Running is a means and never merely an end

First run back! Felt AWESOME. 8:21 pace, took it nice and easy and just explored around a few Spartanburg streets I'd yet to run up. Really missed running and enjoyed myself today.

Biked 4 miles between classes. Didn't have time to run and still shower/change clothes (it's been raining all day, so going to class straight from run wasn't an option :/ ) 

My Monday schedule is so rough for trying to squeeze in a run. The only time I can really do it is before my 8:30 class, which is fine, except that is going to start getting dangerous as winter sets in and there may be ice/its freezing cold. Yikes. 

5 miles real quick before work. I wanted to do more but had to squeeze it in a certain time slot. 7:59 avg.

Once again, intended to run a a bit longer today but time constraints got me. I wanted to do 7 in the morning but about 5 minutes into the run around 6:30 I remembered that I had registration at 7:30 so I was gonna need to be back by 7:15 to secure a computer to register on. So I got 5 miles in, 8:33 average. Then I did the remaining 2 miles on the treadmill after my 9:30 class and then lifted.

Easy 7 to and through Converse Heights by myself. Beautiful out, although extreeeemely windy. 8:27 average. 

Today was a beautiful mess. It started off a mess, and ended up beautiful. I slept through my 8:30 class (and the run that I was supposed to do before it), which threw off the rest of my day completely. I wasn't prepared for the rest of my classes because I was in such a rush trying to get all of my stuff together and get out the door so I didn't miss my 9:30 too. It was just frantic and haphazard all morning. I worked in the afternoon and gained a little bit of sanity back with the routineness of that. Then I was going to run afterwards, but Nancy texted me and asked if I wanted to come watch a movie about the Holy Spirit after I got off. I figured I could just do a treadmill sesh after that so I was like sure!

We watched the movie and it straight up floored me. You guys, it is so CRAZY how powerful and real and relevant the Holy Spirit is today!!! I have been totally disregarding him as a member of the trinity for um yeah basically my life. And it is so radical how immeasurably much more God is capable of doing through me than I thought. We prayed for pretty much the entire rest of the night and I needed that so badly. Needless to say, I didn't run. I am so completely convicted yet excited and enthralled with God right now and I just wanted to share all that. This is a crazy life, and still so much crazier than most of us realize.

A quote for the road - "The Holy Spirit is imprisoned in the hearts of unbelieving believers." 

Late-night run, 7:56 average. Well actually it wasn't late, only like 6 o clock - it just gets so dark so early now! Honestly just happy I didn't get kidnapped or something in the pitch black dangers of Hub City. Sketchy stuff. Still spent most of the run thinking about God and how powerful he is and what I am doing with my life in response. 

Came back to campus, ate, helped Breck get ready for semi-formal, then lifted afterwards.

Biked 5 miles + shook out a mile on the treadmill because my glutes were burning. Lifted afterwards.

6 miles pretty quick with Morgan before class this AM. 7:47 average. I think we were just really cold and ready to get warm fast, so we took it out pretty swift (maybe like 7:20). Settled in after a few miles. 

A senior here on campus killed himself last night in his room. I didn't know him but I knew his brother a little. Morgan knew him. Prayers for his family and friends would be appreciated I'm sure. 

6 miles with all the girls, finally! Reunited! And what a fun run it was. We definitely goofed off a bit at first doing this little Indian Run, and so the first mile was probably closer to 9min. But after that we started toning it down a bit and actually running, still conversationally though. A little quick, but we took the next 5 around 7:40-7:45 pace. Averaged 7:55 overall. Abs afterwards!

Quickie on my own before my genetics exam. 7:50 average pace.

Weights in the PM.

Ran with Morgan! 8:08 average pace. I could hardly move because I am so sore from weights last night. I've been slacking on my leg game. 

5 easy with Alexandra at Milliken. 8:29 avg pace. I was majorly chugging along...my squatting muscles seriously feel like they went through a paper shredder. Yikes.

Late night workout with Mell! The moon was so bright so it wasn't quite as dark as I was afraid it would be. We warmed up 2.25 miles and then did the workout on the lower fields (safer than the track). It was 2 sets of 800/600/400 at 6:05-6:10 pace with 90 seconds between each rep and 2:30 between sets. We started out at about 6:40 pace but worked our way down to 6 flat by the last 2 reps. 2 mile cool down.

I think my Pegs have about had it, my feet are starting to hurt by the end of runs. It is definitely time for me to go ahead and get my next pair of trainers. I'm thinking Vomero's! I could use a little more cushion.

Also, I am thinking I may start writing my blog in both English and Spanish, like writing it out normally and then translating below, as a means of a little extra spanish practice talking about something relevant to me that we probably won't discuss in any class - runner's jargon. If anyone speaks spanish, feel free to help me out and make corrections when need be!!

8 miles relaxed at 8:35 pace. I ran throughout Converse Heights mostly, as well as down to Cottonwood trails. Felt good!

8 millas tranquillas a el ritmo de 8:35. Corrí por Converse Heights principalmente, además de abajo a los senderos de Cottonwood. Se sintió bien!

I'm finally home! This past week and a half was so stressful, I am so so so glad to be home for a bit. Ran downtown today, 7 miles at 8:10 average pace. I felt fantastic, and ready to turkey trot tomorrow!

Estoy finalmente en casa! Este semana y media pasada era tan estresante, estoy muy muy muy contenta ser en casa por un poco. Corrí en el centro hoy, 7 millas a el ritmo promedio de 8:10. Sentí estupenda, y estoy listo correr un "turkey trot" mañana!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! What better way to kick it off than with a turkey trot!? 2 mile warm up, and then I just ran and enjoyed myself. My only goal was to negative split, no matter how slow or fast that meant. I ended up running 6:57 for the first mile, then 6:56, then 6:31. I'm happy about that! It made the race much less painful, especially when I compare it to the same time that I got for my conference race where I death-marched and suffered the last 2 miles after a 6 flat first mile. Excited to be learning how to run smarter! 2.25 cool down.

Oh, and I got 1st overall for the women! Yay!

Feliz Día de Gracias todos! Qué mejor manera para lo empezar que con un trote del pavo?! 2 millas para un calentamiento, y después yo solo corrí y me disfruté. Mi solo meta era correr más rapidamente cada milla, no importa como lento o rápido esto significó. Corrí 6:57 para la primera milla, después 6:56, y después 6:31. Estoy contenta sobre esto! Hace la carrera mucho menos dolorosa, especialmente cuando lo comparo a el mismo tiempo que yo conseguí para mi carrera de conference donde yo corrí cada vez más lentamente y suffrí en los 2 millas final después de un primera milla de un ritmo a 6 exactamente. Estoy entusiasmada para ser aprendiendo como correr más inteligente. 2.25 millas para relaja a mis músculos y mi ritmo de corazón.

Ah, y yo llegué 1ra en total para los mujeres! Sí!

7 miles recovery in Waynesville! 7:55 average pace. It felt nice outside!

7 millas para recuperación en Waynesville! 7:55 ritmo promedio. Se sentía agradable afuera!

90-minute long run today, finally! 50 degrees and overcast - perfect running weather. Averaged 7:58. I tried eating a Gu for the first time today, about an hour into it. I think it helped a bit, I picked it up the last 3 or 4 miles. It was just a pain in the butt to try to take while running.

90-minuto correr largo hoy, finalmente! 50 grados y nublado - tiempo perfecto para correr. Promedié 7:58. Traté comer un "Gu" para el primer tiempo hoy, alreadedor de una hora en el correr. Yo pienso que lo ayuda un poco, mejoré las últimas 3 o 4 millas. Era solo una lata tratar tomar mientras corriendo. 

Tough, tough workout today by myself. It was late and dark too, 8pm or so. Long story! Just glad to get this one over with.

2 mile warm up, then 2 sets of 1000, 800, 800, 600 with 90 seconds between each and 2:30 between sets. Bomar said 6min flat pace for these for the front group, so I figured 6:10 for me. Even then, it was pretty difficult for those longer reps, especially in the second set. But knowing I was almost done helped and I hit the pace or under more in the 2nd than the 1st set. Focused on my form a lot. 2 mile cool down. Lifted afterwards for an hour or so, plus core and stretching.