Acupuncture

I have terrible allergies. I consider a good day one in which I can breathe out of one nostril. I've tried shots and medicines, but they get expensive. It's also annoying to be doped up on allergy meds all the time. As a last resort, I decided to try acupuncture. I also need some help with the pain in my left knee. There is a doctor's office right near my house where a Chiropractor & a doctor of Oriental Medicine practice together.

I was only a little nervous when I checked in this morning. I filled out some paperwork, then headed back to Kelly's office. She led me to a room that looked so relaxing. I instantly got tired. After she asked me some questions about my symptoms & dietary habits, she looked at my tongue. Then she felt my pulse on both wrists. After that, it was time to lie down on the table.

She made sure I was comfortable with pillows at my head & below my knees. She shined a heat lamp on my feet (awesome!). Then she felt various points on my body to see where I felt tenderness. Next, she put needles in different areas in my body. She put one in each elbow, one in each leg, one in each ear, and one in each hand. Then she put a needle on each side of my nose (right where I felt sinus pressure). Those were the only needles that actually hurt. I rested for a while, then she came in & removed the needles. She put acupressure nodes in my ears for me to wear until our next appointment.

I'm not yet sure how well the acupunture worked for me, but I am hopeful that I will feel some sinus relief soon. I will definitely keep you posted on how it goes in the next few days.

Guess who's back?

I've had a busy week! Last week was my final week at my internship. It was sad, but wonderful all at the same time. I had lots of goodbye lunches & dinners (including two dinners in one night). I received some fun presents (including Starbucks gift cards). I gave out some IU t-shirts and crowned some "honorary Hoosiers". What I didn't have time for was running, but oh well. I made up for it today.

About two weeks before the internship ended, I found out that I would receive an offer to work at the company full-time after graduation. I loved my summer experience, so this was really great news!

Now that the internship is finished, I've enjoyed spending time with my husband and my dog. I'm looking forward to relaxing this week. I will catch up with some friends and get ready for school to start. Before I can do any of that, I must ice my left knee (which is irritated after this morning's run).

The Long Run

I ran 8 miles today! I never thought I could run so far at once. I proved myself wrong this morning. My husband and I do our long runs on Saturday mornings. As usual, I woke up wanting to stay in bed (we try to go early to get the run out of the way).
After we finished the run, I was so glad I did it. After the third mile, I started to feel a little sluggish. I ate some Gu and kept it moving. I sprinted the last 1/5 mile in order to get it finished. I felt good after running. I've taken a couple of short naps, but that is not unusual for my Saturdays. After today's run, I feel like I might actually be able to run 13.1 miles in November. I officially declare today a "win"!

Packing

I hate packing. The only thing I hate worse than packing is unpacking. Each time I have to pack for a trip or to move, I trick myself into thinking that I'm going to be so organized. I have visions of nicely folded clothes that are organized by outfit in appropriately labled boxes. The reality ends up being a mess. I usually wait until the last minute and throw clothes or whatever into suitcases and boxes.
I'm moving out of my summer apartment in a week from Friday. I'm headed back to my house, my husband, and my dog. This time, my packing has been a little bit different. I have actually started (which is unlike me). I have a box of books and a duffle bag full of clothes ready to go into my car. The plan is to move myself back home in 2 car loads. We'll see how that goes.
If you're awesome at packing, please lend me your advice. Better yet, if you're awesome at unpacking, meet me at my house in 2 weeks.

Yoga

I am far enough into my 1/2 Marathon training program to incorporate cross training on my off days. Strengthening my muscles will help me run better. I also need some good stretching. I have decided that yoga is a good way to get both of those components at once.

I purchased a special deal on some yoga classes. For $20, I get my choice of 10 classes at a hot yoga studio in Louisville. I decided to try the Vinyasa class tonight. I'm so glad I did! The instructor was excellent and gave me some good tips. She even managed to make us laugh. The whole experience was challenging and relaxing at the same time.

At the end of the class, she asked us to lay down on our mats. The room was warm (but not as hot as during the Bikram class). She spoke in low tones as we relaxed on the floor. She stopped talking and I let my mind wander. I guess I let it wander a little too much. I found myself thinking "She is being very rude and talking too loudly!". It turns out that she was making sure that I was awake! I had taken a little snooze. She was a good sport about it and didn't make fun of me.

On Thursday, I'm planning to take "Power Vinyasa". Keep your fingers crossed that I don't reward myself with a nap again.

The Winds of Change...

The winds of change are blowing in my household. I am in the summer between my first & second years of business school. My husband and I are in a weird place right now. We aren't sure where we will live and work after I graduate from school in May. This is a strange position for us. We've lived in the same city for almost 7 years. Now we aren't sure if we will have to sell our house and prepare to find another somewhere.
Change is not a bad thing. I usually like to have control over my life, but I rarely enjoy this luxury. While we will miss our friends and our current town, we are very excited to see what the future holds for us. The key to keeping my stress levels low will be for me to focus on the things in my "Circle of Influence". For now, we are planning to enjoy our current situation. We have made a list of things to do before we leave. The next thing on our list is to go to the Indiana State Fair. I'll definitely let you know how that goes.