I’ve been running a good bit lately, and I’ve really been enjoying it. While there is a huge difference between my life and job in Greenville, and I am much happier now, I still need to burn off some frustrations. I’m also starting to realize how much of an effect that playing soccer all through my formative years has had on me. I don’t play anymore, but I can still compete and be athletic with running. It’s so weird to not have soccer in my life. I had a few years when I really didn’t mind not playing, but now it’s like every other day that I wish I were playing. I miss so much of soccer, and not just the matches (to be honest, I barely remember any of them anyhow thanks to my godawful memory), but for so many aspects. But running has really filled the gap that competitive soccer hasn’t.

Anyhow, I’ve been training for a marathon, and I’ve just recently signed up for the Asheville half marathon on September 18 thanks to some help from Scott. I know I’m ready for it at this point, but I really want to beat my time from the Atlanta half marathon in 2007. It’s funny to think that I ran that along with Sara Nichols and Matt Schultz. I haven’t seen them in years, and it’s really underlining the fact that time really seems to be speeding up.

I’m not old and don’t think that I’m close to being old. But I do feel like things are slightly speeding by me more and more. I certainly don’t feel like I’m going to be 28 in a week.

Anyhow, I ran ten miles on Sunday. I’ve done more previously, and in some odd circumstances (such as with a broken hand and near blackout drunk on Halloween one year), but this felt a lot better than any previous long run. I wasn’t struggling (or dry heaving) and I felt strong at the finish, like I could have gone a lot farther.

Oh, so the photo. I found this about to fall down a drain while on one of my early morning runs.