Splish Splash...

You guys! So, as usual, it's been a while. My big news, for those who aren't Facebook friends is that I got a permanent position in the UK. In March I will be moving to the lovely town of Bath, where a university finally decided to entrust me with the minds of the young folk, which I hope to corrupt. Bath is all Georgian and Jane Austen-y and almost as ridiculously quaint as Galway. 

In unfortunate running news, I effed up my knee doing too many double-unders and box jumps at Cross Fit and I have been out of commission for two months. It seems to be IT band. I have recently said "Screw it!" and decided to start exercising again, but I can only run a mile before it starts to ache. So an April marathon is not likely, although I hope I can still do the half.

Well, I'm off to my third Christmas party in a row. I think my 9 months in Ireland have made it so that I can likely drink any American under the table now. And I still get put to shame by my Irish friends. I really think they must have a special stomach enzyme for converting beer to water.

All in the name of carb loading!

Connemarathon!

So it's been six months. I make no pretense of still being a blogger.

But... I did just sign up for the Connemarathon. Mostly because of the name. I'm doing Hal Higdon's Super Novice Training Plan, which literally starts with 1.5 mile runs and a 3 mile long run. Considering I have been barely running the last six months, this is perfect for me. My friend is signed up with me and it will be her first and she is at the same place with running as I am. Being the (ahem) experienced marathoner I am, I feel like I need to be the rock in this training plan and make sure not to slack on runs, since I really do think for a first marathon you need to stick to a training plan.

But somehow we already managed to miss our second run.

That's okay! We'll get on track!

So on April 7th, we will be running here:

Greetings from Ireland!

Well, after 2.5 weeks, I am more or less settled in here. It would be nice if I had a clothes dryer that didn't merely make my clothes less damp, but I'll survive.

Assuming I don't get hit by a car because I have been looking the wrong way before crossing.

Since I don't belong to a gym here yet, it's been back to ye olde running exclusively for me. I live in a cute little stone house right alongside a canal that goes between the ocean and campus and has a nice path alongside it. I haven't yet run down by the ocean because it is damn windy here, even away from the ocean.

You know, in the US, I always assumed that bike/pedestrian paths should follow the same rules as roads - you keep to the right and pass on the left. So in theory, here I should keep to the left and pass on the right. But these people! There is no rhyme or reason at all to which side the walk or bike on. THEY ARE DISRUPTING THE ORDER OF THE UNIVERSE. Just like the Germans who cut in the Portapotty lines. Europe, you are whack.

America! Fuck yeah!

Holy crap. Less than three weeks.

My time here is Seattle is rapidly coming to a close. I actually haven't been running lately outside (I do intervals on the treadmill after doing weights at the gym) because I have been trying to squeeze in as much playing in the snow as possible before moving to Ireland!

Skate skiing surely has to be an adequate running replacement! Seriously, I find skate skiing to be way harder than running, both from a cardio standpoint and a muscle strength standpoint. Of course, I look as graceful as these skiers!

I do have one last trail race near Seattle before I head off. I am signed up for the 20 miler, but I think I shall be dropping back to the 5 miler. Weak! To answer Bertie's question - I'm actually stalled out at 55 minutes since I haven't been running. Tomorrow! I swear! If anything, I need to get a few more runs in my favorite places in Seattle before I go as well!

55 minutes

That's how long my next long run should be. This whole "10%/week" things is lame. So next time I have to run 61 minutes? And if you start from zero, how do you increase at all? 10% of 0 is... 0.

But I shall be running none of that this weekend, as I shall be gallivanting in Whistler! Yay snow! I'm trying to smush in as much snow as possible before Ireland, as that is one thing Ireland is sorely lacking in.

ZOMG, Ireland! I have exactly 21 full days left in Seattle. I will be gone for 13 days in February. Nuts! So much to do! So little time!