Wow, I guess it's been a (very long) while since my last post. I've wanted to start back so many times, but... well obviously that didn't happen... until now! Woo hoo!
A lot has changed, but a lot has stayed the same. I'm still working at DeVry, but in a new, less stressful position, still head-over-heels in love 1 year later. Expect more on the anniversary in another post, but here's a sneak peek:
New news: I have high cholesterol... at 24-years-old! This news freaked me out more than almost anything else in my life, so more news - I've decided to run a marathon. I guess crazy medical news will make you do crazy things.
I actually started running about a year ago just because I realized my lifestyle was pretty sedentary and I should probably do something if I didn't want to gain 3-5 pounds per year or give up ice cream forever. I literally googled running for people who hate running and came across the
Couch to 5K running plan. On this plan, you start by running 30 seconds at a time, walking for a minute, and repeating that pattern for 10 or 15 minutes. You can do anything for 30 seconds, right? Then over the next few weeks, they bump you up to running for a minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes... until one day you run 3 miles! Straight! It's like magic! Or building endurance...whatever.
Here's how it happened:
A few weeks ago I was feeling really proud of myself on the health front going into my annual check-up. I'd been running pretty regularly 3 days a week, eating oatmeal and turkey sandwiches on whole wheat bread everyday, and cooking most dinners at home. So when the doctor dropped the high-cholesterol bomb and started talking about diabetes and stuff, I was pretty shocked. Then she told me I need to lose 30 pounds. (by the way, 30 pounds ago, I was in the 5th grade. Everybody wants the body of a 10-year-old, right?) Regardless of thinking my doctor was taking the BMI chart a little too seriously, the term "diabetes" scared me so badly that I decided I needed to step up my cardio.
The Chicago Marathon also just happened to be around this time, and if you've never watched a live marathon, you should because it's one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen. I'd actually been toying with the marathon idea since last year's marathon literately made me teary-eyed. Unfortunately, to train with a group, you have to fundraise a bunch of money, and I think I've pretty well tapped my asking-people-for-money-so-I can-do-cool-stuff-for-good-causes resources, but I researched training groups anyway. As it turns out, Team World Vision (an organization I really like who feeds Children in Africa) doesn't have a fundraising minimum! I can make a personal contribution, spread the word, but no pressure.
And then I decided to run a marathon...someday. First things first. I knew before I could run 26.2 miles, I'd have to get past my lifetime record of 3.1 miles. Since the Couch to 5K worked out so well, I decided to go from 5K to 25K, which just happens to be within a couple miles of a half marathon (measuring in "k's" just sounds more hardcore and European, I guess.) I learned after my first attempt at 4 miles to add "God-willing" to all of my statements about running. So, allow me to clarify, God-willing, I am going to run a marathon.
I intend to post lots and lots of updates about running, my progress, my ailments, and the funny things that happen when you decide to do something crazy. At least this isn't the first nonsensical thing I've done. Let's see, there was China, getting married in an abnormal amount of time, skydiving (in flip-flops). Yeah, I can handle a marathon "...because when you decide to run a marathon, it will inevitably be against your better judgement." - The Nonrunners Marathon Guide for Women (aka the book about running that sounds exactly like what I would have written had I been smart enough to come up with the idea.) Expect many more quotes to come.
