Sometimes I Run

It's official: I have signed up for the St. George Marathon on October 6th. I'm excited to accomplish this goal, but not so excited for training. Especially since the training months are over the hottest months of the year. But whatever. You can just remind me that I knew what I was getting myself into.

A couple Saturdays ago I went running with a friend. When we met up, she asked where I wanted to run, and I said, "I kind of want to run to Arizona." She said, "That's funny. I do, too!" So we did. It was longer than I expected it to be, and there was a cycling race on the road we were running down. I suppose it was motivating to be running with so many people passing us. As we were running, one of the race photographers took our picture:

Yes, we look lovely. It was a fun run and it's great to have this little reminder of it.

Five a Day

Lish has been getting after me for not posting on the blog. When Lish starts getting after me, that's when I know it's been a long time.

I haven't posted because we haven't had too much going on around here. We've just been enjoying our quiet life down here in SG since we got home from our busy Christmas break. I feel like we've finally gotten into a routine. Yale and I are starting to go out more and have more play dates. Lish is in a good flow with his work. Plus, the house stays clean for the most part. So really, life is pretty good.

Let's see. A couple weeks ago, Maggie invited me and Lish, along with some other family members and friends, to participate in a fitness challenge with her. We started last Monday. The rules are: eat 5 fruits and veggies a day, drink 64 oz of water, take a vitamin daily, exercise for at least 30 minutes a day (except one rest day), no eating after 8pm, and no sweets (except for one free day). Last week Lish and I both did really well. We'll see about this week. It'll be good challenge though. My sweet tooth was getting a little out of hand. And I used to think eating five fruits and veggies a day would be really hard. Guess what? It's not.

We've also been out hiking again. We're all set up to go camping at Zion's over spring break, so we're practicing with Lish carrying Yale and Yale staying in the backpack. Maybe I've already mentioned that. I don't remember.

Yale continues to be a hoot. (Yes, I said "hoot.") It's so fun to see things click with him, to see him begin to understand things. I just wish he understood that we don't want him playing in Jazz's food or water.

Anyway, happy Valentine's Day everybody!
And enjoy some pictures we have taken during our blogging absence.

This Morning I...

Tallahassee has had some hot weather lately. It's summertime, so this comes as no surprise. It's hot, it's humid, you can't walk outside long before you start "glistening." Ah, the south. However, yesterday morning when I got up to exercise, I pulled out Lish's iTouch to see what the weather would be like for the day. Do you know what the temperature was? 59. Before I left for work, it had gone up to 62. The low 60's! I loved it!

Hoping that it would be cool again, I decided to go for a run this morning. My hopes were fulfilled. Cool weather again. Had my iPod. My knee brace. I was set. And it was one of the most amazing runs I've ever had! I was out before the sun came up, so I got to see the sunrise. Snow Patrol was running along with me, keeping me from getting bored. I ran a route that I've run before, but I decided to keep going. I ran up a hill, turned down a street I hadn't been down yet, and I got lost. But I didn't turn around. I just kept running. I found my way out eventually. It was a beautiful and quiet neighborhood. I would like to get lost in it again.

I was getting worried about the time, knowing I had to be to work on time today. I headed home to find out I had been gone for only 40 minutes. This story probably made it seem longer. I haven't run for weeks though. And I haven't run that long for months. And even though my iPod froze while I was in the unknown neighborhood, the run was rejuvenating.

Plus, I feel like my arms look skinnier than they did yesterday.

Now Starring in a Documentary

Last week I got a call from one of my old co-workers and friend, Kirk. He called me at work though, rather than on my cell. It was fine, but I was confused. He asked what my major was, so I reminded him, thinking all the time of why he didn't just text me. Then he told me that he needed to find an "exercise science specialist." Enter me. He couldn't get a hold of the first person he thought of (still trying to forgive you for that one Kirk), and it was last minute so he was stressing out. He needed to find someone for some junior high school kids to interview for a documentary they are making. I told him if he could email me the questions I would be asked, I could probably help. (I was a little nervous about how qualified I would be.) Turns out the questions were a cinch. Nothing to worry about.

The interview took place this morning. The kids from the junior high couldn't make it because they were in a meeting with the governor or something (how cool is that?), so Kirk asked me the interview questions. I think it went okay. I had thought of some things I would have really liked to say and of course forgot most of them. It's like the camera just sucks all those memories away. Oh well. It's done. Kirk is the one editing the film, so I hope I gave them some good stuff. It's a documentary on exercise, fitness, and nutrition. I was happy to help with it. Honored, even, that someone would think of me and then make me some chocolate bread because of the short notice. I'm not sure if they're doing the film just for their school or what, but it premieres on May 18th. I'm gonna go watch myself on the big screen!

On a completely other note, Lish is completely done with his semester from Hell. He had just finished entering in all his grades from the class he taught when I walked in the door last night. He is relieved and happy to start working on his dissertation (after a few days break). I'm just happy he survived! He's amazing!