PEARL JAM

If I had to pick one band to go see right now it would be Pearl Jam.
They are so talented, and I just can't get enough of their music.
I highly suggest listening to this song: "The End"

Some Days are just Hard

Hill Repeats:
6 x 220m hill
4 x 330 hill

I had a tough time today. Not sure if it was mental being that the last repeat I ran, I ran it 10 seconds faster than all the other ones.. But some days are just hard, but hill repeats are so helpful for you to be ready for a race.

On another topic, I play the Oboe. I found I hilarious website for Oboeists which I'm sure that anyone who reads this isn't.. but regardless it's Obohemia. Makes me laugh. I can't wait to show some comics to my stand partner!

HYDRATING

Carbo-loading

PASTA dinner with Arrow and the Parents.
WHAT A GREAT PRE-RACE dinner! :)

ABs

Why are Ab circles so funny? I think our body sees that we are using our stomach muscles therefore it decides to make you work HARDER and make you laugh the WHOLE time. Or maybe it's just we have a funny group. Whatever the case, I enjoy getting a six-pack.

Running at 7000' elevation

This past week I have been at Lassen..Our camground is about 6700' elevation. A family tradition to camp there for as long as I can remember. Every year we do two full weeks of camping, hiking, swimming and back-packing. This year, since my half is in six days, my mom decided to let Amy and I come home separately to get back in the swing of things before my race. So we only stayed one week.
The first day (7/31) we were doing a relatively easy down-hill hike to get us used to the elevation change. I woke up early and ran for 23:35 minutes. Boy was I tired. It was a weird feeling. I just felt so slow and I was breathing so hard! I ran on the road to minimize the possibility of injury from running on uneven trails. I came back for breakfast with my family before our hike with a running nose and a dry sweaty face. Well, that was different.
On 8/2 I ran again for 36:49. I felt significantly better. As I came back into camp I felt a little light-headed probably from lack of food before I left as I only ate a granola bar.
On 8/4 I ran for about 50 minutes..Felt better and it was the morning of about an 8 mile hike.
Didn't do too much running, which I missed although I was doing plenty of exercise, hiking everyday.. even one back-pack.
Thought it would be nice getting back to running at Sea-Level.. although it didn't feel too well...

At what point does running become an obsession?

For the past four days I have been in Santa Barbara with my sister. I had a blast. I so wish I lived to closer so I could do this more often. I'd do it once I month if I could!
This last Friday I went to the Carpinteria All Comers Track Meet. I ran in the 5K. It was an interesting run being that I was the only girl in the race, although there were other girls running the 3K at the same time. I had my sister cheering me on each lap. The first mile I was talking every time I ran by her complaining how slow I felt I was going. I tried to speed it up the next two miles, although I do not know how to recall my mile splits I have on the watch. Hopefully I can figure that out soon. My final time was 23:27. I am excited to actually train for that race and adding some speed workouts designed for that distance. I think I like that time being that I've been just training for a half. I felt really good the whole time.

I realized as I rode down on a plane to San Fransisco, that I talk about running any chance I can. I was reading a running magazine on the plane and the lady I was sitting by asked me about it. Almost the rest of the flight (about an hour) I blabbed about running. At least she was friendly about it, although probably not too interested. haha. I also got to meet a few people that are friends with my sister and such.. and I just found myself bringing up running somehow. Most thought I was a little nutty training for a half marathon.. and it made me think.. If I everyone started running, would everyone get just as much obsessed? I just love talking about and doing it. Running is so addicting. I'm just glad I am around people that enjoy running just as much or at least enjoy me talking about it. On the flight home last night around 10:40 you would think I would sleep, but no. I decided to stay up and talk to the man I was sitting by about running! OF COURSE. But it was a lot of fun, and it makes me more motivated when I talk about it.
Sorry everyone who I've bored to death about my chatter with running. At least the people that read this are somewhat interested and have a choice. haha.

SOME NEW AND EXCITING NEWS!
My wonderful wonderful neighbor GAVE me a beautiful road bike. FOR FREE. It has pink handle bars and blue body. I need to switch out the pedals but otherwise its pretty much set. I am really excited to get to ride it. But first I need to get used to riding a road bike. something I have never done before, so I am EXCITED!
It's good to be home, but I'll miss Santa Barbara. I WILL NOT MISS the airport.

Oh, and I ran again on Sunday in Santa Barbara and DID not get lost! YAY for me. I ran about 5 or 6 miles..
Still needing to run today, and once I get out there it will be amazing to run but I'm still figuring out where and when I am running...

Thank you to everyone that reads this. :)
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