Things I love about running

1. Being outdoors (treadmills are not my thing)

2. It makes me incredibly grateful for my legs and feet, and I am constantly amazed by how far these two body parts can take me

3. Sweating out toxins

4. Taking off my shoes when I get back

5. How quiet all my thoughts are when I stretch after a run

6. Running makes me feel more beautiful than makeup or clothes ever possibly could

7. Anyone can run, and its not something you can be good or bad at. Its something you just do

8. Running through cramps and running up hills makes me feel like I can pretty much do anything.

Uhm, I could go on and on, but I'll leave it at this. Perhaps I'll continue this post another day.

New Shoes

Today I went to Sports Authority, and I am so excited about what I bought! I have this weird obsession with water bottles (I seriously love water bottles, I don't know why. My water bottle is literally sitting in my lap as I type this), so I bought a pink Nike water bottle. Its super cute, and it doesn't leak which is freaking awesome. AND it has a straw. I really love it. And I also bought a pair of New Balance Minimus running shoes. I am so excited for my run tomorrow in these bad boys! I wanted to try them out as soon as I got home, but after digesting dinner and all that jazz, it was too late. 

Anyways, I included the promo video for the shoes in this post, because I seriously love this video. Its so inspiring and this man is seriously everything I want to be. I love how he talks about stripping running and life down to the bare essentials. I also love the shot at the end of him at the farmers market and then riding off on his bike. Recently when I have been thinking about my life and how I want my life to turn out - that is what I envision. I want to be a real runner, I want to be more environmentally conscious, I want to only shop at farmers markets. It just sounds so simple and perfect and it sounds like a life I would be proud to live. 

That though just kind of inspired me - I have been saving the tips that I make at work to buy new back to school clothes. Maybe, rather than going to the mall and buying new clothes that I will get sick of in a few months, I'll go to thrift stores to buy stuff. Then, I'll be saving money, plus I'll be recycling old clothes which is environmentally friendly. I am gonna have to make a few trips to Williamsburg this summer (on the bus of course!).

Anyone rocking minimalist running shoes these days?

Realization

*April 15th is still on my camera*

April 16th- Was a little cranky part of today, but I went for a run for the first time in 3 weeks which was lovely. I feel like my smile is always so much brighter when I come back from a run.

So as I wrote in the caption for that picture, I have not run in 3 weeks, and today I was feeling so slugish and crappy. All I really wanted to do was go back to my room and sleep, but I convinced myself that going for a run, sweating out some of the toxins in my body and getting a nice dose of endorphins would help. I am still incredibly tired, but my run was lovely and I feel so good that I went! I am hoping that this along with my half marathon will help me get back into the swing of things. 

* * *

On a somewhat related note, these are just some thoughts I have been having:

So recently I have been feeling a little lonely; just in general. Lonely about not having a boy to call my own and lonely because of some weird friend situations. And at the same time that this has been happening, Alex has been pledging, which means that Amanda has had a lot of free time. Her and I have gotten a lot closer, and I have really grown to like her. She really is a good friend and I feel like I have been able to open up to her more than anyone else here (which is weird, because for so long I fought having a relationship with her). Anyways, on Saturday, Alex "crossed", which means that he is free again, and him and Amanda are back to their usual routine. At first this made me kinda sad and jealous (because they seriously are so happy together). Well, I suppose I am still a little sad and jealous, but I have flipped these feelings around to make them positive. I know for a fact that part of the reason both Amanda and Alex are so happy is because they both take such good care of themselves; eating right and excercising a lot. Since those things make them naturally happy people, add the fact that they are doing those things together and you get a naturally happy couple. And thats something I really admire. I also really admire how rediculously kind Amanda is to Alex; she is seriously the sweetest girlfriend ever. I only hope that I can be that nice to the next boy I date. But its sort of giving my something to strive for; its inspiring. I see the way they take care of themselves and how that is reflected in their positive energy, and I see the way they treat each other ; both of which inspire me to hopefully one day find that sense of sort if being at peace. 

Productivity

Here is a list of all the things I am going to get done today. Looking at lists like this makes me really happy, and makes me feel pretty freaking good about myself. 

1. Study chapters 5 & 6 of Chemistry

2. Do the homework for chapters 5 & 6 of Chemistry

3. Run 6 miles

(^these things will be done before 6pm) Edit: NOT HAPPENING! But they're still gonna get done!

4. Finish my Lit Review for Research in the disciplines 

5. Perhaps if I can handel a bit more Chem, review Chapters 1 & 2

Yay! I love being productive. And I am sorta dreading my 6 mile run today, but I know as soon as I step out of my house, I am going to feel so good about it. So yeah, thats whats gonna happen (:

Falling off track

Gah, so when I got back to school, I was so incredibly motivated and it was so lovely! I was running constantly, going to work out classes, ontop of my school work annnd making time to hang out with friends. It was such a great feeling to be so in control. Recently however, I have fallen off track a little bit; I am a bit behind in a few of my classes, not as motivated, eating a little less healthy and not putting as much effort into being social.

I have noticed a significant change in the way I feel now as apposed to the way I was feeling when the semester started; clearly I was a lot happier then and I think a lot of it had to do with the way I ate and the fact that I made time for exercise. I therefore decided that me falling off track was something that needed to happen. This is a little reminded of exactly why I need to eat healthy, when some other things taste so much better. This is why I need to get my work done early and not stay up until 2am trying to catch us. This little "derailing" was just an eye-opener to remind me of which lifestyle is more appealing; its almost somewhat motivating to fall off track!

So here I am now; ready to do some homework this weekend, hit the gym and start running again, and then in my spare time, share some laughs with my friends. I couldn't be more excited. Okay, well thats an exaduration; for some reason I am a little scared - I miss Fernando and I miss the comfort of having him (not that that has anything to do with this, but it is a fact) - but I am going to take control and do what I need to do to make myself happy! There are also a few other things I want to post such as tattoo ideas and other sources of inspiration, but I'll save that for later!

Yesterday I realized something so incredibly important. It just came to me, and it clicked. I might even go as far as to say I had a life changing revelation. I realized that every time I was upset or stressed or not feeling happy, I would go to Fernando to make me feel better and it would never work so I would get frustrated with him. And then yesterday it just hit me - its not Fernando who is supposed to make me happy (which is why it never worked out); I need to learn how to make myself happy. If I am having a rough day, I can't go to someone else with my problems and expect them to suddenly make things better; I need to figure out on my own how I can make things better. Only Jessica can make Jessica truly happy - Fernando can't do that, and neither can anyone else. Gosh, it was such a good feeling to finally see things clearly. And I have to say, I have been feeling pretty good. Obviously its a day by day thing and perhaps today or tomorrow won't be that good, but I am learning how to equip myself with the proper tools to make those rough days better.

On another note, I have been running consistently, and I looove it!

(when I took ^that picture I though it was incredibly clever, but I realized I am not that fond of it)

Running is seriously the ultimate cure to everything. My day is immediately better after a run. Everytime I run, I think of all the reasons why I run, and my reasoning is never ever "as a work out". Instead I always have these really intense reasons like "I run to survive" or "I run so that I don't feel anxious". Its really incredible! 

(I also hate this picture, but Faline looks so funny!)

Things at school have been pretty lovely too. I am making more of an effort to be social and make plans, and I am really happy with the way this semester is turning out so far! (*knock on wood*)

Alsoooo, I registered for the Rutger's half todaay! I am so incredibly excited/nervous. This means I actually have to go through with this. I also want to register for a few other races, like a TRIATHALON! I am going swimming with Max on sunday, so if it goes well, I am going to register! (:

Successful Day!

So yesterday turned out rather successful. My breakfast was larged and kept me full for a really good portion of the day, something that rarely happens. Ususally an hour after breakfast I am starving again.

 I finished reading Into the Wild yesterday. The end was so touching, and left me with this really weird feeling. I didn't expect this book to make me cry, but I just felt so sad for Chris in the end, and I suppose I had other pent up emotions that I needed to get out also. Either way, I loved this book, Today I want to go to the library and pick up Catcher in the Rye. I've wanted to read that book for so long!

Also, my shopping trip yesterday was incredibly successful. Unfortunatly left my camera at school, so these pictures are from my phone, but I can promise I got some really good stuff. I also spent almost my entire pay for last week, but whatever!

 

  And spending time with Maria was really nice. I think my morning run got me back to feeling like my old self (cause I have been in quite a funk since the end of November!). I just haven't been myself and its incredibly frustrating, But yesterday on the bus ride home we talked like we used to, and it was just really lovely.