Soundtrack Saturday: We Were Us - Keith Urban & Miranda Lambert

These weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are a swirling vortex of business for me. I'm barely able to keep up with the pile of assignments due next week, not to mention studying for my test on Thursday. Somewhere in there I've got to fit in some running, eating and sleeping. And I should probably shower at some point. It's times like this when I'm busy I can't catch my breath that I reminisce about college and how much easier it was back then. I wasn't studying every second of every day. I could read for pleasure. I could relax and spend time with my friends without feeling like I should be doing something school-related.

"We Were Us" is a perfect song to remind me of the past and all of those memories. It's a duet with Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, two of my absolute favorite country artists. I feel like this is one of those songs that everyone will listen to and it will remind them of some part of their past. It's like an auditory time machine to a sweeter, simpler time.

Soundtrack Sunday: Team - Lorde

I don't know how I've gone this long without writing a Soundtrack Saturday/Sunday post about Lorde. She is probably the most talented new singer/songwriter to appear in the last several years. She's only 17, she's from New Zealand, and she writes her own songs.

Also, she has amazing hair. I want to meet her just so I can ask her what she uses on her hair.

So without further ado, here is her second single, "Team"

If you want to hear more, I recommend "Tennis Court" and "White Teeth Teens." Or any other song really. She's brilliant and I can't wait to see how her career progresses.

I Am Not A Runner - A.K.A. Running Does Not Have To Cost A Fortune

I do not self-identify as a runner. I have been running (mostly) regularly since April, but I do not call myself a runner. Before I began this mad experiment, I read story after story of people who started running and it changed their lives. They found a new passion and a new love. They became lifelong runners.

Definitely not me

I am not one of those people. When I started running about 6 months ago, I hated every single step. And I felt like a failure, because I thought that if I wanted to run, I had to become a "runner." Everyone I talked to was telling me about all of these things I had to have if I wanted to run, that I had to pour both time and money into running if I wanted to do it right because running is a lifestyle, not just an activity.

"You need to get these fancy hydration tablets (that look suspiciously like Airborne)." 

"How can you say you don't love running?! I can't live without my runs!"

"Buy these energy tablets to fuel your long runs because if you don't you'll never make it farther than 4 miles!" 

"What do you mean you don't feel better after a run? I always feel so full of energy!"

"If you don't wear compression socks, your legs will literally fall off your body mid-run."

"You shouldn't eat that today, it could affect your run tomorrow!"

"If you buy long sleeved running shirts, they need to have thumbholes!"

I went out and bought fancy running shoes from a fancy running store (well, my parents bought them for me...thanks mom and dad!). I paid more for a pair of socks than I normally do for a pair of jeans. And I ran. I ran in the blazing heat of July. I ran and accidentally stepped in the mud in my fancy running shoes. I ran on the treadmill after class. I ran farther and farther (but never faster, 12:30/mile is my body's only pace).

But that earth-shattering spiritual awakening never came. I never started loving running. I don't look forward to my runs. I don't feel energized or exhilarated before, during or after my runs. They are just another check mark on my to do list. The more I ran, the more I realized I was never going to be a "runner." And that doesn't make me a failure. It means that I had approached running with the wrong mindset.

Pinterest images, like the one on the top,
only add to the problem by making you feel
like a failure if you don't love running.

I started off on this endeavor assuming that once I started running, becoming a "runner" would be an automatic byproduct of my training. I thought that if I had all the right gear and the right training program, I would suddenly love to run. But that is not true. I do not love running. I will never find it an enjoyable activity. I still dislike every step of my runs, and now there are many more steps involved (I'm looking at you, 8-mile-run-tomorrow).

My inner monologue while running.

The reality is, I don't need special shoes or special equipment to run. My second pair of running shoes were a far less expensive brand from Academy, and they work just as well. Some good ol' blue Gatorade is just as good for hydration, and I've yet to pass out from lack of special fuel while I run. If I do ever take snacks on a run, it will probably be Scooby Doo fruit snacks. My workout clothes come from the sale rack, and none of my sleeves have thumb holes. And I am doing just fine in my training.

I'll give the expensive compression socks a pass, though, because they are awesome and totally worth the money (as long as you have a discount code).

I am not running for myself - I am making myself run. All of this training I am putting into this half marathon is going toward one goal: raising money to support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I am running for the kids, the doctors, the pharmacists, and the researchers. I am running for the friends I have who work there and the parents whose children are patients there. I am running because I know my body has the capacity to do it. I am running to check a half marathon off my bucket list.

I am running because I can. Not because I want to. Running will never be my lifestyle, just a thing I do occasionally. And that is OK.

Conferences and Difficult Runs

I spent the weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, at the APhA-ASP Midyear Regional Meeting. This is a yearly regional pharmacy conference that takes place in each region. It's specifically designed for student pharmacists like me to interact with other students from around the region, share ideas, and develop policies for the upcoming year. I had a wonderful time! I had such a great time that I forgot to take any pictures. The only two pictures I took were of food.

I ate Chuy's twice on Saturday! At dinner we probably demolished 8 baskets of chips
before our meal even showed up. Creamy jalapeño dip + queso = love. 

My school's ASP chapter had a great MRM this year. One of my friends successfully ran for Regional Delegate, so congratulations to Lauren Bode! She's going to do an amazing job in her new position!

This is not a picture of Lauren winning Regional Delegate.
This is a picture of my lunch at Milo's on my way home on Sunday.

My body is very confused by the time change, which has made the last few days especially difficult in terms of running. I didn't get an opportunity to run while out of town, so I had planned to run when I got back home on Sunday. I forgot about it getting dark earlier, so by the time I got home, I couldn't run outside. I had scheduled a long run, so I tried to do it on the treadmill while I studied, but I only made it 2.5 miles before the logistics of trying to turn pages while running got too difficult.

I knew I had to make time for this run on Monday, or I would be an entire week behind. Fortunately, I was able to go run in the morning before class. I was scheduled to run 7 miles. And I went 7 miles, but there was definitely some walking involved. But 7 miles is 7 miles. And I have to remind myself that my goal for this half marathon is to finish the race, whether by running the whole thing or by running and walking. Realistic goals are the key to happiness.

Words of wisdom from the lovely Amy Poehler

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who donated to help me reach my fundraising goal! I am now over my goal of $500! You all are awesome!