So about a month and a half ago my boyfriend Nate signed us up to run the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 2010 10K Road Race which is being held on August 7, 2o1o. I am now kinda sorta regretting what I got myself into. 6 miles?! That is further than I have ever run. Ever, ever. I do not like to run and to be quite honest, I never really have enjoyed running. Well, I didn’t mind it so much in high school when I played field hockey, but maybe it was more interesting to me because I was running after a ball, not just aimlessly running for the sake of running. This is the 10th year anniversary of this race. It is a 6.2 mile (10K) run, starting at Crescent Beach and ending at Portland Head Light, both of which are in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Last years race had 6,000 runners and approximately 10,000 spectators. Joan Benoit Samuelson, a native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, won the 1st ever women’s marathon in 1984 at the Olympics in Los Angeles & is also the founder and co-chair of the 10K race.
I am running a 10K…At least that’s my goal.
Are you looking for something to do outside this Spring?!
Since becoming the owner of a Golden Retriever puppy about a year ago & living in the Portland, Maine area, I have made it a priority to find and seek out trails & hikes that we can explore & enjoy. I have always loved being outdoors. When I began to research trails and hikes in the area, I immediately discovered trails.org. AH HA! Just what I was hoping to find. This is the website is dedicated to the 50 mile network of trails in Greater Portland, Maine. There are so many options for trails in this area. There really isn’t an excuse to why you cannot get outside and get some exercise. (Well maybe if it’s raining) Bring your dog to enjoy the fun too! Mostly all of the trails allow dogs, but I grew up in the woods of Maine…well sort of…it isn’t as rural as it sounds, but as a young adult when I moved to Portland, I thought “Oh great, here goes my love for wildlife and nature.” Not true at all. I encourage all of you to check out the Portland Trails. Plus it’s free, so it really doesn’t get much better than that 
The Valentine Bandit(s?) of Portland, Maine♥
I have spent the past couple of years living in & around Portland, Maine, enjoy my 20s. It is by far my most favorite city ever & as I have come to realize, it seems to get more & more interesting each & every year. Maybe it is because I will soon be approaching 30 & seem to notice a bit more, but there are so many little things that happen in & around Portland that make it unique & truly unlike any other city in America. One of which is the Valentine Bandit which has struck Portland every February 14th since 1976, taping red hearts printed on sheets of white paper all over Portland and even in other nearby cities (I saw a heart taped to the new Westbrook Middle School this year!) People try and guess who it is responsible, but if you ask me, I will tell you that I don’t want to know! That takes all the fun out of it…just relax people & try to think for a minute that maybe there is someone or more than one out there that just wants to put a smile on your face whether you are acting miserable & single or happy & in-love. It can bring you back for a minute & help you to realize what life is all about. LOVE. It is what we are all chasing & don’t try to deny it because it is human nature. It is the ultimate emotion that we can feel & experience as humans (at least I think so) & maybe one of the only pure & true things that still exists on this planet. I guess it is what keeps us going everyday & keeps us together. I do know that the heart is frail & easily broken, but it is wonderfully resilient
