consipere
So Cleveland went rather well, if I can get ahold of a video someone took of one of my matches, I'll post it here. my shodan/nidan division went about as well as expected (I got owned) and teams didn't last long (our first match was against the team that got second and the guy who beat me is a candidate for the world championship in Italy next year) but I did super well in the women's division. I sat down my first three competitors with very little trouble and in the quarter finals I scored a point on a 4th dan (I'm 1st dan) who I heard is a national's candidate and is generally known for being a bamf. So all in all a good tournament where I also got to see some more high level kendo and have a good time hanging out with the crew on the bus and in the gym....and in our sweet suite getting mildly intoxicated. We brought back with us Kamata sensei who's on a brief visit home from Uzbekistan, he attended practice last night and will be at practice tomorrow as well, fun times. He's encouraging our senseis to organize practice in the same fashion as the national candidates' "senshu" practice, which equated to my having to dig deeper than ever before to make it through last night and blowing a hole in my foot that doesn't feel exactly great. I worked hard though and I love that feeling of leaving my best out on the floor and not holding back at all.
That's why I think I've started to enjoy running. I used to hate running, and that's putting it mildly. I used to think a mile or two was far, now I don't feel warmed up until after 3. I've got some sweet running shoes now tho, and my feet a loads happier, and the weather is finally getting warmer. If only my knee would cooperate, if it's not one thing it's another. At least I now know what the issue is, Chondromalacia patellae. which basically means i need to keep ice on it, keep it elevated, and wait for it to heal before I slowly start back up with my training. I'm still dead set on doing the Marine Corps Marathon in October, and I'm not going to let this slow me down. I'll admit, I probably jumped the gun going from 3 to 5 to 9 miles in a fairly short period of time, but it's starting to be much more enjoyable than I had thought previously. Once you get into your groove you just keep going. You don't feel tired, you don't feel sore, you don't feel stressed, you just go. I'm free of my wallet, my cell phone, my worldly possessions besides my ipod (perhaps not the safest practice but I'm smart enough to run on populated trails during mostly daylight hours).and I can go for hours now, if my knee doesn't start acting up. and the sprint at the end is invigorating, that feeling of totally pushing your body to its limits stretching out and limitless as the world blurs by you. I love it. All of what I've read indicates i need to give my leg 4-6 weeks to heal properly, so perhaps I'll just walk or do short jogs until its better. Either way I'm not going to push myself too much, kendo is still a priority and the EUSKF tournament is in two weeks, I have to be in good shape for that.
Otherwise work is about the same, frustrating in its simplicity (i like a challenge every now and again) and I'm 90% sure i'm going to go ahead and graduate non thesis and just write up my study for publication after I'm done in May. Waiting for my (hopefully >.<) future boss to get back into down for my follow up phone call about a job with the DC VA hospital, ordering more graduation announcements, and generally having an enjoyable time seeing friends, reading, and watching some hockey (the caps need to just fing sign holtby already, he's far more entertaining and isn't a spent lump of chauvinistic ass like varley). Oh, and I'm maintaining a vegan diet Sunday-Thursday now, that's going well. looking forward to a burger on saturday tho while I'm watching the cherry blossom fireworks at the tidal basin. DC rocks.
That's why I think I've started to enjoy running. I used to hate running, and that's putting it mildly. I used to think a mile or two was far, now I don't feel warmed up until after 3. I've got some sweet running shoes now tho, and my feet a loads happier, and the weather is finally getting warmer. If only my knee would cooperate, if it's not one thing it's another. At least I now know what the issue is, Chondromalacia patellae. which basically means i need to keep ice on it, keep it elevated, and wait for it to heal before I slowly start back up with my training. I'm still dead set on doing the Marine Corps Marathon in October, and I'm not going to let this slow me down. I'll admit, I probably jumped the gun going from 3 to 5 to 9 miles in a fairly short period of time, but it's starting to be much more enjoyable than I had thought previously. Once you get into your groove you just keep going. You don't feel tired, you don't feel sore, you don't feel stressed, you just go. I'm free of my wallet, my cell phone, my worldly possessions besides my ipod (perhaps not the safest practice but I'm smart enough to run on populated trails during mostly daylight hours).and I can go for hours now, if my knee doesn't start acting up. and the sprint at the end is invigorating, that feeling of totally pushing your body to its limits stretching out and limitless as the world blurs by you. I love it. All of what I've read indicates i need to give my leg 4-6 weeks to heal properly, so perhaps I'll just walk or do short jogs until its better. Either way I'm not going to push myself too much, kendo is still a priority and the EUSKF tournament is in two weeks, I have to be in good shape for that.
Otherwise work is about the same, frustrating in its simplicity (i like a challenge every now and again) and I'm 90% sure i'm going to go ahead and graduate non thesis and just write up my study for publication after I'm done in May. Waiting for my (hopefully >.<) future boss to get back into down for my follow up phone call about a job with the DC VA hospital, ordering more graduation announcements, and generally having an enjoyable time seeing friends, reading, and watching some hockey (the caps need to just fing sign holtby already, he's far more entertaining and isn't a spent lump of chauvinistic ass like varley). Oh, and I'm maintaining a vegan diet Sunday-Thursday now, that's going well. looking forward to a burger on saturday tho while I'm watching the cherry blossom fireworks at the tidal basin. DC rocks.