Last Place Runner

I have a job interview at the end of the week. I really think I would love the work. I think I would be allowed to be creative and I think I would be able to do what the company needs. So I already think I’m a great choice for the job.

If I have learned anything at all from running, it’s that it is all mental. I think that can apply to the job search, too. This job would be mostly writing product descriptions for a posh furniture company. Before, my clients’ target customer was a budget shopper. I’m a budget shopper, too, and I know well how to communicate with that audience. But the typical clientele for the company I’m about to interview with has the ability to be a little more free with their money. And I think that could be a nice change of pace.

Speaking of a change of pace …

I’ve been taking full advantage of my empty days. I go out every single day and get in a walk or run while the rest of the world toils away in a cubicle. I try to post a photo to my Facebook page if I see anything interesting. Today I went back to Crystal Bridges. My husband and I went yesterday for a walk with Amber and her kids. My first plan was to make a big loop: through the grounds, across the downtown square, and back. But I had to go back to the unemployment office this morning to get one last thing straightened out and I just wasn’t feeling great by the time I got to the museum. I walked about a quarter of a mile. Pretty much to the point in the path where it met back with the path to the parking lot. I know! I went straight back to my car.

Then I drove over to Compton Gardens and decided to pick up the trail there. I went past Compton Gardens and onto the art trail, all the way to a dead end at a wall of the museum and then back. I stopped for a moment to take this photo and post it to Facebook.

That’s Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in the background.

When I got home, I had a comment from the volunteer I liked to run with in the 5k training. She stopped coming to group runs after Coach benched her when she started having some contractions way too early in her pregnancy. She had her healthy baby girl about three weeks ago and she’s ready to get back out there and run. She said she was going to ask me to meet up for a run and I said I would love that!

Then she sent me a private message and asked if I would be interested in being on a relay team with her for the half marathon on March 28. I panicked. I mean, I freaked out. There was no way I could run, what? Essentially a 10K in about 7 weeks?

Wait. Yes I can.

Lauren said she would train with me. Right now, because she’s on maternity leave and I’m on the dole, we have our days free to get in plenty of running for the relay. So I am going to do it!

I’m not making any progress on my own without a real goal in sight, and I loved running with her those few weeks she volunteered with the group. We start tomorrow morning!

It’ll really be no different than the way I have my days structured right now. I devote a portion of the day to walking or running and the rest of the day is for job stuff. Although, admittedly, I have not done much for job stuff today besides read furniture descriptions online.

I can see, though, how this will be a good experience for the goal of running the half marathon next year. It’s kind of been my unofficial goal for something to do before my 40th birthday, which will be in April of next year.