Coming Soon in 2015

I might be a few (actually, 11) days late in writing this, but I’ve got some goals for 2015, y’all. Some mad exciting goals.

1. Run 900 miles in 2015.

2. Run a half marathon.

3. Compete in a sprint distance triathlon.

4. Run a full marathon.

Now I know what you’re thinking. Daaaaamn girl that’s a lot. I don’t think that you can do all that. I think you’re trying to do too much. And you know, maybe you’re exactly right. But guess what. I’m excited nonetheless. This past fall I’ve seen myself train for a half marathon under pretty ridiculous conditions (read: working 50 ish hours a week, spending all my other free time in theme parks, and only sleeping 6 hours a night). No, I didn’t get my best time. BUT! I think I can work harder. I think I can expect more of myself. That’s the only way to get better, right?

What I’m saying may sound a tad harsh, but here’s the deal. Just because something is a little far-fetched doesn’t mean it isn’t worth pursuing. In my mind I see it as more of a challenge and makes me want to achieve it even more. Hard goals? Work harder. Sounds about right to me.

Here’s to asking more of myself in 2015. Let’s get em.

The Question of Rest

About 8 weeks ago I posted this picture on instagram.

Rest? No, thanks.

A photo posted by Tessa Jane Kalinosky (@gotjkgo) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:20am PST

 

And fittingly I haven’t really rested since then. Between finishing up with the OUC half marathon, working 6 days most weeks, and spending any day off I have in a theme park.

Quick visit to the most magical of kingdoms! #DisneySide

A photo posted by Tessa Jane Kalinosky (@gotjkgo) on Dec 12, 2014 at 8:48am PST

A week after my half I was just getting ready to get back in the game and start heading out for a longer run again when I started to get sick. Nothing crazy, just a cold and sore throat. Refusing to take time off from work, I slowed down my running a bit and figured it would just be a longer recovery, no harm done. But fast forward to Christmas Eve and imagine me at the bell desk starting to waver while my vision was going black. I hadn’t felt good all day but was trying to make it through and ended up not being able to. I got myself home after getting out of work 4 hours early and after a call to my mom I drove to urgent care.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM URGENT CARE.

A photo posted by Tessa Jane Kalinosky (@gotjkgo) on Dec 12, 2014 at 4:12pm PST

Apparently I have a upper respiratory infection and had a fever. I was told to take off on christmas and instead of working I sat on the couch for hours on end watching Love Actually and a ton of episodes of Freaks and Geeks. Not an awful christmas but also not a great one.

The moral of the story I guess is that I do indeed need to rest, especially if I’m sick. and maybe 6 days a week is too much for work. So that’s something I need to work on.

Nuunbassador 2015

From the title of this post you might have guessed what’s coming next…

On Wednesday during my break at work I absentmindedly checked my email. And lo and behold there’s an email from Nuun with a subject line reading “CONGRATS.” Once I read (and re-read… and read once more) the email I proceeded to text all my friends in all caps “I’M A NUUNBASSADOR” to which they said “congrats! what’s that?”

How to react when reading an email informing you’ve been chosen as a nuunbassador: text everyone in all caps. Thanks @nuunhydration, ur rad!

— Tessa Jane Kalinosky (@GoTJKGo) December 17, 2014

So let me tell you. Basically I’m a product ambassador for my favorite (and only; my blood runs true to Nuun and no one else) hydration company. Nuun is all about empowering and connecting athletes of all levels and they’re really passionate about it. Aside form the company being wonderful, their product also rocks. (They have a lot going for them.) Nuun is actually how I found my favorite running blogs (Once Upon a Lime and Sweat Once a Day).

Now I don’t want to speak for Nuun but I will say that in my application I made it clear that I am not the fastest nor the most experienced runner out there. But what I do have is a love for spreading running to other people (hello informal run group at school, I’m looking at you). Plus I have some major things on the horizon (but that’s a post that’ll go up in about 10 days).

So, here I am. And now I get to post this snazzy sticker on my blog. BOOYAH.

And as far as an actual running update, just know that right now I can barely speak because a bad cold took my voice almost completely. Still running today (even if it’s only 1.6 miles or so).