georgielakerstudent-blog

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Blog 10: Video Essay

You can find my video essay here: https://youtu.be/qjzGHO0SX9w

It was so much fun to work with you all over this semester. I wish you the best.

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Blog Post #9 Reflections

It has become that hectic time in the semester when it seems like everything is due at once. Because of the chaos I have been getting other people to help me revise my essay. I have used the peer reviews, the Writers’ Studio, and my sister as sources to help me with revision. I am pleased with the product that I have created though. 

I am also a little nervous about creating a video essay. I have never done it before and have been writing down all of my ideas. I hope that it turns out the way that I have imagined it. 

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Blog Post 8: Pollen

In the past few weeks I have found a new difficulty with running: pollen. It has become difficulty for me to spend extended periods of time outside without experiencing a headache. Since I run outside, headaches have begun to plague me daily. 

There are many different kinds of pollen and they effect people differently. Right now tree pollen is high. It is the reason that my car has turned yellow and that all of my pets have a dull dusty color to them after going outside. 

Many people struggle with allergies linked to pollen. After reading information posted by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF), I realized that the effects of pollen can be more than just a headache. Many already know that allergies can cause cold like symptoms, but it can also cause fatigue and disrupted sleep patterns(Pollen Allergy). I have noticed that I have been lacking in motivation and the pollen could be to blame. 

There’s not really a good way to avoid pollen, so for now I will just suffer through. It’s not like I am alone in my suffering. 

“Pollen Allergy,” European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation. 2016. https://www.ecarf.org/en/information-portal/allergies-overview/pollen-allergy/

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Blog Post 6: My History

My personal art history collage might be a little messy, but I think that is the best way to describe me. No one is simple. We are all a mess of random things. I’m sure that many of the small cut outs I pasted here will not make sense to some people, but I don’t think the point of this is to explain every little detail. The important part is the bigger picture. Life is about the chaotic happenstances that make up a person. We are all a little bit hectic and illogical, which is exactly what my collage represents.

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Blog Post 7: My Motivation

I have mentioned several of the reasons that I decided to start this project, but the one I haven’t brought up yet is my mom. I know she probably seems irrelevant in the journey of me beginning to run again, but she is actually a major component of my motivation.

Last October my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Her treatments began in November and have been an extremely difficult for her. I knew from the start of all this that I wanted to be there for her during this time. I rearranged my class and work schedule so that I could be home with her when she needed me. My sisters and dad have helped as much as they can, but a lot of the household chores and my mom’s care has fallen on me. I don’t mind. I am glad that I can be there for my family, but I know that it bothers my mom. Even though I have assured her that I am happy to help, I know that she feels guilty about my busy schedule.

Every time I tell her I am going for a run I see a bit of relief on her face. She knows that when I am running that I am doing something for myself and that gives her a little bit of peace. It is the small smile she gives me as I head out the door that gives me the motivation I need.

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Blog Post 5: Getting Involved

The point of this project was to train to run in a race. I chose this topic because I wanted to become more active while also becoming more involved in the community. After a lot of consideration I finally decided on which race I am going to participate in. Although technically it is not a race. Panola State Park is hosting a moonlight mountain hike and I am going to participate. I have talked my sister into doing the hike with me and we are both excited. The draw of this event for me goes into my love of nature. Panola State Park is a beautiful location and the idea of being there in the moonlight is exhilarating. There will not be any first place medals or time stamps, but this event has inspired me to keep jogging. 

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Blog 4: On the Bright Side

Motivation is one of my biggest issues when it comes to running. Some days I just don’t feel like doing it. I would rather stay inside and read. However, on these days I have to remind myself of the benefits. The main benefit I have found during my runs is a better sleep schedule. Dr. Michael Breus claims that running can “contribute to a more sound and restful sleep.” I have found myself agreeing with this statement since I started running again. 

During my later years of high school I began to have experiences with sleep paralysis. Due to these experiences I began to have a lack of sleep that has plagued me throughout college. However, ever since I began running again I have not had a sleep paralysis episode. My running schedule has allowed me to become better rested and more energized. When I remind myself of how helpful my jogs can be motivation is no longer an issue.  

Breus, Michael.”The Benefits of Exercise For Sleep,” 2017. https://thesleepdoctor.com/2017/05/22/benefits-exercise-sleep/

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Blog 3: My Supervisor

I run alone. I’m honestly not sure how people run together since that would annoy me. Running is something I do for myself, but I do have people that encourage me to run, or more like animals. When I run, one of my two cats will follow me down the driveway to make sure that I am keeping pace. Yesterday it was Chance:

Chance found a nice spot that was out of my way to sit and watch me. I am not sure why she seems to think that watching me run is necessary. It has to be incredibly boring for her. Even though I don’t understand her need to be present it is kind of nice to have someone out there with me, pushing me to keep going. When I concluded my run and began my walk back inside Chance ran up to me. She purred and allowed me to pet her for a moment as if she was telling me “good job.”

I don’t know why my cats gave themselves the job of being my running supervisor, but their encouragement motivates me to keep going and that is all I can really ask from them.

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Blog 2: Finding a Place

One of the first things one has to consider when they decide to start running again is where they are going to run. Despite a charming little park that is only two minutes away from my house I decided that the majority of my running time would be spent on my driveway. The driveway that leads to my house is long and not perfect, but it is mine. I want to run somewhere that I am comfortable, somewhere that I don’t have to think about where I am going or who/ what is around me. My driveway is only about 1/6 of a mile long, which means that I spend my time running up and down the familiar gravel and dirt road. I could go find somewhere else or I could spend my time on a treadmill, but neither of those options have the same appeal to me as being able to run at home. I run to find peace in my hectic life and home seems like the best place to do so. Maybe it doesn’t look like much to others, but to me it is enough.

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Blog 1: Learning to Live with a Quicker Pace

I have always enjoyed running. Even though it was often used as a punishment in early gym days I never been able to think of it in negative light. I used to run when I was in high school. I would put in my ear buds and sink into the familiar rhythm of my feet hitting the ground.  It was a way for me to relax, get out some energy, and it usually allowed me to engage in better sleep. 

Running faded from my life when I entered college. It was replaced by a hectic balance of school, work, household chores, and finding time to write. I am unable and/or unwilling to give up any of those points of my life, but my goal for this project is to work running back into my life. 

My current plan is to run a 5K at some point in March or April of this year. I am still deciding on which race I want to participate in, but I have come up with a method of training. I am going to run 15 miles every week. It does not matter how I space them out or if I skip multiple days in a row as long as I run a total of 15 miles in seven days. 

I guess it is important to note that a 5K is the length of a little over 3 miles. I could go outside and run that distance right now, but the point of this project is to get myself back into running with a specific goal to work towards. I am trying to make time for running in the changing pace of my life. 

The challenge of this project is going to be not taking time away from the other essential parts of my life: school, work, chores, and writing. I know that writing may not be essential for most people, but it is for me. (I have recently begun a blog with my sister, Miranda, to promote our novel. The link is: https://whitworthdrive.blogspot.com/ if anyone wants to check it out.) I hope to manage my time so that I have enough to spend doing the things I want to do instead of focusing only on what I have to do. I am excited for this change and I hope that I can make it work.