Grad School Finish Line

I am finally getting a real taste of graduate school. The gritty, no-time-to shower and too-tired-to-cook-dinner life. It's actually not so bad. Mainly because I know it has to end soon (I defend Dec. 14!). It's been sad because I am not getting to spend as much time with Craig because I have been going in to work on the weekends and after dinner.

Race For A Soldier 2015 Recap

     I haven't written for a awhile. This is mainly due to 2 reasons: the crazy amount of stress being in my last semester of graduate school and a lingering cold. The last month basically has been write, write, write, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep...zzzzzzzzzzz
 
     Despite all this, I had a ton of fun at the Race For a Soldier last weekend in Gig Harbor, WA.

Mt. Rainier and a Bubble Run

      Right before classes started up again, Craig and I were able to escape to Western Washington. We camped and hiked at Mt. Rainier. I ran in the Seattle Bubble Run with a friend (it was so fun!). Then, my extended family had a reunion! It was an awesome trip.

What did I even do all week?... Work?

     Finally! My research project has begun to succeed: this week my DNA extractions worked.

Below is an image from an email I sent to myself. It's probably garbled-ey-gook to everyone but what it basically means is that I was finally able to extract quality DNA from a fungus that I want to obtain a whole genome sequence from. Exciting, no?

Weekend Update

"Copy Cat"- Craig is tired from the early morning run. And Razzy is tired from her life of being Razzy.

     Craig and I have had a fun weekend just hanging around Pullman. We ran, ate pizza and candy, and went to a movie! We also spent some time just lying around home.

A week of adventures

   The past few days have been pretty eventful. I started out not feeling so well last week. My chest and upper back pain returned the beginning of June and has lingered through the month. Last time I met with my doctor, he recommended I get my heart checked out, so I had a "stress test" at the hospital on Wednesday. It actually wasn't so bad. The guy in charge was really nice and we talked about running most the time, so it wasn't super "stressful."

I'm a robot! Me at my treadmill stress test. 

 

Why my dad is awesome

My dad and I running the Yukon Do It half-marathon 2015 last December

     I have always worked hard at school, work and running. It must be genetic. My father is easily one of the hardest workers I know. He has recently begun running again and ran his first half marathon a week before he turned 60.

A runner's approach to life's challenges (grad school)

            I am currently working on earning a Masters degree in Plant Pathology. For a while now I have not felt like I've been making much progress on my research project.  I have technically passed all other course requirements and am just waiting on my thesis and defense to graduate.

The lab I where I do my research. I am sitting at the bench (notice I am missing the bottom half of my body haha). 

           

       

Weekend hike & 5K race pace

View from the top of Kamiak. Note the dark rain clouds. 

     On Saturday morning, I woke up, feeling like it was super early in the morning. It was still cool out, and there was no light coming from behind the window blinds. Then I checked the clock, and it was 10:00 am! No way, I thought to myself. I thought it was more like 7:00 am. I never sleep in. Usually my cat starts meowing at 7:00 am, so it was nice that she let me sleep. Maybe she was too busy enjoying the cool morning to bother me.

Let the training begin

       This weekend I convinced myself to start training for a half marathon again. I have been a bit afraid of running long distances ever since I became in ill and required a cholecystectomy. Despite hesitation, I have been slowly getting back into running for the past month or so, and now I think I have just enough confidence to register for a race. 

   

Trip to Lucerne Guard Station

This last week, Craig and I traveled to the Lucerne Guard Station located off of Lake Chelan to visit Craig's grandparents who are volunteers for the Forest Service there.

Science nerd on the run

     I ran 6 days in a row last week! I have a lot of energy now that I'm feeling better. Yesterday,
I went for my usual run along the trail near my house. On my return trip, I stopped after two and a half miles and called it good cause it was so dang hot out (it was 2:00 pm and probably 85 degrees).
     As I walked along the trail, I noticed a diseased plant that I had been running past the whole time! The plant had these black giant swellings, or knots, and my official diagnosis is black knot caused by Dibotryon morbosum. All the shrubs along that part of the trail (7 plants) were diseased. I took photos for all the plant pathologists amongst my readers (I think there is at least one person who would be interested? haha).

How I became a runner

         

At my first 5K! 

     I actually didn't start running until around age 21. Ever since, running has been such an important and beneficial part of my life. Here is the story of how I first got into running.

Making Bread While Running

     Things are going great! I think the pain I have been experiencing for the past half year has finally ended. It turns out that I was having "phantom pain" or nerve pain even after having my gallbladder removed. The medicine that my doctor prescribed for this really seems to be working. It's a huge relief not to constantly be feeling bad. I've even been able to run a little bit. 

No running!

      

     Last Tuesday night, I was able to go for a 1.6 mile run at my normal pace. At the end of the run, I was ecstatic. I was back to myself! Yay!

     The next day, however, I definitely regretted it. I came home after class, had some mixed vegetables and brussel sprouts for lunch, and within an hour, the pain in my abdomen was extreme. I went to the Dr. that afternoon, and basically she told me to cool it with the vegetables (fiber) and exercise (both running and long walks) until my body fully recovered. She told me to eat plain foods and rest. 

First mile after surgery

     I wish I could say that I have made a full recovery from surgery. I am still having pain in my chest and shoulder that feels exactly like the referred pain I had prior to having my gallbladder removed. It is frustrating and tiring to have to put up with pain constantly. The surgeon told me to bear with the pain for a month after surgery, and if it's still there, then I should investigate the pain further. Fortunately, my incisions are almost perfectly healed, and after meeting with the surgeon, he said I was cleared to run. 

Hood-up and wearing two sweatshirts. My recovery look.

Goodbye lil' Gallbladder

I had my gallbladder removed about 2 weeks ago! Here is a summary of the past few days:

My mystery illness. Solved?

     For the past year or so I've had a ridiculous amount of doctor's appointments. Mostly they are during the work week, too, so on my work calendar above my desk, I write them in, but use special initials or code names like "personal appointment" so that my co-workers and boss wont think "wow this girl is always sick (or a super hypochondriac) and never at work." Granted, I'm in grad school, so I have some flexibility in my work hours, but I still feel guilty about the amount of time I've taken off in my attempts to get healthy.

     I've seen multiple doctors, physical therapists, and a chiropractor, and was not getting any answers to why for months I was crippled with pain from my shoulder and ribcage.

Hills, hills, hills...

My neighborhood hill of doom

   
     I've kind of been taking it slow the past few days because I am still in recovery mode from last weekend's race. Yesterday, me and Craig went on a short trail run, and going uphill really made me exhausted quickly, even when I was going slow. I swear, someone could have walked faster than me while I was jogging uphill. Also, it was difficult to find footing. If I had continued much longer, I would have tripped on a branch or something. But I also enjoyed it because of the challenge.

I follow rivers

Finishing up the race. The entire run was along the ravine of the snake river. 

     Yesterday I ran in the Snake River Half Marathon. I kind of waited in the very back at the start. I've found that starting last is best for me so then I don't push myself too hard in the beginning being around faster runners. I even had Craig give me a back massage at the official start time while I was waiting for everyone else to clear out, and a minute or so later I crossed the starting line. In the beginning, there was a pretty wicked head-wind, and the first half of the race, my eyes were watering from it. It may have appeared like I was crying, but that was definitely not the case. I really enjoyed the race.

Determination: Wenatchee trip

 

    This weekend, Craig and I drove over to Wenatchee, WA to attend his grandfather's memorial service. On Saturday morning, before the service, I was excited to go for a run to explore the new terrain. We were staying with my Aunt, and her neighborhood seemed flat, so when I headed out the door, I was expecting an easy run. The air was crisp and no one was out yet, not even other joggers.

8 mile: An introduction to me

     I am going introduce myself by explaining some of my running habits. These habits are not extraordinarily unique or bizarre, but they should at least give you an idea of who I am as a runner. 

     So, in preparation for a run, first I assemble the necessities. In addition to the usual running shoes and gym clothes this includes...

Basic essentials for a weekend long run

First post ever!

Welcome to the first post of my new blog. It is rather late, so this post will be brief.

How I feel while running:

What I actually look like while running: