Apparantly what I needed to improve my pace was to complain about it. Today, I ran an average of about 30 seconds less per mile than I have been.
In related news, it was really cold and windy, and my hands were pretty much just finger-cicles, and so some of my speed may have been derived from the urge to get back to shelter and warmth.
Have I told you that Seth and I found an apartment? Yeah. We’ll move in around mid-April. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow.
Hey, I’m bite-free!
I know you were just sitting on the edge of your chair, hitting refresh every 10 seconds, waiting to hear if I was okay. Rest easy, okay? I’m fine.
The job is good. It’s a new experience, and so somethings are still weird, but overall, it’s good. I’ve got another interview for a second job scheduled for Monday - it’s one I’d really like, so send the good mojo my way Monday afternoon between 4 and 5 central time. More details on that when I know more myself, as I’d hate to jinx it!
Oh, okay, so I’m running again. (Wooooo!!!!!) My times are fairly slow, and it frustrates me mostly because they’re a bit slower than they were last summer before I left for Taiwan. Of course, back then I did the Couch to 5k before I started in with Hal Higdon’s Spring Training, and this time I just jumped in with the spring training, but still. I want my old times back now, please. But, of course, my legs have other thoughts - not getting injured, perhaps - and insist on going a bit slower. I know it’ll get better, and as it warms up, I’ll be able to start running in the mornings before work (and before eating!), which I vastly prefer to running in the afternoon or evening. In the past, afternoon runs always seemed slower, as if the day’s work (or was it the day’s food?) was slowing me down. It’s okay though. I’ll keep going, and I’ll improve, and I’ll be healthier and happier for it, right? Plus, I’ve got myself a few long-distance training partners to keep me on my toes, pushing me to greater and greater distances. Tomorrow may only be 3 miles, but this fall? Marathon, baby.
Oh, yeah. It’s on.
…although it might seem like I was, since it’s been forever since I posted.
Life has been sort of nuts, what with looking for cars, getting a car, looking for jobs, getting jobs, visiting friends and family, and who knows what else I’m forgetting.
I’m off to my new job this morning. I found a para position in an elementary school in the same district my parents teach in (nepotism is a wonderful thing when it works for you). It’s a special ed. position, so that should be interesting. I’ve never done special education, and it’s a little worrisome. I’m not entirely comfortable with it, but I’ve been told over and over that I’ll be fine and it’s not as scary as I think it might be. And then, Seth tells me what to do if I get bitten. Yeah. That inspires confidence.
*new to us, of course.
Actually, fairly newer than we expected to get anytime soon. It’s an ‘02 Intrepid, and it looks pretty nice. We’ll be getting it in the morning.
*not actually new, it’s a job I had for six or seven years, until two years ago, but I had new employee orientation today.
Today, I did many things. I got up early and read the newspaper. I made breakfast. I bought a new nike+ kit since my first sensor died. I ran. I applied for a job. Also, Lindsay and I went to Chipotle for lunch. It was tasty. You can see the photographic evidence here: Lunch at Chipotle
Oh my. This is so boring. Tomorrow, perhaps, I’ll write a better post. It might be fictional, though. You’d be okay with that, right? Let me know.
For the last few days, we’ve been driving around in a Cadillac. It’s a nice enough ride, but since the rear passenger-side tire looses air as fast as, I dunno, something fast, and it can only take premium, so-expensive-it’s-almost-amusing-but-not-really-funny-at-all gas, we’d like to find something a little more economical. Or, at the very least, something a little more ours, instead of my parents’. Our budget is very, very small, and so it was a little dishearting to see the prices of cars right now. Even in the crappier parts of town, where you can usually find near-junkers at the scary little auto lots - the sort with names like Bob’s A+ Autos or Mike’s Motors - we couldn’t find anything in our price range.
Sigh.
I’m sure we’ll find something. It may not be nice, and it may not be anything I actually want to drive, but it’ll get us around until we have established ourselves a bit more and can more easily saddle ourselves down with a nice, heavy car loan so I can get a nice, comfy, safe, and boring little car, like my old Corolla.
In the mean time, I guess I can run wherever I need to go. That’d be good exercise. Might be a little difficult, of course. But, hey, I can do it - I did 3 miles today. Now, sure 3 miles isn’t a lot, maybe, but considering it’s only my second run since getting back, I’m feeling pretty good about it. Go me!
It snowed today. What’s up with that?
Well. Today, for the second day in a row, I took a nap. Stupid jet lag.
Also, I didn’t run today, as I waited until late in the day, planning to run with a group that they told me started at 5:45 from the local running shop. Sounds good, except I was the only one who showed up. “No one runs alone,” they told me, which, as it turns out, was true. After waiting around for 15 minutes I gave up, and by the time I picked up Seth from Barnes & Noble where he was waiting for me, it was dark and cold, and I don’t really have clothes appropriate for running in the dark and cold. And tomorrow it’s supposed to be really, really cold. I’m thinking maybe I need to investigate membership fees at the local Y.
Have you seen this one already? If not, go ahead and take the minute and a half and enjoy.