I tore into the box as soon as I got home and saw it had arrived.  Didn’t even change and shower before piecing it together and looking over the manual briefly.  SO EXCITED!

Sidenote:  How awesome is it that the picture was automatically labeled “Photo305″ without my input?  Win.

Went for a blissful 45 minute run this morning and then caught up on some of my ever-piling-higher emails.  This “Daily Kick in the Butt” says it all:

Even after all these years, running continues to amaze me. Mostly in its ability to clarify – to make things OK and bring you back down to earth, even when things are insane. Especially when things are insane.

Mark Remy, Executive Editor, runnersworld.com

This past week I was going to write something about how this was the first 60 hr. week I’ve had (as opposed to averaging 80) since I went on holidays and of course my internet somehow got messed up and that it seemed like a huge break to have time to do things such as sleep.  Of course, I got a call and was put on for 32 hrs. during the weekend.  Scratch all those good sleep thoughts and hello 90+ hr. workweek – I despise you.

The good news is I squeezed in three runs and it was great to get out there consistently even though they were all pretty short.  I’ve been using my handheld waterbottle and I really like it.  I think it’s a great option for short or medium length runs.  Hopefully I’ll be able to put in normal hours in the upcoming weeks because I miss training (and you know, having a life.)

I have three unread issues of RW sitting on my coffee table, mocking me.  I feel detached from the sport even though I’ve put in some miles if that makes any sense?  I get jealous of people I see running during my commute and when I go to get food I wish I was instead going to a specialty store and trying on a bunch of new runners and stocking up on Gu.

Really, this is a long winded way of saying I’m tired of the all work, no play!

You all better be getting in more running than me.  If you aren’t though, feel free to commiserate.

I’m going to TRY to get in a 15k this week…wish me luck!

I had a phenomenal run yesterday evening and of course needed to share.  After work I was feeling like I didn’t want to drive let alone exercise but as soon as I stepped outside I felt like I HAD to run.  So I took off for a short twenty minutes and it was just one of those times when pace and distance did not matter and I savoured the simplicity of the run.  I love when things like that make my day.  Finally I’m feeling like  my running is back on track.

First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes and your kind words about Precious.

Running has been mediocre – not in quality but rather quantity.  I keep putting in more long working hours lately and that leaves a minute window of time for proper runs so I’ve been getting them in when I can.  Next week I think will be better in terms of hours so I really want to get in some nice long(er) runs and speed work.  I’m missing the consistency although I know easing back into the swing of things is for the best.  Hopefully I’ll have something semi-entertaining to report then.

Here are some pics and a video I took on holiday about a month ago.  I was fortunate enough to watch some local and pro windsurfers and kitesurfers prepare for some championship competitions, it was really cool to witness up close!

At the beginning of the month my cat, Precious, passed away.  I’ve grown up around animals all my life and am definitely an animal lover of all kinds.  Over my life I’ve of course  had to see some of them leave me as well and while their deaths all brought tears and I do love each in a special way Precious meant more than I can verbalize.

She seemed to get suddenly ill and lasted a week from the first day I noticed things were off.  Animals are often good at disguising their pain so perhaps she just didn’t show signs earlier.  I was fortunate enough to get home from work and pick her up and just hold her until she left me…she had waited to see me one last time and I was sobbing like a fool.  I’m glad she isn’t in pain any longer but it is still heartbreaking.

I’m lucky I was able to have her companionship for so long.  I got her a couple of months before my eighth birthday so she was always there for me growing up.  It’s going to be difficult not having her around any longer.  A few times (especially after work when I’m tired) I’ve started to look for her…it’s just bizarre to not have her around.  It may seem trivial that a cat could mean so much but I find that animals are often more in tune to your feelings than humans.  A similar thing happened with my horse when I was younger.  Or perhaps I’m just a pathetic sap.  I could go on about Precious for a long time but quite simply, she is the best cat ever.  I miss and love her dearly.

Today is my twenty fifth birthday…not quite sure how I feel about that yet, haha.  I was able to get in another beautiful run this morning so the day has definitely started out right.  It was still a short run although I was able to run it a little faster than yesterday (probably because I got some sleep.)  I’m off to work, I hope you all have a good running day as well!  The “Daily Kick in the Butt” from RW is a great one so I’ll leave you with that:

If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you’ve got to go all the way. – Lance Armstrong

I ran this morning!  It was short and slow (a little less than 5k) but I did it and I feel so much better now.  Onwards and upwards.

So I’ve done a little running around since I posted, just not as intended.  I was originally planning on going after work on Monday but I ended up having a ride along with the paramedics and then was wiped out when I got back.  This wasn’t too concerning because I was scheduled to come in during the afternoon on Tuesday.  Of course, I got called in super early and ended up working 20 hrs. and then had 4.5 hrs. before I had to be at work again. Needless to say, I now think I am functioning solely on caffeine.

I did get to wear my new compression socks today – I thought it would be a good time to test them out since I had minimal “off my feet” time in the past two days.  I also tried them out last week on a flight.  They definitely helped so I’m excited to dork out the socks with my shorts on a long run.  At the rate things are going it’ll be another year until that happens (jk.)  I have also reverted to my old (but good) eating habits this week and have noticed a positive difference so yay for small changes!

So here’s the revised plan: Get sleep.  Wake up and run.  I’m not allowing myself to do anything else until that’s out of the way.  The running gear is already laid out for the morning.  I figure I’ll do this every day until I am used to dragging my butt out earlier.  I don’t want any “rest days”  while I’m trying to gain some momentum in starting back up for fear of the never ending excuses.  You have permission to yell and berate me if I don’t run tomorrow.

Random: My friend Stef told me about this band a few years ago and now it seems they’re getting the recognition they should.  This has been stuck in my head for days!

This summer has been just plain bizarre.  The good, bad, and the ugly have all come around in a weird pattern that has just drained me.  I feel disconnected with myself right now and to an extent with the people around me.  I took a little bit of time to unwind and then, of course, back to reality and something else happens that you don’t expect.

Honestly, I am ashamed to say that I have not had a solid run in a couple of months.  Ouch.  Yes, I notice a difference…I’m obviously not as fit as I was and probably more stressed.  I definitely needed some  time off because I was burned out…this much time however was not warranted!

Starting tomorrow I am putting on the runners again.  I figure I’ll just take it one step at a time and see what happens.  The crappy diet I’ve also adapted with the lack of exercise will stop and my normal diet will be reinstated. (Not an actual diet – I just mean my regular eating habits.)  Hopefully I’ll begin to feel human again soon.

I’m crossing my fingers that the end of the summer will go a bit better but if not I’ll keep rolling with the punches and try to not get knocked out by them instead.