First Day of School

It's the first day of school today. I am taking 3 classes this quarter, which is a lot for grad level. Yikes! I am excited though because I don't have to teach. I leave for Canada this Wednesday for a conference - so much for the first week of classes. Heh heh. 

It is supposed to be really warm this next week, which means the trails should be nice and dry when I get back this Sunday. I tried to do a little trail run Friday but it ended up being a mud walk.. It was fun though - really worked my calf muscles trying to pull my feet out of the mud pits they sunk into. 

I have discovered that lots of stress puts individuals in one of three groups - those that work out with the same regularity, those that work out even more, and those that don’t work out at all. Unfortunately, I am definitely part of the “doesn't work out at all group”. During this quals prep I stopped running and got a bit out of "shape" and gained some weight. Now I hardly can jog up trails that I used to hit with no problem. I have got to remember to keep on going even if I am stressed and feel like I have no time. It helps immensely with the stress and when I am on the other side of whatever stressful event/time crunch I will feel better about myself.  

Either way, I am where I am now and I just got to suck it up and get back out there. Now that I have more time on the weekends I am going to start running little races again. I don't think I am quite ready to run a half marathon but definitely some 5 and 10Ks, which would be awesome. 

It seems most everyone either runs half or full marathons but if anyone has suggestions of some fun races that are 5 or 10K length I am interested!! :D 

I passed!! =)

My testing is done! I passed and it feels great to be ABD (all but dissertation)!! I didn't run too much during the first part of this month but I am getting back to it now that I have more time. I am a bit out of shape but it feels great to be running again. The following is just a bunch of stuff that happened while I was away.

Picture of Back Bay Loop in Newport Beach. I really liked the guy on the horse.

Spring was here but then it disappeared again... I like the rain though. :)

Daysi Rose chillaxing. I have never seen a hamster take a nap outside of its cage but this hamster I have just kicks it. It is pretty funny actually.

Running in sycamore canyon. This place is amazing after it rains!!

It is my birthday the 28th so the other grad students threw me and all the other March birthdays a little bash. It was very sweet.

This weekend Heidie and I went to Lake Arrowhead to hang out with Heidie's friends. Very cold but very pretty. This is a picture us us hiking around Lake Jeffery. We left just in time - a big blizzard hit right after we came down the mountain!

T-Minus 9 Days and Counting...

To any of you out there who are still reading my pretty much dead running blog... I wanted to check in. Nothing has really been happening on the running front.

All energies are being pumped into studying for the big one. 9 days until I take it - so lots of reading and writing going on. I did fit in an awesome trip to Joshua Tree. Went with a crew of friends and of course the Christmas hamster - Daysi Rose Pretty Pretty Princess (Lily died - it was very sad) (Daysi got her name from my 5 year old niece who really likes to name things ;)). As soon as I am done with all this I will write a more detailed report! Until then, I miss reading all of you and I hope you are all doing well.

Can't wait to chill and read up on everyone when I can!!

My Baking Effort

Week 5 Update

January went by so fast!

I have been a bit MIA because we have had an influx of kids calling in to participate in the research study. Many of them are homeless so that means lots of driving on my end to get to them for the interview.  Man working with these kids really pulls on my heart.. I just want to take them all home with me. :(

Studying is going mostly okay. The time is drawing near.. March 4, 5, 6 ,7, and 17. Yikes. I am a bit behind because of all the assessments so I am taking this week to catch back up on that. 

I got some good runs in last week which was great. I am house sitting in Pasadena watching 2 dogs and 3 cats at the moment. Dogs are great... they make such fun running partners. Near the house I am watching is are some great trails in Eaton Canyon so I have been running there lately whenever I get the chance. 

I really missed reading up on everyones blogs.. It looks like everyone was super busy running and working!! So inspirational! You are all so awesome!

Below are some pictures I snapped of Ebert in Eaton Canyon. :)

Aww this makes me want a dog of my own. :)

This the "waterfall" trail

View of Pasadena 3 miles up.

Trail we came up to get to the top.

Friday?? What?! Where did the week go??

Today is Friday and I have not had a chance to go running since Sunday!! My goal for this week was 28 miles. If I want to hit that goal I will need to log some serious mileage in the next three days.

Big Bear Lake

Monday I was lucky enough to go for a mini trip up to big bear.

 

I got there Monday morning at 6am and ran 8 miles of trails and then went to the Grizzly Manor Cafe to eat breakfast...

Which was this HUGE pancake! YUM

This place is very popular.. they have great food. If you are ever in Big Bear and are craving a pancake.. this is the place to go.

Later a friend, her pups, and I snowshoed another 2 miles of trails that afternoon.. which gave me a good 10 miles that day! I was super excited about that! :)

Tuesday we boarded at Snow Summit for half day.

  

Then it was back to Orange County to read. It really was a great mini vaca!! 

I ran another 6 on Saturday and 10 today. This weeks grand total was 26 miles! Yay!

Check out the mini movie of our "awesome" tricks!! I am the one on the snowboard. :) There is also a little montage of Ebby at the end.. She is getting so big - losing her first tooth!!