I keep getting worse and worse as a blogger. This is why I gave it up the first time. I just couldn't get in the habit of regularly posting. Ah well, I remembered, so here I am...more details that you probably don't care about from my life. Care to join? Yes? You're crazy, and crazy bored, but oh well, here we go...
First, the running front (always the most important, since this is theoretically a running blog). I successfully ran every day for about a week and a half, was feeling good, like things might actually be turning around. Then I couldn't run for a few days, and found that my foot was feeling remarkably better. So I have once again taken the bench, and am not running. At first, my foot felt like it might make it all the way to fully healed. This last week or so though I've noticed the discomfort creeping back. So I don't know what to do really. When I'm back from the ski trip, I will start running again. Because I'm tired of twiddling my thumbs. If I'm going to run, I need to run. If not, I need to move on.
Next...well, guess I could say something about the crazy Christmas EMS shift. Don't know if it has been put forth in this blog, or if you know (do I even know you?), but I am an EMT with HCESD-1 in one of my other lives. I took the Christmas Day day shift (that makes sense, I promise) and then was asked to also take the Christmas Eve night shift. So instead of the normal 6am to 6am 24 hour shift, I ended up doing a backwards 6pm to 6pm 24 hour shift. It was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It SHOULD have been a quiet shift, becuase everyone SHOULD have been eating turkey or ham dinner, and going to bed in breathless anticipation of the presents that they would get the next morning. But no. There were assaults, there were shootings, there were stabbings, domestic arguments, car wrecks, attempted suicides....my truck didn't answer all of those calls, but that is a sampling of what was happening. It was crazy, I got no sleep that night, and still had quite a few calls during the day. As my partner on the night shift said, "the natives are restless." Apparently Christmas is an excuse for one ethnic group to get drunk, another to blow shit up, and a third to shoot each other. I leave it to you to figure out which is which. Such are the stereotypes where I work.
I was going to share details, but I'm not supposed to talk about calls with people, and I don't know what level of detail would be acceptable, and what level would get me in hot water should anyone find this blog. So I'll leave it alone. Suffice to say people can survive some pretty impressive things. And people call EMS for the stupidest reasons.
What else? I'm not at home, so I can't look at my calendar to mentally go back and try to figure out what happened since I last wrote. Not sure I'll try....
Which brings me to the title. As I write this I sit in Montana, where my family goes for the annual ski trip. This year is particularly good, as we are joined by family from the east coast, whom i have seen so few times that I can count them on one hand. But somehow we always pick up right where we left off, and its fantastic. Suffice to say family-wise, it is an excellent trip.
The snow was supposed to be good, but I found it to be choppy and inconsistent. More importantly, our little hidey-hole of a resort, supposedly only known to the locals, has been discovered. This is evident not only by the drastically enlarged lift lines, (HA HA, enlarged....points if you get the "HA HA" reference) but also by the fact that you can see so many people here this year are the rich snobby fashion skiers and snowboarders. The clue in my opinion is the fur-trimmed coats. They are obnoxious. Only slightly worse are the full two-piece snow suits. Not snow suits in the sense of one-piece heavy duty mountaineering outfits, but "suit" as in the top and bottom are made to match, and are clearly more concerned with fashion than function. Worst of all, these folks tend to gum up the lift lines and the runs, because they are not particularly good at anything related to skiing or snowboarding. They just get in the way, and imagine that they look good doing it.
Ah well. Someone has to do it...
I'm pretty sure I had some other deep intellectual anecdote, but I can't remember it.
Lucky you.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Sleep...
It is getting to the point that spate of little sleep will cause me to literally forget things. Maybe not so much forget as the linkages between thoughts dissolve...I call my brother in the evening, forgetting that I had already called him earlier in the afternoon about the same thing. It is disconcerting. Such realizations should jolt me into a more regular sleep pattern. Unfortunately, it does not...
Another run tonight, which brings me to something like four days out of the last six. This is outstanding. Tonight was forty minutes at modest 7:00 mile pace, last night was only three miles but at a faster 6:20-6:30 pace. But while its great to be running again, and while I'm not feeling any real problems in my legs, I'm not all that excited about it. And while 7:00 minute miles aren't hard, it doesn't feel good. Its odd, I don't feel stiff exactly, I don't hurt exactly, I don't feel slow exactly, but its almost like a shadow of a workout. There's effort involved, like I'm moving rusty parts around. Of course that sounds obvious, anyone is rusty after two months or so out, but that still isn't an apt description. I blame the lack of sleep.
Always always more sleep...
Speaking of forgetting things, it is an absolute abomination that I said my weekend with my brother and sister was "low key." There was nothing low key about watching the Texas A&M deliver a very convincing win over varsity and the texas university longhorns at Kyle Field for Mike's senior year. (If you don't understand why its texas university and not University of Texas, then you are obviously not related to an Aggie.) It was a great game, made even better by the fact that I was there with my brother (and sister) to see it happen.
On another tangent, I now have a new bike, and rode to work on Monday. I'm trying to get into the habit of riding to work regularly. I could use the exercise to jumpstart my running, and frankly, I'm tired of dealing with Houston drivers...if you have ever driven here and have a modicum of confidence behind the wheel, you know what I'm talking about.
Another run tonight, which brings me to something like four days out of the last six. This is outstanding. Tonight was forty minutes at modest 7:00 mile pace, last night was only three miles but at a faster 6:20-6:30 pace. But while its great to be running again, and while I'm not feeling any real problems in my legs, I'm not all that excited about it. And while 7:00 minute miles aren't hard, it doesn't feel good. Its odd, I don't feel stiff exactly, I don't hurt exactly, I don't feel slow exactly, but its almost like a shadow of a workout. There's effort involved, like I'm moving rusty parts around. Of course that sounds obvious, anyone is rusty after two months or so out, but that still isn't an apt description. I blame the lack of sleep.
Always always more sleep...
Speaking of forgetting things, it is an absolute abomination that I said my weekend with my brother and sister was "low key." There was nothing low key about watching the Texas A&M deliver a very convincing win over varsity and the texas university longhorns at Kyle Field for Mike's senior year. (If you don't understand why its texas university and not University of Texas, then you are obviously not related to an Aggie.) It was a great game, made even better by the fact that I was there with my brother (and sister) to see it happen.
On another tangent, I now have a new bike, and rode to work on Monday. I'm trying to get into the habit of riding to work regularly. I could use the exercise to jumpstart my running, and frankly, I'm tired of dealing with Houston drivers...if you have ever driven here and have a modicum of confidence behind the wheel, you know what I'm talking about.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Running again
I'll never make it as a blogger. The impulse to write simply doesn't come regularly enough. And writing and blogging, like running, only really gets off the ground with a lot of consistent effort. Oh well.
I went to Washington DC and Philadelphia to watch my ex-girlfriend Sarah run her first marathon. Three miles used to be nearly impossible for her. Now she has run further than I ever have in my life. Its an odd reversal. I also saw two of my cousins while in DC. I can count the number of times I have seen them on one hand, and yet every time I see them we pick up right where we left off. Family is a wonderful thing. AJ, who is the eldest and closest to my age, suggested I move out there. Funny thing is, he was only half joking. I must say, as much as I miss the Northwest, I am tempted. Arlington seemed nice, and DC, for all the flaws I keep hearing about, is practically the center of activism in this country. Not that I'm interested in activism, but it does make for a vibrant undertone among the young adults there. Its almost like New York City, but fresher, and a little more institutionalized, what with all the towering monuments and such.
The next weekend my sister came to visit me and my brother for Thanksgiving. A rather low key visit, since as we get older my siblings and I seem to be relatively content to simply hang out; watch TV together, drive around to wherever we're going, with my brother maybe play a computer game or talk technology (which is funny to say because we're both a lot less geeky than we used to be)...point being, we don't do much. Family is family. I'm guessing it will mean more as we grow older, and the intervals between seeing each other become longer and longer.
The weekend after that, this past weekend, I went on a long-needed trip to see my grandparents in Kansas City. My aunt and uncle and cousins are also there, and I went to see them as well, but it was mostly to see Grandma Mickey and Grandpa Nic. Grandpa is now 87 years old, and while he seems to have hardly changed since when I was little, 87 is nothing to sneeze at. And Grandma has blown out a knee, and now swoops to one side when she walks, with a brace hiding under her clothes, and a cane by her side, even in the house. So far, I have been lucky as far as death goes, with only a very few distant relatives dying, and even those were ones I barely knew if at all, either because of distance or how young I was when they died. It is a strange thing to contemplate the death of my grandparents, especially since it is one of the many things in life I will not be able to comprehend at all until it happens. Its like looking through a one way mirror almost, but I'm on the wrong side. So I do what I can. My brother is planning on going up soon, and probably would have gone with me if I had let him know I was going sooner. I'll try to tag along with him when he goes.
If you're still reading, I'm impressed.
On to running. It has been something like two months since I have run seriously. Some sort of tightness that isn't exactly pain in my right hip always stops me. Some sort of residual effect of the plantar fasciitis in my right foot. In any case, Sarah asked me (or did I volunteer?) to run part of the last third of the marathon with her. I ended up running for more than an hour, and about six miles, albeit at about ten-minute pace. But I didn't stop, and I didn't hurt. In fact, my achilles bothered me much more than my hip or my foot. For various reasons, I haven't run since. But I gave it another whirl two nights ago. Forty minutes and about six miles at something like seven minute pace, with some tightness in my right hamstring, but nothing in my hip and little in my foot. And my foot hasn't felt any worse the last two days.
So maybe, just maybe, I'm back on the path of running.
I should be more excited.
Maybe I just need more sleep. What else is new?
I went to Washington DC and Philadelphia to watch my ex-girlfriend Sarah run her first marathon. Three miles used to be nearly impossible for her. Now she has run further than I ever have in my life. Its an odd reversal. I also saw two of my cousins while in DC. I can count the number of times I have seen them on one hand, and yet every time I see them we pick up right where we left off. Family is a wonderful thing. AJ, who is the eldest and closest to my age, suggested I move out there. Funny thing is, he was only half joking. I must say, as much as I miss the Northwest, I am tempted. Arlington seemed nice, and DC, for all the flaws I keep hearing about, is practically the center of activism in this country. Not that I'm interested in activism, but it does make for a vibrant undertone among the young adults there. Its almost like New York City, but fresher, and a little more institutionalized, what with all the towering monuments and such.
The next weekend my sister came to visit me and my brother for Thanksgiving. A rather low key visit, since as we get older my siblings and I seem to be relatively content to simply hang out; watch TV together, drive around to wherever we're going, with my brother maybe play a computer game or talk technology (which is funny to say because we're both a lot less geeky than we used to be)...point being, we don't do much. Family is family. I'm guessing it will mean more as we grow older, and the intervals between seeing each other become longer and longer.
The weekend after that, this past weekend, I went on a long-needed trip to see my grandparents in Kansas City. My aunt and uncle and cousins are also there, and I went to see them as well, but it was mostly to see Grandma Mickey and Grandpa Nic. Grandpa is now 87 years old, and while he seems to have hardly changed since when I was little, 87 is nothing to sneeze at. And Grandma has blown out a knee, and now swoops to one side when she walks, with a brace hiding under her clothes, and a cane by her side, even in the house. So far, I have been lucky as far as death goes, with only a very few distant relatives dying, and even those were ones I barely knew if at all, either because of distance or how young I was when they died. It is a strange thing to contemplate the death of my grandparents, especially since it is one of the many things in life I will not be able to comprehend at all until it happens. Its like looking through a one way mirror almost, but I'm on the wrong side. So I do what I can. My brother is planning on going up soon, and probably would have gone with me if I had let him know I was going sooner. I'll try to tag along with him when he goes.
If you're still reading, I'm impressed.
On to running. It has been something like two months since I have run seriously. Some sort of tightness that isn't exactly pain in my right hip always stops me. Some sort of residual effect of the plantar fasciitis in my right foot. In any case, Sarah asked me (or did I volunteer?) to run part of the last third of the marathon with her. I ended up running for more than an hour, and about six miles, albeit at about ten-minute pace. But I didn't stop, and I didn't hurt. In fact, my achilles bothered me much more than my hip or my foot. For various reasons, I haven't run since. But I gave it another whirl two nights ago. Forty minutes and about six miles at something like seven minute pace, with some tightness in my right hamstring, but nothing in my hip and little in my foot. And my foot hasn't felt any worse the last two days.
So maybe, just maybe, I'm back on the path of running.
I should be more excited.
Maybe I just need more sleep. What else is new?
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Opportunity
Part of my job is posting job openings within the company. Earlier this week I came across not one but two openings for the same position that I hold now in Seattle. It really gave me pause. I would have had to leave the store where I just started as Admin, pretty much break lease with my roommates, find a place to live and people to run and train with all on my own...but nevertheless, there it was, a genuine and plausible opportunity to get back to the Northwest. I'm going to let this one pass, but it made me realize just how much I want to be home, and how much Houston isn't home. Other parts of Texas I think I'd be ok, but Houston just isn't it. And as much as I love being a Texan in Texas, the Northwest is where I belong.
Its just a matter of time.
In running news, I am still sidelined. But today, walking around, my foot felt curiously better. It has done this before, but I can't help being hopeful it might be taking a turn for the better. I need to run.
Its just a matter of time.
In running news, I am still sidelined. But today, walking around, my foot felt curiously better. It has done this before, but I can't help being hopeful it might be taking a turn for the better. I need to run.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Focus lost
I went mountain biking on Sunday. I'm not sure I can say I've ever really done mountain biking before (actually, how many of us who own mountain bikes can say that? A ridiculously small percentage, considering...). I got blisters on both thumbs (no gloves), got a few scrapes, and my back was a little sore two days later.
None of which is the point. I had no business going mountain biking. I could have gotten hurt, badly. I do not fear getting hurt. Getting hurt is part of life. The point is, if I'm really serious about running, I shouldn't be taking that risk. If I'm hurt, I can't run. The fact that I am unable to run at the moment for other reasons is beside the point.
This is what people don't understand. "Man, I shouldn't be doing this, I could get hurt." "What? You're such a wuss." "No, I'm not scared of getting hurt, its just if I get hurt, I can't run." "Dude, PLENTY of people mountain bike and run. Hell, I'll go running with you tomorrow!"
Such comments belie a complete failure to comprehend what runners at this level do. Plenty of people run marathons, but very few race them. Sure, plenty of people run after mountain biking. But I guarantee none run the way I do. "I'll run with you...I won't go as fast, but I'll run with you..." Perhaps this is the point. Its not just that this person wouldn't have been able to keep up. Its the fact that they'd almost be doing something completely different. The proper word might be jogging.
On top of all this, I haven't run in more than a week. I will try again tomorrow, but I have a sneaky suspicion nothing will have changed. If that is the case, then I'm starting to run out of options. I've been better about icing, I've been working on my foot, and if anything I notice the problems more, not less. I find it hard to believe this could be it--the end--but it is possible. How sad would that be...
Either way, its damned annoying.
None of which is the point. I had no business going mountain biking. I could have gotten hurt, badly. I do not fear getting hurt. Getting hurt is part of life. The point is, if I'm really serious about running, I shouldn't be taking that risk. If I'm hurt, I can't run. The fact that I am unable to run at the moment for other reasons is beside the point.
This is what people don't understand. "Man, I shouldn't be doing this, I could get hurt." "What? You're such a wuss." "No, I'm not scared of getting hurt, its just if I get hurt, I can't run." "Dude, PLENTY of people mountain bike and run. Hell, I'll go running with you tomorrow!"
Such comments belie a complete failure to comprehend what runners at this level do. Plenty of people run marathons, but very few race them. Sure, plenty of people run after mountain biking. But I guarantee none run the way I do. "I'll run with you...I won't go as fast, but I'll run with you..." Perhaps this is the point. Its not just that this person wouldn't have been able to keep up. Its the fact that they'd almost be doing something completely different. The proper word might be jogging.
On top of all this, I haven't run in more than a week. I will try again tomorrow, but I have a sneaky suspicion nothing will have changed. If that is the case, then I'm starting to run out of options. I've been better about icing, I've been working on my foot, and if anything I notice the problems more, not less. I find it hard to believe this could be it--the end--but it is possible. How sad would that be...
Either way, its damned annoying.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Is there really that much to say?
Welcome to the reintroduction of titles to post. I realize part of the reason I stopped writing so long ago was that often I don't feel there is that much to say. The day to day details of my life, to say nothing of hour to hour, can't be any more interesting than anyone else's. Different maybe, but no more enthralling. What's going on in my life? Something similar to what's going on in yours. Why aren't you writing a novel about it? Same reason I'm not.
Although, there are things running in the background. This past summer my mom and sister went to what is effectively the international summer camp for the world's girl scout organizations. An irony: its run by a former boy scout from Denmark. If you don't know, most scout organizations in the world are co-ed. Turns out this guy is looking to introduce some male staff to the program, and is allegedly hoping to use them to introduce some more high-adventure style programming (taking treks out into the Alps and actually camping out there, instead of simple day hikes, etc). Mom came back convinced that this is something I should investigate (and if you know anything about my parent's take on my wandering state the past year or so, you know that's kind of a big deal). I must admit, being a camping bum in the Swiss Alps certainly has its appeal. Quite a bit, actually...(I mean, c'mon, SWITZERLAND!).
I mentioned it to Steven at work, a guy who has become one of my best friends in the past year. At first, the reaction was "Sounds great, but I can't..." I mentioned it to him again the other night. The reaction was quite different. "Man, we really do need to do that..." "I thought you couldn't?" "Yeah, but come on, how can we not? We're supposed to be able to just jump at something like that."
That is of course not exactly how the conversation went, but that was the gist. Its all still academic; my email looking for information has not yet been replied to. But I wonder what I would do if they said yes, that's what's going on, and you sound like just the type. When can you start? Would I jump at it? Would I find a way to keep running over there? Would I just give it up?
How many people even get opportunities like that? I'm running now because I took an opportunity few ever have. Now another is potentially on the horizon. Another fork in the road?
This is one of the back burner issues at the moment.
Oh look, I came up with something to say.
Since this is technically a running blog (yes, facebook readers, you are reading a feed from a blog posted elsewhere), I should mention I am still sidelined with the plantar fasciitis crap, but massage seems to be helping, at least my foot FEELS better day to day...I will try running again in a few days. Hopefully it will clear up, because I'm not sure what to do. And the weather is so friggin nice. Its (mild) torture not to be able to run. And I'm starting to miss races. (The mark of a true runner: racing is often one of the most physically uncomfortable tasks you can take up, and you despise it while doing it, but then you can't, and you miss it. Only runners have screws loose like this.)
So we'll see in a few days.
Although, there are things running in the background. This past summer my mom and sister went to what is effectively the international summer camp for the world's girl scout organizations. An irony: its run by a former boy scout from Denmark. If you don't know, most scout organizations in the world are co-ed. Turns out this guy is looking to introduce some male staff to the program, and is allegedly hoping to use them to introduce some more high-adventure style programming (taking treks out into the Alps and actually camping out there, instead of simple day hikes, etc). Mom came back convinced that this is something I should investigate (and if you know anything about my parent's take on my wandering state the past year or so, you know that's kind of a big deal). I must admit, being a camping bum in the Swiss Alps certainly has its appeal. Quite a bit, actually...(I mean, c'mon, SWITZERLAND!).
I mentioned it to Steven at work, a guy who has become one of my best friends in the past year. At first, the reaction was "Sounds great, but I can't..." I mentioned it to him again the other night. The reaction was quite different. "Man, we really do need to do that..." "I thought you couldn't?" "Yeah, but come on, how can we not? We're supposed to be able to just jump at something like that."
That is of course not exactly how the conversation went, but that was the gist. Its all still academic; my email looking for information has not yet been replied to. But I wonder what I would do if they said yes, that's what's going on, and you sound like just the type. When can you start? Would I jump at it? Would I find a way to keep running over there? Would I just give it up?
How many people even get opportunities like that? I'm running now because I took an opportunity few ever have. Now another is potentially on the horizon. Another fork in the road?
This is one of the back burner issues at the moment.
Oh look, I came up with something to say.
Since this is technically a running blog (yes, facebook readers, you are reading a feed from a blog posted elsewhere), I should mention I am still sidelined with the plantar fasciitis crap, but massage seems to be helping, at least my foot FEELS better day to day...I will try running again in a few days. Hopefully it will clear up, because I'm not sure what to do. And the weather is so friggin nice. Its (mild) torture not to be able to run. And I'm starting to miss races. (The mark of a true runner: racing is often one of the most physically uncomfortable tasks you can take up, and you despise it while doing it, but then you can't, and you miss it. Only runners have screws loose like this.)
So we'll see in a few days.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
So. It has been almost a year since a real post. Guess that makes me a terrible blogger. Oh well. Not that it matters much. Aside from a few passively curious facebook folks, I doubt anyone reads this. Blogging is a fad that will pass in any case. So thanks for tuning in.
The lack of posts is due to the nature of being a procrastinator. One, its something that I told myself I should do, so I put it off. Two, the longer I waited, the more there was to sum up, which meant it would take more time, which means I had more reason to put it off. And so on.
Then of course is the reason I stopped writing: I was pretty shook up by a very serious car wreck last November. If you're on facebook you can (or long since have) found the pictures. At the time, I figured maybe I shouldn't say anything about it in writing, just because there might be legal repercussions. And so on and so forth...
In any case, here I am, writing again. I'm probably putting something else off to do it too. Lucky for you, phantom reader.
And where do I find myself, having started year two of playing at being a professional runner? Much the same place as last year, and perhaps even less inspired. I'm starting to wonder if this little jaunt of mine is not the thing itself but merely the vehicle that is going to get me to the rest of my life. In other words, choosing to run after school might be the thing that knocked me off the standard career path that (most) everyone else takes, and on to whatever path it is that I will travel. I think I'm pretty ok with that.
The past year: As I said, a terrifying wreck in November. If you ever want a real life lesson in physics and physiology, get T-boned at 40+ mph. We forget how much force we're throwing around when we travel that fast in metal boxes that weigh several hundred pounds. Oh, and when they told you in biology class that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can affect you systemically and instantaneously, they weren't kidding. (Editor's note, I do not recommend LOOKING for a real life experience to discover these things for yourself. Just take my word for it.)
For a month or so I didn't have a car, and rode my bike seven miles each way to work. It was actually pretty refreshing. I'm now saving up to buy a new bike so I can do it more often, but in comfort and with a little more speed. Dad generously sold me the spare Kia he had for the insurance check, so I am still driving a Sportage (albeit an automatic. Yuck).
What else? February was an interesting month, having to do with girls. I won't go into detail. Life is full of surprises though.
Its safe to say I have fallen in and out of love, had a fling or two (unusual...), and still spent most of the year on my own. Its funny, I thought I had more to say there, but its not really your business now is it...so I'll keep it to myself.
I was promoted at work. I am now the ddministrator (technically Administrative Specialist) at the store. It is good, I'm off my feet, I have regular and better hours, I have the flexibility I need, better pay, full benefits...everyone wants a piece of me, the job title really should be "everyone's bitch" as I am part secretary, part filing clerk, part tech support, part hiring manager, part HR liason, part purchasing agent, among other things. But I work well being pulled in ten directions at once. So it works.
Which brings me to running. I ran a handful of road races, won two of them, placed behind my roommate in a few others...then on to steeplechasing. I went to Oregon for my big shot, and fell for the first time, clipping a barrier with my LEAD foot, and falling on my quad right at my knee. I finished the race, but shouldn't have; the trauma and subsequent exacerbation had me out for a few weeks. I was left with a last-chance race in Indiana right after Nationals to try and pull something out of the season. It ended up being a really fun whirlwind 24 hour trip--literally left around 8am the day of the race, flew up, drove to the site, race at 10pm, drove back in the middle of the night, hung around the terminal until it opened, and flew back at the crack of dawn to arrive home around 8am the morning after I left. But of course, the race was completely mediocre: I ran yet another 9:05, the time that I have been pegged at for two years now.
Oh well.
So life goes on. I miss the Northwest more and more. I might be killing my soul living down here in Houston, and if I admit it, Texas. There's just not enough green, and no place to go to be outside (if you're from the Northwest, you know what I mean). I'm also fighting plantar fasciitis in my right foot, which has now somehow affected my heel strike in my right leg, so while I can run without problem, running will eventually cause problems. Absolutely the worst situation possible for a runner. Hopefully it clears up soon (before I go insane).
And that is the somewhat terrible synopsis of the past year as a steeplechaser.
Oh yeah, and of course, I'm now 24 years old.
Scary.
Congratulations and thank you for your attention. You have too much free time on your hands, or you have an unnatural obsession with my life. Or you're family...
More next time.
The lack of posts is due to the nature of being a procrastinator. One, its something that I told myself I should do, so I put it off. Two, the longer I waited, the more there was to sum up, which meant it would take more time, which means I had more reason to put it off. And so on.
Then of course is the reason I stopped writing: I was pretty shook up by a very serious car wreck last November. If you're on facebook you can (or long since have) found the pictures. At the time, I figured maybe I shouldn't say anything about it in writing, just because there might be legal repercussions. And so on and so forth...
In any case, here I am, writing again. I'm probably putting something else off to do it too. Lucky for you, phantom reader.
And where do I find myself, having started year two of playing at being a professional runner? Much the same place as last year, and perhaps even less inspired. I'm starting to wonder if this little jaunt of mine is not the thing itself but merely the vehicle that is going to get me to the rest of my life. In other words, choosing to run after school might be the thing that knocked me off the standard career path that (most) everyone else takes, and on to whatever path it is that I will travel. I think I'm pretty ok with that.
The past year: As I said, a terrifying wreck in November. If you ever want a real life lesson in physics and physiology, get T-boned at 40+ mph. We forget how much force we're throwing around when we travel that fast in metal boxes that weigh several hundred pounds. Oh, and when they told you in biology class that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems can affect you systemically and instantaneously, they weren't kidding. (Editor's note, I do not recommend LOOKING for a real life experience to discover these things for yourself. Just take my word for it.)
For a month or so I didn't have a car, and rode my bike seven miles each way to work. It was actually pretty refreshing. I'm now saving up to buy a new bike so I can do it more often, but in comfort and with a little more speed. Dad generously sold me the spare Kia he had for the insurance check, so I am still driving a Sportage (albeit an automatic. Yuck).
What else? February was an interesting month, having to do with girls. I won't go into detail. Life is full of surprises though.
Its safe to say I have fallen in and out of love, had a fling or two (unusual...), and still spent most of the year on my own. Its funny, I thought I had more to say there, but its not really your business now is it...so I'll keep it to myself.
I was promoted at work. I am now the ddministrator (technically Administrative Specialist) at the store. It is good, I'm off my feet, I have regular and better hours, I have the flexibility I need, better pay, full benefits...everyone wants a piece of me, the job title really should be "everyone's bitch" as I am part secretary, part filing clerk, part tech support, part hiring manager, part HR liason, part purchasing agent, among other things. But I work well being pulled in ten directions at once. So it works.
Which brings me to running. I ran a handful of road races, won two of them, placed behind my roommate in a few others...then on to steeplechasing. I went to Oregon for my big shot, and fell for the first time, clipping a barrier with my LEAD foot, and falling on my quad right at my knee. I finished the race, but shouldn't have; the trauma and subsequent exacerbation had me out for a few weeks. I was left with a last-chance race in Indiana right after Nationals to try and pull something out of the season. It ended up being a really fun whirlwind 24 hour trip--literally left around 8am the day of the race, flew up, drove to the site, race at 10pm, drove back in the middle of the night, hung around the terminal until it opened, and flew back at the crack of dawn to arrive home around 8am the morning after I left. But of course, the race was completely mediocre: I ran yet another 9:05, the time that I have been pegged at for two years now.
Oh well.
So life goes on. I miss the Northwest more and more. I might be killing my soul living down here in Houston, and if I admit it, Texas. There's just not enough green, and no place to go to be outside (if you're from the Northwest, you know what I mean). I'm also fighting plantar fasciitis in my right foot, which has now somehow affected my heel strike in my right leg, so while I can run without problem, running will eventually cause problems. Absolutely the worst situation possible for a runner. Hopefully it clears up soon (before I go insane).
And that is the somewhat terrible synopsis of the past year as a steeplechaser.
Oh yeah, and of course, I'm now 24 years old.
Scary.
Congratulations and thank you for your attention. You have too much free time on your hands, or you have an unnatural obsession with my life. Or you're family...
More next time.
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