Since it is Thursday,  I’m linking up today with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.

Since June 10, this dark cloud (unemployment) has been hanging over my head. It’s on my mind.  Like 24 hours a day.

I’m not judging (I will read your blogs anyway) but I hate to write about personal things on my blog.  It’s a running blog and I think that’s what you expect to hear about.  So that’s what I like to write about.  My blog is where I can write about my races, my training and all that stuff that we, runners, worry and stress about….exercise, weight-loss, cross-training, speed, etc.

As I said, I am not judging –  many of you write about all kinds of personal stuff and I enjoy reading about that too.

So here’s how I can connect my current situation to running…

And no, I am NOT injured just jobless.

• Unexpected or Could I have something?

One day, you are running and the next day, you are not.  Or maybe there were signs of an impending injury and you just ignored them.

One day, you have a job and then, you don’t.  In my case, I hadn’t a clue or did I?  Did I have the kind of job that would last forever?  10 years is a long time. But with technology, things do change. And teaching in a private school for years at a low salary and without a pension now doesn’t seem like a great idea.

• Find alternative Activities

When you can’t run, you find other things to keep you busy.  None of which are as satisfying as running.  Depending on the severity of the injury, it may be reading, knitting, TV or it could be biking, swimming, yoga.

Without a job to go to, you have lots of free time to fill. So you run, walk, go to the gym and waste of a lot of time when you don’t have a schedule.  Especially if you are schedule-type of person. In other words, you have too much time.

• Get lots of Advice

Yes, everyone is an expert.  Did you do this or use this or go to this?  PT, massages, chiropractors, stretching, strength training, rollers, sticks, etc. It’s great to have input but…

The same with being unemployed.  My friends mean well but enough of “have you tried?”, “have you looked into?”,  “have you gone to?”, have you talked to?” Yes, I  have!   I just want to hear “There’s a job for you here!”

• Relive the Memories

When you are injured, you think about those races, fun runs and even the bad runs are memorable.  You look at your race photos and read your old blog posts. You realize how much running has added to your life.

Work wasn’t always fun but now you think about those parties, walks to Starbucks, fitness challenges and conversations in the hallways.

• Miss your Friends

No meeting up with friends to run or meeting runners at races. I am lucky to have virtual friends but I would miss the face-to-face running chats.

Texts and emails are not the same as seeing your work friends everyday.

• Uncertain Duration

Will it heal in several days or weeks or even months?  When will I be able to run?

When will I find a job?  How long will I be unemployed?

• Uncertain Future

Will I run again?  Will I run long distances?  Will I run as fast?  My running may have to change.

Will I find a job?  Will it have benefits?  Will I earn enough money to support my family?  My life may have to change.

• Have to be Optimistic

You can’t change the present.  Whatever happens, happens.

I and my family members are healthy.  There are worse things than unemployment.

So I’ll leave you with this wonderful quote (Thanks Karen):

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.  Alexander Graham Bell 

I am going to enjoy those weekday summer adventures that couldn’t happen when I was working..

Happy Running! What’s on your mind today?

with Erika @ MCM Mama Runs,
Marcia @ Marcia’s Healthy Slice
and Patty @ My no-guilt life! 

This week’s topic is How Do You Choose Your Races?

I do run a lot of races but I do choose them carefully.  In fact, this blog is really helpful because I can read a review of a past race in order to decide if I want to run it again.  However, I do enjoy run new races each year, too.

So these are the things that influence my choice of race:

• Who else is running it.

Yes, I succumb to peer pressure.  It’s more fun to run a race when you know someone else who is running it.

• Distance

If there’s a 10k or a 15k around, I’ll run it because there aren’t that many.  Most races around here are 5ks. Sometimes I choose a 5k because I want to work on speed.  Sometimes I just want to have a short one so I can add on miles for a long training run.

• The Course

I love a scenic course (especially with a water view).  I don’t really like hills (but I do run them)  I hate loops.

• The Location

I like to stick to a 30 minute drive. In the summer, when there are so many choices, I often choose races that are north on the way to our boat.

• Free Stuff like Swag, Awards or Post-Race Food

Who doesn’t like free stuff or bling?    And I am always hungry after a race.

Happy Running!  How do you choose your races?

So how did this month go (besides too fast)?

Weekday Runs:

Summer arrived.  It was warm most days and we had very little rain.  So I was able to run at least 3-4 times each week.

Long Runs:

There were NONE.  I ran races on the weekends. There were NO double-digits runs.  The longest were a 7 mile run and a 5 mile post 5k run.

Total Mileage:

 I ran 76 miles this month – the lowest amount in many many months. But I wasn’t training for anything and it’s summer so I guess that’s ok.

Races:

I ran FOUR races this month – three 5Ks and a 10 miler.

I was generally happy with how they all went. I did not have PR goals and of course, they could have been faster.  I won age group awards in two of the 5ks. The Adirondack Distance Run was my 2nd fastest 10 mile race (out of 6).

Cross Training:

Now that I am unemployed, I have been able to play A LOT of tennis – 3-4 times a week. I have met new people and I have enjoyed it.

I DID NOT go to a single yoga class!! Someday I will do, I promise.

I did to the gym at least twice. I know that I should go more but it’s a start.

I walk to the tennis courts when I play nearby and occasionally do go for a walk. But not as often as when I worked.  I think that the tennis makes up for it, though.

Other News:

I finished my volunteering with STEM. The participants all ran their 5k race and it was an awesome experience.  I can’t wait to do it again in the fall.

I went hiking twice…by myself and loved it.

I took a trip to NYC with Judy – We did a running tour of Central Park, went to the zoo and met a fellow blogger, Karen. What a full but exciting day!!

Boating season has begun.  The weather has been great. I love it at the lake.

Feeling healthy so Life Is Good.

Hopefully I will find a job and life will be even better.

Looking Ahead:

I’m not sure when my next half marathon will be.  So far, it’s not until October. But that could change. (ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon which I was scheduled to run in September got cancelled 😦 )

I do have a bunch of races coming up.  This is my list so far for the next 2 months:

• 7-10-16 – Saratoga Springs Strong to Serve 5K
• 7-23-16 – Silks and Satins 5K
• 7-31-16 – Care for Kids 5k
• 8-06-16 – Race the Train (8.4 m)??
• 8-13-16 – Camp Chingachgook 10k or Half Marathon
• 8-20-16 – Jailhouse Rock 5K

No monthly goals.

my motto for 2016

Happy Running! How did your June turn out?  Anything exciting planned for July?