Haircuts and Races

This week has been incredibly eventful, incredibly fun, and incredibly exhausting.

It all started with a haircut. Now, this was no ordinary trim. Oh, no. This was a big-daddy haircut! This was a you-better-not-chicken-out haircut. A please-don't-be-too-attached-to-your-look-incase-it-doesn't-turn-out haircut.

Anyway.

I donated my hair! After a year and a half of growing it out, it was finally ready to be chopped off! The whole experience was exciting... and a little scary, I admit. But in the end, I'm really happy with how it turned out. Sometimes I have trouble not feeling like a boy, but I usually just over-compensate with makeup and girly clothes.

The interesting thing with this haircut has been the overwhelming amount of compliments I've received. Typically, I would expect the majority of approvals to be from other girls my age. Mostly because another female chopping off her locks is usually received with thoughts like, "Girl power! A girl chopping off her hair is liberating! You go girl! Yeah! Don't be defined by stereo-typical standards of female beauty!" and all that other jazz.

This time around (of having short hair... because I've had short hair before), the majority of people in support of my new do were men. I thought that was so cool! It has really boosted my self-esteem and made me feel like a beautiful woman, despite social norms. That is a rare and wonderful feeling.

In other news, this weekend was the Title 9K race in Chicago! The all-women race took place in Lincoln Park near the lake, and was absolutely fantastic. The weather, though chilly in the early morning, was gorgeous, and we had a breath-taking lakeside view as we ran. There were over 800 women running the race, and the estrogen levels were high. Chocolate stations, bra stations, and moms and daughters everywhere--fun stuff.

I've been training for weeks now, and I was so thrilled with the results of the run. Even though it was challenging and felt long at the time, I didn't realize how much of an effect the adrenaline rush I was receiving had.

Normally I would run 5.6 miles (right around a 9K) in about 56 minutes.

This race? I ran 5.6 miles in 48 minutes. I was so confused by my time as I crossed the finish line. I was expecting to be around 60 minutes! Victory was mine, and I devoured it like a greasy, delicious sandwich.

The race was on Sunday, and I drove up with my running mates on Friday. We explored the beautiful cities of Wheaton and Naperville, shopping around at the way-too-expensive stores and virtually buying nothing. Then Sarah's older sister, Emily, took us out to downtown Chicago Saturday night. We went to Navy Pier, watched the fire works from the top of the ferris wheel, and then spent the night in a hotel near our race location. The best part? She payed for everything. It was an incredibly sweet gesture and made the whole trip that much sweeter.

But now, I'm back in Charleston, still feeling victorious, but also feeling like a bit of a failure because I devoured every last Luna Bar we were given for free at the race. I'm feeling a bit fat. But no more! Tomorrow I'm back on the same eating schedule I have been, which has been working incredibly well for me.

All in all, things are good. I feel accomplished.

I don't want to do homework.

Running Forward

I have a strong habit of taking looong breaks of time between posts. It's just one of my many skills.

Without going through every boring detail between now and the last time I updated, I'll just hit some relevant highlights:

I am running. Running like a mad woman. I'm currently training for 2 races. One of them is October 23rd and is a 9K (kinda random distance, right?). The second is two weeks later in November. The November race is a 40 mile relay that I'll be dominating with three other people on my team. We're each running 10 miles.

The farthest I've ever ran at this point? 6 miles. I have some work to do.

Fortunately, I talked with one of my friends who has ran multiple half-marathons, and she assured me that once you can comfortably run 5 miles (I'm not sure when running becomes "comfortable"...), running 10 is just a matter of taking the time to do it.

This set my mind at ease... somewhat, because at the moment my body has forced me to take a break. After several weeks of adding significant distance, along with running 6 miles on Sunday and then 4 miles on Tuesday, shin splints kicked in with a vengeance I've never experienced.

After my 4 mile run this last Tuesday, I almost cried walking up the stairs to my apartment. I spent the next couple evenings with my legs elevated and bags of frozen corn and beans on my shins (ah, the glamour of college life). Since then I've focused on low-impact cross training and lots of stretching.

Let me also take a moment to explain my 6 mile run on Sunday...

This was the first time I'd ever gone that distance. I wasn't completely confident I'd be able to do it, but my roommate Megan and I decided to tackle the challenge together (she's running the 9K with me). We found a route on MapMyRun which was essentially a giant loop and decided that would be best. Once it got dark and cool, we went.

Something about running at night: Of course it's always good to have a running partner for safety in regards to dangerous people. But no one really warns you about low visibility coupled with dangerous terrain. This was therunning route/obstacle course from hell. At one point, there was a car driving towards us (which is completely blinding) and the sidewalk raised up at least an inch, which I did not see.

This created the perfect scenario for me to trip while in full running speed and hit the concrete.

Whoops.

Anyway. School-wise, things are good. Classes aren't very challenging. The challenging thing about classes are... the people. We're all in the same classes, so gossip is nearly inevitable. That part gets a little old. I just try to be pleasant with everyone and keep my thoughts to myself.

Also, I'm leading a small group. Once a week with 22-year-olds and up. We're studying the book of 1 John, and it's going splendidly! I am so encouraged by how engaged and excited the girls are about digging in. We always have very productive and eye-opening discussion. Love my girls.

That's my life for now. I'm getting ready to go to work. Then it's back to school!

But hey, next weekend, all this hair is getting chopped. I know a lot of people aren't necessarily pro me cutting my hair.

But! Here are the pros and cons:

Pro: People say my hair is beautiful. I can grow it for the rest of my life. Someone who DOESN'T have hair can also have beautiful hair now, too.

Con: I won't be as pretty to SOME people. People who's opinion I probably don't value that much.

Pro: It allows me to place less importance on superficial beauty, and rock whatever I've got going on.

Con: ... Can't think of one!

Boom.

Just some thoughts. =)