Saturday, August 25, 2007

Back to Audrey

Wow, it's been a long time since I wrote. I ran a little over 8 miles this morning with HW and CR. HW is training for the Marine Corps and she kicked butt this morning doing almost 17 miles (she put in an hour before she met up with us). We ran through the streets of DC led by yours truly, which actually made things interesting becuase I planned the path as we went. Unfortunately, CR had a spill and hurt her ankle, but I think she will be ok. She may have to take a few days off running so that will be frustrating for her.

I have taken a break from the intense running this summer which I am blaming on several things: 1) finishing and defending my dissertation, 2) my travel schedule (did I mention I went to Greece?!?) and 3) I am finally suffering a bit of burn out on the running. I haven't totally slacked off, I have just been doing the bike in the gym more often and I still continue to get out for long runs on the weekends. My next race is the Army Ten Miler in October. I feel ready for it now, but I know I probably won't be as fast as I was for the Cherry Blossom back in April. I am ok with that.

It's been an awesome summer. I went to Greece, came back to DC, then went to Nashville to defend my dissertation, went to Wyoming for a conference, came back to DC, finished my disseration, went to the Gulf Coast for vacation with the fam, came back to DC, went skydiving, and then started my new job this week. Whew! Life is good.

The release of stress from having this PhD hanging over my head is finally sinking in. Last weekend, it started to seek in but I had a really busy weekend. I ran 9 miles on Sat. morning with the girls, then went to prepare lunch and feed the homeless in DC, then went to a dinner party and then met up with my girls for wine and cheese and a slumber party. We had such a good time talking, drinking wine on CR's balcony...It was a perfect night. On Sunday I did a 30 mile bike ride and it really tired me out...so much that on Monday (my first day of the job) I went to bed at 8:30 PM. I feel like I am back to my old self and not under this intense stress that I have been feeling the past year or so. My world had gotten so small as I let go of things the more deeper and busier I got with my disseration. Now, things can expand again, I can catch up with old friends, etc. I am enjoying my little hiatus from the intense running that I do while training. I have been riding my bike more and I enjoy it. I also have different goals in mind this fall rather than running all the time. I am trying to drop some weight and keep that as my primary goal this fall in addition to kicking ass in my new job.

1 Comments:

Blogger Super Babe said...

You went to GREECE? WHEN? You will have to e-mail me and tell me more. I loved the parts that we saw :) We just returned from expensive (but beautiful) London (and Edinburgh). Beautiful. And I hear you on getting tired from running. I have not run much this year... maybe later I will feel like it again! There is so much stuff going on! :) Congrats on the defense again! :)

4:46 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home