Holiday Wish List

It got cold!  Well… “Florida cold,” that is.  It got down to the 50s last night and today was my favorite kind of Florida day, sunny and in the 60s.  Tonight we’re supposed to get down to 48 degrees, brr!  That’s super cold for us, just about the coldest it gets here.  Sadly it never snows… the last time it snowed in South Florida was in the 1970s, and with the way things are going it’s unlikely to happen again.  My kids are still hoping though.

Since it’s nice and chilly on December 1st, it’s the perfect time for me to put together my holiday wishlist!  There are some items I’ve been eyeing…

This Female Running Legends sweatshirt.  I love all these women so much, but the one who influenced me the most is Joan Benoit Samuelson.  I started running my junior year of high school.  I wasn’t on the track team or anything, I just ran for my own enjoyment.  I loved it but didn’t have any coaches or mentors to show me what was possible.  In 1984 I graduated from high school, and that summer was the Olympics in Los Angeles.  It was the first time the marathon was an event for women, and Joan Benoit won the gold medal.

This podcast does a great job telling the whole story of the main contenders (Joan was not favored to win) and Joan’s story of coming back from an injury to compete that year.  It was fun to listen to, especially because I vividly remember watching that marathon.  I didn’t know who Joan Benoit was beforehand, but to have an American win gold in the first women’s Olympic marathon, in LA, was thrilling.  The next morning on my run I looked at the other runners out there and wondered if they had also watched Joan win.  And one of my other favorite parts about that story was that in an interview afterwards, Joan said that when she ran into the tunnel at the Olympic stadium (leading to the track where the marathon ended) she knew when she ran out the other side, her life would be changed forever.  HOW COOL IS THAT.

Back to the sweatshirt!  Tragically, they’re currently sold out of smalls.  I could probably wear an extra small but I want it to be roomy.  I’m hoping smalls come back into stock.  If not I have a second choice, this sweatshirt from Marie Claire Design Studio. I have a hoodie from them that I love, and as a matter of fact I wore it all day today, since it was cold out!  I’ll probably wear it tomorrow also.

Second item is this foot massager! Hungry Runner Girl has this on her gift guide and it looks amazing.  It says it’s for plantar fasciitis, but that’s not why I want it (I don’t think something like that would have much of an effect on PF). I just want it because it looks like it would feel really, really good.

Third… I need a book!  I’m thinking this one.  Maybe.  Wendy gave it a great review here.  It sounds fascinating, and the only reason I’m hesitating is because it kind of sounds like a downer.  Another one I’m thinking of is this book by Matt Fitzgerald. I haven’t heard much hype about it, but I heard an interview with Matt before it came out and it sounds interesting.  Matt spent a summer training with NAZ Elite, and this book is about his “fake pro experience” with them.  Well, if I get it I’ll give it a full review.

I’m already picturing myself on Christmas Day, wearing my new sweatshirt while getting a foot massage and reading my book (or, books!  Maybe I’ll get both!). In reality, I know from experience that as soon as I get comfortable some kind of “Mom Alarm” goes off somewhere and everyone will start calling for me.  The cat threw up!  Someone embedded a melted candy cane into the carpet!  My new device needs batteries!  Not those- I need the other kind- can someone go to the store?  I’m hungry, again!  SIGH.

The last and most important thing on my wish list is to be running again!  Obviously.  Fingers crossed that I get everything on my list.

(These are not affiliate links!  I’m just sharing cool stuff that I want!)