Thanksgiving!

I spent Thanksgiving in Phoenix. Here are a few random things that have happened lately:

1. Some jerk spilled hot tea all over me and my expensive Mac laptop that I hadn't even paid off yet. I understand accidents happen, but it cost me over $800 to fix and the jerk split, never even apologizing. I hope karma comes back to him. So now I am going to be living in my car because I have no money to pay for it.

2. I got to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 610 Stompers were my favorite part.

3. I finally joined Skype. I'm a little late in the game, but it's really awesome.

4. I got to see some good friends in Phoenix and makes me realize how much I miss it.

Here is the new pride of America.

Phoenix, Arizona

I am stuck at Phoenix airport waiting out long flight delays--as usual. I am not the luckiest of souls when it comes to on-time flights. I spent the weekend in Phoenix and surprised that the heat didn't bother me. I actually kind of liked it. I did spend 8 miles on a treadmill, trying to run inside rather than out. But my foot is not healed and spent the better part of Sunday night putting ice on it and stretching it. I hope to run again soon, actually really soon--I have a long race out of town this weekend.

I did get to see my dad for Father's Day, had my hair dyed even darker brown (although I miss being blonde) and am back in Invisalign. Those were all the major happenings of my time in the Valley of the Sun.

Happy Anniversary!

Today is the third anniversary of my running the Antarctica marathon--the hardest race ever. Since then, I've run a marathon on every continent and completed an Ironman and ultra marathon. So in honor of today, I completed my 30th half marathon. I drove from California late at night and got in at 12:30am to get up at 5:30am for the race. Plus, AZ is one hour ahead of CA, so really, that's like 4:30am to me. The race was in Scottsdale and I ran into old friends and some people I met in Costa Rica! What are the odds of that? How does that keep happening! I ran into a friend from Phoenix who, turns out, works 2 blocks from me in San Diego. Small world. Well, the race didn't go well. Tough, hilly course and got one of my worst times. Something has happened to me. It's like all the fitness drained out of my body. 2011 has not been good to me racing wise. I've gotten 3 of my worst times in half marathons and they all seem like a struggle, which normally they are not. So what gives? I need to run more and try harder and get rid of the virus that keeps sticking around--go away already!!

CA Girl

I have a major change in my life. I resigned from my job two weeks ago and move to California tomorrow. I am moving to San Diego for a new position that is right up my alley. It is a bittersweet moment. I have lived in Phoenix for a long time and have sweet memories and wonderful friends. My life is awesome and I feel so blessed for all that I have been given. It is on to something new, but Phoenix will always be here.

So you had a bad day

I spent the Labor Day weekend doing what I usually do during this holiday: not laboring. I visited my favorite place, the bookstore, and discovered a new fav author. Despite the heat advisory and unbelievable temps Phoenix is still having, I managed to run miles everyday and complete a couple long bike rides.

However, Monday morning I was greeted with some deeply disappointing news. I had been very much hoping for something to happen and emailed myself everyday saying that it would happen and saying a prayer each time. I figured if I wrote (typed) my goal, it would have to come true right? Well, it didn't and it was a major (major!!) bummer and gave me a headache in the process. On top of it, I asked my parents if I could move back in with them. I would rent out my house to save money and pay off the car I was forced to buy when Saturn decided that it didn't want to drive anymore.

My parents haven't said yes. I don't expect them to either. But if they do, I will be a 33-year-old, single girl living with my parents. How attractive is that? It wouldn't be for a long time, just to pay off my car and some bills. Plus, I think I would like it. It's lonely living alone in my house. I come home to my DVR and as often as I try to start conversations with my TV, it just doesn't seem to talk back.

4th of July

I spent the 4th of July in beautiful, cool Salt Lake City. I landed in 73 degree weather and it was heaven. Utah had a rainy spring, so the mountains were so green they looked like Hawaii. It was breathtaking. I went to Park City with my brother and then watched fireworks and had a BBQ with my aunt, uncle, cousins, brother, brother's girlfriend and friends. I ate too much, but what else is new? We lit off fireworks in the street.

The next day I got up early to go running. I adore running in Salt Lake. It was one of my favorite cities to run and it is a tradition for me to run at Brighton High School in Sandy. Its track is located at the base of the Rockies and overlooks a good portion of the Wasatch front. I packed all my gels, water bottle and running clothes, but realized that morning that I forgot my running shoes. So I "borrowed" my brother's car (without asking) and went to the only thing open: Target. I would NEVER buy running shoes at Target, but I just needed something for a couple of days and Target would have to do. So I got my shoes and headed to Brighton only to find out that the track was gone. Totally gutted. No fair!!! But I ran anyway and loved it. I got to run in the middle of the day and felt like I could run forever. It was only 73 and it makes such a difference from 100 or the dreaded treadmill.

I spent another night with my cousins and played games and watched a movie. I miss everyone there. I miss it terribly. I was depressed getting on the plane and having to come back to the blazing inferno of Phoenix. I landed and felt like I was walking on the sun.