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The Running Community

Isn't it amazing how much of a community running as a sport can form between people? On my 12 mile run today at a nearby park with a trail around a lake, I encountered many different people. Some were walkers with their dogs, and they politely nodded to me. Others were clearly walkers for fitness, but they weren't running. They usually stared at me or some nodded too, but none seemed to resonate with what I was doing. Then there are the runners. Probably all levels, too, but it really doesn't matter. They knew. They understood why occasionally I might have to stop and stretch out my left knee. Why when I came to my car, I would guzzle a few ounzes of my G2, possibly hurridly rip a gel pack open while looking at my watch and suck it down while trying to take off again, and they knew why I had a pained expression on my face as I closed the last few meters of my last lap. The looks from the runners as you pass them are nods of "Yes, we get it, and we are running mileage today too." It's more than a nod or a polite stare of amazement - it's a nod, smile and a handwave, because you are in their club. Their community. It's really amazing, and I love it. You feel connected through terrifying amounts of mileage you do, as well as the sheer fact that what you are doing IS hard, and there are people out there who get it and do it too.

Not only is there community in running while you are running, but even when talking with friends about running - I feel like you are able to find ties to people you haven't talked to in a really long time. That is the coolest thing in my opinion about running! To have the opportunity to share what you love with someone else, and possibly even develop an old friendship or find a new common ground with someone you don't know well - that's the best thing about running. It's a shared sport, and you don't have to be good at it to participate. There is no try-out, no time limit to meet or fitness level to be at to do it. You simply just go out and run.

A running partner is the best thing also about this "community." It's extremely common to find someone to do your long runs with, because let's face it - on runs >12 miles - you are just bored. I know I can't seem to focus anymore, and it is very tempting to just go back to your car after whatever loop you just did and call it a day. A partner helps pass the time even if you aren't talking - it's that bond between you guys knowing she's suffering alongside you too, but you are going to beat this out together. There have been many times my partner and I don't talk for miles - because we are hurting, tired and ready to be done, but together we battle it out in silence knowing we aren't alone.

Marathon training is the best thing I've ever done in my life. I plan on doing this indefinitely until my knees, legs and muscles give out on me. Who knows who I'll meet in my little community next?

Rest of my grades are in

A in my service learning class (taught science twice a week in an elementary school), A in my microbiology lab techniques course, an A- in my pathogenic bacteria course, and of course the C- in Calculus. I have an indepedent study that is currently in progress, but I will probably not be finished with that until sometime around spring break of next semester. I just kind of work on it when I have time. It's not hard, and it is relatively interesting, and I am expecting an A there. I am hoping to make all A's next semester. I should still finish with >3.6.

Yay! I have never been so relieved that a semester was over in my life. Even the semester with Microbiology, Biochem and Ochem 2 seemed less painful than this one (well, and that semester I had straight A's too - weird).

Tonight some really good friends of mine who had moved to England are back in town, and my group of girls + their spouses are all meeting up at a happy hour and then going to dinner/coffee at Intermezzo afterwards. I can't wait to see my friends!

Tomorrow night is the big date night with Micah! None of my fancy dresses fit, though, so I'm going to have to dig around in my closet for the smallest dress I have to try to see if I can just wear that out. I have gone from around a 10 to a size 2, so even my size four's are too big now. Micah has asked me to not lose any more weight at this point, so I imagine I'll stay put right at 120 now. However, I'm really excited that I was able to get that part of my life under control again and learn to make healthier choices. I like being a size 2 -everything is either too big or it fits!

THEY DON'T CARE!!!!!

I called my school, and they said that they don't care that I earned a C- in that Calculus class. Thank goodness! She was really complimentary to me and my application they had on hand from me, and she said they are excited to have me next year, and they would never take my seat away over a C- in Calculus as it isn't a required course for them at all.

I feel like I can finally believe that I'm going to go to medical school next year. Ever since I got my acceptance, I had been so worried about Calculus and whether or not I would pass, and technically, I don't think I did, but I was given a C- anyway, but it is over!!!!!!!!!!! Forever!!!!!!!!!

For the first time in my life I prayed a Bible verse - 1 John 5:14-15 - and here it is:


And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
—1 John 5:14-15

I asked God to help me make a grade that would pass me and keep my acceptance if it was what He wanted for my life. I feel like I can finally say with even more confidence that this is what I am supposed to be doing. God is ruling my life - and I truly do believe He gives us the desires of our heart. Especially after this experience!

Next semester I have a grad-level public health ethics course, an intro to public health undergrad course, genetics, bacterial symbiosis and prokaryotic biology. It's not going to be a cakewalk, but it will not be a math class. I know I can make all A's and B's without worries. Thank God that this all worked out. Literally.

I got a C-

I got a C-, which isn't technically a C but it isn't failing. I'm not sure what this means to Mercer, but I found out this means to UGA that I don't have to retake the Calc class. It isn't in a certain area that dictates a C or higher in my degree requirements.

Andres - any thoughts on if Mercer will rake me over the coals on this? Will they take it if I make a bunch of A's next semester and no C's? I didn't fail, so that is what matters, right?

Obviously, I am still stressed out about this, but never in my life have I ever had a subject that I tried so hard in and yet failed so miserablely at conquering.

Things to do instead

Ok, so I'm waiting for my grade to post, and there is no way I passed that final. If I get below a C in this class - I will lose my acceptance to medical school.

So, other things I could do with my life is two years of hard work and a career change don't work out.

- Grad school in women's studies?

- Grad school in anthropology?

I don't think I could go to grad school in public health, because it would be too painful to be that near the health field without being a doctor.

- Have a baby? I definitely want a baby, and this would give me a chance to do that?

- Write a nove? I have lots of great ideas, but I've never had the time.


Hmmm...we'll see. I'm trying really hard to trust God, but knowing that my fate is going to be decided by Friday is a lot of pressure. I still have one very difficult final to go, so I'm trying not to think about it, but it is a lot to handle right now. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to trust God with. It's literally the rest of my life, because I can't imagine I would ever get into medical school again after having an acceptance revoked.