Stop.

Stop succumbing to physical pain and listen to your head.

Stop being a pansy.

As I was on my run today, I was mumbling these thoughts as I had to stop quite frequently during my run. I would like to say it was because I wasn't as hydrated as I should have been, but then I can't blame anyone else for my laziness. Slowly, but steadily, I will get back to (and surpass) the form I was in last year and get back down to 155 lbs.

The countdown continues...

4.2 miles today...

160 days...

Rain.

Running in the rain. Simplistic. Rugged. Euphoric. I went out on my run today and immediately began to feel water land on my jacket and head. I miss running on the westside because of this. On the eastside, its either really hot or really cold, but in Puyallup, it's a comfortable medium.

My run today consisted of a mile WM, then some hill sprints, then a long-ish cooldown. I felt strangely comfortable during my WM mile (6:59), which is the fastest I have ran a mile in quite some time. My hill sprints brought me back to my HS days during XC practice, running up the hill by my high school, driving my knees with every explosive bound. My cool-down reminded me of my sophomore year of college, when we would run 2-3 mile cooldowns to ensure that all of the lactic acid has been flushed from our throbbing legs during an intense workout.

My countdown continues...

3.5 miles today

161 days...

Obtuse.

Looking ahead on the trail, while making sure my footing is sound with each stride I take, I glide through the woods as if nothing was in my way. At least, that is what I imagined myself to be doing. In actual reality, I looked like a huffing and puffing, shirtless guy struggling to run. As I mentioned in my last post, I have not ran in at least a month (that is if you don't count me running to the bars from Amanda's house in jeans and Vans, 1.25 miles surprisingly!). Nonetheless, I decided to go out and try and get back into it. I always feel slightly guilty when people call me a "runner" because I had not been running all quarter.

Starting today, I will promise myself to run everyday. I will promise to take of my body the way I am suppose to, such as eliminating fast food, limiting my alcohol consumption, etc. I have my goals and I have my tools. All I have to do is build it.

Countdown to XC season...

August 26th, 2013.

163 days...

Spring Break.

Today is my first official day of Spring Break vacation! I feel like this quarter has brought a combination of realization and assurance into my life, within the occasional hurdle here and there. Over the past few days, I have been contemplating about my future career plans, resulting in an eventual switch from my prior major/career path (Education) to Pharmacy. I think that my decision to switch majors was due to my interest in pharmacology/medicine.

Because of this, I have decided that I want to attend graduate school (Either Master's or PhD, depending on which type of program I get into). I am going to apply to multiple programs and evaluate my options from there. I plan on staying in-state. If I do not gain acceptance into a PhD program, I would most likely obtain my Master's from either CWU (my current school) or WSU. I haven't told my family about my most recent choice in attending graduate school, but I think that if I get provided financial support, they would support me in my decision (at least, I can hope for that).

In addition to my graduate school information seeking process, I desperately need to start running again. I barely ran all quarter and I think it was due to my lack of afternoon availability. My spring schedule has all, but one, of my afternoons open, which I will use to get in regular/consistent training for my marathon that I am doing at the end of June. I plan on running the race with my friend Kyle, the same guy I ran the half-marathon with last June (See Rock and Roll post for details about that race).

Nonetheless, I am excited for the conclusion of this year. I am slowly getting ready to enter the "real world," which both excites and partially frightens me. I am privileged that I have great friends, amazing family, and the opportunity that I can do whatever I set my goals to (within reason that is).

But for now, I am going to enjoy my time off!!!

See y'all later!!!