though, this website should come with a disclaimer, "BIG TIME WASTER." It has the potential to be a productive time zapper though, unlike Facebook.

National Library Card Sign-Up Month

In honor of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, a bit of friendly advice from your favorite librarian.

"Get a library card, if you don't already have one!!"

A library card is a passport to the world, the key to unlocking a wealth of knowledge and the ticket to your imagination...

So, you might ask, what will the library card offer me? Well, here is a list of 10 things that your library card can do besides checking books out that you might not have known.

1. Access to e-books for your Nook.

2. Learn a foreign language using a database.

3. Offer periodic discounts at local museums.

4. Get a book from any library in the country!

5. Survive the washing machine.

6. Participate in the summer reading program and win lots of great prizes.

7. Check out books even when the power goes out!

8. Get free Wi-Fi access, even from the parking lot! We like when you come in though!

9. Meet a new friend - the person who signs you up for the card.

10. Educate the future of our communities. Kids can get a library card at three at some libraries.

Yes, that little piece of plastic really does a lot. No they aren't paper anymore! And, we will even give you one for your keychain!

What are you going to do tomorrow then? GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!