On Monday, I received good news. I (applied and was) accepted to May’s Wilder Running Retreat in Bend, Oregon, to take place over Memorial Day weekend! It’s a four-day intersection of writing meets running. In other words, a delicious combination of two of my favorite things, set against the backdrop of the Cascade Mountains. Pinch me!

If you’ve never heard of Lauren Fleshman, Wilder’s founder, lean in: Lauren is my running idol. Not only is she super smart and fast as heck, the Stanford alum also won five NCAA titles while she ran for the Cardinals. Since then, she’s been blogging and writing for magazines, selling the popular Believe journal, plus helping to launch great fitness companies like Oiselle running apparel and Picky Bars (yum!). Not to mention she’s a wife and mother, doing all the other stuff that goes along with being your typical superwoman. But what I admire most about Lauren is her genuineness and pragmatism; she’s suffered several injuries in her athletic career, but ultimately she’s used those setbacks to persist. Instead of dwelling, she’s changed direction. Not only does this down-to-earth activist point out the misdeeds of professional running organizations, offering constructive ways they can change course, she also cares about the individual athletes themselves. All of them. Amateur, or even (and maybe especially) recreational runners like me included!

Wilder’s inception was based on Lauren’s desire to encourage writers and runners alike to get out of their comfort zone. Through it, she shares the influences of her own incredible mentors. Some of them will be in Bend to facilitate, leading our group through exercises – both mental and physical – that will shed new light on these seemingly distinct pursuits.

It makes sense that the writing process and practice of running share plenty of similarities. Both take work and discipline, and there are rewards for those who don’t give up. These rewards aren’t guaranteed of course, but they can be incredibly life-changing. Some days, writing or running will be easier; on others, it’s tempting to just throw in the towel.

But if you don’t? Carry on, and something amazingly transformative can and will happen. Line by line, a small idea blossoms into a flawless, full-length manuscript. Step by step, a long run – or even a race PR – suddenly feels effortless.

Along the way, however, we all need inspiration to keep us motivated. I can’t wait for mine this May!

Check out Wilder Running and Lauren Fleshman’s bio!

This year, Mother’s Day went by in a blur. Aside from some wilting dahlias that remain on display, there is little evidence that the “holiday” took place in our house. In fact, the story of my life these last couple weeks can be summed up in just nine simple words: “My name is Mommy, and I’ll be your nurse – or waitress, landscaper, cook.” Take your pick.
It started out this past weekend when AJ, my 11-year-old, got the stomach flu. And let me tell you, it wasn’t pretty. Between bouts of nausea, hand washing, and sanitizing, I had a full-time job on my hands. Then, just when BOTH of us started to get our appetites back, my husband Hal came down with bronchitis. Funny how it took just one round of antibiotics and a couple of Extra Strength Tylenol to bring him back to his micromanaging ways. (I love him dearly, but did I tell you he rearranges the dishwasher?)
Of course, we go direct from winter to summer in Northwest Indiana, and being out in the cold isn’t so great for a nasty cough. So while he was busy moving cups and forks around indoors, I was diligently walking the dog with my parka on…in May. There are still gloves and down jackets piled up in the family room, just in case a rare (but not unheard of) spring snowstorm arrives mid-month. Not to mention sticky patches of hot cocoa mix and marshmallows on the kitchen counter. That grocery run I made last Saturday for s’mores necessities and kosher hot dogs? Let’s just say it’s now obsolete.
Fast forward to today. The temps are steadily rising to a consistent 70 degrees and my husband is feeling much better. Which means he’s back at work and not on my computer – the good news. But along with the abundant sunshine this week, that’s not the only sign that things are looking up. Last night, Hal walked in with a big white bag in his hands. Inside was a Snuggie, the only – albeit belated – Mother’s Day gift I’d asked for this year! As someone who’s always freezing, even with the heat cranked to 75, I was long convinced I needed one. Once I slipped my hands through the arm holes, I realized there’s truth in advertising after all. It really is a blanket with sleeves!
The best part? I finally had an excuse to sit down on the coach, put my feet up, and flip the channel to Cake Boss. Plus, just like the Snuggie commercial boasts, my hands were free to hold a mug of hot chocolate. And this time, my 17-year-old son Jack made it for ME.

My birthday arrives in a week. This year, I’ll share it with Mother’s Day. As I woke the kids to get dressed for school this morning, my mind flashed back to five years earlier when my birthday also landed on the Hallmark holiday. Back then, life with young children often left me bleary-eyed.

At 7 a.m. on May 8, 2011, it took several minutes to rouse my older boys from their slumber. (At the time they shared a space, but have since moved on to separate rooms.) But when I did, 12-year-old Jack broke into a rowdy, delightfully off-key rendition of “Happy Birthday.” Soon, Danny, 10, enthusiastically joined in. As the two got dressed, I went across the hall to 6-year-old AJ’s room. He shot up in bed and shouted, “Hurray, it’s mommy’s birthday!” as though it was his own birthday he was celebrating.

At first, Josie – then 15 – grumbled about getting up. She always has a look of disbelief when I tell her it’s rise-and-shine time. But a short while later she bounded downstairs, holding a cookbook.

“This is for you. I bought it with my own money,” she said proudly, placing a copy of “Vegetarian Meals for Busy Moms” in my hand.

So they’d remembered. There was no pomp and circumstance, no surprise, in-home morning massage appointments. Still—corny, but true—it was the small things that made the start of my “new year” something special. Instead of the usual mommy-as-waitress stuff, Jack poured himself a bowl of Trix. Danny half-climbed the counter to get cups for the apple juice, while AJ insisted on putting his frozen waffles in the toaster (with my assistance, of course).

Once Josie was dressed, she showed up with another gift – a card signed by the kids. After a round of hugs, I placed it next to the one my husband had left earlier that morning, before he headed to work.

The one in which he’d written the words, “I hope I can help make all your dreams come true.”

And that’s when it hit me. There was no need to hope. They already had. And still do.

When it comes to kids, books, and reading success, it’s not hard to connect the dots. While it’s great for kids to get cozy on the couch with a good read – or to enjoy a great bed time story while their parents flip the pages – there are a host of other ways to harness the power of books.

May 2 – 8 marks the 97^nd annual (wow!) Children’s Book Week. Children’s Book Week is the national celebration of books and reading for youth, and there’s a myriad of literacy-related activities in and around the country. From library story times to author appearances and live theater, the following list should inspire you and your child to embark on some reading adventures together!

Here are a few ideas to celebrate Children’s Book Week…some from the comfort of home! [Read more…] about Celebrate Books with Children’s Book Week!

“It’s not how you start that matters. It’s how you finish.”~Source unknown

The first time I ran any distance (other than 7^th grade gym class) was in college.  My roommate was a cheerleader at Indiana University, and had the energy of a Labrador retriever. She convinced me to go for a run with her sophomore year. Somewhat surprisingly – given the fact that we ran in circles in a stuffy fieldhouse – from then on I was hooked. Running became both my obligation and my Zen; a daily ritual like brushing my teeth. From my university days in southern Indiana, to my move to Chicago, to my marriage and the birth of my four beautiful children, it has been a consistent way I connect with myself when life feels too frantic. Some days running feels like a burdensome chore, but most days – while not exactly sheer bliss – my run is cathartic. [Read more…] about A Long Running Friendship…Rekindled