Off and running

This morning I made my sad and lowly triumphant return to running. I mapped a two mile route through my new neighborhood and the neighboring hoods and set out. While I am happy to say that I ran the whole way (which I was glad for after several weeks without working out) it was more difficult than I would have liked. However, upon reaching my doorstep and checking how long it took me, I was surprised to find that it was only 20 minutes, which means I did about 10 minute miles, which would explain the fact that I had a stitch in my side the whole time and felt like I wanted to quit halfway through. My normal times are between 11-12 minutes, so for me it was quite a pick-up in the pace. I will have to get better about pacing myself.

The neighborhoods around here are beautiful, with lots of old, leafy trees and pretty lawns. The smell of fresh-mowed grass hung in the air around almost every corner, a testament to the fact that everyone else around here has been waiting as hungrily as I have for the spring weather to hit us. Goodbye rain, hello sun and 70's! That is more like the California I know and love this time of year. It was a nice introduction to what running around here will be like, too. Beautiful!

In the way of what might be TMI, I have a wicked bladder infection, which also made the running, um, interesting. Feeling like I had to pee the whole time, and knowing that even if I sat down to pee hardly anything would happen and it would HURT. I just tried to ignore it and keep moving. I am drinking unsweetened cranberry juice like its going out of style and just hoping I won't have to go to the doctor for pills. If any of you have tried and true home remedies for this, please share!

I came home to the man delivering my new refrigerator - gorgeous! Goodbye to the dorm-sized fridge and hello to grocery shopping. Hubby is off today, there is work to be done around here, and I think there may be sushi in my near future! Hope you all are having a great day too!