I wear my sunglasses at night

I go through iPods and headphones faster than I go through running shoes.  Shoes I replace about twice a year, but headphones probably last me a couple months before I step on them, lose them, or, in yesterday's case, catch the cord on a bush branch and rip them apart.  I can't stand the earbuds that come with iPods.  They seem to be too big for my ears and when I finally get them in there, they fall out when I sweat.  Fail.  I prefer the old school over-the-ear phones even though I'm sure I get made fun of for them.

Yesterday, my latest earphones came to rest.  I've had them since January.  And that is why I refuse to spend more than $10 on them.  Another thing I buy cheap is sunglasses.  Expensive name-brands will never be caught on my face.  I think the one thing that has worse luck than my earphones is my sunglasses.  (Maybe one day I will learn to NOT leave things on the floor...)

Anyway, I have been working on figuring out my plans for fall.  I will be moving to Florida in August for physical therapy school, but have no idea where I'm living.  I've been talking to some classmates on facebook, but don't have anything planned out for sure.  I have, however, officially signed up for the important stuff--football tickets.  (Well, the lottery at least).  I don't think anyone from Kansas understands the need for a "football student ticket lottery."  We will stand in line for a week to get seats to a basketball game, but space at the football stadium is typically not a problem.  It is definitely a new concept for me.  Hopefully I get tickets so I can see what this is all about!

In other news, last weekend I went to a Walk for Wishes in KC!  We walked a few laps and they had great rides and blow up games.  It was pretty awesome.  Saturday night, I went to my last Chi O formal.  We ate some food and played some "The Game of Things" beforehand.  If you haven't played before, it's like Apples to Apples (if you haven't played this, go to Target and purchase it ASAP), but better.  You get to write your own answers for things like "Things that make you cry" or "Things not to watch).  For some reason, "Lindsey's dancing" kept coming up.  Thanks Tony.  Anyway, it was at the new hotel near campus and it was a decent time (I think I would have more fun at these things if they played country music).  Afterward, we ate some Wheel Pizza.  I am slowly convincing my non-Lawrence friends to love the place.

Nothing too exciting has been going on this week.  I just cleaned Rascal's cage.  She smells a whole lot better.  She is currently sleeping with her face smashed up against the corner as usual.  I think I may be succeeding in making her non-nocturnal...  Speaking of non-nocturnal, I'm off to bed.

Toodles.

P.S.  Apparently this post doesn't want to double space.  I need K Stro or Brenna to teach me some computer skills...........

26.2 thoughts on 26.2 miles

Dear mom and dad,

You can finally stop bugging me about not keeping my blog updated.  I am currently in the process of baking white chocolate cranberry cookies.  The dough was delish.  The first batch was burnt.  The second batch I believe is underdone... but I am too comfortable to get up and check.

I realize that I missed the month of March entirely.  Oops.  I would much rather skip the month of February.  Not just blogging.  The entire month and everything to do with it.  Why?  

1.  It's cold.  

2.  The term "wintery mix"  

3.  Scraping ice off of my windshield  

4.  Valentine's Day (except for the movie... that was pretty good)

5.  Winter clothes

6.  So many other reasons I don't even remember because I have blocked all Februarys from my memory.

ANYWAY.

I ran the Eisenhower Marathon this weekend in Abilene, KS.  Today at my internship, a patient asked what goes through your mind for 26.2 entire miles.  Here is my breakdown...

1.  Man, I'm glad we made it out of that porta potty line in time!

2.  That's my cousin!  (She was handing out water at a water station)

3.  I wonder if we made a wrong turn?  (The route through the park was a bit questionable)

4.  What a pretty sunrise!  (I actually said this out loud to Laura... she doesn't recall)

5.  Look at that guy wearing the all lime green outfit.  He's speedwalking.

6.  I'm feeling pretty good!  Hopefully it lasts another 20 miles...

7.  The half marathoners are turning around now.  I'm jealous.

8.  It is a really nice day outside!  (Or... It's was too cold, hot, wet, windy, etc.)

9.  This breeze is nice, but I hope it doesn't pick up too much.

10.  Hey mom and dad!  (And sister and grandma and grandpa and aunt and uncle and dog and Laura's mom and Laura's boyfriend...)

11.  "Rain makes corn.  Corn makes whiskey.  Whiskey makes my baby... feel a little frisky."  (Lyrics that made me embarrassed to be a country fan... until I two-stepped to it.)

12.  I wish we had our running games (we are planning to make portable games for long distance runners.  Who doesn't want to play Apples to Apples mid stride?)

13.  Shouldn't we be turning around here pretty soon?

14.  Good, over halfway done!  Oh... only halfway done...

15.  There's our cheering section again!  Is this a smile or a grimace?

16.  Only 10 miles to go.  Oh, and .2.  NEVER underestimate the .2.

17.  (Rap music blares) - Laura:  "Was that my mom's car?"  (We pass.  Rap music fades.) - Laura:  "It definitely was..."

18.  Hmmm, my calves kind of hurt.  So do my arches.  And my thighs.  And my toes.  And my knees.  And...

19.  "I'm so much cooler online.  Yea, I'm cooler onliiiiine!"

20.  Stop taking pictures!  I hope they all turn out blurry.  This is blackmail material...

21.  Just a quick 5 miles left.  I run 5 miles on an easy day so this should be easy, right?

22.  Wrong.

23.  Speaking of wrong, this mile marker (23) was where the 22 mile marker should have been.  Which led to my thoughts at mile 24...

24.  Yes, that cone coming up is 25!  One mile to go!  Wait a second... that looks kind of like a 4.  Holy mackerel.  (Looking around)  Does anyone else think we ran an extra mile somewhere along there?  Anyone else outraged?  No?  Guess I'll just keep running then.

25.  Dear fellow marathoners,  It is not cool to jog back on the course as a "cooldown" and "cheer on" runners who are still finishing.  No I don't think you're cool.  No I'm not impressed that you finished before I did.  No you are not motivating me to finish.  Please leave me to shuffle my way to the finish line alone.  Sincerely, me and every other runner that passed you.

26.  Somehow, this mile seems to be taking longer than all of the others combined.  I'm not sure if my feet are even getting off the ground anymore.

.2  I'm sprinting!  I see the finish and I'm sprinting!  (To onlookers this looks somewhat like a slow motion video of a person's first run.  This may be the one and only time it is appropriate to yell something along the lines of "Run Forrest!  Run!")

So that's the breakdown.  No seriously, that's it.  Brain function slowly deteriorates throughout the run until at the finish, all you can manage to mumble is one syllable words (or non-words...)  "Wa."  "Ouch."  "Feet."  "Done."  "Sit."  And for this, I apologize to anyone who had to attempt to speak with me after the race.  Or after any race.  

And while I'm at it, I should probably apologize to that lady who I passed once at the end of a fun run 5K who was pushing a stroller.  I just couldn't let someone pushing a stroller pass me.  According to my running partner Joel, my all out sprint at the finish was inappropriate in the situation.  He was wearing a Bleaker outfit though, so I don't give his opinions on the situation too much credit...