Last year, my friend Nik told me about this app called “Zombies, Run!” that was looking for funding from KickStarter. After hearing the pitch, I immediately pledged to fund the game because with the right funding, it’ll be brilliant. The application is basically a running game that actually takes place in the zombie apocalypse. You run from zombies, collect supplies and more. Check out the video above for more info on how the game actually works. It’s slated for release at the end of February, which is perfect since I’ll be logging quite a few miles by then. YAY. XD
This is it. It’s finally time! Last year I said, “if all goes well [speaking of the half-marathon], it’s on to the full”. Guess what! IT’S ON!
I started running races three years ago with the thought of a marathon simply that, a thought. I was struggling with knee problems and no matter how great I thought it would be to run a marathon, I figured it wouldn’t be in the cards. Then, I was told by a very good friend, “If you want to run a marathon, your knees will find a way.” I took this piece of advice without a second thought and since then, it has echoed in my mind.
So, I kept running. My muscles and knees became stronger. I ran some 5ks, then a 10k and last year was the half-marathon. Now it’s finally time to complete this serious life goal that I’ve had my eye on.
I did some research around the country on different marathons and I chose Ojai 2 Ocean for numerous reasons. The fact that the race is limited to 1000 entrants caught my eye, mostly because some of the bigger races are frustrating. People end up in the wrong corrals and cause traffic jams due to their slower pace, which means those people who accurately gauged their corral number/time end up being slowed down. In addition, the race is partially downhill, which meets my requirement of “not uphill”, and the temperature is ideal in 50s and 60s. The main reason, though, is that the mere thought of running through the beautiful scenery of California, completing such an important life goal of mine, running my way to the pacific ocean just makes me smile.
I’ve already started running this year and am up to 8 miles on a good day. Marathon training officially starts next week, but I feel like I’m already pre-training. I’m following Hal Higdon’s plan again, probably boosting the mileage slightly as I had done for the half.
I can’t even express how excited I am to start this journey. Some people don’t quite understand why this is so important to me, but the fact remains, it is. I really want to prove to myself that I can do it. I want this accomplishment under my belt. My first goal is to finish. My second goal is to finish in under 4 hours, 20 minutes, which means 10 minute miles. The first goal is the big one, the one that matters most. The second goal would be icing on the cake.
Wish me luck, and for any of my friends in the SoCal area, I’d love to see you out there on June 3rd. :)
Volkswagen Super Bowl ‘teaser’ Commercial
Dogs + Star Wars costumes + barking music = ultra cute!
Little Chewbarka is mah fave, obvs.
New Year’s Resolutions: 2012
Having actually written out my resolutions for the past two years, I feel like I’m getting a better handle on what works. Not too many, definite end-points.
- Run a Marathon. Running the half in 2011 was preparation for a full. I feel confident that I can physically and mentally handle the task training and completing a full marathon.
- Read 6 Books. I was able to read 5 last year, 2 more than my original goal. These books were also mostly read towards the end of the year when I discovered…*gasp*…I truly do enjoy reading and don’t know why I wasn’t doing it more before. Granted, I slowed in December due to a Mass Effect 2 addiction (wanted to complete for release of ME3 in March!), but I have faith I can read 6 this year. I would also like to note these 6 can include books I have started in 2011 but have not yet finished (1Q84, 2nd Hunger Games book, etc.).
- Lose the Weight I Gained. 2011 was pretty difficult physically. Last holiday season I stopped working out and still ate like a horse. While I was feeling much better after all my half-marathon training, I let that go to hell, also. Plus, as has been the trend in the last year or two, my diet has been horrid. Overall, I need to find a balance between diet and exercise, and keep that up all year.
- Re-Write ‘Better Than Normal’. After re-reading my novella in the 4th quarter of 2011, I realized it wasn’t as miserable as I had once thought and actually had potential. I need to actually sit down, re-re-read, take notes and get to work on it.
- Secret Challenge! Alright, this one I’m keeping to myself for numerous reasons. It’s related to one that I had last year, but I’ve become much more specific and I personally don’t want to go into detail on my Tumblr. It’s mystery will only be exceeded by it’s power…to make life more awesome and fulfilling.
Wish me luck! Or, perhaps, send encouragement. :)
New Year’s Resolutions 2011: Revisted
It’s about that time…the time to review how much or how little I’ve done from what I’ve set out to accomplish. Most years I’ve done this have been kind of depressing, but maybe this year will be different. I know I’ve actually accomplished some of these! My commentary is italicized.
- Run a Half-Marathon. One of the goals I accomplished last year was to run a 5k and 10k. Even though I’ve fallen out of fitness as of late 2010, one of my overall goals of 2011 is to get back. I’d like to do a 5k and 10k in the beginning half of the year, but I’d also like to take it a step further and do a half-marathon. While I still refuse to run outside (it’s like 20-something degrees out today, no deal), I plan to gain endurance by other activities at the health-plex (tennis, classes, etc.) and at home (dvds, hand weights, kettle bells, etc.). Once the weather is less miserable (March?), I’ll begin my full on training to get to the 5k, 10k and half-marathon. I’d like to participate in the Naperville Half-Marathon, if it is being put on this year. Last year it was in September. I actually did this! Probably one of the best moments this year, if not *the* best. I’m also not such a huge baby about running in the cold.
- Transition to a Healthy Lifestyle. I have some bad habits. I used to have some really good habits, but I’ve been slipping. I plan to commit more fully to a healthy lifestyle that includes eating much better, exercising consistently and basically taking care of myself physically and mentally. I’m going to start watching my food habits more (I’m a sugar FREAK) and my goal is to continue playing tennis while it’s cold, attend some classes, work out at home and when the weather gets warmer, hit the streets! Harr…this didn’t happen in the slightest. I gained weight this year! BOOOOOOOOO! I don’t have any excuses, I really just let it happen. My workouts weren’t consistent and I didn’t care much about what I ate outside of the 9-5 weekday spectrum. This was one giant fail.
- Read 3 Books. For several years I had “read 12 books” as a resolution. Last year I discovered that was clearly unrealistic (since I never did it) so I decided to tone it down to 6. Failbomb. My goal this year is 3 books. JUST 3. I freakin’ hope I stick to this because it’s slowly getting more and more sad how little I read actual books these days. I actually read 5 books this year…and started about 8 others, hah. Due to an influx of Mass Effect 2 play, I haven’t been reading the last couple weeks, but I’m dying to jump back into quite a few of the stories I’ve started. Time to start upping this goal instead of reducing. Finally.
- Make a career plan. One of the biggest questions I have had since I graduated from DePaul in May was, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Is this what you want to do?” I don’t want to go into too much detail here, but it’s something I’ve been contemplating for quite a while. Either way, I need to create my plan. Map it out. Step by step. Inch by inch. AND FOLLOW IT. Well, this didn’t exactly happen. I thought about it. I figured out what I want to do, but I haven’t exactly taken action. I don’t feel like going much into this, but really, I just need to start setting goals and sticking to them. I barely finish anything!
- Write. This blog entry would constitute writing. My baking blog entries constitute writing. The fiction will come when it wants to, if it wants to. I’m not in any rush. One thing I learned last year is how much I enjoy the editing process, self-reflection writing and mapping out my adventures in the kitchen with words. My goal for this year is to write in my new baking blog consistently. I want to say this was half-accomplished. I wrote throughout the year, mostly blogging or self-reflection, but no fiction and it wasn’t something that was very consistent. Considering my big dreams in my career goals, this is going to have to change.
So, I guess in the end, 2.5/5 isn’t too bad. It’s a failing score, but I feel good about having worked towards at least two goals solidly. More interestingly, the two goals that had a very definite goal - “read 3 books” and “run a half-marathon”. Maybe those are the kinds of goals I need to set for next year - more defined. I actually accomplished a 2009 goal that was more definite - I went to a few Pilates classes at the gym. Not a spin class (seriously, 5:30 am is still way too early), but it was a class nonetheless!
Overall, 2011 was sub-par. I need to crush 2012.
‘Hunger Games’ trailer
Having just read the first book this past weekend, and already moving onto the second without hesitation, I can’t wait to see this movie. The casting of Woody Harrelson as Haymitch is perfect and the same goes for Stanley Tucci for Caesar. AND LENNY KRAVITZ AS CINNA. I LOVE IT.
(via Fresh Stockholm Apartment Showing Colorful Details | Freshome)
This refrigerator matches my KitchenAid mixer and for those things to match would be as wonderful as the childhood gifts from my Aunt Pat where the socks always matched the shirts. I love so much about this little kitchen.
