The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time. ~Mark Twain

The news of a young person dieing is never the type of news you want. Hearing the passing of anyone is difficult, however to know a life is ending that has barley begun is especially heart breaking. It makes our own death seem much more inevitable. My heart is aching even more so today because the news I received just days ago was that this young life taken was a friend of mine. He was just 28 years old.

Robert Cameron III, Bob to me, was someone I always thought fondly of and considered a dear old friend. Friends since I was 12 and he was 13, I was always greeted with an enormous hug. I remember telling Bob specifically one day as we stood in the hallway of our overcrowded High School, me in my cheerleading uniform and him wearing sneakers, jeans, a t-shirt and hat (as usual) that he was my favorite hugger. He was the perfect height and our arms wrapped around one another's bodies as if filling a puzzle. We had a friend take a picture of us hugging right then. He was warm, kind, and someone I honestly cared for. Had I known I'd lose him 10 years later I would have kept better track of that photo. Right now I'm trying to figure out where it is...maybe in a box at my Mom's with all my other High School memories? I'm beating myself up now. A personality like Bob's can't be described by memories in a box. He's far too special.

Bob and I spent many days after school driving around with my sister and our friends, doing what kids do. My mom always welcomed him into our home. He was a nice kid with a vibrant sense of humor. Personally I think she was especially fond of him because of his red hair, being a natural red head herself.

To be clear, everyone loved Bob. The fact of the matter was that if you knew him, you loved him. Teachers, friends, parents...He was just that kind of person.

After moving away from our hometown in 2007 I hadn't had much contact with Bob other than facebook. The last time I spent significant time with him was New Years Eve in 2005 or 2006 when a large group of us rang in the New Year at his parents house in Chalfont, PA. It saddens me that I let him slip away.

Even now, going back home, so out of touch with everyone I knew growing up, I know that if I saw him I'd be greeted with "Byelich!" (Though my last name is now Stewart), and it'd quickly be followed by that warm familiar hug. When visiting home, if I was lucky enough to bump into him, this greeting was pretty much always the same. He'd talk to me like we hadn't skipped a beat. His friendship was consistent, unwavering, true, and long.

I've lost a lot of friends over the years, each one far to early and time and time again we say it's unfair: John Truman, Tristan Dailey, Brain Dostal, Bryan "Hollywood" Yeshion, Kelly Riegel, Justin Decker, Sean Stuter and so many others.

Remembering these people, along with others the world has lost, reminds me to live each day as if it may be my last. To tell people I love them, enjoy the time we have, take risks, have fun, laugh loudly, love whole-heartedly, be kind, live with purpose and most importantly be happy.

Although I'm not exactly sure what I believe...your soul may be recycled or maybe you've reached your final destination. I do know that you made an impact on this world, possibly more than you'll ever know, and are truly missed. My heart goes out to your families and loved ones.

Robert G. Cameron III (1983-2011)

Taking Time to Reflect

As I walked down Stump Rd. in Pipersville, PA this morning I wasn't chilled by the fall PA air or dreading the wind in my face (though it's much colder than I'm used to these days). Instead I was warmed with the familiarity of the sun rising over the field adjacent to the neigborhood where I spent my teenage years and delighted at the brown leaves whipping at my feet. This was the route I walked to my bus stop with my sister hundreds of times. It feels good to be home.

The only thing that would make the trip better was if Doug was able to take it with me. This is the first Thanksgiving we've spent apart in years.

I made the trip from my sunny SC home back to PA to celebrate Thanksgiving with my families (yes, I have many) late Tuesday night. A co-worker of mine and I loaded up her Altima and took the 11-hour trip together. The time went surprisingly fast and our excitement to go home (Bucks County, PA for me and Long Island for her) only grew with each mile we traveled. We had one or two interesting encouters on the way, but for the most part the drive went well. Kelly dropped me off at a Dunkin' Donuts in Bordentown, NJ where I arranged to meet my Dad.

Kelly and I parted ways, she continued on to NY, and I caught up with my Dad over a cup of coffee. After only getting 2 hours of sleep in the car I had that auto-pilot feeling...when you're not exactly sure how you keep on going but you just do. We drove up route 29, along the Delaware River, which looked mostly unchanged to me since the last time I drove it with my sister 4 or 5 years ago. Memories came back all along the drive. After 30 minutes we reach my Dads where I relaxed with my little sister for the rest of the afternoon. I was so exhausted I wanted to keep it low key. We ordered in Chinese. After dinner my Dad and I met up with my Uncle mark for a drink at a new bar in the area, Blondies Sports Bar and Grille. This location is brand new, so they don't have the website up yet. They also have a location in AZ and NV. We decided to check it out because two of the owners are old friends of my Dads.

I tried to hit the sack early because packet pick-up for my 5-mile Turkey Trot was at 8am. It was a beautiful race! I ran with my sister-in-law, uncle, cousin, and close family friend. We celebrated with Bloody Mary's afterward.

Next on the agenda was the highlight of the day: EATING! I enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with my grandmother, mother, sister, and my mother's boyfriend Scott.

After dinner I had plenty of time to reflect on what I'm thankful for:

My wonderful husband, Doug, who makes me laugh everyday and has an incredible way of dealing with me when I'm stressed or overwhelmed.

My family who loves me unconditionally. It's gigantic and there's no way I can picture everyone but here's a shot of some of them at our wedding.

My wonderful friends I've met along the way

My kids (and others)

Having my health and the ability to stay in shape and run

My marriage, which is better than I ever dreamed.

I have so many blessings in my life <3. I'm looking forward to the Stewart Thanksgiving tonight and a wedding tomorrow. More fun to come!

Cruelty-Free is the Way to Be

Sooo most people love animals. Most people. Those that don't basically suck, and I'm okay with saying that. The problem is that even most animal lovers are either unaware how badly animals are abused and exploited or simply refuse to recognize it. Most people think animal testing is acceptable when being done fore medical purposes, like finding a cure for cancer or medicines for rare diseases. What many don't know (or care to recognize) is that more than 2/3 of animal testing has nothing to due to medical advances. Most testing is done for consumer products or sheer curiosity.

Why would anyone intentionally ignore it you may ask? Well, because ignorance really is bliss. Just ask any meat eater that refuses to visit a slaughter house to meet the pig whose flesh they'll consume in a week. Most people would rather be blind to the suffering that goes into their products and food. Most humans don't want to have to sacrifice something they're accustomed to having, like meat or that specific shampoo they like so much, for the sake of compassion. If I'm aware that a bunny had painful injections in his eyes, had his fur burned of and nails ripped out for the sake of my eyeliner I wouldn't want to buy it (if I had a conscience, that is). This knowledge would make shopping for clothing, cosmetics, beauty products and food challenging.

I'm writing to let you know that it's not as hard as it seems. Cruelty free products are popping up everywhere, making products made without harming animals much more accessible AND affordable. YAY!!



Funny Pictures

To encourage consumers to seek out these cruelty-free options we need to give them the motivation to do so. Just understanding what animal testing is about will motivate anyone with a heart.

The most common form of animal testing is called the Draize Test. This is when a product, like shampoo or toothpaste, is put directly into the animal’s eyes to determine a lethal amount. This practice is cruel and ineffective because mice, rats, cats, and bunnies are very different from humans. Even if tests are being done for medical reasons the results are mostly irrelevant to humans.

"The Food & Drug Administration recently reported that of all drugs that test safe and effective in animal tests, 92 Percent are found to be either unsafe or ineffective in humans."

So why do we continue to subject animals to this unnecessary and cruel testing? They endure severe pain during these tests, abuse and neglect while being caged and immense amounts of stress for no end result. WHY?




Did you also know that some of the animals that wind up in laboratories have been stolen off the streets, adopted from shelters and obtained from "free to a good home" ads? The chances that your cat that "ran away" when you were 11 ended up being tortured in a lab are pretty good.

Watch the video. Anyone with a soul can't argue that this isn't wrong.



Furthermore, testing on animals doesn't tell us how humans will react to products. I argue that the best way to find out how a product or medicine effects humans is to test on humans. Here's a thought, with all the unemployed people out there why not pay HUMANS to endure these tests. I know people that I volunteered for this type of work. Or, better yet, why not test on humans serving prison sentences for violent crimes. We might as well make them work for our tax dollars that feed and house them.

The bottom line is that the only way we can encourage companies to stop animal testing and using animal products is to STOP BUYING THIER PRODUCTS. By not participating in the cruelty you can make a difference. You can also write the companies and let them know you've decided to stop using their products because they continue to use cruel and ineffective testing methods on animals.

Here are some links for how to find cruelty-free products. If you're not willing to speak up for these animals I at least urge you to not participate. Would you want your family dog, cat, bird or bunny to suffer this way?


Click Here to Access a Database of Companies that Do and DO NOT Test on Animals

For those of you who dislike PETA, Click Here for Another Way to Find out Companies that Do and DO NOT Test on Animals


Clothing, Shoes, Cosmetics, Hygiene Products, Cleaning Products, Laundry Detergent, Perfumes... they are all included in these lists. Please take the time to know what you are buying (and therefore supporting).

With my Feet on the Dash, Twizzlers in Hand

When I was a little girl I remember my Dad telling me about how he and my mom drove through the Redwoods. He explained that they were gigantic trees in northern California, bigger than anything I'd ever seen in PA. He said some were big enough that cars would actually drive through a man-made opening in their trunk. I was fascinated. I wanted to see it for myself so badly. I was sure that one day I'd make it to California, preferably via beat up van after driving across the country the way my mom and dad did back in 1981. I can picture taking this trip, driving through the desert with my feet on the dash. We'd be listening to the local radio, snacking on Twizzlers to keep us up, and stopping at every odd or interesting looking place. We'd have no schedule and no obligations. Our only duty would be to explore.

It was around 2001 that I finally saw the redwoods, but this was after Googling it in my High School library. That wasn't the only thing I Googled that day. I looked up San Francisco (which led to an obsession with the Haight-Ashbury culture of the 1960s) and Los Angeles; I looked at pictures of cowboys in Texas, the world’s largest roller coasters in Cedar Point, Ohio, the moose in Alaska. I wanted to see it all. I wanted to ski in Colorado, surf in Laguna Beach, hike at the Grand Canyon and smoke pot in San Francisco.

I grew up in a rather convenient location to have experienced a lot of culture and diversity. Just outside of one of the oldest cities in our nation, Philadelphia (Go Eagles), 2 hours from Manhattan where I later spent time try to be a model and magazine writer (lol), and 2 hours from the New Jersey beach. Washington DC was a regular field trip and the Baltimore Aquarium was close enough for a Saturday day trip. I'd seen a lot...but not nearly enough.

Now 27 years old I've yet to make it off he East Coast. I've been everywhere from Maine to Florida but I'm ready for more. I can't possibly list all the places in the US I want to see. And don't even get me started on international travel. I simply am too hungry to learn and desirous to see it all.

I suppose the smart time to abandon a responsible daily grind type-of-life would have been after college. But I was already working 2 jobs and trying to establish an adult life. I was buying homes and cars. I had a dog...

Now I'm 27 and envious of my friends who visit family in California, spend New Years in Geneva or the summer in Paris. When will I get there? Is it too late? I'd like to have a family soon. Can I travel with children?

These thoughts are spinning around my head more aggressively this week because an acquaintance of mine not only just accomplished my road trip dream (this dream belongs to many) but also documented it a long the way. His video has gone viral, and rightfully so. Congrats, Brian. What an incredibly accomplishment.





Here's a link to learn more about his trip.

I can Always Give More. Always.

This blog post is a little delayed, but hey- better late than never, right?

Last Saturday, November 5th, was Savannah's Inaugural Rock n Roll Marathon and Half Marathon. Twenty three thousand runners and runner supporters descended on the quaint little city of Savannah, GA to run, celebrate and rock out. We anxiously lined up at the start line as early as 6am, freezing our little running tooshies off, for a chance to participate in a nationally recognized race. Some traveled far and wide for the event. I traveled across the Savannah River from Bluffton, SC. Despite my close proximity we still left at 5am. Yea, you heard that right.

I met with some running buddies in one of our regular spots. Even if I wanted to be tired it wasn't happening. Everyone was pumped up for the race. After finding our VIP parking spot just 2 blocks from the Start (thank you to the local news station for supplying my friend, Chris with this), we stretched, hopped around, used the rest room, noshed on cliff bars...basically we killed time until the fire gun went off at 7:30am. And the race was on...literally.

I started in corral 7, lumped together with other runners who expected to finish our 13.1 half marathon in around 2 hours. The only other half marathon I've participated in, the Bluffton Half Marathon, was a flatter course with far less people (200 vs. 20,000). Still, I had been training and thought I could at least do as well as I did in the Bluffton race (2 hours 23 seconds), if not better.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course. Although I live pretty close to Savannah I honestly don't spend much time there at all. Winding through the different neighborhoods on foot gave me an entirely new perspective on the city. The streets were lined with spectators, friends of runners as well as residents and volunteers, cheering us on and supplying us with everything from water to high-fives! The energy was electric and incredible.

Somewhere around mile 6 I felt my pace start to slow. I ate a Gu Energy Pack for a quick pick-me-up. For those of you that don't know, Gu is exactly what is sounds like...sticky gu that you squirt into your mouth, loaded with sugar and carbohydrates for both instant and sustained energy. It did the trick! I was able to hold an 8.5 mile an hour pace.

You can learn more about it here.

When I hit mile 12 I had no idea what my time was. I didn't have a watch, an iPod...nothing. Sure, there were clocks on the race route but seeing as I started in corral 7 there was at least 7 minutes on the clock when I crossed the start line. I was determined to make it in less than 2 hours so I started pushing harder. I'd pick someone ahead of me and make it a goal to pass them. Once passed I'd set my sites on someone else. I continued this way until I crossed the finish line.

I felt incredible. And terrible… All at the same time. I proudly took my medal and banana and posed in front of the Rock-n-Roll sign for my post-race photo. I opted not to purchase it because it's terrible. CJ and Jonathon look much prettier after a race, so here's a photo of them.

It wasn't until the results were posted online that I found out I not only beat my previous time but actually shaved 7 minutes off it!! That's right! I finished in 1 hour and 53 minutes. Now, this hardly compares to the 1 hour and 37 minutes one of my friends finished in BUT it's still something to be proud of! And proud I was!

I couldn't believe it. Seven minutes?!? All I needed was a little uncertainty and a little doubt to make me push harder. I've had a great group of people to help me prepare for this race and none of us plan to stop here. On the ride home we discussed our next big race. Maybe a triathlon? We'll certainly throw in a handful of local 5 and 10ks. But more importanly, now I know I can give more. I can always give more. Now that I've recognized this I've decided that when the Rock-n-Roll comes back next year I'm going all out. I'll be completing the full 26.2 marathon. It's completely do-able. Luckily my friends are up for the challenge as well. I can't wait!

Happy Running :)

Hit the Streets for a Healthier You

There's scientific evidence that running can keep you healthy in more than just the obvious ways!

For Better Vision: If you log more than 35 miles a week you are 54% less likely to suffer from age-related vision loss!

A Clearer Mind: Running can help you stay clear and alert. You'll make less mistakes at work on the days you run and be more productive. A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society also reported that active teenagers were less likely to develop dementia later in life. Get your kids running too!

After Hard Work Comes Rest: A study revealed that insomniacs fell asleep in 17 minutes on the days they ran, compared to 38 minutes on the days they didn't.

Running Makes for a Healthier Respiratory System: This is one of the more obvious benefits. Runners are 18% less likely to suffer from upper respiratory tract infections. Also, asthmatics can decrease wheezing and shortness of breath by completing at least 2 cardio and 1 strengthening exercises a week.

Brain Power: College students who exercise at least 20 minutes 7 days a week have higher GPA'S than those who are sedentary.

My Heart, My Life: Logging 10 miles or more a week will make you less likely to need blood-pressure and cholesterol meds.

A Healthier Sex Life: Men who burn 3,000 calories per week are 83% less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Moreover, exercising increases blood flow to the genitals making both genders more frisky. Additionally, exercise, like sex, releases endorphins in our brain which make us happy and blissful. This is often referred to as the "runners high." The more your body is accustomed to these good feeling hormones the easier it is to release them in the future. Not only will you feel good because of your body chemistry, you'll also have a better body image. People who exercise are less critical of their bodies and have more confidence. This will arouse both you and your partner!

Stronger Bones: Running strengthens bones better than other aerobic activities.

LIVE LONGER: Study after study show the benefits of physical activity. This one's a no-brainer.

With all the health benefits, I can't see a reason why not to run! Getting started may be a bit challenging, but after 2 weeks of pushing through you'll train your body and mind to adapt. Early morning runs will become less difficult and your endurance will slowly increase. You'll form new, healthier, habits in no time!

Doug ran a 10k with me this morning, the furthest he's ran in the 8 years he's been out of the Marine Corps! I am so proud that he pushed through and didn't give up. It was a bridge run with some pretty nasty inclines, but he didn't let that stop him! He finished in 57 minutes. I finished just 4 minutes before him. I was excited to have a companion to run with but I'm even more excited that this run may have jump-started him into a regular running routine. We'll find out tomorrow when I try to drag him out of bed for a 6:30 am, 3.5 mile golf course run.

Source: Runners World, February 2011.

"Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out of it what you put into it."- Oprah Winfrey

After completing my first half marathon yesterday some friends looked at me like I was crazy while others admired my courage. I finished the 13.1 mile run in 2 hours and 37 seconds (8th female in my age division). Though I didn't place I'm happy that I completed 13 miles consecutively, each in under 10 minutes.

Yes, it was difficult. My muscles are sore and my feet hurt. I felt tired at times and had to think competetively to keep going. But I feel incredible for accomplishing something that many cannot or are simply unwilling to try. It took weeks of preparation, both physically and mentally. It took commitment and hard work. I put a lot into completing this race and walked away feeling proud with an increidble feeling of self-worth. I also have the motivation to keep pushing myself to the next level. I am capable of anything I put my mind to. I can always do better, work harder and run further.

This idea doesn't just apply to running. Hard work goes a long way. The sad thing is that many people simply lack work ethic. Some expect to simply do better, make more money, and have it all handed to them. Though this may be the case for a small percentage of people, for most of us life just doesn't work this way. To do better you have to work at actually being better. Whether that means logging longer hours at the office to complete a task for your boss, volunteering to learn something knew at work to show your enthusiasm or taking a healthy cooking class to make yourself and your family healthier, you have to put in effort. The doers will continue to succeed while the complacent will continue to not. You will only ever get out of it what you're willing to put in.

Back to running, I trained for weeks to prepare my body. My trainers, Karena and Katrina from Tone it Up, provided me with a schedule for getting ready for the big race. The training schedule included cross training to keep me strong and balanced, stretching to prevent injury, short runs, long runs and sprints. It also included rest. These are ALL important ingredients when preparing for a race. In addition to following their training schedule I also worked in a few extra slow-paced 3-mile morning runs. I cut out the "extra" running 2 weeks before the race, however, to prevent fatigue and injury.

The training worked. I completed the race (running the furthest I ever have) and feel like a million bucks! When you're at an event like this, with people who understand the training you've put in and the personal determination you carry with you, you feel at home. Everyone there has a similar mindset. We congratulate and joke with one another, smile and stretch. We still have our "running high" (a rush of endorphines from physically exerting yourself) which makes the 30 minutes after the race exceptionally light hearted and happy. To make a long story short we just felt good.

Future Races:
10/23: Hilton Head Island Bridge Run (10k)
10/28: Bluffton Zombie Mile (1 mile in Halloween Costumes)
10/30: Alzheimers Walk (3 miles)
11/5: Rock and Roll Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
11/26: May River Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
12/3: Savannah River Bridge Run (10k)
12/10: Reindeer Run (5k)
12/17: Hilton Head Jingle Jingle (5k)
2/11: Hilton Head Half Marathon

Embrace change. Push yourself. Breathe heavy. Sweat. Run. Live.