5 Things I'm Looking Forward To

Happy Saturday! Just gonna talk about a few things that have been on my mind...

1. My little sister's birthday! Tomorrow is father's day and also my soon to be 12 year-old sister's birthday!

Happy Birthday Erica!

2. Cross Country Camp.

For this one I am just as nervous as I am excited. I made the decision to do Cross Country Camp through my school this summer. It will be mostly girls on the team, plus a few younger girls. One of my best friends is on the varsity team (she is REALLY good!) so she will be driving me to camp. She is the best! Camp is from 7-9 AM Monday-Friday, and sometimes long runs on Saturday. I am so nervous, I have no idea if I will be able to keep up with anyone. 

3. Getting Faster. 

One thing's for sure.. I will definitely get faster after 2 months of running with the team every morning! Right now I only run about 4 days a week. I'm hoping to get my 5k time down to like 27 minutes. Or 26. Or 25 (the ultimate dream...) That's a lot of time to shave off of my 29:33 time, so I'm just hoping for any improvement! (: 

I can run long distances (this one was a 10k!) but I run suuuuuuuuper slow. #turtlestatus

On Friday I had a great run, a 10k, but I ran super slow. Also stopped to talk to my bestie when I ran into her biking home, and stopped at Andrew's house for some water. 

4. Vacation! 

I am going to the BAHAMAS on Wednesday, with my dad and my sister. An entire week! I will get to visit Atlantis, the fancy resort that you see in the commercials. (Not staying there though). Yes, I will miss a week of cross country camp. :( However, I'm pretty sure it will be worth it... (; I can't wait to share tons of pictures!!

5. GETTING MY DRIVER'S LICENCE!

I got all my papers ready today. I just need 7 more hours of practice, 1 at night. I got that doctor's note (for my diabetes) and the letter from the secretary of state and everything else. I can't get it before my vacation because of time, but after I get back from vacation and then camp I'll drive to the DMV....

I'm still super freaked out that I will be able to drive on my own with no adults in a few weeks. Crazy. What will my first drive by myself be??? I'll probably pick up Andrew (won't get his licence until September) and go get ice cream or froyo. Yes, that sounds good. I'll be driving my mom's minivan. Won't I be cool (;

I could have gotten my licence on my birthday, but I just wasn't ready. It didn't really matter because I wasn't getting a car anyways! Now I think I'm almost ready... I'm so nervous though! When can I make a turn on red??? Will I park the right way?? I am so bad at parking.

The next couple of weeks are gonna be really exciting AND scary... Wish me luck! (:

What are you looking forward to? Are you going anywhere this summer? Did you pass your driver's test the first time? 

~Emily

Crushed it.

I had my third 5k race this year today. I ran the local YMCA's 5k. 

So I forgot to take any pictures. Except of my socks..

Neon thorlo socks are the bomb, I'm telling ya.

I had three goals. 

1) Beat my previous 5k time (34:30)

2) Beat my Garmin 5k time of 32:11

3) Come in under 30 minutes.

I did all three of these things! 

Finishing Time: 29:33

Now this isn't fast to most people. My dad, who hasn't run for years, easily ran right along side me. I finished 5th in my age group. Of 6...

I know running is a "me" sport, where you are only competing against yourself, but it is difficult to never compare yourself to other runners. I train more than a lot of people and run a lot slower than them. Like, a lot. A whole lot.

But my wonderful boyfriend (more on him later!) put it in perspective for me. He said "Don't worry about what other people can or can't do. You still had fun doing it, and your goals are your goals, when you pass them, still be excited because you accomplished something you set out to do and you're one step closer to a minute faster." 

Sometimes we all need to take a step back and stop comparing ourselves to others. I'm going to try to focus on my accomplishments, not other people's. 

Why I am amazing: A selfish rant about what I CAN do and not what I can't.

1. In February, I couldn't run half a mile without stopping. With the help of couch25k, I can now run an entire 5k! That was only four months!

2. In April, I had a bad 5k, and started off way too fast. My time was 36:07. That means, in less than 2 months, I was able to shave over 6 and a half minutes off my 5k time.

3. In the months since I started running, I have noticed positive changes in my body, in my energy levels, and most importantly in my happiness and my confidence. To me, that is the most important thing about running.

So I guess you could say, with this 5k, that I crushed it.

Okay I need this shirt from old navy. Except there were only mediums and it was so long.

I got some sports bras & shorts though. Active sale for the win.

How was your Sunday? How do you focus on your goals and not other's times?

~Emily

The diabetes monster strikes again

I have Type 1 Diabetes. I haven't talked about diabetes much on this blog. Mainly, it's because while diabetes is PART of my life, it is not my WHOLE life. 

That wasn't true last night. Last night, diabetes controlled me. 

In the afternoon, I had a site change. That is the pink thing stuck to my tummy. 

Ignore my PJ pants (:

There is a little tube inside of me (under the pink thing) and the pink thing connects to tubing that connects to the insulin pump. The insulin pump then constantly pumps insulin into my body, and more at mealtimes when I tell it what I eat. More on that later.

In the middle of the night, I must have tossed and turned and ripped out the pump site. It rips out like a bandaid, so it isn't that difficult. I probably went about 5 or 6 hours without insulin. 

When I woke up at 4 in the morning, I instantly felt very sick. I saw that my pump site had been pulled out. My number was 355. Pretty high. I knew I was probably entering or in DKA. 

What does high blood sugar feel like to me? Well, first there is the unquenchable thirst. Then comes the peeing, since when you are constantly thirsty you constantly drink water and... well, you get the idea. Then I start to feel confused, crabby, and I get headaches. I get dizzy and when it's really bad, I throw up. Now, since I was sleeping, I didn't notice the signs until I got dizzy and woke up. I spent the next hour throwing up. 

I gave three shots, and eventually got down to 180. Half decent. I was so exhausted at that point that I just went to sleep.

Diabetes sucks. I can't deny that. Last night was one of those nights when I question my ability to do anything. It's difficult to believe in yourself if you lose control of your body and your health- and it's not your fault in any way. I'm questioning my ability to run, especially with the cross country girls this summer. I'm questioning my ability to even have a job. Who will want to have someone this problematic in their office/store? Who will want someone so messed up on their team?

I'm exhausted. Will I run today? We'll see. I was planning on doing three miles fast, but maybe I'll take three miles slow. 

I know this post wasn't hopeful, but not every moment in life is good. That's okay. I know I'll get through this. 

~Emily

Anxious

Happy Monday!
Right now is just the time of year when I feel so anxious! There is so much going on. It's crazy!

There are 8 days of school left. EIGHT! I need to get studying for finals... in only 5 days!
I have 2 concerts and 2 rehearsals for band and orchestra in the next three days. On top of that, a speech, final review packets, and a couple of tests. I just keep telling myself, just keep swimming...

My favorite movie! (;

Overall, racing and eating healthier has been going really well. I'm running 5 days a week, with longer 5 mile runs. It's great! (: I'm hoping to run a sub-30 minute 5k one of these days. I'm getting closer!


Right now, I am anxious about school-but what is strange is that I am even more anxious about summer!

You see, I have applied 8 places and haven't heard back from ANYWHERE! There is one place that I am really hoping for, and they are specifically looking for people my age, but it's been 3 (business) days and I haven't heard back yet.
If I get this job, I will gain experience and I will have lots of spending money, and I will have a very productive summer.
On the other hand.. If I don't get this job, I will be able to do summer Cross Country camp. I can also attend a leadership camp that I have been looking forward to for months. I might be able to participate in a few Diabetes Clinical Trials (which I love!)

So pretty much, either way, I'm going to be disappointed, but also happy. I guess I just have to wait and see....


Have a great week. Happy almost summer! (:

-Emily