Not Procrastinating

...but have three unfinished posts in draft.

*sigh*

One full week with Grendel MIA. Sadness, still.

More, later.

New chapter

It's official. I'm all moved in at the major's/my house. Bedroom furniture all set, all my boxes are in the garage, clothes in the closet, pans in the cabinets. *sigh*

Pooped. Excited. Happy.

Heartbreak Hill of Westcreek, the new location.

Ran a new route with the Major in my new neighborhood. OMFG, the hills, the hills! This will be great practice in both directions once I get feeling in my calves back.

After spending the week slacking and moving from one house to another, running two miles seemed daunting. I have better appreciation for my endurance, as I'm sure I could have squeezed those two miles out on a flat route without feeling like my head was going to explode from hyperventilaion.

The move has been fun and nerve-wracking all at once: how will I get all my stuff to fit in the Major's our house? I'm almost a co-parent to a 10-year old boy with Autism, how can I pull that off when I'm a teenager with ADHD most of the time? Wait, I have to make dinner on a regular basis that isn't cereal? Why is the cat afraid to leave the bedroom? What's that smell? And where are the doo-dads that hold up that thing in the garage? *whew* All this and much, much more.

Next up: my two-day bootcamp at the CIA in San Antonio. I have a feeling there's no coming back from that experience...

There once was a girl on the couch...

Not a year goes by without getting a crazy idea.

I started in January, and thought I was going to give myself a stroke from running around the block. I found a 1-mile loop around a nearby school and completed run/walks 2 - 3 times a week for three months, found a couch to 5k training group, and looked for info online (Podcasts are helpful, too).

I keep meaning to keep a better training log on the blog, and Nic may have just kicked my ass to do it.

I joined a group, USAFit, but the only benefit I have seen from that is being able to run in a group. The seminars are handy, and it's nice to meet like minded yahoos who think running is somewhat fun...especially when there's beer or other treats at the end.

To date, I've run approximately 80 miles this year. What I forget to log are my treadmill miles, so I will need to get better at that. Could be the heat.

In summary, I've put on a bib this year for:
Race for the Cure 5K (no chip, I clocked 40 minutes)
Cornyval 5K - 35 minutes
Lavender Hills 10K (with HILLS, damn it!) 1:15
Carraba's Half Marathon relay as the anchor, 5k - 35 minutes
Chupacabra 10k Night Trail - 1:29

When I started the first 10K, I had serious doubts that I would be able to finish. Did I say serious? I meant pit-of-the-stomach who-the-hell-do-I-think-I-am-running-6-miles doubts. It was all fun and games up to mile marker 3 when I had the realization that I would have to turn around and complete 3 miles mostly uphill. The last 100-yards was no party either. Up a narrow rocky hill, I though I was going to collapse until Carla met me at the top and ran in with me. Talk about a friend.

After that, I acquired the "I Can Run 6-Miles" ego that is co-pilot to my obsessive drive to learn about all things running and health. What's the motivation to all this? To make a choice and follow through; to challenge myself in other ways (almost debt free!!!); to know that I can do something physically challenging; to burn off some pesky pounds; to keep pace with Major Triathaon and share the obsession; to prove to myself that I can run 13.1 miles. Perhaps there will be 26.2 in my future.

Two Years Later...

It's my 2 year anniversary at work today. Wow. The only other experience I
have to compare it to is the 6 years I spent at Starbucks. Yay for a job,
yay for a retirement contribution into my account, yay for disposable
income!

Mom has "Officially Moved In." I now live in a room and a half and park on
the street. Seven more weeks, then Paul is back.

Carrabba's Relay this weekend. I anticipate drama, but I'm also
anticipating running in 34 minutes or less. Here's hoping.

Road to Somewhere

Completed the Texas Lavender Hills 10k this past Saturday. In the weeks leading up to this, I kept thinking "Yeah, sure. I can TOTALLY do six miles by then." Who knew that I could ever say that with confidence.



Come yesterday, I had some serious apprehension. "What was I thinking, a 10k. I just graduated to 4 miles! Who do I think I am?"

I'm happy to say that at mile 4, I reminded myself that I had made it that far and two more miles could be cake. Well, uphill cake. I didn't think I could do it, but it's amazing what the mind can convince the body to do.



I should have official results and pictures by the end of the week. I think I completed my 6.4miles in 1 hour and 15 minutes, LOTS of hills but the scenery was beautiful and I could smell the lavender from the fields where the race started.

Along for the ride were Deanna and Sara, girls from work who have become good friends and avid supporters of my madness. They completed the 5k, and I can't remember their times.




So, looks like the half-marathon in November doesn't seem so daunting anymore. And I think Deanna said something about triathlon next year. Yikes!

Dusting off the slack once more...

Since my last post:

I have only $3200 left in debt. Will wait to see how "job eliminations" hash out in June.

I've started a relationship with a wonderful man.

Said man left for Iraq in January and will return in July.

Still Geeking, with another location for me this month.

My beautiful godson is almost two years old.

My mother is preparing to move back to Texas, my step-dad to follow later.

I've begun training for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

Progress abound.

Running notes:
04/11/09 - 2 miles, 24 minutes @ Base Camp.
04/12/09 - 1 mile, 14 minutes (damn neighborhood hill)