40 Day Challenge!

Have you heard about the 40 day challenge? Danica over at Chic Runner has started a 40 day challenge - run at least 3 miles a day, every day, for 40 days. I think it's awesome! It's like a weird, Lent-y kind of thing but more awesome.

I feel like this is exactly what I need right now:
- Structure - I'm in this weird base building not quite training phase so my runs have been pretty aimless, and as such, sporadic.

- Stress Relief - Running always makes me feel better, no matter how much I try to talk myself out of running. With all my crazy bar stress and general life stress [I don't even want to talk about the last time I managed to get laundry done]

- Something to keep me motivated and accountable!

And I think if I can do this, I'll be pretty proud of myself! Gidget's Rule #6: You can do anything for a little while (in this case, 40 days).

Up for the challenge? Join me!

Also awesome sauce: I ordered a new pair of running shoes that should come tomorrow! Yes, that's my third pair; no, none of them are worn out; yes, I might have a problem.

PCRF Half Marathon (Race?) Recap Part 1 [or How I Decided This Was A Good Idea]

Let's get this out of the way now: This sucked. Not because of the race, not because of the organizers, not because of anything other than I sucked and was woefully unprepared. But I did it, and that was pretty amazing.

Ok, on to the deets (do people say deets anymore? did I just date myself?).

Yes, I have been MIA. No, I didn't secretly plan to run a half marathon and not tell you guys. This one just kind of ... happened. I'd been feeling pretty low about myself. As I mentioned, D's new girlfriend is in my profession and she's unbelievably successful, in a way I'll never be. I know I shouldn't compare myself and blah blah blah but honestly (and we're all about honesty here - Gidget's Rule #3: Always tell the truth), it's been a huge blow to my self esteem. I've been doing a lot of internal soul searching and I've been feeling pretty unaccomplished. Yes, I'm about to graduate law school, yes, I moved across the country all by myself but I couldn't convince myself those things were awesome.

I had 2 exams and a paper within 24 hours of each other on Thursday/Friday. I was drinking my 3436th latte of the morning when I got this magical tweet from the beautiful Sarah:

Well, no, no I wasn't. I had an exam on Monday and an exam on Tuesday. I was going to spend my entire weekend in the library, by myself, feeling alone and stupid and unaccomplished. But wait, why do you ask? Oh, you have an extra bib for a half marathon? On Saturday? No. No, I couldn't possibly ... Well ... Ok, I'll do it. 

Here's what was going through my head:

"I'm not trained."

"I couldn't possibly."

"Well, I was going to run 6-8 miles anyway."

"How bada$$ would I be if I ran a half marathon in the middle of finals?"

"I bet she never ran a half marathon in the middle of finals ..."

"..."

"......."

"Ok, I'll do it."

And just like that, I was running a half marathon. In 2 days. With no training. On 4 hours of sleep. OUTSTANDING.

Stay tuned for Part 2 [or How I Totally Took the Prize for Worst Race Fail Ever. In. Life.]

Decisions, Decisions

So, I'm thinking of getting a puppy. Well, not a real puppy, necessarily. Probably an older dog that is already house-trained. But regardless, a small furry animal with 4 legs capable of unconditional love.

Pros:
1) I'm lonely and I think this will help cheer me up.
2) I've always loved dogs and have wanted one since my family dog passed away a couple of years ago
3) There are so many older dogs in shelters that need good homes.

Cons:
1) It narrows my apartment search pretty significantly, since not all apartments allow animals.
2) Pets are expensive and I have no job.
3) Although I will have a ton of time this summer while studying to be home with a puppy, eventually I'm going to have a job and work 10-12 hours per day. That's a long time to leave a dog cooped up.

So, interesting conundrum I find myself in. My first thought was that I would just foster a shelter dog for the summer, but I think we all know that I wouldn't be able to give him/her back.

Does anyone else work long hours and have a pet? Is it doable?

I am not ...

I am not afraid of the physical therapist ... I am not afraid of the physical therapist ... I am not afraid of the physical therapist.

I am secretly TERRIFIED of the physical therapist. Eep.