Since training diligently for the half-marathon in October, I’ve trudged. I’ve slodged. I’ve begged and pleaded my body forward.
Watching videos on running posture—and actually practicing it—is helping. I feel more gazelle-like now, bounding forward from a strong midsection, asserting march-like steps that keep me in an empowered stance, even on an incline.
I’ve shortened my runs to match a training program. It’s technically a 5k to 10k program, but it includes two, and sometimes three rest days a week. Compared to the daily training I’d been doing, this feels easy. Like, too easy.
So easy, in fact, that I ran a sub–9-minute mile this morning.
My morale is higher than it’s been in a while, probably because of the structure, the breaks, and the shorter runs.
I enjoyed turning back toward home at the halfway point and noticing the capacity of my heart and lungs. And my mentality—which felt like freedom and peace and power all swirling together into a soft-serve cone.
Tasty.
Tomorrow it’s a three-way dentist appointment for Dave, Evelyn, and me at the university’s dental program. Students will work on us, likely with their instructors nearby. I was told to set aside multiple hours, and so I did. At less than $50 per person, the appointment is well within budget, so the tradeoff isn’t quality of care—it’s likely the time spent.
Better bring a good book, eh?
I’m also meditating. A minute here, a minute there. Stopping, dropping the armful of thoughts I’m carrying to the ground, and feeling the lightness of empty hands. Noticing how the shift feels.
Recently, a friend was stuck trying to simplify their life. Their digital life, specifically, they’d hoarded everything. Their stuckness felt familiar to me.
The final push came when Dave mentioned our Google storage—it’s a family plan—was 70% full. His Pixel phone gets the perk of photos not taking up any space, so the responsibility was mostly mine.
At first, it was hard. But when I typed the search term beach and saw dozens of nearly identical photos from Florida and Washington, I realized I could do without most of them.
So away I went, whisking this and that and this and that into the never-to-be-seen-again.
Thousands of pictures later, I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised. When I scroll through the decluttered albums now, I see the best of the best—photos I’d actually like to print on canvas and hang on the entryway wall.
Which is exactly what I said I’d do with the Christmas money I got.
I need to get on that.
I’m onto my nightly snack of Cheez-Its. It’s become a habit. This couch, me, my laptop to write, and something always feels missing each night—until I remember them.
Now the box sits snugly against my lower belly, a perfect resting spot for my hand as I rummage around for the salty ones, pressing them against my tongue to enjoy the slow melting of the crystals.
Well, that does it for me. I hope you had a wonderful weekend!
Love, Jaclynn
Going On 40 