3/3/2008 :: changes, challenges, and expectations
i haven't posted in awhile because i had actually gotten quite busy at the end of 2007 and into january - freelancing was going well. however, a persistent recruiter came calling about a position at the place i had contracted when i first moved to the seattle area. several other recruiters had contacted me about the same job (and still are), but this one wouldn't take "no" for an answer. to make a long story short, i'm back contracting. it's nice because i knew what to expect and a lot of the guys i liked the first time are still here. so there's that.

more interesting though is the fact that i'm training to run the seattle marathon in november. i started training a couple weekends ago. i had always been active biking, running, playing basketball, football, racquetball, etc. all the way through college. things changed when i got a real job though, as they do for a lot of people, and i became entrenched behind a computer. when i wasn't at a computer, i was in front of a tv or otherwise lounging. luckily i always avoided getting fat (i've lost 20lbs since quitting hawkeye for example), but i got sick of sitting around all the time and feeling pathetically out of shape. i had been flirting with getting back into cycling. then i thought about how focused and fulfilling training for a marathon might be. luck would have it that pbs replayed their "marathon challenge" nova episode at about this time and i made the decision to go ahead with it. i started doing some research and put together a schedule. a month ago i bought my gear and i'm off and running. i have to say the most enjoyable part of modern running is the nike+ system. i love it. if you're a runner, or thinking about getting into running, it's a must. the marathon is november 30th, six days after my 34th birthday. wish me luck that i don't get injured or something before it. my goal is to finish in under 4 hours. i think that's doable despite my long absence from doing much of anything physical. i just have to run 26.2 miles at an average of 9 minutes each.

vacation is much needed, and so is getting back to wisconsin to see friends and family. i'm looking forward to a fun road trip this summer. heidi and i will be driving back to wisconsin for a two week trip to see the country, friends and family. when we moved out here in a penske van a few years ago we promised ourselves we'd do the trip in a proper car. well, mine just had its 30k mile service and the top's ready to be dropped for what should be an epic trip. i'm so looking forward to it. right now we're planning on late july / early august, around the time of my mom's birthday.

2008 is shaping up to be an interesting year.