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.

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.