The Demise of Cross Country, One Cough and A Few Bland Essays

There's nothing more enjoyable to me than running.

That's a complete lie.

There are many things that are much more enjoyable.

However, none so dear.

Because of the massive amounts of time cross country was taking up, I felt obligated to drop it, merely to continue my life in a not-as-stressed fashion.

I cried for many hours over it.

I still run.

I wish I could run with the team.

One benefit, however, is that I now can do "fun-runs," or city sponsored 5ks without getting kicked off the team. I know, it's ridiculous, but whilst on the school team we weren't allowed to participate in any races that weren't school approved. Heaven forbid someone bring something illicit, to a group of aspiring athletes. Well.... On second thought, if an Olympic athlete does, who knows about a bunch of us....

Anywho, I've developed a cough in the last two weeks. Has it been that long since I've blogged? Holy smokes. Just about. In any case, it's driven me CRAZY! It didn't even have any substance until a few days ago, when my lungs finally relinquished their phlegmy prisoners. Quite disgusting. Now I not only have a raw pharynx, but I'm also lung-booger-coating it in addition. Attractive. I know.

In other news, I've needed to write a few essays for my English class. Ironically, they incorporated blogging. Not so ironically, they really suck. HELP! I KNOW I'M NOT A GOOD WRITER! HOW CAN I IMPROVE?!

Feel free to hit me up with any advice you want to throw at me. {: AND DON'T MAKE IT GENTLE! I want hard, sound, logical advice. :D Cheers!

Silverwood, 5ks and Chocolate Cake

Wow!

That's pretty much it.

Just kidding. {: You've missed me too much for me to only share that.

No really. I went to northern Idaho this weekend with my xc team. Holy cow! A bunch of running junkies crammed into a bus for 9 hours is NOT! the happiest ride I've ever taken! So much for doing my homework on the bus.... :D Anywho, the race we ran was in Silverwood theme park. We camped [quite literally] at the campgrounds across from the park, and the next morning ran behind the park in the weird terrain of it. No, we didn't get to run through the park proper. We just played in it after the race....

I have to admit. I'm almost proud of the time I ran this particular 5k in. It was a really great race course. I don't know if it was the course, or the fact that I kept my smiles and thumbs in, but I shaved 4 minutes off my 30:24 down to a 26:35. PSYCHE! Who knew I could ever run a 5k in such a time? My goal is to get it below 25, at least, if not lower. However, I'm still aware that it's ridiculously slow. BUT! I'm still excited. {: Hooray! Might I add that the number one of the varsisty girls ran it in 18:05. CRAZY! I watched her for the majority of the race, and she was about 12 yards in front of the second the entire time. She was amazing. P.S. I'm on JV. But not for long.

Happily, for dinner we were all supposed to dress funky. Of course I pulled out my green vinyl miniskirt, lumberjack t-shirt, boyscout shirt, red vinyl belt, red converse, fishnets, tube socks, and FANGS! You heard me. Unfortunately, I forgot my sill hat.... Sad day! It was a great night regardless. Perhaps I'll steal pictures from the facebook xc site. Haha.... I'm so resourceful....

Ironically, on the bus ride home today my good friend and I bought chocolate cake. How runner-ish of us. It was one instance where I would have gladly taken a glass of skim milk. Yes. You just heard me say that. Chocolate cake and PB&A zammiches are pretty much the only exception to my loathing of milk. :D Love me.... Anywho, I'd best go de-carb somehow other than running. Maybe I'll just amp on protein. HA! There's a novel idea. {: I've missed you guys.... Cheers!

Sleep, Homecoming and Birds

Seeing as school has started again [um yeah, pretty much a week ago....], I'm not surprised that my sleep has been reduced from the already too little before it started. Oh well. So if you catch me snoozing once I sit down, that's likely why.

While I thought that I stretched adequately post race on Friday, I've discovered [in the most uncomfortable manner] that I did not. Note to self: Stretch until you almost break, then stretch some more. You'll feel better. The next day.

Recently, I learned that our Homecoming dance is on the same weekend as one of our big races. Great. Two things I love. Formals and races. How am I to choose? Awkwardly, I decided to go to Homecoming. Because I had that lined up, I was sorely disappointed to be informed that it happens to also be the same weekend as my brother's wedding in LA. SAD DAY! I was so looking forward to Homecoming! Now I'm missing it twice; one for the race, the second for the wedding. I'm inclined to not go, simply so I can stay home and go to the dance. Seriously. They all got to experience their homecomings. And yet I won't. Sob story.

Outside my window the cacophony of birds is unnerving. I suppose I'll be out to straighten my hair and go on a picknic with my other half. I love him.... {: Cheers!

School, Work and Races

Well, I suppose now that school is in session I have a legit excuse to not be blogging so much. It's not that I'm out doing blog worthy things, unless you love reading about the monotony of homework. Hey, if that's your fancy, more power to you. The world needs more geeks like you. [; No really. It's more that I'm out doing homework, and running, and working, and not having enough time to see my other half. It's tragic really. Before school started up again we were spending the majority of time together, quite happily. Now that I'm away most of the time, life is ridiculously lonely. That's not to say I don't have enough to do without him, but I'd prefer to be with him than what I'm currently doing. I.E. The next five months. This could be long.

Happily, I have the most amazing employers, who are completely willing to work with my insane schedule, comprised specifically of school and cross country. In reciprocating, I've opted to take a work release class to where I'm available at 1:00 p.m., instead of the typical 3:00 p.m. when school usually gets out. However, because of xc, I'm available only from 1-3, and 6-8. I know, it's odd. The best part about this situation is after xc is over, I'll be available from 1-8 consecutively if they want me. Hooray!

Yesterday was the first 5k I've done in my entire life. While the time wasn't magnificent, I was completely proud of myself for a. not stopping at any point, b. maintaining a steady+fast pace the entirety of it, and c. even passing a few chickas. Mostly, I'm amazed that it was so fun. However, my joy was soon broken when after I finished a number of people [coaches and members alike] commented how I wasn't taking it seriously enough, because I was smiling almost the entire time. I'm aware that I shouldn't take it so personally, but to be immediately cut after feeling so accomplished and moving my trash out for the last 3.1 miles was a bit more disheartening than I expected. Also, I knew my parents wouldn't be there, which was completely understandable, but once the race was over and I saw most of the other kids with their rents so proud of them my heart sank a little more. I suppose now I'm just whining. Initially I considered dropping the team. But I've trained so hard to just quit. I couldn't rationalize it. I still can't. But I don't particularly want to be part of a team that doesn't even smile. Input anyone?

I suppose now I'm out to shower for work. I just got back about ten minutes ago from another run. I now understand why people think distance runners are crazy. Because they are. Who runs a 5k and then less than 8 hours later go run another 45 minutes? Cheers.