Editor in Chief Christine Tumpson discusses the new issue of WHIRL Wedding Guide on stands now – from rings to shoes, accessories to dresses. Featuring bouquets from Bill Chisnell Productions, Blooms Florist, greenSinner Floral & Garden, and Mocha Rose Floral and Event Design. All on today’s WHIRL Wednesday!

FEATURES

This Giving Life
Jenna Morasca & Ethan Zohn share how love is transforming their lives.

Couples Who Make a Difference
WHIRL Editor in Chief, Christine Tumpson joins Kristine Sorensen to discuss WHIRL’s Eighth Annual Couples Who Make a Difference in the February issue on stands now. Kristine and her husband, Marty Griffin are featured as one of the 10 amazing couples, who discuss how they give back and the city they love: Pittsburgh!

Wheelin’ & Dealin’
2012’s Exciting new lineup of vehicles and the people behind the wheels.

WHIRL Semi-Annual Event Guide
This month, events season kicks into high gear. We’ve got you covered from now through summer with the beautiful benefits, cool charities, awesome art, and a plethora of performances! And, check out our shopping guides to six fabulous happenings throughout the year. You’re sure to be the best dressed!

FEATURES

Yogi to the Stars
Everybody’s living in a material world — at least, that’s the sentiment made omnipresent by Madonna and her infamous song from the ’80s. In many ways, that phrase resonates even more strongly today.

WHIRL Yoga Guide
Pose your way to inner peace with WHIRL’s guide to yoga classes, poses & fashion!

City Slick
Through the ever-unpredictable status of the real estate market, Pittsburgh has emerged as a jack-of-all-trades.

Editorial Assistant Ben Boskovich has got the scoop on our Semi-Annual Event Guide, and its Eventwear Preview, as well as the new issue of the WHIRL Wedding Guide, all on this week’s Dish on Wish.

I am not usually one for inspirational speakers, but when the Pittsburgh Marathon brought Dave McGillivray, race director for the famed B.A. Boston Marathon to speak, I had to check it out.

Dave McGillivray is a self-proclaimed tiny man with a giant message, one that he delivers with a thick, JFK-like Boston accent. His message is one of determination, perseverance, and self-creation. The man has run more than 140,000 miles, has completed 125 marathons and even ran across the U.S. in just 80 days while raising money for the Jimmy Fund, an organization created to support the fight against cancer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

As a runner, I can’t help but be amazed by McGillivray’s accomplishments. I’m hesitant to reach the 140,000-mile mark in my car, let alone on my feet! But the miles aside, McGillivray’s message really spoke to me as someone who has been overlooked in the athletic field. McGillivray said his passion for racing took root because he was picked last for every game he played in and was cut from his high school basketball team. The humility and heavy feeling of inadequacy inspired McGillivray to run in the 1972 Boston Marathon at age 17, one year shy of the legal age. Although he didn’t finish — he collapsed at mile 18 and was taken to the hospital — McGillivray had his first taste of running competitively and it changed his life. McGillivray signed up for the race the following year to fulfill a promise to his grandfather, and crossed the finish line in 4 ½ hours, despite battling a bad virus that almost sent him to the hospital instead of the finish line for a second time. Since that day, McGillivray has been running nonstop to the mantra, “I’m never going to allow someone to tell me I’m not good enough ever again.”

Like McGillivray, my running career began with a frustrating start. I started running in middle school track. At the time, my older sister Jamie was dominating the high school track team and breaking the two-mile record at least once a week. She was fast, tall, and lean. I was … not so much. Jamie left her legacy on the track and it was up to me to fill the void when she graduated. I took her place as a slow and steady freshman who was still trying to find her stride. My first two years on the team were as frustrating for my coaches as they were for me. I wanted to be as fast as my sister, but my legs just didn’t want to move that fast. I was consistent though — consistently last. Once, I even had the fans stand up in the bleachers and applaud while I finished my eighth and final lap of my two-mile race. It was beyond embarrassing. I finally crested my hurdle the fall of my junior year in cross country. I don’t know if it was the extra training I did that previous summer or the fact that I finally ditched my extra baby weight, but I was finally at the head of the pack. In the spring, I started winning nearly every race and I grew into the track star my coaches had been looking for since Jamie left.

When I graduated high school, I earned a scholarship from my cross country coach, Mr. Giotto, in honor of his late wife who had been a gym teacher at my high school. When he presented the award to me in front of the entire senior class and our parents, Coach Giotto admitted that he had his doubts about me when he first met me. He joked that he thought, “What in the world is this girl thinking, she’s not a runner,” when he saw me struggling on the unforgiving track, but he finally gained faith in me and my ability to run. And the fact that he thought my hard work was worthy of an award in honor of his wife meant the world to me.

So even though I don’t usually buy into the whole inspirational speaker thing, I am so appreciative of Dave McGillivray’s presentation. Hearing his story served as validation that what I’m doing is worth something. Sometime I worry that maybe I’m not strong enough or not fast enough to be this type of runner — a marathon runner. Sometimes I worry that I look outright ridiculous when I’m out there at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning, trudging down the sidewalks of Pittsburgh. Sometimes I worry my dreams and goals are out of reach.

But listening to Dave McGillivray really hit home for me. Like me, he was disregarded by his coaches and peers. But rather than wallowing in his pain, McGillivray used it as inspiration and fuel to run more than 140,000 miles. And while I might never reach that kind of milestone, McGillivray’s words of wisdom will ring true in my head while I remember that my next great accomplishment is mine to define, and no one else’s.

To my surprise, when I made it to KDKA’s green room, Jenna had a serious hair makeover, ombre with BRIGHT pink streaks, and she looked AMAZING. When I asked her about it, she  explained that “Ethan and I dyed our hair pink for solidarity for World ‘Canzer’ Day (E & I spell canzer with a z to show we are in control). This was our way of remaining united as a couple and telling canzer it’s not going to beat us!” Editor in Chief, Christine Tumpson loved the look so much we talked Jenna and her lovely father, Mike, into come back to the WHIRL photo studio for an impromptu photo shoot to capture the hair!

Check out the photo gallery below to see how great she looked!

xo!
Julia

[View with PicLens]

This year, my training blog is going to be a little different. Like last year, I’m going to write about my training and all of the emotions, setbacks, and triumphs that come with it. However, this year I can say that I am a marathoner. My doubts have been replaced with 26.2 miles worth of experience, and I now know that not only can I finish a marathon, but I can have a blast doing it. Last year my goal was to finish the race in four-and-a-half hours. I was overjoyed to finish it in 3 hours and 46 minutes. This year my goal is to finish around 3:30. I don’t HAVE to be at 3:30, but I am pushing to be under 3:40.

I cannot believe how much my life has changed since I started my training last winter. Running the Pittsburgh Marathon renewed my love for running, and I have spent the last year running in smaller races like the Great Race and the Run Around the Square, and participating in insane obstacle races like the Warrior Dash and the Run Ruckus with my friends.

Most people take a week or so off after a marathon. Not me. I ran the very next morning after last year’s race and almost every morning since. I am not joking when I say I am addicted. My body seriously aches all day if I don’t get at least 3 good miles in. I have kept my mileage high (often doing six 3-7 mile runs and a 10-12 mile per week) and worked on my mile split. If I want to reach my goals of 3:30s, I need to stay around or under 8-minute miles. It’s a feat I think I can achieve, it but it will just take a lot of physical and mental strength and stamina.

Like last year, I encourage other runners to read and comment on my blog. I want — and need — your tips and advice. I welcome your criticism and personal stories. Good luck to everyone training for the May 6 race!!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re sharing are a few of my favorite ruby-hued items from the new issue of WHIRL, and these pretty pieces will have you in full-on crush mode. We’ve got a special Eventwear Preview featuring what to wear to the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball on February 25 (another great reason to go red), including “Runway Red” Satin Lipstick from MAC and a nifty, red metallic ballet wallet from Footloose. And in Style News, there’s more of the crimson color, including nail polish, a snakeskin clutch, and delicate earrings.

Trust us: All of these pieces are eye catching and statement making. Love it!

xo!
Nicole

Wheelin’ & Dealin’

-Ben