Come on little gamma ray

I expected that it would be hard to maintain anything close to the amount of exercise I was getting in tri class, and it turns out that I was right. Sort of.

This week was the hottest week of the year. Or at least it felts that way--I didn't officially check the stats. Exercising outside is pretty much a no-go--even in the morning and at night. It just doesn't ever cool off out there. I suppose I could have gone running during Wednesday's storm.

I've also been dealing with a strange moving situation at school (I've been putting together a classroom out of less-than-suitable means). It's like the wild west at our new school site--everyone is isolated and working alone without much communication from the administration and a little help from a few choice allies. The kindly media teacher essentially helped me steal a teacher desk from the breezeway. The librarian gave me an extra computer "under the table." Nobody knows how we are going to put a school together before the kids come on Wednesday, and I haven't even come close to anything resembling a lesson plan, or even a daydream about what I might want to teach this coming week.

The mental strain of this uncertainty means that exercising was not at the top of my priority list this week. I did manage to do a kickboxing routine for 22 minutes in my living room on Wednesday. It maxed out my heart rate and left me sore for days (apparently the "bob and weave" move is like doing a lot of squats. My ass hurts.). And even though I knew it would, it surprised me how much it slashed my stress levels.

Thursday and Friday passed, along with my intentions to get a little exercise. But today, I ran. I did my two mile route at ten to 7 pm, and it was hotter than hell (but less hot than the lava core of the Earth, like it was this afternoon). I listened to music, and that helped again. I kept a consistent pace and didn't feel too awful by the end of it. I mean I felt a little awful, but nothing panic-inducing.

And I feel fabulous now that I'm back in the AC at resting heart rate. My mood evened out and my sense of dread (that I carried around all day today running errands to prepare for this coming week) subsided. Everything is going to be okay. This feels as good as a stiff drink. A few hours ago I was telling my mom that I feel hopeless and uninspired about the coming school year.

My hope is that running might become something I can lean on in times of stress. I feel that I may be on the verge of slowly learning to use it as a coping tool instead of another area in which to "achieve" or another item on my to-do list. It is also wonderful that I can step out my door and be done in about 22 minutes (seems to be my magic number). Maybe one day I'll be able to go farther and for longer.

Now I'm going to go make a margarita on the rocks, because summer's not quite over.

Today's running playlist (better than last time):

• Kanye West, "Touch the Sky" (a good opener. Makes you feel like you're in a montage.)
• The Dresden Dolls, "Girl Anachronism" (made me jog faster)
  
• Beck, "Gamma Ray"
  
• Beck, "Replica"
• Mouse on Mars, "Yippie" (this one's funny and splatty. Reminds me of Reid.)
• Caribou, "Sundialing" (steady and meditative)
  

Mm, tequila.