♫My bags are over-packed, I'm ready to go...♫

Oh, the Places You'll Go! Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

Every time I head off on a new journey, this book quote always pops into my head.  My mom, in her great wisdom, gave me the Dr. Suess book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" as a graduation gift after high school and it has never led me wrong.  I was able to study abroad 3 years ago in Boston (I swear it is a culture and country unto itself) and Ireland and I will add to my passport the People's Republic of China.

I will be arriving at 1:45pm in Beijing Airport (1:45am OhioTime) and hope to get over the jet lag by Monday morning for the opening ceremonies at the Chinese Agriculture University for my Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Course.  We will also get to sight see around the Beijing area along with visiting Temple of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and The Great Wall of China

I will try to update as much as I can and share photos.
And with the lyrics of John Denver: "♫My bags are over-packed, I'm ready to go...♫"

13.1 Miles in 2013

My top New Year's Resolution was to run a Half Marathon in 2013. (I thought 13.1 miles in 2013 was quite poetic).  Due to finals, I did not have the time to "train" during the last two weeks leading up the race and was worried about my ability to finish. I was in the last starting corral of the morning with all the other slow pokes (passing people gives me the needed ego boost to continue on), and was able to get into a good rhythm in the first mile or so.  I was chugging along pretty well when I realized I was halfway done and still feeling good.  Then mile 10 rolled around and the foot pain I had been dealing with for the past few weeks flared up as my tape started to slip and cause a blister.  This is also was also at the last uphill before the finish line was in view.  My cheering section appeared (with the lovely quip from my dad: "Keep Going! You can see the finish line from here! or well you would if you were taller").  That finish line was a God Send I was so happy to get over the line and finish the race.  All in All I finished, without walking in 2 hours and 33 minutes and was smiling until the very end.  The people who came out to cheer on their friends and family along with complete strangers was extremely touching for me and each sign made me laugh harder than the last.  However, the most inspiring sign I saw throughout the race was a poster carried by a group of soldiers in full uniform and packs marching to complete the race in under 3 hours and 15 minutes to honor their fallen brothers.

I had been training on and off throughout the school year and with the old proverb of "It takes a village to raise a child", it took a huge support group to get me in shape to run.

Tucker and I at the Vets 4 Pets

I want to thank my best buddy Tucker for always pulling me forward whenever I wanted to give up;Kate S. for running with me at an extremely slow pace and not complaining when I asked to walk;  Pam S-G for first coming up with a training schedule, running a 10k dressed as green idiots and biking with me on my long runs after you hurt your knee; and lastly my parents for showing up to cheer me on at Mile 3, 8, 10, and 13.
I could not have finished without all of your help and cheering.

Pam and I at the St. Patty's Day 10k

Mom & Dad-My best cheering section