I’m still here. Or maybe I should say I’m here, there, and everywhere.
I’ve had so much to post, so many things bookmarked to write about, so much going on. At the same time, it sadly feels like I have been living the past month in hotel rooms and on airplanes (hence the very bad punchline title of this post), without the time or energy to catch y’all up on all the goings-on. And this post is not going to be that catch-up … only a brief interlude to assure you I am still alive.
I can’t complain too much … things are great for the most part. I had a great vacation in Charlottesville at the end of September. Caught up with Dad and Joan and a bunch of friends I hadn’t seen in far too long. Had the best race of my life at the Great Eastern Endurance Run … until I got hypothermia from being in the cold, pouring rain for 8 hours. Still got 52 miles under my belt though, which was enough to make me feel ready for the next big race (more on that in a minute).
Came back to Austin in time for the Austin City Limits music festival. Jolly was here as always, and we spent a great weekend watching lots of bands (18 in all I think). I have pics to show at some point when I have time for that post. It was beautiful on Friday, rainy on Saturday, and a mud pit on Sunday. Oh yeah, that Sunday was my birthday … not bad to have Pearl Jam play my birthday party. ;-) Also had a great brunch with good friends … the best way to spend a birthday!
Just when I started to feel recovered from that week, I left town again for a week-long conference in Washington, DC. The highlight of which was running into my friend Susan from law school while I was out running in Old Town Alexendria and getting the chance to spend an evening catching up with her and Mel. I’ve gotten lots of time in the past month to catch up with old friends and to spend more time back in Virginia than I have since I moved to Texas. It has been truly special … and makes me realize that as much as I love and miss Virginia, Austin is without a doubt my home now and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
And it has just been perfect here lately, when I’ve had the chance to enjoy it. The weather has finally cooled off after a summer of record heat. And we’ve gotten enough consistent rain that the creeks have water in them again! The drought isn’t over yet, but it looks like it may be on its way out. The only downside has been what I call my Hypothermia PTSD. Ever since the race last month, my body has had this visceral shivering reaction to cold and wet … understandable I guess after what I put myself through, but weird nonetheless. Thankfully, it hasn’t been that cold and I’ve avoided much of the wet. It has made running absolutely spectacular! I’m not sure if it’s the time of year or that my attitude toward my running has gotten more relaxed, but I am really enjoying myself right now.
I’m enjoying all it actually … running, yoga, meditation. The only thing that feels out of whack still is my diet, and I’m working on that. I think staying in one place for a while might help.
Just got back from yet another work trip, this time to Midland where I have my first presentation at a legal education conference. I was pretty nervous, but thankfully it went well and I knew what I was talking about. And now I’m home for over a week!
Next up is The Big Kahuna … Cactus Rose 100 Mile trail race on Halloween. I’m having a very weird combination of feelings about attempting my first 100. There’s the obvious concern that I have completely lost my mind. Then there’s the excitement that I’m hopefully going to complete a 100 mile race (!!!). I’m nervous, I’m impatient, I just want it to be over so I can have my life back, I’m looking forward to all the things I can do that I have put off while I’ve been training (like updating this blog more than once a month). And I’m also oddly relaxed and detached and just looking forward to both living and observing the whole experience … to approach it with a plan and determination but with enough detachment to adapt to whatever happens and to enjoy the whole process as opposed to just waiting to cross the finish line.
Because it is going to be a LONG process. ;-)
