I Run These Towns

When my husband suggested almost a year ago that I start a blog focusing on two of my absolute  favorite things - cities and running - I thought it would be a fun exercise. Little did I know that I would discover how these two things are a huge part of me. Writing this blog is an expression of who I am and what I believe in. Sure, that sounds corny, but at the end of my life I want to look back and know that I did something I believe in. Something that really matters. Today I was forwarded this fantastic blog by Umair Haque that discusses creating a meaningful life through meaningful work. Having attended two funerals this week, I thought I was all tapped out on gaining perspective, but Umair took it one step further. It really got me thinking about the meaning in what I do. I am fortunate to love, REALLY love, what I do and where I work. I am a 100% true believer in the importance of cities and placemaking.  Sometimes as a lobbyist I get bogged down in the details of specific leg

I'm only mildly ashamed to admit that I love McDonald's. I know it's disgusting, and I know it's bad for me, but I don't care. When I finish a long run, there is nothing I want more than Chicken McNuggets and fries. Maybe a hot fudge sundae for good measure. I'm not one of these people who runs and eats healthy. I get that if I did I'd probably lose weight and probably be faster. I don't have horrible eating habits all the time (although admittedly they aren't the best), but if I can't indulge in some ice cream every now and then what's the point in running?!? One of the most interesting things I've found in traveling and running is how many calories I must burn on vacation.  (I'm not a calorie counter so I can really only speculate.)  We do a lot of walking and sightseeing in addition to my running, so I'm generally on the go the entire trip. That's why I get to enjoy things like key lime martinis, Dunkin' Donuts cap

Remember when you were a kid, and sometimes you would just take off running because you could? Maybe it wasn't very far or very fast, but there was something freeing in just taking off. You would run around with your friends, playing. Running was a fun part of every day in some way.  While I certainly don't always feel that freedom when I'm doing a long run, part of that is what keeps me running. It's also my time to reflect on what's happening in life - both the good and the bad. This past weekend one of my dearest friends lost her husband to cancer.  She and her family are devastated, and as I've watched her family go through this battle, it's helped me put everything in perspective over and over again.  Sometimes the things that seem so important - something at work, someone you're annoyed with, some task you have to accomplish - seem so insignificant when someone is fighting for their life. She and her family have handled this illness head on and n

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."    - "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss It's that time of year again - the time where I'm trying to figure out what races to do and where I want to travel.  It'll probably change a million times before I figure it out, but where should I go in 2012? After May, I've got an empty slate with lots of time to fill. I'm registered for the Shamrock 'n Roll 10k in Plymouth, Michigan in March, the inaugural Lansing Half Marathon in April and the Green Bay Marathon in May. After that I've got...nothing. Well not nothing. There are dozens, hundreds even, of races I could do across the country. But when my goal is to run often and to run in all 50 states, I've got to be selective in what is actually doable.  I'm likel

A few weeks ago I referenced one of my favorite blogs, the Economics of Place .  Under the blog's header is this quote: " Place shapes us. Place defines us. Place is what forms our identities, our attitudes, and our relationships." I could not agree more.  In the most recent blog, Helen Davis Johnson, co-founder of CreateHere answers some questions on placemaking. I think runners in particular have a unique interest in place. B oth running and place are part of what shapes me and defines me. Q1. What is the greatest promise of placemaking for American cities? I believe that everyone is a fan of place whether they know it or not. Who doesn't want to live in a vibrant, safe neighborhood where they spend time with their neighbors, walk to the local coffee shop and have breakfast on Saturday morning at a local restaurant. Whether someone is cognizant of it or not, placemaking is indeed something people want.  Raising awareness of place and making people realize thi

This past weekend my husband and I flew south to visit Pensacola, Florida, home of the Double Bridge Run 15k .  Although we've been enjoying the milder Michigan winter this year, it was still nice to head to the beach for some warmer, more humid temperatures. Beautiful Pensacola Beach We arrived in Florida at 10:30 a.m. on a Thursday. This entailed catching a 6 a.m. flight out of Detroit which means we woke up around 3:30 a.m. My husband might still be annoyed with me about the early flights. The good part is that we had all day Thursday to enjoy Pensacola as well. We picked up our rental car and headed straight to lunch at The Fish House , a phenomenal eatery overlooking the Pensacola Bay. I was looking for seafood and southern food, and this place had it all. They are renowned for their grits, and let me tell you - incredible. I had fried oysters, cheese grits, black eyed peas and of course sweet iced tea. Their hush puppies were absolutely amazing. This was unequivocally th

Last night I was catching up on one of my favorite blogs, See Mom Run Far , and the blog's author, Erin, was asking readers about themselves. She had 11 questions for blog readers to answer, and since I love talking about myself, I thought why not?   1. What is your maiden name (girls), nickname (now or from your youth), embarrassing middle name, or something special/unusual about your name? My maiden name is Jones. Samantha Jones - yes just like on Sex and the City.   And yes, I'm that fabulous. 2. What is your favorite animal and why? I love cats. While I really love my pups, I have always had cats and just love them. I love that they're independent and want to do their own thing. Our cat Ellie Daisy - who will be 14 in March! 3. Do you like being alone? I LOVE being alone. I adore my husband, family and friends, but I crave a certain amount of alone time. Not all the time, but I do enjoy the occasional weekend to myself where I can read uninterrupted