Hungering for more

This month marks the beginning of my favorite time of the year. October is all about crisp fall mornings, cross country meets, Halloween decorations, the first rain of the season, and... PUMPKINS!

Whether in the form of pumpkin muffins, bread, or pie, I love using this ingredient to bake! My kitchen is now appropriately stocked with pumpkin-related purchases:

Hungry for a pumpkin muffin?

While I do love a good pumpkin spice latte, what I'm really hungry for is MORE. Following a solid fall season opener at the US 5K Road Championships in Providence three weeks ago, I'm getting ready for the 10K Road Champs in Boston on October 10 and I want more. I got a little taste of success in Providence but I'm eager to race again and really put myself out there. With faith in my fitness, I'm hungering for a higher finish this coming Monday.

In other news, I'm excited to tell you that I'll soon be writing a blog for Women Talk Sports, an online network of blogs that aims to raise the level of awareness about women in sports and highlight women's athletic accomplishments. I'm really excited about this opportunity and am looking forward to sharing my experiences on trying to break into the professional running world with a greater audience. I'll still be blogging on runningjoyfullyinsf.blogspot.com, so be sure to still check out posts and updates here; I'll also link to my Women Talk Sports blogs from this blog. Thank you everyone for reading! :-)

Now go enjoy your Tuesday with a pumpkin spice latte! Happy running!

What a difference a year makes

One year ago, I was a nervous college grad unsure of my future and how to navigate the post-collegiate running scene.

Today, I ran in my first US Championships and finished 12th. 

One year ago, I was alone in a new city - without a team, without sponsors, without training partners.

Today, I proudly rep New Balance Silicon Valley and they generously support my athletic goals. Now settled in my new city, I traverse the familiar trails of Golden Gate Park with great friends and talented training partners. And a few mornings a week I have the great pleasure of coaching and training with the women of the USF XC and Track teams; I'm continually amazed and inspired by these terrific young women and am grateful every day to be a part of their program. 

Video of the start of the race (courtesy of my cousin, Nate Olson!) I'm in the purple NB singlet.

One year ago, I was a runner chasing a dream.

Today, that dream started to come true. There's still work to do, but things are finally starting to come together!

What a difference a year makes.

Lastly - MANY many thanks to everyone -- family, friends, teammates -- for the calls, texts, and tweets of support before and after the race. It means SO much! Glad I could share this fun day with you :-)

Next up: 3 solid weeks of training, then the US 10K Road Champs in Boston on Oct. 10!