6am Victory!

I was able to do the 6am run! I really enjoyed it too. The best part about getting up so early is that I was still asleep for the first part of the run, I woke up about half way through. I was able to push harder and run more than I have before.

I am going to do it again tomorrow. I am going to shoot for 6 or 7am... It should be fun, I am going to see if I can push through and do another .5 miles... We'll see.

Several notes on early morning running...
* People do not pick up after their dogs, how hard is this to do?!

* It is quiet. REALLY quiet.

* Runner's do NOT wave or do the head nod to each other. (I was hoping that there would be a cool secret club that I would be inducted into once I started running.)

New Shoes, early start

My new running shoes have arrived! I learned last week that running in walking shoes is not such a great idea.

So now I have beautiful new shoes that are perfectly tailored to my running needs. I am going to get up tomorrow morning at 6am and run before work.

Hopefully, I still feel the same way tomorrow morning.

Here we go!

This post marks a change in my blog. I am switching topics. Not that it really matters, as it has been over 6 months since I posted last...

Anyways, I am now using this space to chronicle my fitness journey. I have recently discovered running. Well, discovered that I don't despise it. I hated running as a kid, but I think that was because it was forced on me and I like things to be my own choice. Plus what is fun about being forced to participate in an activity while a gym teacher stands and yells at you about how bad you are at said activity?

As I have learned recently, there is a certain power and zen to running. During my run I feel like I might not make it, and then I notice how my body feels. The feeling of my feet hitting the ground, my legs propelling me forward my breath coming faster and the sweat beading. It all comes together to give me a feeling of power, strength and peace.


So here I am. Beginning this new adventure. First step: train for 5k. I have about 3 weeks left! Yikes. I have been training for the race for about 4 weeks now, so hopefully I will not embarrass myself too much. Goal: Finish the race, run 85% of it.

Once I get past this goal we will see what I will tackle next.

Art Institute

I have been going to the Art Institute for almost as long as I can remember. My family had a membership, and when I got to be old enough I obtain my own membership. It is a very familiar place, I usually notice when they have moved or removed a piece. When they put the Chuck Close (I believe it was 'Stephen' located near the decorative arts and American galleries) I was quite upset. It is a comforting, exciting, stimulating place to visit. I always come away with new experiences and new ideas for my art.

My Morning In Photographs

The winter light was amazing this morning. It gave everything an interesting glow. This is the continuation of my current obsession with light.

My new place

As some of you know I have found a new apartment! It is much closer to church and work, which is going to make my life easier in general. Plus there will be much easier parking, so it will be easier for people to come over! I went in to measure and make sure that everything I have will fit in, and translated that into a floor plan from floorplanner.com.

I'd like to welcome you to my new apartment!

Signs

I love old signs. This one is from a jewelery store in Andersonville, they have recently closed and shortly a new business will be in their old space. The new will replace the old and another piece of the neighborhoods history will be lost. It is another aspect of time, this sign shows it quite literally on the Elgin clock embedded into it. Signs now are primarily for information and less about the artistic expression of the business and sign maker. We are losing the beautiful, gaudy, fun signs of the past. I love them and have begun incorporating them into my art, hopefully this will help them to live a bit longer in our consciousness than they normally would.