18 Days and Counting....

Last January I was in the hospital waiting for my hip surgery to take place.  My parents were there to hang out with me, keep my mind off the nurse who failed a few times to get my IV working and to help embarrass me in front of the cute resident doctor (trust me I didn't need their help, I did just fine on my own in the embarrassment department).  My mom was great during this time and while I was trying to keep my cool with the IV fiasco she was asking me to imagine myself on one of my European vacations and describe it her.  All I could think about in that moment was the San Francisco Marathon.  The first half.  I proceeded to tell her in detail the race.  At the time, I had only done 5 half marathons.  I never had the desire run more than 13 miles, but if I were going to have hip surgery at 29 then let's do a full marathon.

The LA Marathon is 18 days away on March 18th.  I am signed up.  I joined a running a group in June and have been training to not only get back into shape but to run 26.2 miles.  During my training I have run 3 more half marathons and have shaved 9 minutes off my first post surgery half marathon time.  I have two 20 mile runs under my belt.  I ran 18 miles in the rain, the only time it rained that weekend.  I bought a hot pink fuel pack and watch.  I have learned to stay hydrated and fueled during long runs.  I even broke a board at my sorority's national convention with the goal of running the LA Marathon on it.  On all accounts I am prepared to rock this run.  This run that is a marathon but not until March 2012... 

I wasn't kidding about the broken board!

Now that it is March, I am so nervous about this race.  It is all I can think about.  I apologize to my friends and family because it is all I can talk about as well.  I am also dealing with a knee issue.  Not a running injury but a falling on my knee almost doing the splits on Ventura Blvd. during rush hour issue (completely sober, I must add).  A I am glad no one stopped to asked if I was OK fall, but a surprised no one said anything fall.  A pretend everything is OK at the CAB meeting but praying there is no blood soaking through your jeans fall.  A lump the size of a golf ball on my knee fall which is resulting in not being able to walk/run without pain issue.  I have not run since Sunday, I am taking Traumeel and icing my knee constantly.  Yesterday I went all day without pain, today I wore boots with a slight heel and welcome back knee pain. 


Right now I am glad it is only March 1st.  I have two weeks to not wear cute shoes and heal my knee.  I have weeks of work, school and birthday celebrations for friends between now and the race.  How did March get here to fast though?  If feels like I just called the resident doctor cute to his face while not wearing any makeup, with my glasses and hospital gown on thinking 'oh yeah, marathon next year - totally!'.

Seattle

It has been a whirlwind these past two months. The holidays were a lot of fun but busy.  I then flew out to Dallas for work for a week. Had to make some big decisions for work, all very good and I am happy to say I will be continuing my work in legal for the time being.  School started with a presentation the second week  and a midterm the fourth week. I have neglected this blog and I hope to get back on tract.  Starting with a recap of my fantastic New Years in Seattle.
My best friend and I met when we were 12 in junior high school and we are going on 18 years strong.  The majority of our friendship has been spent with the country dividing us. She went to undergrad and grad school in Michigan and Indiana, while I opted for the warmer climate of Southern California. When we turned 16 we threw surprise parties for each other and with our 30th birthdays approaching we decided to celebrate over New Years.  We picked Seattle because it is a city neither of us have visited in the past and Australia was too expensive (for now).

We both arrived on the Friday before New Years and went on a fantastic pub crawl.  We went to the Athenian in Pike's Market where Tom Hanks talks about swatches in Sleepless in Seattle.  The beer came in frosty glasses and was amazing. We then went on Pike's Place Brewery and got a tour of how they make the local beer.

Very hoppy, but I liked it that way.

 We passed by the wall of gum on the way to the other two bars...


It is just as disgusting as it looks

Saturday we went to Pike's Place and walked around.  Then did the Underground Tours of Seattle.

 



That night we spent New Years on the Space Needle, the fireworks were all around us.  It was amazing.

Our view of the fireworks

The Needle at night.

Me in front of the balls o' trees.

The next day we took a tour of Seattle by boat.  It was so clear out we actually saw Mt. Rainier!

Mt. Rainier and Seahawk Sadium

Downtown Seattle

The Needle

Sleepless in Seatlle House Boat

Monday morning we got up early to get coffee at the orginal Starbucks.  Unfortunately it was closed for the week for remodeling.  So we hung out and watched the market slowly come alive.

Sunrise

Empty Market

Scandalous Original Starbucks Sign

I loved that they had Washington's head on the highway signs.

All the food in the market looked amazing, next time we are cooking.

We had a fantastic time.  It was a great escape from reality that lead to a Sleepless in Seattle movie night when I came back. 

Another Decade...

Tomorrow will be my last day in my twenties. I am not where I thought I would be at 30.  No husband, no kids, no home owning.  When I was 19, I was desperate to no longer be a teenager.  I wanted to be an adult so bad and prove I was a grown up.  I stumbled a lot in my 20s.  I did a lot of things I am proud of and just as many things I am not proud of.


Highlights of my 20s:

• living in and traveling through Europe.
• graduating SDSU
• running 7 half marathons
• running 14 miles
• deciding to leave the entertainment industry
• finding myself and being happy with who I am 
• deciding to go to grad school
• learning to cook
• pledging Kappa Delta and now advising UCLA KDs
• making the best friends of my life
• many more....

As I move into the next decade, I have never been happier in my life.  Work is amazing and there are some exciting things brewing in that department.  Grad school is the best decision I have ever made, not only do I love what I am studying, I have met some of the most amazing people ever, who I am so indebted to.  I am recovered from hip surgery and training for my first marathon. I also get to work with amazing UCLA students, who never cease to amaze me with their talents and ambition. I have great friends and family who support me through everything and every crazy idea I have. 

Here's to the next decade and the excitement it holds!

Overwhelmed

There are not enough hours in the day....

I will be back once I have a handle on schoolwork.  

Positive Externalties

Last night in a rush to get to game night at a friend's house, I came home dropped my purse on the table and jumped into the shower while my roommate was catching up on Gossip Girl.  A little while later, I emerged to find my roommate in complete darkness staring out the window.

Roomie: "Did you hear that?"

Me:  "Hear what?"

Roomie: "I don't think it was the tv show..."

Me:  "Hear what?"

Roomie:  "Some guy just yelled we're going streaking....."

I officially will not be telling anyone what my text message alert is in hopes to encounter this situation again!  I would have reacted the exact same way as she did!  Best bonus to an already funny text alert!!

Frustrations

I wish I could run like I used to.  To not get winded so quickly, to find the rhythm and not have to think about each step.  To lose myself in thoughts of the day or my surroundings.  To sort out problems and plan the week's schedule of meals, homework times, workouts and friends.

Instead each step I think about my posture, my breathing, foot placement. Did that step hurt my hip?  Why?  Did I step wrong, did I re-injure myself?  Was it loose gravel or me?  Why to I have a side cramp?  Am I not breathing with my diaphragm? Did I not drink enough water before and during this run?  Do I need another shot block to replenish my electrolytes? I just ate one two breaks ago.  I used to be able to run 13.1 miles without stopping.  I can't believe I am running two minutes walking one minute.  I can't believe I can't run a 5k without walking.  I used to be able to do it. 


 Then I start talking myself into the new training program, "You injured yourself running the entire distance". "Run/Walk is better for your hip and it really doesn't make you exhausted after long runs."  I do have more energy at the end of the race.  But my pace is two minutes slower than before injury.

Will I ever get better?  Will I ever achieve the goal of finishing a half marathon in under two hours?  Will this get easy again? 

My coach says yes I will be able to run a half in under two hours and to be patient it will come back. My PTs said running will eventually become second nature again just give it time.  Each step takes me one step closer to my goals and YES all of this is worth it.  Nothing feels better than crossing a finish line knowing no one else got you there but you.  No one else put in the work but you.  The training runs are still therapeutic if only to get my mind on something else, to focus on the ultimate goal (marathon) or to get a good nights sleep again.  Running makes me feel better about myself when work gets you down and school is challenging.

Because it does feel good, better than good - GREAT!  I would not give it up for the world.

Giggles

Things have been pretty crazy at work, school and life in general.  These things have been pretty serious as well and I was looking for some humor and lightheartedness. My finance class is unintentionally humorous in which it is laughable at how much I have no idea what is going on in it.  I am not the only one who feels this way but finance class does not bring happiness to my life.

The other day I upgraded my iPhone to the 05 operating system (which I LOVE!).  I was playing around on my phone with the new settings and decided to change my ring tone and text alerts.  My text alert is now Will Ferrell yelling "We're going streaking" from Old School.

We're going streaking! We're going up through the quad to the gymnasium!

This makes me giggle every time I get a text.  The first time it scared me to death, but now I love it.  I  just need to make sure my phone is on silent at work now.  What little things in your life make you laugh?