Revival

What. A. Year.

First off, it should be clear that I didn't hike the dish as planned last year. I did make it all the way to The Dish on September 2, 2006 ... thus almost fulfilling Specific Aim #1. I didn't continue the whole hike because I had no idea how if the hike reconnects at Stanford Ave & Junipera Serra (it does) and how long it would take me (still have no idea there). Turns out, had I walked just a LITTLE BIT further on that first hike, I would have hit the part where it flattens out and becomes a nice little stroll.

Second, whoa. The last 11 months have been CRAZY. I wish I would have blogged throughout the year (despite not walking The Dish) to remember it all. Throughout the year, I became involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (which I'm now helping to run), successfully defended my thesis proposal, ran the Immunology Interview Weekend, had three students work with me (one rotation student, one undergrad, one med student), gave a talk at a national conference, lost a roommate, gained a new roommate, went to Disneyland, partied in SF with my brother, finished my programs course requirements, gave one of my best friends a tour of Hawaii ... all while battling (and currently winning the battle with) clinical depression. (This isn't even close to an exhaustive list ... whoa, it seriously baffles me to how I survived this year.)

Anyway, I find myself in the middle of one of the busiest and most amazing summers in my life. Have you ever heard the saying that if you want something done, give it to a busy person? (Turns out this is the direct quote, from Lucille Ball of all people - "If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it." I wonder what prompted her to say this ...) Well, I want something done, and I'm a busy person. I'm also really the only person who can do this ... since it concerns my body. But whatever. (Man, sometimes I'm really not funny at all when I ramble). I want to lose weight ... and I want to begin my quest to run the dish again. Luckily, these two goals go hand in hand. So I'm going to start again. Tomorrow morning, 6:45 am. That dish has no idea what's coming.

Here's the plan:

Monday - morning hike, 6:45 am
Tuesday - rest, or some other exercise
Wednesday - morning hike, 6:45 am
Thursday - rest, or some other exercise
Friday - morning hike, 6:45 am
Saturday/Sunday - one hike, at any time of day :)

Here's the new Specific Aims (I am such a nerd!):

Specific Aim #1: Complete a dish hike.
-- Aim End Date: July 31, 2007

Specific Aim #2: Hike to the dish without totally losing my breath (and getting that icky/scary heart-in-your-throat feeling).
-- Aim End Date: December 2007

Specific Aim #3: Jog to the dish.
-- Aim End Date: PhD Graduation (???)