A Fine Mess

Yes, a fine mess I've gotten myself into. I have been training for a half marathon for the last month and I was quite proud of myself for having reached my goal of 18k in under 2 hours. Unfortunately, I also managed to run myself quite ragged. How? Allow me to recount.

First my school decided to send me on a seminar trip (no kids YAY) an hour away (not bad) with my challenged co-worker (ugh ooookkkk) for 8 hours (ummmm...) on a saturday *SCReeEEEeeeEEECH* O_O PARDON? Did you hear those screeching breaks? Yeah, that was my patience coming to a stop, and quick, to keep from head on slamming in to a brick wall of "Oh HELL NO!" But oh yes, two weekends ago was one of exhaustion because not only did I get signed up for that unpaid crap but I had signed up to volunteer that Sunday.

Now, here's something you may not know about me. I have a really REALLY hard time backing out of something once I've started it, which begins the moment I agree to it, no matter how unpleasant or difficult it may be or how unsatisfying the end result may be. I don't know if I have a fear of disappointing others or myself but I just can't backout once I decide I am doing something.

Awww yeah, matching tracksuits AND backwards hats, so street!

So after sleeping a total of about 14 hours over the last 3 days I hauled my foolish butt out of bed at 5 am to get ready and go to Seoul to volunteer for World Peace Day at the Olympic Stadium. I can't complain entirely, I got to practice my French, Korean, and help others with their English (though when you're exhausted it's hard to speak coherently in any language). I also saw some pretty interesting events including an entire crowd of elderly people in matching track suits (by section) doing choreographed aerobics during a soccergame, an orchetral performance accompanied by about 6 sections of ajummahs and ajusshis (elderly people) doing a choreographed mural show. You know, where everyone in the crowd had a piece of paperboard and they flip it over to form different pictures, only this one was hardcore with freworks and such.

The eats are all blue, all the color you see are people in matching track suits (see above).

After my crazy weekend, I was pretty exhausted (to say the least) but kept up my running routine and that Monday I hit a very satisfying high. 18 k in under 2 hours. Well I have to say I was quite pleased with myself so I took it easy, varying my distances over the next few days to keep from wearing myself out. I was doing pretty well...until I went out earlier than usual and wrenched my knee on a huge crack left by a frost heave in the running path. I was down and out for a while, jumping from hospital to medical clinic to PT but now I'm back!

Part of my PT is getting electricity sent through acupuncture needles.

It's my last day of physical therapy and I've started working my way back into the running game. Back up to 7.5 k, though alternating between speed walking (Gram-gram in the Mall kind of speed walking) and jogging (running still isn't quiiite an option).

So that' what I've been up to lately. No new special recipes, jut trying to eat more protein and carbs and less fats. Really love sandwiches so i can't help having one for dinner, but I think I need a better alternative to granola in the morning. Any quick and easy breakfast suggestions? Even things I could make ahead of time and heat up on the stove or eat cold? Note: I don't own any appliances besides a gas stovetop and a toaster.



Until next time, I hope the world is being really good to you! Happy Fall (my favorite season ^^)!
Sara