Disappointing Realization

Yesterday I had a mini panic attack about my life, which seems silly. My life is going really well, I know what I am going to do next year, my thesis is almost fully completed and this is the first week I have completed 2 workouts in a year. But somehow, I am still worried about my life...I can't explain myself.
But I do know I have to trim down in area of life I can, and that means I need to stop working on my blog. It seems like it is a trivial amount of time, and maybe it would be to someone else. However, to me it is the time I need. I am sad, because I did enjoy writing here, but I do not give it the time it deserves. I also live a fairly boring life right now that solely consists of eating, sleeping, classwork and running. I barely have time to talk to Chris or knit, both of which are very important to me.
So it is goodbye for now, hopefully I will be back soon!

Back from Panama-Burned but Happy

Hello Everyone!

Spring break is over, and now it is time to get back to work. The track training group was...interesting this year. It was a lot of work trying to combine the Men's and Women's team into one cohesive unit, but I think it went pretty well. The coaches and captains learned what to do better for next year, and I think we are much more prepared for the rest of the year. I had a great time; I did not get the work done that I needed to but it was still a great last spring break. My training went pretty well, here is what I did each day.

Saturday: race was cancelled, 4.7 miles run
Sunday: traveling
Monday: 6 400's with 200 job. avg 95
Tuesday: 50 minute run, 5.7 miles
Wednesday: tried to run, got a painful shin massage
Thursday: ran 20 minutes, walked 20 minutes
Friday: pre-race on the track
Saturday: My first race! 5k in 20:54

My parents showed up at the race, which was amazing of them. I was down in Alabama, so it was a 12 hour drive for them. I was super nervous for it, and to be able to see my parents before and after the race was so important to me. I know it helped me run faster, so thanks mama rita and thomas! <3 you. One of my teammates  got a pretty good picture of me, so I took it off facebook :) Thanks Lindy! I think it shows a lot of Albion Power...we will just ignore the fact that Amanda is lapping me. Also, notice my wonderful new racing flats, they are my first pair of shoes that are both comfortable and pretty.

Getting Pumped!

Florida is coming up quickly! In the beginning of this week, I was really nervous about my training. I was not able to do the workout on Monday, and I was not very happy. But after talking to some of my close friends and Hayden, I was ready to suck it up and keep trying. So the next day I hopped back onto the elliptical, and by the end of the week I feel great!
Here was my workouts for the past week:
Monday: 15 minute warm-up, then pain
Tuesday: workout on the elliptical, 4(5:30 hard, 1:00 easy)
Wednesday: 60 min elliptical
Thursday: 5 mile run, including striders
Friday: 25 min elliptical
Saturday: 25 min run

I still feel good today, so that is a good sign. After seeing all my friends race this weekend, I really want to be able to. Depending on how this week goes, I am going to race this weekend down In Georgia! I am already incredibly nervous about how slow I am going to be. But I am thinking it is time to start racing again. Yes, this is partially swayed by how beautiful my new racing flats are. ;) But honestly, I think I am ready to start.

 Wish me luck!

Countdown to Florida!

In 9 days, I will be headed to Panama City Florida with my track team. My goal when down there is to be able to do all the workouts, and on Saturday make my track debut. I thought I was doing awesome at making this goal.
 Last week I ran:
Monday: some(3) 600's with a 2:27 average
Tuesday: 20 minutes running
Wednesday: 60 minutes elliptical
Thursday: 5 (3:30 min hard, 1:00 min easy)
Friday: 3 miles running
Saturday: 36 minutes running

I was really happy with this training, and I felt really good. Yesterday my plan was to do a 15 min warm-up, 4( 400 hard, 200 jog) 30 min cool down. I did my warm-up, and started the 400's but I did not make it to the 200. I am not sure what went wrong, or even if it was anything I did. It has been so difficult to determine what amount of pain is normal and should be there, and what pain means something is going wrong.

If anyone has any suggestions to help me with knowing about my pain levels, please met me know!

Headphone Designs

Around campus, I have been seeing these really cool decorated headphones. They all have sweet colors of string wrapped around them in a cool designs. I became curious about them, so I googled it. :) I found this tutorial, and I made my own pair. I think they turned out okay, this was my second try. I wrapped a couple strings around at once, to cancel out the places where I had to add more string. I had a lot of trouble finishing them in a way that would keep them together, but then I coated the ends in clear nail polish and it appears to be holding well.

What do you guys think?

Running news

This week I was able to do something I have not in 4 months, I was able to run every day this week! It was so exciting to be able to be outside and working hard, instead of stuck inside in the elliptical. My lungs are dying on me, I am going to have to figure out some way to whip them back into shape. But so far my leg feels good. I think I waited long enough to let my stress fracture heal, now its just  matter of letting my body become used to the pounding of running.
Also with running, Albion ran at their first meet this weekend! Everyone did so well, see the results here. One Amanda ran a school record, and the other ran a 37 second PR! It was so awesome to be able to be there an support them. Lauren won the mile, and both Victoria and Megan ran PR's. I am so proud of all my ladies, and I  cannot wait to see what they do for the rest of the season!

Its bigger than us.

A couple weeks ago I was wasting some time on facebook, and I came around this story. Elaine Lowe is someone who I would consider a hero; she was able and willing to run through her chemo treatments. It is so important to pay attention to things you see and hear like this. I think it can be difficult for most people to keep others in mind on a daily basis. I know this is something I struggle with every day, I keep thinking that what I am doing is the hardest and most important thing in the entire world, and no one can understand me.
But lets be real; my life is not that difficult. The things that go well in my life far outweigh the bad. But it takes being able to take a step back from my life and thinking about others and what they go through to be able to put my life in perspective.
 When you get to a difficult part in your life, you have to realize that it is something that is bigger than you. How you make it through is your own business, but remember there are always people watching. Sometimes the smallest thing is what makes a huge difference in someone else's life. I am sure Elaine did not keep running because she thought some college girl would read about it and get inspired. But that is what happened; life is funny that way.
I realize this is slightly rambling, and I am sorry for that. But this is something that means so much to me that I cannot get my thoughts straight enough to write them down. I hope I am getting my point across, which is that while your troubles are a big deal and you should worry about them, there is more to life than just that. Open your eyes to the world around you and see what others are going through too. And demonstrating strength and grace in a difficult time does more than help you, it can work in ways you never thought possible.