Alaska has my heart, but it's time to go

So have you guessed yet?

I'm moving. Five thousand miles away from where I currently reside, to be exact. I'm nervous. I'm excited. I'm ready for the change.

Alaska, well, isn't for me. The winters are hard. They're beautiful, but hard. The single life is, well, for lack of a better term, meh. Here's the thing -- Alaska was just what I needed while I was recovering from my divorce and rediscovering the new me. I don't regret Alaska. I love Alaska, even though I know I've done a fair share of complaining about the awful winter weather. But I feel my life progressing in a different direction. Honestly, if I was still married I'd probably stay here forever. This is a perfect place to raise a family. Lots of outdoorsy things to do, low crime rate, very family and community centered. Alaska has some good, hard-working people here. People with the kind of values that I'd one day like to teach my children. But for where I'm currently at in life I know Alaska isn't the place I need to be. And let's be real here -- there just aren't enough races close by. ;) Only a runner would use that as an excuse to relocate somewhere else. I want access to races, and not red-eye all-day flights kind of access.

I feel like I currently have the freedom and luxury to do what I want in life, and I'm not going to be young forever. Soon enough I'll be settling down, starting a family, and really making a life for myself. So why not take the opportunity to experience the things I've always wanted to, but never had the chance to because I was tied down so early in life? So here I go. I'm moving to the Washington, D.C. area. Virginia, specifically, but still in the DC metro area.

Say hello to my new roommates:

Holly and Preston Mitchell

I seriously can't wait to live with these two kids. And I seriously can't wait to be close to other runners. Runners that I've met through Ragnar, and that have remained dear friends of mine -- Amy, Josh, Alisha, Eric, Ozzie, Helen, Brant, and even Holly herself. It's good to know that going into this move, I already feel like I have a lot of support.

I'm going to miss Alaska. Mainly because I've met a lot of great people here. People that mean a lot to me, and have been unknowing supporters during this transitional period of my life. It hasn't been easy, and I haven't always held myself together. But the Alaska friends made all the difference in the world.

On March 13, I make the big move. I'll be stopping in Salt Lake City to spend some time with family, and then off I go. It feels right.