Three of the amis and I ran a 5k yesterday morning, as I mentioned Friday! It was through the Cornell plantations, which I am embarrassed to say I haven’t run through more during my time here at Cornell. The course was easier than the typical hilly Westchester XC courses, but it was still hilly and quite windy (it started snowing 10 minutes after I finished). Quite pretty nevertheless. 

On an exciting note, Ami L came in second with a time of ~19:15. I was off my PR by 8-10 seconds with a time of ~26:12, but for spraining my MCL about three months ago and not running an official 5k (or any other race) in over two years, I was quite happy. I also managed to win a pair of promotional sunglasses (as did le copain who finished two places in front of me (and hadn’t run whatsoever in an entire year)). 

All in all it was a good great morning had by all. 

^^^Actually all looking pretty swell post 5k. (That might be a first). Also, HGXC representing!! (: 

^^^Matching promotional sunglasses. Perhaps they’ll make an appearance at Slope Day?

So, the amis and I are running a 5k tomorrow morning (!!) 
It’s been making me really anxious all week because I haven’t  run a 5k in over two years and I’m sort of aiming for a PR even though that’s mainly me setting my sights high…by like a minute. 

Besides the anxiety I’ve been feeling, this upcoming event has made me think that although it’s nice to be out of high school, I do really miss the whole HGXC experience…. the 5ks, VDOTs, Castles, Kipps, Old Lyme’s, Mr. Houser and Señor, cheersitions, etc. with a whole lot of some of the most quirky, intellectual, and ultimately wonderful people I have ever met. 

^^^Now let’s all appreciate the wonderful awkwardness of this photo! ;p 

This isn’t a secret, but I don’t think I’ve ever spoken this aloud. I’ve always been drawn to huge fields. Whenever I pass them in the car, I think about what it would be like to walk through them or sit in them. Strange? I know. 

Either way, there are some in the Ithaca area, and lately I’ve been running through them. Conveniently I had my phone yesterday and as much as I hate stopping during a run, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snap a few! 

 

PS: Title Credit 

I’ve been lucky. My summer break has lasted exactly one month and one day. During this break I have unpacked, slept in, read 4.5 books, run 100 miles, hiked 18 miles/3 mountains, seen le copain twice, seen le extended family once, seen various amies various numbers of times, cooked/baked delicious foods, watched two entire seasons of both Modern Family and Arrested Development, planted some basil (that was yesterday), and for the most part enjoyed myself. 

Today I did as I’ve done for one last day.

• I slept in until 10am. 
• I ran 8 miles (the most I’ve run since January). It was slow, but lovely. 
  

• I watched 9 episodes of Arrested Development. If you haven’t watched… sooo funny!
• I read some… (books too, but totes obsessed with J.Crew! (as always))
  

• I watched Pretty Little Liars. Exciting as always.  
• I made orange cupcakes too!
  
  
  Now I guess I’m just anticipating work tomorrow!

Last week went runningly (…the running version of swimmingly :D) for all 20 miles. As for this week’s schedule:

Sunday: 9 miles (Yesterday—so slow but nice. Oh…and I napped forever after)
Monday: 5 miles (Finally going to go back to running club!)
Tuesday 3 miles (Workout—T-pace)
Wednesday: 5 miles (With running club)
Thursday: 0 miles! How…fun! (oh, but ab workout day)
Friday: 3 miles… R-pace workout on the 200m indoor track

Woo! Still 2+ months ‘til the half I keep telling myself I’m running, so bring on the running! 

First off…successful week 1 of getting back into running (aka: slow, but I did it all)!
Anyways here’s week 2 with a grand total of 20 miles! 

Tuesday: 8 miles (just did it soon after I woke up and it was wonderfullll and through a little fresh snow…and ice)
Wednesday: 5 miles 
Thursday: 3 miles (workout with T pace intervals)
Friday: 4 lovely miles in Ithaca and abs (hopefully the second with lovely roommate!)

PS: Stay tuned for week 3! 

             
(…Well the first part is true at least)

To put it simply, I used to run somewhere between 20-25 miles per week since graduating high school. Needless to say, I’ve basically stopped running since this past November. Excuses included stresses of prelims/finals, daylight savings time, the fact that I usually walk 3-5 miles at school per day, etc. But finally, 2 months later (aka: this past Sunday night), I staged my own intervention! As I lay in bed, I realized what I had to do. I decided I’d train for a half marathon again and started running as of yesterday. I devised a training schedule, and here I am now, 1 day of running down, and excited as ever to get back into running shape and to run the Ithaca Skunk Cabbage Half Marathon on April 1st! 

Just in case you’re wondering, here’s this week’s plan (aka: 15 miles):
Monday (hey I’m already done): 5 miles (Amie D and I showed up at indoor track practice and ended up running outdoors (how ironic…))
Tuesday: 4 miles 
Wednesday: 3 miles+ abs (plank, side plank, crunches, leg lifts—2x) 
Thursday: 3 miles (workout—1 mile between warm-up/cool-down, 1 timed mile to establish a VDOT, then 1 mile 1 minute slower than my timed mile pace).

And next Monday, it all begins again but with 18 miles! Perhaps I’ll keep y’all posted! 

(PS: Terribly sorry for the cheesy pictures/lack of photo quality. )