It’s Christmas Day and I am currently hiding from my family.
“Hiding” may not be totally accurate. It’s more that we’ve hit the mid-Christmas lull between breakfast and presents and phone calls but it’s not quite time for the dinner and log, which is a dessert my husband’s mother always made but that we’ve never found a better name for than “log.” And, no, it’s not a fancy Yule log. It’s just pepperminty and whipped creamy and, well, log-y.
In Christmases past, I’ve napped during the lull because the kids would have woken us up before dawn. The kids are older now. We had to wake the Teen up at 8 because everyone else was starving.
Insert a chorus of “Sunrise, Sunset” here.
As I type this, everyone else in the house is off doing who knows what during the lull. I can hear the black-and-white version of A Christmas Carol my mother-in-law has fallen asleep in front of. My husband is outside playing soccer with our dog in the snow. The kids are in the basement with Mario Kart and blissfully not bickering. I decided to take this window of time to do a thing that brings me joy: talking about running.
What? You too?
It’s been weird running-wise, mostly because it’s been weird, life-wise ever since I got back from volunteering at the NYC marathon. (Just as a refresher: I MET SHALANE FLANANGAN! I’m still unreasonably excited by this — and likely will be well into the new year.)
In terms of my own running, I’ve been squeezing it in where I can. First there was Election Day (which I’ll get to in a minute), then Thanksgiving, then a trip to Florida to visit my mom, then Christmas. And in between, there’s been my actual job-job, some behind-the-scenes AMR stuff, some in-front-of-the-scenes AMR stuff at the Philly marathon, and, oh yeah, my children and husband and dog. The last six weeks have been an exercise in careening from barely extinguished fire to another.
Somewhere in the middle of that I caught some kind of phlegmy-coughy nightmare that knocked me on my behind for a week. I did single handedly increase the bottom line of Nyquil’s parent company, however. I’m certain their stockholders will be sending me a thank you note any day now. When the coughing stopped, it was in the single digits and the sidewalk was a sheet of ice. At some point, you just have to admit you’ve been beaten.
Which brings me around to Election Day.
This spring, I decided to run for a seat on my local county board. My reasons were many but, mostly, they revolved around no longer being a passive observer of the political process and knowing that more women in government generally means better outcomes for all. If nothing else, the seat needed to be contested because the incumbent needed to know his constituents were paying attention.
The last few months have been learning experiences, if by “learning experiences” you mean “oh, crap, I wish I’d learned that a few days ago when it would have been useful.” I knocked on a lot of doors. I didn’t barf during a public debate. I knocked on more doors. I had uncomfortable conversations with people who didn’t agree with me. There were yard signs and mailers and handouts. It was hard and sometimes fun and always outside of my comfort zone. I kept reminding myself that I’d run a marathon and that if I could do that, I could do this. I made sure to hydrate.
By Election Day, I knew I’d done all I’d could as well as I could and it was no longer in my hands. I made it to the finish line in one piece and upright. I honestly didn’t care if I won — and I didn’t think I would. Incumbents, even in small districts, are hard to unseat. But my running was never about winning, in all meanings of the word “running.”
Then I won — by all of 27 votes. I will be sworn in on January 1. Which is so not a thing I would have imagined even a year ago.
I’ve spent the weeks since realizing just how vast the chasm is between what I know about how local governments work and how much I need to know in order to do the job well. And I want to do the job well; otherwise, why even bother? What would be most helpful is a quick law degree with maybe an even quicker degree in public policy. Instead, all I have is the ability to absorb information relatively quickly and take nutrition while making relentless forward progress. Like with my actual running, I’m making the best with what I have.
Speaking of, I managed to get out for a long run on Christmas Eve day. It certainly wasn’t fast or pretty. I also had to keep reminding myself to stand up straight and pick up my feet. But it felt good, even when I was ready to stop, which was a few miles before I actually could. I spent the rest of the afternoon buoyed by the miles I’d gotten in, even if they fell short of the miles I’d meant to do all month. And I might have chosen eggnog as my recovery beverage.
How has your year-end gone, running-wise or otherwise?
Congratulations! That is fantastic, and it gives me hope!
Congratulations on the win!! As someone with a law degree currently practicing law, let me assure you, this country is not in need of more lawyers running this country! We need passionate people who care more about doing the job well than having a “formal education.” You will be awesome!! What an inspiration you are whether running marathons or running a campaign. You go girl!
Congratulations on the county seat! I am in awe of all the women, already overtaxed in their daily lives, who have stepped up to RUN, both literally, and for office. You got this!!!
Go you! What a powerful role model you are in so many wonderful ways!
Congrats on the election!
Woohoo!!!! Congratulations on winning the election! And as another attorney, I completely agree with Shana. There is nothing special about being an attorney. A law degree does not make anyone more qualified to hold office. You will be great!
Way to Go! I love that you ran for office and I’m sure you’ll do a great job. Governments, especially at the local level, need some regular folks involved to shake things out of the status quo.
Kudos to you for putting actions to words and being the change we want to see in this world!! Can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings. Happy New Year and many happy miles — at any speed — in the year ahead!
Congratulations! First, no degree will prepare you for the a NYS town runs. Second, take advantage of every class offered for you to take. Do not feel bad about spending town money to attend these. They will be lifesavers in the workings of a town. Third, just speak up. Undoubtedly, there is an incumbent who is really glad your opponent didn’t win. That person will be happy to help you with the ins and outs. Woot!
Congratulations on the election! What a wonderful opportunity to make positive change. I agree that running opens up our expectations in so many unexpected ways.
I am so proud of you!!!!!!! And so excited for you as you take on this new journey. Thank you for running for office. It’s well worth it! Again, in case you missed it the first time- WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!!
I hope you’ll talk about your experience campaigning in a podcast soon. I’d love to hear more about it. Congratulations! How fantastic!
What exciting news – congratulations!! I can’t wait to hear more about it on the podcast!
Hooray! Meeting Shalane and surpassing your goal to just run for office? Inspiring!
Congrats – on making it to Christmas, and taking action on something that was important to you when it probably would have been easier to do nothing and criticize. That’s inspirational!
Way to take action! Congratulations on being a part of shaping our country going forward! Inspiring.
Heroic. I continue to love following your forward progress, in all your adventures. Way to get after it!
So proud of you! Well done. You inspire!! As a matter of fact you have inspired me to do Wineglass and volunteer at NYC next year. I’m following in your awesome footprints.
Congratulations! So excited for you to have won the election- we need new blood and lots of women to run the world!!! Pun intended about running! Happy new year and best of luck-
Your wonders never cease! Merry Merry! See you in the new year I hope!
Congratulations on the election victory! I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job! Thank you for sharing this with us!
I agree with so much that’s already been said, I’m impressed, excited and inspired by your run for public office. But this is Adrienne Martini, girls! Let’s say what others don’t have the cajones to say. THIS BETTER NOT KILL YOUR BLOG! Heh, heh… just kidding. Go be a BAMEO (Bad Ass Mother Elected Official) Listen, ask questions, listen some more, research and make sound decisions.
You all are wonderful! Thanks for the encouragement.
And, no, it won’t kill the blog. Like cockroaches and Cher, I’m hard to get rid of. I might be less swear-y, however.
Wow, that’s awesome! Congratulations!
Congratulations! So proud that you were willing to put it all out there to make a difference. I hope that changes in our local governments will eventually have a “trickle up” effect on the Federal government!
Congrats!!! I know you will do a fine job. Locally, we elected 2 young women, one to our town and one to our village board. It gives me hope for the future.
Congratulations for putting yourself out there and winning!! And for making it through a very busy few months!
Congrats and best wishes on your term in office!
I’m finally getting around to those blogs I neglected over the past month, and oh my gosh I am insanely proud of you. Courage, hard work, gumption…you will apply yourself and serve your local constituents well. Congrats!!
Congratulations on entering local politics! You are correct that when women are involved, things do get better for many people!
The analogies between running and your political life are wonderful. Hydrate for those long council meetings!
I always enjoy reading your stories. They always make me laugh and smile. Congrats on your victory! I hope to see more of your stories in 2018!