Life is always in a state of flux and change.  If you told me a year ago that I was going to have my own page about running, I would have looked at you like you had two heads.  Had you told me that I was going to have a blog page, a twitter account, an Instagram account or a Pinterest account, I would have laughed.  I was happy in my little Facebook world with my little Facebook friends.  I posted primarily for my friends and family on the East Coast.

You see, I am a transplant.  I was born and raised in New Jersey (South Jersey to be exact).  I lived there for 18 years before moving to the Golden State.  I have now lived in California longer than I have New Jersey.  But, New Jersey is still my home.  I have three beautiful children, two fuzzy children and one adoring, supportive husband.  Before I had all these treasures, I was going through life like any other 18 year old.  Except I was not the average 18 year old.

Due to some very bad advice early in my education, I was sent to an unaccredited college.  When I moved to California, I had to redo all those credits over.  I was attending a Community College while trying to work 30 hours a week for an attorney.  I soon found my future alma mater and was attending school there for my core course work, attending the community college to get the lesser necessary classes at a cheaper tuition, and yes, I was still working.  The stress that I had was higher than your average college student’s stress at the time.  I paid my way through school.  I had one small loan for $1,800 which I was able to repay almost immediately.  To handle this stress, running became a part of my life.

Running has been a part of my life since I was 18 years old.  It has gotten me through many sticky situations.  I have been forced to think about things.  I have written term papers while running (in my head of course).  I have dealt with some very traumatic life blows and running was my salvation. I have found my SELF while running. In 2011, I ran over 1,000 miles.  Those miles were spent working through some very deep, soul searching issues that I was never properly able to take care of.

Like an empty sheet of paper or even this blog page before all these words were typed, I see miles as the opportunity to reshape myself.  I get stronger with each mile I run.  I get stronger every time I tell my personal story-believe me, there is a lot to me. My personal friends would nod in agreement as they have watched me transform.

Today, I was thinking about what could possibly be my first blog post.  Who would even read this drivel?  Who could be interested?  I went to my favorite spa to have my sports therapy massage done because I have been running about 40-50 miles per week.  I am training for the 2013 ING New York Marathon, Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Full Marathon and the California International Marathon.  I am just 36 days away from a bucket list race, 50 days away from a fun race, and 71 days away from a race that I would like to run like I have never run before.  I am just weeks away from the opportunity of a lifetime.  All this because of simple luck and a kiss from the race gods who took my PR away from me due to a nasty injury at the Philadelphia Marathon in 2011.  My loving masseuse told me that she loves my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/IRunCalifornia.  She gave the most wonderful feedback and she told me some truly amazing things that my little ole page was doing for her.  I got into my car after my massage and on the radio was Natasha Bedingfield’s song, “Unwritten”.  I thought – “That is it”!

Running for me is my salvation.  Running is my religion.  Running is my freedom.  Running is my passion.  Without it, I am lost.  Like Natasha’s song says,  “only you can speak the words on your lips”.  I also have to add that only you can run the miles that are ahead of you.  “Live your life with your arms wide open”!

“Unwritten” ~Natasha Bedingfield
(abbreviated)