I decided to run another half marathon in March 2009. I would start training the last week of December for it, so I spent the rest of 2008 fitting in small runs, enjoying the fact that I worked in the city, and while there was still some stress associated with it, it felt much better.
2009 started - my training started. The best part of training was when I would run around the National Mall. I would start out running toward the Capitol, looping around, making my way down to the Washington Monument, across the street to the WWII memorial, and up the steps to the Lincoln. Not stopping there, I would continue the run across Memorial Bridge and turn around at Arlington Cemetary. These runs averaged 2 - 6 miles depending on which part of my training I was undertaking. I concentrated on getting in the shorter runs in along with my long run. Still never did much with speedwork - tried to do some weight training, but I didn't belong to a gym at the time. This was much working towards the healthier side of me.
I was able to clear my head and focus solely on the ground beneath my feet. I found myself pushing myself further and further against the time clock trying to out-do myself every day. But then I also knew how to let my hair down so to speak. I was at a perfect balance at this point or at least near to it. Work was okay - it had its peaks and valleys - looking back at the year I was there, I feel like it wasn't the best situation, but it helped me to recover from my previous hotel and the scars it left on me mentally. There was a chef at the current property who tried my every patience, a boss who pushed me outside the comfort level that I was used to, and a good friend who struggled with me every step of the way, even when we were hell bent on destroying each others feelings. That is prolly the only thing I regret about my brief stint there.
The half-marathon came in March and I was successful at reaching my goals - I ran the first 6 miles without stopping (completed the first three in perfect pace - 36.30 min) and completed in 3 hours 5 minutes. Instead of just walking, I was able to establish a run/walk that kept me going.
After the half-marathon in March, I focused on a much larger and a much more difficult goal: moving to Boston to start grad school. I had sent my application in late January and found out I was accepted in late April. So, came the time to find a job and save enough money to move there. Still I kept running - the only thing to keep me sane. I started running along Rock Creek Parkway since it was close to my work and I would run along the Potomac close to Georgetown. Never really going more than 2-3 miles (4 times) a week. It was enough just to stay healthy.
I also started to change my eating habits. Not to say that I changed them 100% - you still find me on a day like today eating Dunkin Donuts, drinking beer and wine, and pigging out on fatty cheese (but yummy cheese). I'm a foodie - it's what I do. In the year of 2009, I managed to lose about 12 pounds to be conservative. There is always that 5 lb mark that you waiver back and forth, but I finally managed to break 220. Of course now, I've cut back my intake of meat and feel that it makes a world of difference, BUT I have to have me some steak every once in awhile.
Even with the stress of the move to Boston, I still managed to keep running. I found the Charles right outside of my new hotel (which is the best hotel I've worked for - hands down) and so I run there. This was once again 2-3 miles each time. I also joined the gym at BU and found and settled into my routine.
But of course, something always happens and this time, it was grad school kicking my behind. So in order to stay sane, I took a month off. Ugh - I kept looking at the runners along the Charles as I would drive home to work so I could cram entire books into my head and write research papers, and sigh and be jealous. Why I wouldn't just drop everything and head out to run was beyond me, but school had to come first. I was exhausted, I wasn't eating properly, and starting to go insane again over that month, so this week I started back up again. Thank Goodness!
My sister and I decided to do a half-marathon in Disney over Spring Break, so that is my new goal. But this time, I also wanted to document the time that I spend running. It has become one of my favorite times. I don't like to share it with anyone. I turn on the ipod full of Billy Joel, showtunes, and Junkfood (guily pleasure - Miley Cyrus) and just go.
In this blog, I'm going to record through pictures and short posts the time that I spend training for this next half-marathon because after-all life is all about the next adventure and the journey it takes to get there. Enjoy the escapades of the fat girl in the jogging suit (because I am always a fat girl at heart !!!!)
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