#37 and #38

I ran half marathon #37 and #38 less than 24 hours apart. #37 was on a cold, wet morning in Temecula, CA through vineyards and started at a winery. Too bad we had to run through mud and trails in a rainstorm. #38 was in Pasadena, CA and was almost a complete trail run up a very high hill that I had to climb. It was more of a hiking/running half marathon. I am still running horribly and got my worst times. I struggle to run at all. My dad thinks it's all mental. It think he's right. It's hard to watch my racing times fall to over 35 minutes of what I am used to finishing. It's depressing.

I did go to LA and did touristy things after my races.

Project Jennifer 2012

I decided 2012 would be known as Project Jennifer. I would be more social, get back into running shape, take my vitamins and have happy things happen to me. Because I've had enough of bad things.

On New Year’s Eve, I went to California Disney Adventure Park, Disneyland’s other park. Because it was so crowded at Disneyland, Disney offered a free day pass to use at Disneyland anytime in the month of January if you bought a one-day pass to Adventure Park. I was already planning to go to the Adventure Park, so that was a nice surprise. It wasn’t even 2012 and already good things were happening.

Then I got sick and had to go to the first aid center for medication. Then despite being sick, I ate a hot dog and went on a roller coaster—and got more sick. And on the roller coaster I lost my hair band.

Then I drove home at midnight down to San Diego in the deepest fog I’ve ever seen. My visibility was two feet. I’ve driven in blizzards with better visibility. I ended up accidentally driving off the freeway and onto an exit because I couldn’t see the road. I got back onto the freeway and drove 2 miles/hour until I found another car driving with its hazard lights on. So I followed him for 10 miles, but then he took off on another freeway. I was totally stuck. It was like driving through a cloud. I found my way down to a city and got off the exit, but couldn’t see anything. I drove right up to a brick wall because I didn’t even see it. I finally found a sign for a motel, which was super seedy.

But it said “Vacancy” and all I wanted was to wait out the fog.

I asked for a room, got to the room, only to discover it was occupied by squatters. So I went back to the front desk and said there were people in the room. The guy called the room and someone picked up. Obviously they aren’t intelligent squatters. He then called the police and I was just standing there wanting a room. I finally got a room only to find a prostitute in front of my room. So I had to go around her. Turns out she was in the room next to mine and had plenty of work to do…all night long. So I slept with the TV on. I was afraid to use the bathroom because I was afraid of getting an STD. It was gross.

The next morning I got back on the freeway and felt super sick. There was carnage and dead animals all over the freeway, obviously hit from people who couldn’t see them in the fog.

Welcome to 2012.

Then I got a phone call from NYC producers asking if I’d be interested in taking my case from small claims court, in which I am suing a guy over spilling liquid and breaking my laptop, to reality court TV. That is my dating life. Entertainment for the masses.
And I’ve been sick for 6 days straight.

I need to rename Project Jennifer. Any ideas?

Happy Holidays!

I've been feeling particularly un-Christmasy this Christmas season. I think it is because it's my first Christmas completely away from any type of family. So to lift my holiday-plagued spirits, I went to the best place I could think of--the happiest place on earth. Disneyland had the most beautiful decorations and rides that were transformed into a holiday theme. A fireworks show at night was set to Christmas music and it snowed on Main Street. It was magical.

The next day I watched a boat parade. The harbor shined with plenty of lights strung along loads of boats.

I drank peppermint hot chocolate and tried to feel Christmasy. It worked for two days.

#35 and 36

I capped a year of racing--the worst racing year of my life. I've watched my fitness fade into oblivion and I don't know how to get it back. It's really frustrating. I'm struggling to run. It's like I've just stopped being able to do anything physically. I struggle just to run 2 miles.

I raced my 35th half marathon and got my 32nd worst time. I did my first nighttime race. It took place in Vegas, my first trip there since 2008. Race officials shut down the strip and we all raced down it at night under the bright lights. I did not run fast and the race was pretty disorganized, as you can read about here. But it was fun to run at night. My brother also happened to be in town, so I hung out with him. We even hit up a Vegas club right after the race.

Exactly seven days later I raced my 36th half marathon in Los Angeles county. It was a nice, pleasant course, but I finished 28 minutes over my usual time, making this my 31st worst time on a fairly easy course. It's sooooo frustrating. I don't know how to get my running back. But I did get my all-time favorite medal. It was called the Holiday Half Marathon and the medal was in the shape of a snowflake. Pretty cute. But where or where did my running ability go??? How am I running two minutes per mile slower than I've ever run, even slower than when I first started running. It leaves me feeling very depressed.

So that was 2011--20 races total and my slowest times ever.

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.

Iron Girl

I ran a 10K today that was a bit hilly and we ran right into a head wind. But it was an all-female race and those are always fun. No boys allowed. That's pretty sweet. I moved and now live across the street from the beach. Last night I watched the sun set over the Pacific, but the condo where I live is very cold. I am confined to my room with my space heater right next to me. I moved myself this weekend with no help. I am really sore. I am discovering there are a lot of Australians who live in this area, which makes me happy. I get to listen to their accents. I seem to find them at Starbucks. I've been to three Starbucks in the area and have heard the Aussie accent in each one of them. One of them has an Aussie barista who always calls me his mate. I know he calls everyone this, but it makes me feel good nonetheless.

Happy Halloween!

I got to spend 10 days in Phoenix and two weekends in LA visiting friends and family. So fun! Happy Halloween! I don't think I am dressing up as anything this year. I plan to stay home and watch Castle.