I ran my first 5k on June 17, 2006. So on June 17, 2016, I put on my first pair of running shoes, first pair of running shorts, what used to be my lucky race socks, and ran a 5k around my neighborhood.
The goal of the run was to think about what running has meant to me, but to also get get through it since I had been very sick the day before – sick the point that I missed the Guster concert (so you know it was pretty bad, made even worse that I wasn't home when I got sick, so I had to…do that in a public bathroom. Eep).
Once I moved past the novelty of running in very old and very flat shoes (Mizuno Wave Rider 9), my brain did what it usually does on a run: wanders in multiple, conflicting directions, including thinking about the interviews I had that afternoon and how I'd word a letter to a transit agency to get them to turn off the damn light that's been blinking into my bedroom for weeks.
And that's just about right. I didn't need to have a deep thought about how running has changed my life because, let's be honest, I wrote a book about it. It was just another run on another day but in some gear that will soon be old enough to be considered vintage. Egads. I've been at this a while.
The picture above is not from that run. That's from a trail run I did on Sunday. I'm back at that. I have a trail 5k race this Sunday. I haven't picked any fall races just yet, which is a bit freeing. For now.
Recent Bylines
None! Never fear, dear readers. I've been working on a bunch of stuff. It just hasn't been published yet.
People Talk About Jen's Book
"Miss Adventures," Outside magazine
Jen Talks About Her Book
"Jen Miller is Back for Round 2, Talking About Her New Book & Much More" for DizRuns. I went on this podcast the first time just after I finished writing Running: A Love Story, so if you want to see my thoughts prepublication and right before I wrapped up my book tour, go find that episode, then listen to this one. I've had great luck with radio and podcast interviews. They tend to have read the book (which may sound obvious, but not everyone does), and ask really good questions. So thanks folks in audio land.
What I'm Reading
Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia by David Greene. Because what else do you read when it's 93 degrees? It is very very good. I bought it at Greenlight Bookstore in Brooklyn last weekend. Despite being an NPR listener and knowing who David Greene is, I'd never heard of this book. That's the best part about bookstores: finding gems by browsing. So support your indies, okay? They're doing pretty great right now, so let's keep it that way.
What I'm Watching
The League! Season 7 popped up on Netflix, and I dove right in. This is a dumb show. I mean: really dumb. But they know it's dumb, and it's funny, and even though I don't watch football let alone care about fantasy football, I watch. And giggle. Especially during the Beer Mile episode.
Until next time,
Jen A. Miller
jenamiller.com
runningalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
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