"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
- Philippians 4:13

I have so much to update on! Here it goes:
-I'm injured AGAIN but it's only temporary. The curve in my lower back messed up my back, I got a pitched nerve in my leg from it so for the entire weekend I had one numb leg. Good news is that it's fixable and i've been going to the chiropractor every other day and i've almost got all my feeling back in it and my back is healing great. Because of this injury I won't be running the half marathon this weekend. I'm disappointed but there will be plenty more. I volunteered for it though! I will be getting there at 5 am sharp Saturday morning! Woohoo!
-Half-Naked Mile tonight! We are doing a benefit on campus for the special Olympics called "half naked mile", you come in a goofy costume or sports bar and run a mile. I'm pumped!
-I start tutoring Hispanic kids on Monday! I'll be doing this every Monday for the rest of the semester. I can't wait, it's good experience for teaching and i'll get to practice Spanish.
-I'm meeting so many great friends! :) :) And my roommates are still AWESOME.
-School is hard work and at times I find myself overwhelmed. Example: Yesterday while talking to Mom on the phone I had a minor anxiety attack. Haha. (It was an exam week). ick
- I had a job interview!!! I'll find out if I get the job this weekend. It's a waitressing job OF COURSE. I'm super excited.
I have so much more to update on but i'm going to be late for run club if I don't leave now. :)
Alyssa

Life is too short to be anything but NOW.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift."
Steve Prefontaine.

It's 9 o' clock pm. I have to read 3 poems, read 50 plus pages of history, print off job applications, write an essay about why I "love" young children & education (i'll be exaggerating that) and go for a night run with Amy. College is horrible. How many days until summer vacation?! So instead of getting right on all of this, I am writing in my blog. Procrastination at it's finest.

Yesterday I had an amazing run. I felt like I could do anything when I finished. I did a 3 mile tempo run with a 3 mile recovery. My legs were a little sore today so i'm only going to go out for a slow 4 miles tonight. No idea what i'll be doing for tomorrow. I have a crazy day tomorrow, 7:45 am class until 10:50, Library until 3:00, study for my huge Spanish test, celebrate my roommates birthday and then go to bible study. I'm already overwhelmed and I don't even have a job yet. Oh man.

Other news, Starting in October i'm going to be tutor for latino/hispanic kids learning English. I can't wait! :) This is volunteer but it'll look good on my resume. My life is about to get hectic. I'm also applying to work the YMCA, the pay is terrible but I want the free membership to the gym. HA!!!

Alright, I really need to get going. But first i'm going to share this poem I found in one of my notebooks, I probably wrote it around my junior year of high school, when I was all emotional hahaha. It's completely fiction.

"You've got the cure to a broken heart?"
Cried the lady dressed in red.
He looked at her and smiled
Then gave her brandy instead.

Graciously she took it
And drank each and every drop
But even after all the smokes and drinks
She still hasn't forgot.

'Cause pain lives on forever
And the highs always fade.
The blurriness comes clear again
To show the life you've made.

The desperation in her voice
And the empty bottles scattered.
Proves she can't go on alone
And that her heart is deeply shattered.

A pill or two can't help her
Or unhaze those pretty eyes.
Her love is lost inside her
From too many of his lies.

Deception is the greatest weapon
In hurting a fragile heart.
So ladies always guard yourself
Before you get ripped apart.

Because there is no quick remedy
To help you get back on your feet.
You'll just keep getting pushed down
and the ends will never meet.

This pain won't last forever
but the highs will always fade.
The blurriness will come clear again
To show the life you've made.

xox
Alyssa

Push through..

Running.
I run because it clears my head, it keeps me fit, and keeps me sane. It challenges me everyday, pushing me further & faster. It gives me energy. Makes me stronger. Keeps me motivated. Gives me "me time".
I love getting faster everyday, hearing my heart race and the shortness of breathe. I love racing against the clock, going out for long distance runs, and my collection of asics ;).
I love the friends I have made through the sport.

I loved running college cross country and I will be on the team next year. I loved the hard workouts, traveling to the meets on the weekends, spending 3 hours a day at practice, having no time for anything but school work and running, and sporting the sweet scsu jersey!


I love the butterflies before I race, the pain during the race, the amazing feeling when i'm finished, and the runners high.

I love the fact that I will never have 10 toe nails because they fall off because I run too much. I like the fact that I can run through the pain of blisters all over my feet. I can run through the pain of chaffing. I can keep running even though my legs feel like they are jello or are just completely numb. I'll keep going.:)

Who said running was a non contact sport??

I am a runner. I'm addicted. Try it.

As God's partners, I beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.
- 2 Corinthians 6: 1-3

Today is the day :). Hoy es la dia. Isn't it an amazing thing that we all can fall so far away from Christ yet he still loves us and welcomes us back with opening arms?!

A year ago today was my first day in Sevilla. It's crazy to think how fast time passes. In my Spanish Civ class we were discussing Sevilla and my heart felt like it got ripped out and STOMPED on. I love it there. I love how exciting everything was, how I learned something new every single day, the terrible task of trying to get people to understand me, and I loved seeing all the beautiful sights. It was an amazing experience that I think every college student needs to experience. It made me grow so much as a person, not mention made me travel savvy ;). Te echo de menos, Sevilla. I am finally putting together my photo album from my travels this year and it looks SWEET! I'm very proud! It's not even close to being finished but I have a great start.

Not much going on tonight. I had four classes today, went for my run, showered, actually did my hair and now i'm sitting here doing nothing. hahaha. I'm content with that though. It's kind of an icky day/night, great running weather though. Kept it nice and cool and sprinkled the entire way. Can't make it much easier.
No big plans for the weekend, but I am super excited to go back to Spooner next weekend for my Dad's party. I've missed it the past 2 years in a row because of cross country season and Spain so i'm anxious to go again.

Run log.
5 1/2 miles -- My legs feel back to normal so i'll probably do a good 10 miler or so tomorrow. I'm forcing myself to go to the grocery store tomorrow. I'm eating so much peanut butter and oatmeal it just may start coming out of my nose...


xox
Alyssa

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

I officially added Education to my major yesterday, so now I am a double major in Spanish & Education with an international studies minor. Which translates into lots more schooling and a lower paying job when i'm through. Ha, but that is alright with me because I will be doing something I truly love. Classes are going good, my global issues class is a snooze. I'm so tired by the time I get out of there all I can think about is how much I need want a coffee or lately diet mountain dew. I feel like i'm still unorganized, It need my mother's touch ;) hint hint mother .

I Think i'm going to take a quick nap, go for my run, shower and then i'm going to CRU tonight.. Which is Campus Crusade for Christ. I'm really looking forward to it, I need to make some friends with the same goals and values as me. Which so far I am.. All of my friends here are runners. I love it!

I decided i'm just going to do one post a week rather and just keep editing on each post, makes things a little easier. Hope everyone is having a great day!

Run log
Monday: 30 minutes
Tuesday: 5 miles. 12 mile Bike
Wednesday: rest Easy 2 miles. 6 Mile bike
Thursday: 7 mile run is the plan, depending on the soreness of my legs.

I've had so many changes in my life lately but everything has been so positive. I'm all moved into my apartment in La Crosse and i've been blessed with two great roommates. Both are runners on the cross country team and are very responsible girls. I know we will keep eachother motivated and get along just fine.

Today I went to the Grocery store and it was TERRIBLE. You know you are grown up when you have to start worrying about keeping food in your belly. I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I hope to find a job soon, i'm applying at some places tomorrow after my first class. Hopefully I get something right away because i'm not good at not having a steady income.

The main reason why I created this blog was to keep my current goal in check which is training for Grandma's marathon in Duluth Minnesota. It's June 20th and I could not be more excited.

Monday: 30 minute run, 12 Mile Bike