Life certainly has a way of getting in the way of...well, life. Sometimes I feel like I'm two separate people who have completely different goals and lifestyles that want to be congruent but can't seem to get together. There's the "responsible" me that just started a new job and master's program. And then there's the "fun" me, the one that wants to run, play, and spend ridiculous amounts of time at Disneyland with her husband and friends.
Sadly, the responsible me has taken over for the last couple of months. Now I know she's important, but she's so BORING! I've actually made a couple of very significant changes. I left the counseling program that I'd spent the last year and a half obsessing over. I realized that although I desperately want to help people, the capacity I'd do so with a master's in counseling just isn't the way I want to do it. So now, I've started a master's in a subject I NEVER thought I'd pursue. I'm in a dual degree program that will earn me a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Leadership. I enjoy leadership, but business? I may be going insane (if so, beware of heads exploding... maybe I just need a good long run?). Honestly, I'm mostly doing it to help my husband. He'll be opening his own craft brewery soon, and it would be useful for one of us to know something about business. On top of that, I just started a new job, and that's always a source of stress for me. I hate feeling like I don't know what I'm doing.
Well, enough of that sob story. I'm baaaack! Can I be that excited to return to something I had only just barely started? I'm really looking forward to sharing more of my experiences with you all, and there couldn't be a better time to do it... On January 19th, everything changes!
We'll come back to that in just over a week. For now, here's a recap of what I've been up to, running-wise. First off, I ran the ROC Race (Ridiculous Obstacle Challenge) in Scottsdale, AZ in November. That was ridiculous alright... ridiculously AWESOME! I had a blast! The giant moon bounce really sealed the deal. The very next day I ran my second 10K - the Phoenix 10K. That was really nice also. It was hard, but I PRed by about a minute and went to lunch with a friend and her boyfriend afterwards. She'll be running the Princess Half-Marathon with me, so we were hoping to get a decent proof-of-time to move up a corral or two. We turtles will take every break we can get!
From there I also did a Turkey Day 10K that I sort of DNF (at least that's how I feel since I had to cut off part of the course). When the cops say the streets are opening in that part of downtown Phoenix, you find the rest of the group. Period. Now, I'm slow, but not that slow. However, I couldn't get past the 5K runners so I started the 10K later than everyone else! I did an Ugly Sweater 5K with a few friends, although we basically walked the whole thing. The Ugly Sweater Run wasn't my favorite, but hey, you can't win them all.
The best running moment since my last post, and arguably, my best in 2013 as a whole, was the Hot Chocolate 15K. I cannot say enough good things about this race. Maybe I loved it because I had some pretty special PRs, but I honestly thought it was fantastically organized. All of the volunteers were cheerful and friendly. The hoodie all runners received was extremely comfortable and durable. They had enough aid stations, we had a great course, and the fondue and hot chocolate available to finishers was insanely delicious! But what really got to me about this race was my performance. Of course I was in a SparkleSkirt and Minnie Ears (isn't that the normal thing to do?), but I didn't just look good. I usually use a 2/1 run/walk ratio. I'd never run more than a mile and a half without a walk break. But that day, when my watch beeped to let me know to walk, I decided to keep running. I felt good. Next thing I know, I'm thinking I can make it to two miles. Then, 5K. Then, I somehow ended up making it to the 10K mark, still holding strong. I didn't feel like I needed to stop until about mile 7, but by then sheer stubbornness kicked in. I RAN the whole 9.3 miles! I was just as slow as if I'd used the Galloway run/walk method, but I had never been so proud. The sheer joy (and shock) I felt was completely new. I think it was the first time I ever truly felt like "a runner." I know it was the first time I couldn't have cared any less about pace. And later that day, a couple of women who I'd run alongside for quite a while actually stopped and told me they tried to keep up with me but couldn't! It was like my first kiss all over again. I was dazed, and utterly elated.
After all that, I think it's time for this girl to get some sleep. But I do want to thank you, whoever you are, for sharing my story with me. I'd love for you to continue to follow along as I get the hang of this running thing, and I'll be back very soon with another chapter.
Happy running!
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