First, 2 skeins of yarn

My goals today were to knit 3 skeins of yarn for the baby blanket I'm giving to a co-worker, run 3 miles, and go to the grocery store. So far, I've knit 2 skeins of yarn, which takes about 7 hours, and I ran for 3 miles. There is a lot of pressure off of me since I gave my Cherry Blossom running number to my co-worker. It's possible I will stay at 3 miles for most of the year, which is fine. Last year I hardly ran at all. Also, as I know who I am, I will try to either run 3 miles at a better speed, or run a longer distance. No biggie, but the possibilities are endless. Today I stopped a lot as I was trying for a faster time for part of it. It's all good.

Happy Spring Solstice!

This has been a great day! I started it with a little knitting of a baby blanket that I am making for a co-worker, a half-hour of dancing in my apartment, and then I completed a 3 mile run on the treadmill. I ran faster than I had before. Part of me still doesn't trust that treadmill, as the belt is a little off, so I can't be too sure about the accuracy of the miles per hour measurement. However, it still felt very good and doable.

Then I spent a lot of the gorgeous spring afternoon with a friend I haven't seen in over 7 years. It was great to talk with her. We switched situations - I was in Seattle without family for many years, and now she has moved east without family. We talk about nieces and nephews, and crafts, and it's just good to talk with her, and reminisce about good cookies, and what is important.

Then I went out with my twin, and our best friend since junior high. There is a great chance that when the 3 of us are together, it will be a joyful time, and today was definitely the rule, and not the exception. We ended the day at our friend's house singing Don't Stop Believing at the top of our lungs while my twin's daughter, and our friend's sons walked quickly away. :)

Today is the best friend day of the year so far, and it started with some great running. I think the running has a lot to do with how the tone was set for the rest of the day.

5k

Sometimes it's good to channel your inner King Julian from the Madagascar movies and penguin tv show. The best time is near the end of a 5K, and there is good music on. Even if you may be day dreaming, or maybe you're focused, it's time to just run like you're a music lover enjoying music. There is a difference, between running as a runner, and running as a music lover enjoying music. Running as a music lover enjoying music while running is more joyful, the hips move a little looser . . . the time may not be as good :0) Be that as it may, on a beautiful day that starts with a 5k, it's time to move it move it because you like to!

2 miles

Over the past week and a half I've started the day dancing in my apartment. I'm not anywhere near the caliber of So You Think You Can Dance? However, there's nothing like wiggling around and kicking around, and moving my arms around to get the blood flowing, and unstick some muscles.

Before my 2-mile treadmill run I danced for about half an hour. It really is helpful as I was warmed up before the run. Once I get back to 5ks I would add more running-specific stretches and sit ups to my pre-running routine. There's nothing like dancing, though. It's joyful, and most likely there is kick-ass music.

One mile in February

It was cold, there was snow, I had a new knitting project . . . pick any of these and you'll see the excuses I've used to not run this month. However, I ran this morning! I ran a mile so that I can say I did run this month :) Hey, it's better than nothing, and it's a nice beginning to the rest of the running year.

I decided that I won't run the Cherry Blossom run. I asked my co-worker if she will need the transfer. She has friends in the race. I don't have anyone to cheer me on, or who is near enough to meet me there. There are a few negatives that I tend to discredit when I sign up for it

1. I have to walk to the metro at 5am
2. I have to train outside, and I'm not comfortable with that
3. I don't have anyone to cheer me on.

I don't want to get a cab at 5am unless I'm going to the airport. Training outside . . . at this time, is boring for me. I've run 5ks where no one was there for me or cared what I did, and they were very lonely experiences.

If only I remember these things before I sign up. I'll give myself a hiatus next year. I won't allow myself to sign up for a run unless I

1. Have a car to ride to the metro
2. Have someone who will be at the race to run with me or cheer me on

That's a good plan.

Review of First Month

I started to drink coffee today, and it wasn't a monumental change. I was instantly happy, and a couple hours later I really needed a nap. The nap could be because I ate a big lunch of a Philly Cheesteak and Sweet Potato Fries from Adega Wine Cellars. I dream all week about that lunch. To the point I feel the need to restrict it. Restricting pleasure is an issue of mine. Another example of this odd behaviour is that I feel the need to restrict buying sandwiches at this place that makes really good sandwiches. The tunamelt at Ellipse Cafe is wonderful! Overall, it may be a money issue. There's nothing wrong with not buying out if I can find a better alternative, and if buying out is not financially feasible. Although PB&J has been good to me, I may need to diversfy my lunch so that I'm not compelled to buy it elsewhere.

That's a problem with me, if I like it I need to restrict it. Hmmm, there's something wrong there. Maybe that's why I don't date much. I thought it was the other way around. I thought I didn't date much because there was something contrived about it, something about it I didn't like. Maybe in my heart of hearts I like meeting people . . . and being uncomfortable, and potentially humiliated . . . actually, there's a lot of very good people out there. I'm just bashful. The problem with restricting food may be that if I like it, and I need more control in my life, restricting a food item is easier for me than restricting something else. So, maybe it's not the same as not dating . . . afterall, with regards to dating it's not just me saying no, eh?

I can't change the url of this blog, but I can change the name, so maybe I'll change it to The Running Year. Drinking coffee or not drinking coffee is not part of the equation anymore.

The last time I ran was a week ago. It was a great run then, but the past week hasn't been great. I can't wait until running is an activity that is not affected by my work. When I am worn down at work, I just get too tired to run. I know I have the time. That's what this year is about. By the end of the year I should relegate running to a must-do activity so that some of my hours are filled with activity and joy. After this first month, although I'm not there, yet, I feel like I am on my way. It's been cold, too. :)

First 4-miler of the year

I ran non-stop on the treadmill for 4 miles today. I wanted to accomplish that goal by the end of this week, so I'm definitely on schedule. For the rest of the week, whether I run 4-miles or not, I will focus on speed. When I work on speed I don't mind stopping.

Running is something to do. I takes up time that I otherwise would be spent watching TV, just flipping channels. Seriously, is there anything good on TV except baseball? I don't see how parents run because it takes time. With kids I would expect there is already something to do, and not much time. However, it's the freedom feeling during a runner's high or the focused feel afterwards that is why people may run, whether they are parents or not.