"A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should." ~Anonymous

I had big plans for today. It was supposed to be the start of both my six week learn-to-run plan and a six week eating plan. Then I remembered that I would be heading to Vancouver this coming weekend which would mean I'd miss two of the four walk/runs and starting an eating plan before a weekend of eating out, well, that's just dumb. As a result, today was changed to a 'walk only' and my learning to love running will have to wait a week.


That's right, I'm back on the learn-to-run plan, following a schedule which alternates walk/run days with resistance training days. I'm looking at it like a self-motivated bootcamp: six weeks, regular work outs, regulated eating, and (again) only six weeks. I can do pretty much anything for six weeks (or at least that's what I'm telling myself). Just like bootcamp, I have roped a friend into joining me, at least for the learn-to-run part. It's the same friend, in fact, that I roped into doing bootcamp with me.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." Ralph Waldo Emerson

For all my willingness to strike up conversations with strangers and to befriend people while I travel, I am a very socially awkward person. After years of being that kid on the outside looking in, I never really know when I've crossed from aquaintance to friend. When I make a new friend, I'm always hesitant to use the term 'friend'. I say coworker, aquaintance, colleague, the list goes on, but never friend until I'm really, really sure that we are just that. I can't put into words how much I treasure the friends I have because goodness knows how I'd replace them (well, other than with my oft mentioned one-cat-per-friend plan).


All my friends have been very supportive in their own ways, but to have one of my bestest friends willing join me in my six weeks is awesome. We met tonight at the top of St. Charles St, walked down to Ross Bay Cemetary, slogged around the block and back up the hill to Fort St. We talked about work, mutual friends, personal issues, the usual girl stuff, and when I slowed down because, well, I'm unfit, she kept going and it spurred me on to keep up, to push on up the hill without stopping for a break. She told me my job was to keep on her over the next six weeks to make sure she didn't miss any walk/runs and I will. Not just to keep her on track but to also keep myself on track.


To everyone who has cheered me on with words and hugs, becoming a fellow hiker, sending inspirational pictures, or what-have-you; from the very bottom of my heart I say thank you. I may not be the most natural at making life-long friends but some how I seemed to have ended up with some of the very best in the whole world.

“If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.” A.A Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh