3.02

You know there's always that mile that you think you'll never finish. My first mile was fine, my third a breeze, but the second mile...I was about to let my dog drag my body back home. But I made it.

I'm off to Vegas for the day tomorrow. Wish me luck! I'm taking 50 bucks and hopefully turning it into 100!

p.s. this is the longest run I've had in ages. I feel pretty damn awesome.

1.05

I was absolutely exhausted yesterday and didn't end up going for my short run. Maybe running the day that you give blood wasn't such a tremendous idea. I was laid out today as well but I really couldn't go two days without any activity. I have a good habit going and it would be a shame to let it lapse. I just went for a short walk with a few minutes of light trotting stuck in there. It's getting really cold, though, and my warm little couch is so very inviting. I dread the day when I'll actually have to run on the treadmill because the ice is too thick on the roads. 

I think I'm going to go to Las Vegas for a few days starting Monday. I've never been there and it's getting chilly enough that I could use some warm weather. I have to run while I'm there though. I still feel pretty guilty about not running in England. Especially since I gave up a ton of room in my bag for my shoes! I have the opportunity to totally redeem myself this week and, although the idea of partying in Vegas does sound amazing, I should probably fit in a quick run or two between mojitos. 

1.11

I'm back from England just in time for the election. I ended up not running on vacation but I don't feel too guilty about it considering I walked all over the place - from Piccadilly Circus to Buckingham Palace, I climbed all 212 steps (both ways!) of a medieval abbey, and stayed in a hotel on a hill which I had to walk up a few times a day.

I have to figure out how to post photos on Blogger!

P.S. HAPPY ELECTION DAY!!!!

2.05

Well I had a really awesome run tonight. I was a little tired but my leg cramp was completely gone and I'm glad that I moved my rest day.

I just looked at my calendar and I'm leaving for England on Thursday. WHOA. I thought I had another week or so. I've been planning this for so long that I really never thought it would come. I found out that someone I was very good friends with in college will be there at the same time. Reunion! So happy. I can't wait. My first time overseas (barring travel between Australia and America) and I cannot wait.

1.29

I had a decent run last night. It was supposed to be my slow day but I didn't really feel like walking for 15 minutes. Maybe it was bad of me but I did 5 minute walk, 1 minute run x2 and then walking the rest. I definitely don't want to fall in the beginner trap of overtraining and trying to be a couch commando, getting injured quickly, and then giving up. I'm just not a fan of walking with no purpose. I guess that's contradictory.

OT: I've been preoccupied by trip planning lately and have had a stupid worry. I'm taking my first trip to Europe later on this month and I'm going to bring my shoes and my Nike+ with me. I took it with me when I lived in Australia and I was pretty proud of having red outback dirt on my shoes (they're still a nice ruddy color, a year later) so hopefully I'll have some English dirt on them as well. I'm just sort of concerned about keeping to my running schedule as I'll be by myself for half of my trip. I know that my travel buddy will trot beside me for part of the trip but I need to stick to it or I think I'll fall far behind.

Anyone ever run on vacation or do you just let it rest for awhile?

1.76

I got lost.

My subdivision is brand new and thus mostly unfinished. It's great for running because there are streets but no cars, no houses, just woods and meadows. There are also lots of strange empty cul-de-sacs and dead end streets which, at 10:30pm, can seem sort of creepy. I took a few wrong turns in the dark and ended up on this weird loop through the woods. It was pitch black, late, and my dog is afraid of her own shadow at night. I'm sure it's very pretty and peaceful during the day but tonight I kept thinking I was going to trip over a garbage bag with a torso in it or something. It didn't help that I was watching a show about the Boston Strangler right before that. 

My three minute intervals were pretty easy. I'm running better this time around than last time I think. I'm remembering to go slow, concentrate on my form, lean slightly forward, use my core and not my legs or my back, avoid t-rex arms, and relax my shoulders. As a result, I'm not getting as winded as I was the first time around. It was a pretty decent run despite the fact that I kept looking behind me every 10 seconds expecting to see Jack the Ripper. 

OT: I'm planning my October trip now. I want to spend a couple of days in London, a few days in Scotland, and then fly back down to spend the rest in Bath with a friend. Anyone been that way? I know what I want to see in London and Bath but I'm clueless on Scotland.