Warm gooey chocolate cake
There's nothing like warm, gooey chocolate cake to make a stressed-out, PMSing woman feel wonderful. Mmmm....
Work is crazy busy. That's awesome - I hate to be bored - but stressful. Still, it's fun. But combine busy work (= shorter lunch hour) with training again, and I'm one remiss blogger. I've not been able to keep up with y'all, but I will catch up soon.
While I have a few moments, an update:
1. Joyce and I hit the gym Tuesday night, and it was fantastic. I've trained strength training before (out-of-shape ultrarunner seeks six-pack, anyone?), and it didn't work very well. I just didn't get it. Well, having Joyce there to show me the correct form, answer every single one of my many questions and laugh along with as I struggled in vain to stay on the dyna discs made everything awesome. Plus, I actually enjoyed feeling my muscles work and move and fatigue as I made my way slowly through all the repetitions. I enjoyed strength training! Wow! I'm back to the gym tomorrow. Should be fun.
2. I got to run trails for the first time after my surgery, finally! Johnny's mom watched Ash last night, so Johnny and I headed to Sabino. Most of the trails are closed, but enough remain open for me to get 3.5 miles. It was so cool to see the aftermath of the floods, the slides on the canyon walls, and all the critters! From a roadrunner out in the open and just watching us at the bathrooms (unusual), to a Gila monster waddling on the trail (highly unusual), the animals were out in force. A thunderstorm rolled in while we were out there, and although we only received a few sprinkles, the lightning show was fantastic. While Johnny ran another lap, I stretched. It felt so good. I could tell I've lost fitness - my breath was labored on even the flatter portions, and my kick at the end was the slowest end-kick ever - but I know I just need to keep going, and I'll get my fitness back. I'm well on my way.
3. Research into schools has gone on hold. It's more important for me to focus on getting our family ready for our big transition next week: Johnny starts student teaching. Also, as I mentioned above, my workload has increased. So we've got big stuff going on in our family. I've figured out that many people have degrees in the field I'm looking at (thanks to everyone who e-mailed me - GingerBreadMan, I know I haven't replied yet, but I will!), and only Gary and Nikki are pursuing a career with their degrees. I'm worried that I'll get this degree, but not be able to do anything with it. I'd really like to pursue learning about how our bodies and nutrition works in endurance sports. It interests me...but is that enough to make a career out of it??? I've got time to think about this; the earliest I would start school would be January, and even then, it'd be only part-time.
4. I'm so happy to be running again. Even though I'm PMSing, I'm feeling like my life is more under control again. I understand my world and my place in it. When I get overwhelmed, I can lace up my shoes and squish all the angst out with every step and kick. It's peaceful, relaxing, relieving and wonderful.
Comments
1. gym IS fun when you work hard, I just hate sociolizing there and watch young girls hitting on guys and vise versa:)
2. Yay! I hobbled today too, and it was great despite "pain in an ass".
3. My point too. I did same research a couple of years back and got disappointed. But one day I'll come back to it. Probably after my kids get out of school and my husband gets full Professor:)
4. Ditto...
Posted by: olga | August 10, 2006 08:00 PM
Yay! I'll be interested to hear what Johnny thinks about student teaching. It's nice that his Mom lives close enough to "borrow" her for the evening. And great you used that time to run.
Keep thinking about school - you'll figure something out that will make it all work. You mentioned starting at the two year degree level - once you get some time, you might want to consider starting with some of those classes while you continue the research. Those are classes you'll have to get out of the way regardless of the direction you choose, so you might as well chip away at them if you can.
Posted by: backofpack | August 10, 2006 08:32 PM
"There's nothing like warm, gooey chocolate cake..." anytime!!
Glad you made it back to the trails, it is obvious how much you love to run there. You're making good progress, just keep going lik you're going.
Posted by: Jack | August 10, 2006 09:24 PM
"I'm well on my way" Woohoo, that sounds so good.
Enjoy the cake and I'm in complete agreement with BoP on the school thing. May as well get started.
And congrats to Johnny for this next big step towards teaching.
Posted by: darrell | August 10, 2006 09:39 PM
mmmmmm cake.
I love weight training too. I even love being sore afterwards. I know, I'm weird.
Posted by: jkrunning | August 11, 2006 06:13 AM
I hope my email didn't disappoint you on jobs in the exercise field - it was meant to do the opposite. I think a combination of exercise and nutrition would be really beneficial for you, and there's a whole world out there needing an 'Angie' to help them along the way in their journey of life.
Posted by: Ginger Breadman | August 11, 2006 08:31 AM
You are such a positive woman...PMS or otherwise. I can tell that you are soo happy to be out there running again. I can see you glowing from here!
Posted by: Robb | August 11, 2006 09:31 AM
i agree with robb...the glow is blinding me through my screen :) i couldn't be happier for you, angie! i am so excited that you are out there on the trails again.
go, angie, go!
Posted by: matt | August 11, 2006 09:32 AM
Woohoo! You're trailrunning again!
As for your career aspirations...I say go for what truly interests you! I'm sure you can always find a career angle, even if it isn't exactly in your speciality.
Posted by: Sarah | August 11, 2006 10:07 AM
Yay for running again! AND for running on trails :)
Posted by: Jessica | August 11, 2006 01:34 PM
Always learning: 1) roadrunner aka geococcyx californianus and 2) Gila Monster - one of only two species of venomous lizards. We don't get to see these sort of animals where I am.
Glad to hear you are back on the trails!!
Posted by: D | August 11, 2006 02:03 PM
Angie .. for a women going through PMS, this was a very positive post. Congratulations on your trail run! The little of Sabino Canyon I saw a few weeks ago (a day before the flood) was fantastic. You're very fortunate to have such a beautiful place close by. Hope your weekend goes well as your family prepares for next week.
Posted by: Phil | August 11, 2006 05:37 PM
Lighting! I love lighting! I'm originally from Iowa but now live in the SF Bay Area (so no lighting for me!)
It sounds like every trail you run, it's beautiful! I think I'll have to schedule an ultra done there to see firsthand!
Posted by: Brad | August 11, 2006 06:06 PM
Yay for trailrunning, chocolate cake, and student teaching. Busy us good, but stressful at times as well. It is good to be able to go out and run it off.
Posted by: Rob | August 11, 2006 07:26 PM
I just left this same comment on another blog - I'm morally opposed to gyms! But I hope you find what you're looking for there.
No moral dilemma about cake, though - I'm all for it.
Posted by: Donald | August 11, 2006 08:26 PM