BRICK!

Okay, so today I was a little stupid.

The short story on the shower was that it went well, Jen was surprised, and it cost less than half of what it was going to. But then I found out that my first paycheck isn't til August 25, so I have to take a loan from my parents to float me til then. Ugh. In the last 12 years, I haven't asked them for money, even when things got really bad. But there's no way I can do it without their help right now. And that's a blow to my pride.

But back to how I was stupid today. I took the 6 am ferry home this morning, which put me in Port Jeff at 7:15. However, I was car-less in Port Jeff at 7:15. Loren was going to come pick me up at 9 ~ I didn't want her to get up any earlier than that, it was already wonderful that she was coming to pick me up. So I went to Starbucks and read the paper. That was great ~ nice and relaxing way to start the day.

Then the truck wasn't ready (ok, I was an hour early, but the truck wasn't ready one hour early?) so Loren and I drove around, dropped some stuff off at Goodwill, and went back to pick up the truck at 10. After paperwork and stuff, I was home by 11. And then I can't find my lock. God damn it. Alright, so I'm going to have to go to Home Depot. But I'm working out with Tristan at 2 and I already have to bike there, so I killed some time until 12:30 and then started off to Bally's. Things I learned on that ride ~ 1. The drivers on 25 are not happy about sharing the road with a cyclist. 2. Sidewalks are fun to ride on as a kid, but much less fun when you're an adult (on a road bike nonetheless). 3. Riding home after working out is also not so much fun.

Did my last set of kettlebells with Tristan today. He got some new ones ~ one 25 lb one and two more 20 lb ones. And what I learned from that was that THAT WAS STUPID.

And by that, I mean, who the hell lifts heavier weights BEFORE loading a moving van? Or goes on a 10 mile bike ride? Me, I guess.

I've loaded the van to the point that there's only a few things left in the apartment ~ most of it are things I can't carry by myself. Tristan said he'd help me with that tomorrow. Thank god.

So when that was all done, I had to still run a mile. Jezus Christmas.

July 27: W of the apartment complex
Distance: 1 mile
Feeling: totally, utterly spent

So tomorrow I still have to do a bunch of shit. So I'm going to shower now, go to bed, and get up at 5 or 6 am tomorrow to finish this off. Oh, and I have to clean still too. God damn it.

Too early...

Ugh. Why am I up at 6 am? Oh yeah, that's right, because I went to Loren's block party and didn't go to bed til 1 am and now am getting ready to take the 8 o'clock ferry to CT. Since the day will be crazy and i have no idea what it's going to bring, I decided to run this morning. My plan was 5:45 alarm clock, run and be home before six, shower by 6:30, straighten my hair, head out by 7:15 to be in line for the ferry around 7:30.

That would be, if I set my alarm clock. And turned it on.

My TV woke me up at 5:30, but I rolled over and waited for the alarm clock, in and out of sleep. Then it occured to me that I hadn't heard the alarm. 5:55 on the clock. Damnit. Cause the problem is always that I don't want to get in the shower still sweating ~ that defeats the purpose of showering. Oh well. Went out the door after getting dressed and was greeted by the rain. Damnit.

July 26: Galaxie run
Distance: 1.1 miles
Weather: 73, raining, muggy
Songs: Let it Rock, Who Let the Dogs Out, Follow Me
Feeling: Pretty good. The music was good, the weather crappy.

And now it's almost 6:30, and I'm almost done sweating, so I'll be showering shortly. Am going to work very hard not to yell at my mother today. It'll be nice to see my cousins. And I can't wait to see Jen's face.

Running out of time

My time on Long Island is coming to an end. I'm finally just about done packing (woohoo!) and getting ready to do my run of good-byes. I've got a busy few days ahead of me:

Tonight: Block party at Loren's
Tomorrow: Bridal shower for Jen
Check the self storage places
Monday: Pack the moving van
Last workout with Tristan
Start on those good-byes
Tuesday: Finish those good-byes
Bring van back to Meriden
Unload van
Wednesday: Interview at Einstein
Thursday: Leave for California
Friday: Interview at UC Davis
Saturday: Hang out with Drew
Sunday: Drive to Massena

What a week! Can't wait to keep up my running. Here's today's route:

July 25: Mooney Pond to Evergreen to Sunset
Distance: 1.25 miles
Time: no watch
Songs: Stronger than Yesterday, Lose Yourself, Attitude Dance
Weather: 77 degrees, sunny
Feeling: Felt okay. Was really nice to do something other than pack!

I don't want to go...now that it's time, I don't want to go.

Last Visit to the 'Brook

Today, I went to Stony Brook to get some more boxes from the basement. I'll tell you, what a great place for boxes ~ all shapes and sizes, and no one even blinks an eye when you're taking them out. So I went to visit Swoboda and saw Liz while I was there, and picked up lots of boxes.

I did a pretty good job packing today. I did most of the kitchen (minus the fridge and food cabinet) and most of the bathroom (not that there's not a bunch of things on the floor of the bathroom that need to be packed). I finished filing all my articles in the file cabinets and emptied the linen closet. Haven't reserved a truck or space yet though. Not going to happen tomorrow, that's for sure. Probably Monday or Tuesday. That way, I can drag Tristan for an hour or two to help me load the truck.

Tonight I'm going to go over Vanessa's for beer and wine. So I had to run first.

July 24: Sunset Run
Distance: 1 mile
Time: no watch
Weather: 75 degrees, beautiful out!
Feeling: sore from yesterday's workout with Tristan. Run was okay ~ less aches in my legs, more in my arms.

Ahhh...it's almost over. I've got alot to do still, but seeing people and spending time with them is on that list too. Time to shower and head to Vanessa's!

Good News!

So I didn't actually hear from Jeff about my job in upstate, but I did hear from someone in the office. And I got the best deal I could hope for! I still start on August 3rd, I get the 10th off for my interview in Texas, and now I end on the 19th. So I can fly to my interview in Texas again on the 20th for the 21st from NYC or Hartford (which will definitely be cheaper and easier than Syracuse), I can still play in the football tournament in NYC on the 23rd, I can go to my Virginia interview on the 26th from again a cheaper airport, and I have some days off! And in those 12 days I'm working, that's $7200. Yeah, I'll be fine. I may even treat my mom to a few days in RI ~ actually, that sounds really good. I'm going to have to look into it.

Yesterday, I played pool with Chris Page as my "going away" dinner. Tonight I'm going to watch Tristan's hockey game, and tomorrow I'm hanging out with Eva Swoboda and probably Vanessa too. :) Oh, packing? Yeah, haven't really done that. That's tomorrow ~ all day.

Oh, and I also had the dentist today. My teeth look AWESOME. Happy happy happy.

And this is supposed to be about running.

July 22: Galaxie run before pool with Chris
Distance: 1.1 miles
Feeling: I think when you run the same routes over and over again, you don't think much about the route and instead focus on "oh, my shins hurt, oh my feet hurt, etc"

July 23: Sunset run
Distance: 1 mile
Weather: pouring rain
Feeling: There's something liberating about running in the rain. Great smile on my face at the end of the run. But I'm wet.

Ok, time to shower, time to go watch Tristan play in the playoffs.

Ohio to Michigan

On the road again...just can't wait to be on the road again...

Yeah, right. I guess there's fun things about traveling ~ I like staying in nice hotels (even average hotels are fun). I like exploring new cities and seeing what they have to offer. I love running in new places ~ you run farther without thinking about it.

So what have I run for the last four days?

July 18: From Anita's house to the elementary school and back, with two side jaunts down cul-de-sacs to let my running partner catch his breath.
Running Partner: Spencer (age 10)
Distance: 1.2 miles
Time: 13:05
Feeling: It was fun trying to get Spencer to run with me. He really really wanted to come, so I had him run with me. He started too fast, so I had to run down the cul-de-sacs to give him a chance to breathe. But he did run the complete mile to the school and back, even if he stopped a little.

But that didn't prepare me for the next day.

July 19: To the elementary school and back (no cul-de-sacs)
Running Partner: Spencer
Time of Day: 10 pm
Time: 12:21
Feeling: So this time, Spencer had to keep up with me because it was just plain dark out. So I slowed down my pace until I was comfortable talking easily and had him run at that pace. We did do a negative split (6:15 down, 6:06 back). And he even beat me on the kick back to his house (I sorta let him...but that's okay)

And now, I'm in Detroit.

July 20: From the Holiday Inn, Washington Blvd to Grand Circus Park, back down Woodward Ave and that's where things got tricky. I knew I had to turn at Michigan Ave, but I somehow ran all the way down to Larned, did some round about thing at Fort St until I found Washington Blvd again and made it back to the hotel. So instead of my mile, I probably ran 2.
Distance: ~ 2 miles
Time: 13:05
Feeling: Pretty good, had to laugh about the fact I got lost.

Tomorrow I'll run before my interview, and then hopefully get a stand-by seat on an earlier plane so I get in to NY before 11 pm. Otherwise, I'll be hanging at the airport for a while after the interview. Tonight's another pre-interview dinner, and I should probably get ready.

* * * *

And the update from July 21st...today was the Wayne State interview and I'll admit, there were some things I really liked about the program. There were also some concerns. Pluses and minuses, and it'll all add up on my rank list in the end. So I ran before interview this morning...

July 21: Down Washington to the Park, Down Woodward, Across State, Down to Lafayette and back.
Distance: 1 mile
Time: 6:59 (so I really think I can run under a 7 minute mile...I may have to go to the track and time myself soon)
Feeling: Sorta crunch time ~ trying to get all this in and straighten my hair before the interview. But the run felt good.

So that's been the last four days. Now I'm back on Long Island until this weekend, when I will hopefully have packed everything by Saturday and can move it to storage in CT. Next week are my Einstein and UC Davis interviews. And then, I either go to upstate NY or to Montana. Haven't heard a peep from Jeff about any of this, so I'll have to call him tomorrow.

Flying Again

So tomorrow, I'm off to Detroit, where Kristin will pick me up and we'll head to Toledo to see Anita, Sarah, Spencer and Anita's pregnant belly. :)

I've got my prescription for Zofran, courtesy of Nikole. I've packed my computer bag, except for my computer. I picked up my dry cleaned suit, but I haven't packed that bag yet. Gotta cram everything into my small suitcase because Northwest makes you pay for bags, including your first bag. Which means I have to lug my stuff through the airport. Luckily, it's less than a 2 hour flight.

So tonight, I debated a few things. Run right before midnight, cross midnight, and run tomorrow's mile. Or run at dusk tonight and run tomorrow in Ohio or Michigan. Or wait for the thunderstorms that are supposed to come and run in the rain. I decided to run at dusk, and let Kristin know to pack running shoes so she'll come run the mile with me tomorrow.

July 17: Galaxie run
Weather: 73, cloudy, humid, rain is threatening but never materialized
Distance: 1.1 miles
Songs: Let's Rock, It's All Been Done, Don't Stop the Music
Feeling: Ok. Some sore twinges here and there, and my hamstrings are still sore from Tristan's workout the other day, but overall okay.

Next stop, Detroit. Then NYC for Einstein, then Cali for UC Davis, then hopefully off to my job...

Ow Ow Ow...

Yesterday was a gym day with Tristan - did a really heavy kettlebell workout and knew I was going to be sore. I ran at twilight because yesterday was hot.

July 15: Sunset Run, easy
Distance: 1+ mile
Time: 9:15
Feeling: Ok. Shins were a little sore.

Woke up this morning and ow ow ow. My neck, my back and a little of my arms. Ow.

July 16: Galaxie Run, even easier
Weather: 73, sunny, feels like 73 (I thought it felt warmer)
Distance: 1.1 miles
Feeling: Sore. Makes me stay with better posture, since better posture makes it hurt less.

Today, I have to get back to packing the apartment. I think I'm going to shower and head to Starbucks to write some thank you notes and then head home for more packing. Going to attack the bedroom today.

Baby Steps in Cleveland

So on Sunday I flew to Cleveland for my Clinic interview on Monday. So I ran there. And the same on Monday and this morning, too.

July 12: Out of hotel at 100th, down Carneige to 89th, right on 89th, right onto Euclid, down to 100th, right on 100th and back to the hotel.
Distance: 1 mile

July 13: Same
Timed: 8:02

July 14: Same

So I was reading Runners World on the plane, and they made a comment about how when you get tired running, you tend to lengthen your stride when you should actually aim to shorten it for a faster turnover. So I tried that a litte in my second half of the mile. Seems like it might work. And the baby steps were also what I needed interviewing in Cleveland. Big interview, big time people. Gotta start working on those thank you cards...

Running WITH Tristan

So, usually when we work out, Tristan just watches me. Today, we ran together. Course, he forgot to tell me that weren't working out at Bally's and instead at a local high school about 25 minutes from Bally's. Whoops.

So I missed the beginning of the workout, but it was time to run when I got there. So we ran one loop of the nature trail (about 1 mile) and then down to the track, bleacher steps, and a lap of the track. We did that twice.

First around: 8:38 nature trail
Bleachers/Track: 3:24

The second time, Tristan and I decided to race, shooting for under 7.

Second around: 6:39 nature trail
Bleachers/Track: 3:30
A little more running for Beth and Katie to catch up: 4:07

Total time: 26:29
Total distance: 2 3/4 mile (or more)

So maybe I ran a sub-7 minute mile. Though Tristan wasn't sure the true distance....I did see a 3/4 mile marker and it was 4:50 at that point, so I could have absolutely run a sub-7 minute mile. Huh. I broke 7 minutes. Wow. :)

Stupid Laptop

Last few days...

July 8: Sunset run backwards
July 9: Galaxie run
July 10: Sunset run
All distances: 1-1.2 miles

So my laptop is on the fritz. Well, actually not the laptop, seems just the power cord. I ordered another one yesterday on Ebay but it probably won't be here until next week. So this morning, when I woke up to print my Southwest tickets, the cord decided to charge my laptop again, so I'm afraid to move it from my lap. Hence why I'm updating my blog before I've even run today. I'm gymin' it with Tristan at 2 pm, and he told me we'd run at least a mile today so not to run before the gym. And it's supposed to be nice in the daytime, thunderstorms at night, so I'm game for running then.

Yesterday was my Downstate interview ~ I think it went well. They seem to think I will be getting a fellowship and really seemed to spend more time trying to convince me to come to Downstate. We'll see what Cleveland Clinic has to offer on Monday.

Love the Gym with Tristan

I really am going to miss Tristan. I've been working out with him for a year and a half, and he's become a close friend. Today, we played with kettlebells outside Bally's again. One day coming up, we're going to have to sit down and devise a workout schedule ~ as well as write down all the kettlebell drills, 'cause god knows I'm going to forget them.

Anyhow, this is supposed to be about running...

July 6: Sunset Run
Distance: 1 mile
Feeling: Sore hamstrings still

July 7: Galaxie Run
Distance: 1.1 miles
Feeling: Nice and easy, a few hours after kettlebells

So I started packing up my apartment today. Gotta get some boxes from Stony Brook, probably tomorrow when I stop by Terry's to pick up my graduation pictures. And my first interview is Friday, so I have to start doing some Downstate research. Oh, and finish my reservations for Cleveland Clinic...yeah. Lots to do.

Fireflies

July 4: Ran at Bally's outside
Distance: 1.1 miles
Time: 8:14
Feeling: Good warmup to a workout with Tristan. Then an even better beach day with Loren after.

July 5: Galaxie Run
Distance: 1.1 miles
Time: 4:21 to Galaxie, 4:05 around Galaxie, 1:03 to home. Then a 5 minute walk around cool down.
Total run: 9:29
Feeling: Sore hamstrings today. So I decided to "run slower" ~ that was, until Let's Get It Started came on the ipod. Ok, I'll admit, I searched for it, but that definitely picked up my pace down to Galaxie.

When I came home, during my cool down walk, I saw the fireflies again. I've seen them the last few nights since I've been home from Montana. They always bring back memories of being a kid and trying to catch them in the backyard with my brother and Harmony and Charity from down the street. All in all, looking back, it was a pretty good childhood. The fireflies will always make me smile. I wonder if we'll have them in Montana.

180 days to go...

July 2: Hotel to Holy Rosary, around the 1.3 Walk of Wellness, and back
Distance: 2.3 miles
Time: 17:30
Feeling: Good! Gotta up these miles.

July 3: Galaxie Run
Distance: 1.1 miles
Time: no watch
Feeling: Just had to get it done today.

So I love the Miles City people ~ I can't wait to go back there for my extended stay. I only wish I didn't have to do the August upstate NY gig. I'm going to talk to Jeff on Monday to see if I can get out of it. My Montana license came through today, which means it's just a matter of credentials and then I can start. I'd really love to start right away.

Mornings in Montana

Hmmm....running in the morning is much better.

July 1: To the furniture store and back.
Distance: 1 mile
Time: This time, I forgot to set my watch on the way there. It was 3:33 on the way back. So probably ~ 7:30
Weather: 65 degrees, partly cloudy
Feeling: Much better, temperature wise.

As I was running, I was thinking that the nickname for Montana was "Big Sky" and I can totally understand why. The sky seems huge and is very beautiful. And hilly out the outside of town, but fairly flat in the town itself ~ which I love for running. I could probably start boosting the miles if I lived here.

Can I really come here to practice though? Don't know. We'll have to see how today goes!