It's been three weeks since the run ended, yet amazingly and surprisingly, it feels longer. I wasn't sure how I would adjust to the freedom of life outside the confined walls of the run, whether I would be able to wake up at a decent hour on my own, have the motivation to run with no directions, eat whenever I want, and just be able to sit, relax, and do nothing if I so choose. I have found though, that strangely…it is almost as if the run never happened. I have fallen back into a normal life (if you can call mine that) without any conflicts, enjoying the luxury of freedom and choices more than ever before. I find myself lucky to have found the adjustment phase this easy, and I fully credit my current lack of schedule and responsibilities. Unlike the other runners, most of whom returned to families, jobs, homes, and their old life, I have been thrown into the middle of a big unknown…struggling to find some order or plan. I have no home right now, no job, no plan, and no idea when I will. I fluctuate between sincerely enjoying it, and then at the same time forcing myself to enjoy it. Never before have I faced a blank picture of my near future. Since age 14, I have worked non-stop, one job after another, with something always lined up. I am told this is normal, expected, and okay…yet it doesn't feel so. I am trying to make the best, taking the time I have off to visit friends, old home cities, and bask in a rare phase of laziness. In the past three weeks, I have lived on friends' couches in New York City, Washington DC, Michigan, and Boston, with my current location back in New York City. I spend my days living their lives, following their schedules, discovering every wifi hotspot in each city, contacting everyone I neglected the past three months, and trying to research/plan a next step. I am deeply appreciative to all my friends for their amazing support, hospitality, and generosity. I feel so lucky.

My running has been nearly non-existent in comparison to the miles logged the past 95 days. Despite trying to run several times, it is as if, after successfully completing their mission, my body and legs have finally gone on a much needed vacation…no longer obeying my command to run. I am okay with it. For years prior to the run I battled injuries, trying desperately to regain the form I once had in college. When I got invited to participate in the run, one of the biggest doubts in my head was whether it would damage me as a runner long term. What I decided at that time, was that if through some force I was granted the strength and ability to survive the 3 months, I would never ask for anything more in the realm of running. I would be okay to retire early, to end my running career with the closure that I had sought for so long. I would no longer attempt to push my body past its limits or search for the answers behind my constant injuries. I would accept my fate and purpose and just stop. I now face the question of whether I can live up to that claim, whether I can in fact stop contently. I honestly don't know whether I will ever be able to not want to run, but I can say, that not being able to no longer pains or upsets me as it used to. I am okay with not running, and I am finding pleasure in old and new activities, getting reacquainted with my bike, taking yoga classes again, and finding enjoyment on gym machines. My life and contentment no longer revolves solely around my ability to run…and that I am thankful for, and I thank the run for.

The rest of my story is simply about what to do next…how to integrate this experience on the run into my future plans. I am finding that so far it has already begun to influence my job search. As I continue to look for work in the development industry with my primary aim at microfinance, I find myself drawn more and more to jobs with focuses on environmental and sustainability topics. I enjoy going on interviews, and being able to reference my experiences as answers to their questions, i.e. "how do you handle team work?" etc. I am finding myself more personally involved, interested, and intrigued by the water issue than ever before. I spout off my water facts in all situations, to everyone I meet, continuing to try to generate awareness for the cause. And, I have found that people, in general, are amazingly receptive and interested. Everyone wants to know more, helping to give a renewed sense of purpose to what we did. I have no doubt that it will continue to play a role in my life from now on

As far as my immediate plans and the answer to the "what are you doing now" question…well, so far I have the workings of a vague outline at least through the end of November, although unfortunately it does not, as of yet, include a plan for my generating income. I am scheduled to fly to Israel next Monday, and although it is set as a one-way with my original intent to move there temporarily, I am now looking to return to New York in time for Marathon Weekend, the first weekend of November. I hope to be able to stay around the States, most probably in the New York City area, at least through my birthday at the end of November, with the rest remaining unknown. As I actively job search, I find myself conflicted between wanting to work and wanting to travel. I have a long list of places to visit and friends to see …it is hard to give up the traveling bug, which seems to have bitten me hard. I hope and expect that with more time, things will begin to fall into place, defining some sort of route or plan. For now, all I know is that life is good, and I love life. =)

Thanks again for all your support and encouragement during the run, I encourage you to continue to follow along as I venture out into the unknown and experience new adventures. I also encourage and welcome any and all comments/suggestions/ideas/tips/etc. on paths to take, jobs to apply for, and so on. Until then…