Hi Stefanie, have very much enjoyed the thread and how honest you are in your more personal moments. I’m relatively new to CF.com, so have tried to get a decent overview of the 3 years you have invested in this thread. I have read through a bit but must have missed it…if you don’t mind, what event(s) do you compete in?
I very much enjoy the art and your writing, when you do narrate the journal. I was in Art school while at University while training and competing as well. I’m assuming the thesis you are working on is for your MFA? Best of luck all around.
Hi clymb !
Thanks for reading =) I used to be even more narrative in my previous journals (I’ve been threading since 2003 :o ) I’ll try to do more of it, because I too, enjoy going back and reading…
I’m generally training for the 400m.
But tomorrow I’m running a 2.5k cross country race
My phd is in urban and architectural design, and today I just got approved to conclude my work in March =))))) I’m very psyched =)))
20min warm up
stretch, drill, stride
very easy today:
6 x 200m (@33-34"), w/100m walk recoveries
After 8 hours of anticipation to present the final draft of my thesis, in order to get approval for thesis FINAL presentation in March (which also is the end of the phd journey), I got APPROVED
Wendesday
(15min biking)
was OFF (all day final exam phd presentations, good day outcome in the end =)) It was so stressful though =s )
(15min biking)
(15min biking)
Thursday, Dec. 15th
20min warm up, stretch, drill, stride
‘Policross’ race (2.600m cross country), I finished first in 10.03’. Brought a cup home, and so did my sicilian teammate, which was great.
cool down
Friday, Dec. 16th
(15min biking)
20min easy run
stretch
Drill-session (about 20’ of work) , and strides
1hr15min gym (strength, abs, stretch)
(15min biking)
another good day, as I perhaps will have a part time researching contract in Greece =D
Saturday, Dec. 17th
40min run
6 x 100m strides
5min cool down
Sunday, Dec. 18th
(15min biking)
45min easyyyy running
stretch, drill, stride
11 x 80m hills (walk back recoveries)
I fell down half way, taking a slippery curve… ouch for knees…
Ι think it’s so distracting for someone who trains (half-way seriously), to read all about ‘scientific’ brain- balancing acts that take place for successful focus and injury-free performance. Theoretically explaining it is fine for those who are curious.
But for those trying to overcome barriers by physical (and mental) actions, they must find peace with themselves at a more actual level… not analyze their brain functions to death. Sometimes too much knowledge can be distracting - we all know that.
Instincts work best.
On another note…
I feel like a wounded animal today, psychologically, muscularly (still sore) and knees are beaten from my hill-fall yesterday (bumps and bruises).
But I did a double session (easy though…) after all
Monday, Dec. 19th, 2011
morning:
25min run (and done)
(25min biking to store)
(25min biking home)
(15min biking to university)
(15min biking home)
evening session
20min run
drills
10 x 100m tempo strides
5min cool down
tomorrow is last day in Milan, until a 20 day vacation back home (in Thessaloniki). Mixed feelings.
This unsettling environment truly inspires me.
But I also want to meet my upcoming new niece… <3
other good news: I officially have a new part-time research job with E.U. collaboration =) yipeeeeee
bad news: my first deadline is in less than 48 hrs (with 48hr notice…) goodness gracious.
9 x 150m, light jog back recoveries (w/spikes), at 22.30-23.20 secs.
The weather has CHANGED… too too cold today… Considering that, session was good and no leg tightness whatsoever.
Tomorrow the Sicilian team breaks for 20 days, and God helps us until we re-unite again =)
(15min biking)
Tonight could be an all-nighter, but I hope not… traveling very very early in the morning
lots and lots of ping pong with my sister, and MB abs.
Sunday, Jan. 8th, 2012
Last full day in Thessaloniki
Training with sister (as most have been)
20min warm up
Hills:
10 x 90m hills, quick walk back recoveries
1 x 450m fast relaxed
Monday, Jan. 9th, 2012
Travel to Milan today !!! For the first time in a long time doing this trip (towards Milan, and not the other way around), I arrived without a serious headache.
I am appreciating the wonderful sunny weather.
On another note, Thessaloniki had a 5.30am earthquake that my sister felt (because I was leaving, I am guessing the reason for the natural destruction)…
Melancholy feeling because my parents are so so nice, when they want to express it… And I’ll miss my bestest friend sister-L, and the new sister-mommy and the little niece
My mission here now is to deliver the final draft of the thesis until Jan.31st, and then wait until my final presentation on the end of March. Meanwhile, I image there will be some work with my new ‘external researcher’ job with the EU, and of course, TRAINING. I think I can enjoy training more now. But I am not settled, inside… It’s the end of something, and the beginning of something totally unknown, my income is experiencing a sudden decline (because my scholarship ended in December), and I need to figure things out… I know sometimes it’s just good to chill and enjoy some ‘light months’ of not trying desperately to astonish everyone around, but the idea is making me anxious, and needing to do something ‘extra’. …
I know I have a problem !!
I love Sicilian people… my taxi driver was Sicilian today, and I loved him before he even told me where he was from…
Training:
35min run (with 2 short breaks because my back has been tight for this whole vacation in Thessaloniki… I think my body is asking for the gym-work, which I will re-start tomorrow).
4 x strides (grass)
Tomorrow Sicilian-training reunion at the track.
But I still feel melancholic… Aah darn.
p.s. throughout all these years, I’ve always had my best personal-notebook-journal entries inside of an airport…
8 x 150m w/fast walk back recoveries, ranging @ 21.7 - 22.6 secs. Nice sunny winter weather…
Today we discussed indoors. Perhaps I’ll run a qualifying meeting on Feb. 12th, and then nationals Feb. 23. (There’s also a meeting Feb. 4th, but too much travelling if I also do that… we’ll see…)
Your reading skills are still high
It’s too long till April/May… I need to do something sports-adrenaline-active… Hence the indoor thought.
I heard that this year they will take place at the ‘nicer’ stadium that is banked and ‘bouncier’… (the “Stadium of Peace and Friendship”)… I hope it’s true !I like that place.
