Hi and welcome to Sweat Out the Small Stuff (SOTSS). I’m Sally. I’m a runner and lover of food (especially dessert). I’ve completed 7 full marathons and more than 35 half marathons since I started running back in 2006. I’m a slower runner but love long distances. Don’t ask me to sprint up the block to catch the bus though. =) I live and work in Staten Island, New York. I’m a freelance graphic designer. You’ll probably see too many pictures of Duncan, my 8 year old labradoodle and hear me talk about my boyfriend of 3 years (who I refer to as “Mr. Sweat Out the Small Stuff (or Mr. SOTSS for short)” on this blog.
I started running a few years after losing my husband to cancer.
November 7, 1998
He was 29 years old, I was 25 and we had only been together in total 3 years and married just 5 months. I was trying to find a place to fit in after his passing and really struggled. My peers were getting married, having children, buying their first homes and doing all the firsts that I should have been doing. I felt that my close family and friends were walking on egg shells around me afraid to stir up my grief. I met Lisa, a coworker in 2006 and was inspired by her commitment to running. She encouraged me to start running and join her and her friends for their weekly training runs in Central Park and the rest is history! You can view this lovely video to see just how much it impacted my life. I truly credit Lisa with the gift of support and helping me to find who I was again. (Note: The video was filmed back in 2013 and I’d only completed 2 marathons at that point). Let me warn you it’s a tear jerker. Lisa is still my friend and inspiration today.
Running basically is my therapy. It keeps me from letting my anxiety get the best of me.
I hope to share words of wisdom relating to both running and stress reduction.
Hope you’ll visit here often.
-Sally
Manhattan Half January 2013 Central Park
Little Rock Arkansas Half March 2013 PR! 2:09
Sally and Duncan: Curl power!
Duncan
Family Portrait
NYRR Mini 10K, Central Park, June 2013
Hi! Just found your blog. What an inspiration your story is! Is there a way to subscribe so I automatically get your daily post? I usually follow other runners through bloglovin but I couldn’t find you there. Keep up the great running and attitude! I agree running is therapeutic and has really given my teenage kids and my husband something healthy and positive for us all to do together. Next month is our first half marathon as a family in Las Vegas. Take care and happy trails! Amy
Hi Amy!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I am working on setting up a subscribe feature. I’ll have a post up later today recapping my 10k and another one tomorrow recapping my half (+7)…But hopefully I can get the subscribe thing going soon. How exciting to do a half marathon as a family! Are you doing the strip at night one?
I would love to follow you, what an amazingly simple story about a lot of hard work and guts! Love it.
Hey Sally. Do you have an email?
sure do! it’s sweatoutthesmallstuff@gmail.com
Hi, Sally! Glad to have found your blog (via HRG). Good for you knowing yourself (slower runner – your words, not mine!) and embracing who you are. Running is NOT easy and is not for everyone, but you seem to have a positive outlook and know how to make the best out of it. Looking forward to catching up and reading more!
Thanks for dropping by. =)
Yay! I’m glad I found your blog!
I’ll be back 🙂
Here’s to us, slow runners 🙂 I’m one of them as well 🙂
YAY! Welcome!
I just watched the video. Wow, what a story you have. Simply amazing. You are so strong!
=)
So happy to have found your blog! Your story is sad and reminds us that life is just plain unfair and cruel sometimes. But you are pretty amazing! Looking forward to reading. Thanks.
Thanks for visiting!
Hi Sally! I’m glad I found your place. I’m subscribing 🙂 Looking forward to reading more!
Yay! Welcome!
I just found your blog. Tear-jerker is right…it’s good to start the morning with a good cry isn’t it? Thank you for sharing your story. I am just getting back on my running feet slowly and not always surely. You have inspired me today!
Thanks for visiting! Sorry about the tear-jerker…It’s been almost 17 years….I’m in a great place now. But I always like to tell people how I started running. I think it’s really important to share my story.