Hardly thinking about running.

On Sunday I will have been alcohol free for 28 days consecutively. Other than the first 14 years of my life this will be the second longest time I have gone without touching alcohol. On Sunday, I will run in a half marathon here in town. I've hardly put any thought into the coming race the last few weeks, and I think that's a good thing overall.

Two and a half weeks ago I went to a massage therapist appointment at school. I had hurt my ankle a couple months ago, and re-aggrivated it once since (both due to drinking and didn't even know how it had happened) and decided I should see what could be done about it. Well, the short answer from the, was that I had gotten myself an inversion ankle sprain and that I shouldln't do any impactful exercise until it doesn't hurt at all anymore. So I actually listened to them, also I got sick on the weekend and I will end up going into the half marathon having not run for 15 days. I have done some walking around, and that's it. I will do some stretching and yoga Friday and Saturday and that's it.

An interesting thing has happened since I stopped drinking; my left eye twitches. Out of nowhere it just starts twitching. It's the strangest thing.

I still think I can beat my last years time at the same race of 1:42:30 (it's my PB) comfortably. This will be my fifth year in a row running this race.

2007: 1:50:49
2008: 2:23:14
2009: 2:12:59
2010: 1:42:30
2011: less than 1:35 (asthma issues willing)

I've been doing lots of meditating about things lately and I think I may have come to the unfortunate decision of not participating in what was my main goal race of the coming year. I've just been hired at a new job (I start first weekend of April) I hope to move to a new apartment soon (will be my first time living without a girlfriend or a roomate in 13 years) and I'm excited about these things. The job is something I want to commit to and want to be able to say to them that I can commit for all that they need me for. And also, moving will cost money and I will be upping my expenses on a monthly basis. Thinking about a major multi day race; it will cost me 5-7 days lost wages, cost to stay somewhere for at least a day or two for the race, at least 2 tanks of gas, food and supplies for the race, food for while I'm away. I think it will cost a fair chunk of money, so alas, that whole money thing might get in the way. But also, I'm going to AA meetings at least 5 times a week and I like that, and right now I want to make that more of a priority than I want to make running. Yes I enjoy running, I will continue to do it, but looking at it I have used it as a crutch in dealing with life in general. I run from my problems by running longer and harder when I don't want to actually deal with things. I need to take a step back in my running, take a step up in my actually dealing with things, and find a better balance. I'm sure if I get the urge to run longer than 50 km I can do it here in town on the awesome trails I live by, and just use my car as an aid station. And I can just do local races where all I have to do is book the one day off work.

Oh yeah. Ran in a 5 km race in the Peach City at the beginning of March. 20:19! Almost beat 20 minutes. Was pretty close. I decided to wear my trail shoes that day because I wear them 9 out of 10 runs so I figured why not wear the shoe I'm most comfortable in, got a couple weird comments, but I felt good in them. Will wear them again on Sunday for the half. The first and last km's are along the lakeshore. I forgot how running right next to the lake makes my asthma feel strange, and maybe my constant running in the mountains in kelowna has made me even more not used to running by the lake. Felt like I didn't quite have all the air I wanted. This was only the second time I've done a 5 k race, and really the only one I've done where I felt like I was in good shape, so I probably could have planned the more strategically next time, but still super duper stoked about how I did. I placed 20th which was pretty neat, best finish ever in a road race for me.

Yep.