Ok, I know, running a 5k is really not that big of a deal. To be honest, I run at least 3.1 miles every day at the gym, but there is something about the feeling of crossing a finish line that makes a proper 5k feel like so much more. It's the atmosphere at a race that is infectious. All of those people cheering you on, the slight smell of competition in the air and the need to push yourself further and faster than you thought you could.
I'd been a bit nervous about not performing as well as I thought I should and last night I was even more anxious given that it was Daylight Savings Time today. Needless to say, my clock sprung ahead at about 7pm and I had two alarms set. I didn't want to feel rushed getting to the race and wanted plenty of time to mentally prepare since I would be running "alone".
I arrived at Waterfront Park with plenty of time to check my things and try to keep myself warm while huddled together with the 7500 other runners. The starting temperature today was 34 but with all my endorphins rushing at full force I didn't notice the cold much. I decided my usual workout mix was not going to cut it today and opted instead to give the Black Eyed Peas a try. Under normal circumstances I am not at all a fan, but I had heard their latest album was great motivation so I bought it a few weeks ago when it was on sale on iTunes (and hadn't listened to it yet). And I will tell you what, it was worth every penny. Every song was like a mini anthem pushing me to run just that little bit faster, urging me to pass that lady in front of me, telling me this could be my personal best.
Unfortunately, I forgot my watch at home in my hurried haze to get to the park early so I am not entirely sure of my finishing time yet. They will be posted this evening and you can be assured that I will be logged into the website at 8:59, ready and waiting for the clock to strike 9. My estimate is somewhere around 28 minutes. The fastest I have done on the treadmill is 28:30, so I crossed the finish line feeling pretty amped and wishing I had signed up for the 8k because I'm sure I could have run the extra few miles with ease.
I'm hooked now. It didn't take much. I'm running the Run for the Roses 5k next month and I secretly signed up for the Foot Traffic Flat half marathon today. Shhhhhhhh. Now it's time to get serious.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Direct Correlation Between the Size of my Waist and the Size of my Wardrobe
In an effort to keep up with my No Re-wear Challenge (which is still going strong, despite my lack of posting on the matter) I have been doing some more closet shopping. Having dropped almost 10 pounds and probably more since the last time I wore some of these things, it isn't much of a surprise that most of them went straight into the Buffalo Exchange/Goodwill pile after wearing. What has been a little surprising though is that two pairs of jeans I purchased over Christmas break are now too big. Now, I know what you're saying "Oh, poor girl, losing too much weight" and you're right...poor girl.
Perhaps for the first time in my life I am making a genuine attempt at keeping my finances under control and my credit card in my wallet. With this in mind, my shopping has been kept to a minimum. These days it is mostly sports bras, running leggings and socks. It's pretty easy to justify these purchases when I wear them every day. While I have replaced a few items, I am desperately trying to hold off on any major purchases until my trip to New York this spring.
In the meantime, my give away bags are bursting at the seams and the amount of free hangers in my closet quickly closes in on the number of occupied ones. I'm also trying to get very creative with ways to keep making original outfits and not being too bothered by the fact that they might be a little baggier than I prefer. It's all about self-control and discipline. Who knew that getting in shape would require me to apply these tactics to my finances too?
Perhaps for the first time in my life I am making a genuine attempt at keeping my finances under control and my credit card in my wallet. With this in mind, my shopping has been kept to a minimum. These days it is mostly sports bras, running leggings and socks. It's pretty easy to justify these purchases when I wear them every day. While I have replaced a few items, I am desperately trying to hold off on any major purchases until my trip to New York this spring.
In the meantime, my give away bags are bursting at the seams and the amount of free hangers in my closet quickly closes in on the number of occupied ones. I'm also trying to get very creative with ways to keep making original outfits and not being too bothered by the fact that they might be a little baggier than I prefer. It's all about self-control and discipline. Who knew that getting in shape would require me to apply these tactics to my finances too?
Ground Control to Major Kelly
I have recently come to the realization that this semester is silently kicking my ass. I have slowly but surely gotten myself behind and I am not entirely sure how I am going to catch up, but I am currently living in the possible delusion that it will absolutely happen. After spring break, of course. Life (as far as school is concerned) has no choice but to get better after spring break.
In the meantime, I have somehow unhooked my anchor and am presently floating around the atmosphere of my mind. I started graduate school certain that I wanted to spend the rest of my life on a college campus. When I discovered that in order to work at a university counseling center I would have to get a PhD, I was game. I immediately started investigating my options. However, slowly but surely I started to allow other options to creep in and have recently become increasingly passionate about one of these options.
Those of you who know me well know that this is pretty natural for me. I am constantly changing my mind, switching gears and roaring off in another direction. With this in mind, I am nervous to even say the words aloud. What if this is just another one of my cockamamie ideas that will fall by the weigh side as quick as the rest? But, what if it's not? What if I have actually stumbled on something I actually want to do with the rest of my life? Scary. Maybe I need to give Plan B (not the birth control pill) a closer look.
In the meantime, I have somehow unhooked my anchor and am presently floating around the atmosphere of my mind. I started graduate school certain that I wanted to spend the rest of my life on a college campus. When I discovered that in order to work at a university counseling center I would have to get a PhD, I was game. I immediately started investigating my options. However, slowly but surely I started to allow other options to creep in and have recently become increasingly passionate about one of these options.
Those of you who know me well know that this is pretty natural for me. I am constantly changing my mind, switching gears and roaring off in another direction. With this in mind, I am nervous to even say the words aloud. What if this is just another one of my cockamamie ideas that will fall by the weigh side as quick as the rest? But, what if it's not? What if I have actually stumbled on something I actually want to do with the rest of my life? Scary. Maybe I need to give Plan B (not the birth control pill) a closer look.
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