Half Marathon Day.

Today I ran the first half-marathon of my life... better yet, I ran (by far) the farthest I have ever run in my entire life today. It was easily the hardest physical thing I have ever done. I sit here in my bed currently in much pain... MUCH pain. I ran this half with Kristen (above). This whole ordeal began as a random goal I made in Mexico back in September... the follow-through was a little rough but hey, I have a medal.
Kristen and I around the 6 mile mark. Great friends were there to support us and it was so wonderful to have them there. Below is Kristen, Me, Robby, and Jeff. I am friends with Robby and Jeff through Pine Cove and they are dear friends.
I remember yesterday when I went to register and I ended up talking with some women who I was asking questions to concerning this power goo stuff that you take during the race. One asked me at what pace I ran. I had no idea. She then asked me how many times I had trained with the goo. Well, I had never had goo and "training" is a loose term.

These are a few mistakes I made this time around. Prioro to running a half-marathon...
DO NOT:

• "train" by running almost 4 miles as your longest run before the race
• do 4 hours of yard work two days before, resulting in the tighest hamstrings known to man
• have run a single time with your running partner prior to the race
• there a few others... but don't want to shed to much negative light on the fact that:

I FINISHED A HALF-MARATHON TODAY!

and will pay for it tomorrow in soreness. :)

Lessons Learned.

This semester has truly been one of the most different semesters I have spent in College Station. My closest friends throughout college are no longer here, or here in different form (i.e. married). I am a 5th year, and receive the question, "are you still here?" very often. I am in classes that are not very hard but also very enjoyable.

Probably the thing I feel the most difference in, is my time. Never have I been this free with my time. I have "phased out" if you will of my time commitments, except for Home Group, which never has felt like a commitment, more of something I look forward to every single week. I have realized in the last few days how grateful I am for having time.

Last semester I learned a lot. A whole lot. One of the lessons I learned over and over and over again was how little control I had over really everything. Flexibility was the name of the game, and never has being flexible been so hard. I shed many tears last semester for many reasons, but I think they all stemmed from me not being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted... sounds kinda selfish, huh? For example, talk to my friends and family when I wanted, drive alone in my car, run into the grocery store and pick up the things I needed, or communicate in-depth with the people in my home... those things were not possible.

Coming back, I can see these lessons being fleshed out in my life. I like to wake up everyday with little plans. I have class, and then basically nothing else... and it has been so fun. Tonight I went to Rec Center and swam, I walked around College Station for a WHILE today when my car was being worked on, I did things I never do here in this town... and all because I am just going with the flow. Yesterday I got to translate Spanish for a friend. I have found friends in random places around town. I could go on... but I am learning to not try too hard to be in control. And it's working nicely.