In other news...

Also this week, I built a new chicken coop. They think it's the best thing ever. We already have the start of a gorgeous pile of compost.

And, I went running three days this week so far. Today, for the first time, I forgot I was running while I was running. In other words, I stopped paying attention to how hard it was, and was thinking about something else. That's progress! Nine more miles on my sweet shooz.

I decided to rent the studio apartment in Socorro, and got that all set up. And I solved the problem of the arrival date. The apartment isn't available 'til the 6th, and I was supposed to be there on the 1st, and I didn't want to move twice, or live out of a rental car (I'm not going to have a car while I'm there) for a week. So, I was hanging out laundry, when it suddenly occurred to me that I should just not get there until the 6th. chuh. So I got all that sorted out.

And I only yelled at the radio a couple of times, due to our politicians acting like children. Focus, people! We have bigger problems, remember? I don't care about lipstick comments, from either party. Tell me how you are going to help me do something about climate change.

Never satisfied, am I?

So yesterday, I ran two of the three miles of the exercise loop, all the way from the Strong's Canyon bridge around to the soccer field at Mt Ogden Park.

So today, I ran from the bridge to 26th street, and then I thought, 'Why don't I just go up to the shoreline trail and go back that way?' Because it's really a long, steep climb from that spot, that's why!!! D'oh. So I only ran about a mile today, but I climbed and walked a really long way. Poor Cassie is tuckered out. (and so am I)

Off to finish my talk for Monday at ISU. But the weather is so incredible that it's hard to stay inside. Maybe I'll work on some prototype Environmental Physics projects instead. NO---bad sabbatical girl! Finish the talk! THEN go outside.

Right. Walking is good...

A little bit of running... because my legs are sore! Not painful, just sore. It's crazy to think that this whole time I only needed better shoes.

In which I discover... RUNNING!

Listed among the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten: don't run a single step until you go to a really good shoe store.

See, because I hate to run. It hurts. After three steps, my knees hurt, my shins hurt, and an hour later, my back and my hips and my calves hurt. Pretty much unpleasant from the ribcage down.

But when I told the guy at Peak Performance that I wanted to do a sprint triathlon before I'm 40 (that's some time in the next three years), he promised that with THESE shoes, I'd be having fun running, and I'd do one within a year. He spent an hour fitting me out with shoes that will protect me from my pronating self, and who knows what else. They cost me $100.

So I walked the exercise trail twice in the new shoes, and my back (specifically my sacral iliac muscles---common chick trouble-spots) didn't hurt afterwards. Then today, I had so much fun!!!! I walked until I felt like running, and then I ran until I felt like walking. Total running: 1 mile. Total walking: 2 miles. But the running was fun, and comfortable, and I don't hurt! Tomorrow, I bet I run a little more!

What does this have to do with sabbatical? not much, except that I figure if I spend the next year getting into better shape, I'll be able to *take the time* to run the loop every day, and that will help me last longer...

p.s. Go see the guy at Peak Performance!!! It's right behind the new Bingham's. Tell him I sent you. Your back will thank you...