I give up...

I can't take it anymore.


I just turned the heat on.

On training

I am running the Philadelphia Half Marathon in November, right before Thanksgiving.

I have started my training for this event and due to circumstances...I've already missed a run. My concussion meant I couldn't run the beginning of the week, so I missed 4 on Tuesday. I walked that far instead and did get in a 2.5 (scheduled 2) on Thursday. I have 7 on my schedule today, which, at the moment, I couldn't feel less like doing.

Because I'm not interested in running them right now, I'm not going to run an out and back or full loop. Most people would do that because it would force them to complete the distance. I am contrary in so many ways to the norm when it comes to running and this is one of those times. Instead, I will run shorter loops in the cemetery to complete my 7. I find comfort in knowing home is just a half mile away and also, running the same loop over and over makes it mindless for me. I just have to run...I don't have to think about what's coming up next.

Have I mentioned I don't like change? I don't like change...it manifests itself in so many ways in my life and this is just another example. People tell me all the time, when running is getting to be a chore, change it up, do a different route, etc...for me, I'd rather run the same route every time, knowing exactly where the hills are, what I will see, what to expect. I also tend to listen to the same playlist for months on end...I'll even repeat songs multiple times if I like them and they are fitting my mood.

So running a loop multiple times is a good option today. Don't get me wrong, I don't intend to run anything 23 times...but I will run over to the cemetery, then run my usual 2 miles then work my way back to run my 1 mile loop and then after 4 or 5 times around, work my way home. It'll be perfect.

I take comfort in patterns and routines and this will help today since I am in no mood to run anything right now. But run I will.

I will post my new training schedule once my coach confirms a couple of changes I've made to it. I added a short run to the schedule...he had be running just 3 runs a week ("quality runs") but I felt better training for RTB than I have at any other time and I suspect running 5-6 times a week really helped keep my legs loose. Once he gets back to me, I'll post it here. That'll keep me honest. ;)

it's been a while

and so much has happened. Nothing earth shattering I guess, but big things in my life.

RTB was amazing. Hard, funny, fun, scary, challenging, inspiring, embarrassing...I would do it again in a minute.

Work, well, work has changed. I've alluded to issues there. There is now resolution on that front, but not before I had to fire someone. Let me tell you, that was not a fun day. I've also been demoted, sort of. I wanted it this way, and I now report a colleague I like, trust and think is the right person for me to work with, but it's still hard to give up the responsibility I was given. I do feel like I've failed even if I requested this change. I move out of my office on Monday.

The biggest news is that my mother's cancer appears to have disappeared. Yes, this is good news. Of course it is. But I am not putting all my eggs in the hope basket yet. We found this out recently when my mother had her scans done after she got out of the hospital because of the horrific reaction to had to the chemo she was on. Her doc wanted to get her into another, a different clinical trial, and they ran her scans to get her baseline for the study. He called her a few days later to let her know they declined her for the study...because there was no evidence of cancer on her scans. We're all shocked. We don't know what to think. More waiting and watching...and in the meantime she is still on the horrific chemo that made her so sick, but in a different dosage.

Roberto did well at Open Studios last weekend, even if the weather was rainy and dreary. He always does well so I wasn't surprised.

Two weeks ago, I tripped while running and skinned my knuckles and my knee pretty badly. They're still healing.

Last week, I went to enter our cellar, through our half-sized exterior cellar door, and banged my head so badly, I caused myself a minor concussion. I ended up getting a CT scan on Monday (all clear) and took two days off work (first time I've ever called in sick at my new job.)

Fall's off to an interesting start.