Older? Yes. Wiser? Not so much.

I was randomly pondering what it was that I did for my birthday last year. Couldn't really remember for the life of me and so I looked back. Yeah. Worst. Marathon. Ever. (The attached pic is not from that run: I had just rocked a sub 3:36 this past October which would be my 2nd best marathon time: BOSTON 2012, BABY.)

2008 was obviously not a great year or a very happy birthday.

2007 was. I remember that day. I remember driving down 10th and seeing the freighters in the harbour and the North Shore mountains and being happy.

In 2006 I was single. I read the entry and it got me down and I thought really? That was it for my birthday that year? And then I read the next entry and that dinner at Mahoney's pub came flooding back to me. That was such a fun night. Everyone showed up.

This year. I've officially gotten old enough to just want the day to pass without any acknowledgement. Unfortunately I was serenaded with the "Happy Birthday" song at lunch amidst my vehement protestations. After work I just wanted to go to yoga like normal but it was cancelled and so I went home, thinking I could get in 10k on the treadmill but my brother called. We ended up having this awesome 45 minute conversation about religion and the media and consumerism and then I ran out into the blustery rain to meet Michael after the clinic. D was there and I was glad to get to see him one more time before he heads to Hawaii for his 60 or 70ish marathon (I'm not even kidding). But M was also there. I met him on the very first day that I showed up at the clinic. He was so nice to me and made me feel welcome and, in 2009, he was very encouraging of me during some of my longest runs leading up to Boston. I don't show up to the clinic as often as Michael does and he recently told me that though M has since retired and moved to Squamish he has been dropping in for runs and asking about me. I was just so pleased to see him and catch up over coffee. It was perfect.

Michael got me tons more gifts even though I begged him not to since he bought me a bag, a lock, a bell and a couple of lights for my bike when I bought it a few months ago. Nope. I had a bag full of presents: running socks; riding gloves; chocolates; a Starbucks gift card; a free meal ticket for Hachi Hana; a book by one of my favourite authors. Look up "spoiled" in the dictionary and there should be a pic of me there.

Yep. Happy birthday, girlie.