I am a runner

There are many things about being with Daren that make me feel like I have come home. Back in the day I used to run. I ran well and was good at it. It was part of my identity. Over the years and one knee surgery later I no longer ran and hadn't even fully realized how much of myself I had given up. One month into our relationship Daren took me to an annual party in Tacoma, WA where we ran, and I say that generously, the Sound to Narrows 12K run. It sucked and it was beautiful.

Meeting my match in Daren is so much more and so different than I imagined it would be. This weekend I ran my first 10 mile workout run ever. I have come home. I AM A RUNNER.

I AM A RUNNER because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.
I AM A RUNNER because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.
I AM A RUNNER because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.
I AM A RUNNER because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate — things I once avoided — are necessary if I want to be a better runner.
I AM A RUNNER because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.
I AM A RUNNER because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.
I AM A RUNNER because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.
I AM A RUNNER because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.
I AM A RUNNER because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Wedding Website

Its finally up and live. Please visit http://www.wed-o-rama.com/darenandsarahswedding/ so that I can show off who I am marrying and our great wedding to come. :)

I am so excited and proud to be marrying this man, this Daren Benson, that I just want everyone to know about it!

1960's and beyond..or rather behind

On this Martin Luther King Day in which we are to celebrate diversity my office has taken a different step back in time and turned to another issue, not one of racism but rather sexism. ( One of my personal favorite discrimination's) Upper management ( all men) asked my boss, Ryan, if I would still be working at the HBA after I got married. They weren't asking if I would be moving onward and upward in my career. They were asking if I was going to quite working just because I was married!

Its nice we've come so far as a society...
~Sarah "Its a scientific fact that my brain is smaller" D

How to Look Good Naked

Ladies is you have not yet seen this show you must! No excuses or exceptions. Its wonderfully real, truthful and inspiring. Here is the link. I don't know how to make it all fancy like Julie does yet but find the schedule on watch it.

http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/how-look-good-naked

We women waste so much time and emotional energy trying to look like something that is genetically impossible for 99% of us. And you know what, we feel like failures and un-beautiful women because we can attain some unhealthy, unrealistic body. Its crap. Total crap through and through.

As we look through magazines full of beautiful models we classify them and their bodies as perfect and then make the assumption that only perfection is beautiful. Ask any quality man around and you will find out that this is so not the case! Curves are beautiful, flat chests are hot, big boobs are hot, cellulite doesn't really matter that much, tall is in, short is in...its all good enough and beautiful.

When we talk to ourselves and tell ourselves how fat an imperfect we are we miss out on lots and lots of life. My mom, who has always been a fit and beautiful women, now says how much she missed out on because she thought she was too fat to wear a swim suit and plopped herself firmly on the sidelines of life. I refuse to be that woman in my own life and I urge you to do the same. Live life the way you want to! Screw bad body image! Rock what you've got with all the confidence of a starving model who is in fact just as insecure as you and me.

No no one has to be perfect to be beautiful! Not even you.

Winter and A Wedding

A work family Christmas card to get things started.

Finally, a new post.

Winter and a wedding...turns out is super busy. I admire those of you who went ahead and actually held a wedding around the holidays! I don't have anything quirky or smart to say so I'm going to post a few pictures of my very busy winter season. Daren and I shared the holidays for the first time and that meant we have four straight days of Christmas! Then we went with my family up to Schweitzer Mountain for the New Year and it was wonderful.

PS. Yes it did snow on our very first Christmas Day together!

The Benson Brothers

The Almost Benson

The Hostess

The Langs as of 1/5/08

Schwietzer!

Happy New Year 2008!

I think its going to be a great year!