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Friday, April 04, 2008

Fresh Start

Spring is a time of re-birth, right? So, it's the perfect time to branch out and try some new things, I figure.

First new thing? More yoga. I used to be pretty devoted to it, but it has fallen to the wayside, and despite attempts to ressurect a practice on my own, I've never really found a way to practice it by myself and keep up with a routine. So, I need to find a suitable place to attend classes. Most yoga studios are pretty pricey, so tomorrow morning, I'm gonna test out community ed. It costs $4 per session. Of course, the mere mention of "community ed" conjures up images of sweat-pants-wearing-retirees, and considering that this is South Florida, it may very well be that kind of crowd. But I figure there's no harm in trying it. If it's not challenging enough, I won't return. But I think trying it is worth $4.

Second thing? Soccer. I played soccer my entire childhood and adolescence (I played varsity in HS and lettered in it), but then after HS, I pretty much stopped playing, except for one season of intra-mural soccer in college -- I mostly stopped playing because adult women leagues are not easy to come by and are often expensive. But a few weeks ago, I was speaking with a textbook rep I know and she mentioned that she plays on Sundays with an all-women league and she said it wasn't too competitive and it was open to new members for a reasonable price. I asked her to provide more info, and now I'm gonna go play with them this Sunday. I am freakin excited! Sunday is gonna be a tester to see if I like it, and if I do, I can sign up there and get registered with the league to play regularly. Wa-hoo!

I figure soccer is a great way to return to a sport I love, and it's excellent conditioning and should be a good way for me to incorporate speed work. Plus, I get to meet more people and socialize with some people I don't know, and I figure broadening my social horizons is always a good, healthy idea.

So, those are my two "new" endeavors, but an additional endeavor is to return to a regular training schedule, and thus, I have officially signed up for 3 races that I've talked about:

The Disney "Women Run the World" 15K in Orlando. May 4th.

The Colfax Half Marathon in Denver. May 18th.

And, the Army 10 miler in Washington, DC. October 5th.

So, yeah, I'm pretty excited about all of this stuff! Therefore, I'd best be going -- I gots shiz to do! Happy Friday, homies.

24 comments:

Erin said...

Sounds to me like you are making new priorities to prevent Jerry's attempts to knock you up! Just kidding. Good to see some new goals and hear you excited about things again.

I have tried to find time to skate for years but all the adult classes are at 10am on a weekday! Don't they think adults that work may want to skate?

Wes said...

Yay for playing soccer!! They have a women's leagure here in Atlanta that has three divisions, with the third being more recreational. My daughter has been playing in it for years. Man, are those women mean :-)

Ian said...

I think the soccer will improve your running a great deal too. I played varsity in HS and then a little rec league in college but quit for several years. About a year or two ago I picked up playing indoor soccer again and despite the fact that I was a runner I was dying after my first few games. It's almost like a weekly speedwork session.

Brianna said...

Wow - congrats for taking some big steps. $4 for yoga is definitely worth a try - I hope it ends up being something you enjoy, because that's an awesome price! I know absolutely nothing about soccer (I spent my youth in a dance studio), but it always looked like fun. I think it is great that there's a women's league you can join. And the races . . . wow! Will you have time to sleep? You'll need it! :)

audgepodge said...

I'm signed up for the Disney 15K next month, too!

Nancy said...

You are gonna be sooo bufffffff.

P.O.M. said...

Happy Friday.

Good luck with the yoga. That's a great price - definately worth a try! Let's hope 80 yr old aunt Merthyl isn't doing downward dog in your face. hee hee.

Marcy said...

Sweetness chica! The schedule is lookin good ;D ;D

Running Jen said...

I may be doing the Disney 15K next month too! I did it 2 years ago, and I loved it. I have not officially signed up for it yet, but I'm hoping to do it.

Crissy Rae said...

What a busy bee you have been with Jerry gone! Sounds like a good plan in place. Hope yoga goes well and is not a geriatric class and has some challenge to it.

Soccer sounds fun, too. I've been trying to find a volleyball team to no avail. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Unknown said...

happy training! I used to run, but then I had a kid. I am training for a 5K, like running for 4 minutes, walking for 1. My body used to work a lot better than this!

chia said...

Oddly enough, my UK running partner likes him some "football" action as well! It's his speed workout. Hope it proves to be useful!

I just committed to a 10K this morning and thinking about clicking the "registration" button on any one of the three destinations I'm pondering for my first official marathon. What a great day to commit to beat the sh*t out of ourselves :-)!!!

Unknown said...

Very cool ideas! I sometimes have interest in joining a baseball league, but it is more time consuming than running is. Good luck with the soccer and yoga. I hope they both work out.

Unknown said...

Sounds like a great way to kick off spring!! yoga, soccer, signing up for races. It's all good!

Viv said...

ROFLMAO at the yoga crowd at the comm cntr! Soccer awesome! What a way to keep the activities interesting. I can't wait to hear how it goes Sunday.
Have a great weekend.

TonyP said...

I recently gave yoga a shot...not easy stuff (at least for me). I played soccer through college, then pretty much stopped when I had kids - cool that you are getting back into it.

Ryan said...

Soccer?
Yoga?
Hippie?

Unknown said...

If you plan on going to Colfax Half Marathon this year, I would highly recommend you to get there a few days earlier before the race. You need to be acclimated to the high altitude. It will be twice as hard to run with thinner air compared to thicker air in Florida.

L*I*S*A said...

Love the fresh start! I give you credit with soccer. I just can't wrap my mind (or my body, for that matter) around it.

Let me know how you like the yoga...

Great race choices, too! They all sound really good.

RunnerGirl said...

I love my indoor soccer team, its seriously the best workout I get all week!

AddictedToEndorphins said...

Very, Very cool.
Look around for a lululemon store, they usually offer free classes (yoga)and other things with thier ambassadors. Something to look into!

Nikki said...

I got sidetracked with the above poster...FREE yoga a LULULEMON? Suuhweeet! I'm going to have to check that out :p

Anyways, Great goals Jess! Trying new things is always good for the soul.

However, the 80 year old doing downward dog in your face might distract a little ;)( hahahaa P.O.M.)

Good luck with soccer, I hope it pans out great, you sound super excited.

runner26 said...

Yoga is the best! Hopefully you can find a studio (and teacher!) that you like. I think that is the key to wanting to go.

Best of luck with the soccer team!

Mendy said...

Sounds like some fun races! Glad you found a girls soccer league.