Its been a while

I have been really busy. Between teaching, running, and traveling, we haven't been around at all. The last two weekends were in Keene Valley. Last weekend was the North Elba Half Marathon. I have been really struggling with running recently but North Elba went pretty well - 2hours 24 min 25 sec. My PR is 2: 23 so I was fairly happy with that time. It was more hilly than I thought it was going to be. Joe left out a couple of decently sized hills. When I got to the hills that Joe forgot, I though "Huh??? Maybe they changed the course. Maybe Joe just didn't want to scare me." The temps for the day were supposed to be in the high 50's which would have been perfect but it wasn't in the high 50's it was in the high 60's and a bit humid. I started well and actually felt really strong until mile 10 but I was happy with my ability to maintain after I didn't feel as good any more. The only thing that was tough for me is that it wasn't a large race so I felt that I was soooo far back at the beginning but I did catch people near the end which always happens. I did well. The frustrating part was that when I entered the horse shoe grounds where the finish was I started to give a little "kick" (little being the operative word). Then I got to a line of people and could see the finish line behind the people. I let out a "S#^%" when I realized I had to go around the parking lot to get to the finish line. My kick was gone by the time I got around the parking lot. Lila and Kaelah tried to run the last .1 miles with me but Kaelah kept falling behind since she did the warmup with me so they cut across and caught me at the finish line. Overall, it was a good day.

Yesterday, I went for a run. It sucked. I was dehydrated. I am over it.

Today, I went for a run. It was good, almost great but not quite. My new shoes felt good. I did a tempo run that went exactly as planned. I have been waiting for an excellent run for weeks. Since I have been back at school, I haven't felt great while running and since running is my stress relief, I have been incredibly stressed out. When the thing that relieves your stress isn't going well, it ends up adding more stress to your life. I just have been off since being back at school. I think I am finally back to normal, well, as normal as I am ever going to be.

I just want to make a note on YOGA!!!! I love YOGA!!! I have missed yoga sooooooo much!!! The only way I get through Wednesdays is because I know that I will be in YOGA soon and will feel 100% better than I did when I went in. Even if I don't want to go at the end of the day, whenever I go I am always so much happier when I left. I don't know how I made it through the summer without YOGA!!!! Next summer, I am finding somewhere that I can practice while in Keene Valley. It is a must.