First, I have been running. I just haven't been blogging. I started this process as an avid blogger. I would write separately about each run in detail and provide pictures of my routes. Then the pictures stopped and the length of my entries become less and less. Right now I don't have Internet at my house so blogging isn't as easy as it used to be. I can't turn on my computer right before I go to bed and add a quick entry about the day's run. I'm going to write about some of my past runs. I went home for three days last week and of course, I ran every day. No hills... glorious. I can run forever and I still feel good. Each of my runs were about 6.5 miles. I could have gone farther but a girl's got to hit the beach! Then I came back to Athens and packed up for the mountains. I ran about three miles at the top of Toxaway Mountain in NC. About twenty degrees cooler than Athens. Perfection. Also, it didn't hurt that there was a giant meadow with wildflowers growing. Hopefully I will be able to upload pictures soon. It was breathtaking. Now I'm back in Athens for my last week. It's sad and I'm trying to take every moment do what I love in this place that I've called home for the last year. I've been hanging out with friends, eating at my favorite places, visiting my favorite places, and of course, running. I've run about 21 miles in the last three days. Same route. Each time is different though. I think about things I'm going to miss and the great times that I've had. I know I might say it too much, but I know that the Lord has blessed me so much. I'll probably run everyday for the rest of this week just so I can process the rest of my limited time here.

Thoughts

July 13th
6am
5 miles

Want to Run Bad

It's 8:45 am and I'm sitting in a technology class. Today is my second day in class, and after sitting in class from 8 am to 5 pm yesterday, I couldn't go another day without running. It keeps me sane and my mind fresh. I woke up at 6 am in order to get my run in. The hills around my aunt and uncle's house were way to big. I noticed that yesterday as I was driving in. Wherever I go, I tend to scope out the terrain to determine my running potential. I love running in new places but there are a lot of things that I take into account before I brave a new place: is there a sidewalk? Is it safe? How hilly is it? What is the traffic life? How many miles can I go? Just a few thoughts that I have when I drive into an unfamiliar place. As I sit hear and listen to my professor talk about web 2.0 and wireless devices, I am at ease because I was able to do my favorite thing bright and early this morning. I only went about 4.5 miles but it was just enough to freshen my mind. As I ran I could smell some plants that reminded me of times I spent in Atlanta when I was younger, whether it was soccer practice or just hanging out with friends. I'm interested to know what it was. I love smelling things that remind me of sweet memories. And now I'm sitting in class for 9 hours dreaming of traveling and running in unfamiliar places. I'd say that I'm pretty content right now; the only thing I would like is a nice cup of coffee.

Finish Strong

Friday morning roles around and I start out of what I thought was going to be a long, refreshing walk. I walked for about a mile and then decided to run… imagine that. I ran about 4.5 miles. Not too long, but just enough to get my day started on the right foot. It was glorious. I’m at 33.75 miles this week.

Lazy Saturday… no running involved.

Ahh Sunday morning. Beautiful and peaceful. Woke up at 7 to get a morning run in. 6.5 miles. As I ran through downtown the only people I saw were a few men unloading their trucks. It was just what I needed.

Adding It Up

5 + 5 + 8 + 5.75 + 6= 29.75 miles

These are the miles that I have run this week. My legs have been feeling good so I think I’ll run every day this week. Gosh, I’m so blessed to be able to do this. Thankful.

I Don't Have to but I want to

I haven’t posted in a while, but don’t worry, I have been running. I went home for two weeks and ran almost every day. My sister is getting in shape for soccer pre-season, something that I have done for the past five years of my life. I’ve never had a summer where I haven’t been playing or running to stay in shape. I don’t have to run anymore, but I do. It’s not because I still think that pre-season is going to come around in the beginning of August, it’s because I love it. I love running intervals, timing myself, and seeing improvement. It’s how I was wired and I’m sure ten years of competitive soccer helps. I got back to Athens two days ago, and I took two days off before I ran this morning. I needed the first day off because I had been running hard with Anna just about every day. Then Saturday rolled around and I couldn’t motivate myself to run, so I didn’t. I began to think that maybe I had lost the passion. Could I loose my desire to run, just like that? I began to think about not having the pressure to run anymore and thought that maybe it had finally sunk in. I no longer have to exercise to stay in shape for a sport. Weird. Yesterday was a good day. I relaxed and worked 9 hours at Chick-fil-a. I went to bed exhausted and woke up at 8 am this morning. I’m currently house sitting so I went downstairs, took care of the pets, watered the plants, ate, and put on my running shoes. I jogged at a comfortable pace through the neighborhood, and it wasn’t because I had to. I just wanted to.

Love to Run Slideshow: Christy’s trip from Athens, Georgia, United States to Saint Simons Island was created by TripAdvisor. See another Saint Simons Island slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.