Getting Used To Kansas City

Kansas City - source

These last few weeks have been a whirlwind, but I’m proud to say that everything (well, 99.9% of everything) has been unpacked and put away and I’m starting to learn how to navigate around my area of town. Things feel like they are coming together more, and I’m sort of starting to feel like my less timid self again.

Training-wise I feel so much more motivated. Something clicked over the last few weeks and I’m excited to try my best here and take on new challenges. I miss running with my friends in Houston, but I still talk to them a lot and plan on doing a run there again. I’ve been running hills a lot recently which has been helpful. Every run consists of hills no matter where you are here, but I love how I can control how hilly I want them to be. On days when I haven’t signed up for a spinning class in the Plaza or a running class at KC Endurance, I get home from work, lace up my shoes and take off from the house, trying a new direction each time. Aside from meeting people in class and getting a little social (sometimes I need to force myself to be social in new situations, so this is a way I can do that), choosing a random running path has been super helpful, both in helping to orient me and allowing me to find new fun things. Also, talk about chasing a rabbit! There are rabbits everywhere you look here! The other day we were out for a walk and must have seen about 10 or 11 of them, hanging out together and most likely plotting world domination.

House-wise, I finally have the clothes and toiletries I brought with me (most of it’s still in Houston) all put up, and mostly folded except for a set of drawers holding my running gear. That’s its own beast, and I plan on tackling that this weekend. Since the house is older and closet space is limited, we have had to come up with some out of the box ideas for storage. So far we have some hanging clothes racks, and an empty room upstairs is becoming part closet, part gym space and part nail station (more on that later). We have our custom printed San Francisco themed artwork (thanks SCA Sign Group!) framed and hanging around the house, and when it’s ready I can’t wait to post a bit about it. It’s been hard work decorating this house, and I’m proud of how it turned out!

I also found a few thrift stores within a few miles of the house and have already been to one, where I found some amazing gems!  I was planning on going to the BMX track today, but it’s been thunder storming out like crazy, so as soon as it dries I can’t wait to go ride them. Kansas City, winter notwithstanding, is a, awesome area and I’m so grateful I get to experience it. I’m still homesick, but it hits in waves so that’s getting better too, even though I can’t wait to go back and see Mc Lovin and everybody.

This weekend we plan on training, checking out an amazing downtown KC art exhibit, helping friends move (I’m a moving machine lately!) and doing a few things around the house. Here’s hoping for some sun and fun! Happy Friday!