Finally

Well I finally got out there and ran my first run of 2010. Yesterday I was back in my hometown of Berea and decided I needed to get my ass out there, so Viper and I hit the pavement in my hometown neighborhood and off we went. I don't know if it was the excitement of finally getting out or if it was the fear of an old high school classmate seeing me run, but I bounded out at a pace that was more fitting of the Vip and not of me. But in good form I kept going after that first too fast mile (with some encouragement) and completed my short little jaunt around Berea. The strange part of the run - the fog. There was a weird winter fog permeating the streets and it was pretty darn dense. Maybe not being able to see too far ahead of you when running is a good thing? Regardless, I am quite happy that I finally got my ass back into gear. And today? Well... the legs are a bit sore, but it's that "hurt so good" kind of pain.

Now that I've gotten myself going again... what to expect.

Hell if I know. I've been trying to find some inner peace as of late - the stress of thesis deadlines is really starting to get to me and the semester starts this week. With more students than last semester I'm anxious and after a month and some odd days off I'm strangely nervous to get in front of the classroom again. I haven't set any running goals yet because I fear a goal overload. I have teaching goals and thesis goals and graduation goals and health/weight goals... and now running goals?

Seriously. Can a person have too many goals? This zen blog says so, but is that really my only option - one at a time?

So I am soliciting the help of this online community of running crazies. What do you think? Can I make multiple goals for myself without going nuts and short circuiting? How do you handle stress and getting multiple tasks/goals (i.e. thesis, work, running) done? And please remember, I'm one of those annoying perfectionist types. Damn my need to always be awesome.

I'll take all the help I can get!

I just had to post of pic of Dobson the wonder puppy! :-) Four months old and he's nearly 40 pounds!

So Far, So Very Good

I know I've been gone from the blog-o-sphere for a bit, but I warned that such would happen. (See last blog) So, I'm sure all of you have been anxiously wondering what I have been up to. There has been much in the way of Christmas and New Years merriment, but that's not the big news at all. And yes, there is indeed big news....The Viper and I have a new pet. No, it's not a rock - it's a puppy! I have aptly named him Dobson King and he's the cutest 14 week old Old English Sheepdog I have ever seen.



With this new addition life has been pretty crazy, I haven't been much for running lately, but I have been for walking the dog twice a day. That's gotta count for something, right?

As for my thesis, I doubt I'll reach the verbose heights of Mr. Loser's 220 page thesis, but at least I've actually started writing it - HUGE step in the right direction. And Mike, lemme tell you, it feels good to know that there are other Byzantinists out there that know how to use a computer, let alone how to blog on one. I have had nightmares where I'm a tenured professor in the classroom having to ask the students "How do you turn this damn thing on?" in reference to any one of the pieces of technology in the room. Scary.

I am hoping to get my first run of 2010 in soon, but considering the Akron weather forecast, it likely won't happen until the high reaches at least 30. Until then I'll take the puppy walking. :0)