So, last Sunday, I decided to run my third half marathon: the Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon. I ran the 10K last year and had a great race, so I figured I'd give it a try. On the same day as my master's degree graduation. Not my best idea...

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The short version:
Previous PR: 2:42:24
Goal: 2:36:00
Clock Time: 2:41:56
Chip Time: 2:34:52 (New PR!)
Overall: 5903/6779
Women: 3330/4000
Division (25-29): 752/849

It's not a super impressive PR, but considering the level of training I was at before the race, I'm very happy with it. My next race is the Warrior Dash Ohio on June 5, so I'll be using the time between now and that race to focus on speed, since I'll have to start back with distance training after that race for the fall races I'm thinking about.

Books Read in 2010

Rereads are italicized.
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Total: 75

I'm so close to the end of my first year of grad school that I can almost taste it (one more project, which is due tomorrow at 10AM). Scary to think I've been living on my own for almost nine months now and that it's been that long since I finished JVC. I'll do a more substantive update when I finish everything (Can anyone tell that I'm procrastinating?).

My last race was a bit of a disaster (chest cold, 40 degrees, no running for almost a week beforehand), so I pinned my hopes on the Cleveland 10-miler for an ego boost.

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x-posted to runners

So many things I want to read, so little time. Mergh. May can't come soon enough.

In the winter, running is a labor of love. What else would get a normally sane person out the door in ten degree weather for eight miles? Days like today, when it's still snowing, I have a run scheduled, and I know I won't get home until after five make me wish I lived in a warmer climate.

I both love and hate winter running. I hate it, because I can't get a good rhythm for needing to stop for traffic on the roads and being at a low performance level. I also hate having to run in the dark with ice. I also love winter running, because it's teaching me the mental endurance I'm going to need for the racing season. I think I'm the most eager for spring that I've ever been, because I know that there are a ton of races around the corner. I have a trail race on Sunday that I'm a bit horrified about due to the mass amounts of snow and cold, but I'll barrel through it, since I've been looking forward to it for a while now. I just can't wait for spring!

I hate the treadmill so very much. I've tried everything I can think of to make myself like it: changing my music, watching a movie, reading a book and cutting my speed, but nothing seems to work. Here's a resolution: love the dreadmill. Gah. I did buy these cool things called Yak Traks; they attach to the bottom of your shoes like crampons so you can run in the snow. I'm hoping to try them out tomorrow.

New semester in a week. I'm SO excited for my new classes: Gothic Lit and Rhetoric. I'm so glad I got to pick classes I actually want to take. Additionally, I can't believe I start consulting next week! It's a bit scary, since I've never taught a full class before. I guess I'll figure out if I like teaching. ;)

I am: Octavia E. Butler A voice truly unique in all of literature.

Which science fiction writer are you?

Sa-weet. I'll take it. :)

I ran my third 5K on December 4 in Lakewood, OH. I'm a bit late in posting, so here we go!

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Next up for me: Run with Your Heart 8K on Valentine's Day in Willoughby Hills, OH. It will be my first trail race, but I've run parts of the course before, so I'm not as intimidated by it, though I know it will be different from my usual road races.

x-posted to runners.