Monday, February 12, 2007
this is my life
Current mood: tired
The cicadas are singing so loud I can't hear what's supposed to me motivation coming from my headphones, but I keep running anyway.

The sweat rolls down my back and opens pores on my legs and it is summer.

The clouds open and the sun shines on my into the gorge, blazing and hot; my sunscreen won't protect me from my fear of finishing.

My thoughts wander as I put one foot in front of the other and I think of how my muscles will thank me later.

The sun beats down as my feet beat the pavement and I realize: this is my life.





It occurred to me as I was running that I had done everything wrong to train for the half. I no longer had a buddy (friend of mine I was supposed to run it with backed out- lives too far away now) to talk out training and most days having a staff drink while meeting new people sounded nicer to me than going for a run. Two nights before the race I went out drinking for a friend's birthday until 3am. I didn't have my salvation army sweatshirt to keep me warm before the race which I wouldn't care about losing when the weather warmed up. I didn't carry toilet paper or put on bug spray, I hadn't intentionally trained for hills, I didn't carry a gel pack to eat for energy mid-way through the race. I didn't drink a mocha or eat a normal breakfast- I ate an apple and was hungry before the race even started.

The race ended up being a steady uphill with a few downhills instead of the race in Fort Collins which was a steady downhill with a few uphills.

With all that stuff done wrong, everything was still fine. I'm still going to be more sore tomorrow than I woke up feeling today, but my actual fear of running and finishing and succeeding what sounds so difficult has diminished.

Brooke ran the last 5 kilometers with me and having her there for the home stretch was just what I needed. It's amazing what we can get energy and motivation from. Steve was at the finish line with a "YAYY ABIGAIL!" poster. I didn't feel like I was ready to collapse at the end (how I felt last time)- I felt fine. Tired, but fine.






It was different not having my parents there to cheer me on, help me prepare, and buy me lunch afterwards… =) but my life is different here, and I hope they get to come and see that too.

The owner of the restaurant where brooke and I work (House of Ales) said he would sponsor us if we wore our work shirts. Brooke: "How would you sponsor us?" Barry: "I could pay for your gas to get there. Bring me pictures and receipts." We're holding him to this.







I didn't even think I could run at the beginning of all this. Thank goodness for motivation and challenges.

I've come a long way baby. (13.1 miles to be exact)

2 hours, 11 minutes, and 54 seconds is the official time...

The rest of the weekend was spent on the beach in Westport and Punakaiki, a fur seal colony at Cape Foulwind (strange name…haha), a hot tub at the hostel, the Pancake Rocks and Truman track (track leading from highway through rainforest to pretty isolated beach), Nelson Lakes National Park, Barrytown's (supposedly) jade beach, and cafes with (mainly) good food.

Yes, this is my life.




I am quitting my job on March 7 to leave Nelson and make a road trip around the South (and eventually North) islands. Until then I'm working to make enough to afford the travel... should be a damn good time.




No idea when I'm coming home...