Running Into Joy

Ahh, December. The perfect time to start reflecting on the year and thinking about what you hope to achieve in the year ahead. If 2019 has taught me anything, it's that no matter what you plan, life will surprise you. This year feels especially reflective as we come to the end of not only the past year, but the past decade. To be 27 at the end of a decade is a strange sensation. 10 years ago, I was a teenager in high school. In so many ways, that feels like a different lifetime. At 17, I was freshly out of a long, terrible, and tumultuous relationship the after effects of which I would feel well into my 20's. I was getting ready to graduate high school, with the grand adventure of college waiting out there on the horizon. At 27, things feel a bit more nebulous. I've written before about how this stage in life feels strange to me, without a clearly defined length of time in which to accomplish any sort of educational goal. On top of this general existential angst, 2019...

This week, I've been following a new training plan provided by the amazing Kelly Roberts of She Can & She Did and Run, Selfie, Repeat. I never, ever thought I'd be the kind of person to break outside my normal routine of "try to survive running a few miles" but here I am adding speed work and hill repeats. When i saw those two words "hill repeats" on my schedule for Thursday, I strongly considered setting the whole thing aside. Thursday was not a day built perfectly for a new kind of running workout. The First Year Writing class I teach starts at 8:30am, and I had plans to stay over at my boyfriend's place, which meant extra commute time. Not only that, but the forecast was 30 degrees and snowy. As a naturally clumsy person, I avoid running outside with even a hint of ice because I'm convinced I'll hurt myself, majorly. Running up and down a hill? Not a chance. I tried talking myself out of it. Amanda, you'd have to get up so so earl...

This past Thursday was Thanksgiving here in the US. The Turkey Trot race is a growing trend, where people get together to run a race before heading off to their respective holiday feasts. Bonus points seem to be awarded for turkey costumes and/or pumpkin pie shaped hats. I've wanted to do one of these races for a while now, and since I didn't have to travel this Thanksgiving holiday, it was perfect timing. I convinced Andy to race with me, signed up, and prepped for the race.  The training plan I've been following is an 8-week plan designed to work up the strength to run a full 5K. I was about half way into week 6 when race day came, but I woke up feeling strong and decided to give running the full 5K a shot. After all, I had past evidence that it was a distance I could handle, since I ran the Superhero 5K without stopping to walk.  Race morning was a little chilly, but warmer than years past for the Pittsburgh Turkey Trot, so I'm told. Andy and I stayed in the ...