Triple Tangent Tuesday

This is the maiden voyage of the Triple Tangent Tuesday on my blog. So, welcome to my ramblings.

1. In my car: City of Ember audio book. I have another couple hours on that audio book, which is great since I will be driving all the way back to Utah tomorrow. I am a firm believer in audio books for long trips. I'll be churning through all three of these books no problem with all the driving I'm scheduled to do in the next three weeks. I realize these were all huge literary hits years ago (and are now, or soon to be movies), but I still haven't read them. Don't judge.

2. I just finished watching Marathon Challenge courtesy of my local public library and I may or may not be weeping right now. I love running, and I love races.

3. Owning an English Bulldog is a legitimate (and very serious) part of my five-year plan. He already has a name, that's how ridiculous I have become.

I'm seriously considering another run tonight just so I can get back out on that gorgeous trail by my parent's house. Maybe I'll take my little brothers along tonight...

Run On, Columbia, Run On

I've been on unintentional hiatus from the blogging world, but not from running. I have been scaling back my mileage a bit lately just to give my sissy joints a break. This morning though, I cajoled/manipulated my older brother into going for a 40-minute run with me. My parents moved recently to the Tri Cities in Washington, only a couple blocks from the Columbia River, and this morning we (my brother and I) ran two-and-a-half blocks to the river walkway for a quick run.

Yes, I'm home in Washington this Memorial Day weekend with the fam. Everyone's in town: me, my younger bros, my older brother, his wife, and their daughter, at the padres' house. It will be one of my last visits before I move out to North Carolina in August. It's great to be home and great to see everyone again. We're planning on a BBQ later today and I'm stoked. The weather here has been amazing compared to Provo. There's been sunshine and warm breezes. I have also made several trips to Costco since I've been here and found some super cute running shorts and matching tank.

My running/workout schedule and eating habits have definitely taken a hit since I've been home. My Saturday-morning "long" run wasn't so much. And I didn't have a Monday morning spin class to go to today, although, I won't have one in Provo when I get back either. My gym decided to cancel all classes. Last week was our last spin class, and I'm not going to lie, there were a few tears at the end. But at home, there's never a shortage of running partners. I just have to talk them into it. This is probably one of my favorite places to run now, next to the river. It's just beautiful.

To Tri or Not to Tri?

Today I ran Race for the Cure! Don't mind my amazing cerulean blue sunglasses...I couldn't stop blinking in the sunlight (it's so foreign after a long, Utah winter) so I had to keep them on so I wouldn't have a scrunch face or closed eyes in the picture. P.S., contrary to this photo, I'm not really that short. All of my friends are just mucho mas taller than me.

I was supposed to get up early and run 6 miles before the race (I need to do a total of 9 today). But it didn't happen. I managed to head out and get them in after a nap and a snack, but I had to dig deep. The race itself was grand. I am always so inspired by the unity of this event.

In other news, I'm considering a triathlon. But I'm really, REALLY bad at swimming. I mean, REALLY bad. I don't know how to get any better, either. Thoughts, suggestions, training tips?? To all you triathletes out there, YOU ARE AMAZING. I covet your mad, nautical skills.

Penny for Your Thoughts

People always ask me what I think about when I run--especially when they find out I don't run with music. I generally don't have an answer for them, which leaves them (and me) bewildered. It's true though! I really don't know what I think about, particularly on those 1+ hour runs. So yesterday I thought I'd try to pay a little more attention, and I spent some time today trying to figure out exactly what I think about. Without further adieu, here are my top 10 running thoughts:

1. "Ow! Side-ache! Breathe out, breathe out!"
2. I'm always mentally checking my form because it still needs work. I'm constantly reminding myself to land mid-foot, keep my shoulders relaxed, chest open, and arms swinging straight forward.
3. My thesis. I've pounded the pavement to media effects and family systems theory for months, nay, years! This one is on its way out though, and will soon be replaced by "my dissertation"--I'm starting a Ph.D. in the fall. Wish me luck!
   
4. Flowers. Now that it's Spring, there are so many gorgeous flowers everywhere I look! Sometimes I have to force myself to keep going and not stop and smell the, er, tulips. And yesterday I may or may not have become totally distracted by some baby sheep!
   
5. I pray. I really do. I spend a lot of time talking to God while I run. I've found that the early morning quiet is most conducive to personal reflection and prayer, and I love the calmness that I experience during and after those runs.
   
6. "Danger, Will Robinson, danger!" I spend a lot of time trying to guess what the cars around me are going to do. Are they going to see me? Will they yield? Is that soccer mom in her tank-sized SUV going to turn left even though I'm halfway out in the intersection and have the right-of-way? Kind of the complete opposite of the calming thoughts in #5.
7. Food. I'm always thinking about what I'm going to eat either right after my run, or later that day. It usually involves some type of frozen yogurt or some other delicious treat.
8. "Come on! Almost there!" These are the little mantras I wheeze to myself as I near the final stretch. And don't worry, I say them out loud. People probably think I'm crazy.
   
9. Relationships. I've got to work out that drama somehow!
10. How awesome/intense/inspiring I look...or actually, how much I look like I'm dying and how I'm probably scaring everyone around me.
    

There you have it. Those are the deep, inspirational thoughts of one Athena Runner. What do you think about?