It's Almost Christmas

Fairly good week training wise. I definitely over-did it early in the week strength training, so I was a bit sore and unable to run for a few days, but I was still able to get in the required mileage. My 7mi long run was GREAT! I'm glad that the long runs seem to be the best workouts I've done. So far they've been almost effortless, but I remember things being fairly easy until you reach about 12mi. That's when things start getting a bit tougher and your feet just hurt at the end of the run. But that's still several weeks off, so I've got a while to build up to that distance.

Haven't gotten on the bike much at all, and Ben has been fussing at me about it. Ah well, running is my first priority right now, so I have a good excuse.

This week coming up is a drop in mileage, with only 5mi long/10mi total. That will be good with all the Christmas activities going on...should be easy to still make that mileage.

Merry Christmas to all!

Week 2 - Back home!!

The training for week 2 was very skewed since I was unable to run at all until Thursday due to exams, but was still able to get my required mileage and long run in, so it's all good.

I'm quite excited that exams are finished, fall semester is over, and I'm HOME for FIVE weeks!! Haha, I've only been home for 3 days and I'm already starting to wonder what I'm going to do with so much free time. Great opportunity to focus on my training.

My 6 mi long run for this week was AMAZING! I parked at Totier Creek Reservoir, ran down to Scottsville, did a little loop on the levee, and back to Totier Creek. It was quite chilly out, but I was nice and bundled up and the run was just great. I started the run out frustrated that my mp3 player's batteries were dead and I had no music, but it made for quite a different experience just listening to the sounds around me. That's why I do what I do - amazing runs like that!!!

A little throw down with the Scottsville peeps made for a tough 3 mi on Sunday to finish out the weekly mileage...damn purple punch!!! I think my liver is still mad at me, so perhaps I will take a running day off tomorrow and maybe head to Walnut with the mountain bike instead.

First Long Run

My first long run and first week of marathon training is successfully completed. Not exactly an intense week at only 5 mi for the long run and 10 mi total, but I gotta start somewhere. These first few weeks are just to get my body used to being in a running program again. It should be easy to keep the chilled schedule for at least the next month and be motivated by the checkmarks on my wall :)

The 5 miler was pretty easy and laid back. My pace ended up at about 10:45 (I think, not 100% sure the route was exactly 5 mi, so that may be too fast or too slow than actual). I wanted to step the pace up, but had to keep telling myself the purpose was long and slowwww. I guess it's a good thing that I was jumping for more speed.

1 week down, 19 to go!! Next week is 6mi long run and 12 mi total!

Lofty Goals

A few things have happened over the past few weeks which have really caused me to shift focus on several aspects of my life. First of all, my best friend passed away in a riding accident, competing and doing what she loved. She was an amazing athlete, and such an inspiration to so many people. She began competing at the Olympic equestrian level at 17 years old and had gotten to that level through her own hard work and dedication. Her death made me rethink some of the things I considered important. Life is precious and we never know when we won't see tomorrow. Rather than worrying about all the little things, I've realized it's much more imporant to focus your attention on things you are passionate about. The petty things in life will never go away, so there's no need putting all your energy into trying to change that fact. Eleanor, I love you so much! You continue to live on in so many people!

My final medical school rejection letter, which came about a week later, was followed by a sense of relief. It's not that I wasn't disappointed, because I was BIG TIME, but I realized it had been something I'd just worried too much about the past two years. I feel like I can finally breathe and relax a little bit. I'm not giving up on my medical school dreams, just looking forward to a little bit of "me-time" while I gain experience in the medical field and try again for school in a few years.

This "me-time" includes pursuing another dream of mine - completing a marathon. My training program is 20 weeks until the Charlottesville Marathon. If something comes up or I start having knee issues again, I'll shoot for the Half in April and try for the full again in November 2008 at Richmond. Eleanor is an inspiration to me to make it all the way through this program and I know she'll be running with me on April 19th.

I've also decided to head to Paramedic school this fall and I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm also looking forward to things slowing down a little bit and finally heading back HOME, which I've missed so much! Life might not always go as you planned, but sometimes the back-up plan isn't so bad after all.