Weeks 10 and 11: SUNSHINE!!!!!

I'm definitely at the point in the semester/season that my academic life gets pushed to the side, which is terrible timing given that it's also the point in the semester when projects are due and finals are about to happen...so that's not so good.  I'll be lumping weeks 10 and 11 together this time, since I completely forgot about this bloggy thing last week.

The highlight of week 10 was my first 10 mile run.  For the most part it was wonderful (and when I got back to my apartment, it was filled with my two fur babies and my wonderful fiance), and I've never felt so accomplished in my life.  If you had told me a year ago that I would be running distances as far as 10 miles, I would have laughed in your face and probably insulted your intelligence.  And not just because I'm a jerk, but also because running these distances have never seemed possible before now.

This past week was my second recovery week, during which that stupid soleus strain came back with a vengeance and decided to jump from my right leg to my left.  But did that stop me from running?  No, because I'm an idiot.  You would think that having the letters "ATC" after my name would mean that I would train smart and take breaks for injury.  But deep down, I'm still just a dumb jock who relishes pain and can't back down from a challenge.  Luckily, with constant stretching, rolling out, and icing, it has finally calmed down so that I'm able to walk without uttering expletives under my breath.

As for the fooding, I've basically chalked that goal up to a big, fat failure.  The whole cooking thing just isn't going to happen for me, at least this semester.  I'm still focused on fueling myself properly, especially as these runs get longer and longer (got an 11.5 miler coming up this weekend).  But I just have zero motivation to break out the pots and pans that I'll have to handwash later, and actually put together a meal.  But I've found ways around that, and I'm willing to concede.

And finally, let's address this blessed sunshine that all of us needed so terribly.  There are no words to properly describe how infinitely delectable those warm rays have felt lately.  I actually got to lay out yesterday, and just feeling all that sunshiney warmth on my skin gave me goosebumps.  I grew up a beach bum, so I'm only happy in the sun (Ben Harper sings my theme song, "She's Only Happy in the Sun," so go ahead and check it out if you're feeling up to it).  The only issue that has arisen from this weather is that I forgot how much I hate running in the heat.  It definitely slows me down and makes me legs feel like they weigh a solid ton each.  But I'll take that.  I should really start running in the morning anyway, especially since my race is at 8:00am.

Well, I'm all blogged out.  Until next time...

Week 9: I don't have a clever title...

The biggest challenge I'm experiencing now is time.  As my long runs get longer, it gets more and more difficult to find a spare hour and a half to devote to my training.  Yesterday, I was supposed to go nine and a half miles but seeing as I was on the road again with the softball team, I could only fit in three.  I might have to start breaking up my long runs, because getting up at 6:00am to run for an hour just won't happen for me.

On the up side, I went shopping the other day (for khakis, because that's all I get to wear...ever) and I lost a pant size!  While losing weight/body mass isn't the main reason behind this training, it's definitely a delicious little side dish.

I know this post is somewhat lacking, but it just wasn't an eventful week for my goals.  And it's getting to that point in the season where my brain just starts to rebel against me.  Hopefully next week I'll be a little more clever and exciting.

Until then...