#playingcatchup

Hello my people. I haven’t forgotten about you. I just forgot for over a year to write a new blog post. Actually, I was just busy. But luckily, since it has been 15 months since I last posted, I have no shortage of things to say.

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Almost exactly 1 year ago, I started a new job. At times, I think it’s my dream job…. Jury’s still out. But the most important thing I have learned from this new job, is that I should hold my personal life to the same standards that I hold my professional life to. You owe your career to no one but yourself, and in my years as a product manager, this has been my mantra.

Yes, it is important to push myself professionally, but career advancement means very little if my life outside work isn’t moving forward as well. Everyone struggles, though the particular way in which it manifests itself may differ by individual. Whether it’s your first day on a new diet, or you’re a marathoner running your last 20-mile training run, hard work doesn’t come easy. Each person’s struggle is different and difficult. Our struggles affect us, our health, and our happiness, but also define us. My struggles make me who I am, and my struggles are going to get me to the finish.

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About 6 months ago I ran the Hilo Marathon. Strangely enough, I don’t have a lot to say about the race itself — it was fine. It started out as a wet morning on the Big Island running up and down hills with views. Well, technically it started with me in the bathroom when the gun went off. And it ended with the blistering heat of asphalt, the pleasantries of Hilo’s industrial district, and a PR of something like 1-2 minutes. I actually had a nightmare last night that I PR’ed yet another marathon by only 2 minutes… #marathonerproblems.

In the 3 days we were in Hilo, we ran a marathon, found 1.5 acceptable restaurants, and saw some really cool lava rocks (from the car because of course we couldn’t walk). It was amazing.

And then I experienced the North Shore of Oahu, and that was actually amazing. Most of my memories from this trip though, are thanks to the 7 girls who I shared it with.

You know you’re best friends with someone when:

• You can convince them it’s a good idea to run 26.2 consecutive miles
• You can convince them that the above is worth a $500 flight
• You can convince them to watch you run 26.2 consecutive miles…more than once
• They’re as eager as you are to crash weddings at Turtle Bay
• They’re as eager as you are to leave Turtle Bay immediately after arriving
• They don’t judge you for crying when you find a cockroach in your bedroom
• They convince you that sharks are cuddly and cute and totally safe to swim with
• You both firmly believe that any perfect day on the North Shore is centered mostly around Giovanni’s shrimp truck

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What’s next, you ask? Hopefully a lot more blog posting….and another marathon, of course! So here’s to my coworkers, who hopefully don’t kill me after I take 2.5 weeks of vacation during the busiest time of the year. But don’t worry, because my vacation will involve me drinking (and running) my way through 3 amazing European cities, and will culminate in me running the Chicago marathon. So even if I get fired for it, it’ll make for some damn good stories. Prost!