Week 8? The best shape of our lives

Longest run in the last few weeks: 6.4 mile loop around Central Park. Time: 1h 9min (slow and steady)
Best run this week: 5.19 miles short loop around Central Park. Time: 53:02. Avg pace: 10'13"!

Dear reader(s)- Sorry I went off the grid for awhile, but I promise I haven't gone off track. Training is going great. In fact, I've signed up for a half-marathon class 2x a week, and wow, in 3 classes I'm already seeing improvement. Sometimes it's hard to find motivation when you get tired, it's hot out, certain joints that once just whined a little are starting to scream. Of course, I have my main goal: the race, for cancer, for strength, for recovery. But that goal is still 2 months off, and in the moment... well, in the moment, I just need a little boost. This week a mantra started going through my head, one a friend and I were discussing a couple of weeks ago: How great would it be to say you were in the best shape of your life? The best shape of your life! Now, after a year of being sedentary and not working out. Take THAT, 36!! So my mantra this week was: "The best shape of my life. The best shape of my life." And wow, did I start feeling stronger. Like I could conquer the next hill, and I did. And shut up, hip, I ain't listening to you complain. So overall, a great couple of weeks.

But of course, you're not here to read about my great week, you're here to read about our fantastic week. Mom's results came back with some amazing news: her tumor has a low recurrence rate, meaning no chemotherapy. And she's gotten leave to go back to work next week.

We are that much closer to normalcy, within whatever new normal has been established. On the other hand, why settle for just normal when you can strive for the best shape of your life?