Hey, PattieRuns readers!

We’re on the plane right now headed from Philly to San Diego to visit my brother John.

Confession: I love traveling. I didn’t get to do it much in my childhood, but I’ve had the opportunity to get on a plane about once a year since 2006. This is my first time back to California in as many years and I’m really stoked. Warm weather and the land of Courtney Love and Veronica Mars … Here I come!

I know the secret to traveling healthy and cheaply is to plan ahead, but I’ll be honest … I live for trip fast food. It’s my little splurge. There is something fun, too, about buying books and magazines on a special trip. I know newsstands totally exploit individuals like me. Dubs.

I ended up buying a copy of Runners World even though I have a subscription because they had a new copy on the stands today that I didn’t get before we left. It is a testimony to my devotion to this magazine that I bought a copy of something I will already own just so I could read it now.

My luggage (limited to one carry-on for 6 days) is half full of running clothes. I’m hoping to stay on the marathon training schedule while I’m there and I’m not you worried. I was able to do it when I went to Florida last year. I rescheduled a 7-mile run today for tomorrow and have a 15-mile run this weekend. I am so ready for some 60-degree runs.

Location:Philaelphia international airport