Rusty Pipe

Rusty pipe?? You many be wondering why I am referring to such an object...it has to do with an issue many distance runners experience, low iron levels/anemia. Recently, I have been experiencing this predicament which has left me extremely tired no matter how much sleep I get and it has been affecting the manner in which my body was responding to food. So, my coach mentioned that maybe my iron levels were low after I had begun to run horribly in practice on a semi regular basis. There are many ways to increase your consumption of iron...from the food you eat like red meat and spinach or you can take supplements in pill or liquid form. I happened to start taking the liquid kind because it absorbs the quickest into your bloodstream, and since it works faster I will be ready for Conference Saturday morning, hopefully!

Now for the explanation on the term "rusty pipe" which I cannot take credit for; Sarah Brown aka Porscha Chantel Jackson coined this phrase about two years ago when she began taking liquid iron. Rusty pipe with a hint of cherry is the flavor associated with drinking this lovely concoction. The taste doesn't leave your mouth easily either since there are a lot of foods and beverages you have to avoid in the hours prior to and after taking it. Basically, it is absolutely disgusting; however, I am starting to notice a difference in my energy levels and in my running...I'm no longer doing the death march at the end of practice!!!

Some facts that I found interesting about distance runners and iron levels:

• Approximately 56% of runners suffer from an iron deficiency 
• Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which helps in the transport of of oxygen throughout the body. If you have low iron levels you have fewer red blood cells and lower levels of hemoglobin, so you can see how this would negatively affect runners.
• When you run distance "foot strike hemolysis" can occur which damages the red blood cells when your foot strikes the ground. That will add up quickly!
• You can lose iron through sweating and in your intestines also. 

So as for my extreme hatred of the rusty pipe I drink each morning...I guess it will be worth it since I have discovered just how important iron is to running, and of course I want to win this weekend!!

Ending the Era of the Blue Shoes

I haven't posted in too long, but I will attempt to catch everything up as quickly as possible.

I finished submitting applications for jobs at Disney!!! Basically I am applying for a marketing professional internship at Disney that last 6 months, so basically it would be like another semester of school except I get paid to learn and work for them. The exciting news is that after applying for countless positions, I am still in the running for four postings currently, and I have had a phone interview. I can't explain how nervous I was for this...just waiting for my phone to ring in the window that they are supposed to call, continually checking the time and making sure I have plenty of battery and reception. Then when they finally called...trying to remain calm and answer their questions in an intelligent manner while trying to stop my voice from shaking all the while being so excited about this possibility it makes me want to jump up and down and dance around!! I think it went pretty well, and it has been a few weeks since then and I am still in consideration for the jobs, so fingers crossed because it would be an amazing opportunity...plus I LOVE Disney!!!

Midterms are officially over!!! I completed my last one this weekend, and despite this round of tests being completed...there is another round coming up this week. Only 55 days til I graduate though, so I can make it :)

Now on to running...so much has happened.
First, we had the Bulldog 5K in the pouring rain and incredible amounts of mud...my time was pathetic but this very demoralizing race had some pretty good aspects despite all the that. I signed my mom up to run this race, so she experienced her first and very likely last cross country race, and now she thinks I am even crazier for enjoying the muddy races. Also, one of my running dreams came true!! I crossed the finish line with a teammate so we held hand and lifted them up in triumph as we crossed, it definitely was one of the highlights of my running career. Now if only I could achieve the dream of receiving a speeding ticket for running too fast!
Second, Disney!!!! It speaks for itself. We ran at the Disney World Cross Country Invitational; the race was incredibly hot and humid and to my surprise I think they had us run on a motocross course in the back woods...at least that is what is looked like with the hills that just kept coming, and this race was significantly muddy also...but I did run my season's best at the time. Besides the running the team had a lot of fun staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge where I ate too many zebra cakes and got way too excited to see the animals outside the hotel. We went to Animal Kingdom and had a great time at the park...had my heart skip a beat during a horrible thunderstorm when lightening struck so close you could feel it. We conquered the kitchen sink where I demonstrated my love for ice cream and took pictures in Epcot after it had closed. But one of the most ironic parts of my trip is on the flight back where I was seated next to a Marketing Director at Disney, so we discussed my applications to Disney and our general love for Disney :) I think it was fate!
Third, mid-semester break...well sort of a break. Half of it was spent at TLU because we had a meet in Austin extremely early on Saturday, but this was our first race where it wasn't horribly muddy so the times were fast! Even though I didn't hear the start so I was standing there when half the runners took off (it was a strange start so lots of people were confused) and my spikes, died :( I have had my iconic neon blue spikes since sophomore year of high school, it is how my family finds me in my races...my shoes that I have loved dearly over the years. The heel was pulled off by a girl stepping on the back of my shoe for the majority of the race...so with two races to go I had to get new spikes which I actually did today...normally getting new shoes is so exciting, but this was not...it was depressing.

Well that gets me almost up to date...more to come as always.