5K, HERE I COME

I recently decided to start training for a 5K. I know what you're thinking: "Training for a 5K? Do you really need to train to run 3.1 miles?"

For me, the answer is a resounding YES. I've never once in my life been a runner (aside from my 8+ years playing rec. league softball, which probably didn't require all that much running ability anyways). I think the last time I ran a mile was in my 6th grade gym class, and only because it was required to graduate from elementary school (but really now, who made up that rule?). There's also this pesky little detail where I'm not supposed to run due to some issues I have with my left foot - basically, one of my toe bones is too long, which causes pretty serious arthritis when I bend the ball of my foot up (which, incidentally, happens when you run). It's gotten to the point where I'll need surgery by the end of the year, regardless of whether or not I run, so I decided that I'd like to be in shape when it happens. Thus my goal of running a 5K by the end of May - and, if my ambition stays solid, a 10K by October.

I'm about two weeks into my training program with the C25K Free iPhone app (which is a pretty decent resource to have if you're a beginner runner), and I've found that I'm actually starting to look forward to my workouts. I even went to a specialty running store and bought a pair of shoes that was recommended to me, so I feel like I'm doing this the right way. I may only be running about 9 minutes out of the full 30 minute workout right now, but I'm excited to be able to see my progress and know that I'll be running more and more as my training goes on. I'm hoping that I'm still this excited when I actually have to run for a straight 30 minutes... more likely I'll be cursing everything within eyesight. If you see me running in a few weeks, you may want to steer clear!

So here's to getting fit, working towards a goal, and finally being able to (maybe) call myself a runner - oh, and getting a few free t-shirts from the races, too.

RENTAL SUCCESS

We finally found a townhouse to rent! After scouring every rental site imaginable, dealing with ridiculous realtor drama, severely increasing my nail biting habit, and just generally being stressed out, we put in a rental offer on a townhouse a few days ago and got the call that it was accepted today!

Considering that I only have about three weeks until my lease is up at my current apartment, it's definitely a relief. The icing on the cake? I actually really like the place. It has three bedrooms, a fireplace, walking trails in the neighborhood, appliances made in the past 10 years, and even a little fenced-in backyard area for Charlie - that means no more running down two flights of stairs and around the back of the apartment building to take him out to the bathroom five times a night! Now we can just open the back door and let him out, sans leash. I'm getting spoiled just thinking about it.

Here are a few pictures of it (from before we've moved in, of course):

The front of the townhouse - we even got an end unit. Not the most modern colors, but I don't hate them.

A real fireplace? Dylan's going to be chopping some wood this winter.

This is our cute little backyard. You can't see it, but there's a grassy section down on the right. It's not very big, but it's already better than a 3rd floor apartment.

Lucky for us (but not so much for my wallet), we have a few days between moving in to the new place and moving out of my old one, so we won't have to pack up, clean the apartment, move to the townhouse, and unpack enough things for it to be liveable all in one day. Even better, both Dylan's and my families are pretty generous in offering to help with the move. I'd do it myself, but I don't think my little Chevy Cobalt is going to be able to transport all of the furniture, or even pull a small trailer.

I'm excited to move in next month and finally be able to delve into my 'DIY' Pinterest board for decorating ideas! Here's hoping that I'll still be blogging by then and can actually show them off (unless they fail, that is).

WHY CAN'T REALTORS BE MORE REAL?

I've been on the hunt for a townhouse or house to rent for the past month or so, which means that I've had to work with many different realtors in the area. So far, my experience with them has been, let's say, less than stellar.

Photo found here

For example, I emailed one realtor who responded and asked me to call him to discuss the property. Okay, that sounds legit. After my boyfriend and I called him a few times and left him messages, he finally called us back simply to tell us that the townhouse had been rented over a week ago. Really? He couldn't have just put that in his first email? Despite the property being rented, the listing stayed up on his website and on other rental aggregation sites for another three weeks before it was taken down. Interactions with other realtors have yielded similar results - they don't call you back, won't coordinate with you on dates and times for viewing properties, and don't update or take their listings down for weeks after they've been rented.

I've talked with coworkers and friends who have also rented in the area and the general consensus is that realtors don't care about you unless you're buying a house, despite the fact that they are listing rentals along with their sale properties. I guess money is really they only thing that they care about.

Since about 90% of the rentals available in my area are listed through realtors, it looks like I'll have to keep dealing with them. But is getting them to do their job too much to ask? I guess we'll see.

ADVENTURES IN BLOGGING, TAKE 3

As the title of this post implies, I've tried my hand at blogging before. The past two times didn't go so well, ending after a few posts. But this time will be different...I think. If nothing else, having yet one more medium to post pictures of my animals to should be motivation enough.

Here's one to start. This is Charlie, my rescue puppy, at about 4 months old. He'll be showing up pretty often on here.

Au revoir for now! Hopefully this isn't the last you'll hear from me.