1 year.

December 28, 2007 - 8 miles  

"First 4- 36:11 (9:03) 

Second 4- 36:18 (9:04) 
One gel/water at mile 4- had a cramp below left lung last couple miles. 
right hip pain nagging at start, then worse last couple miles."

After 5 weeks of hobbling and being an idiot, I was finally diagnosed with a Femoral Neck Stress Fracutre.

December 28, 2008 - 13.7 miles.  NO PAIN.  Well, other than 'holy shit this is my first long run outside in almost two months' type of pain.  

And it was 65 degrees.

I think I am going to be smiling all day.

For the Love of NPR.

1 Thriving Ivory Album + 

1 episode NPR 'Fresh Air'(a really good episode on 'The Secret Life of Baboons') + 

1/2 episode of NPR 'Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me'

=

12 really slow, comfortable miles on the treadmill.

[I felt a little guilty b/c the roads weren't THAT bad just the sidewalks and some sidestreets, but then I slipped and fell on the marble steps of my building walking home, and felt good about my decision again]

I am off too DC this afternoon for two glorious weeks of much needed relaxation and family time.  My work away message says I won't be checking email, and I even turned my office computer OFF so I can't log in remotely.  

My plans when I am home are to swim a lot, run a lot, bike with my dad when the weather allows, and see as many movies as possible.

Dilemma

**Update: It's 7am, I am up, but I think I am headed to the gym.  The run was designated a 'fun run', ie will not be scored/timed,  due to the conditions.  it also feels like 13 degrees out and is sleeting/snowing.  If I had better shoes/Yax, I would go, but I just don't think it is worth it.  I will try to stay on the treadmill as long as possible, but I can always run longer tomorrow.  

Dilemma:  Tomorrow is the last NYRR race of the year (not counting the NYE run at midnight).  

We got about 3-4 inches of snow in NYC today, and NYRR decided that if you already registered for the race, you will get credit (ie you don't have to run, but it still counts towards marathon qualifying).  Which is great, b/c now I am officially in for the NYC Marathon 2009.  BUT...

I sort of still want to run (slowly, v-e-r-y slowly).  I need to get a long run in anyway, and it's a whole lot easier to motivate for a 'race'.  But it could be icy...

So do a I spend 90-120 minutes on the treadmill, or do I brave the cold (and maybe snow) to run outside?

NYRR is usually good about salting any icy areas and I would take it easy around the water stops, but I can't decide.  I am almost exactly 1 year from my injury, my legs have been feeling really good,  and don't want to do something stupid like fall on the ice.  Which is not something I would put past myself (clearly).

I don't know what to do!!

SNOW!

Today was the first snow of the winter in NYC.  Big fluffy flakes, but it was too warm for any accumulation.  I LOVE SNOW!!  As I walked home from the gym, I was motivated to pull some of my old photos off my almost-dead old laptop from grad school.   

These pictures were all taken during one of the best snow storms I have seen, during the spring in my second year at Yale (2006).  New Haven looked like a winter wonderland coated in the fresh snow.

My favorite tree in New Haven.

Sterling Memorial Library

Chapel Street, in front of my front door.

I also came across one that I decided would be a perfect gift for my dad, in a nice frame, now that he has taken up cycling.  He has planned a New Years Day ride for us, with his biking group, that I am super excited for.  He said I will have appropriate winter riding gear under the tree!!  

This is one of my favorite all time photos I have taken.

SO EXCITING!

My bro is officially moving to San Fran!! I am currently scheming up a trip to accompany him on part of his trip across the country (he decided today and I have already invited myself along). 

Depending on timing, I will hopefully be joining him somewhere between Dallas and Tuscon, and spend time in LA, Santa Barbara and then San Fran!  I just tried to work San Diego into the route, but he said it was too far out of the way.  I'm still going to work on it.

So excited.

Let the scheming begin, we needed something to fight over during Christmas Dinner anyway!

No longer free-loading (not by choice!)

Sometime between Sunday and Wednesday morning this week, my cable was turned off.  I actually cancelled my cable in early February and haven't paid a dime since.  The beauty of living in an apartment, I guess...so I can't really complain that it no longer is working (and it also took me at least three day to notice, so I don't really watch that much during the week, really just on the weekends).  

It's sort of like my Internet...I steal that, too, you see.  I used to have four different networks to choose from (I actually pick up about 20, only four weren't protected).  The non-password selection has dwindled to just 1, and I'm afraid I will soon have to shell out for Internet.

Cable I can live without.  Internet, I cannot.  This would prohibit my work-from-home days, and that is just NOT an option.

BUT, today I discovered the joy of having no cable.  I was grumpy about not being able to watch KONA yesterday (AND my friend's finish was in the coverage, argh!), and a little grumpy about football today, but instead of sitting my ass on the couch all day, I:

-read the entire Sunday Times (this doesn't really count, as I usually do this anyway, just WHILE watching TV)

-ran (4th day in a row-and NO pain anywhere yay!)

-swam 

-grocery shopped

-finished my Christmas shopping, and actually REALLY like all the gifts I got.

The best gift I think I am giving is to the bro- He is currently considering a move to San Francisco (Has a job offer! Very exciting, but very far away), so I got him the 1,000 places to See Before you Die, USA and Canada.  If he decides to accept the offer in San Francisco, I am going to go through and flag ones either in/around San Fran, or on his chosen driving route out West.  I usually have trouble with him, so I am very excited, and he loves books regardless, so it's perfect.  

I chose to ignore the links my sister sent from Victoria's Secret and Hollister, et al, and got her a really pretty necklace from my favorite vendor at the Holiday Shops at Columbus Circle (and of course got some goodies for myself, as well!).  If you are ever in NYC around the holidays, the winter markets at Union Square and Columbus Circle are a must-see, it's one of my favorite parts of the season.  I had hot cider as I wandered the shops today for over two hours.  Love it.

Just a really great day!  Who needs TV??

New silly plan.

My reasoning:

• Starts less than a mile from the house my family has lived in for the past 20+ years.
  
• Gives me the motivation I have been looking for to starting running long again.
• Being a trail run, will be a new and exciting challenge.
  
• My family can share the day with me.

I also think, being a trail run, it will help me focus on "getting the miles in", rather than shooting for a time goal, etc. over the winter. Getting the base in over the next three months would set me up to safety get back into regular speed and tempo work, and hopefully would lead to an injury-free, fast triathlon season.

It gives me 12 weeks to prepare. There are training runs on the course that would give me an excuse to go home for a weekend. And it's only $20.

And you can decide mid-course if you want to do the 50k.

I'm very tempted.