Running, reading and 'rithmetic

Running
While running with my partners on Saturday, I realized it's been over year since I last completed an official race. Last year I ran two marathons...this year? Crickets. It's been fourteen months since my last race, and there is still nothing on the horizon. This is the longest I've gone without running a race in the last decade (aside from pregnancy). And...the sky did not fall. Here's what I learned:

• Contrary to what I always told myself, I don't need an upcoming race to keep me motivated. Sure, it can help motivate particular elements of training (speed work, hills), but I'm still out there 2-3 days a week, race looming or not. I don't need 'race pressure' to get me to run.
• Not running races has made me ask myself- why do I run races? It's not for the time, since I don't do speed work. It's not for the medal (I threw away my first 5-6 because I thought it was funny to get the adult version of a 'participant' reward). So why? Perhaps because I thought I should be able to have something to show for my all effort? Because I wanted to be able to say I was participating in an upcoming race? Perhaps because when I was new to running it felt like a great accomplishment to be able to say, "I ran a half marathon on Saturday!" Not knowing the answer has given me something to think about.
• In the interim, I saved quite a few race entry fees, hotel nights and gas.  Even better? No anxious sleepless nights in strange hotels the before a race (always) and groggy, sleep deprived runs. :-)
• I love not having any pressure to do hills, cross train or to 'have to' run 18 or 20 miles today. I do miss the accomplishment of longer distances, but for now...this works. I run only as long as I want to, and that's kind of a first for me. It's a lighter, brighter way of running. Recently, this has been about 10-12 milers, which for me, is a low enough number that successfully avoids chafing, soreness and dead toenails/blisters.

Reading
It also means, less early AM long runs...so I can read longer on Friday or Saturday nights before a long run. And by 'less early', I mean that I get up at 4:40am and not 4am. ;-) Welcome to the world of running in humid climates!

The latest stack of books

These were okay. Most were fairly enjoyable and and quick reads. Miscavige's book on Scientology and his son (the current leader of the controversial faith) was not quite as good as Jenna Miscavige Hill's, which I highly recommend for having far more detail and facts about the 'faith.' Miscavige didn't spend as much time explaining the ideology behind Scientology, it read more like a memoir. (And I'm far more interested in his sociopath of a son, and the scandalous situations that members are conned into).

Wall's book on polygamy had predictably horrifying stories and mentioned actual interactions with the Prophet Warren Jeffs, but I preferred the book 'Escape' by Carolyn Jessup and 'The Sound of Gravel' by Ruth Wariner. I loved the drama behind Jessup's escape, and the slightly less common polygamous lifestyle that Wariner experienced in Mexico. I also think Wariner is a bona fide writer, which made 'Gravel' a more compelling read.

Hawley's Before the Fall was the definite winner that I couldn't put down. I've already requested the another book of his to see if I have a new favorite. His writing style reminds me a bit of Harlen Coben.

'The Girls' was the only book I didn't really finish. It's well written, with a good enough story...but it was a slow read, and really not all that captivating to me.

Sometimes I wonder why I don't work in a bookstore, and then I remember it's because we don't really have one. We have two small independent bookstores (one teeny tiny, the other large, but toasty), but I'm definitely a fan of the type of bookstore where you can sit in faux leather chairs in the splendor of central air conditioning, while happily nibbling on a blueberry scone (yes, horrible people like me killed the independent bookstore).

'Rithmetic 
Yesterday was an odd day that hampered my attempts to improve the family finances. I heard back from Company  #1 that they were unable to restructure/create a position for me that they'd hoped to. I had a second interview/offer from Company #2, but declined it (due to a logistics issue). A third application is still pending, and a fourth has been started. Truthfully speaking, if history repeats itself...I may very well be in the exact same position in six months (working part-time in the same job I've had since '04). If these attempts all fall short, I'm going to choose to be okay with that. I tried, and that's okay. There's not imminent outside pressure to change our lives, so there's no need to put pressure on myself or enter any situation that would bring about chaos.

So with that being said, life is good. Some dear friends of ours suffered a bit of a blow that we're still reeling from, but we hope to be able to roll up our sleeves and help out if they'll let us. I have learned that life isn't about miles logged, or dollars earned...but about looking after one another.