Live each day to it's fullest....

I am not always the best with keeping my blog up to date. I usually tend to write when something inspires me. Today was one of those days.

Today was another day when I think we all were reminded how fragile life is. I woke up to the shocking news of Sally Meyerhoff's tragic bike accident. I first remember Sally from back in my college running days at Richmond, she was always an amazing runner and competitor for Duke University. Now, I didn't know Sally very well, but I did know some of her teammates well, specifically Kelly Fillnow and Lindsay VanAlstine. I remember how highly they spoke of her---her fun personality and her passion for life. And this morning, I just couldn't help but feel a knot in my stomach as tears welled up in my eyes....

Even though I wasn't a good friend of Sally's, this event made me realize what a community/family the running world is. When something like this happens, fellow runners can't help but stop for a moment and reflect and try and pour support out for each other.

Reading Sally's blog made me realize even more what kind of passion this girl had for life. She did everything possible to live each day to it's fullest, to never back down, and to follow her dreams.

Here is a recent excerpt from her blog:

"Lately I've been forcing myself to think about what really matters to me in my life right now. I have so many goals and dreams for myself and I'm not a very patient person, so I tend to analyze and stress about how I am going to make them all happen, ASAP! I don't like to make the excuse "Oh I'm still pretty young. I have time"...because we don't know how much time we will have in life, and I want to live every day with no regrets."

Tragedies like this often make us reflect on our own lives.

I am the type of person that likes to do this regularly---am I doing what is making me happy? Am I in a place where I want to be? Am I following my dreams? The thing that separates Sally is that she actually followed through with this mantra, she was not all talk.

I want to try and take something from Sally's example and make things happen in my own life. To never settle. To never let anyone else take my dreams from me. To never stop challenging myself.

We may not all be as talented as Sally, but we can all have dreams and go after them. And if we do this, and happen to not make it to tomorrow, we will have lived a life full of happiness and no regrets.

Sally, you will be missed by the running community. May you rest in peace knowing that you always gave it your best shot, and set a positive example for many a person out there.

All my thoughts and prayers go out to Sally, her family, and her friends.

May we all continue to live every day with no regrets.