Hi friends! Sorry to be MIA again. End of semester crunch time over here, but I wanted to pop in and say hi.

Since we've last chatted, I've returned back from my trip to PA with a much better attitude about school, work and life in general. I'm going to credit the spring weather for that one and all the fun things I have planned this month. I swear it's like someone flipped a switch, and I'm a million times happier and feel like myself again.

Other than the weather, here's what I think is contributing to my happiness:

1. Softball is back in my life.



OMG there aren't enough awesome words to describe how happy I am that softball season is back. Every time I talk about softball to someone I word-vomit about its awesomeness and literally can't shut up. The freakish euphoria I get from hanging out with friends and playing this sport is probably extremely off-putting. Sorry friends.

I'm coaching a new team this year with a bunch of work colleagues, and going into the season, I was a little nervous about how things would go, if people would get along, all the general concerns one has when 20 random people show up to play a sport for the first time.

But it's been 100 percent awesome the entire time. I feel like I've made 20 new BFFs. Plus we're good, which helps, because winning is way more fun than losing!

2. Opening Day



Opening Day in Baltimore is one of the most fun days of the year. This year Meghan and I took off work to spend the day in the city. It was definitely the right choice. It was so much fun, in fact, maybe too much fun. It's probably best Opening Day only happens once a year.

3. The Cherry Blossoms

Usually I avoid the cherry blossoms like the freakin' plague because tourists in DC drive me crazy, but this past Sunday I the weather was beyond perfect and I ventured down to the Tidal Basin to check out the trees in peak bloom. The tourists were definitely annoying as heck, but the view from the steps of the Jefferson Memorial made it all worth it. I didn't take a picture, but everything about the view reminded me why I love this city.

The only thing lately that hasn't been rockin' my world is my running.



My long run this weekend was a struggle. I tried to do it on Sunday and my legs were so shot that I turned around after 2.5 miles and walked the remaining 2.5 back home. I tried again on Monday and managed to at least finish the 8 miles that were on my training plan, but it wasn't pretty. I know bad runs happen and all, but a bad long run only a few weeks out from race day makes me nervous.

My training was going really well until my calf issues, and I'm worried that I'm not rebounding very well from that. I'm probably going to make a few tweaks to the amount of rest I'm taking and try to give myself some more recovery time so that I can make sure my remaining long runs are strong.