Tri is Coming!

I signed up officially on Monday. And 65 non-refundable dollars later accepted the fact that my foot like, kinda really hurt. So.. my first thought was that I had just wasted a lot of money. But I am being told it's just a bruised heel and it will be fine if I lay off. The good news is that the old busted shoulder is pain-free, so I am making up for all that lost swimming time this week. I am sad about the running. It is my first true love and I hold an affection for it I share only with the cookies. As I have gotten better at swimming though I do find I enjoy it more, just not as much as running (but way more than cycling). I am proud that this week I have successfully put away my security blanket - the nose clip. I no longer need it. It's hard to believe given how much I've struggled with breathing issues since I was in grade school, but I was able to cut the cord for good. I still feel like a goober, but I guess now I look less like one. One month to go!

Cotton Mill 5K

Saturday was the biggest 5K in Starkville - the Cotton Mill. Since I moved here I've only missed it once. I've done 3 different courses for it now, and it seems like they get harder with every tweak. It is my favorite 5K because there are bagels. Yes, you can buy a bagel for 50 cents, but nothing compares to paying $20 and having to run 3 miles to get a free bagel out of bag that everyone has had their sweaty hands in. They give away pottery for prizes, and I'm not sure why this excites me because I've never won any of it.. but it does. It was hot on the run and the hills, while not Oxfordesque, were still pretty sucky. But a new PR (26:06) and a good morning for running and supporting the arts in Starkville.

New Happiness

I have wanted a running skirt for a year now. I had avoided buying one because I just didn't want to spend the money. I finally broke down though. Given my issues with "chub rub", all these models with 3 in. inseams and under seemed like poor choices. I finally settled on the North Face Eat My Dust Skirt. It appealed to me because of it's 5.5in. inseam on the under shorts, and the zippy pocket in the back.

The running skirt made it's debut at the Inaugural Sally K Winters 5K in West Point. It was a night race, which is a few one for me. I didn't expect to do to well, but I was more then overwhelmed. 26:20! I have wanted to run a 26:30 for years. I always felt like if I could do that, I would really have accomplished something. And to be under it - wow! Of course I won my age group. They had really great prizes, but in the middle of all the gift cards to Umi and Old Venice, somehow my age group was for a card to Petal Pushers. Of course my first question was, "what is that?" Guess I'll have to find out since I have $25 to spend!