So today was a busy and productive day. First, I volunteered for the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Miler. I tried to sign up for the race back in December, but it is a lottery because so many people want to do the race, and I didn't get in. I learned that if you volunteer though, you are guaranteed entry into next years race. So I figured why not? I've volunteered at races before, and I need some inspiration to start running again. I figured being at the finish line is some of the best inspiration I could get. I was right. First, I got to see the elite runners finish the race, which was super cool. The Kenyans took both the men's and women's races, and the male finisher set a course record of 45:15 (I think). I don't think I will ever be able to run tat fast, but that is freaking amazing. In any case, while I enjoyed watching the early runners cross the finish line, I especially liked watching those closer to the end who were clearly finishing 10 miles for the first time and were so emotional about it. It was also great to see the support among groups of friends running together and/or waiting for each other. I'm not sure that I want to run 10 miles, but I do know that I want to run another 10k. If I can do another 10k, why not bump it up to the full 10 miles? After all, there are 5 months between the 10k I want to do and the 10 miler next year. We shall see. What I can say is that I am planning on starting running again. I want that feeling I get when I cross the finish line, and I want to be in better shape. I can do that by running. There are also a couple of running groups I want to join. I figure once I can run a 5k regularly, i.e. 3 times a week, I can join these groups. I can also join my runner friends. A couple of them are training for the Marine Corps Marathon, and while I have no desire to run one of those, I can do short runs with them or start a run with them and then meet them when they are done. Anyway, I have all sorts of plans, which isn't new, but now I have some fresh inspiration as well. Fingers crossed it all works out.
So post-race I did a bit of spring cleaning...a grocery store run and cleaning out the fridge. I also went through my mail and organized all of my magazines. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but I have a lot of magazines waiting to be read...The Economist and Runner's World being the main ones I am behind on, and they had just been mixed in with catalogs in a huge pile on my coffee table. I am now organized and feel like I can tackle them. More spring cleaning will happen next weekend, but it was a good start.
Today is also the day I have declared as Sammy's birthday. When I adopted him they said he was between 4 and 5 months old, so April 1 fits right in. It's also easy to remember. So anyway, he's 2 today, and as a birthday present, I got all of his toy mice out from under the stove and got him some tuna. Now, Sammy is quite the funny cat. Unlike most kitties, the only thing he eats is his cat food. He doesn't drink milk, he won't eat chicken or ham, or anything else I have offered him. So I decided to offer him tuna. Yeah, he wasn't interested, haha. He is such a weirdo. But he's my weirdo, and I love him, so happy birthday to Sammy!
