Moving + Running

Change is hard. Even if it is for the best or for good reason, it can still bring up a lot of emotion. I moved out of my apartment this weekend. I have some pretty intense memories in this apartment. I worked so hard at making it MINE; a place I felt home, safe, and happy. I am really, really going to miss it...

Farewell, 31 Nottoway Blvd...

My 8 miler on Saturday morning was great. I set out around 6:15am and it was already terribly hot. But I really felt fine, and I realized how much I miss those long runs. It is a wonderful time to clear my mind, get some serious alone time, and to fill my lungs with some fresh air. I enjoyed it.

I was so excited to use my new water bottle... too bad it SUCKS. I guess my belt is too thin/narrow to support the weight of a 10.5 FO water bottle, because as soon as I put it around my waist, it sagged down to my butt. Even walking, it would bounce and bob and smack me in the back. So that purchase will be returned, and I am going to have to see what else I can find. Any suggestions????

Attempting to beat the heat

How I have made it thus far without bringing water on my long runs is a mystery to me. I hydrate very well during the day (some say too well, haha)- I drink at least 100 FO daily. So maybe that helps. But, still, as my long runs get, well, longer, I knew I would have to invest in a water belt eventually. I already have an Amphipod waistpack (fancy runners way of bringing the fanny pack back into style) for gels, my phone, keys, etc. So I was not sure if I wanted to buy a whole new water belt, get a hand-held bottle, or what. I went over to Breakaway Running (my fav store, be still my heart) yesterday to check out my options. 

I ended up getting this great water bottle that can be added on to my current belt. It is 10.5 FO and has a click on-off mechanism to attach it to the belt (which may be kinda tricky, but I am sure it will be fine).

I also splurged and got myself a running hat. I have wanted one for a while, but it was not a purchase I could ever really justify. Well, now with this killer blazing summer sun, I see it as necessary. And cute.

My first long run will be tomorrow- 8 miles. No biggie, right? Let's hope. I simply can NOT do long runs on the treadmill, so I am going to get up at 5:30 and be on the road by 6:00 in a pathetic attempt to beat the heat. I really hope I don't melt...

Homemade love from a friend

Thank you, Maureen. I love it!

138 days...

My official marathon training schedule starts TODAY. Luckily, it is a cross-train day, I can do weights in my apartment when I finally get home around 9:00pm tonight. 

I am going to sign up for a few races during the course of my training:

-Sept 16: Cooper Young 4 miler

-Sept 18: UTHSC Centennial 5k

-Oct 2: Shelby Farms Green Line 1/2 Marathon

-Nov 12: I Run For The Party 1/2 Marathon (Nashville, TN)

...Hopefully these smaller goals and baby steps along the way will help keep me motivated!

Life has been insane lately. Lets talk about some of the things that have been pushing Amy over the edge lately, ok? Ok. Lovely. Lets begin...

1) The heat. Enough said.

2) Moving. (In the heat.) Granted, it is only across the apartment complex. And granted, I have 3 weeks to do it (well, now 1.5 weeks). But this has been a huge source of stress and frustration.

3) Work. Super excited for my new job, but my replacement for my old job has not started yet. So, for 4 more weeks, I get to do both jobs. Now everyone is being very kind and not pulling me in too many directions, but the anxiety and stress is building nonetheless.

4) That pesky GRE. I have to take it within the next 4 months. Just hearing those letters makes me want to vomit.

5) Um, more graduate school? Picking schools? Applying? Oh man, am I really putting myself through this again?

6) Family, family, family. Yup.

7) Friends, romance, travel, events, quality time, care packages, letters, emails, phone calls... social butterfly that I am, it is hard to balance everything.

8) My weight! AH! Talked about that earlier, you know the story. I know once I get running again, it will be fine, but still makes me bijiggity.

9) Money. It's the root of all evil today. (Name that song.) 

10) I seem to be losing focus and motivation a lot lately. My gung-ho, enthusiastic, go-get-em mentality has vanished. I seem to be getting lost in the mix of everything...

So that is the quick and dirty, in a nutshell list of things that are getting "in the way" of my training. The stress has turned me into, well, for lack of a better phrase, a psychotic bitch. But now that I have identified the problems, I can do my best to go forward, address each one as it is necessary, and manage everything. Right? Maybe? Possibly? Well... here's to hoping...

Double "YIKES!"

YIKES! #1) Well, I faced the music yesterday. I went back to WW. I had not been since the week before the 1/2 marathon, so it has been nearly 10 weeks. I knew I had gained, I could feel it and see it. And I wasn't too shocked when I stepped on the scale and saw the increase. But let's be honest, no matter how prepared you are... being confronted with failure is never easy. I had taken me 4 months to lose what I had gained back in 2 months- it is scary how easy it is to get out of control and gain. That was the confrontation that I needed to get myself back on track. I am disappointed in myself, and I am determined to get back to where I started. YIKES!

YIKES! #2) My official marathon training schedule starts.... NEXT WEEK! Yowza! I am worried it will be tough to fit in- I am moving, starting a new job, and going out of town. I managed to persevere through road blocks during my 1/2 marathon training, but these things standing in my way next week are much more time consuming. I must focus on time management. I have gotten in a pretty lazy routine lately, and I need to quit it. I knew that training for this marathon was going to be a big mountain to climb and would take up a lot of my time... but, YIKES.

Just a quick FYI...

It... Is... So... HOT.

That is all.

Back in the saddle

I will be completely honest here: the months of May and June, I fell off the wagon completely. I barely ran. I ate horribly. I didn't drink water. I was a lazy, fat bum. And boy oh boy, does it show. Pants are tight again, I feel fluffy and bloated, and I look like crap. Sure, I can blame this on many external things (heat, eating out, job stress, life stress, etc), but the point is IT HAPPENED. So, today is the day, time to end this little joy-ride I've been on for the past 2 months and get back on the wagon.

I haven't been to WW since before the 1/2 marathon. I need to start going weekly again. I am still paying the monthly fee, so I need to get back with it. I love WW; I am a firm believer that it is an amazing lifestyle support system and it can and will produce results. But, just like with any "weight-loss" regimen, you can't just stop doing it once you get to where you want to be. It requires maintenance. It is a life-long process. I am not lucky enough to be one of those people that can just eat whatever, whenever, and keep a killer bod. It requires constant effort and control. So, today, I am jumping back in the saddle. Tracking, counting, portion control, weekly meetings, the whole shebang.

Speaking of maintenance, how 'bout that running? My whole theory of keeping a solid base of about 7-8 miles before my marathon training schedule begins mid-July really kinda didn't happen. At all. I think I ran 8 miles 1 day. I have had a few 3, 4, or 5 mile runs here and there, but nothing close to what I had planned. The heat is horrible. And again, excuses can fly, but the fact is I haven't kept up, and I am not happy with myself for that. I did not anticipate the heat being this big of a factor; I think I was in denial and overly optimistic about it. But, truth be told, it is just not healthy to run in a heat index of 110 degrees. I run at the indoor track with Maureen 1 day a week, but that is not enough. I need to get a water bottle to run with. I need to check out the UTHSC gym. I need to make the most of the treadmills at my apt complex. I can't let the heat get in the way of my training. 

So, today we start over. Put the past 2 months behind me and not let myself get discouraged for my poor health choices. I can do it. And I will.

Happy Anniversary, Memphis!

365 days ago, I moved to this big, hot city by the river. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew only of the rumors and stereotypes of crime and animosity that plague Memphis. I had a job, yes. But I had no friends, no family, and no idea how to even find a grocery store. The move here was very rushed, and I was still unsure if I had made the right decision.

Before I wrote this post, I went back and read through this blog... and I must say, I am really proud of myself. My, how things have changed.

Looking back, I see this move to Memphis as exactly what I needed in my life. I needed to lose that fool. I needed to push the limits of my own personal strength and abilities. I needed to test myself. And most importantly, I needed to FIND myself.

Beyond my journey of self-exploration, I have been blessed with so many spectacular things over the past 8 months:

I befriended Maureen, Kate, and Val- 3 of the most amazing and supportive ladies a girl could ask for.

I have made tons of wonderful friends that have brought many laughs and excitement into my life.

I trained for and completed a 1/2 marathon... and registered for a full marathon!

I lost weight and fine-tuned my health.
I got a tattoo! And I love it!

I strengthened my academics with further graduate courses at U of M.

I received tremendous praise for my exceptional work with my job.

I got an outstanding promotion at work- an opportunity that will prove priceless to my career.

I met Kevin.

I know now that I was meant to come to Memphis. I was meant to face those hardships in order to be rewarded with brilliance.  I can say with confidence now that I am hopelessly grateful for the opportunities that I have been given during my time here. Don't get me wrong- it has been hard... but well worth the fight. I look forward to the next year here, and I am excited for the challenges that lay ahead! I put my faith in the power of the universe, knowing it will provide and guide me in the right direction.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone that has been by my side (both near and far) during this journey. I am grateful to have each and every one of you in my life!

Cheers, Memphis!

"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength." 

[Jackie Kennedy]