I ran!

I've finally started running again!

It's disheartening to think about how much fitness I have lost, but exciting to think that I'll be building it up again. I can't wait to cover double digit miles again.

And to get a dog. It'll be nice to have a dog to come home to. 

Luckily for me, I'm currently in California so the runs are way flatter and at a lower elevation. I think Louisiana is also pretty flat, which means I'd probably do terribly in upstate New York races.

Yesterday, I covered 3 miles at 9:28/mile pace, which felt way harder than it should be. Before I stopped running, 3 miles was nothing. Oh body, how quickly you forget.

This morning, I convinced my dad to join me on a run. I had mentally planned on another 3 mile run, but we ended up running for 4.67 miles at 9:42/mile pace. To be honest, I don't think either of us were in a running shape, but being super competitive, we couldn't back out. I'm sure we'd have run longer, out of pride, if our route allowed it.

Another picture of my dog! I know it doesn't fit, but I have tons of pictures of him with no where to put it. 

It's slow going to get back into running again, but it's a start.

Other than starting to run, I've been trying to get ready for my big move to the south.

I signed up for my first ever non student, non joint, bank account. I even have a savings in case I budget well and manage to save money. (Doubtful for the first few months. There's so much to buy like furniture!) I even inquired about an auto loan at the bank. Because adults have cars and have a plan to pay for it and stuff.

I still need to decide on a car. How do people decide to buy a certain car? Do I pay more money for the car that I think I would want or stick with a fairly cheap one until I'm more settled?

I also need more work clothes including steel-toed boots.

Despite tests and homework and all that, school is definitely much easier than real life.

Happy Friday! What cars are affordable and good? Key word being affordable. And by affordable, I mean a car that's in the lowest price range. 

Exciting Morning

For my dog, that is. He had a little morning visitor.

Look how cute it is. I was tempted to try and domesticate it. 

Thanks to this little guy, my dog went into a barking frenzy that started at 5AM and lasted for a good part of morning. So an easy shake out run did not happen. 

Dante, my dog, actually barked right on top of the opossum with his spit dripping on the little guy. But he didn't attempt to bite it or any other thing that normal German Shepherds might do. He just got super excited and wanted to play. 

Please play with me? 

As a result, instead of going for a run, I took Dante out on a long walk in an attempt to let the opossum get over his fear and escape. 

Fun Fact: LA county animal control does not remove wild animals. I've always thought that was what animal control was for. I guess now I know. 

But tomorrow, I will definitely get in some more of the "junk miles." Although, I do think that they are helping me love running. And I will have company. 

Remember when I said that I've been learning tennis from my parents' friend. And how the lesson went on for over two hours? If not, here you go.  Well, tomorrow he wanted to run at least four miles with me. Revenge time! J.K. I will hopefully start him on a road to a marathon. He has the desire, but has a hard time running more than two miles due to boredom. So I'm supposed to force him to run four. 

I love running with people along the beach. It feels very relaxed. And there are no hills. 

Hopefully, I can run faster than he can. Otherwise, it will be embarrassing. Since he's considerably older (my parents' age) and hasn't ran in a long time. That's what sucks about being known as a person who runs a lot. Everyone expects me to be fast. 

Hope everyone's New Year is starting off nicely with a good run. And I forgot to mention this last time, but I plan on running 1000+ miles this year. Who's with me? 

Moving Hurts

All this sudden influx of activity is definitely affecting my muscles. This morning, I woke up with back soreness which I assume is from wildly flailing in front of the kinect.

But I kind of enjoy muscle soreness from a workout in a weird masochistic way? I just feel accomplished when my muscles are sore the day after a workout.

Today was a rest day from running, because I met up with my parents' friend for a tennis lesson at 7AM. Here's a small picture of me blending into the background.

Don't worry, I didn't wear the same shirt again. This picture is just from last time. 

Today's lesson started off fun but by the end, I never wanted to look at a tennis ball again. I'm not being ungrateful. I know people pay a lot of money for private tennis lessons that I'm now getting for free.

But two hours and twenty minute of a private lesson? It was a little too much and way too tiring.

Part of it was my fault. I had a little too much pride to say that I was tired. So I kept on smiling and swinging. And now it's hard to think about anything other than sleeping. And I'm rhyming.

So here's a nicer random photo that I took at the beach for you to enjoy while I sleep.

A doggy water fountain! What a fun idea. 

Happy Wednesday!