Repetitive Motion

No runner's high yet, but I'm making progress. And also gladly upping my cookie intake to counter my greater caloric consumption.

I just finished week 4 of the Couch to 5K plan. At first it seemed like the hardest. thing. ever. Run for 5 minutes at a time? Without stopping?! But I did it! For the first time I could see how far I've come in 4 weeks, and I was struck by the possibility that a 5K might, in fact, be humanly possible. I am undaunted by a broken pair of headphones, or puddles, or stray dogs, or leaf-blowers in my path. I look like a doofus, but I don't care. I'm living the dream, fool.

I'm gearing up for what looks to be a couple of weeks (at least) of absolutely no work. My industry is so heavily tied to the education sector that when school is out, most interpreters are twiddling their thumbs (or some equivalent which is less likely to cause a repetitive motion injury). If you could use an extra warm body to help with a project or childcare or cookie-eating over the holidays, I'm your gal.

I've also picked up my knitting needles for the first time in about 3 or 4 years. Like riding a bike, it came back to me pretty quickly (though I'm much more coordinated with needles than a bike). I was mainly inspired by my crocheting friends, and I had plenty of inspiration to begin a fairly ambitious project. (Next, I'm considering a his-and-hers set of footie pajamas.)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

To be fair, I did give it a week. Two, in fact. I had my running shoes laced up 3 times a week at 6:30 in the morning (which seemed SO early... ha). The run/walk intervals were totally doable. "I'm a runner!"

And then 3 things happened in short succession:

Shin splints flared up

We had about 2 weeks notice to move

My job (and schedule) changed drastically

Don't worry, I have already labelled myself a whiny baby. Between resting up to prevent further injury, packing and moving, and getting ready for work at 5:30 am (out the door at 6:30, I laugh at my sleep-deprived self), I decided my delusions of grandiose running accomplishments would have to wait.

Despite the early mornings, I am completely in love with my job. Rather than arriving home mentally stressed, with no sense of accomplishment aside from making it through another day, wondering if I could scrounge up a bottle of wine, now I feel mentally challenged and a true sense of a job well done when I have a good day. Coffee has become my drink of choice, though in a way not by choice. :)

Amidst numerous changes, we're in a good place right now. The coffee probably helps! Maybe later we'll see what puzzle pieces God is putting together but for now we'll take it one day at a time. Sans running shoes.