30 after 30: the first

1. Run a marathon.

As you may recall from my October 31st post back in 2018, I got into distance running after going through a breakup. Over the last 4.5 years, my love of running has only grown, and I've been so fortunate to make incredible friends through various running groups in Austin. (My love of running after a breakup has ALSO grown.) A year ago, I finally took the plunge - I signed up for my first full marathon. I signed up for the Austin Marathon for several reasons: home turf advantage, meaning I could train on the course and know what to expect; all my friends are here and willing to cheer; this city is where I found my love of running, and I just couldn't imagine running my first full anywhere else. I had run the half marathon in 2020, my last race before Covid hit, so I knew what the first part of the course would be like.

Pre-Training

My goal over the summer was to up my mileage to 25-30 miles a week so that I would be comfortable starting a marathon training plan. I thought this would be a great way to make sure I had a good mileage base.

Then, at the beginning of July, I caught Covid.

Whewwwwwy, that was a doozy. The combination of Covid + jetlag coming back from Israel meant that for about 4 days, I was sleeping close to 18 hours every day. This left zero energy for walking up the stairs, let alone going out for a run. Finally, I started walking around the neighborhood 9 days after I first tested positive, and 2 weeks after that I started a 5 week run-walk program (originally intended to come back from an injury) to get back to running. When that was done, I tried to run 3-4x a week in the stifling Texas heat in order to safely transition to a training plan.

Training

With the help of seasoned marathoner friends, I picked the Boston Athletic Association Training Plan Level 1 as my chosen plan. Training began on October 3rd for my February 19th race. Since I was also commuting to Wisconsin during October and November, this meant that I trained through 8 seasons:

• Texas late summer, aka hell
• Texas fall
• Wisconsin fall
• Texas winter
• Texas second fall
• Wisconsin early winter
• Texas ice age
• Texas early spring

I readjusted my teaching schedule so that I could make it out to the Ship of Fools long runs on Saturdays. I knew that if I needed to be logging 18 and 20 mile long runs, it needed to happen with a group and it also needed to happen when I didn't need to work afterwards (though in December, I would routinely run double digits and then play two Nutcracker shows in the same day...not ideal). The Ship became my happy place on Saturday mornings, whether it was hot, cold, or dark. We were all suffering together now.

At the beginning of my training cycle, I sourced music from (almost) everyone I knew to make a training playlist on Spotify. Listening to music that people had hand-picked for me was another form of support, and helped keep my mind off of how many miles I had left or how fast I needed to run that day. Before the race, I asked my friend Chris to randomize the playlist so that I would be surprised on the day. 

Training went well--I wasn't sidelined by any injuries, and I felt pretty good about figuring out my nutrition. I was pretty constantly hungry and tired, but I was warned that this would be the case. Only in a few weeks did it seem worse than it normally is, so I was feeling good about everything.

I was trying to be better about cross/strength training during my training, and while there are still improvements to be made, I gave it a pretty good effort. As I tapered over the last 2.5 weeks of training, I started to get very nervous as we approached...drum roll please...

*Race Day*

Let's go run a marathon!

I had booked a downtown hotel for the night before to eliminate the stress of finding parking, etc. But, I started out race day by ordering an Uber from my hotel to get closer to the start line so I wouldn't have to walk 3/4 of a mile. This turned out to be a terrible idea: all of the streets that Uber suggested to take were closed, and traffic was already piling up. My driver ended up dropping me off even further away from the start line than I was when he picked me up, so that was not a good start to the day.

Once I had dropped off my gear drop bag, I met up with Alexis and Eric and we joined the masses in the start corral. I started the race with Alexis, and...well, here's a bit of what was going through my head during the race.

Mile 1: ooh, this feels good. I'm totally sticking to my pace plan. Don't wanna blow up on the hills like in 2020 when I ran the half. Feeling good about these paces. I feel strong! Just keep it going.

Mile 3: Damn, Chris did such a good job with this playlist. I'm gonna need to tell him that and thank him later.

Mile 5: There are Mom and Dad! Oh good, they were able to see me! Wow, I'm so happy they got to be here for this. I feel good!

Mile 7: Turning onto Cesar Chavez is so fun, gosh, the crowd support here is amazing. I'm feeling good! Maybe I should go for my secondary goal...

Mile 8: This is where I had to stop to use the porta-potty in 2020. Not this time!

Mile 9: Ok, Mariama said she was going to be around here---OMG! There she is! Mariama and Jay and Matt L is here too! Awwwww, they are so sweet to come out! Hi guys!!
Aww shit this hill up Veteran's is always steeper than I think it will be. I'm gonna lose Alexis...

Mile 11: You got this, you trained on Enfield this cycle. Look, that person has a sign with my name on it--oh, it's Marty! I shout to her and see Wes and Viv, too.

You don't have to run fast but keep moving. You'll see Mom and and Dad soon and the Striders will get you up this hill! There are Mom and Dad! Oh, good, they made it in time to the 2nd stop. 

I think I need to pee.

Mile 12: Holy crap, I have the best running friends in the world. They see me! They're yelling for me so loudly and I'm grinning ear to ear, I totally forgot my ex is cheering on this hill too. Christy is running with me for a few yards and hands off some more gels. 

I make it to the top of the hill and then...I see where the full and half marathon courses split. Man, those half marathoners are so lucky, they're almost done. Janna was not kidding, this is demoralizing as fuck. I should find a bathroom.

Mile 13: Oh, here's a porta-potty at the water stop. Excellent. This song sounds familiar...oh, it's Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi at exactly the halfway mark. Nice going, Chris. You timed this perfectly.

Miles 15-18: Ok, walk when you need to. You're breathing pretty heavily, walk a bit to get the HR down and then start running again. Well, there goes the 4:50 pace group, oh well. I need fuel but I don't wanna down another Gu. I need to chew something--I'll take this orange slice this nice stranger is offering me. Damn, that was tasty.

You crushed that hill on Dean Keeton. Way to think of your butt! Hmm, Matt isn't here, I wonder if he overslept...

Mile 18.75: There's Dorothy! And she has two other friends with her cheering for me. Awww, she's so nice to come out here...she's taking a video. (That still doesn't stop me from saying, "This is so hard!")

Mile 18.85: Mom and and Dad made it over here! God, I want something salty. I'll take those gels but ugh I really don't want to eat them. Mom shouts, "See you at the finish line!" Well, I have to keep going after that.

Mile 19: OMG there's Matt A! I need a hug. He runs with me for about a half mile, and then says I'm crazy for doing this but he loves me anyway, and I'm kicking ass. Him running with me really helped! OK, just keep moving those legs.

Mile 20: Only a 10k left! I can run a 10k...right?

Mile 21: I've officially hit a distance PR. Maybe I should just stop now and take the DNF, it's still a PR. 

No. Keep going.

I need to pee again.

Thank goodness for volunteers and porta-potties at water stops. 

Mile 21: This long flat section on Tillery was supposed to be easier. Why the F is it so hard??! Aww, there's First Street Studios. That makes me smile...for like a nanosecond. My feet are hurting.

Mile 22: Holy shit, that's Gabe! I'm so happy to see him I almost start crying. He tells me I'm doing great and runs with me for almost a mile. 

Mile 22: Gabe, I'm so happy to see you!

He takes a few pictures, and then hands me off to the crowd outside Central Machine Works. They are incredible. They're loud, and running alongside me, and then there are Chris and Sarah! Sarah's running with me, I tell her this is the worst idea I've ever had. She says something encouraging and I momentarily forget my pain. 

Sarah helping me at mile 23

Then Chris is on the other side of me, asking if I need anything, water maybe? I said, "No I just need this to be over." He tells me I've got fewer miles left than our In the Parks route. This is somewhat encouraging. I keep going.

Mile 23.5: JANNA. Oh my lordy lord, I see Janna. She has appeared with 3 miles to go and boy do I need her. She takes my handheld water bottle and starts reminding me to relax, deep breaths, use my hips, and then she starts telling me orchestra jokes. We alternate walking and running for the next 2 miles. I start crying and I'm not totally sure why. She tells me it's fine, let it out, I'm ok. I'm very glad she's here.

Mile 24.5: Chris somehow reappears off of a side street and runs/walks with us too. I'm so grateful to both of them, that they're completely supportive even though I'm the captain of the struggle bus right now. As we round the corner to approach the last hill, I see a photographer. Time to look like I'm not dying.

I'm really not sure how I managed a smile this late in the game.

Mile 26: This is it. One more hill, then I'm done. I've done hill repeats on this hill, this is why I was walking back there, so I would have something left for this hill. I start running up, and I see Cari on the left! She starts running with me. Then, halfway up on the right, I see Meaghan and Shelby. They join me. I start walking, I've tired myself out already. Meaghan lets loose the absolute fucking loudest scream I've ever heard in my life, and I can't help but start laughing. 

Shelby, Chris, Meaghan, Cari, and Janna (out of frame) helping me up the last hill

Through the arch! 1/4 mile left!

I start running again and make it to the top of the hill where I see Christy and Carlos, while Janna and Chris duck onto the side to run me in off of the official course. I'm so relieved to see the finish that I start to kick it, and end up with sub 8 pace over the finish line. (It doesn't hurt that it's downhill.)

Oh my God, it's finally done

Moments after finishing

Finish: I wobble towards the angelic volunteers who are handing out water, medals, and finisher shirts. I'm wobbling toward the exit chute when I hear my name, and I see Mariama and Matt L again! I start crying and I can't stop. They tell me congratulations and then I go to find Janna and my parents. Janna finds me at the exit and snaps a few photos. I see my parents and hobble towards them. I think I'm going to bawl but somehow manage to keep it (mostly) in. After profusely thanking Chris and Janna with hugs and tears in my eyes, I go to pick up my gear check bag and run into Christy. More crying. I pick up my gear bag and am going back to my parents when Mariama and Matt come up to me and give me a hug. I'm so touched by all this support that between sweating and crying, I think there's no more liquid in my body.

Janna and Chris - lifesavers!

Dad and Mom - best newbie cheerleaders ever

With Endless Thanks

This is a list of every single person who helped me over the last 3 years to get to this point, and I am so incredibly grateful for each one of them:

Mom and Dad - they're already planning what they'll bring to cheer for the next one. Can I get anyone to donate a noisemaker or a cowbell?

Everyone who tracked me and sent messages of support - Audrey, Ian, Julia, Max, Sarah, Maya, Alex, Megan, Anna, Frank, Morgan, Josh S, Dana, Josh H, Tim J, Malia, Yi Ching, AJ G-R, Tim M, Jeff E, Daniel, Marisa, Rachael

All of my Strider friends who cheered in person and from afar - 

Alyssa - for starting this amazing group and being a cheerleader for everyone, 

Christy - for running countless miles with me on Friday mornings, course support and photos and passing on the wisdom of James, 

James (honorary Strider?), Oreo Tom, Abigail, Thomas, Thomas the third,

Gabe - for your friendship, boozy neighborhood walks, deep conversations, extraordinary photography skills (only you could make me look that good at mile 22!), and for quoting Taylor Swift to me,

Derek, Eva for the advice, Laura for the good vibes and tracking, Laurent, Matt, Michael + the plunger, Mona - now it's your turn!, Eric S, Alex

Sarah P - seeing you at CMW was such a mood-booster! Thank you for the literal support,

Shelby - for going with me to the Fleet Feet shakeout so I wouldn't be anxious and for all the runs and chats and cheering (and Franklin's and Gizmo pets), 

Meaghan - for long run/track company AND the loudest voice I have ever heard, those soundwaves did the trick!,

Eric N - for introducing me to the Ship, being a great pacer on Saturdays, being an accountabili-buddy, and always being up for mimosas,

Janna L - for being a total badass and inspiration, helping me with speedwork, and for all of the advice and answers you gave me about training, reminding me to think of my hips and keep my head up during the race, not to mention almost literally keeping me on my feet in the last 1.5 miles,

Chris J - for assuring me that I wouldn't be doing this alone as we sat at Cru 3 years ago before the world shut down, for the company on my 20 miler, being one of the first to kudos my runs, randomizing my playlist, answering all my questions and offering advice, and for the pumping up the week/day of

Everyone else who cheered in person - Mariama, Jay, Matt L, Marty (and for introducing me to Sportshield, what a lifesaver!), Wes, Matt A (I'm so glad I sucked you into the world of running, hehe), Dorothy, Ellen, Rachel, Morning Jos, The Ship, ESBR, November Project, the random people who saw my name on my bib and yelled out to me like they were my best friends

The Ship - Cari for being one of my first Ship friends, a great pacer, my training partner when Texas felt like Minnesota, and warning me about 11th St; Ashley for being one of my first Ship friends and always willing to find a bathroom with me; Alexis for being so open and nice and helping me through my first marathon; Coach for creating a welcoming environment; all the other Shipmates on Saturdays

No Excuses Monday workout group - thank you for being welcoming and encouraging!

The run groups in Madison and Milwaukee - thank you for offering groups where I could safely continue my training and explore new parts of Wisconsin

Everyone who kept me healthy - the team at RunLab (Verity, Dr. Halasz, others I'm forgetting), and my massage ladies Brandy, Chris K, and Chalice

Every single volunteer - water stops, expo, cleanup, y'all are the hardworking people who make this happen!

So, Sophie...are you going to run another marathon?

It's about 36 hours after the marathon and I feel like I've been hit by a truck while an elephant is sitting on my back. I've awakened muscles that I didn't know existed. I'm hobbling around my house and stairs are my nemesis. I'm also still somewhat in shock and denial that I ran 26.2 miles yesterday.

I've been told "never say never" about signing up for another one, but I've got some goals in the half marathon distance that I want to go for. I might be back for another marathon...but for now, I'm going to sleep in on Saturdays, keep eating all the Tex-Mex I want, and put my Gu gels in a box out of sight.

Sophie turns 30

Well, here it is! My 30th birthday. Because of this list and the endeavors it has brought with it, I've been thinking about this birthday maybe more than the average person thinks about their 30th birthday. Now that it's here, I certainly didn't expect to be celebrating this day in the midst of both 1) a global pandemic and 2) an uprising for civil rights that are long overdue to the Black community. But, these two circumstances have provided a lot of time for reflection and discussion, as well as a commitment to be a better friend, ally, and human being, and how I'm going to work on those things as I age.

And now for a reflection of my list!

I was able to fully complete 19 items on my list! Some of my favorites:

• Own a cat. Miranda has become my constant companion and even though she sheds like it's going out of style (and sometimes claws my adorable curtains/tries to eat my toes), I love her more every day.

• Run a half marathon. I have found the most wonderful community in ATX after getting serious about running. Since running my first half in October 2018, I've finished four more, and am signing up for a full marathon as soon as races are allowed to happen again.

Shoal Creek Striders <3

• Tour a vineyard and do a wine tasting. I mean, it's wine, you guys. Do I need a reason other than that to love this one?
• Knitting a scarf. I loved finding a creative outlet for myself aside from music, and I'm very excited to see what more I can do with this hobby.
• Throwing a dinner party. Having friends in the same place and sharing (good) homemade food was something that I took for granted before 2020. I won't do that again.

• Starting my own garden. Even with small spaces, there is such satisfaction in growing your own food.
• Attending live performances. No matter the genre/group, the highest quality artistic performances have the ability to move someone to tears, reaching the innermost of their emotions. This is something I commit to doing more of in the coming years.

There were 4 items that I partially completed. They were:

• Visit all 50 states. I got VERY close on this. Only 5 more to go. This is something I want to finish in the next 10 years for sure.
• Visit 10 new countries. If COVID-19 hadn't hit, this one would have been crossed off the list next month, as Sarah and I were planning another trip to Europe. As it was, though, I was able to visit 8 new countries in the span of 3 years. I'm thankful that was able to happen.
• Climb at least 30 14ers. I have climbed 24. This was hard to finish since I no longer 1) live in Colorado and 2) spend my summers in Colorado.
• Volunteer once a month for six months. I spent a few weeks last summer (2019) volunteering at a farm that is part of a refugee resettlement organization. My intent was to return during the week of spring break this year--when COVID became a big concern. A good intention that did not come to fruition.

These were the 7 that I did not achieve:

• Go to another bowl game when Michigan is playing. In hindsight, it's probably for the best that I didn't waste my money to go to any of the bowl games in the past 5 years, since we've lost EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
• Hike the Grand Canyon--rim to rim. This may happen next year with the aforementioned running friends...stay tuned...
• Learn how to drive a stick shift car. I did get some instruction on this, but I never had an opportunity to consistently practice those skills. Hopefully some day I'll be able to drive a manual!
• Do a head/hand/forearm stand. 
• Learn how to whistle really loudly. Does anyone want to teach me how to do this?
• Find and buy a pair of quality sunglasses that actually look good on me. I've been using free race sunglasses for years. If anyone knows where I can find some good sunglasses, let me know...
• Get another piercing. Michelle has already told me that when I come back to Colorado she will go with me to get a piercing so I feel like maybe I should be able to count this one as partially done.

Thank you all for coming on this journey with me and for your encouragement. 

On to the next adventure!

Playing with a French plait

#21. Learn how to French braid my own hair.

For some reason, I never learned how to French braid my own hair when I was a kid. I had very long hair as a child and I distinctly remember in 2nd grade, at story time, how the other girls in my grade would braid my hair into these teeny tiny braids. They were actually so small that they would turn into knots, and then my mom would get mad when I came home, and then we would have to cut or rip them out. (This will explain why I got my hair cut into a short bob in 3rd grade.)

ANYWAY, when I still had long hair and I went to friends' houses and got it braided while we watched a movie or hung out, I was over-the-moon excited that it could look that elegant and polished. I became more and more impressed with friends who had a knack for making my hair look good and I regularly asked (read: begged) them to do something fancy with it for countless recitals and orchestra concerts (thanks Alex and Marisa for indulging me!).

Well, enough was enough! I could make it look just as elegant and polished if I only watched a YouTube tutorial or two. With a few months of practice, I got ok at braiding (but no better at taking pictures of the back of my head...until I realized my phone camera has a timer on it. Whoops.).

Admittedly, this item on my list was a little silly. But not every item needed to be extravagant. I'm ok with this one being silly!

Yikes, look how wavy that braid is...even the cat noticed.

Better...

Final product!

And now I can French braid my hair! Kind of. A 2nd grade girl's dream come true.

19 down. 11 to go!

Knit knit knit

#20. Knit a useable scarf.

I have never been an overly crafty person. I've always loved the idea of being crafty, but somehow it's never been a strong suit for me. However, I also love the idea of creating beautiful things (maybe this is why I'm a musician??), and when I was in high school, my mom, brother, and I all got into knitting one Christmas. 

Then, well, you know how hobbies go. You're really into them for a day or two, or a week, and then you set it down and it gathers dust for a year before you think back to it and realize you absolutely dropped the ball on it.

Anyway, I have a lot of talented friends who can knit or crochet, and I decided more recently this was an activity I wanted to pursue. SO. With the help of my friend/travel buddy Sarah (who is a phenomenal knitter, among other things!), I began!

I already had a lot of cheap yarn that was of questionable quality, which meant that it was great for practicing. I gathered it up from my mom's stash, and went to work practicing my knitting. I knit everywhere: on the bus in Croatia, backstage at a San Antonio Symphony concert, while watching Netflix (I find this helps keep me off my phone, and avoids the dual screen/split attention issue), and most recently, surrounded by friends in Philadelphia after teaching one of them how to knit (you go, Maya!!). 

Thanks to Sarah's help, I finished a practice scarf with the questionable yarn, and finally felt like I had enough practice to really go for it on the next project.

Done with the practice scarf!

I'm not yet able to read any patterns/knitting directions (I get very overwhelmed very quickly) and I like the idea of a scarf because I can see how even my stitches are. Coincidentally, while in Philly with friends we stopped into a craft store, and I found some yarn that I loved, and thought, "ok, let's do this!"

With a couple of different iterations (and redos), I finally decided that being stuck at home during the Coronavirus was the best excuse that I was going to get to finish this project. 

The colors of this yarn reminded me of a candy cane!

I also always had a friend helping...

Finally, this past week, I finished it!

18 down. 12 to go!

Being in the audience, part two

#20. Go to a Met production of an opera by Mozart, Puccini, or Verdi.

This item on the list was actually planned in conjunction with going to see the ballet (because when NYCB and the Metropolitan Opera are literally next door to each other, obviously this is the best way to plan your 36 hours in NYC). I had been to the Met once before, in 2012 when my mom and I went to see Carmen. As I've become more knowledgeable about opera, the Italian composers have become my favorite, and I really wanted a chance to see one done with the best company in the country (and arguably the world). Also, the number of operas I've played FAR outweigh the number I've watched as an audience member. I wanted to change that. 

Thankfully, Sarah (who has also traveled abroad with me many times for the sake of this blog) was up for a trip from Philly! When I told her I was planning this trip, she said, "I'll come with you!" I bought us both tickets to Verdi's La Traviata and then waited anxiously for a month for the trip to come.
And finally, Leap Day and our opera day was here! We had a lovely and delicious dinner with Lisa (a high school friend) at a cheese and wine bar (Casellula, 52nd and 9th) to start off the evening. 

Oh my gosh you guys, look at ALL that cheese

Then, Sarah and I walked to Lincoln Center. It amazed me to see so many people at the Met on a Saturday night. I know NY has a population of millions of people, but it was still exciting and gratifying in a way to see SO many people congregating on Lincoln Center for a night of culture. We made it to the opera house and picked up our tickets and settled in for the story of a courtesan who finds true love and then is convinced by her lover's father to leave her lover. (Look, I never said I liked the plots of a lot of operas! But the music is great.)

We're so excited to see the Met opera!

This production was beautiful. The woman who sang Violetta, the main character, was just STUNNING. She was the standout by far. The set was gorgeous and the orchestra was absolutely top-notch. Sarah and I had a great time, and it was a treat to be in the audience instead of in the pit.

The height of this stage is massive and took me by surprise this time around as much as it did the first time I saw it.

Such beautiful chandeliers in this opera house!!

One happy lady in front of those iconic chandeliers after seeing this show.

While going to see productions like this and the ballet didn't require as much planning (or money) as something like a month-long trip to Europe, I think it was so important for me personally to remember why I chose to be a musician in the first place. Seeing stellar shows reminds me that art is such an important part of life: when people are hurting, art is something that can help to heal them. It was an important reminder for me to see and hear how beautiful music and movement can be. 

So, thank you, New York, for a truly spectacular 36 hours.

17 down. 13 to go!

"Ballet is created on beautiful lines and shapes." --Martin Fridmann

#19. Go to a professional ballet performance.

As a performer, I get to see all sorts of really cool things. But it's rare that I have a night off to be in the audience to witness other performers doing cool things. Ever since I won my job with ASO and Nutcracker takes over my life each December, I have become more and more enthralled with ballet dancers. The way they gracefully put themselves in decidedly uncomfortable positions is beyond intriguing to me. The mixture of their athleticism and artistry is a joy to watch, and so far I had only glimpsed portions of shows from the pit. I decided that if I was going to check this one off my list, I needed to see a top-notch company. So, I took off a weekend from teaching, booked myself a ticket to NYC, and found myself watching a show at the New York City Ballet on  the night of February 28th.

The program was a set of new choreography to three pieces rather than a single piece (like Swan Lake, for example). (Also, sidenote: I'm sure that there is a certain terminology for this in the dance world, but I don't know what it is! Can any dancers help me with this?)

I left Austin on Friday late morning, and arrived in NY around 4pm. I navigated from Queens to Manhattan, dropped my stuff off at my friends' place, and then went in search of dinner before the 8pm curtain.

Lincoln Center in all its glory

Inside the theatre lobby, there were giant portraits hanging from the balconies. An artist had interviewed over 100 of the behind-the-scenes personnel for NYCB, and painted their portraits. I can attest to the fact that the people not onstage are the unsung heroes of any production--without them, there would be no show! I thought this was a really special and unique way to honor them. 

When I bought my ticket, I knew that they were doing a piece by Ravel, but what I didn't know was that it was his Piano Concerto. This piece holds an incredibly dear spot in my heart, and the choreography to it was beautiful. The second movement was especially stunning. The middle piece was a premier by Nico Muhly, which was impressive but I can't say that I totally loved it. But, the last piece they did was absolutely amazing. The coordination, the music, the choreography that fit the music perfectly, the set, the movements...all of it was just breathtaking. I was on the edge of my seat the WHOLE time, and even though it was long-ish by ballet standards (~25 minutes), I could have watched for another hour. I was completely mesmerized.

I left the theatre wanting to immediately buy another ticket for a NYCB production. I'm so glad that I took the time to experience this for myself, and I can't wait to come back to NY...so I can see the ballet again!

16 down. 14 to go!

No money!

#18. Go one month without buying anything except food at the grocery store.

A few years ago, I read an article about a man who committed to spending no money for an entire year, and got his roommate to do the same. When I read this article, I was fascinated, inspired, and in awe all at the same time. Could I possibly do this?? Add in the fact that recently I've been reflecting on consumerism, waste, and how much I spend money on things I don't necessarily need and I thought that this summer would be a great time to try to do this.

The people in the article really went all out. They were making their own laundry detergent, taking public transit everywhere, and even tried growing their own food. I decided to set a more realistic goal for myself: I wouldn't buy anything for a month except for food at the grocery store. In addition, I'm adding these exceptions for myself:
*Rent, insurance, and bills (these seemed important)
*Gas for my car, since as a freelancer in Austin, I don't have the option of taking reliable public transportation to the places where I teach or perform
*Any health related items (prescription refills, doctor's appointments, etc)
*I will do this item on the list in chunks:

• For the beginning, I'll give myself 10 days with the goal of not spending money during 7 of those.
• For the remaining three weeks, I'll do this one week at a time (not necessarily three weeks in a row)

So, here we go!

First 10 day chunk, aiming for 7/10:
Day 1: Tuesday, 6/25. Didn't spend any money! 1/10
Day 2: Wednesday, 6/26. Bought coffee in the morning. Whoops. Still at 1/10.
Day 3: Thursday, 6/27. I did spend money today, but it was for grocery shopping, so...exception! 2/10
Day 4: Friday, 6/28. This day was a test. My running group always goes out to coffee on Friday mornings after our run and I knew I wouldn't be able to resist my weekly breakfast taco, so I intentionally left my wallet at home. It worked. I spent a large chunk of money on a health related appointment this morning though, so even though this day will count for this challenge, my wallet is hurting. 3/10
Day 5: Saturday, 6/29. It's easy to spend no money when you don't leave your house and keep your laptop closed. 4/10
Day 6: Sunday, 6/30. Crap, I went out for a beer with a friend I have a hard time saying no to. Still at 4/10.
Day 7: Monday, 7/1. Today I took Matt out for dinner as a thank you for watching the cat while I was gone for 10 days. Definitely does not count...still 4/10.
Day 8: Tuesday, 7/2. Had another health appointment this morning but that counts as an exception so... 5/10
Day 9: Wednesday, 7/3. Grocery shopping as an exception. 6/10
Day 10: Thursday, 7/4. I spent absolutely zero money today and made it to seven days! 7/10

First full week, aiming for 7 out of 7 days:
Day 1: Sunday, 7/7. Day one, done. 1/7
Day 2: Monday, 7/8. Health appointment. 2/7
Day 3: Tuesday, 7/9. Resisted buying ice cream on the way home from yoga. 3/7
Day 5: Wednesday, 7/10. Happy hour fell through (maybe a good thing?). 4/7
Day 5: Thursday, 7/11. Ok. This day was a little weird. I bought a new dining table. But, I needed it for another item on the list that will be happening next week (and will be posted before this one is posted) so....even though it might be a little dicey, I'm gonna count this day. 5/7
Day 6: Friday, 7/12. Nothing bought today. 6/7
Day 7: Saturday, 7/13. Went to Jester King but AJ bought! 7/7

Halfway done! For the next two weeks to complete this challenge, I'm going to aim to be a little more stringent about my purchases that do need to happen.

Second full week: 
The timing of this couldn't have been better, if that's the right word to use. Medical bills and other bills started to pile up and it meant that I really needed to spend as little money as possible this week/at all.
Day 1: Saturday, 9/21. I had to buy gas to get Antonio and me to San Antonio, but otherwise the wallet stayed closed.
Day 2: Sunday, 9/22. Minimal grocery shopping.
Day 3: Monday, 9/23. Our health care system is broken.
Day 4: Tuesday, 9/24. It seemed like replacing the brakes on my car was a worthy investment for today.
Day 5: Wednesday, 9/25. 
Day 6: Thursday, 9/26. You guys, I was so bummed about this day, I did such a good job of not spending ANY money, and then I couldn't find the area with free parking downtown for a gig and I ended up spending $5 to park for 3 hours. :(
Day 7: Friday, 9/27. I resisted coffee and tacos at post-running coffee!
BONUS Day 8: Saturday, 9/28. 

As soon as I started to see days where I was "forced" to spend money on something (like gas or grocery shopping) it made me want to work that much harder to not spend money on things like coffee or food. I was originally going to do another full week of no spending, but then I took part in an Instagram challenge: Only One Hundred October. The idea was to curb discretionary spending and limit it to only $100 for the entire month. I set a list of exceptions (groceries, bills, cat, car) and then set out to spend $100 or less on fun things for all of October. And...I did it! I came out with having spent only $72 on things like coffee/eating out in October.

This challenge was interesting in that instead of focusing on spending money to have an experience, it forced me to do the opposite. It was a little extreme, but I think it was a good exercise in self control, and forced me to have better spending habits overall (which I hope I can keep up with!). 

15 down. 15 to go! Eek! Over halfway there (if you count the partly done ones)!