So I'm training for a half marathon now. It's... interesting.

I'm in a constant battle: treadmill vs. outside running. I prefer treadmill exponentially because I feel like I get a better workout, it doesn't let you slow down. But, come race day, I can't just climb on the beast and press 'go.' There is such a profound difference between the two, it's uncanny. But I like treadmills a lot.. they count everything for you, they pace you, the ones at my new gym even have individual TVs built into each machine (which I'm still getting used to... the screen is almost too close..). I need to figure out a system or a plan that will force me to get outside and run. Now is the best time to do it because the weather is fantastic. All too soon it will be SUB ZERO temps. Boo.

I'm slowly coming back from my prolonged stay in the land of sloth and glutton. Slowly. I'm still trying to figure out a routine or something regular for getting to the gym without making it my only activity in the day. It becomes an event after biking there, working out and biking back.. Ideally, on a day off from work, I'd like to go spin and lift in the morning, and return at night to run. But the commute is still throwing me off. Baby steps. In all honesty I haven't tried the spinning class yet. That might be my goal for this week.

My bike broke again. Riding home from work, I hit a famous Chicago pot-hole and then the ole girl refused to pedal. I got off and pretended to know what I was doing by fiddling with the chain at the back wheel. After five minutes of looking at, pulling the chain onto different... sprockets (?) and getting a thick layer of grease on my hands, I gave up. So for just under a week I was bike-less-- meaning I walked everywhere, including the gym in all it's 3.1 mile away glory. Lordy. However, earlier this year I found a bike guy on CraigsList who goes to where ever the broken bike is! He brings his tool kit and works magic for an insanely affordable price! So I dug up his card and the Iron Horse has risen again! Super embrassing-- when he got here, and tried to pedal it to see what was really wrong (I guess my diagnosis of "...it just won't pedal.." wasn't good enough), it pedaled FINE. He goes 'You're just bored and wanted a reason to hang out with me, I bet.' ...ha! O man, isn't life funny.

I'm moving soon. So my room is bare and it's in that awkward between phase that I'm not fond of. My work schedule exploded and things were... wrong, but I still managed to be scheduled to work Saturday, Sunday and Monday. We'd planned to move Saturday, and the landlord won't let us start moving in until 5pm on Friday, and I'd have to return a UHaul by 7pm on Friday... all that to equal a sucky deal. So, my poor roommates will be moving all their stuff and the big furniture on Saturday, and I'll move my stuff on Tuesday. AWKWARD.