ACSM Certified

Friday I drove to Lynchburg to take the American College of Sports Medicine Health Fitness Specialist Exam. I was pretty nervous, not just because I hardly got to review for it, but because it cost $275 to take the test and re-take would cost another $150. Apparently I didn't have too much to worry about, I finished in just over an hour (the max time is 3.5) and I passed with flying colors!

Running is a mental sport...

...and I must be insane! Yesterday I ran the Shamrock Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, and today I am feeling every inch of those 13.1 miles. Even though I'm sore now I didn't suffer too much yesterday, and I feel I was pretty well prepared for the distance. I had some stomach troubles during the run (not to mention after) and I didn't do quite as well as I had hoped, but I finished in 1:52.53 which isn't too bad for my first time. I came in 1350 out of 5996 overall, 444th out of 3419 women and 67th out of 375 in my age division.

Erin and Jen ran as well so we decided to make "team" t-shirts. We settled on Romans 14:8 as our motto:

" If we live, it is to honor the Lord;
And we die, it is to honor the Lord.
So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."

I was surprised at how many comments I got while I was running. At least 20 people told me they really loved my shirt...and they always seemed to pop up just when I was ready to give up and slow down. It was just the motivation I needed to keep working hard.

All through the race I kept telling myself I would never do another half-marathon again...but as soon as it was over I was talking about "next time." I'm debating doing the Charlottesville 10-miler in two weeks, but it's the same weekend as the EcoQuest race here at Longwood so I haven't decided which I want to do yet. Next on the list is the Smith Mountain Lake Triathlon on May 2nd, so I've got to get back on the bike and back in the pool! That is as soon as I regain the function of my legs...

Spring Break

Lots of people go somewhere warm for spring break. I go to New Jersey. I put in more than a few job applications...three for Rec jobs on McGuire AFB and two at Health and Wellness facilities, one in Hamilton and one at the hospital in Freehold. I also drove up to the highlands to see the facilities at Project U.S.E., which would be my first choice of jobs between now and the Peace Corps.

Maddie came up to visit on Tuesday and Wednesday. We didn't have much time, but we managed to make it to White Castle and to the city to see Guys and Dolls on Broadway. We also managed to take our third ever picture together while we were in Times Square. Three pictures in four years....I guess we're just not the picture taking type!

I'm drunk on snowflakes!

What is it about snow that turns even the most dignified college seniors into 5 year olds? We got about 6 inches of snow yesterday which is enough to shut down an entire town here in Virginia. All classes were canceled today because the roads were still not cleared, so I did the only thing a responsible college student with a paper due in less than 24 hours would do...I drove up to the mountains with Tim to go snowboarding! I blew my entire paycheck from last month on the lift ticket and the rental but it was absolutely worth it. We only got to spend about 4 hours on the slopes but it's probably for the best since I haven't been snowboarding in over a year and I'm bound to be sore tomorrow.


Since I haven't seen snow like this here in VA since my freshman year I decided to put off my homework a little longer and I walked a few miles on the rails-to-trails path behind my apartment. That section is technically not open to the public yet so I was the only person down there and I got to make the first footprints in some fresh snow! Great way to end a snow day.



The university is closed until noon again tomorrow, which is great because my car is currently stranded on a large patch of black ice in the middle of a rather steep hill so I have no way of getting to class. Apparently just because the roads are cleared does not mean the parking lots are suitable to drive in. Until the ice thaws my car can't go forward or backward...only sideways...so I guess I'll be walking for the next few days!