17k for 2017

This weekend I ran Pacific Coast Trail Run's Woodside Trail Run.

I will always admit that while I have attended some of the country's most esteemed universities, I am still pretty vacant when it comes to common sense and putting things together.

It wasn't until I arrived and was greeted at registration with an enthusiastic, "Awesome! A 17k for 2017!" that I understood that 17K wasn't a "thing," but just a "thing for today."

The course was very well marked and the aid station about 6 miles in was stocked with both friendly faces and tasty snacks. I'm a slave for potato chips and soda, even if it's not for fueling up during a race.

An elevation gain of 1,850 made for a good, challenging course. I stayed with my teammates, who helped pushed through the uphill power hikes and incredibly fast, cushy downhills.

I was not trained up for this race--not at all. But 2017 isn't going to be about being the fastest.

The other day I was on a run in the Presidio where I saw two dogs off leash chasing each other back and forth. After the initial, "oh man are they gonna attack me?" I cued into the human in charge and littlest french bulldog trotting along behind him. I thought, "aw, poor little dude! He's all alone and his buddies are just running circles around him." But then I got closer and saw his happy, panting little face. He couldn't care less what anyone, or any dog, was doing. He was enjoying the time outside, just living the dream of being on a beach in San Francisco.

I thought, "wait, I AM that dog."

2017 is the start of this adventure...this crazy wonderful traveling adventure. And I can't be too concerned with being fast all the time. I'm going to be in some pretty inspiring places this year, and I've gotta work my best to keep my happy, panting face regardless of what everyone else is doing around me.