Merry Christmas. Time for a run.

You know you're a runner (or just really wierd) when a fun Christmas activity is a 12.9 mile run.

Granted, it was a beautiful winter day here in the Chicago area... probably upper 30s, sunny, mild wind. And I did already sign up to do a half marathon on Super Bowl Sunday. I knew that I'd *have* to run over the holidays so I'm able to successfully complete the 13.1 mile race. An my mom lives about three miles from the entrance to the Illinois Prairie Path, which is a great car-free path that winds through the western 'burbs. It's mostly gravel (which my knees appreciated), lined with trees and relatively uninterrupted by intersections. It's one of the (or the, depending on your source) first "rails to trails" trails that was constructed from an old railroad line.

Still, almost 13 miles on Christmas?

Who am I kidding? This does not make me a runner. This makes running my much-needed-over-the-holidays-Prozac.

Looking back, I think that music was my outlet during middle school and high school. During high school, I practiced clarinet with such frequency and intensity that I was, without realizing it, really releasing stress through music. Sure, there were times when band was a stressor, but music itself is so different from other parts of one's life. My senior year of high school, friend and distance runner AD (now AS) got me to join track. And thank goodness. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I played clarinet occasionally in college, but haven't picked it up for many years now. But I always have a pair of running shoes around. And I make time for endurance activities, like biking, swimming and running. Running makes me feel good and relaxes me.

I have made it through difficult times this year by leaning on friends and family. Everyone has been so awesome and I am beyond grateful. And for the pieces that I have had to work through on my own, I thank my running shoes and my bicycle. And I thank my body for letting me do these things. I know that I am lucky to have this outlet.

What do you do? How do you cope? Drinking, music, crafts, cooking, reading, sleeping, sports, talking, medicine, computer games, shopping...

Wow. This is a really cheesy post. I really need to get back to posting about solar panels, waste reduction and public transportation.

One more semester done

I just finished my 3rd semester of my MBA program. One more semester to go! June 2008!!!

I have tons of interesting news articles to share, probably some hilarious stories to post, etc, so I'll get on that sometime this week. Or not. We'll see. I need some time away from the computer.

I do now accept that it is December, but I'm not really convinced that I'll be back in Illinois next week. Baby steps...

December?!?

That is all.