Midnight River Run

I just got back from my 2nd 5K race!

While I wasn't as fast as I hoped (it was still in the low 80's when I passed the bank over an hour after the race - at about 12:30 am - and was incredibly, horribly humid) I was still 4.67 minutes faster than my first 5K and I met my expected finish window by hauling ass down the last hill, and just barely at that - I came in at 32.59. I came in third in my age group (though I think there may have only been three of us in the group...) and have a trophy!! For running!!! I think they stopped stopped timing at 45 min (or at least, I didn't see any of the walkers come in), so out of the 190 times recorded, I was 166. Not stunning by any means, but on the way home, I kept reminding myself that even 4 months ago, the idea of running 3 miles at all was overwhelming.

And I have a trophy!!! For running!! Woo!!

of running

Five miles. No walking. Did not die.

Will be entering a 5K next weekend - the Midnight River Run, with the modest goal of a sub 30 min time. That is pretty fast for my slow self, but my long runs are coming in at around 11:15/mile, so with a much shorter run I think it is doable. Also trying to decide between a couple of 5K races in Chicago in August - Race Judicata or Elvis is Alive. The Race Judicata is a fund raiser for Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, and the Elvis one raises funds for Rock For Reading.

I'd like to find a 10K in Korea in September or early October, but so far the only information I can find in English is for Seoul, which while not impossible, not optimal. I'm sure once I get there I'll be able to find out more information for something a bit closer to where I'll be.

I have my visa in hand, which means all the official, can't-go-without-it stuff is done, for the the most part. There are a lot of details that still need to be taken care of, but the biggies are in place. Still a lot to do, though.

Just so you know, there are a LOT of vowels in Korean. And I can't tell the difference between most of them. How I ever taught kids to read when I myself have absolutely no phonemic awareness at all astounds me.

at loose ends

The heat finally broke here today, and after driving back from Indy in the rain I got home and it was just barely sprinkling, so I ran for the first time in a few days. Humid as all get out, but so good not to think I was going to die! And 4 miles isn't a fluke, it's a fact. I think Sunday will be 4.5. eek.

I feel like I have all this time but no real routine, particularly in terms of weights. Not having access over the weekend makes it hard, and the hours of the cage-like gym where I go are pretty limited. I may look into seeing the hours and cost of the gym (the fancier one with better hours and indoor treadmills) on campus. I feel like I have running/cardio kind of on lock-down, but that is mostly because I can just walk out my door and go. So when there is heat like the past few days, it just kills me. If i try to run through it I feel sick, but if i don't do anything, i am restless and edgy. boo and hiss.

I think my biggest problem is just being at loose ends. I really only know one person in town and I'm trying not to spend money, so I feel like there isn't a whole lot for me to do at all and I end up pacing around the house, or wasting tons of time doing nothing online. I'm equal parts bored and anxious, and not really taking the appropriate steps to alievate either of those two things. acknowlegement != behavior change.

Tomorrow I have a bunch of stuff to mail off and I'm going to see what documents I need in order to get my car registered here and get an IN and an international driver's license. This weekend, I'm going to try to see something at the theatre, i think, do another long run, register for a 5K here and in Chicago, and make plans to see family and friends either before or after the day of the race. (and if you are friends or family in the Chicago area, let me know what early august looks like for you! and if you want to run a 5K at that time.)

So.much.excitment.

love this

I love this quote:

There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be.
-George Sheehan

(Not a whole lot to update with. My visa application was received in Chicago. I'll be heading to Memphis for the weekend. Need to work on the learning of Korean.)

Three things

1.) if you still have/use my earthlink email address, it will be going away forever at the end of the month. I sent out the "hey, i'm moving" email with my current address, but if you want it again, let me know.

2.) I got my contract in the mail, I got the NM Public Education Department to send me another copy of my teaching license on the same day I asked for it, and was able to talk to a human at the school board office. I think the world might explode. (this was countered by requests made by the consulate which resulted in me not being able to get everything mailed for my visa today...)

3.) I got past my mental block of what is considered "long distance" in running. Yesterday, I did 4 miles. For those of you who don't know, that is a lot of miles to run. But I didn't walk and I didn't die and I'm still a minute faster per mile than I was at altitude.

oh, and another thing...

As of this morning, I have lost just over 100 lbs. (100.5, to be exact) since I began tracking at the end of November. I'm not sure how much I had lost before that.

Not the greatest picture of me, but because some folks had asked for one:

thinking

I know I sound kind of silly - moving to Korea has been "real" for me since I packed up my car and left New Mexico. But within the past few days, after learning of the exact place and the actual departure date, I've been freaking out a little. The city where I've been placed is not my first choice, and I'm not leaving as early as I would like. I have been pretty mood-swingy and a little panic-attackish for the past couple of days.

This morning, someone in a TFA community asked how many people got their first choice for placement.

I didn't. Actually, New Orleans was fifth or sixth on my list, if I remember correctly, and the idea of special education freaked me out. I also wasn't offered the job I thought I wanted once I got to New Orleans. And while I have been trying to remind myself for the past few days that things really do work out for the best and there is something for me to learn by being placed where I am, it was really good for me to have such a clear example - a smack upside the head, so to speak. I would never have selected New Orleans or my job at Langston Hughes Elementary, but it was perfect for me. I got rifted (not enough kids on my caseload) from Hughes, but it was an incredibly powerful learning experience for the few months I was there, and it made me a MUCH better teacher. New Orleans was where I belonged.

I have been working really hard to be positive about being placed where I am. I NEED that in order to keep from freaking out completely right now. And while it was a simple question in a forum that usually just annoys me, it has really helped me gain a little more perspective.

departure!

On my computer, I have a travel itinary for my flight to Korea!!!

I leave Indianapolis on August 18th, and arrive in Korea on the 19th.

Holy crap! This is really pretty exciting! I should be getting my contract in the mail within the next few days (I may walk down the hill to see if it is in the mailbox already!) and I know exactly when I'm leaving. I had hoped to fly in a little bit before orientation to see some friends, but my request was shot down - the coordinator said visa issues - but at least now I know and have a real date to base everything off of!

There will be 48 people going to Jeollanamdo with this program, and at least one other new person going into Gwangyang with me. There are a bunch of others who are returning to their schools there, folks teaching in private schools, and other Westerns who work in town. I'll be a short bus ride to friends and to where several other folks will be placed in two nearby towns. All in all, I think this will be a really good thing. I'll have support, but also the space to see how I fit into this place.

Knowledge is power

Did you know that there are these buildings where you can go and they let you take home BOOKS?!? for FREE!!?? And that some of the books are about knitting? And that scanning pictures means i wouldn't even have to pack pieces of paper?

Yesterday I had my dad sign a paper so I could work out at the rec center on campus, which means I get weight room, track, pools, and classes for $15 for the rest of my life or something. Also, they gave me a 3 month parking pass for the campus free, so I can park ANYWHERE! Woo! I was then able to use my new id to get a library card, which rocks. I will have to upload and post the picture of the weight room - it really is a cage, with a fence and everything.

Also, I found out where I'll be next year. Gwangyang-si, which is a city to the east of where I had hoped to be. Honestly, last night I was more than a little disappointed to not be in the town where I already know people and was pretty much in shock. I think in part I was just freaked out about jobs and things being really real. I've been talking to people and drawing analogies for myself - Gwangyang:Yeosu::Metairie:New Orleans::Ft. Wingate:Gallup::Dad's house:Campus. I'll be about 20 minutes outside of Yeosu, which all things considered isn't bad. I really loved being in Aizu, which is the same size as Gwangyang. This will be good.

Now, I'm starting to work backwards from my departure date. I asked for a specific date that is a bit earlier than orientation would begin, and I'm just waiting to see if it is approved. I need to go to Chicago within the next couple of weeks, I'm going down to Memphis, and I have many little details I need to figure out, but nothing insurmountable. Car insurance and storage, storage of stuff, visa, detailsdetailsdetails. I have the clothes I bought for Japan, but a bunch of that is already on the baggy side. I don't think I'll need much but if I do need more than I think, I'll pay the extra shipping and order online or have someone here send it to me. I need a smaller pair of jeans for the next few weeks, but other than that I think I'm going to wait until closer to when I leave. Also, I am pulling back on what I plan to take or ship. For example, I really don't need to ship ALL my yarn to myself. They will have yarn there, I'm sure. I can scan in parts of some of my knitting books - I don't need to take them with. Only what is necessary.