"Yes, Mr. Cruise, there is such a thing as a post-marathon depression"

After something like, I don't know, 18 weeks of training, I can totally relate to Brooke Shields; there has got to be something known as post-marathon depression because, last week, I was a mess! I mean, all that time spent in preparation for a big event. Each and every Saturday morning with the Beach Runners (Woo woo!) and then the training during the week, that's a whole lotta energy focused on one thing so when it goes away, whoosh, there's a big let down.

I suppose it doesn't help much that I am still unemployed, and the search for employment has been a major time-consuming process with few, if any, results, but the good thing is at the end of this week, I will have completed all the coursework toward my master's. I will then have three weeks off prior to beginning work on my integrated project when class resumes on April 9th and then come mid-June, I'll be finished...YIPPIE KAYA KAYO!

One of the constants in my life over the past year, has been my running group. The Beach Runners are an incredible group of people, no, more like amazing. There is just something about the energy and spirit of each and every person in the group that when brought together collectively creates, for me, a very, safe place. Over the next two months, before we get together again in full-swing and start training for the Long Beach half and full marathons, it's gonna be tough on me not seeing each and every one of those wonderful faces and smiles bright and early on Saturday morning, but lucky for me, there's email, and an end-of-season party on the 24th of March.

After a big cry on Friday, I think it was, and a tough, emotional day on Saturday, I was able to spend time Sunday morning with fellow Beach Runner, Chris, who is revamping my resume for me and then I got to spend the rest of the afternoon and on into the early evening with friends Dion & Hiro, and their infectiously adorable two-and-a-half-year-old Emi along with Hiro's mother, Mari.

What was so great about spending time with Chris, Dion and Hiro is they support who I am and what I am attempting to do with my life and this, to me, is very powerful and emotional. When people take time out of their own lives to help us in some way, to me, this is what commitment to friendship is all about. This is what love is all about. Their kindness, friendships and love leave me speechless.