Hi All -
Last week was by far the toughest I have had in two months. It almost rivaled the first two weeks of March. So I decided to focus on recovery and getting into a better place, before lacing up my running shoes to see what I could do.
I did not try out the running group yesterday or last Sunday and neither did I try out the Rock Climbing Gym or cello lessons. I did, however, reorganize an area that has been making me crazy, and I discovered how many shirts with similar styles it is possible to accumulate, when your clothes are spread out due to lack of an organized space. Organizing is not my cup of tea and it takes more time and energy than I care to admit. I did it and oh do I feel better.
The laundry is almost done - the stuff that I had washed, dried, and folded is actually put away (gasp!). I even vacuumed, ordered the appropriate vents for the heating/cooling system, and yes I can tell I am feeling better. I did pop into email to make sure nothing was going crazy, but the population I serve does not take off most holidays. I love them and so I saved myself an inbox full of panicky emails to handle in the morning. If they find out the library was closed, I will probably get gently scolded.
Financially - I had two major goals this year and I am closing in one of them. The other will be delayed a bit, because I decided to take an international trip in March. I did my last two week international trip in 2009. I hope to do more and I see this as a starting point. I still hope to accomplish the second by December, but March 2020 might be more reasonable.
Fitness and Exercise goals - I did a reset on these in March, but I am ok with where I am. My goal is to accept and minimize the level of frustration. Most likely I will not begin working with another coach until April. It takes time to adjust to new things.
I know that I race faster than my long runs. Because of working with a coach, I was able to see and to expect a better time on the race than the long run set pace. My current pace without any speedwork (including strides) is in the 11:30-11:40s range. For June 9th, I am predicting the following times:
Goal A: 72 minutes.
Goal B: 80 minutes
Goal C: 90 minutes
I am going to be pleased with whatever outcome I get and my focus is simply on apprecating each mile. If I happen to beat those times, you won't find me complaining.
And now...time to hydrate and put in a bit of work on turning over the soil. I attempted this post-run yesterday on an empty stomach. That was a disaster. So I should sure have better luck today, yeah?!
Happy Monday, All!
Monday, May 27, 2019
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Please tell me it hasn't been a month and two days since my last post....ok, so it has.
Hi All,
My 10 day trip to New Mexico was fun, exhausting, and stressful in some ways. Switching to a new flight at 3 am, due to a text alert 30 minutes after I was asleep for a 5:30 am flight, was not what I anticipated. Nonetheless, I made it. It was not what I thought it would be, but it ended up being delightful. I was then in my house for a whopping six days before I headed to my professional conference, which was packed full of things for five days. Note: The finger was not present, when I took the photo. It appeared when I uploaded it to Instagram. (Sigh....perfectly imperfect is the result).
I know I repeated myself. Some may have observed that I was borderline panicking at a few points:
Example A: "What? I can't have 13 slides for a 5 minute talk? Where did I miss this requirement? Ok - I will fix this by making faces and using those to hold the audience captive."
Example B: "Um, I am supposed to judge this paper and it is over my head (completely). I really wonder why they talked extensively about study design, background, etc. - I would have emphasized the data. After chatting with another colleague, who is qualified, I was relieved to hear that my opinion was shared by at least one other attendee."
Some things I will repeat next year and others I will not. The reorganization, while good, is definitely making things more stressful or perhaps I am getting overly invested. After joining in 2007 and taking on a leadership role in 2017, I feel obligated to steer a boat, I hope, in the right direction.
Almost a year ago, I began a fellowship program, which will conclude in just a few months. It changed how I approach my work, collaborations, support system, and more. The goal was to do a project and publish or at least present within a year's time. I did an e-poster, Lightning Talk (See Exhibit A), and in the peer-review stages of the project. I would love to submit it by Memorial Day weekend, but I am taking the time to make it good before I attempt submission.
Health wise, I am feeling pretty good and, in fact, much better than I have since about oh September. I am quickly approaching my 1 year of pneumonia free living - yippee! Am I proud to be typing this and feeling so exuberant? Nope - but I am delighted to have avoided getting sick.
On Saturday, I will likely get the cello (on loan from my Mom - a long story that I might share later!) and I might try out a rock climbing wall. Between not feeling great and the weather being uncooperative, this just didn't happen (yet).
On Sunday, I am going to try joining a new group for a run. I might not survive, but it will not hurt to do my best and see just how much progress I have made running wise. It will also be a good test run for my 10k on June 9th. I will run the entire distance and be smiling (even if it appears to be a grimace). It will likely not be pretty but that's ok.
For next week, I am actually going to....gasp..write up a running and cross-training schedule and see if I can follow it. Post June 9th. I will evaluate my options and see if a non-customized training plan will be sufficient to do additonial 5ks, 10ks, and (I hope) a Fall Half Marathon.
Meanwhile, I am incredibly greatful for the faculty member, who loaned a book to me, and encouraged me to get outside. I am happily composing this as I swat mosquitos (Where are those lizards when I need them!), munch on snacks, and sign-up to volunteer for races.
Happy Thursday.
My 10 day trip to New Mexico was fun, exhausting, and stressful in some ways. Switching to a new flight at 3 am, due to a text alert 30 minutes after I was asleep for a 5:30 am flight, was not what I anticipated. Nonetheless, I made it. It was not what I thought it would be, but it ended up being delightful. I was then in my house for a whopping six days before I headed to my professional conference, which was packed full of things for five days. Note: The finger was not present, when I took the photo. It appeared when I uploaded it to Instagram. (Sigh....perfectly imperfect is the result).
I know I repeated myself. Some may have observed that I was borderline panicking at a few points:
Example A: "What? I can't have 13 slides for a 5 minute talk? Where did I miss this requirement? Ok - I will fix this by making faces and using those to hold the audience captive."
Example B: "Um, I am supposed to judge this paper and it is over my head (completely). I really wonder why they talked extensively about study design, background, etc. - I would have emphasized the data. After chatting with another colleague, who is qualified, I was relieved to hear that my opinion was shared by at least one other attendee."
Some things I will repeat next year and others I will not. The reorganization, while good, is definitely making things more stressful or perhaps I am getting overly invested. After joining in 2007 and taking on a leadership role in 2017, I feel obligated to steer a boat, I hope, in the right direction.
Almost a year ago, I began a fellowship program, which will conclude in just a few months. It changed how I approach my work, collaborations, support system, and more. The goal was to do a project and publish or at least present within a year's time. I did an e-poster, Lightning Talk (See Exhibit A), and in the peer-review stages of the project. I would love to submit it by Memorial Day weekend, but I am taking the time to make it good before I attempt submission.
Health wise, I am feeling pretty good and, in fact, much better than I have since about oh September. I am quickly approaching my 1 year of pneumonia free living - yippee! Am I proud to be typing this and feeling so exuberant? Nope - but I am delighted to have avoided getting sick.
On Saturday, I will likely get the cello (on loan from my Mom - a long story that I might share later!) and I might try out a rock climbing wall. Between not feeling great and the weather being uncooperative, this just didn't happen (yet).
On Sunday, I am going to try joining a new group for a run. I might not survive, but it will not hurt to do my best and see just how much progress I have made running wise. It will also be a good test run for my 10k on June 9th. I will run the entire distance and be smiling (even if it appears to be a grimace). It will likely not be pretty but that's ok.
For next week, I am actually going to....gasp..write up a running and cross-training schedule and see if I can follow it. Post June 9th. I will evaluate my options and see if a non-customized training plan will be sufficient to do additonial 5ks, 10ks, and (I hope) a Fall Half Marathon.
Meanwhile, I am incredibly greatful for the faculty member, who loaned a book to me, and encouraged me to get outside. I am happily composing this as I swat mosquitos (Where are those lizards when I need them!), munch on snacks, and sign-up to volunteer for races.
Happy Thursday.
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