Avoiding pain is my forte!

I'm doing a lot of running right now. I have a long race that I'm preparing for that's in about 3 weeks. I'm doing well in keeping to my schedule. Of course, with all this running comes the general wear and tear of my body. I'm constantly sore, going up and down stairs is ridiculous, and my back is usually sore (the dreaded "runner's back"). I had a super long run yesterday, so today my quad muscles are so sore. Just moving in positions hurts. Oh man.
But anyway, along with the muscles, blisters are sometimes involved. I usually don't get blisters, only once in a while, and they usually disappear quickly. I got a blister on my third toe on my right foot. I know, the third toe is such a random place. It's not the longest toe, or the biggest, it's just...there, hanging out, and I got a blister. At first, it was just a nuisance, but it just kept getting bigger, and hurt more. Yesterday, after my long run, and the walking I did all day, the blister was killing me, and I'm pretty sure it had grown from being just one the top of my toe to the side of my toe as well. As we watched the Real game last night (grrr) I decided I'd had enough of it. I'd been told over and over not to pop the blister, but I was at the end of my rope! I iced the toe (to prevent any pain, to numb the toe) and after I felt nothing on it, I got a pin and popped the blister.
It was so much easier than I thought to pop it! Immediately after it popped, all this gunk started coming out. Never having had this happen to me, being my first real blister, I was informed that the gunk coming out was pus, and I was completely grossed out. I cleaned it up, did all that jazz, and for the remainder of the night, my toe throbbed. It didn't hurt or anything, just...throbbed. Today, the toe is a different color than the rest, and it doesn't really hurt, just when things hit it or rub it or anything.
At least the blister is gone (for now, and so far) and I'm hoping it doesn't come back. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out if it hurts when running. And now I know what to do when I get a blister in the future-even though it's something they tell you not to do.

The first game...my first disappointment

Well, ya'll, the first game of Real was this weekend. Sadly, our first one wasn't at home, we played the new team, Seattle. I was totally psyched for this game. It seems like its been forever since our season ended, so thank goodness it's finally here. Sadly, our team was not put together very well! I don't know if its just because it was the first game, or because we didn't play at home, but oh my heck we were so sloppy! Passes were horrible, no shots were really good, they just all around weren't impressive. I know that as the season goes along, we'll get better, and I hope it's soon. We have the home opener this week-on Thursday. I know it'll be freezing cold, but it's totally worth it. To see my team play is one of the things I love. I'll totally brave any cold to watch it. As long as it doesn't actively snow or rain during the game, I'll be fine. I'm hoping we'll do good in that game, but as we're playing the MLS champs from last year, I'm not sure we'll be successful. But I'll cross my fingers, and hope. I'm just psyched the season has officially started!

Ok ya'll, weekend wrap-up. There was a lot that happened this weekend, and I'll just give you the highlights.
Soccer season has officially started. Real hasn't had their first game yet, because of the number of teams, but we had a preseason game, against a team from Austin. We won, which was awesome. It was such a good game. The weather was awesome, I even got a bit of a sunburn. We got to see some of our old favorite players, and got a look at the new ones. I'm excited for this year, I really think this is our year. We just have to hold strong, carry on the good times from last year.
I did a girly thing and got a pedicure this weekend, too. I used to make fun of people that got those, but then I tried one, and now I kinda love it! I usually have a thing with people touching my feet, but I'm ok with it in this case. And to make it even more girly, I got a flower painted on. It's so cute, I tried to take a picture to show you all, but turns out I couldn't really take a good one. Oh, well.
I also did something this weekend that I usually don't do: I went to the 10:00 showing of a movie. Even though I like to think myself a young person, never more do I feel old than when I go to a late showing. By the time we even sit down-the movie hasn't even started yet-I just sit, and I'm thinking, boy, I'm already tired. Then I have to make sure I stay awake the whole time-I will not have paid 8.50 for my ticket just to sleep during the movie. I had to keep making sure I wasn't super comfortable, so that I wouldn't fall asleep. But I'm proud to say, I made it through the whole thing! I don't feel so old right now.
Also this weekend, I'm learning to deal with having less space. There's been an event that has happened in and around my household, and an extra person has been thrown into my household. I already thought I didn't have enough space when my brother had moved in, and now, I'm about going out of my mind. I'm trying hard not to be too selfish, but its hard for me. It just difficult for someone of my crazy brain to see things where they're not supposed to be, and items in my meticulously organized cabinets. I guess this is a learning experience for me, and so far, I'm learning, I don't like it.

Hardware: the parts of a computer that can be kicked

I haven't written lately because really, there's not a lot going on in the life of Vieve. A few small things happen, but none big enough to actually write about, so I just never think to do so. I'll just update you on a few things.
On Sunday, I was changing the music on my iPod from one playlist to the other. I had opened my iTunes, deleted everything on the iPod, and then proceeded to make my new list. Of course, a few minutes into selecting my songs, my computer just shut down. When I got it up and running again, my iTunes had become corrupted or something, so I had to reinstall that, and get all my music on it again. After I got everything downloaded and fixed, my computer yet again just shut down! No warning, it just stops. After getting back on, and taking a look at some things, I gave up. The next day, I took things slowly and finally got things going and finally put some stuff on the ol' iPod to listen to. And since then (2 whole days!) I've not had any problems. Keep your fingers crossed that I will not run into any.
On Saturday, I decided to try my run of running from my house (here in SF) to my sister's house (in Orem). I Mapquested it, and the way they had me running was 16 miles. I was sure I could do this, so I made the arrangements, and did it. Ok, I'll admit, I cheated a little. I didn't start in SF like I planned, I started in Springville, but hey, it's still a trek! I made it though! I went through Springville, then Provo, worked my way into Orem and found her house. There were hills to deal with, drivers who didn't pay attention, and loads of traffic. I wish there were better sidewalks on some of those back roads, or even sidewalks at all, but that's ok, at least I made it through ok. It took me just under two hours to complete it all, and needless to say, by the end, I was feeling it. My legs were killing me, and my back was sore, but I was so proud of myself for making it. Making my own way instead of doing the Mapquest way was only 11 miles, so not quite what I was hoping for, but thats ok. I'm only two miles away from my goal right now, and I'm pretty sure I can do it. The next day, I wasn't sore at all like I thought I'd be, I was doing good!
Things have been a little boring lately, but starting soon, I think they'll start to pick up. I'm having races start in a few weeks, plus the Real season starts at about the same time! It's the best time of year when all this starts!

Ooh...ouch!

All right, time for everyone's favorite time! Ok, probably the only person that likes this is me, because it makes for a pretty easy blog entry to write. Most of the videos I see come from The Ellen Degeneres Show, and this one is one of them. I laughed so hard at this, and I hope you do too!

Video!

I would love to see that happen in real life. As sad as it is, to see the end thing, I think I would die laughing while holding my dog close. Of course, the only thing my Troop does in her sleep is snore. Which is pretty cute, its just like she's doing these tiny little grunts. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

A run begins the moment you forget you are running.

It's almost spring! This excites me for so many reasons. One, the warm weather. It's already starting now! We have the ability to walk around outside in just a jacket. No need to have on your winter coat and scarf and gloves. Also, now I can run outside without freezing my buns off or running in snow! I finally ran outside on Saturday, and it was awesome.
I totally love running, and running on the treadmill is ok, I like doing it, but it's just totally a different experience outside, as everyone knows. There are things to dodge, and cars to look out for. And the scenery changes, so you can just crank up your music and just clear your mind and run until you get tired. I love to go outside and just...run. I try not to focus on any pain I might be feeling, or how long I've been going. I've been doing better lately, I'm not getting tired or hurting like I used to. I'm sure it's all mental, since like, 85 percent of running is mental (it's true!) and I'm psyched that I'm done with whatever was blocking me from doing well before.
I ran downhill for probably about a mile yesterday, and today, I'm feeling it. It hurts to go up and down stairs, and even standing up and sitting down hurts my quads. I love it though! It actually makes me feel like I'm working myself, which is an awesome feeling. I'm excited to get all the outdoor running started now, so that when I start racing (in like a month!) I'm ready, and my muscles are ready for any kind of terrain that will be brought to me.