A New Year

It's that time of the year when everyone starts reflecting on days gone by.  But first, a glimpse forward into my future -

I just signed up for my first half-marathon.

Podcasts

I'm terrible.  It's been 11 days since I've run.  Between taking finals, deadlines at work, and the disgusting wet snow, it's been hard to find the time or motivation to go running.

 

But once in a while, something comes around that makes me so excited to get my shoes on and hit the trails.

Today, it's a new podcast, Serial.  I heard about it because the morning news said that the final episode is coming out today.  Having never heard of it until today, I had to start from Episode 1 and so I've been binge-listening at work, though I am consciously saving some for some long runs in the near future.

A lot of people ask me what I music I listen to when I run, and how I keep myself from getting bored.  The truth is that I get sick of music very easily, and 85% of the time, I listen to podcasts (thank you, NPR).  Here are some of my favorites:

Webster Turkey Trot Race Recap

Location: Webster, NY

Date/Time: November 21, 2014

Size: ~2000

Weather: Low 30s, snowing, no wind

Course: Flat roads with slight hills, wooded section for last .1 miles

Charity: Turkey Trot Food Drive

Distance: 4.4 miles (actually 4.14 miles)

Time: 37:51 minutes (gun time); 37:01 minutes (chip time) (9:05 min/mile pace)

Rank: Overall: 735/2,317; Age Group: 47/197

Can't run but can shovel.

If you've been reading the news at all, you would have know about the 5ft of snow Buffalo, NY received this week.

Guess who lives in the area?

Negative Splits!

Little knives in my lungs

It's snowing where I live, and it seems like it's here to stay.

Honestly, I've been debating whether I wanted to keep running through the winter.  Life has been catching up to me and it has been discouraging to watch myself lose that fitness I gained over the summer.  It would be so easy to just give up, like I have every other year.

Counting Calories

I've been reading some health and fitness blogs, and while really take to the advice regarding exercise, I have a hard time with many of the things said about diet.  The reason is that they almost always mention something about the amount of calories that should be consumed.  Maybe they tell you not to exceed 2,000 calories a day, or that a homemade healthy dinner recipe only has 500 calories.  These numbers scare me, and here's why.

I understand that for some people, counting calories is a useful tool for losing or maintaining weight.  But it doesn't work for everybody, and I was one of those people.

Knowing I made the right decision.

Since childhood, I had been very clear about what wanted, and was stubborn to a fault.   With this kind of dogged determination to reach all of my goals, I had no doubt that I would have my entire life figured out by the time I was in my twenties.

Now that I'm in my twenties, I laugh at my old self.

Running has infested my brain.

Running has slowly become a bigger and bigger thing in my life, and this was very clear today.

Life is tough...and running makes me tougher.

I have to admit, these last few weeks have been hard.  I recently started school full time, and add an almost full-time job to that, moving twice, and therefore a complete lack of social interactions - life has really taken it out of me, physically and emotionally.

What I think on the treadmill

It has been hot this whole week.  Now, given the fact I live in almost-Canada, my definition of "hot" is relative, but I don't dare go outside, lest I drown in my own sweat.

So I mustered up all my willpower and climbed onto the treadmill.

I hate the treadmill.

But I sucked it up and this was roughly my train of thought:

Ode to Summer

I'm going to have to make this again while it's still appropriate.

Saucony Grid Cohesion TR6 Review

Misadventures of the Directionally Challenged

Speed Work on the Track

Progress

Warrior Dash Ohio II Race Recap

Location: North Lawrence, OH

Date/Time: August 9, 2014, 1:30pm wave

Size: Thousands of competitors

Weather: Mid-80s, sunny

Course: Moderate hills, heavy woods, extremely muddy (of course!)

Charity: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Distance: 3.2 mi mud run

Time: Not timed, but roughly 1.5 hrs.

Taking a Break

I'm absolutely blown away by my speed.

Run for the Red Twilight 5k Recap

Location: Canandaigua, NY

Date/Time: July 31, 2014, 7:00pm

Size: 500-600 runners

Weather: Mid-70s, sunny, slightly breezy

Course: Small rolling hills

Charity: American Red Cross

Distance: 5k

Time: 28:54 (avg. 9:19 pace)

Rank: Overall: 205/715; Age Group (20-24F): 20/53

I Signed Up for My First Races!

I'm nervous, and worried, and probably going to make a fool of myself, but I am so excited.