The Beauty of a Teenager

My daughter is in her first year of college. So far she's gone through 4 different decisions of what she wants to be when she grows up. A surgeon, a pediatrician, a lawyer and now, a psychologist. Recently she told me she's reconsidering this decision.....she feels she will be too confined in any of these fields and asked me where can she best feel free to express her depth of emotion out in the real world.

Oh I remember this stage well enough. I went through five different majors before I settled on nursing. And my last year at school had a considerable amount of "staying with it" talks to myself as I was ready to quit over and over again.

Yes, my job confines me. I have more passion in me than I'm able to express during my day. I want to curse at some of my coworkers, I want to make a face at some of them, ask them "Did you skip the line where they were giving out common sense??? Do you really need to waste my time with THAT??

But I control myself. And, I must admit, I don't have trouble with it. Know why??? Because I run.

It's when I run that I can really allow myself to fully let out all that I need to. I can focus on a strong thought and work myself through conversations, speeches and lashing outs until I'm all used up. I had a run like that today. I lost 3 miles being so focused on my thoughts. It was quite the workout of mind and body. I havent had such a great one like that in a long time. I'm happy to have it back.

And so, I tell my daughter.....Run, baby girl, just run!!

Four Days Til Spring!!!

Yeah...I know...not a running related pic, but I'm just sooo excited that jean skirts are back IN...cuz you all know I'm all about being with the IN crowd (blah). Tell the designers to stay out of the special hippy closet....we need to be different!

Now for running.....but first...let me get this off of my chest...my daughter got another tattoo! On her neck! Damn....why can't these teens just grow their hair long, smoke weed, and have sex with lots of partners like we did!!????

So my running....I actually wound up taking 3 weeks off unintentionally as I tried to get used to my new work schedule. The half marathon was planned to get Haight through it, no PR's or racing for me at all. As he didn't run longer than 6 miles (I think he followed the Lance Armstrong rules for marathon training!) I knew we'd have a slow time, but the goal was to get to the finish line without a breakdown and we accomplished that!

The weather turned out magnificent---50s to start, up to 70 at finish. The course was just beautiful.....running through the streets of Sarasota, over the bridge, along the shore....quite the beautiful part of America. The course for the half was open for 4 hours and I was pleased with that. I know there's a lot of controversy over limiting times for races, but I'm a real advocate of getting people out there to run/walk---anything to cut down on heart disease (the number one killer in the US). So I loved seeing all sorts of people out there just trying to get thru! Kudos to them!!

I did another couple of 5 milers along the streets of Haight's parents community during the week--real pretty trail going through it. And the weekend following the Half I did a 15 miler--real tired through the last 3 miles, but I made it through. I also visited their neighborhood running store Fit2Run - The Runner's Superstore which boasts being the largest store in the U.S. and I was very impressed with their wonderful customer service. I got a new pair of running shoes Wmn's syncroFLOAT 2 - Pearl Izumi there and had to get new inserts as the new pup decided to chew up my million dollar orthotics!!

I'm back into action now. Even plan on getting the weights in. I figure if I just go for the real needed exercises, I have a better chance of keeping up with it. So it'll be.....

Curls

Bench Press

Upright Rowing

Lunges

Crunches

.....all done at home with hand weights and a stability ball.

Back to my vitamin regimen that I've tightened up too. Yep, I'm one of those that firmly believes in vitamins--though I know there's lots of controversy over that too. I take, on a daily basis.......

Vit C

Vit A

Vit E

Vit b-complex

Brewers yeast

Kelp

Fish Liver Oil

Calcium & magnesium

I never get PMS on this regimen....so ladies take note!! I order my vitamins from www.puritan.com which always has a two-for-0ne sale going on, and my readings have shown the quality of their products are very pure.

My goal for this year ends with my first 50-miler at Rocky Raccoon....having my first 50K in May to get me towards this goal. I've hesitated to do it since I've taken so much time off, But I THINK I'm going to go for it (damn these women that always change their minds!), so I'll train towards it and see how it goes. I'm hoping to make it up to a 50-mile training week, with a 3-week taper.

I'm back to my nutritional plan with running too.......

Accelerade before a run

SUCCEED! SPORTSDRINK during the run

SUCCEED! S CAPS every hour if on treadmill, or hot weather,

GU every 5 miles

EnduroxR4 for recovery.

Come on Spring.....I've been a waitin' for ya!!!!!

Life is Hard in Florida!

Sarasota Half Finishers

Meeting up with Jason & Leah

new pup....new do.....new race

..here's the latest "do".....only wish I could fix it up the way they do in the salon!!

Haight and I are off to Florida tomorrow for a week in the sun. We'll be visiting his folks in Sarasota and running the Sarasota Half Marathon. Actually, since neither of us is really ready for the race, we'll just walk most of it....I'm sticking with Haight to make sure he gets through it!

Work changed my hours to an hour later....YAY!!! Now I can wake up at 4:30 instead of 3:30....a normal hour for me! Running has been challenging for me...was still getting used to the new work schedule....and I think since I hate.....Hate...HATE......February....it finally got back at me and kept me exhausted all the way through it!

I've also had a new puppy in the condo. My daughter decided to help a friend out and watch his 8 month old puppy this past month....and she is quite the naughty little thing. She shall be caged while we're gone as I just know my daughter will be totally overwhelmed dealing with her this upcoming week.

But...the biggest news??? I sold my house!! Glory Hallelujah!! One little mortgage, one wonderful condo!! Now to sit back and finally start to enjoy life a bit more!!