Yes, this is still a running blog...

Even though I haven't been running at all. Well, running all over Israel but I'm not sure thy counts. I hate the way not running makes me feel, particularly since there is so much good food to eat in Israel before we have to go back home. But, having the chance to be back in Israel really does make it all worth it. We took the group to Tzfat today and met the artist Avraham Lowenthal. He is very into the mysticism of the Kabalah. It really struck me when he said to think about what a miracle it is that we are here in Israel. I feel really lucky to be back for the fourth time and sharing my love for Israel with the participants. We have about a week left in Israel, though I never want to leave! Hopefully I'll be back to running soon after. In the meantime I'm going to do my best to enjoy every minute!

Israel aboard the Magic Shul Bus!

Well it’s Sunday morning here in Israel, and now that Shabbat is over, it is finally starting to sink in that I’m really back in Israel. Sitting next to my sister on the flight over (thanks to the awesome guy who switched seats with me!) we both commented over and over how unreal it was that we had crossed into Israel airspace, that we landed in Israel, that we were really in Israel.

Starting our trip with Shabbat was an interesting way to welcome the participants to Israel. It was a wonderful way to get to know the group on a more personal level. They are a fantastic group! This group of mostly strangers has very quickly become one bus (and has asked to be called the Magic Shul Bus!). Time spent touring Kibbutz Sha’ar HaGolan, sitting by the pool and playing soccer and basketball was a great way to break down everyone’s barriers and take a group of strangers and turn them into a group of friends.

After a wonderful Havdallah that many participants said was their favorite part of Shabbat (mine too!) we wished everyone a Shavua Tov and headed to Tiberias for dinner. The rest of the trip won’t be anywhere near as relaxing has Shabbat, but that is what makes Shabbat special. We’re refreshed and ready to hit the ground running for the rest of an amazing trip!

Blogging from Israel!

In about exactly 48 hours, I'm off to Israel for fourth time!

I found out today that the Birthright group I'm staffing is going to be keeping a blog during the trip. I can't promise updates here, but if you want to see what we're up to or follow along on the adventure, be sure to check in here: http://www.israelwithisraelis.com/blogs/sh-24-246

We'll be posting pictures and talking about the day-to-day life on bus 246! 

Please drop in and comment over there - we'd love to hear from you!

Trip 1: May 2006

Trip 2: December 2008

Trip 3: May 2009

Plantar What?!

So I wound up back at the doctor today, just to make sure the swelling in my foot wasn't a fracture. The good news is, no fracture. The bad news? He thinks I might be starting to get a little bit of plantar faciitis.

Keep you fingers crossed for me that the rest, ice and advil work. 'Cause if they don't, I might go stir crazy.

Any suggestions for me?

Exploring the Serengeti

It's amazing how something can be right under your nose for so long, yet you go through life without discovering it. I've lived in the Syracuse area for my entire life, and I've been running at Green Lakes State Park since I was in middle school. Yet it took until today for me to finally discover what is unofficially called Syracuse's Serengeti.

Not the Serengeti, but one of the parts of Green Lakes I love.

Wow. I alternately thought I was in Africa, running through the real Serengeti, or on one of my favorite hikes in the Jilaboon, in northern Israel. It was incredibly easy to forget I was running through a state park only a few miles from my house.

We took a tour of the 7@7 Livestrong trail run course and it was incredible. I covers the well-loved lake trails, some incredibly challenging hills and tons of gorgeous vistas. I only wish I could have risked looking up from the ground to enjoy. It's going to be a tough race. I still haven't decided if its one I'm going to do or not, but one thing is for sure. I'm definitely going to be making use of those trails more often.

I probably shouldn't have run today, but it's amazing how the thought of running gets in your head and you can't get it out. I didn't do the whole 90 minutes, but I'm already paying for it and it looks like I'll be back in the pool for the rest of this up coming week.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though. My sister and I leave for Israel on Thursday! I can't believe it's here already. I guess I better get packing!

Trying to be Patient

I haven't run since Sunday. Unless you count the pool running. Which I'm not really sure I do. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Saturday. It's amazing how running gets under your skin, into your head and won't let go.

Call Me Converted

“The moment when something major is accomplished, we are so relieved to finally be done with it that we are already rushing, at least mentally, into THE FUTURE. Wisdom, however, requests a pause. If we cannot give ourselves a pause, the Universe will likely give it to us. In the form of an illness, a massive mercury in retrograde, our car breaking down. And we find ourselves required to stop, to sit down, to reflect.”  ~ Alice Walker

That quote has been up on my Facebook page since I was a sophomore in college. And it pretty much sums up my life about right now. I’ve been going at about 100 miles an hour and as much as I’d like to deny it, my body is putting up a pretty good protest.

I had just sworn off doctors on Friday after my follow up with the spine specialist. My back had been feeling pretty good and I was ready to just deal with the tightness/burning in my shins. Running is what makes me happy and I am done complaining about all the aches and pains that come with it. This is the new, smiley, sunshiny me. I like it a lot. :)

Well, karma (or walking in heels all over Manhattan) came back to bite me in the butt. After the race on Saturday, I noticed my foot was a little achy. Being the genius I am I decided to just ignore it and head out for my long run on Sunday. I got my 90 minutes in, but looking back now I know I never should have done it. The last 30 minutes I could really tell I’d done something to mess my foot up. I woke up Monday morning and it was pretty swollen.

But, like I said, I’d resolved to have a better attitude about the whole thing. So instead of running anyways and complaining to anyone who would listen (did I think that would make people think I was tough? I was wrong!) I got in the pool with Kevin for a pool running tutorial. Um, I’m in love. All the benefits of running, with none of the pain?! Just call me converted. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never permanently trade in my running shoes for a floatation belt and rope, but I love that it gives me all the mental and physical benefits of a great run with none of the bad kind of pain.

Image from Runner's World

It definitely didn’t hurt than I picked up on it right away. Apparently I have a pretty good pool running form. So I’ll be perfecting my pool running technique all week—hopefully I’ll be back on the road in time for Saturday’s long run. But right now my focus is on staying healthy and happy and I think I found my ticket. There’s only one week to go (O-M-G) till I leave for Israel. The last thing I want is for something stupid to ruin this trip.

Meet me in the pool?