taking control

Here is something I've learned about buying a home: unless you are very, very wealthy, you will need to rely on approximately 2387964827364 external influences to make it happen. I'm currently juggling my HPAP application, which left the hands of Housing Counseling Services (through whom I applied) and is now in the care of the Urban League. In addition, I've been wrangling my student loan consolidation process so my debt-to-income ratio reflects what I actually spend per month on student loans rather than what I'd owe if I was paying it all back, essentially, at once. Needless to say - it's exhausting.

I realized a few weeks ago that what I really need as a balance for this whole experience is an accomplishment that I can entirely take ownership of. So - as a means of managing the stress of relying on outside circumstances to make homeownership happen, I've made the official decision to run my first organized race! I'll be in the Metropolitan Branch Trail 5k on May 5, which of course happens to also be Cinco de Mayo - so those in the swacho set should expect celebratory margaritas afterwards.

I'm really pleased with this decision, even though it's way outside my comfort zone. (Here's an important thing to know about me: I never excelled at sports, ever, and I dislike competition with great intensity.) Since it's a solo sport, though, the only person against whom I'm competing is me - so it's just a matter of getting my act together in time to make it happen.

I've been casually running for some time, but I've made a point of alternating my fun gym classes (zumba! ballet fit! et cetera) with more targeted treadmill time. Once the weather reliably clears up (mid-March, I suspect) I shall take it outdoors to get used to self-propelling again. And to make the process more fun, I'm indulging in some (deeply discounted) running gear from 6pm.com - my favorite place to buy high-quality stuff that I can't normally afford.

So! Be on the lookout for updates not only on my homebuying process, but also the race-running effort as well. At the very least it'll be hilarious, but mostly it will be nice to have a "thing" that's totally mine.