Rather than have a set distance, I just ran out the house and decided to see how I felt.

Bike path near my parents' house. It was a beautiful day yesterday!

I had so much energy, but knew I wouldn’t last on a long run, so I decided to do my own little speed workout. Pretty much ran at med- to high- intensity for as long as possible, then walked to catch my breath. And repeat. Pretty scientific, no?

I also took a picture of myself running, but it’s waaay to bad to put up, which is saying a lot. I’ve posted some pretty darned ugly photos before.

Instead, here’s a different running photo (last time I promise):

So serious! Hahaha.

So this week will be my first week “back” in training. The rough plan is to put in 30 miles this week, and 40 the next, and then follow one of the training plans from Relentless Forward Progress. I am going to play it by ear this week since I’m still not sure how my legs are recovering. Note to self: ICE, STRECH, AND ROLL OUT MUSCLES!!! DON’T BE STOOPID AND THINK YOU’LL RECOVERY EASILY!!

On a side note, my life has become a little less aimless as of late. I found out last week that I passed my CSET. For those of you who don’t know, the CSET is the California Subject Exam for Teachers. Since I want to teach high school English, I had to pass 4 subtests despite the fact that I have a B.A. in English. Since I was pretty cocky and didn’t study (um, kinda like how I didn’t train for AR50…), it took me 3 times to pass the last subtest. But I passed, finally, and that’s all that matters to me. What this means is that I’ll be back in school this fall, to student teach for 2 semesters. And in a little over a year, I’ll *hopefully* have my Teaching Credential. Yay! This means that if all goes well, I’ll FINALLY be an adult just months shy of my 30th birthday.

What this also means is that it’s back to work for me! I’m still pursuing getting a personal training certification (from ACE), because I want to have the knowledge as well as the possibility of training in the future. So until school resumes, it looks like I’ll be training part time, studying part time, and back at good ol’ ZombieRunner part time. So if any of y’all have shoe/gear/nutrition/compression/insole/headlamp/etc. questions, I’m your running gear expert! Feel free to comment or email me questions regarding gear anytime.

]]> http://www.runningaimlessly.com/?feed=rss2&p=301 0 http://www.runningaimlessly.com/?p=171&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=craigslist-monday http://www.runningaimlessly.com/?p=171#comments Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:21:20 +0000 http://www.runningaimlessly.com/?p=171 Continue reading →]]> For those of you who are new to my blog, I am an unemployed 28 year old trying to find my calling in life (who also enjoys running. and is aimless). While I’m pretty dead set on getting my teaching credential, I still have to pass the CSET and if I do pass, I have a few months until I go back to school. Until then, I’m keeping my eyes open for interesting jobs that might turn into promising careers. Craigslist is always sure to provide some great gems, and I like to post these opportunities on my blog so others can reap the benefits as well:

Now Auditioning Exotic Dancers (north beach / telegraph hill)

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Date: 2012-04-02, 12:16PM PDT

This job appeals in SO many was. “No experience necessary”, “Will train”, “Make your own schedule”?? And you get paid in cash-money? Almost sounds too good to be true! While part of me wants to say MAKE IT RAIN!!!, another part of me knows that deep down, I wouldn’t get the job. First of all, I’m no longer young and certainly never was charming. Secondly, I saw this add last week which means they’re probably looking for someone with real talent. Otherwise they’d have FOR SURE filled the position already. “No experience necessary” my arse!! So as great an opportunity as it is, I don’t think I’ll apply–my self esteem couldn’t take the rejection. *sigh* 

Oh, and my dad would surely kill me.

Back to the drawing board…

Went to the gym around 11:30. Since it was a “day off” I ran a fast mile not super slow mile on the treadmill, biked for an hour while reading the Cider House Rules, and rowed for a few minutes. (Is it rude to wear earplugs at the gym? Two women were “biking” next to me and gossiping and I did not care to hear half of what I heard.) Came home and showered. (Just ‘cause I’m unemployed doesn’t mean I don’t got good hygiene. Or grammar.) Took the boyfriend to school. Tony recently had surgery on his right knee. Since I’m such a great girlfriend, and I don’t want him driving like a madman straddling the gearshift and using his left leg on the gas, I took him to class. Since it’s kind of far from home, I used the time he was in class to study in my car. I’ve been studying to become a personal trainer. I know, I said I want to be a teacher and this is still true. However, it’s good to have a back-up plan. I also want something to keep myself afloat while I’m student teaching.

This is me studying. Or pretending to study while pretending NOT to take a picture.

After school, around 8 or so, Tony and I went to Safeway to get the goods to make this delicious dinner:

Tilapia, wild rice, and salad. We're ALWAYS this healthy, I swear ;)

Then it was time for Six Feet Under reruns, Gobstoppers, and bedtime.

Exciting, no?

Statue of Liberty Wavers (petaluma)

Are you energetic and have a great smile? Ready to burn some calories? Ready to show your moves?
We have waver positions open at this time. Wavers energetically wave at cars going by and get a lot of honks and waves.
We have four hour shifts available now in Petalum and Rohnert Park.

If you are ready to wave……

Call Marcia at (***) ***-**** or respond by email. Hiring Organization: Marcia

• Compensation: $9.00 per hour

Sounds good. My arms could use the workout. As long as I can use my cell phone like this guy: 

A highlight:

“ping pong player (lower haight)

I have a nice table but no partner. Will pay a good player to come over several hours a week to play and to teach me. (I play well enough but could get a lot better.)

Compensation: $20 an hour”

You would think being half-Chinese might help me with this one, but no, I suck. Too bad!! $20/hr ain’t nuthin’ to laugh at. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that “ping pong player” might be a euphemism for something else… hmm.

Thanks for NOT passing on the ping-pong gene Mom! :(

Lovely photo of me. Happy Tuesday!

I’ve been a runner on and off for the last 15 years or so. I ran cross-country in middle and high school and was always a middle-of-the-packer. I picked up running again about 7 years ago because of my love for ice cream. (Well, I had other reasons, but mostly ice cream. And doughnuts.) I’m an EXTRAORDINARILLY mediocre runner… so why the heck am I blogging? Because I’ve decided I want to do MORE with running, like run my first (and second) 50 miler and possibly 100 mile race. You know that saying? If a bear craps in the woods and no one steps in it, did it really happen?? Well, that’s why I’m documenting all of this. Otherwise I’ll never really know if I just imagined it all.

Aimless[ly]…

I’m 28 years old and unemployed. Voluntarily, mind you. No, I am NOT lazy. (Well, I am, but that’s neither here nor there.) I’m just tired of spinning my wheels and waitressing and salesgirling while I figure out what it is I REALLY WANT TO DO with my life. I have a degree in English Literature but never figured out what to do with it. Careers I’ve considered: Physical Therapist, Personal Trainer, Dietitian, Book Editor, Magazine Person, Cupcake Store Owner, Chef, Teacher, School Counselor, Therapist, Novelist, Ice Cream Taster…  If I could make a living running I would, but I’m RIDICULOUSLY SLOW and I don’t think they give prizes for that.

The reason I took time off from working is to run as many ultras as I can, and explore possible career choices. Right now the flavor of the year is teaching. I’ll likely resume school in August (if I pass the CSET, fingers crossed), and in the meantime I might try substituting and get my personal training certification. I’ve worked hard for the last 10 years and have saved up enough to indulge myself for a few months. Keeping my eyes and my mind open…