Run faster; jump higher.

Hoping my new kicks are just like the Keds of the 1960s.

My addiction.

You may recall that I made the decision to quit running in January. That decision was made for a variety of reasons: burnout plus an ache in my right hip joint that I couldn't get rid of. I decided I would just walk and do other cardio (stationary bike, StairMaster, elliptical) at the gym and resign myself to the ranks of ex-runners.

I passed on the opportunity to train with a friend for a 10K this spring.

I told everyone who asked that I was no longer running. I even put it on facebook.

I gave away my super-nice Nike running pants.

I wore my Nike running shoes out in the muddy yard.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

There was this constant nagging. Every time I went to and left the gym, I felt let-down—empty.

So yesterday I banged the dried mud off my running shoes. I got to the gym twenty minutes before Strive and got on the treadmill. I walked five minutes. Then I bumped it up to 5.0 (very slow) and ran for four minutes. Walked four. Ran another four. Walked the last four. It took me twenty-one minutes to go a mile and a half, but what blessed relief! I felt like an addict finally getting her fix. And so far, no hip pain.

I realize the treadmill will be a little easier on my joints, but I also know that I was wearing my old Asics during the fall, and I wonder if that's why my hip was aching. For now I will stick to short intervals on the treadmill and wear my Nike running shoes.

I just can't make myself give it up yet.

Be thankful ~

Randomness.

I've been having a lot of fun playing around with my new lens, which takes super-sharp photos even though I can't hold still. I'm always swaying or shaking or breathing or something. Nevertheless, it's the lens I leave on all the time now and gives me better results than anything else.

I love the fact that I can see the texture of the petals.

In other news, Abbey is finished with her semester and will be home after commencement (she's staying to help). She had to move out of her dorm room today, so Man-squared drove down to help with all the schlepping and to bring a bunch of stuff home. Yes, it takes two trucks to move that girl. I have no idea where we're going to put it all. She's bringing home some artwork, in particular this bust she sculpted of my Jewish grandfather, who we affectionately called Poppa.

If you've ever wondered why I occasionally use a Yiddish word (like schlepping, which has the idea of carrying a lot of stuff—but it's more dramatic than that, like someone who has too much luggage in the airport is schlepping all their stuff), that's where it comes from. 

Abbey and a few of her friends went to the annual senior picnic at the Falwell Farm, and sent this cell phone photo. That's Jerry Falwell Jr., the chancellor of Liberty U., standing next to her.

It's hard to believe she's been there three years.

Also, I ran my 12 miles today and my Achilles tendon didn't hurt much at all. It was definitely stiff and tight while I was running, but I didn't get that sharp pain I had on my last long run. I did a lot of walking on the hills, which they say you should do when your Achilles is acting up, but still ran a respectable 2:20. No more long runs now until race day, which is May 20.

So I've taking my epsom salt bath, rubbed my calves with peppermint oil, and now I'm going to get horizontal. TTFN.

Be thankful ~

Exciting news from South Carolina.

I came to Greenville on Friday to run the Greer Earth Day 10K with my middle daughter, Leah, after spending Thursday and part of Friday with a good friend in Asheville. One of Leah's New Year's resolutions was to run a 10K (6.2 miles), so we signed up a few months ago. Life being what it is for a grad student with three part-time jobs, the longest distance Leah had run was 4 miles, so I told her we would just take our time, take walk breaks, and have fun. I figured I could sort of pull her along and she would be forever grateful that I was there to help her finish.

Oh, I crack myself up.

First of all, I will say that was the longest 6.2 miles I've ever run, but that may be because it was uphill all the way. I was the first one who wanted to stop and walk. I was the one who lagged behind. I was the one who kept a visual leash on "Heather," the girl in front of us with the T-shirt that said "Six Mile Turtles." I made myself an honorary member of her club the minute I saw it, and all through the race I wanted to keep up with her so I could sprint at the end and beat her across the finish line. I thanked her for it later.

Leah and I made it in 1:14:36 and 1:14:39, which is a 12-minute mile. I was a little concerned that I would be last, but I came in 261st out of 290-something people. I wasn't last in my age group and even beat a man. So I guess it was all good. If I run that pace in my half marathon, I'll still finish in under 2:45, so I don't feel too bad about it.

In other exciting news, I bought gas for $3.38 a gallon yesterday. Also, my new favorite word is skeezy, as in "This is a pretty skeezy part of town."

Today we're sitting at Panera enjoying free Wifi because my computer won't hook up to BJU's network. We're going for a walk later to work out yesterday's soreness, and tomorrow I'm going home to rescue my guys from our persnickety oven. I love that they need me.

Less than a month until the half marathon.

Be thankful ~

Running

Today I did my longest run—10 miles. Well, 9.82, but if you want to argue the last .18, you'll have my full attention after you run 9.82 miles with me. Stephanie and I were coming up to the parking lot where we'd left our cars, knowing we had to continue past them to the end of the road and come back to them (the other .18 mile), and as we approached, I looked at my little green Honda and said forcefully, "I AM STOPPING and I don't care if it's not a full ten."

We ran at a nearby Civil War battlefield, which has a lovely winding road that goes through it. Three and a half out, then back, then another three (almost) and we were done. It was definitely the hilliest course I've run so far, and that made it much harder for me. But Stephanie knew when to push me and when to let me stop and walk, and we actually did a lot of talking—more than I'm used to when I run. And still ran a slightly faster pace than I did on my 9 last week, so I'm happy.

All except for my feet, which are killing me, but I've been promised a foot rub tonight. Running does have its upside.

I thought I would come home and be lazy for the rest of the day, but I've had a surprising amount of energy and got a few things done. Tonight I will definitely be lazy.

Tomorrow Man-squared has his ACT, and I'm going to take that opportunity to read the third book in the Hunger Games series. And not run.

Sunday we're going to visit my mommy and daddy for lunch, and I'm not going to run that day either.

Monday is still under negotiation.

And just in case you need a little motivation:

Be thankful ~