Potpourri update

Well, life certainly zooms along!

It is Day 12 of no running due to a foot infection. I finished off the oral antibiotics yesterday and saw the doctor today. I'm to continue with topical treatments until it is completely healed. I can walk on it now, which is a step forward.

I'm trying my best not to go completely insane. I've been doing stationary bike workouts and weights like some kind of demon. My trainer gave me a new workout that I'm supposed to start tomorrow, which is good. I need something to keep my brain occupied.

I have signed up for yoga and "cardio salsa" this term, too. So far, the yoga is OK, but I've had to modify some of the moves in the cardio class. The instructor doesn't seem too impressed with that, as she is very keen for us to work hard and do exactly as she demonstrates. I've no intention of going into details with her about the foot situation. She's not open to it. So I do what I can and that'll have to suffice.

Hopefully the foot will be in good enough shape for the next fitness leadership course, which is February 2 and 3 - all day, both days. I've heard that it is quite an active weekend, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

That's the "extra-curricular" course, in addition to my "real" school work. I had to submit an application to an Ethics board to conduct my research. It's standard procedure at my university. It's also standard procedure for them to reject your first application and require (sometimes extensive) edits. I only got dinged with what seemed like minor edits. However, I have heard stories that they can come back to you multiple times, each time with new and different things to revise. You're not officially allowed to start any research involving interviews until you have clearance, so the process can drag on.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that these are the only set of edits I have to do.

I have been having trouble getting a response from people I'd like to interview at other universities. I started making calls and sending e-mails before Christmas. So far, it's been tough. I am documenting all my attempts, so if I don't hear anything, I may have to think my research plan. What joy.

In other news, I have changed jobs. My contract as a project coordinator at the research centre where I worked concluded before Christmas. Now, I am doing some research and project work with my Ph.D. supervisor and some (paid!) free lance writing. So far, I am enjoying it and the hours are flexible, which is very good for my sanity at the moment.

In addition to school, work, and training, two people close to me are getting married this year! My brother asked his girlfriend of 2 years to marry him and my friend, A., who has been a regular feature on this blog because she's been an avid supporter of my running, also got engaged over the holidays.

Both weddings are in June - a week apart! My brother's wedding will involve family visits from out of the province and it will be a busy time catching up with people we haven't seen in a long time.

A. has asked me to be her maid of honour. I was thrilled to be asked and already plans are underway!

I was out dress shopping, on separate occasions, with both brides last week. I am happy to say that after one trip, both girls now have beautiful dresses that suit them perfectly. Someone commented to me that I must be good luck! Well, whatever it is, I am very happy because they both look stunning in their respective gowns.

So, that is life in a nutshell lately. Until this infection is gone, I am focussing on eating right and getting lots of sleep. Since it's "lights out" at 10:00 p.m. for me these days, I'd better go make some lunch for tomorrow!

I'll be around to visit blogs soon, too!

Quiet but deadly (well, not really, but you'll see a theme in the post)

I may have been a bit of a bad blogger, but there's been stuff going on!

Here's the quick re-cap:

I did my first 20-miler! It was last week (before I got a nasty infection in my foot, that resulted in a tetanus shot and antibiotics! Argh!)

The run was loooong - 4.5 hours. Ugh. I will need to speed up before the marathon, that's for sure. Anyway, I am glad to have the first 32 km run in the bag.

One of my goals for this year is to learn to "run in metric". You gotta admit that "32" sounds better than "20", no?

I know how I'll be spending my summer vacation. I'll be volunteering at:



If all goes as planned, I'll get to meet Michelle and Eric there, too, since Eric is crazy enough to have signed up to run it.

I signed up to volunteer before I knew Eric was running. As a result I won't be able to crew for him, but it will be seriously cool to meet them both!

Anyone want to come volunteer with me?

Before then, I'll be renewing my First Aid and CPR (not that Eric will need that, but others might!)

I will also need to renew them if I'm going to finish off a certification I started before Christmas. In November I took a 2-day Fitness Theory Course with the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association. I didn't blog about it because I was a bit hesitant. Our instructor told us that the exam has about a 40% failure rate.

I took the exam on December 13 and got my results last week. I passed. Yaay!

In February I'll take another 2-day course on leading group exercise classes. If I pass that exam, I can then do a practicum. If I pass the practicum, then I need to make sure my First Aid and CPR are in valid in order to get my provincial certification to lead group fitness classes. Wouldn't that be cool?

I'm taking it one step at a time, but from what everyone says, the theory part is the worst, so hopefully the rest will be challenging, but fun.

So I've been off, quietly doing things that move me forward. And it's always about moving forward, isn't it?

Looking forward

Sorry I've been away from blogging for a bit. The past few months have seen some changes that put me at somewhat of a crossroads. Changes at work have led me to seek new work, which created both opportunities and stress. It has been tricky balancing it with school and training, but it has given me the chance to venture out and try something new, which is good.

My running and training suffered during last semester, too. I overtrained somewhat last summer and in the early fall, I crashed a bit. I spent the rest of the fall doing reduced workouts. I gained some weight, too. Ugh. Not like before, but enough that I notice it when I run. The job stress probably didn't help with that, either. I will work on getting the weight down before the marathon.

And yes, marathon training has started! For Christmas, my older brother and his girlfriend gave me a race entry to the marathon of my choice. I've gotta do it now!

So, with some job prospects on the horizon and a renewed commitment to running, with plans for a marathon this year and a training plan in place (thanks to my amazing trainer), a visit to a sports nutritionist planned to help with the grumpy gut and vomiting that happens when I run hard, and a commitment to volunteer at an ultra event in August, I'm re-focussed and feel much, much better about where I'm going.

Bring on 2008.