To my beloved turquoise Mizunos,

You have been so good to me for the past six months, getting me through a half marathon, my knee rehab and my return to running. Sadly you are old and worn out and now I must let you go. I'm sad for us to part ways and I will miss our time spent together on the road. I apologize for replacing you with a new flashier (and way cleaner) version. It must be hard for you to know that your twin is going to be going with me on my long runs, tempo runs, short runs, all my runs from now on and you will be demoted to my cross-training shoes. It was a tough decision, but I promise, it's not you, it's me.

-- Jess

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Last night I picked up my new Mizunos and they are all kinds of bright colors. I've been running in the Wave Inspire for a long time and I've had blues, oranges, yellows, but none of them as electric as the blue/purple comb on my new ones. I know you're supposed to break in your shoes before races, but I'm breaking that cardinal rule. I've got a 5K on Sunday and probably won't be able to get a run in before then.

I also finally registered for the Celtic Solstice 5 Miler in Baltimore in December. I'm really looking forward to it.

And I put together a marathon training schedule last night. I haven't registered yet, but I've got the schedule. It starts in earnest on Nov. 17th. So from now until then I'm not going to follow anything really, just going to do some runs when I can.

I decided to scrap the gym last night and get my run in outside after work. It was starting to get dark when I got home, but it was still decent, plus my neighbors have all kinds of lights and stuff. By the time I got to mile two though it was pretty much pitch black and it was hard to see the road in front of me. I was worried I was going to trip and fall. (Maybe that's why my time was so crappy...32: something for 3.2 miles...way slower than I have been going lately.)

But I got it in and I didn't sprain an ankle. It's probably a good thing my iPod died in the NOT cold again because I could hear cars coming and such. Seriously maybe it is time for a new iPod or something. It dying every time the weather is not 70 degrees is getting a bit old.

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My Big News:

Well I've been sitting on this news for a long, long time because nothing was official until this week. But it's official now.

I got a new job! In Washington, D.C.!!!!

I can't put into words how happy I am to be getting back to the D.C./Md. area. You guys know I've been going back there almost every weekend since the end of July because I love it and miss it so much.

So yea, new job working for the government starting Nov. 24. I'm super excited.

I'm currently in the midst of trying to find places to live. It's not easy let me tell you. I saw two places last weekend. Neither was great. I'm going to see a place tonight (yup driving down three hours in rush hour traffic after work, looking out a house, and then driving another two hours back home so I can be at work tomorrow...ick) and then I'm going to see another place next Tuesday and I'm sure a few more this weekend.

It's stressful to say the least, but it's got to be done. I've been a hobo on my friends couches on the weekends for long enough. I don't want to further impose by not having my own place to live!

I have high hopes for the place I'm seeing tonight. The girls living there now seem really friendly so I'm hoping they'd be good roommates. Cross your fingers for me!

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Also a few of you commented on the "cute blind ref" from the Halloween pics. Man, I can't slip anything past you guys! He's the BF. He's a real nice guy that I met...where else...at a Maryland tailgate.

Nothing too exciting to report in the way of running. My calves were really really tight after Friday's 8 miler so I took the rest of the weekend off. It was darker than I realized when I got home from work tonight so poor planning on my part led to no run. I might try to hit the gym after work tomorrow. I'd go before but I'm going to be busy waiting in line to vote. (I think the running gods will forgive me for missing my morning work out to vote.)