A picture from the top of Galeries Lafayette during one of our recent Paris exploration days.
It was bound to happen sooner or later. Jeremy and I were hoping it would be later rather than sooner, but our return tickets home have been purchased. We are officially returning to the U.S. on Monday, September 15, four weeks from today. Judging by how fast the past few weeks and months have gone by, I know it will be here in the blink of an eye. Our big finale will be our Ireland trip, including my half marathon in Dingle on September 6th followed by a week in Dublin.
I’m definitely going to miss this. I was too excited about it to make sure the picture wasn’t blurry apparently.
When we were planning this trip, we were optimistically thinking we could make it a whole year before returning, or at least until Christmas, but when we come back it will have been just shy of six months. Which is still a long time! It’s time for us to reenter reality and get jobs and settle down somewhere. I’m trying not to think about how much I’m going to miss Europe, and instead just enjoying the time we have left, and thinking about things I am looking forward to in the U.S., like:
– Being close to family and friends, and seeing my nephew walk for the first time
– Mexican food
– Having more than five items of clothing to wear
– Finding a running club
– Getting serious about training, and choosing my first full marathon to register for
– Being back in time for the Cancer Center 10K and the Santa Barbara International Half Marathon, both of which are in my hometown and I’ve run them before
– Getting back into strength training
– Hiking
– These shoes that I bought myself as a consolation for returning home (I got them on The Clymb – this is my personal referral link and if you sign up with it you get a $10 credit, and I get one too if you make a purchase over $25 – and with some credits I had, they only cost me $37! They are originally over $200):
Mizuno Wave Prophecy 3
I know there’s a lot more, but that’s all I can think of right now. We’ll be flying back to Georgia, spending about a week there visiting family and friends, then driving back to Santa Barbara, hopefully making a stop at the Grand Canyon on the way.
I’ll have to do a roundup of all the things I’ll miss about Europe, but it seems like it would be too long of a list. All I know is that we will definitely be back in the hopefully not-too-distant future because there are a million places I still want to visit that we didn’t get to this time around!
On another note, I’m totally late to the game but I looked up myself on Athlinks.com and was so surprised to see two 5Ks that I ran in Georgia years ago that I kind of forgot about and had no idea what my time was. It was during my period of running while I was in college where I was pretty serious about it, but had no clue about technique or training or finding the right shoes or paces or wearing technical clothing, etc… But the races were in 2005 and 2006, which shows me that I took a whopping SIX YEARS off of running before my next race in 2012, and I’m happy to report I’ve been running consistently since 2012. My times for the races were 30:23 and 30:22. At least I’m a little faster now!
I also found this hilarious picture of me and my friend Patrick after the 5K in 2006, during which I was absolutely miserable and hot and it was really hard.
Cool outfit.
Here’s to making the most of the next four weeks!
Lily Runs the World 
I love The Clymb! That is such a great deal!
Enjoy your last few weeks 🙂
Me too! I have gotten a few things from there and it’s always such a good deal. Thanks!
Wow! It will be great to have you and Jeremy close to home. I’m sure it was a tough decision, as both I and your mom know how much you’ve enjoyed your adventure. Please visit Renoir’s place near Montmartre before you go. Inspiration will befell both of you in this slightly magical, slightly mad museum. Great to read of your timeline and best of luck in Dingle!
I think we’re going to visit Renoir’s place this week! Can’t wait to be close to you guys again!
Aww I’m sorry things are coming to a close sooner than expected 😦 I’ve so enjoyed reading about your adventures in Europe, but I know I’ll love hearing about what’s going on when you’re home, too! Enjoy these last few weeks to the fullest 🙂
I feel like I’ll be really boring when we get back compared to all the cool things we’ve been doing over here… I’ll try to spice it up!
Crazy! You’re flying back on Jesse’s bday! What a great experience your last 6 months must have been! Will you be settling down in SB? Mexican food is definitely a good reason to come home.
It has been the best decision of our lives so far! We’ll end up in SB for a short time, but we’re looking to move somewhere close by, I think.
Just remember that you guys have the rest of your lives to have more adventures! I can’t wait for you guys to be stateside and to get to visit you in wherever life takes you! I’m so proud of you guys for taking this trip and doing it as long as you have! Love you! xo
Thank you!! I can’t wait to plan the next big adventure… xoxo
Ireland and a half marathon sounds like a great way to end such an epic trip!! I’m sure the next 4 weeks will be filled with so many more amazing memories..can’t wait to hear about it!
I nominate the San Francisco Marathon next year 🙂
I’m hoping to run one in the spring, and then no matter what I will be doing the SF full or half next July! It’s the week of my 30th birthday, so I’m thinking it should be the full. Go big or go home!
Bummer you have to come home, but until we’re billionaires, our vacations must end sometime. You’ll have a blast in Ireland – so love that island. And HEY, when you’re driving back to Cali from GA, you need to stop in Dallas on the way and join me for some tacos and a run…and tacos!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You had me at tacos. I’ll see if we can work this into our trip!!
Yes!!!!!! Let’s make it happen! Holla!
Sorry that your trip is coming to and end, but 6 months is a long time! It seems like you guys had an amazing trip and made the most of your time there. And there are lots of things to look forward to. You have made so many wonderful memories during your time in Europe!
We really have, I can’t wait to put all of our pictures together in scrapbooks or something so I can always look back on these past six months as the best of our lives so far!
Sorry you have to come home soon but have an amazing time in Ireland! I have always wanted to go there. I have been thinking about the SBIM half this year, I need a race in November. 🙂 Have an amazing 4 weeks!
You should do it!!! If you do, we totally have to meet up.
I think I can speak for all your blog friends when I say that it has been a pleasure following your European journey on here! You’ve had the experience of a lifetime! I hope you have the most wonderful time over the next four weeks and you are going to rock that Irish half! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
I can’t believe your time in Europe went by so quickly–and I’ve been only a passive observer. Your time there has looked incredible, and I’ll miss living vicariously through your photos and dispatches from there, but you’re in store for many more adventures States-side. And how exciting that you’re going to select and start training for your first full!
Please eat some Mexican food for me when you’re in the US! There are definitely lots of pros to moving back to the US, but I am sure you will miss Europe boat loads!
Have an amazing last 4 weeks.
Ahhhhhhhhhh Ireland is so beautiful. You’ll have a wonderful last portion to your trip! Also well jealous, the UK just does not do decent mexican.
I keep daydreaming about visiting the Cliffs of Moher and prancing around with sheep. I am very excited. I will eat some tacos for you when I return to America!