It's been ages since I wrote on here, but I finally feel like I'm getting into a routine with my internship and other jobs!
May 2, 2011 was a life changing day for me. On this day, I registered for the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon! I planned on doing it last year, but I tried to register way too late and both races were sold out. So this year when I decided to commit and run it, I signed up the first day you were able to register!
Although I registered and in my eyes that means I've made the commitment to run it, running and training for it is a different story. Last week was my first week of training. I have been working out with my friend Gab, who has been a runner all of her life. We actually meant in high school because we were on the same cross country team. She transferred to public school as a freshman and I remember the first day we met. It was the first day of cross country practice in the summer and we were running the road by our high school called the axis road. I was a very slow runner, and that day, I beat my friend Gab. I was so excited and relieved because I wasn't going to be the slowest runner that year. Well that's what I thought. Although I beat her the first day of practice, every practice after that, she beat me and she was one of the best runners on the team. It was so funny that now I can still say that I beat her running once.
She has now since graduated college and we are living in the same town again. The running aspect of friendship, has been a new and exciting one. I have never trained with her directly, and we have never had chats like we have been having before. I'm loving the new branch of our friendship. It's been amazing to have a friend that I've known for so long, help me in such a different way than ever before.
The first night we ran, we were both under the impression that we would run for approximately 30 minutes or so, but we ended up running for 52 minutes, which worked out to be 3.5 miles. WOW! I was so surprised that I ran that much this early on. I just kept running and Gab and I chatted the whole time. It was insane. I really pushed through my doubts and fears of being able to run for longer than I had imagined and went for it. My pushing through has paid off.
The next time we ran together, we switched up the location and we ended up running longer time and distance wise. We ran for 1 hour and we ran 4.5 miles! What a difference a day can make. The following day, we ran for 1 hour and 4 minutes and we ran 4.6 miles.
Each day I run, I continuously thinking about the children and families that are receiving care at St. Jude Children Research Hospital and that puts things into perspective for me. I also think about my Grandpa Bob who was affected by cancer. He passed in 2000 and he was the first major relative to say goodbye to. I miss him every day and I wish I had more time with him. Now I put my time and energy into organizations and projects that I believe in and have been affected by.
Yesterday was the first day I wasn't able to run with Gab,and I knew that it would be a test day. A test day to see if I could really run on my own and for the same amount of time I had the previous days. I was nervous, but I was also focused. My run started off great and then my foot fell asleep. I ended up walking for roughly 5-8 minutes, but I ran for 1 hour and 20 minutes! I'm not sure of the mileage, but I was so thrilled. My running progress has been amazing and I'm really enjoying this journey.
I'm super excited to continue to train for this event come December 2, 2011! It's been so positive and I've never really heard people tell me they were proud of my running. People have been proud of me for other things and events I've been a part of, but never running.
Cheers to my new love for running and for my success in running the St. Jude Memphis Half Marathon.
More posts to follow my progress....
Monday, June 6, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Happy February!
Wow! Its been ages since I last posted but I finally have some time on my hands and I wanted to catch you up on my current life.
I had a post that I was working on throughout December, but we all know that everyone works like a dog and Christmas and madness takes you over so I did not have time to finish that post.
Anyways.. Since I last posted some new and exciting things have been happening in my life. As of right now, I am still working a part-time job for a company I've been with since 2006. Its been on and off due to school but I know all of the managers and they are always helpful and understanding of my schedule and need for cash flow! I have moved back to my home state and that was not part of my original "post grad" plan. I have a constant push and pull relationship with living at home and having friends that love me and support me but have different views on life and are in different chapters of their lives. Some are in steady relationships, some are getting married, some are furthering their education, and then there is me. I'm trying to figure out if living somewhere new or having all of my friends around me will make me happy. I'm not sure which is the best option for me. I still want to go out and have a good time and enjoying being single and young! I won't be in my twenties forever so I'm fully trying to embrace it.
As I began to think of resources that I have and contacts that I know, I started re-connecting and reaching out to professors, speakers, and employers that have helped me in the past. As I imagined all of them were very receptive and willing to help. I had two contacts that specifically had amazing opportunities to offer me.
One of my professors who I loved in college told me about a Convention for broadcasting. He told me all of the details and I had wanted to go on this trip 3 years ago but of course I was a poor college student that could not afford it. I love radio and was a DJ for almost 2 years in school. I wish I double majored in Radio and PR but at the start of my college career that was not possible. It was only until I was a junior the school changed that and I wasn't willing to add another major due to second minor I picked up and wanted to complete. I decided that I need to go on this trip for the fact that I love radio and I had been told one by on of my PR professors that I have a great radio voice. So now a year after being told that, I'm going to this Convention with an open mind, a positive attitude, and amazing opportunities. I can't wait to see what can happen.
And on top of that I will be attending another program with a speaker that came to my school last fall. I was drawn to him after his vulnerable personal presentation to Greek students. I spoke with him after the program and got his business card. I was going through a lot at that time in my life and I believe I even broke down when speaking to him. He told me about a program he had. I kept his card and emailed him a few weeks later to stay connected. After that my last semester of school and Graduation took up time and then the pressure of trying to find a "real" job. I lost touch but I decided to reach out to him and see if he had any opportunities for me. With all the luck in the world, he had a program that was coming up and I decided to take a risk and go for it. He's a life coach and I just feel like he has a lot to offer me. He's willing to help make my dreams a reality! I do believe in everything happens for a reason, and I think this trip is going to be BIG for me.
So overall I'm going to be going to LA for two weeks for these trips. I could not be more excited. I'm not sure if LA is for me or not but I'm willing to give it a shot. I think CA is a beautiful state that has a lot offer a strong, focused young woman like myself. I think of this as a risk that will pay off big. Whether that means I know more of what I want to do in my life, or a better job and a move from coast to coast I am not sure. I think that if you don't take big risks you can make big and exciting changes in your life. I'm excited to see what can happen and I'm finally feeling like my old self.
I can't wait to blog post trip!! My advice to young graduates or students that are near Graduation is that its okay if you don't have a great job immediately after Graduation. I think you need time to process all of your success from college and time to reflect on what you want out of life. Do you want to make lots of money? be a workaholic? Have a stellar social life? Can you find balance between all of those? do you want to relocate? Although my life is not what I thought it would be like post Graduation, I'm thankful for the way things have worked out. I know that my current situation is only temporary and that things will happen when they need to for me. I wish all of the fellow students/graduates the best of luck in life and in finding the balance between work and play.
I'm ready for these trips and for my life to only continue to get better. I'm so thankful for all of the connections and networks that I've make. Each of them has helped me to become the person I am today. I can't wait to see who I will be in the future!!
Until next time.
XXX
Amanda
I had a post that I was working on throughout December, but we all know that everyone works like a dog and Christmas and madness takes you over so I did not have time to finish that post.
Anyways.. Since I last posted some new and exciting things have been happening in my life. As of right now, I am still working a part-time job for a company I've been with since 2006. Its been on and off due to school but I know all of the managers and they are always helpful and understanding of my schedule and need for cash flow! I have moved back to my home state and that was not part of my original "post grad" plan. I have a constant push and pull relationship with living at home and having friends that love me and support me but have different views on life and are in different chapters of their lives. Some are in steady relationships, some are getting married, some are furthering their education, and then there is me. I'm trying to figure out if living somewhere new or having all of my friends around me will make me happy. I'm not sure which is the best option for me. I still want to go out and have a good time and enjoying being single and young! I won't be in my twenties forever so I'm fully trying to embrace it.
As I began to think of resources that I have and contacts that I know, I started re-connecting and reaching out to professors, speakers, and employers that have helped me in the past. As I imagined all of them were very receptive and willing to help. I had two contacts that specifically had amazing opportunities to offer me.
One of my professors who I loved in college told me about a Convention for broadcasting. He told me all of the details and I had wanted to go on this trip 3 years ago but of course I was a poor college student that could not afford it. I love radio and was a DJ for almost 2 years in school. I wish I double majored in Radio and PR but at the start of my college career that was not possible. It was only until I was a junior the school changed that and I wasn't willing to add another major due to second minor I picked up and wanted to complete. I decided that I need to go on this trip for the fact that I love radio and I had been told one by on of my PR professors that I have a great radio voice. So now a year after being told that, I'm going to this Convention with an open mind, a positive attitude, and amazing opportunities. I can't wait to see what can happen.
And on top of that I will be attending another program with a speaker that came to my school last fall. I was drawn to him after his vulnerable personal presentation to Greek students. I spoke with him after the program and got his business card. I was going through a lot at that time in my life and I believe I even broke down when speaking to him. He told me about a program he had. I kept his card and emailed him a few weeks later to stay connected. After that my last semester of school and Graduation took up time and then the pressure of trying to find a "real" job. I lost touch but I decided to reach out to him and see if he had any opportunities for me. With all the luck in the world, he had a program that was coming up and I decided to take a risk and go for it. He's a life coach and I just feel like he has a lot to offer me. He's willing to help make my dreams a reality! I do believe in everything happens for a reason, and I think this trip is going to be BIG for me.
So overall I'm going to be going to LA for two weeks for these trips. I could not be more excited. I'm not sure if LA is for me or not but I'm willing to give it a shot. I think CA is a beautiful state that has a lot offer a strong, focused young woman like myself. I think of this as a risk that will pay off big. Whether that means I know more of what I want to do in my life, or a better job and a move from coast to coast I am not sure. I think that if you don't take big risks you can make big and exciting changes in your life. I'm excited to see what can happen and I'm finally feeling like my old self.
I can't wait to blog post trip!! My advice to young graduates or students that are near Graduation is that its okay if you don't have a great job immediately after Graduation. I think you need time to process all of your success from college and time to reflect on what you want out of life. Do you want to make lots of money? be a workaholic? Have a stellar social life? Can you find balance between all of those? do you want to relocate? Although my life is not what I thought it would be like post Graduation, I'm thankful for the way things have worked out. I know that my current situation is only temporary and that things will happen when they need to for me. I wish all of the fellow students/graduates the best of luck in life and in finding the balance between work and play.
I'm ready for these trips and for my life to only continue to get better. I'm so thankful for all of the connections and networks that I've make. Each of them has helped me to become the person I am today. I can't wait to see who I will be in the future!!
Until next time.
XXX
Amanda
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