half way day

i think i am half way through the study period. not half way done the number of study days, b/c i put in more at the end than the beginning. but either way, it's exciting. but very nerve-wracking b/c that means the test is closer and that isn't a happy thought. i have no idea how to judge if i am ready for it. it's all hearsay. and it's annoying that i'm forgetting stuff that i knew just a few days ago. the new stuff is in there, but it's displacing the old. well, not entirely displacing, just making it fuzzy enough that i know that i knew it but still can't quite remember it. oh well, that's what the review days are for 1.5 wks from now.
anyway, biked for an hour. not sure how hard. i had it it in a big gear (ala ullrich) and really pounded through it. but i wasn't as winded as i could be. so i don't know. hard to judge.
running tomorrow if it's not t-storming, otherwise i'll swim. sprints i think so i won't lose form b/c of not kicking (pull buoy).

speed

speed workout today. had dinner at mixto and i think the plantains gave me some extra energy. warmed up for 5 min, then alternated 800m at a 7 min/mi pace with 400m at 8 min/mi pace for a total of 3.5 miles at 1.0%. it is freaking hot today (and in the gym).

yesterday i biked for a bit more than a half hour, while watching taming of the shrew, elizabeth taylor version. she was gorgeous, today's actresses don't touch her! anyway, couldn't find the motivation to bike longer even though i felt good. it just wasn't there.
spent the day at home today on my day off. slept in a little, did some summer dress shopping - yay!! back to the grind tomorrow morning - another pharm day. wahoooo.

yesterday

my comments don't post b/c with all the comments on the main page i was having trouble following in order and who's was what and what they were refering to. so i figured that minus-ing mine would clear it up a bit for myself. easily confused these days. i'll put it back if it's annoying!

yesterday i swam for a mile straight. this tells you what crap the pool. i swam with a pull-buouy. i am not in great swimming shape and i swam the whole thing non-stop (except when the pull-buoy popped out) and did it in 25 minutes. i am so frustrated. i'll have to wear drag suits too and i guess do pushups to try to make it a better workout or this open water swim will kill me. i felt great though, which is positive. but i shouldn't, so that was negative. ha.

today was a tough day for me. finished renal (thank god) and moved on, but didn't feel good all afternoon, sat next to a guy who chained smoked for an hour, and i had trouble really concentrating. i guess the studying is catching up. i even went to bed early last night. but now kaplan isn't working so i can't do my nightly practice exams. i guess i'll just move ahead on tomorrow's stuff but it sucks b/c i really don't want to. but i have to b/c this goal is within my reach (at least i think it is) and if i get bummed out or lose focus, it won't happen. stay strong. stay strong. tomorrow's another day.

i hate renal physiology.

a little motivation...
2 points if you can pick us out (cara, becky, and me)!

6.4 miler to the art museum, made it as much of a hill workout as i know how in philly without having a car. did the steps a few times...felt strong for about 40 of the 50-odd minutes i went. gorgeous day for a run, hopefully i got a little color to make up for all the hrs i'm spending huddled in the library or a cafe...
swimming tomorrow (hopefully!)!

3 more weeks! haaaa...

fast run to cara and carolyn's for the goodbye, good luck, and we'll miss you! party. carolyn is an amazing chef and the run back was not so pleasant seeing as how stuffed my stomach! 2.5 miles total. must work out for real tomorrow since i haven't done anything but eat recently. and have fun times down in annapolis!
congrats to CARA and MEREDITH on passing their prelims!!!!!!

4.25 at 0.5% in 33ish. sigh. one more full day, then off for the weekend. so excited!

swim

swam today, maybe 3/4 mile, not really sure, i lost count. went for distance. wore a drag suit to try to compensate for the short pool. at the end i realized that using a pull bouy will make the workout worth it, actually made my arms tired. yayeah, i think i finally solved the problem of the short pool!
studying is going well, it's actually not so bad so far. the 3 hrs of questions at night is tough b/c i can barely keep my eyes open, but other than that, i'm feeling like i'm learning and right on schedule. it's only day 3, but i hope i continue to feel this way and don't burn out!

antm final tonight!!! i'm so excited!!!

correction

in yesterday's post my intention was to exagerate my study hours remaining. but in a very mini break during studying today i thought about it. over 25 days of 10-11 hour days is over 250 hrs of studying. so my exageration sucked and when i realized that, it did NOT make me feel any better. however, nina, your comment did :) thanks!

day 1

10 hrs down, about a 100 or so left...
biked 1:15 over the grey's finale. feeling good. feeling stressed, but bike-wise? feeling good :) well, on a trainer. it'll be something else to finally get it outside...

inspired by the lance-like ass kicking that basso delivered to everyone today, i biked during grey's anatomy. got in a solid 45 and now i gotta shower, set up for tomorrow, and get my tired ass to bed. i can't believe tomorrow starts the boards. i never thought it would get here and now it is and it's terrifying and exciting and it's all at the same time. not looking forward to starting, but definitely am looking forward to finishing! and holy crap if anyone saw's grey's tonight. i actually started crying while riding, which made it difficult to bike...but no worries, i powered on through. digging into my study time tomorrow to watch the 2 hour finale, but what's a girl to do? with an ending like tonight, i CANNOT miss what happens tomorrow! not a great way to start out the studying, but i'll just make sure to cut my dinner break short or something and maybe go a little later and during commercials.

swimming

went for a dip before watching sara get the boot on antm. only one episode left!!! i want danielle to win. i'll be in the midst of boards studying when the finale comes on, but no worries, i've worked my schedule out so that i will have a shorter dinner break to allow for watching the show. can't watch a whole season only to miss the big finale!! anyway, this is a workout blog... felt stronger today then last time, so that's a plus, but i didn't get in too much yardage. tried to make up for it afterwards with some pushups (few) and situps (only a bit more), but hey, glad i got something in. it is test week afterall, but i find that i'm really just not that concerned. i'm sure the fear will hit tomorrow though. it always does.

ps. nina, i totally thought you were serious about doing the tri. i think that means that we all know that you are more than capable since none of us thought it was a joke!!! so i think you should DO IT!!! down to 8min/mile? way to go!!

sweet kicks

ran the penn's landing 4.5ish route today. ran in my new kicks and i love 'em! i am now officially brand loyal after over 15 years of running, i've finally met my match. mizuno. love them. great day for a run, perfect temperature out. just working the kinks out and starting to mentally prep for the triathlon. oh yeah, and the boards too...

past state college, on towards pittsburgh

bsr

cara and becky were right, that has to be one of the best organized, most fun races ever! i thought i'd hate having to run with people surrounding you at all times, but it was actually fun. everytime i got passed, i went and passed somebody, it was so motivating!
on to the details...i went out with no idea of what my pace was, and was shocked at my mile time of 7:30 since i felt i was moving but not overdoing it. it was fabulous to see melissa and danielle at walnut street, they totally motivated me - the mile before b/c i knew they'd be there, and the mile after, but then it wore off and i was feeling it at mile 8. but somehow or another, i kept pushing b/c i didn't want to look back after it was over and be sad that i didn't tough it out... finished in 1:16, so i pretty much ran a 7:36 pace, which absolutely floored me. and my parents were at the finish line, which made me even prouder, b/c i got to share it with them! what a great race and a great experience, i'm so excited to do it next year already!

beauty

While this isn't the TT bike (obviously) that salvodelli just used to whip everyone in the opening time trial, this is the gorgeous creature that discovery team will be riding for the season, the Trek Madone SL 5.9. feel free to drool over it, i certainly am...

3.5 on the tread. very full from carb-loaded dinner - burrito jumbo - and simultaneously celebrated cinco de mayo - how efficient am i?!

almost half done med schoooool!!!!

i just took my history and physical exam and it went really well. only problem is that it was the guy from my clinical skills session this past tuesday - and he saw how i wasn't doing anything during it (b/c it was pointless). oops. but hopefully he got over my past laziness b/c it went really well today - i am a physical diagnosis machine!
in happy news, i have ONE exam left of 2nd year. ONE!!!! that's it!! i was walking back from the exam today with a massive smile on my face thinking about that (and the gorgeous weather). sure i still have the boards, but whatever, 2nd year is almost OVER FOREVER. i'll be able to have a schedule, my time off will be my own, i will not be MIA anymore...i can't wait!!!

another exam day

despite it being a perfect day out, i went for a miserable 30 min run. not a good sign for sunday, but better to get a crap run out of the way i suppose!

i am weak.

cara and i have been debating on doing the philly tri this summer so i thought i'd give the ole swim a nice little test, see how i feel. man i have lost a lot!! swam a mile total (remembering that ours is a teeny pool) and actually felt okay/good towards the end but my form was shot. in any case, i finally used my new suit and i felt very sleek and i think it really wants to be worn in the schuykill come july 10th...if you catch my drift (cara).

300th bday - all year long

ben franklin visited our clinical skillz session today. in case you were wondering, he had turf toe, not gout.
3 miles on the treadmill. 'nuff said.
study study study.
happy almost-bday to becky!