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This summer has been a bit of a disaster. Well, running-wise at least. Outside of the running, I’ve gotten a new job, I was able to move into Atlanta like I’d wanted to for a little while, and am now able to see my friends a lot more. Plus it’s nice to live so close to great places like the Porter Beer Bar.

So there have been definite upsides (I mean I’ve seen more bands play shows in the last month that I did all last year), but with all of these changes came a serious disruption in my running schedule and my usual routines.

Man or Astroman? at the Earl

I get pretty sick of getting into routines, but it had been working well for me with my running. I’d usually get a ~10 mile run in before work a few days a week with a longer 15 or so mile run on the weekends. It was great, I was routinely running 40+ mile weeks and feeling as strong a runner as I ever had. But, of course, things change. I got a new, better job, which is great but left me with less time for runs in the mornings. Couple that with the fact that, for the life of me, I can’t seem to sleep well these days, and there you have a few reasons as to why I can’t seem to get up on time anymore. It’s not so much that I don’t have the desire or the drive or any of that (I signed up for an ultra marathon, I mean come on), I just sleep right through the alarms.

So I was pretty happy two weeks ago when I finally got back to a 40 mile week. Though my runs were more in the evening and not really on any set plan, I was still happy to get the miles in. Until the Monday when I headed out for a longer run and ended it short thanks to some tendonitis in my right Achilles. Lame. I’ve taken a couple weeks off and had a short 3 mile run yesterday, but I’m still not back to 100% and it’s frustrating. I was hoping to run in the Asheville Half Marathon and beat my time from last year by a few minutes, but it’s not happening.

So now I’m playing it safe and trying to get some rest and recovery in. Hopefully I’ll be back out on the road soon though. I’ve got some new running shoes to break in.

As of a week from now, this will no longer be my desk. Which, I mean, is pretty great. While I’ve liked working here at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, I’m ready for a change (and a company that is willing and able to spend money when needed) and a new set of challenges. I’ll be a Graphic Designer at a publishing company in Atlanta.

And that change brings about another one,  I am now looking for a place to live in Atlanta. It’ll be nice to be closer to friends and have more social opportunities.

Of course I won’t be able to go on midday runs or show up early and leave early anymore. But at least my compensation will balance out the downsides.

I’m in need of new running shoes again. I feel like this is going to keep happening sooner and sooner each time.

I saw Mike last night. I went down to help him move some heavy furniture, and then walked over to Park Tavern for dinner and then The Independent for Trivial Pursuit and drinks.

Got some free plants from work on Friday. I ended up getting a bunch, and planted 90% of them tonight. Here’s some of what I have growing on the patio right now:

I had some leftover seeds from last year, so I threw a ton of lettuce seeds in a long container. I sprinkled some flowers around the outside as well. We’ll see how they do.

There’s more, obviously:

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A few weeks ago our dryer quit drying. It would run, but wouldn’t actually heat up. I did what anyone would do, called my dad to see what he thought, and looked up any info I could on Google. I eventually opened the dryer up to start figuring out what parts needed to be replaced and was a little shocked to see what was in there.

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Despite my sprained ankle less than two weeks from my first marathon, I’m getting more and more excited about the race.

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