Internetless.

So, I've been off the grid for a LONG time... in a few ways.  I haven't been tracking (though starting this week I'm eating healthy again), I took an accidental 2 weeks off of training, I quit WW (time and money), AND I don't have the internet (aka the literal grid).   But that's because I'm back on a new grid: the downtown Columbus, OH one.

Jon and I are finally moved into our new apartment and it's, in one word, TINY.  Thankfully, Jon's mom came up all the way from Montgomery to help us haul everything from Nelsonville and Cincinnati and we literally filled our new one-bedroom apartment with boxes.

We took Jon's mom to Schmidt's, a locally-famous German restaurant, as a "Thank you!" for all her help.  They're famous for their cream puffs, so clearly we each had to get one.

Then, once we'd completely overwhelmed ourselves with the amount of unpacking we have to do... We both went back to our respective other towns for work last week...  We finally moved in to stay as of last Friday and were able to get quite a bit of unpacking done.   BUT not all of it since last weekend we went camping in the Hocking Hills with friends and ran the Indian Run 10k trail run for the second year in a row!

 Pre-10k 

(I look a bit odd)

At the starting line

Post-10k w/ our finisher's medals

Our fabulous $40 tent (chalet) from Craig's List

Goofing around

We had a GREAT weekend.  The 10k was hard, since it is such a hilly course and I hadn't been running regularly these past two weeks.  Before the race, I vowed that, this year, I'd run the last 1.2 miles (that are on the road and all uphill to the lodge).  I made it half way up there and was starting to get tired and was really pep talking myself to keep running, when, much to my surprise, I saw this face jogging DOWN the hill towards me:

 

He finished the race in just under an hour and decided to come down and run the last uphill bit with me.  He said he'd missed running together during the race and wanted to finish with me (and help keep me motivated to not walk and to push through).  Seriously, one of the sweetest things ever.

That said, I did not walk at all up that hill and I finished the 10k in 1:21:57 (13:14 pace).  Almost 4 minutes slower than last year (that's what I get for taking time off), but I walked up that hill partially last year and NOT THIS TIME.  So, overall I'm pretty happy.

Anyways, aside from unpacking, moving, racing, and camping I'm also trying to get settled at OSU.  Orientation was yesterday and tomorrow is the first day of classes!  I'm currently blogging from the OSU library... we don't have power at the apt until 3pm today (they're doing work on the transformer for the complex).  Busy, busy!  

Sorry for the random post, but here I am.  Just trying to get back on track in a new city!

More soon!

Whew! Time flies!

Ever since Jon left (or got here, really), life has been so crazy! Our relationship is better than it's ever been, and we're actually taking things to the next step when I come home... We're moving in together! I know that I lived with him in Athens before I moved here, but now we're actually choosing a place together in another city. A place that will be ours together, not me moving in with him or vice versa. It's a really awesome feeling, actually. Definitely a big step to be spending money together, but I couldn't be happier. That said, it's been taking up every minute of my free time.

The Monday and Tuesday after his return, I spent all day compiling lists of my first round of apartments and didn't give him much rest time before sending him up to Columbus the following Saturday to check them out. We're looking for a reasonably priced place that will allow us to bring the furry babies, so it's kind of difficult.

So far, we've just finished Round 3 and I think we've settled between two places. Both are in great parts of town: one is in German Village and another is in Victorian Village. Can't go wrong either way, in my book! Just looking and comparing all these houses/apartments/condos has me SO excited to move to Columbus and get back into the swing of my "normal" life while incorporating some ideas and habits from France, namely my new love of being able to walk or bike almost anywhere. With one of these apartments I would be a 15 minute bike ride (20-minute bus) from campus and really close to Columbus's 13.75 mile bike path called the Olentangy Trail. Furthermore, with both locations, we'll be close enough to bike/walk to get to the grocery and the pharmacy... I'm so excited!!!

I'm also looking forward to living in a city with a strong running community (and with a few dedicated running stores)! In Athens, Jon and I would have to drive to Cincy or Cbus to get new running shoes or equipment and to participate in most races. Now, we'll be close enough to get in on the action. I've already set up a profile on the Columbus Pacers running group and am looking forward to trying out their Saturday morning group runs (with pace leaders from 7:30 to 12:30 minute miles). It'd be great because it'll allow Jon and I to a) make new friends and b) run "together" while still running at our own paces. I'm also considering (depending on how the Pacers thing goes) signing up for the MiT (Marathoner in Training) program if I can get my mileage up and complete the half in October. I'm just so excited to take advantage of EVERYTHING this city will have to offer and the more I look at these neighborhoods, the more excited I get! PLUS, we might even be able to walk to the FOOTBALL STADIUM! AHHHH!

Anyway, this is what I've been doing with all my blogging time lately... Trying to contact landlords from France (thank goodness we have free international calling), trying to set up appointments for Jon to visit, and trying to keep our insane spreadsheet updated. PLUS, I managed to book a 3.5 day trip to Barcelona with Rosie. We leave in 16 days!

Time to crank it up for the beach body? Next post is on my running and fitness goal update... I've been okay lately, but stay tuned for more info... Now, off to catch up on your blogs!