Brrrrrr

I surprisingly held up my 'won't run till my new shoes come' statement. I swam and biked a lot over those four days. My new shoes came in their pink and orange glory (these are the color I wanted originally, but the store didn't have when I bought a pair awhile ago for the triathlon). So the next day I ran after work. Then I ran the next morning and my foot still hurts. A lot. WHYYYYY. It seriously irritates me when something hurts bad enough to limit me from what I want to do. After I ran for the first time, it wasn't awful, but after running the next morning it was. So maybe I just need to ease back into it or something..? I hate that. Frustrating.

When I ran Saturday morning, it was with the Fleet Feet Fun Run. A group meets at Fleet Feet- Lincoln Square every Monday and Wednesday evening, and Saturday mornings to go on a run that can be 3,4,5, or 6 miles. I'd like to go with them more often. I popmpously thought 'Oh pacing won't be a big deal, I might be towards the front of the pack,' remembering TNT training. But 8 people showed up to run (a fair turnout considering the freezing weather-- well almost, it was 38, feels like 8). But no one there was slow. I guess people who go on fun runs are usually good runners. Shoot. But I can see it being good motivation to go running as that has been hard to come by lately. And if you go to 10 runs, you get a free shirt. Yes please.

The weather is getting colder. I walked to church this morning (the whole block and a half) and there were snow flurries. I hate it when it gets cold, and the coming of winter has solidified my plan to move away from this city next October. I kinda wish I could leave now.

I chopped my hair off. I'd wanted to do it since June, but didn't want to endure the triathlon with short hair that couldn't be contained, then the same applied for the half marathon a week ago. So now that it's over, I found a salon that would cut it for free if I donated 10 inches to Locks of Love. I'm broke as a joke (not a funny one at that), so I jumped on the opportunity. It's hard to run with short hair. There aren't enough clips in the world to contain my mop. Shoot. It isn't ponytail length despite my very clear and specific instruction to 'maintain ponytial length.' What can ya do, good thing it grows, eh? That has been the latest development in my absolutely THRILLING life.

People keep asking me what big race I'm going to do next and I don't know what to say to them.
There aren't a lot of races happening because it's freezing, and to be honest, my foot hurts. I can't really train for something right now because if I run my foot hurts and that is not conducive to anything good. I'm pretty sure I still want to do a half ironman next year (which one, where, every necessary detail, I dont' know) I think it's what I'd like to do. I'd need a training program, though. TNT does one in Michigan-- Steelhead, but I don't know if I can fundraise again. Fundraising for Accenture taught me a lot and I saw a lot of cool things happen, and I wouldn't change that experience for the world, but I don't know how I feel about hitting up people for money all the time. Even if it doesn't go to me, asking people for money is the last activity I'd choose... ever. So we'll see I guess. I kinda don't like it when people ask me what I'm training for because then I feel like I should be training for something and then when I admit 'nothing' I feel like I'm not doing as much as I could be or something.

I just want to leave Chicago. I want to go to California, and yes for the nice weather. Call me lame and whatever because I am just like every other shallow clown out there, but I seirously cannot handle this cold. And it's still in the 30's which is TROPICAL compared to what it will be soon.
Pray for me.