I was just so busy....

Studying for finals.

Running a half marathon. (1:52 due to HILLS, 33 degrees, rain, and too much wine the night before)

Having mommer visit for the weekend.

Hanging out at bars in Charlotte with Jerry.

Sitting in the airport waiting to fly home.

Planning out my future, one PhD program at a time.

Sleeping.

Stressing over "the perfect" Christmas gift....is there such a thing?

Browsing Tiffany's & Co. (www.tiffany.com) Enjoy.

Putting Jerry's face in dancing elves, and singing santas, and joyous reindeers (see most recent...or not so recent post)

Working.

EATING.

Not blogging.

I was just so busy not blogging that I had no time to blog. In fact, I was so busy studying while sitting on my couch and watching The Office re-runs and creeping on high school classmates on facebook* (and calling friends with the "guess who is engaged?") that the last thing I would be able to do is write about what I have been doing.

Well, my first semester at WFU has come and gone, I got by with all A's and a B+ in Biomechanics, my "specialty" no doubt, so I am off to a great start. I would like to say I am the smartest kid in my class but that would be a lie. But I do like to pat myself on the back (and I can tell you what muscles I have to use in order to do that). I have made a couple new friends, successfully made my apartment "home", and have succeeded, I believe, in "growing up" a little bit...as much as it pains me to admit it.

So, now I am home in the the greatest state in the US of A. Ohio. I left 60 degree weather in Charlotte and came to 2 inches of snow , and 25 degrees. I couldn't help but smile. I ran 6 miles on ice this morning, and it was the best run I have had in awhile. I had to scrape ice of the windshield this morning. I loved it. I even busted out my snow boots to run out and get the mail. More just because I wanted to believe I had to wear snow boots, but all in all, I love those Columbia Boots - and I surely will not get any use of them in Winston-Salem NC. I don't know what it is, but I love this state. I can't wait til I become super grown up and can move back to Ohio and be freezing and miserable in the winter. Something about Christmas with no snow that just doesn't seem right.




*let it be known that I spend ENTIRELY too much time on facebook per day/hour. You want to know who is engaged? Oh, I can tell you. Where, when, how, why, who.....and I may not have ever even talked to this person in high school before...but her locker was kinda by mine? Justified to creep on her life.

What I do during finals week

http://www.dancingsantacard.com/en/?santa=692706

Just a little early Christmas jingle to get everyone in the holiday spirit!

Turkey Day Thanks(giving)

I went home to the best state in the US this last week (Ohio) for Turkey Time. I ran 40 miles while I was home and during these miles - I had a lot of time to think. Since I am crazy and run so much, I also do a lot of thinking. I think about 40 miles a week. I wonder how many thoughts per mile I average. Anyways, on a longer run I started to think of things I was thankful for...you know to try and get me in the thanksgiving spirit...

My Thankfulness List:

1) I'm thankful for where I am today. I am one of 8 HES graduate students attending Wake Forest University, one of the top in the country.

2) I'm thankful for any faculty member who has ever pushed me to be where I am today. This more than anything includes Dr. Vanderburgh, Dr. Seay, and Dr. Laubach - who pushed me more than I had wanted at the time, but have made me who I am and have given me the abilities to be where I am today. (Even though I will attribute my adherence to their pushing to Dr.Vanderburgh's stunning looks and my desire to always want to impress him)

3) The runners who have inspired me to keep running when it hurts. My iPod especially. She ran her 2nd marathon last week and would have BQed had she not vomit 6 times between miles 20 and 21 - her passion for running always seems to give me the extra boost I need to keep going. Other runners include Paul Vanderburgh (aka Dr...but in a running world, he is Paul), Dr. Messier (who is 60 and still cooking marathons 3:20), and my mother.

which brings me to...

4) My mother. One of the most amazing and inspiring people I have ever met - started running a couple months ago and is now running a half marathon with me this weekend. She is one of the most cool tempered people I know. She inspires me every day to be more like her. You can tell she loves what she does, even if she does have bad days...and sometimes it is all I need to keep my going.

5) Paul Vanderburgh's good looks. A couple examples: "You should run a marathon" Okay, Ill run 2. "You should go to grad school". Okay, Ill go to the best in the country. "You should present this research in Seattle". Okay, anything for you, Ill even pay for it.

5) Jerry Patterson*. I cant even being to talk about how thankful I am for this stud. He is the reason I wake up every morning with a smile, and why I go to sleep smiling. He makes my hardest weeks easy, just knowing he is waiting to see me on the weekend. He can always make me laugh even if the worst has happen (like I get a B on an exam...God forbid). His way of dealing with things is so admirable that I can only hope that some day I can be understanding and loving towards everyone as him. I am thankful for every minute we spend together, whether it be in Chicago or Boston exploring new cities or it be on my couch watching NFL football while he plays fantasy (gross....ITS A FANTASY).

6) The Green House Girls. My best friends. The 8 girls I lived and spent all my time with at Dayton. I cant be more thankful for them. They will always be there for me, no matter what happens, and I always love getting the email updates to see who the new flavor of the weeks are for most of them. The affairs, the gossip, the drama...we all thrive for it, but no one ever wants to be a part of it. While they are all far far away from me now, and I am in lonely old W-S with no friends and a pile of homework up to my chin, I still call them my best friends and they always will be.

8) Chocolate. God's gift.

So these things were just a couple things that I could think of that I am eternally thankful for, and I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for any of them (especially chocolate, because I would be 20 pounds lighter). So now for left overs (which I can also say I'm thankful for)



*Jerry...just an inside joke to protect his identity....so no other girlys reading my blog can look him up and take him away from me ;)

Runners "Hi"

After running 2 marathons, I know what that runners high is...you get it after 15 or 16 miles and you start thinking "huh, that isn't so bad, I feel great". Then you get to 21 or 22 and its a different story and you start thinking "why does anyone do this?", "this sucks", "I think I am going to die. Right now". This feeling is awful, but the runners high you get early is an amazing feeling - I have learned being the nerd that I am, that this high is a rush of endorphins...so it is kinda like a drug. So sweet, I guess I'm not drug free - sorry D.A.R.E.

But there is this other high that I think is less Physiological - and its a runners "hi". I became especially aware of it this morning while I was on a quick 6 mile run. After running over 30 miles earlier this week, this "quick six" was painful - and I had a couple bouts of "this sucks" and "I think I am going to die", etc. However, Saturday morning is a runners haven. So many runners - especially today. 50 degrees, sunny, calm and quiet. So soothing. I passed 6 or 7 runners this morning, 4 of them said "hi", gave a little smile and wave, or even said a "beautiful morning for a run, huh?". I find that these other runners are what keeps me going. Seeing them, and having them acknowledge me is almost like a little high - I always pick up my pace a little bit - and all the pain I was feeling is relieved for a little while. A high from a hi.

Yesterday on a 10 miler - I passed a lady as I was running up a steep, long hill. She said "Keep it up, this ones a killer". I smiled and laughed - then an hour later when I was running down it she was running up it - "killer." she said - and I told her "it's good for you". Love it. Wednesday on an 8 miler and 60-70 year old man passed me 3 or 4 times on his bike "wow girl, how far are you going?" When I told him 8 he laughed and just said "Good for you! I'm glad you are out here!". Love it. They give you a reason to be out there - they make you feel good when you may be feeling awful.

Further on that, I can't stand the runners I pass that look at the ground and don't bother to smile, say hi, or even acknowledge that I am there, running on the same road. I know they see me, they move over so we don't crash into each other. We are all runners - we are out there, we are friends of the road - say hello, make me feel like you enjoy being out there - that way I can enjoy it as well. I even go so far as to waving at the guy running on the other side of the 4 lane highway*. Makes me feel good, makes him feel good. Maybe I'm addicted to the hi. Maybe I need the hi to get me through the run.

Someday I am hoping that one of these runners I say hi to will say "I see you running a lot, what are you training for? Want to run with me?" Maybe this will be how I make running friends. Until that day happens, I'm going to keep waving, and try to make everyone believe that I am having a great time, and that my body doesn't feel like it got ran over by a tractor. But hey, I'm a runner. We are stupid. We run when it hurts. We like it went hurts. We never stop. We...or maybe just I...get a high from the hi's. So keep them coming!


*Note to readers/mothers, there is a sidewalk and I am only running on this 4 lane highway for .2 miles - danger factor minimal

RunnersWorld

I'm afraid my title to this blog is quite misleading in that Winston Salem, NC is in fact NOT RunnersWorld. In the 4 months I have been living here, I have ran with another person once. I also (and I will blame this on the lack of running partners, the lack of running routes, and the extreme NC humidity that sat in the air in August and September) have reduced my miles since I have moved here significantly.....to about 15 a week. Kind of a difference from 40. I'd even go so far to say that this is a statistically significant difference since I'm a nerd and choose to apply everything to stats when I get a chance.

I have run 2 marathons. I am crazy. I am about to sign up for another one in March. I am insane. I currently run 15 miles a week. I suck. I am not prepared. This post will serve as motivation - a mantra if you will, that I will get back into it...even if it means I have to run alone. I even ran 7 miles today through Tropical Storm Ike, it was pouring, it was cold, it was windy, it was lunch time - I felt like a real runner again. It was amazing. Tomorrow we will continue the running. Jerry told me that if you do something for 17 days it becomes a routine. Somehow I doubt that I will get into a routine if I run for 17 straight daya, I may just want to stop running all together. Forever. I'll shoot for 2.

When I was living in Dayton (God's Country), I had friends among friends to run with - all my same pace. I even had one particular friend, we will call her my iPod since she served as mine for the 2 years I ran with her at Dayton, she was wonderful. 6 miles, 8 miles, 20 miles, she was there, chatting my ear off. We knew everything about each other and we were matched step for step. My iPod moved to Philly. I moved to Winston Salem. I miss my iPod. So much, I have actually considered buying my own iPod, the ones that play music. However, those don't listen when I want to complain my legs are moving, or that I am so hung over, or that I had a bad day, etc. My old iPod that left me did that. Where can I get a new one of those?

Must be Monday, What a Dumb Day

So I survived my Biomechanics Presentation. Downed by "um" count to 15 um's per minute. So an improvement from 30 upm ... overall, an accomplishment.

Of course, once again, its Monday. I have 2 exams this week. One tomorrow. One Wednesday. Have I prepared for them? Depends on who you ask...if you ask Jerry*, he will say "Kenz is such a dork, of course she is prepared, shes been studying for 3 weeks". However, if you ask me....its more of a "oh my gosh, Im going to fail, Im going to get kicked out of grad school, Im never going to get married, never going to get a job, live in a box, die in a street". We call this the downward spiral that I can tend to do. While I have spent close to 3 hours of my "study time" hypothesizing this downward spiral, eating, facebooking, surfing (however, I feel I am an awful surfer, more on that in a later post), I still do not feel prepared and probably will not going into tomorrow. Besides, I have a lot better things to do tonight than study.

I have a soccer game in an hour.
I have to put dishes in my dishwasher.
Jerry is online.
My bed needs made.
I should empty the trash.
Where are my clothes for the soccer game?

So, lame excuses. However, they will probably work. I also am still recovering from a weekend of Martinsville coming to visit me in Charlotte. The brain cells are somewhere scattered around uptown Charlotte, or maybe in a cab somewhere, or god forbid a McDonald's wrapper. This makes it just as difficult to go study health and all the things I need to NOT be doing in order to live healthy and disease free. So I'm a hypocrite....like you have never met a fat doctor?

Things I should share for the day....(cuz they are just too good not to)

I started counting my calories. I'm at 700 today. I decided to leave out dinner, the 3 snickers mini bars I had at lunch, the fudgesicle I just ate, as well as the 3 packs of Mike and Ike's I stole from my office neighbor E-beth. And Im lucky she didnt catch me - shes a feisty one. I don't think Ill count calories anymore. And in case you forgot, yes I am a health and exercise specialist.

This morning I saw amazing 70 year old boobs. Lady had not worn a bra since the 60s - said she was quite a "wildflower" and then asked me if I did anything to free my soul this weekend. She walked for 8 minutes on the treadmill before complaining of shortness of breath. Surprised she wore shoes.

On that note, I just had another downward spiral that someday I may not have a job cuz I fail my tests this week, so then I cant afford a bra, and then I wont be able to walk on a treadmill for 8 minutes. Cardio notes, here I come.





*Jerry - not the real name, but the pseudo-inside joke-made up name that never fails to make me smile

Biomechanics Presentations

So tomorrow lies the biggest day of graduate school thus far.

It is my Biomechanics Presentation.

I have been rehearsing it over and over and over, so much that I do it in my sleep, and yet, I have no idea what Im talking about. Allow me to give a run through of what this presentation is all about....

Imagine you have this professor who is "the shit" and when I say this, I don't mean he is super cool - I mean he is the head in his field and could almost be considered a celebrity research. He is all that and more. He does this annual "Biomechanics Symposium" where all us 8 grad students choose a topic, and topic, and then have 10 minutes to talk it - and 5 minutes to answer questions. Questions that will come from and one of these 200 people we will be standing in front of presenting data we don't even fully understand. Needless to say, I'm a little nervous. Let me also stress that this presentation is worth 30% of our final grade in the class - so it is kind of a big deal.

The grade is divided into content and style. So, obviously, Ill be pulling out that Banana Republic Suit and pray he doesn't know it is last years line. That should get me my style points. As far as content.....well lets just hope that he doesn't know anything about "Soldier Load Carriage" - the genius topic I have picked based on my internship where I worked for the army and thought it would be easy based on my first hand experience. Stress on the the word thought.

I videotaped my self an hour ago giving the speech.

I said "um" 46 times. In 10 minutes. That's close to 5 um's a minute. Is it because I don't know what I'm talking about. Yup. That is pretty much why.

Oh but wait - it gets better.

The symposium goes for 2.5 hours (there is a small refreshment break in the middle - unfortunately I will be so near vomiting that refreshments will not be looking appealing). There are 8 of us presenting. And, oh, lucky me....spot number 8. The grand finale. The Last Hurrah. The end of all ends. Im going to have pit stains as large as basketballs in my BR suit by the time I'm up there. The only thing that will get me through this will be the cold beer I know that is waiting in my fridge as soon as I get home. And maybe the Wendy's conveniently placed on my ride home (after all, nothing says "you've had a hard day" quite like a spicy chicken sandwich and a frosty - especially if it is complimentary).

So, I have probably put off reviewing this presentation again too long. I've reached the end of stalling and I probably should now look into ironing my suit. And looking for some extra strength antiperspirant.

Graduate School.

As of 2 weeks ago I was beginning to think Graduate School was a little bit of a joke.

I have succeeded in getting A's and one B on all my quizzes and exams (not to brag) and have not in any means suffered in the weekend excursions to bars, clubs, and house parties. I have gotten my daily sweat in and have succeeded in keeping my own apartment somewhat respectable. Just as I was beginning to feel a little cocky and thinking Wake Forest didn't have shit on me, this terrible thing happened.

I now find myself contemplating not driving down to Charlotte for the Halloween weekend activities, in which I have been planning my costume only since last November 1st. I'm considering skipping it so I can sit at home and work on the 50% of my grade Biomechanics project talking about how the load a soldier wears increases his/her potential for injury. Awesome. Just when I was thinking Wake Forest was just a less cool University of Dayton it has taken the plunge from less cool to "no fun".

Sure, I am getting an awesome education - and I'm sure I'll be able to fulfill all my dreams and go on to getting an awesome job...when I'm 30 and finally done with all this schooling. However, I still find myself in that "I'm a college student and Saturdays and Sundays are days of recovery, not days of catching up" mentality. How to rid myself of that one...hmm, I'm still not too sure I'm ready to let go of it. Don't get me wrong...I would be lying if I said I didn't love school, and I didn't look forward to coming every day and learning new things about health and fitness. I love health and fitness. I would even go so far to say its my passion. But, I also have this other passion for fun. I just love fun. I look forward to my weekends away from work and from thinking. Conclusion: I am willing to stick with my "work hard, play hard" attitude and I'll just hope my looks, these wonderful brains I have genetically gained from my mother, my passion, and my oh-so charming personality get me through.

With that being said, Charlotte, I would like you to know, you will see me this weekend in full penguin outfit. As far as you, Biomechanics Presentation, I'll see you on Monday.