Last Monday, I had my first really bad run. I was having a hard time getting out of bed so I went out to run too late, which was my first mistake. I also had not been drinking enough water beforehand.
I headed out on my usual route near the house. At first, even though it was hot, I felt fine.
But after I reached the halfway mark and turned around to go back up the hill, things went downhill. My mouth was really dry, the sun was bearing down and hot wind was blowing towards me. A few minutes later, I felt awful. So I walked for a few minutes and then ran a little but more before walking the rest of the way home.
I was disappointed in myself. Thankfully George reminded me that throughout my training, I was bound to have some bad days.
I was determined to have a better run Wednesday, particularly because it was before a big Saturday run.
I had to be up nice and early Wednesday anyway to take Lee to the airport to see Mark. I spent the night at her place...we had fun eating pizza and watching Biggest Loser!
Then the alarm went off at 4:30, ouch! But Lee is always so energetic that I couldn't help but feel instantly awake! After I dropped Lee off at the airport, I headed to the beach for a run.
I don't know why I haven't been going for early morning beach runs all the time! It was dark when I started out and the sound of the crashing waves was so peaceful. I had a great 40 minute run as the sun came up.
That run boosted my confidence for Saturday's big run: 9 miles! But I was still nervous as I drove to the RiversideYMCA at 5:30 Saturday morning. Because my Magic Mile time improved from 9:50 to 8:40 (yay me!) I was placed in a new group, The Sole Survivors.
We began our run by turning right onto Riverside Avenue and heading over the Acosta Bridge into San Marco. Lee wasn't there, but thankfully my old co-worker from First Coast News, Jonathan, is in my new group! So I had him to talk with the entire way, which is key for mentally getting through long runs.
As we headed over the bridge, I also got a chance to chat with the Donna of the 26.2 with Donna. I may do some volunteering for her in the near future!
I had a few moments where I felt very tired and after 6 miles, my butt and back of my thighs were getting sore. But I made it! Thank goodness for the water stations, Gu Chomps and the company of my fellow runners!
After my bad run Monday, I was doubting my ability to finish the marathon. But after completing 9 miles, I feel like I can run any distance!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
The Impersonal Side of the Internet
I love the Internet. I love emails. I love blogging. I love Facebook and Twitter.
I have family and friends all over the country, so I love the Internet's ability to connect with me them instantaneously.
But one way I don't like using the Internet is to apply for jobs. I don't mind looking for jobs online. That's convenient. I don't mind emailing my resume and cover letter to someone.
The part I don't like is online applications. Most of the time, companies don't provide a contact name during this process. So I send my application off into cyberspace, but there's no way to follow-up!
However, my networking has paid off with some job opportunities, so I have that working for me!
Besides the job search, I also got the chance to freelance for First Coast News today. Helen Garrard in promotions has been tasked with producing infomercials for the station's Biggest Loser competition. The news department is strapped so they called me in to help her with some of the ins and outs of producing. She already had a pretty good handle on it before I got there so I know she's going to be fine!
Speaking of The Biggest Loser, the premiere is tonight on NBC! George and I are psyched to watch it. But first I'm making tacos for dinner!
I have family and friends all over the country, so I love the Internet's ability to connect with me them instantaneously.
But one way I don't like using the Internet is to apply for jobs. I don't mind looking for jobs online. That's convenient. I don't mind emailing my resume and cover letter to someone.
The part I don't like is online applications. Most of the time, companies don't provide a contact name during this process. So I send my application off into cyberspace, but there's no way to follow-up!
However, my networking has paid off with some job opportunities, so I have that working for me!
Besides the job search, I also got the chance to freelance for First Coast News today. Helen Garrard in promotions has been tasked with producing infomercials for the station's Biggest Loser competition. The news department is strapped so they called me in to help her with some of the ins and outs of producing. She already had a pretty good handle on it before I got there so I know she's going to be fine!
Speaking of The Biggest Loser, the premiere is tonight on NBC! George and I are psyched to watch it. But first I'm making tacos for dinner!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Website!
My website has a new, much cooler address thanks to my amazing webmaster (my boyfriend, George). It's www.cindykrenek.com. Check it out and let me know what you think! We just did some updates today and more are coming soon.
Long Overdue
I'm back!
The end of my time at First Coast News was hectic. I'm so thankful for the people I met during my time there. Even though I leaving the television news business, I learned many lessons and skills I'll carry with me throughout my career.
Although I have been staying busy since then with a big trip and various projects, it's been nice to take a break from full-time employment. I could feel myself breathing easier almost instantly!
The trip to Portugal was amazing. I need to dedicate some blog entries later this week solely to it. If you want to see 8 days worth of photos, they're up on Facebook!
One project that's been keeping me very busy is working on the Taste of Golf fundraiser for The First Tee of Jacksonville. I'm helping out with public relations and am the Celebrity/VIP Guest Liaison. I've been inviting sports celebrities and community leaders to attend the event. So far Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, former Jaguars player Tony Boselli and golfers Bill Kratzert, Len Mattiace, Jeff Klauk and Mark McCumber are all attending!
I'm also on the public relations committee for the Much Ado About Books fundraiser for The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. We've only had one meeting so far but I'm already brainstorming ideas for promoting the event, particularly through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Job searching is also now taking up a lot of my time these days. I'm still in search of the perfect communications/public relations position.
Finally...26.2 with Donna training! It's going really well! This past Saturday, I ran the most I ever have. . .seven and a half miles! Towards the end, I was really starting to feel it but thankfully some awesome ladies in my pace group helped me stay motivated.
This morning I did five miles on my own. As George pointed out, that was a little more than I was supposed to do according to the schedule. But Wednesday, I'm going to stick to the schedule. I just wanted to push myself a little bit.
This Saturday, we are running five miles at Focus Fitness in Jacksonville Beach. It's a Magic Mile week, which means we all run one mile as fast as we can. Your pace determines which smaller group you run with. The first time we did one, my time was 9:50, so I'm in the 9-10 minute pace group. I've been doing well keeping up with that group but I don't think I'll be able to move up. I'm fine with that though because at my current pace I'll still be able to finish the marathon in the time I want to!
The end of my time at First Coast News was hectic. I'm so thankful for the people I met during my time there. Even though I leaving the television news business, I learned many lessons and skills I'll carry with me throughout my career.
Although I have been staying busy since then with a big trip and various projects, it's been nice to take a break from full-time employment. I could feel myself breathing easier almost instantly!
The trip to Portugal was amazing. I need to dedicate some blog entries later this week solely to it. If you want to see 8 days worth of photos, they're up on Facebook!
One project that's been keeping me very busy is working on the Taste of Golf fundraiser for The First Tee of Jacksonville. I'm helping out with public relations and am the Celebrity/VIP Guest Liaison. I've been inviting sports celebrities and community leaders to attend the event. So far Olympic gymnast Shannon Miller, former Jaguars player Tony Boselli and golfers Bill Kratzert, Len Mattiace, Jeff Klauk and Mark McCumber are all attending!
I'm also on the public relations committee for the Much Ado About Books fundraiser for The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation. We've only had one meeting so far but I'm already brainstorming ideas for promoting the event, particularly through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Job searching is also now taking up a lot of my time these days. I'm still in search of the perfect communications/public relations position.
Finally...26.2 with Donna training! It's going really well! This past Saturday, I ran the most I ever have. . .seven and a half miles! Towards the end, I was really starting to feel it but thankfully some awesome ladies in my pace group helped me stay motivated.
This morning I did five miles on my own. As George pointed out, that was a little more than I was supposed to do according to the schedule. But Wednesday, I'm going to stick to the schedule. I just wanted to push myself a little bit.
This Saturday, we are running five miles at Focus Fitness in Jacksonville Beach. It's a Magic Mile week, which means we all run one mile as fast as we can. Your pace determines which smaller group you run with. The first time we did one, my time was 9:50, so I'm in the 9-10 minute pace group. I've been doing well keeping up with that group but I don't think I'll be able to move up. I'm fine with that though because at my current pace I'll still be able to finish the marathon in the time I want to!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Marathon Update
I got an email from marathon organizer Donna Deegan at work today. The name of the marathon is changing a little bit. It's now the "National Marathon to FINISH Breast Cancer."
I'm all fired up for the 5K tomorrow!
I'm all fired up for the 5K tomorrow!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Girlfriends
I love my boyfriend, George. He's an amazing man and is clearly my better half. Starting this weekend, he's going to put up with seeing me everyday and night plus he recently made me an amazing website to help with my job search. (Which everyone should check out! www.strikedesigns.com/Cindy_Krenek)
But I couldn't get by with just him. Since George is so great, I know I can write this and not offend him!
My girlfriends are wonderful. Tonight I got a much needed recharge by seeing Ashley, Lee & Tara for Yogaberry. Then Lee and Tara helped me scope out dresses.
I'm blessed to have such strong, caring and interesting women in my life. I have quite a few great girlfriends around the country, most notably my best friend Stephanie in Boston. But I'm so glad to have good girlfriends who I can see every week even if coordinating our busy schedules takes some effort.
Plus some of them keep interesting medical photos on their phones that amuse me.
It's my next to last night sleeping in this apartment so I better get to bed!
But I couldn't get by with just him. Since George is so great, I know I can write this and not offend him!
My girlfriends are wonderful. Tonight I got a much needed recharge by seeing Ashley, Lee & Tara for Yogaberry. Then Lee and Tara helped me scope out dresses.
I'm blessed to have such strong, caring and interesting women in my life. I have quite a few great girlfriends around the country, most notably my best friend Stephanie in Boston. But I'm so glad to have good girlfriends who I can see every week even if coordinating our busy schedules takes some effort.
Plus some of them keep interesting medical photos on their phones that amuse me.
It's my next to last night sleeping in this apartment so I better get to bed!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Moving On...
Marathon training is on the back burner this week. We're running a 5k as our graduation from the "Getting Started" program Saturday. So this week I just have some easy walks to do. Yesterday evening I was lucky enough to take a lovely walk with Tara along the Northbank!
I'm doing double shifts all week, producing the noon and then 6. It makes for long, very busy work days. It's hectic at times but it's nice to be back to a faster pace. I do enjoy the relaxed pace of only producing the 7 p.m. But this is the last week I'll produce the 6 p.m. show at First Coast News. It's always been my favorite show to produce so I am feeling a little nostalgic about this week.
My big project of the week is packing. It somehow slipped my mind that this upcoming weekend is the last of the month. Thankfully, George had his head on straighter than I did and gently reminded me. He also called the U-Haul place to get a truck while I breathed into a paper bag at work to prevent myself from hyperventilating over the prospect of packing up my apartment in just a few days.
That is an exaggeration since George and I have already moved some of my things. We need the truck Saturday to move the big items, like my bed and dresser. Then I still have until the 31st to get everything else out and clean the place.
I worked on packing this evening and am pleased with my progress. The kitchen is almost done and that's the room that always seems to take me the longest.
When I was getting boxes out of my storage closet this weekend, George commented that he couldn't believe I save the original boxes for things. This evening, I re-packed my leopard print dishes (one of my most prized possessions) back into their original box for the the 5th time in 6 years.
In the past 8 years, I have moved 9 times. It wasn't always in between states or cities, but nonetheless, it still involved packing up my belongings in boxes every time.
I hate the actual process of packing things up, but I love moving. Some of my moves have meant big steps in my life, like moving to college or to a new job. Some have involved painful goodbyes but those have always been outweighed by the excitement over the future.
This move does come on the brink of a big turning point in my life, although they are not directly related. I have less than 4 weeks left at First Coast News and most likely in the television news business. But tonight packing my things up into boxes reminded me that the possibilities for my future are endless!
I'm doing double shifts all week, producing the noon and then 6. It makes for long, very busy work days. It's hectic at times but it's nice to be back to a faster pace. I do enjoy the relaxed pace of only producing the 7 p.m. But this is the last week I'll produce the 6 p.m. show at First Coast News. It's always been my favorite show to produce so I am feeling a little nostalgic about this week.
My big project of the week is packing. It somehow slipped my mind that this upcoming weekend is the last of the month. Thankfully, George had his head on straighter than I did and gently reminded me. He also called the U-Haul place to get a truck while I breathed into a paper bag at work to prevent myself from hyperventilating over the prospect of packing up my apartment in just a few days.
That is an exaggeration since George and I have already moved some of my things. We need the truck Saturday to move the big items, like my bed and dresser. Then I still have until the 31st to get everything else out and clean the place.
I worked on packing this evening and am pleased with my progress. The kitchen is almost done and that's the room that always seems to take me the longest.
When I was getting boxes out of my storage closet this weekend, George commented that he couldn't believe I save the original boxes for things. This evening, I re-packed my leopard print dishes (one of my most prized possessions) back into their original box for the the 5th time in 6 years.
In the past 8 years, I have moved 9 times. It wasn't always in between states or cities, but nonetheless, it still involved packing up my belongings in boxes every time.
I hate the actual process of packing things up, but I love moving. Some of my moves have meant big steps in my life, like moving to college or to a new job. Some have involved painful goodbyes but those have always been outweighed by the excitement over the future.
This move does come on the brink of a big turning point in my life, although they are not directly related. I have less than 4 weeks left at First Coast News and most likely in the television news business. But tonight packing my things up into boxes reminded me that the possibilities for my future are endless!
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