Back in the Saddle Again

This week I started my training for a fall marathon.  It will be my second and I'm hoping to make a much better showing than my first.  I have used self-motified versions of Hal Higgdon's training before for both the half and full marathons, but this time I decided to switch it up.

Me after the Nike Womens' Marathon, San Francisco (Oct. 2009)*

* Note the super HOT knee brace I was sporting for the race!

The daily email I get from Runner's World yesterday included a link to training programs for beginners, intermediate level and advanced marathon runners.  I am VERY much in the beginner's arena still so I'm going with that.

My only complaint so far is that the "rest" days include an instruction to really rest.  They say that "active rest" is not really resting.  My issue with that is doesn't cross-training help marathon runners.  Coming off a (somewhat mild) injury during my last marathon training and race, I need all the help I can get to avoid my knee problem flaring up.

So, as far as "rest" days go, I'm pretty much going to let it be my call whether they are "active" or not.  Sorry RW.  I'll let you know how it goes.  :)

What's on the tube?

I never understand when people say they don't watch much t.v.  I have been watching television, and I mean a lot of it, for as long as I can remember.  When I was 5 my parents taught me to make cereal for myself so I wouldn't wake them up at 4:30 a.m. or whatever crazy time I was waking then.  They awoke one Saturday morning to their 5 yr-old watching a Woody Allen movie.

(via techdigest.tv)

My taste in programming is pretty diverse.  I indulge in the Real Housewives drama (although NJ is by far better than all others in my book) along with many other reality t.v. shows (READ: Kell on Earth, Top Chef, etc.).  But I also love sarcastic/dry comedies too.  My favorite is of course THE OFFICE!  Good luck ever trying to talk about an episode in my presence without me talking over you and quoting it!  *Yeah, I'm that girl!*

(via tvmedia.ign.com)

I even like a good true crime show or documentary.*  All this to say, I don't see what the big deal is about Americans watching a lot of t.v.  True, a lot of people substitute television time for family time or exercise, but my husband and I love watching "our shows" together.  We only have one t.v. so we don't have much choice on the matter anyway.

And as far as exercise, the tube ain't what is keeping you from the gym.  You decided not to go there on you way home from work, or to sleep in this morning or to eat a long lunch instead of fitting in a quick workout.  Heck, I would love to workout in front of the t.v. if my husband would just get us a treadmill (hint hint!).

(via picturesofpeoplerunning.com [i.e. this is clearly NOT me; that lady is hotter, has bigger boobs, and I don't run with my hands taped up like I'm boxing??!?])

So let's all just sit back, relax and watch a little t.v. tonight without the guilt, shall we?


*If you aren't watching The Pacific on HBO you are missing out!

"Television: chewing gum for the eyes."  - Frank Lloyd Wright

Runnin' runnin' runnin'

Heyohhhhh!  What have I been up to lately??

Not much but runnin', runnin', runnin'.  I'm training for another marathon this fall.  I'd like for it to be sooner but I have a lot of miles to put in until I'm ready for 26.2 again.  Plus, living in the deep south, there aren't that many distance runs between early spring and late fall.  It will be like 99% humidity and 96 degrees here in no time (at least that's what I tell myself since it's supposedly spring but we're suffering through a cold front).

So the marathon I've tentatively picked in San Antonio in November.  I've never been there so we could make a vacation out of it kind of like we did with my San Francisco marathon last October.  I just hope I can produce better results than that one.  It was a dismal showing on my part.

On the career front, I talked to an admissions person at a local culinary school today. I know.  I'm all over the board on what-the-frick-to-do-with-my-life options.  I'm really intrigued by the idea of culinary school though.  It wouldn't take long (9-21 months depending on the program) and I wouldn't be stuck at a desk all day.  I mean, a lot of my favorite things revolve around food and I not just consuming it!  I will watch almost any cooking show.  I love to look at recipes and sites with beautiful pictures (ahem, Pioneer Woman)!

I guess the drawbacks would be 1) money.  I'll never make the kind of money being a chef that I would being an attorney unless I become a restauranteur (SCARY), but money can't buy happiness, right? 2) The hours can suck!  That's mainly if you're working in a kitchen at a restaurant, hotel, etc.  I realize there are other options like catering, which is more flexible albeit mostly on the weekends.

So who knows?  I just want to find my niche, be generally happy.  The things everyone else is looking for I guess.

"Welcome to the Church of the Holy Cabbage.  Lettuce Pray."  - Author Unknown

What if?

I haven't mentioned this yet, but I am a runner.  I completed (just barely) my first marathon last October and have done 3 half marathons in the last four years.  There have been some 5 and 10 Ks in between there too.  I've just signed up for another half in June.  Here's my problem though: as much as I love to run and love the feeling of accomplishment at finishing a big race I am a lazy runner.  Or maybe it would be better described as a lazy trainer.  You see, I have run almost every race with minimal training.  I'm not bragging here because I think it is a flaw of mine.  The first marathon I signed up for was during law school.  I had no idea the time the training for a full marathon would take and ended up just doing a half marathon and not training for that one fully because of exams, schedules, and just because I got lazy toward the end.  I think that sparked something in my procrastinating side.  Since then, every race I sign up for I have every intention to fully prepare.  I schedule out the runs on calendars and synch it with my phone so I'll always have it with me.  I get all the latest gadgets to plan my runs, keep up with my time and distance. I mark off the runs I've completed to write down how I modified my schedule. 

But eventually things come up.  A weekend trip gets planned that doesn't include running (not that it can't, it just doesn't end up happening) and I miss a long run.  No problem.  I'll catch up with the schedule next week.  Eventually all my plans go awry, but I still show up and run, certainly not the standard I would ultimately hope, but I've always finished (and with respectable times for the most part).

The point of all this drivel is that I started thinking about what would happen if I ran every day.  What if I made a goal for myself to run some distance every single day whether it fit with a specific schedule or not.  Surely I could do a mile on an off day even in this ridiculously wintery winter we're having in the South this year.  I mean, a mile doesn't even take 10 minutes.  I'm not saying I've committed to the idea yet completely, but I'm thinking about it.  Pros and cons, wondering if it wouldn't help me toward my goal of reaching a starting line fully prepared instead of wanting to "just finish" or "not walk."  Maybe I will do it.  I'll let you know...

Indecision

So I'm an attorney and like a lot of attorneys I know I don't like it so much.  Thus the question: what am I going to do about it?

I've been considering going back to school for a while now and not just like get-my-masters kind of school.  More like go-to-school-for-ten-years-to-be-something-totally-new school.  Obviously that's kind of a big decision (gosh, I'm all about this deep analysis at 5:00 a.m., huh?).  So I've decided to make a list here on the internet for my own purposes (mostly) to help aid my decision.

Pros (for 10-year-school-option):

• Work toward a career I enjoy and find fulfilling (not just a job that I dread going to everyday)
• Although I would be adding significantly to my husband's and my student loan situation -- 10-year-school has pretty good pay in most instances.  In fact, I would ultimately make more in that career than I ever will as an attorney b/c I'm not a big firm, big billable hours kind of girl.
• I LOVE school.  I know I am revealing my inner nerd here, but I love taking notes and organizing them and planning a school schedule and I don't mind taking tests that much either (except for the Bar Exam, that blew)
• I've always been into physical fitness (although the size of my ass right now might suggest differently, but it's winter BACK OFF!) and the type of new career I am interested in has options with physical aspects.  Wouldn't it be nice to exercise your brain and brawn in a day's work?

Cons

• Money.  Although this might not make me sound to endearing to some, my husband and I make good money and have a lifestyle we've come to enjoy in our time as attorneys.  We have a nice house (not big, but not too small) and two dogs (aka "The Buddies) that seem to need a $200 vet visit about once a month or so.  I like to shop (a lot).  I mean, I can't say I shouldn't go back to school because I like to online shop at Old Navy, but I realize little things like that would have to change (for a LONG time). 
• I've already gone to school for 7 years post high school graduation.   And truthfully, part of me feels irresponsible for investing so much time (and money) into one goal only to reject it three years in.
• Time.  This is a con on two levels.  (1) I am 27 (yikes, I just typed 28?!; why am I trying to age myself on my own blog?) and 10 years of school from now is a little late to been starting a new career fresh out of school right?  (2) The life of a student (with studying, tests, breaks, etc.) is very different than a life of a working attorney.  I have reservations about taking away time I spend with my husband and The Buddies for a totally different life as a student.

So, obviously this list isn't a complete one, but it gets the ball rolling I guess.  What makes me think about it is that I've always been one of those "No day but today" people.  And the thought of keep on keepin' on with this attorney thing for the rest of my working life is too depressing for words.  Who knows?

Good or bad I've done it...

After spending much time reading blogs, I've decided to take the plunge.  Hopefully a few people will find it interesting (after today; this one is already kind of boring)!  If nothing else it will be a creative outlet for me that I so desperately need these days.  Check back soon and I promise to slowly, but surely make my blog look less bushleague!