Tag Archives: running

A New Year, A New You?

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I’ve been on hiatus for a while. I know, I know.  I’m a horrible blogger.  But bear with me.  I’ve got four brand spanking new posts which are just waiting to be published.  Here is number one from New Years 2013.  I’m just a month and a half late on the publishing…

So starting in 2008 when I started my crazy running rebirth of sorts, I’ve been on this long stretch of remaking myself. I remember one summer, almost a few years ago now, when I was first training for an ultra and feeling on top of the world, I told Pooky that I was “Liz 2.0.”

Me, glowing after having beaten all the high school girls in the Alumni Cross Country Race...and then running the race a second time with the guys...me and Uncle Joe striding it in. Maybe I should've stuck with Version 2.0. It looked pretty good ;)

Me and Uncle Joe striding it in.  Ran from my parents house, to the high school.  Then ran the girls’ alumni cross country meet.  Won and beat the little skinny high school girls.  Then ran the boys race with my Uncle Joe.  Oh, the Glory Days.  Maybe I should’ve kept the old model? It looked pretty good 😉

Well, I’m not sure what model I’m on now, but I’m still working on it.  Slowly, but surely.  I grew a pair and quit my soul sucking billable hours litigation job.  I went to work with Pooky on a temporary basis until I found a permanent gig. You all know the story.  Blah blah blah.

Well here we are six months later, and I really love working with Pooky. Don’t get me wrong, I still hate being a lawyer, but if I have to be a lawyer, being a lawyer with him is the only way to go.  I’ve surprised myself by really getting invested in the firm and the idea of growing our little “family business.”  Things have been good, and we haven’t gone bankrupt yet, so I think I’ll stay.

And who knows? If I stick around long enough, I may end up on TV like the Boss ;)

And who knows? If I stick around long enough, I may end up on TV like the Boss 😉

I’ve seen my family more than I ever have before, I’ve apparently been a whole lot nicer and less cranky to deal with, and I’ve had time to pursue my real interests and develop myself.

Aren't they cute???

Aren’t they cute???

Just know this:  You are where you are, but it’s not where you have to be.  You have to accept where you are now in the present and you have to consider where you’ve been in the past before you can move on and get to where you want to be.    I have to keep reminding myself of this on my new journey.

Just remember that today is tomorrow's yesterday!

Just remember that today is tomorrow’s yesterday!

I know it’s New Years and everyone’s making their resolutions and starting a new.  It’s a great season.  You can be full of hope for the year in front of you and the chance to do it all over again.

However, the way I’ve been approaching things is to use everyday as a fresh start.  To try to work with the mindset that every new day is a new chance to start over, to do better, to get it right.

Today is First Day of Rest of Your Life

So it’s New Years – it’s the first day of the rest of your life.  What are your plans for this new year – this new life?

this is your life

What does the Goat have on tap?  I’ve got an ambitious line up for this year.

  1. Keep working with Pooky to grow the Shah Law Firm!
  2. Lobby for the ACLU during Legislative Session!
  3. Get my RRCA run coach certification!
  4. Blog regularly (i.e., don’t take two month hiatus)!
  5. Run Georgia Xterra Fort Yargo Marathon (2/23/13) – Just finish and have fun!
  6. Run Publix Georgia Marathon (3/17/13) – Break 4 hours!!!
  7. Run Chattanooga Mountains Stage Race (6/14/13-6/16/13) – Finish alive!!!
  8. Run TransRockies Stage Race (8/13/13-8/18/13) – Finish Alive!!!
  9. Cook more!  Eat less junk!

AND….Drumroll please…..

10. Beast mode.  All day.  Every day.

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Who’s joining me?

Happy Trails in your New Year!

So What’s Up with this Blog Anyways?!

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Well, I graduated college, and couldn’t find a job. I moved back home with good old Mom and Dad and chilled out in the basement. I spent my days cooking and helping to run a small Italian deli, restaurant and grocery.  Ran a little here and there and went out with my friends after work.  It was fun, but my parents grew weary of having an extra over educated house guest.  One day my younger cousin told me she was going to law school. I thought, well I might as well try it.  So I did.  I plodded through law school and interned at fun places like the public defender and legal aid. I graduated with high hopes of saving the world and running free.

What did I end up doing?  The opposite.  I fell into a job in bankruptcy, and soon learned you sure weren’t helping anyone there.  In no time, I had ascended the ranks and became a litigation attorney representing banks and mortgage companies.  I was working a million hours a week; didn’t have time to pee or eat lunch; and eventually didn’t even have time to run.  I absolutely hated my work – but hey, I did what I was supposed to do and became partner!  I was on the fast track to the life I was supposed to be living!

One day, not so long ago, I had one of those days where you wake up and think, “What am I doing? Is this really my life?”  After much agony, I left my job as a litigation attorney and the soul sucking life of billable hours and living your life in .2 increments.  Luckily my husband, Pooky, has his own firm and was kind enough to let me work with him and didn’t even blink an eye at the thought of losing a significant chunk of our income.

So – was I scared to death to just quit my job, seeming willy nilly?! YES!  But after about four months, the clouds have parted, the sun is out, and things are starting to line up.  The sky hasn’t fallen, and I am still standing…and, most importantly, I feel like I’m on the right track for the first time in years.

Since then, I’ve been working with my hubby/BFF and trying to find my way to the life I imagined myself to have at this point.  With the inspiration of my buddy Swim Bike Mom, my super awesome husband and little brother – I’ve started completely throwing caution to the wind.  Life is too short, so I’ve stopped settling and am going after all the things I love.  And one of the things I love the most is running – so I’ve signed myself up for a crazy six day 115 mile race across the Rocky Mountains, the TransRockies in August 2013…and a bunch of other little races along the way… so hence this little blog to document the journey – through races and training and, well, my journey to a new life…because life is all about the journey, right?

So what’s the blog about?  Well, imagine it like trail runner girl meets Sex and the City.  Scratch that, my life isn’t nearly that uninteresting…although my collection of running shoes might rival Carrie’s collection of Manolo whatever-o’s!

Just a sampling of the obsessive collection…

I guess it’s like Sex and the City meets trails – well without the sex. And with a lot more dirt – of the outdoor kind – not the gossip kind.  How about single track and city? But instead of cosmos we drink nuun and coconut water. Instead of heels we wear running shoes. Instead of a purse over the shoulder, we’ve got a hydration pack on our backs.  Instead of chasing men we conquer mountains, PRs and goal races!

So hopefully you’ll join me on my crazy little journey, cheer me along the way, and maybe even be inspired to go on a crazy little journey of your own!

Meet the Goat!

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Apparently I eat, train and run like a mountain goat, earning myself the moniker “the Mountain Goat” on Swim Bike Mom’s famed blog.  However, as a resident of Midtown Atlanta I am often restricted to a more urban environment.  But whether the mountains are pavement or dirt, I keep on trucking.

This goat was an awkward youth, sporting big glasses, a crazy wardrobe, and a full blown mustache and unibrow, enduring taunts due to my “uniqueness.”  I misguidedly tried to fit in by trying out for cheerleader and other conventional things that “cool kids” did.  After much failure and disappointment, a girl who lived nearby encouraged me to join the cross country team and introduced me to an activity that would make high school bearable; teach me to be comfortable in my own skin; and would come to help me stay true to myself and strive through other tough times in life.

The Goat (Right) Circa 1998

 I’ve been running for over 17 years.  I was never a very good runner.  I was a little chubby and didn’t take it much seriously. I liked running, but not running very hard.  It was more about the fun people I met and all the guys on the high school team I could date.  Our girls cross country team hadn’t lost a meet in years, and everyone was very serious.  There was a lot of pressure, and that sort of atmosphere just didn’t work for me. I think it might have actually made me work less hard.  If I wasn’t very good, then I didn’t have to worry about anyone’s expectations.  They’d be kept low, and I’d fly under the radar.  Regardless, I made great friends running, and those friends taught me a lot about being different and being ok with that.  I didn’t have to be a cheerleader or rich kid to be cool. I could just be me.  Despite being a bit pudgy and a just plain awful runner, I found solace on the trails and was embraced by my teammates learning just how awesome runners are and just how life changing a great run can be.

I’ve kept running throughout my life. I ran on my college’s small D3 cross country team.  But it got in the way of beer drinking, and was time consuming, so I quit after a couple years.  I ran on and off through college, law school, and after, but didn’t race.

About five years ago, I really started to get back into not just running, but racing. My brother-in-law had started med school and was dating a girl who also liked to run.  We committed to run a half marathon together.  They broke up, and I panicked that I had lost my race partner.  But she ran it with me anyways.  We got the bug after that, and still race together to this day.

Me and JT survive Battle the 10 miler. JT skinned her knees, and I peed my pants. All and all, a good time had by all.
Ga Xterra Battle at Big creek, 11/2009

In that first half marathon, I was ill prepared, out of shape and carrying ten extra pounds.  Thus, the goal was simple – just finish.  As I crossed the finish line at that race, although I hadn’t won, or placed, or even run a respectable time, I was elated.  I had an indescribable feeling.  I felt proud and accomplished and like – hey, if I can do this, then what can’t I do?

Slow and Steady does not win the race, but it will finish it! Shout out to JT for getting me out there and across the line! Zooma 2008

 As I signed up for additional races, the goal was always the same – just finish.  A funny thing stated happening after I started racing again in adulthood.  Every now and then, I would place or win my age group, or run a time that totally surprised me!  Once I got the bug, I just couldn’t stop!  And so on I will keep going!

Pooky has even joined me for a few races! The bug has spread!
Peachtree Road Race 2010

What’s up next?  Lots of little races, then the big one – the TransRockies in August 2013!  And lots of crazy adventures on the way!

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