I’m alive!

 Yes I know it has been months sense my last post but it has been a wild summer! So much has changed I’ll briefly catch up to get more relevant items..and somewhat less pathetic as well.

The week after the Jewel 50K I had a interview for a internal promotion into account management for our National Account Sales team. I had applied for both CT and the GA position and thankfully I got the job! Of course I had TWO weeks to find a place, get packed and move. Let’s face it I’m a professional mover so this was a piece of cake.. crumb cake.  I used ProMove to find a apartment to my liking and I was all set. Finally a place of my OWN. No roommate, no boyfriend, just me! Don’t get me wrong, I loved the home Bob and I once had but I need some only me time. THANK GOODNESS I DON’T HAVE TO LIVE WITH ANYONE!! I mean things are a little tight at the beginning of the month but I rather be on a budget than deal with another roommate…. Unless it was a really clean guy that we were only friends.. if only my college roommate J$ would come back to Georgia.

On my way to my interview! I killed it!

After the initial move I had to go back to Columbus for a few reasons. Work, community service day (no I didn’t get in trouble I was a task leader for my work) and for the Run Across Georgia!

It’s a 260 mile race from Columbus GA to Savannah GA between 8 people however some do it on their own. It was a lot of fun though I would change some things next year. Race report to come.

Moving to the city has been a big adjustment... well other than my sweet new office view, tree and "welcome" flowers!

Not really because of the location or pace of the city, I loveeee all the different places to eat, drink, and be marry but I once again felt what it’s like not to have anyone. I mean I have some “friends” around the city but most are attached or busy but not like the people I grew to love dearly from Columbus, and trust me they are few and far between but I’m a firm believer in less is more when it comes to relationships. I got in this like funk.. I think there were about two weeks when I didn’t leave the couch. No friends, a job where not many people talked to me, and Bob came back to the states and I hadn’t seen him. I felt so alone.

So what did I do? Well made friends with the neighbors and started to consume. I know what was I thinking?

I did a few runs here or there, checked out the surrounding “trails” but I don’t even want to look at the miles logged in the month of June but mostly July. This is Sweetwater State park.. elevation.. nothing compared to Pine Mountain.. lots of loops.. and loops...and did I mention more loops?

I have also traveled a few different places this summer..

INDY

 DC

 Denver.. duh.. right before the shooting too.. I met up with a college friend and that weekend she went to see the new Batman movie.. thank GOD she was in a different movie theater.. so sad!

Some of this was work.. but most of it ended up to be play.  I never realized how much sales people drink. It was late nights and early mornings.. of work not running. These are my new favorite shots, mostly because they taste like coffee but also because they remind me of loved ones.. Mo and Bob.. I wonder what that says when shots reminds me of people...?? :) Oh they're cafe patron and a shot of Balieys on top... SOOOO GOOOOD! When I came back from Denver I wanted to start my life over.. except I had made plans with a really good girlfriend so you know what came next...

WHO IS THIS PERSON!? Something had to give…

I was finished after this weekend. Bring on the H2O!!!

I had signed up for the Hot 2 Trot, a 8 hour race and at the beginning of summer my goal was 40 miles.. now it’s to simply survive. This week marked the first real week of training in two months... I know if Mr. 100 sees this he might have a word or two to say come Saturday hehehehe. Anyway, I didn't start hitting it hard because I think I’ll get in super shape by Saturday but more importantly because it marks 11 weeks until the North Face 50 miler! Yep, my first 50 and I want this one bad. I’m fearful I won’t be in good enough shape by then but I’m committed to hard (hilly) weekday runs and driving 1.5 hours to Pine Mountain every weekend until the race just to log the miles. I’m stocked with new trail shoes and registered for the race..



thanks to Bob.. yes is a round and round cycle we go on.  He gets my crazy and until I meet someone (closer than 200 miles away) and that not only digs me but I'm into I'm okay with where we are. So far my limit has been a couple weeks. Yeah I think I have commitment issues.. but who cares right?! I'll be busy every weekend from now until Oct so what's the point?!

Anyway…… SO now that we are almost current some positives:
1.      I have found my passion again for running. How you wonder? My old trail buddies, cyber jokes here and there and knowing that they too.. well some of them.. aren’t in peak shape either.. I’m sure not as bad as me but still. I think the idea of knowing we have some long runs on Pine Mountain coming up again makes my heart so happy. I haven’t found anyone that pushes me while on the trails like they do, not letting me be a complete slacker just because a hill is tough, but also because of the stories, insight and exciting changes I can’t wait to hear about (both Mr. 100 (legs new name because he of course has stayed in killer shape preparing for a upcoming 100 miler) and the Marine both have a little girl added to their homes)!
2.      The runs have hurt but they feel so good. I ran 10 on Saturday at Sweetwater Creek (where the hot 2 trot is being held this Saturday) and 10 easy on the roads around my house. Sweetwater is nowhere near as technical nor have the elevation PM has but it was good to get some trail miles under me. Suffering a lone isn’t that bad. I think I needed.. I’m still crazy had I started off again running with the guys I would feel so bad at how slow we’d have to go.. though I’m over caring about the noise of my oxygen. This sunrise made it worth getting out of bed and I rememered why I love early morning runs in the middle of know where. Problem is the park doesn't open until 7.. not like PM where you run at your own risk hahahaha

3.      I’ve been here before. Starting at square one. The week day miles will be all on my own, no I haven’t met anyone in ATL that I enjoy running with, but that’s okay. Even in Columbus I only made it to group runs every other week. BUT the best part will be the long runs with friends in the near future (starting next weekend). It’s funny though, I think my body remembers what the deal is. When I first started running the idea of 5 miles was out of the question but now it’s just a matter of not stopping and my muscles aren’t that sore. I owe that I think to the rolling and stretching I’m doing after each run… the things you pick up again when you drop the ball.
4.      If I work hard now North Face will be killer! It’s a big local race so all the best come out there. If not to run then to volunteer so seeing familiar faces when you’re dead tired will be a welcomed change… almost like Cheaha again. I’m trying to get Dribs to run it as well, even if she kills me (again) it will still be fun to have her out there! The cherry on top is Bob signed up for it as well. He registered us and he says already booked a flight out here (that I’m not so sure about). I think it will be cool to run the same race I’m just wondering how he will stack up next to my Marine buddy and the guy that won it last year. Bob has this natural running ability (trained for 2 weeks and took 7th at the PM 40 miler) but I’m a believer in hard work paying off… should be a good show regardless.

This week I have ran: a Easy 5, Hills for 6, today I’m hitting the gym, and tomorrow will be a tempo 7.  I know it’s a lot of miles for a “race” week but the Hot2Trot is really just going to be a training run/time on feet for me. To see some good friends on the trials and to sweat some of this fat off my body.  I don’t really goal mileage in mind, perhaps 20-25 but really I just want to stay out there. My foot is feeling a little like “Teeples Tendinitis” without Teeples causeing it but icing and compression will do it just fine.

Bottom line… You never get anywhere in life without hurting at least a little.

I promise to do a lot better now that I have my head back on where it should be.