Speed work for dinner

If long runs are the meat and potatoes for marathon training, that would make speed work the vegetables. The part that you know is good for you but would rather not do, the part you want to feed to the dog and pretend was never there in the first place. But when you get down to it, don't you feel better after you've eaten your vegetables, and don't you feel better after you've done speed work?

Last week, with the first glimmers of spring appearing as warm sunny days, I slowly acclimated my body to outdoor running. I enjoyed the scenery as I ran my easy miles, explored the trails and landmarks, and even took some pictures along the way. But I knew something was missing, something was too soft. My half marathon was coming up in less than a month and I was starting to feel like I needed to prove myself. I had put in all this work and I wasn't about to have a mediocre race. Today then, I had decided would be a true speed work day. Sure I had been doing speed work on the treadmill all winter, a compilation of tempo and intervals. But when you're outside on the road, the rules change. Your body does all the work, not the machine. True speed work hurts. It is a grueling, painful torture of a workout that left you feeling like you would die on the spot. But once that feeling passed you felt like God. I needed to do four miles - So I decided on 4 x 800's. Half mile repeats.

So I packed up my booty shorts hoping they would give me the extra something I needed, and went on with my day. All day long all I could think about was the run. When the sun never showed it's face I was nervous it would be cold and I would be miserable. When I realized I had forgotten my sports watch at Boyfriend's apartment I thought my chance at speed work was shot until we made a plan for me to pick it up. When I had picked up my watch and was mere minutes away from starting my run I thought I had forgotten my inhaler on the kitchen table. I literally pounded my fist with outrage onto the steering wheel. The one thing that I could not run without was my inhaler. But a second look into my purse showed it had been there all along and I took my required two puffs.

It was time. I stood outside my parked car, tucked the key into my shorts pocket and was on my way. Right away I congratulated myself on choosing the booty shorts. My stride unrestricted stride was easy as I did my warm up 1/2 mile. I was as excited as I was nervous as I approached the marker to begin my first repeat. The path was empty, the skies grey, and the air not warm, not cold with slight breeze. It was as if the stars had aligned to give me the perfect day for speed work. I crossed the 1/4 mile mark on the sidewalk and picked up the pace. I had no plan. I had no goal time. I figured I would pick a pace that fast enough to feel challenging but one I could maintain over the entire half mile. I wouldn't know what the numbers were until I was done. In fact it had been so long since I had run repeats I forgot what a decent time even was. I crossed the halfway mark and already wanted it to be over. Three quarters of the way I thought I was going to throw up. By the time I finished I was gasping for breath and surprised I had not thrown up. As I jogged my recovery quarter I checked my watch. I wasn't shocked or disappointed with the result, and I figured it would be pretty do-able to stick to that time give or take five seconds. So I went for another one. Right away I felt the pain building up in my stomach and my breathing was fast. My legs didn't hurt, they moved in such a fluid motion I imagined myself as a gazelle. Imagining things made the work so much easier and I pushed on, concentrating on nothing but the finish. I crossed the line, hit the split button on my watch and glanced down at the tiny screen. Five seconds faster than my first time? I was feeling a little bit proud as I trotted through another recovery. I wondered if it had been a fluke, if I had burnt myself out and would I be able to make it happen again. The only way to find out was to keep on going and by this point I was at the halfway point for my whole run. I turned around and immediately headed into my third repeat. I felt a change, like something inside me had clicked on and my body knew how to run for real. This time I didn't get winded right away and gave an extra hard push to the end. Looked at my watch, another 8 seconds fast. This was crazy. What was happening to my body? Each repeat felt like coming farther out of a coma, my body falling into the rhythm of a faster pace. One more left. I had watched my time get faster and faster and this would be no exception. I started giving myself a pep talk through my last recovery.

"Just do this, just run, and push, and go through to the end. When it's over then you can rest but not until you are done. Just go, steady and strong, just go" I start. I push. And then with a wash of relief the pain is over. I am gasping for breath, practically running in place as I check my watch. 6 seconds faster. 19 seconds faster than my first.

After so much time doubting my abilities, today has filled me with hope and excitement. I have roughly three weeks until my race and now, for the first time I believe I can run with a good time. I believe again that I can start setting goals for myself and achieve them. I believe again, in myself.

1/2 mile interval times

1st repeat - 3:59

2nd repeat - 3:54

3rd repeat - 3:46

4th repeat - 3:40

xx Sara

One reason is all you need.

Reasons NOT to run

1. The weather is too cold/rainy/hot/humid.

2. I feel tired/cranky/out of it.

3. I would rather be at home on the couch with my significant other.

4. I want to spend time with my friends, and they do NOT want to run.

5. I have errands to run/grocery shopping to do.

6. I don't like the outfit I packed in my gym back this morning.

7. I just ran yesterday.

8. I will run tomorrow.

9. I don't think I can finish the workout I have planned.

10. I forgot my watch.

11. I forgot my socks.

12. I just plain do not WANT to.

Reasons TO run

1. NOT running is NOT an option

I always say that more than half the battle is your attitude. Do whatever it takes to have a positive attitude and you will succeed. Reasons to NOT do things are not reasons, they are excuses, in a reason costume. Do not believe them. Do not let them get into your head, if they do get them out before they have time to get comfortable. There is no place for negativity in achievement. Do you really want to wake up tomorrow and have to erase miles off your log? No? I didn't think so. So get it together, get those shoes on your feet and get out the door. Trust me you will thank me for it later. You may not thank me while you are running, and it may not be when you are finished. It could take days. But trust me. You will thank me.

Now go RUN

Un-dieting

When it comes to dieting, I've been through a lot. I've gone through phases where I cut out all things sugar and fat, kept logs and journals, meticulously counted calories and even had some unfortunate bouts with not wanting to eat anything at all. Working in an office of mostly women I have seen more than my share of diet trends come and go. The Cookie Diet, Weight Watchers, South Beach, Skinny Bitch, The Lemonade Cleanse. I even distinctly remember one Friday afternoon while crowded around the high top tables in the bar of The Cheesecake factory discussing what diet to start on Monday. This as we dug into to samplers of every appetizer on the menu washed down with a deliciously fruity cocktail.

I never gave a second thought to what I ate my whole life, until college. In high school I was the girl that would finish the fries off your plate, or the last slice of pizza so we could throw away the box. I was always active, and always skinny. In college the only thing that changed was my involvement in sports. I still lived for pints of Ben and Jerry's, cherry coke, Oreo s and Easy Mac. It wasn't until about halfway through the year that I started to wonder if maybe these habits were starting to have a negative effect on me. I didn't feel like my clothes were fitting the same, so I started going to the gym one day a week. One day turned into two, and two into three, and so on until I had settled into regular routine. Before I knew it I was cutting things out of my diet, like chips and soda. By summers end I had sworn off fast food, and I thought I was on my way to feeling better about myself.

But through the rest of college I struggled with being happy and indulging in the foods I loved, and being skinny. I thought the two were mutually exclusive. How could I have a healthy relationship with chocolate, and my body? Part of me knew that to be happy in life you had to enjoy every moment, and live in every moment. When friends wanted to go out for ice cream I never wanted to be the one on the sidelines sipping ice water. What I didn't realize was that I didn't have to be the one taking on the ten scoop ice cream extravaganza challenge. I had gained a demented sense of pride as a child from being able to eat so much at one time it was hard to shake. There is no pride in eating yourself sick. There is no pride in starving yourself thin either. Let's face it life is too short to not indulge in our favorite rich and delicious foods every now and then. I also have taken A LOT of time to accept that the shape I was born with is the shape that will always be. I am a pear, be the pear, love the pear. Life is so much more relaxing and easy when you accept things you do not have the power to change.

I am convinced that good diet is incredibly hard to uphold in college. As much as there is a routine and an order to life, there is chaos. Chaos filled with 2am Wawa runs, pizza for breakfast, and if you are me and live in Philly, the amazingness of cheese steaks. I started to notice that during finals wees, when my diet was at it's worst I felt like I was at my worst. After all the studying, tests and projects, when I had time to feed myself good things like fruit and vegetables, my body felt so much better. It can't really be that simple can it? feed your body good things and you will in turn feel good? And not only that but I stopped telling myself that anything was "off limits" or "restricted" and just ate things I liked or wanted just not our of control portions.

I no longer believe in the word 'diet'. I personally think that they are set up for failure because they are based on restriction. But to be fair, because I do not believe in them I have not taken much time to research them. I only believe in nutrition and feeding your body one good friend once told me, "Thin people eat when they are hungry, and stop when they are full". Never have I heard a move valid piece of advice and even though my eating habits had leveled off to normal I still always keep this in the back of my mind. Somehow our culture has brainwashed people to believe you need to eat only at breakfast lunch and dinner, and that you must clean your plate at every meal. Now I am not one to advocate wasting food but if you are full, stop eating. save the rest for later. leftovers are not the enemy. And if you are hungry an hour after eating your morning bagel, eat something else! Anyone that knows me would tell you I never stop eating throughout the day, I rarely finish a meal at a restaurant, I drink a ton of water all day long, but I will also have no problem putting away half a pizza.

Have your cake, and eat it too. Enjoy every delicious chocolaty bite, smile, and love yourself.

xx Sara

Two-a-days

I'll admit this picture has little to do with my post but I really like it.

According to Wikipedia, two-a days either refers to a 2006 MTV show about a high school football team, or more generally a tradition in high school football to run two practices a day in the summer, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Usually referred to as "hell week", and although in my context two-a-days do not last a week (thank goodness) I would have no problem agreeing they are hell.

To me, two-a-day means two runs in one day. Something that I just cannot get behind no matter how hard I try. I recognize that if you are an elite runner you probably run twice a day. I also recognize that when you are not running you are either eating, or sleeping, and probably not at your full time job, which although pretty fabulous, does not at all relate to running. There have only been two instances that I have done two runs in a day, both long runs, and both necessary to meet my weekly mileage.

The first time, was just about two years ago, training for my second marathon. I had gone home for the weekend to run a 5k with my littlest sister, who was hoping to PR and did not. I did roughly a 2 mile warm up, the 3 mile race I ran the 5 miles back to my house. With 10 miles under my belt I spent the morning/early afternoon sleeping on the couch until it was time to head back out again. I completed an 8 mile loop around town and when I was done I wasn't sure my legs would ever work again. I'm pretty sure if they could talk to each other they would be saying "WTF are you doing to us? we thought we were done and could rest and then you take us out for 8 more miles? seriously NOT cool!" Thankfully they are just legs and keep quiet.

The second time I did two runs in one day was Saturday.

After a wonderful run through Valley Forge park with Team Challenge Philly, I headed off to Kelly Drive for another six. On the way, stuck in the glorious mid morning traffic only 76 can bring, I sipped on some Gatorade and chocked down a few shot blocks so I wouldn't be dying from hunger, at least not for a while anyways. Traffic let up before I could use up what remained of my energy on anger and in minutes my car was parked and I was ready to go. I had also changed into a t-shirt in the car, from my long sleeve Nike, but was immediately wishing I didn't have to wear a shirt at all. It was HOT!

"Better get this over with," was all I could think about as I took off up the hill to Falls Bridge. I decided on West River, thinking it would be less crowded and possibly more shady, I clearly wasn't thinking that there were no leaves out yet when I made that decision. Not even across the bridge, I was feeling winded and realized I probably should have taken a second shot of my inhaler. Could have gone back, but didn't. The stubbornness in my personality makes it hard for me to veer off track from something I have planned. Right now I was already starting my run and I refused to go back, convinced myself I would be fine.

And breathing wise, I was fine, my legs however were another story. It was like starting an old car that didn't like to run, in the middle of winter, and it's low on gas. My legs were thinking they were done, they got up early, they stretched, stood out in the cold morning air, and then ran four miles of hills. It's a different kind of pain that comes from being tired, taking a short break, and then starting again. This is why I am constantly fearful about taking a walk break. I get so comfortable I don't want to start running again, and the pain that comes with starting up is too much. But I know I must push on and So I do. I push on for two and a half miles until I am running so slow it is practically a walk, and yet I am panting as if I am sprinting for the finish line. I am kicking myself for not turning back for my inhaler. So I walk. I walk as runners pass me in ever direction. I walk as I catch my breath and feel stupid for having to give up.

The longer I walk, the dumber I feel and by the time I hit my turn around point I am so angry I am determined to run the rest of the way back. No matter how much it sucks I am proving to myself right now I can do this. It was a long, slow, sometimes jog to the end, but I made it. I don't even remember what I kept telling myself to keep going but whatever it was it worked. I congratulated myself on little accomplishments, like crossing every quarter mile mark. I watched people to pass the time. I kept thinking how proud of myself I would be when I just finished this damn run. And I thought about how good Dunkin Donuts iced coffee would taste when I was through (after my Gatorade to re-hydrate of course!)

And when I was faced with the last uphill stretch I picked the most pumped up kick butt song on my IPod, turned up the volume and just ran like there was no hill at all. The last quarter mile was a blur of amazing and when I was done I practically collapsed onto my car with exhaustion. Of course the first thing I wanted to do was call my mother and tell her all about it.

You never know what you can accomplish until you try, and even when you fail there is nothing stopping you from trying again, except yourself.

xx Sara

Crowned a Socialite

I'll admit, amongst my posts about 6am wake up calls for long runs, 1/4 mile intervals after work and the general pain and suffering I put myself through on an almost daily basis, a post like this stands out more than a little bit. But the Lilly Girl inside me is thrilled to have been crowned a socialite by non other than the fabulous Bethany of Maryland Pink and Green and I couldn't resist passing it along. I swear it brightens your day!

Please read the rules and questions and consider yourself tagged because you are all lovely bloggers. Cheers~

I'm crowning you a socialite!
The rules-
Click on the above button and paste onto your blog/website
Answer the below questions
Pass onto 10 bloggers that you Love, go to their blog and let them know they've been tagged

1. Who is your style icon? Lilly Pulitzer - anyone who can get away with going barefoot in public is fabulous.

2. What is your favorite socialite lit book? Confession - Social Climbers is on my to-read list but I have been SO obsessed with work and running lately I haven't been making time to read. (uh-oh)

3. Favorite party theme? Anything that requires dressing up, or cooking something new, ok really I love ANY party theme no matter how crazy. I just like to have a good time!

4. Go to Halloween costume? I am terrible at Halloween costumes. There are always too many choices and I can never decide.

5. Extravagance you cannot live without? Pedicures.

6. Living person you admire? My mother. It may sound cheesy but it's true. She is one of the strongest, genuine, giving, hardworking, loving people I have ever had the privilege to know.

7. Greatest Fear? Losing anyone I care about

8. Trait you deplore in yourself? I tend to gossip more than I know I should

9. Which talent would you most like to have? Carrie Underwood's voice, because let's face it as much as I LOVE to sing it's better for everyone involved that I just keep quiet or it could be painful to your ears.

10. Greatest Achievement? Finishing my first marathon. I know there will be plenty more but the first one will always mean the most to me. My mom was there to watch and I definitely cried when I crossed the finish.

I'm crowning the following socialites:

1. Through Pink Colored Glasses

2. College Prep

3. If I can't wear Heels... I don't want to go

4. Classy and Fabulous

5. Denim & Pearls

6. Preppy Girl Meets World

7. Her Highness of Cute

8. Beantown Prepster: Part Deux

9. Third Coast Preppy

10. Black Labs and Lilly

xx Sara

First day jitters and inspiring new people

Everyone remembers that night-before-your-first-day-of-school feeling of nerves and excitement. As we grow older, although we are no longer in school, that feeling reappears from time to time on the night before other important things. Like the night before your first day at a new job, a big race, or just meeting up with a new group of people. So the night before my first training run with Team Challenge I was of course full into that feeling. I don't know what I had to be nervous about, we were going to run four miles which I knew I would be able to accomplish, so it had to be more than fear of failure. So I started analyzing what was going on in my head

"Would there be a lot of people? Would they all be faster than me? Would they be friendly?" and that's when I realized my lovely social anxiety was rearing it's ugly head. If you know me pretty well you would probably never guess I had a problem being social. I tend to talk, a lot, and not too quietly either I may add. But that's only if you know me well.

Dear Brain

I appreciate all the hard work you do for me, but sometimes I wish you would just take a rest. There are something I just don't need to think about, and if you stop thinking so much I maybe just a little happier and definitely a little bit less stressed. Just consider it ok?

K Thanks

Sara

And like any other night-before something big, all I had were nightmares about the next day to come. Completely ridiculous dreams about not getting to use the bathroom before running, having the wrong map of the route and getting lost, and then it turned utterly bizarre as I was being hunted down by some crazed killer (clearly that is my punishment for watching Criminal Minds before bedtime) and just as I was about to be shot in the face (yikes!) the gentle melody of my cell phone alarm woke me out of my sleep. There are not many times I love my alarm, but when it wakes me from nightmares if it is magical.

I was afraid to be too early. I am usually ALWAYS early if I can help it, but not this morning. That damn social anxiety thing was waking up inside of me and it told me not to be too early. I wish I had more strength to not listen. I stretched, I ate, put on sunscreen, I got all my things together and with a satisfied nod to the mirror by the front door, I was on my way. This was going to be great, because this was the part where I start to get excited. I would run four miles with the group, drive back to the city, and do a six mile out and back to bring my daily total up to ten.

The highway which is my daily commute into work was pleasantly deserted and I am totally jamming out to the radio, enjoying the sunshine. Leave it to me though, the girl who works TWO minutes from Valley Forge National Park to get off the wrong exit, not be able to turn left, have to drive around the ENTIRE King of Prussia Mall (ps by the way the mall is like a small city) before getting on the right road and making it to the park.

The clock on my dash reads 7:58. I keep seeing the words "8am sharp" in my mind, from the coach's email earlier this week. 7:59. As I turn the corner into the parking lot I see a few different large groups gathering and then it occurs to me, which one will be MY group? But I am so mad at myself for being late that I dash out of the car and run up to the one that is standing around in a circle. It would be so like me to run up to the wrong group and hang out with them for about five minutes before I realize I'm not in the right place. Thank goodness I was right, a man is talking to the group and he mention's Crohn's and Colitis and I let out an internal sigh of relief.

I look around the circle and am immediately intimidated by the few older men dressed like pros. It's like Larry, fast forwarded a bit. Oh no. But then I keep looking around and realize there are some people who look just as unsure as I feel, and some in between. I feel better again.

Oh and ps did I mention that I stood out like a sore thumb in my pink leggings? Let's face it though, a Runner's wardrobe is pretty similar to a New Yorker's, black. At least lots of black bottoms and a few colored tops. And there I stood, pink leggings, white long sleeve Nike tech tee, pink iron-man watch, pink Under Armour headband. Hey at least I was repping some pretty legit brands right?

We listen as the woman to my right talks about nutrition (one of my favorite subjects!) and then we go around in and say our names. But not before I realize I didn't take my inhaler and I make a mad dash back to my car, take two quick puffs, and then dash back.

And then we are on our way. Out of the cold shade of the lower parking lot and into the warmth of the sunny trails. My memories of Valley Forge are extremely biased, because for two years at least the only time I was out here was for the Valley Forge Revolutionary Run, a five mile loop of the park. The race is in mid April and my body was never ready for anything more than a brisk walk. Not to mention the race finishes up a majorly painful hill. I was thankful we were walking to the top and would start to run from there. It looked like there were far more people doing a run-walk than a full out run, which made me more nervous because it looked like I would be trying to keep up with the experts. But the pace to start off was right on par with what I could handle, and after all, I reminded myself it was only four miles. I could do four miles, and I should be ale to push myself through four miles. There are six of us running, open fields and bunker houses all around us. It is a gorgeous morning and my legs feel great, great because the first stretch is flat. Before I know it, there are hills but I keep up the pace. I can feel my breathing start to become a tiny bit labored but I do not let my pace stop. It really helps that there is a group to keep up with. I am so thankful for them being there. We chat about our past running experience, and things like that. We hit the turn around point and head back to the parking lot, passing other team members on the way and we cheer and high five each other as we pass. And although the chatter continues, most of the way I am just thinking about the whole experience, and the reasons that brought me here in the first place. The run is over before I even feel like it's been hard, although I know my legs will be reminding me for the rest of the day that I made them wake up early and run. Twice.

Whenever it feels hard I remind myself this is only the beginning and the road is only going to get longer. As we gather by the cars, waiting for everyone to finish one of the coaches mentions running 19 miles after this, and another chimes in saying he is running 20 tomorrow. Suddenly my 6 extra miles don't seem so bad, in fact they seem a little insignificant. I remember why I love running with training programs such as this one. Not only does it feel good to know you are giving back and doing something you love, but it is so inspiring to see the people who volunteer their time to coach. People who run multiple marathons in a year, ultra marathons, and run 70 -80 miles a week. People who make me want to run harder, faster, better.

I think about this the whole time I am on my second run of the day. When I am tired, when my legs hurt, when the sun's mid day heat has sweat dripping off my forehead. I think that I must keep going. Always keep going. Just Don't Quit.

One Team. One Goal.

Don't forget I am running to raise money for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America - Please click here to visit my fundraising website and donate today. Crohn's disease affects people I am very close to and it means so much to be able to do such a good thing.

xx Sara

History - where you least expect it

One of the fabulous and yet often overlooked things about the city I live and play in, is it's incredible history. I spend so much time rushing, stressing, and worrying about making 30 hours worth of things fit into 24 hours of day. 16 hours if you consider the fact that I should be sleeping 8 hours a night.

Philadelphia is often thought of as a fascinatingly historical city to tourists. Just ask anyone and they will start rambling off attractions such as The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the National Constitution Center. Names like Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross are common place in Old City, a neighborhood of Center City where many historical Landmarks are often found. I have been to most of them, often when friends or family come to visit they want to know what to do in Philadelphia.

But the history in this city is so much more than the touristy landmarks, and I am fascinated by every single bit of it. I can't say exactly what it is that draws me to the stories and the yellowed photographs. I imagine it has something to do with things being different, but in the same exact place that I spend every day in. The buildings I see every day were something completely different 100 years ago. What also fascinates me is that one day, the very things I do, the places I go, and maybe even the words I write will become part of history. This never ending circle of change and growth and today we leave behind more of a record than ever, albeit a digital record. I have a bad habit of idealizing the past. Imagining it as this perfect, peaceful technology free time when marriage was forever, families ate a home cooked meal together at a kitchen table and kids respected their parents and cursed a whole lot less. I know that this is not how it was, but I can't help but think of it that way anyways. And sometimes when I wish I lived in the magic of the past, I remember how it would have been literally unthinkable for me to be a serious runner, after all it was thought that women's bodies could not handle running marathons.

Ok so what does this have to do with running? Well after yesterday's photo-run I was excited to take my camera out and run a different trail. This time I would be running solo, and with plenty of daylight I was going to make it a point to find some things off the path to not only take some great pictures but to just explore. I start off a little slow, remembering my legs are not used to doing 100% percent of the work. Evening sun is my favorite kind of light, and my eyes are darting every which way looking at my surroundings. I gaze out at the river, the bridges, the hills and the trees. I snap a few shots along the way, a train stopped on a bridge, crew teams practicing in the river. It's not long before I reach my turn around point and boy was I excited to be heading back. I was so caught up in trying to be faster than the ladies I had just passed I was getting a bit winded, so as I turned around I slowed to a trot (I generally try to avoid using the term 'jog'). I ran back past the boat houses, past crew teams loading boats onto trailers, runners just stretching out for their runs, and plenty of picnickers enjoying dinner in the sunset.

I was just running under the Strawberry Mansion Bridge when I noticed a small archway across the street. Small archways I find, are quite common throughout Fairmount Park although I have yet to find out their original purpose but this one looked like it would make good photo op. I wait until a break in traffic and sprint across the street, and to my surprise I find this little archway is an entrance to a long twisty windy stairway. If I needed to find a reason to explore this overgrown pathway. Plus a quick set of stairs is always good for your glutes! Even a huge tree across the path couldn't stop me.

I climbed over and just kept on going. There was something mysterious and forbidden about climbing an overgrown staircase into nowhere, and just as I was reaching the top, a dark green SUV went whizzing by my line of vision. My heart sank as I realized I had just found a new way into the park and not some secret garden like place. That is until I looked across the street and saw yet another staircase and I dashed across and started to climb. What I saw at the top of those stairs was nothing short of amazing, at least to me. It was a large open field, to my right a large white house with black shutters and shrubs in front, and to my left a abandoned brick structure with several archways, boarded up windows and dotted with disintegrated No Trespassing sings.

As much as I am fascinated by history I am also fascinated by abandoned buildings. They stand cold and empty, skeletons, reminders of what used to be. Whenever I come across them I wonder what stories they hold, what happened in and around them in their prime. But the walls they cannot talk to me they can only stand, looking sad and tired as I imagine what they used to be. I was no longer running, not even walking really, just exploring. Walking carefully throughout the structure, snapping picture after picture. Tree branches had started growing out of the brick, trash littered the ground, an ever present reminder that this once wonderful neighborhood was slowly and continually crumbling. I imagined this would be the type of place you would run into the wrong kinds of people after dark. I thanked my lucky stars that it was still very much light out as I took pictures from every angle I could, loving the light, the shadows, every thing about it. I found myself making up stories of what it used to be, and in my mind it was a concession stand of some sort, and the empty field adjacent to it was probably a common place for families to come bring their children to frolic in the summer time. It was getting late though and I knew I didn't want to stick around for long so I started running along the circular sidewalk that would take me to the white house opposite the field. As I approached the building I noticed many signs posted up around it and so of course had to go take a look. Much to my surprise , according to the signs it was the Historic Strawberry Mansion. Now I always knew it was up here somewhere, and I knew it was the namesake for the surrounding neighborhood and the Strawberry Mansion Bridge that I had just run under not too long ago.

Looking down at Strawberry Mansion Bridge from a path behind the mansion

Because I was all too aware of the setting sun I made my way back to Kelly Drive and finished up my run. Straining to finish the last quarter mile I realized my mind was so buzzed with my newfound 'discovery' I hadn't really concentrated on having a quality run. I didn't mind because I was so excited to dash home and read more about Strawberry Mansion and other historic details of this wonderful city that I had yet to uncover.

I came across one fabulous site PhillyHistory which has images of Philadelphia dating back to the early 1900's. I am so sucked in I could browse all night. After much Googling and reading, I discovered that the building I had been looking at was in fact part of the Strawberry Mansion Music Pavilion. How sad that something that was a place for such art is now overgrowing with weeds and littered with garbage. It really makes you stop and think of how well you take care of the place you are supposed to be leaving for your children and generations after that doesn't it? and doesn't it make you wonder what hidden gems are lying undiscovered in YOUR own city??

xx Sara