Its cliché to say it, but Life IS an adventure – or at least that which you decide to embark upon (or is that challenge? Or for some complacence?).  Education, Marriage, Parenthood, Business, Arts (did I say Arts? That’s several adventures AND challenges wrapped up in one) are all adventures that although have been daunting at times, has been full of love, happiness, the replenishment of zeel for life and reward.  The adventure of “me” and what I can personally set myself to accomplish has interwoven itself throughout these themes – and of late, added the pursuit of athletic achievement.  What was that you just heard?  Yes, me snorting.  Me and athletic achievement are as polar opposites as one could possibly mention — a lifetime of chubby, overweight, the “walker” at the school mile while everyone else runs, steeled my mind’s eye that I could never “do that” and I would always be the non-athlete.  Forget what other people will tell you, isn’t it so hard to break those internal borders of what you can and cannot do?  But as I have realized over time: what is so hard to do, makes it all the sweeter when you accomplish it.  I remember my first 5K – damn that was HARD – the longest run of my life – sweat, heart pounding and about to eject out of my throat – but that feeling when crossing the finish line.  What is that?  Oh yes!  Accomplishment!  And it didn’t matter at what speed – I did it.  Fast forward to the NYC Marathon — the heaving sobs of joy leaping from my body as I crossed the finish line was one of the most amazing feelings of my life.  I couldn’t believe I did it…so much so, that I did it again the next 2 years in a row JUST to make sure it wasn’t a fluke (like that extraordinary weight loss story one, two, three times with Jenny Craig – yeah, that WAS a fluke). 

So here I am on the precipice of one hell of an adventure and probably one of the top 5 challenges of my life:  150 miles over 7 days in the Andes Mountains of Patagonia, Argentina.  Did I mention that it is self-supported, meaning that I have everything on my back in a pack (except for water and a tent at night)?  This leads me in to what I thought the “meat” of this particular blog would be….the responses I have received from people that I have told about this upcoming adventure (Disclaimer: I am often referred to as a crazy lady, or similar to Lucille Ball in I LOVE LUCY, with many an antic and pursuit of something others would not believe one would do):

“That’s not what nice Jewish girls do” (this one is probably my all-time favorites.  I love doing the exact opposite of what is expected of me!)

“But you are so sweet!” (this from our dry cleaners after curiosity finally made her ask why I needed so many patches of the US flag attached to my running clothes)

“If it makes you happy…” (good soul)

(Insane laughing and giggling – add in a snort) “No, really?” (mentioned more than once, twice, thrice)

“What’s wrong with you?” (let’s hope it stays “wrong” for a very long time)

You can probably fill in the rest….if anything it lends itself to the joy of everyday occurrences and the embracing of people, stories and life!  I can’t wait to get to camp to meet my fellow “crazy people”.  I am certainly no ultra-athlete, but I’ll match my mindset, perseverance and grit anyday!