Training for the next big thing

So I'm going to start training for a Marathon the end of August with a friend from school. One night over a glass of wine we were talking about how we both wanted to run a marathon so we pledged to start training the end of Aug when school starts again and to run the Tampa marathon the end of Feb. Hopefully as our training runs get longer the weather will get cooler and the humidity will let up. One can dream, right?

What makes a person want to run a marathon? I'm not really sure, but I love finding my limits and pushing beyond them, but this will hopefully keep me on track with my work outs in the fall and spring and give me a goal. So armed with a book, a few websites, work-out clothes from the salvation army, and the knowledge that if I can walk 62.1 miles in 19:39, then with some training I should be able to complete a marathon. Its not about speed, its about enduring and completing what you start. There is something addictive about challenging yourself and rising to that challenge. If I can make it, anyone can. Its just a bit of training and mind over matter, sunshine and light breezes:-)

You know you're frugal when....

.... You contact a Peace Corps volunteer living a 45 minute hike up a mountain in rural Panama (no power, internet, etc) to sleep on her couch. And yes that person would be me, and yes I'm actually really excited about it. I figure that it will be a throw-back to TMI trips. There will also be some local festival going on while I am there so it should be interesting. I mean, life is all about the journey! Trust me pictures will follow in about 6 weeks. Oh, for all of my 3 readers, I'll be in Panama from July 27- Aug 6, then in Costa Rica from Aug 6 to Aug 18. I need a break from the US and from school.

Speaking of school, this is my last week of my third semester and I'm finished the majority of my classes!! I only have 6 more classes plus an internship and special project (no idea what that is, but I'll figure it out at some point!). I feel like I have so much more to learn and not near enough classes to learn it all in, but that's what the job after Grad School is for!