11 Reasons Why I am Thankful for Thanksgiving

Senior year of high school, I could not wait to leave for college. Senior year of college, I can't wait to go home. As much as I have loved my time at the University of Georgia, I have grown to cherish the rare times I get to go back to my northern roots in Ohio. Especially for us out-of-staters, the week of Thanksgiving brings a lot to be thankful for.  

1. Nothing tops Northern Fall.

Nothing. November is absolutely beautiful up there. Until the winter blizzards and below-freezing weather hits for three months - then I am eternally grateful to go back south. 

2. My dog. 

One of the worst parts about leaving for college is the fact that I can only see my dog four times a year. You can't text your dog like you can text your parents (even if your parents are extremely sub-par texters). Therefore, I am prompted to make the most out of our short time. Unfortunately for Bailey, that involves dressing up. 

3. Rooting on your hometown team with people that actually care.

I have run into a grand total of 2 fellow Cincinnati Bengals fans in the south. I have to go to extreme and creative measures in order to get friends to watch the games with me, so nothing is more refreshing than going out to watch at home with true (and willing) fans. Who knew the sound of old men slamming their fists and beers would be so comforting? Who dey. 

4. The local Turkey Trot

Because you are secretly dying to know which of your high school friends are still in shape enough to complete this annual run. 

5. Realizing just how small your town is.

You would think that after leaving town for 4 years, you lose track of the people still there. Not the case. I can't go anywhere without running into an old teacher, classmate, friend's parent, etc. There is something nostalgic and heartwarming about reconnecting with the ones who have known you since childhood. The longer I am away, the smaller it seems to get. 

6. The Mirror Lake Jump

Which I am still yet to complete, but promise myself each year that this is the year. Perhaps the most insane college tradition (regardless of snow or below-freezing temperatures, thousands of college kids WILL jump), but what else can be expected from a rivalry as rich as Ohio State v. Michigan?

7. Old friends are the dearest friends.

The biggest downfall of attending an SEC school is the awful separation from my hometown friends... the friends I have had since sixth grade who will remain my best friends for the rest of my life. Distance genuinely sucks, but it has made me realize how special they are. When I come back for break, it's as if nothing has changed at all, and we can carry on right where we left off.

8. Sleeping in your Childhood Bed

Nostalgia at an all time high. Waking up in your childhood home is a warm feeling, especially when parents are there to provide coffee, eggs, and pancakes. 

9. Black Friday Shopping 

I fall into the category of the crazy souls that wake up at an ungodly hour to participate in Black Friday. I knowingly put myself at risk, (Fact: more people die from Black Friday shopping than from shark attacks) but I do it for tradition instead the deals. My mom and I have gone every year since I was in middle school. The event has created a bonding experience over the past 9 years that no one except my mother and I can share. 

Plus I usually manage to get a few pairs of shoes each year...don't mind that.

10. Family 

If there has been anything in my life I have taken for granted, it has been my family. After years of teenage bickering and (frankly) being a diva, I have grown to realize how awesome and supportive they have been this whole time. I have even grown to love their company (which is a far stride away from the girl who wouldn't take them out in public). This gratitude extends from my immediate family out to all of my grandparents, cousins, uncles, and aunts. There is nothing more special than sharing life and a meal with them. 

11. Feasts on feasts. 

No commentary needed, but duh.

8 Signs You were Born a Runner

I never considered myself a "runner" until I joined the school track team in 7th grade. Up until that point, I was a soccer player. That's what I was born to be and that's what I would be. If you ask any other collegiate runner how they got into running, few would tell you that running was their main sport growing up. My guess is that 85% of us are transfers. We come from all kinds of diverse backgrounds - soccer, basketball, cheerleading, tennis, softball, swimming. One of my training partners is even an ex-ballerina. (Then there are the other 15%...so uncoordinated that running was really their only option to begin with.)

I find it fascinating that so many of us just "fell into running." How does this transition happen? There are several red flags that reveal you might just be a runner:

1. Symptoms develop at a Young Age.  
I surprised a lot of people, including myself, when I started breaking records. Not my neighbors. Supposedly, they had their suspicions since I was in 1st grade. I will start off by saying that I have never been a morning person. I learned to snooze my alarm at a very young age, and as a result, mornings before school were complete chaos. From my window, I could see when the school bus would roll up to the stop, a little under 50m away from my house. Unlike the rest of the kids patiently waiting, I went into a 30-second panic mode in order to get down the stairs, grab my lunch, and flat-out sprint to catch the bus. This happened often enough that my neighbors took notice and would jokingly time me. To this day, they claim that my success in running started from bus stop sprints. Six years old, red flag number 1. 

2. You actually looked forward to the gym class mile.
Secretly, of course.

3. And therefore, you are part of the minority group that "enjoys" running.
Whenever "going on a run" is brought up in casual conversation, the most common responses are along the lines of "Gross.", "Why?" or, "No thank you, but absolutely not." If you respond any differently, you might be a runner.


4. You are known as "fast girl" (or boy) in your sport. 
In my soccer career, opposing coaches never vocally respected my jersey number or footwork or passing abilities. Instead, my identity was "fast girl." Coach after coach would yell to their players to "Mark the fast girl!" When your speed takes emphasis over your skills, red flag that you might be a runner.

5. Freakishly competitive nature, no matter what the competition entitles.
Competitive nature and racing go hand-in-hand. Many successful runners are not just competitive on the track, but also with the ridiculously random tasks in life. I remember my 2nd grade class held a competition that whoever read the most books was dubbed the "Star Reader." I doubt I read a single book that whole year, but all of a sudden I was knocking out three or four entry-level books a night (competitive nerd). When I realized my classmate Matt was still ahead of me, I upped my game and the daily question each morning became, "how many books did you read last night??" It got to the point where the teacher had to set a limit. Whether it is book-reading, eating competitions (I have talked a lot of game about completing the Fudruckers 3-pound burger challenge...success pending), push-up records or keg-stand records, the challenge will almost always be accepted. 


6. You love to prove people wrong. 
Some spectators like to believe they know everything when it comes to sports. Especially when they do not, and especially when they are on the internet. In high school, I acquired my first anonymous internet hater. This person would create very snarky weekly posts on Ohio's high school running forums. The common theme was that I was a mediocre high school runner, choked in big races, would never amount to anything in life, etc. I honestly can't think of  a soul (besides my mother) that would actually read these forums, but I got a kick out of it. The year the posts started was the first year I won a state championship...coincidence?

7. You are driven by setting and breaking goals.
Running is an individually-motivated sport, so being goal-oriented is key. There is no better feeling than setting the bar high and crashing through it. 

8. You can't stop. 
Sometimes during a long season, nothing sounds more appealing than a week free from two-a-day workouts and ability to sleep in. A shared fantasy among the running community is to "quit running forever, eat lots of fast food, get fat and happy." However, whenever I am actually on a break, I don't know what to do with myself. I'm left with too much energy, no outlet, and a 2-day span before I crave going on a run. If you don't consider yourself a runner yet, be careful before starting the habit. Studies have literally proven that running is additive. 


My parents have never logged a mile in their life. There is no genetic requirement, no expensive lessons, no fancy equipment required. All a runner needs is a goal, the drive to reach it, and a pair of running shoes. 

Remember what l told you about the selfie era?

A very special guest will be present at tonight's AFC North matchup between the Bengals and Browns...

The proclaimed selfie queen, Leah Still. I discussed her story a few weeks ago, and support continues to flood in. 

I am so touched to see the NFL continue to back Leah and change the lives of children all across the country as they fight against cancer. 

Tonight's game is dubbed "The Battle of Ohio," but this little girl represents a greater victory than a win of any football game. 

Fans, cheerleaders, football players, and the opposing teams can rally behind Leah and what she represents: hope and love. What better way to channel these virtues than a selfie? This is one the four-year-old will surely frame.

Last week, I mentioned that selfies were not quality photos. They just aren't. There is rarely artistic value. However, it is the quality of the people in the photo that really matters. Following the lead of the #SelfieQueen, the NFL is still #LeahStrong. 

On that note, let's go Bengals.