back on the treadmill again...

Well, if all had gone as previously planned, I would be victorious today in having completed my first half marathon road race yesterday. Due to my right knee rebelling against my body and nature, training had to be slowed/halted, and I've slowly been working back up to SLOWLY training and SLOWLY getting used to the intense workouts. I had worked up to 9 miles on my long weekend runs, and it felt so unbelievably amazing to know that I was successful at such a physical challenge. I've never been a runner (or even someone that one would consider athletic), so it was really big for me to set this goal for myself... and even bigger for me to have to pull out. Over the past few weeks though, I've come to realize something that I never, ever thought I would admit to.

I miss running.

I miss getting into a rhythm with my "work it out" playlist and just disappearing into myself.
I miss feeling my body get more and more used to the workouts, being able to run longer distances with less exertion/pain/exhaustion each time.
I miss seeing my body change before my eyes as parts of me toned up that I never before even knew had muscle.
I even miss the agonizing first twenty minutes or so of a run, when all you want to do is get off the treadmill/track but keep pushing because you know once you push through you'll be so happy with yourself at the end.

So I found a few races that are in the spring. That gives me October-February or March (depending on which one I choose) to train and get back into my groove. I'm pumped. I am so pumped.

And now, for real, I'm off to the gym. I have a date with a treadmill.

The Hyannis (Half) Marathon- February 27, 2010

The Great Hyannis Road Race- May 29, 2010

home to TEXAS!!

As of this moment, three days from now, I will be home in Texas. There's nothing quite like flying up and away from the pretty pretty fall foliage in New England and descending down upon the dry, dead flat lands of Texas. My cousin is getting married on Saturday and I, as one of her bridesmaids, obviously had to make the trip to be there. I... cannot wait. I think that I feel so excited not only because I'm (obviously) excited to see my family and my Lucy & Bandit, but because this trip completely snuck up on me. I feel like it was just last night that The Boy and I booked our tickets, and just now I had to sit down and figure my homework schedule out for this week so I don't have to bring too terribly much home with me to work on because WE LEAVE THURSDAY.

It will definitely be a jam-packed weekend: we fly in Thursday morning a teensy bit early (as in our flight leaves Boston around 6am), land in Austin around 11:30, then head home to just relax and catch up. Friday my mom and I have to find tearaway basketball pants for my dad to wear, new black heels for myself, and most likely cram in a lunch of Mexican food (while I try and ignore the fact that my bridesmaid dress awaits me Saturday), then Brian and I will hurry off to the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner, and *fingers crossed* the tailend of a Wildcat game so he can see some highly ranked senior (like seriously-- this kid's on the national "watchout" list for college recruitment. If you're not blown away like my boy was, no worries-- I just fake it for the smoothness of our relationship). Saturday I have a haircut appointment at 10 then a (sort of) updo appointment at 11, then I have to meet my cousin at the ceremony location by noon for the wedding at 4. Brian flies back to Boston Sunday morning (work Monday), but I fly out Monday night (holiday Monday = no classes for me!), so I'm really looking forward to doing a bunch of nothing and just being with the family for a bit. I'll be back for two or so weeks at Christmas, but this little break is certainly looked forward to and appreciated.

I've been horrible about posting pictures (and actually just posting in general), but I have two reasons.
1) I lost my camera cord.
2) I've been so busy, there hasn't been tons of stuff going on outside of school and studying and football on the weekends.

I DID get all productive and Suzy Homemaker-ish yesterday and made a pot roast and garlic mashed potatoes for our supper last night, and a pot of my sauce and turkey meatballs to freeze for two upcoming meals! I have phone pictures of that, so I'll post those in the next post.

Anyways... I have to do a bit of work, then it's off to the gym for a while. I'm determined to find my camera cord... Red Sox and birthday party pictures are just itchin' to be included in a post.