October 22, 2008 | Filed under: I Run Therefore I Am, Is She Still Talking?

I like to cook. It relaxes and soothes me. I often find myself cooking at high-stress times, or when I’m trying to fend off upcoming stress. Occasionally I cook because I need to eat dinner soon, but that’s often not the case. I know plenty of people who are stress eaters, and it’s probably a good thing they don’t live with me, because that could be a dangerous symbiotic relationship there. Cooking (or baking, my stress doesn’t discriminate) allows me to be creative and focus on a project and shut everything else out. This explains why, when leaving the office tonight, I had to beat back the overwhelming urge to come home and make chocolate chip cookies. Not only do I not really have the time for that sort of thing, I don’t have any chocolate chips.

I could be cleaning the house — another of my stress management techniques (now you REALLY want to come live with me, don’t you?) — but I’m blogging instead. I know I’m woefully behind here on the fascinating life updates, but I haven’t done a faceplant in front of strangers recently, so it’s been challenging to make the time to sit down and write. If it’s any consolation, there’s no doubt that I’m further behind at work than I am here.

As I mentioned a long, long time ago, I signed up to run a half marathon. It was…good enough.  (2:27:54, for the record.) Not great, no personal records, but a solid performance — only a couple of minutes slower than my best half. I’m OK with that, especially considering that the race course looked like this:

…a wee bit different than the half marathons I ran in Sacramento, which had roughly the elevation change of a straight line. Seriously, the program guide describes miles 6-12 as being “Boston-like.” Thanks, guys.

At any rate, it was a beautiful day and other than my stomach not enjoying the water and Gatorade I cruelly forced into it, I felt pretty good. There’s still plenty of room for improvement at this distance, so I won’t be tackling a whole marathon any time soon. (My training partner is trying to get me to do a marathon at our current pace; I’m angling for us to do another half at a faster pace. We’ll see who wins.)

Regardless of the outcome of the race, the training experience emphasized for me the fact that (1) exercise is really important to my quality of life, no matter how little time I have and (2) I like having a tangible goal to work toward. These are things I know, but every once in a while need to be reminded of. I like working hard. I like pushing myself, even when it doesn’t seem like much fun. And I like how utterly STRONG I feel after finishing a 12-mile weekend run.

1. Horrible Warning says:
   

   That’s an excellent time, especially considering that ridiculous elevation chart. Jeebus.

   Take heart in that I’m further behind on my blogging than you are. Seriously, I don’t even remember what MONTH my last post was in. Also? I am doing a 20 miler on Saturday! I’m training for the inaugural Run the River (Negro Bar to Discovery Park) on 11/15. Hold me.

   Sounds like things are going great. And again, awesome time…you rocked it as always

   October 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
2. kat says:
   

   Everyone needs a blog break now and then, because after awhile not doing so just makes you feel short-circuited.

   I’m glad I don’t cook when I’m stressed, because I eat when I’m stressed. Which really sucks. I really wish that I had the cleaning response to stress. Especially if I’m using those Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products, then I’d get my aromatherapy in too.

   I think your marathon time is pretty damned good. And best of all, you got out there and did it. Progress, not perfection.

   Take care.

   October 27th, 2008 at 3:25 pm