T-Minus 10 days

I should warn you. In no way do I think I am ready to run this half marathon in ten days. But I'm going too, and I will finish, even if I have to slowly jog across the finish line.

My training has been so sporadic the last several weeks. I knew it would be too, if we were to get jobs and move. Which we did. The husband and I both landed full time jobs around the end of March, as well as found an apartment. So, we upped and moved out of my parents house finally and over to our new home. But in the meantime, I still have to commute forty minutes to work each day, and we've been working on painting and unpacking, so I'm using my mornings to train. Not this morning though. For some reason it frosted over and I h.a.t.e. running in the cold.

I'm full of excuses really. I'm just not sure how set on this half I am. I thought it would be great to sign up and run another one since it has been four years since my last race. But my body is so tired of simply running a lot of miles. Again, excuses because I just cannot find time for yoga to stretch out and I n.e.e.d. that. I can tell I'm getting older and my body is once again changing. It's not nearly as flexible nor as willing as it used to be.
Plus there's the aspect of a new town... finding whole new running routes (and at 4:30 in the am is NOT fun)... and just simply running by myeslf. I'm tired of it. Really tired.

So, since my husband is still burnt out from his army running, and I don't know anyone in town, I've been slacking majorly on my training. I mean, I know I can finish, but it's going to be long and hard. But I will finish.

And I'm starting to think I might just start a running club here in town. The closest two clubs are both thiry-five miles away in opposite directions. This is a small town, but it needs a club. And somebody has to do it.

Here's to counting down until my race. I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

Venturing out

I am super tired of running on the treadmill. But I'm also sort of a weenie. Living in Texas just for a little bit during the winter really spoiled me, and I dislike running out in any sort of cold now.

But, it's somewhat sunny today and a high of 53. I think I may bundle up and venture outside for my tempo run.

It's time to start training outside.

There's a race in my future

Remember when I told you a month ago that I was running again?

Well, I'm still running. Actually, I had to take about a week off because I caught the nasty flu-bug, but I've been up and going again. And the good thing is my cardio is back on track. I can feel my heart slowing down (in the good way!) meaning it's adapting to my training. I'm beginning to feel like a runner again.

And it's a good thing I've been training because I officially signed up for the Illinois half-marathon today, scheduled for April 30th. I was thinking this morning that I just needed to do it. I keep saying I'd like to run it, and I'll sign up soon... but we all know that that's just an excuse until the registration closes and I'm stuck not participating. But, now that I'm signed up, I have a goal. And I actually have to keep running so I can make it to the finish line in time.

It's been four years since I've ran a half. I did the Indy mini twice, which is a really nice course and a fun race, but I'm excited for the change of scenery. Halfway through the Indy course racers run a lap on the brickyard, and that's the hardest part. They enter at mile 6, exit at mile 8 and are completely exhausted from the heat on the blacktop. Everything I've heard about the Illinois half has been good. They say its a great course... a few rolling hills, but mostly flat. I can handle that. And hopefully I can handle a faster time. I clocked 2:14 the first time, and 2:04 the second year. I'm feeling a lot stronger in my running now a days than I used too, I've learned what my body can handle and not handle, so my goal is to break 2 hours. I registered myself at 1:45 which isn't too bad of a goal. That's 8 minute miles, and I know I can run that. I'm excited.

So here I am... starting my race season. If all works out well, I'd like to do a race a month through October, switching between running and triathlons... mainly triathlons though. Hefty goals, I know, but it's all part of my plan. And plus, all this running has lead me back to the world of endorphins.

And I love endorphins.

Again

Hello friends.

It's been too long. I would just like to tell you that yes, I am running again. And it's really, really cold here so I'm cheating and running inside. I'm not running a training plan; I'm not running 7:00 minute miles; I'm not running sprints or hills. I'm simply running however long the run takes me. Sometimes it's a fast ten minutes. Sometimes it's a slow thirty. Sometimes it's a warm up, decent run, cool down. Sometimes it's a sprint if that's all I can fit in.

But the fact of the matter is I'm running.

I realized last fall that I was tired of running, mainly because I was happy. When I started this blog I was running from something. I was running from hurt. I was running from life. I was running to escape and hide. But now, I'm happily married. Yes. Married. But I'll get to that eventually. Come back again later, and sooner rather than later please, and I promise I'll have my story up. And so, here I am planted, well, almost planted, in the midwest again, and I'm running.
And it's joyous.

My hope is to possibly complete another half-marathon this year, perhaps even the Illini half at the end of April (or at least that's what I'm possibly shooting for as part of my five year plan to complete an Ironman). But this time, I have different reasons for finishing. I know I've always been cryptic... but, this is the internet after all, you don't need to know my entire life. However, I think this might be the start of something different. Which means the start of more of my story. The start of my new voice.

But you have to come back. This time, I just wanted to let you know I was still here.
And I'm running.

Checking in

I know, I know...it's been way too long. Doesn't this always happen come summertime?

So this is me checking in. I'm home for the summer with my parents, working at Nike stocking up on clothes(love it!), and training for the Go Girl triathlon again this August.

I'm so going to place in my age group! :)

Pretty soon I'm going to try my best to get a real post going... who'd have thought that I'd be more busy in the summer than during school? Ugh.

But life is good and beautiful and that's all it needs to be!
Keep at it world!

How good are you at seeing the clues?

The Shutter Island review has found itself as the most popular article on the Statesman’s website. Perhaps that means

students are interested in seeing this movie… but I should mention I don’t give away any spoilers this time!  Scorsese’s film is a mind-bender, and seeing as how I’m still trying to figure out the ending, I really want you to be surprised. If you’re not into scary movies, don’t worry, this film isn’t scary. There is perhaps one “jump out of your seat” moment, and that’s just because it’s a darker film, literally. I do NOT do scary movies, but I braved the late viewing to see Shutter Island, and I was glad. It turned out to be a thriller and kept my mind engaged.

I didn’t pick up on any of the clues, which made the experience that much more intriguing.  If you see the film, I’d love to know your thoughts on the ending!

 

Into football?

After months of avoiding this movie (I think it’s was simply because I kept hearing so much about it, and I already knew the outcome) I finally caved.

I’m glad I did. Another Oscar nod, The Blindside makes it into the immortal inspirational sports-movie realm.

And it deserves it.  Now I’m anxious to see how it fairs at the awards.