Getting fired up to train for the Dipsea

This time of year is always very happy for me. This is the time of year that my friends and I train on the Dipsea trail, the famous 7-ish mile route from downtown Mill Valley over Mt. Tam to Stinson Beach. This year the race celebrates its 100th anniversary. It is the second oldest footrace in the US, only the Boston Marathon has been run more years. This will be my 20th running, would have been 23 except for pregnancy with my oldest daughter (I planned the second one better), a knee surgery and an ankle surgery. So I'll do my 20th on the 100th.

And with any luck, my daughters and my sisters will be able to do it too... the most wonderful kind of family affair.

Something transforms within me when I start out with my friends here in my driveway, do a slow warm-up to downtown, gradual pick up to the bottom of the stairs (673 steps?), then slip into that awesome feeling that occurs when you hit your stride on the trails. We lose ourselves in the spirit up there.

There is a peace I find in long-distance running on the trails that really centers me. In the midst of so much exhilarating activity that is vivoGS, this is where I have my best thoughts. My most important thoughts. I'm able to put everything into the right perspective and solve problems that I may not have even known needed solving.

This is a transitional year for my little family. My oldest girl is leaving for college in August, following her own dreams. She's as independent as I am, as her dad and I raised her to be. She takes me with her in her heart, I hope, and I will be in her heart as she returns to the soccer pitch after acl surgery last August. She is stronger than ever for the experience, and her dad, sister and I are proud to watch her go and make her mark on that team in Chapel Hill.

My girls play with all their heart, every play, every day. We know of no other way.

vivoGS is the culmination of all of my experience, my passion, my dreams for all teenage girls and young women everywhere. We are working to hard to make it relevant, helpful, engaging and important. Stay tuned as our team takes it to a new level of interactivity. We've learned alot from this beta and direct feedback from the girls; now it is time to apply it.