everywhere but here.

This week has been one of the busiest weeks I have had at work, which seems silly because we're a summer sport organization and it's obviously not summer. This is what happens when there are stories to write and magazine deadlines to meet and thousands and thousands of folks to engage with.

There's no offseason. There's no rest for the wicked. You know.

Part of this week's chaos has been all the meetings we have had, including my favorite meeting of the year, our travel schedule meeting. Because I love traveling and seeing new places (or places I quite enjoy visiting multiple times), I get excited to know that I can work somewhere other than my desk.

This year, my work travels are going to take me to 7 different states and 1 new country. Some of the destinations are repeats (Tuscaloosa, Ala., Tucson, Ariz., San Diego, Calif., Burlington, Vt.) while others are new (at least for races - Austin, Texas, West Chester, Ohio, Oklahoma City, Okla.). And there's that whole new country thing, which to be honest was unexpected and I'm trying not to be too excited about it in case things don't work out...

Auckland, New Zealand (source)

We have our world championships there in October, so assuming things work out, this is where I will be instead of running the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon like I originally thought.

So besides my myriad of work trips, I also want to visit friends in Reno, Boston, Myrtle Beach and of course, Michigan.

You might wonder why I pay rent in my apartment. I'm not sure why either. (This is a joke, obviously - a place to live is nice.)

I'm also hoping to fit some running races in there too, when I will be in places that I can actually do them, including:
St. Patrick's Day 5k
Colfax Urban 10 Miler
The Color Run - Colorado
Sailing Shoes 10k
The Duo at the Lodge Half Marathon

I think I want to add a few more (there are not enough 5ks on here) but this is about what I can handle right now given the insanity of my schedule.

Other things that are happening in 2012?

I'm going to start taking classes toward a graduate degree.
My best friend is getting married.
I turn 26.

As we get a little further into the year, it seems like I am going to be everywhere but here in Colorado. I know that's not true, and that I will be here quite a bit, but when you look at my calendar it's full of travel and races and I can tell you pretty much what I am doing from now until Christmas. I'm not sure if that's healthy or not but I like it that way.

I will leave you with two important insightful thoughts. One relates to this entire post and perfectly describes how I am living my life right now:

“Your twenties are your ‘selfish’ years. It’s a decade to immerse yourself in every single thing possible. Be selfish with your time, and all the aspects of you. Tinker, travel, explore, love a lot, love a little, and never touch the ground.”

The second is a blog I read this morning that makes me think about relationships I have with my friends. The key point was this:

"A friendship can be an extremely powerful relationship and to act like friends don’t have the power to hurt us so deeply that we have to walk away somehow cheapens the relationship."

Friends can hurt you. Friends can say or do things that can permanently change your relationship with them, because you can't forget what they said or did to you. But friendships are one of the most important relationships you will have, and I don't think the friends who truly value your relationship with them (and vice versa) will do things to hurt you deeply, because you matter to them.

Do you have your year planned out? Trips, races...? I can't be the only one to do this...right?