13.1.

Yesterday I ran in the Long Beach Half Marathon. I definitely wouldn't go as far as saying that it was easy but it was absolutely way more enjoyable than I expected it to be. I couldn't believe it when I hit 10 miles; I felt as if I had only run two. The route was beautiful. At first it was somewhat industrial but the last half of the race was all along the beach, which was incredible. The weather was perfect--the sun was shining and the air was fresh. The last .1 of a mile was downhill, which was so fun. I sprinted down the last stretch, passing people and leaving them in my wake. All while listening to Love Lockdown, an awesome pump-up song with a crazy good beat (and a crazy good video, too).



All in all, the experience was so much fun. Running the race was truly a blast. Training for the half marathon was a blessing in disguise. It was obviously difficult and stressful at times (not to mention tiring) but it was also a great way for me to explore my new surroundings and to remember to put life into perspective. Though I've lived near Santa Monica for the past four years, I had never really explored the town. Since I had to run for hours at a time, I got to explore regions of Santa Monica I'd never checked out before, areas like Montana Avenue, Main Street and nooks and crannies of the beach. I really got familiar with my new neighborhood, which I loved.

Training was also important to me because I began to see running as therapy. Whenever I got frustrated with my job search, my dad would always tell me to keep exercising. Though it was simple advice, it was truly profound. I've always heard about the research linking exercise to the release of endorphins and I am a living testament to the truth of that statement. Mornings are usually the hardest for me when I'm stressed about something, so shaking off those nerves by going on a run was incredibly beneficial for me. It started my day off right and really cleared my mind. So thanks for that, Dad.

You don't have to train for a half marathon to get those endorphins going. Even a simple walk around the block, a pick-up football game or a bike ride will do the trick. Not only will your body thank you for the physical activity, but your psyche/emotional well-being will thank you, too.