Number Seven

Mudrun complete. Probably the most fun I've had running a race ever. The course was much harder than any 5k Ive done, considering every place i've lived is completely flat. The course came fully equipped with rocks and mud and hills and a lake and obstacles and mud and more mud. I am 100% going to do this race again, or at least another mud race. My team was super awesome, and I think in the end we all had a blast. Since we were entered in the 4-person costumed race we were hugh hefner and the three girls next door.

Picture this: Runamuck 2010

Next, the 'accomplished post' that was supposed to follow last time, has not fully arrived. I did not beat my time I had hoped to accomplish in the half marathon, in fact i was more the 2 minutes behind. (Those with no running interest skip ahead)... In terms of pacing I was a mess, my mile splits were either 7:30 or 8, and I was hoping for a 7:45 pace. I think this inconsistency is really what killed me. I broke the race down into 3mi intervals, the first and third of which were my quickest, with my last 3mi the slowest. I ended up finishing in 1:44, a 7:55 average pace. That being a minute faster than my first half marathon, I was still extremely happy. The race was fun too, with music set up along the route and a beautiful course along Lake Michigan. Race mantra: your pace. your time. stronger than ever. (worked great mentally, try it!)

Picture this: 13.1 chicago 2010

Also been thinking more about the vegetarian lifestyle, which has become more of an in depth search than I would have thought. In in short stint of Ellen Degeneres obsession, I saw her being interviewed about her more recent vegan lifestyle. She mentioned the movie earthlings, which after watching only 20 minutes of, has certainly forced me to think more about eating options. Are we meant to be meat eaters? I think the answer is mostly yes. Evolutionarily speaking, we were always hunters and gathers. I think a lot of the problem lies in our method of killing and the damage it has on our environment and bodies. I have never given much thought to the suffering of the animals we slaughter. But one look at the conditions in which these animals are raised and it becomes almost impossible to bring back the disconnect I've had with my meals and the place they come from. Also some food for thought... about a month ago, upon listening to a peer's presentation in my networks class I learned a very interesting fact about the food chain: omnivores destabilize a food web.

So up next: TBD...

Pack it up

A while since my last post, nothing has really changed in the world of 18. Still doing the veggie thang, but it's more out of habit now. As my days in evanston dwindle, and I attempt to finish off the food in my pantry, and have come face to face with bumblebee. I decided to eat the fishy treat, emphasizing the flex, in my flexitarian life style. And as much as I love me some tuna, I did find it hard to eat. And no, this was NOT a mental thing. I didn't feel bad, or feel like I was sneaking some pretzels on passover, it just kind of felt hard to swallow.

I have banked a few more live performances which has be awesome. But right now I look forward to my first 'event' of the 18. The mud run! Got a pretty strong, and certainly fun team signed up for the race. We elected to do the costumed event, and are still deciding on our theme, but pictures are certainly to follow!

And although not part of the 18, countdown is 3 days until my half marathon, which is essentially my way of getting myself in shape for the bigger athletic events to come. My goal: 1:41.35, which will put me at a very ambitious 7:45 pace. I am writing this out on [electronic] paper so I can hold myself, and more importantly my mind, to it! Gonna have my mama there to cheer me on :)

Until next time. Hopefully an accomplished post to come!