As a runner and an American, this has been a hard week. The tragic events that occurred at the Boston Marathon on Monday have put a cloud over the world. Since the bombings, there hasn’t been an hour that has passed or a mile I’ve run where I haven’t thought about everyone who experienced the incomprehensible acts of terror … and the lives that will never, ever be the same.

Like so many of you, I’ve been incredibly emotional this week. I’ve been struggling with whether to write about my feelings. I chose to act them out instead.

I’ve worn race shirts and running shoes to work this week with my business attire. I ran 5 1,000-meter repeats – one to honor the people we’ve lost, one for the people who were hurt, one for the heroes who selflessly threw themselves in harm’s way to assist, one for every runner, spectator and loved one who will never forget April 15, 2013 and one to remember that no one can take away our freedom or our passion.

And today, amidst the cloud that still remains above all of us this week, a ray of sunshine has splashed across my world to remind me that the unity of the running community always prevails.

Today, Nuun announced the 20 running bloggers they have chosen to run on their Nuun Hood to Coast Relay team in August.

Drum roll please.

They chose me! I will be heading to Oregon as one of the runners who has the incredible honor to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience! I’ll be participating in the mother of all relays, covering nearly 200 miles across the state of Oregon with some of the most inspiring and amazing women I will probably ever meet. Thank you to everyone for your support, encouragment, kind words and thoughtfulness during the last few weeks! [In case you missed my application video, you can check it out here.]

You can’t see me right now, but I’m jumping up and down. I have traded skipping for walking. My smile has grown 2 extra inches in length.

Gratefulness and thankfulness do not even begin to convey the appreciation I am feeling right now. To the Nuun team. To my fellow blogger teammates. To every amazing woman who applied. And to everyone in my life who continues to support me every day (no matter how hard that may be sometimes).

And while I rejoice with intense excitement and gratitude, I feel a sense of guilt for being so overjoyed in this moment … as others in our running fraternity continue to suffer so deeply. Please know I will channel that pain and heartbreak into the way I live every day. The way I run. And the way I act. Our team will dedicate a leg of our race to everyone who experienced Boston.

Please check out and follow the other amazing ladies who will be my teammates on the Nuun Hood to Coast Relay team. I cannot wait to meet them in Oregon:

• Kimberly from Healthy Strides
• Jolene from Journey of a Canuck Mom on the Run
• Megan from Meg Runner Girl
• Lisa from Run Wiki (You might remember Lisa from her Friday FITspiration profile!)
• Mallory from Run Eat Run Eat
• Leslie from Triathlete Treats
• Holly from Leaps of Faith
• Kara from Welcome to Karadise
• Catey from Random Thoughts from the Zoo
• Lisa from Lisa Runs for Cupcakes
• Kristen from Defy Your Limitations
• Sarah from Run Far Girl (You might remember Sarah from her Friday FITspiration profile!)
• Meghan from Shoe Stories
• Devon from Dev on Running
• Karen from Reason to Play
• Andrea from the MF Dre
• Jenny from We Wander and Ponder
• Lindsay from Twisted Running (Lindsay is a fellow Atlantan! We can train together!)
• Hannah from Fit Girl Happy Girl

Stay safe and hydrated everyone.

This will be my first relay race. What tips do you have for me and others who have never run a relay? Have you tried the new Nuun flavors (cherry limeade, lemonade and watermelon)? If so, which is your favorite?