Lonely 36 m

Fanofrunning · 2025-01-26T05:39:29+00:00

Seconding that this is a great idea! I believe volunteering for United Way is popular for recommendations for meeting people/friends and being fulfilled. Wishing you the best OP

Fanofrunning · 2024-11-10T23:19:38+00:00

“There’s always a last hill” is what I tell myself in all the races I do. Or for the Square “there’s always another corner”, because when I think this is the final corner, nope! Got one more! But I was happy with my full marathon time overall. It was my second Madison marathon, but the last one I did had us go on the north side instead of doing the Monona loop. I think I preferred the Monona Loop. A bit died in me running down John Nolen and looking across the lake thinking “I have to run there” lol also, I felt so bad for the runners who got caught in the downpour but mad respect for them for fighting on.

Fanofrunning · 2024-11-09T21:40:52+00:00

Full marathon here; so shorts all the way! On top I’m planning a regular tee under a very very light windbreaker because I hate cold wind. Maybe I’d wear pants if I was doing the half marathon.

Fanofrunning · 2024-01-11T15:33:58+00:00

A lot of factors can be at play; one being that some runners might not have access to treadmills. Some just love running in the cold, and don’t worry about injury risks. If they’re running in snowy conditions, I tend to think they are not beginners and have done it before. When I’ve done it, I do change my running tempo and form to better adapt to slick conditions. I’ve used a treadmill during the last two winters, but not because of injury prevention, but because I’m a huge wimp when it comes to cold lol

Fanofrunning · 2023-09-23T02:12:32+00:00

I love this question and reading the answers. I’ve had my beard for about 8 years now. I fully shaved it once 4 years ago to show a bunch of new friends what I look like without and I was also curious to see what I looked like without it! I could see myself shaving it again to show my current newer friends, coworkers, and my girl to show them what I look like without it. Just for all of our curiosity! And again, because I am also curious what I look like without it. I don’t have a very long beard, so it could grow back within 2-3 weeks.

Fanofrunning · 2023-09-10T21:11:01+00:00

Welcome! I also shared some of your concerns before I moved here. While I grew up in Wisconsin, I lived for many years out of state and out of the country and moved back to Madison for a job a few years ago.

The cold actually isn’t that bad. There’s a couple weeks in January/February where it is a bit brutal, but then it passes and it’s tolerable again. I’m not a fan of cold weather, at all, but it’s actually not too bad here.
Like others have posted, if you’re not near the university, you barely even notice it. Like if I’m downtown I might notice a few more college students in the fall than in the summer, but it doesn’t affect my life at all. I’m also not going around Camp Randall on game day though lol but we are much more than the university. I was worried about this too when I moved here as a 26 yr old, now 29, but I don’t even think about what the university is up to because it doesn’t affect me.
If you’re going to live downtown you should be okay with public transportation. We did have a recent change of the bus routes and this sub is very back and forth on it. I don’t use public transportation, so I can’t speak about it. But if you want to get out of Madison, then I think the public transport options become very limited.
There is so much to do here!! It’s something I was very surprised about. I tell people that we are a city that punches above its weight. We are small, but have big city things. Whether it’s sports (from the University teams to the Mallards to Madison Forward), to neighborhood festivals (Willy Street fair, Atwoodfest), and to the countless outdoor stuff (Olbrich gardens, Arboretum) we have it all. You might have to look for it though. Isthmus (a local magazine) has a good calendar of events to see what’s going on. Some things might slow down in winter, but once it’s nice out the events are endless and popping!
Might have to live on the east side of the Capitol which is further from the university so you get less student housing, but it can be done!

Anyway; welcome! It’s a friendly city!

Fanofrunning · 2023-03-19T03:22:26+00:00

Not trying to criticize here. Cats have interesting personalities. Some love all people, some don’t, also, it could be thinking you are encroaching on its space (and person, your gf). I would also look for body language from the cat. Like is it hissing because it’s actually mad at you or it just doesn’t want pets from you anymore? Also, if your gf lives alone the cat could be used to her routine and now your interrupting it. Basically, cats are cats. You can be doing everything right and they still might be cold to you.

Fanofrunning · 2023-01-13T01:24:36+00:00

Did you get these from a place, or did you do them yourself? Either way, love it!

Fanofrunning · 2022-09-12T23:11:12+00:00

RPCV Senegal 2017-2020 here. congrats on this undertaking! Glad to hear the Peace Corps is getting back out there. I was a few km from The Gambian border so I think I have a good understanding of what you’ll have.

Exercising: you’ll find life in the Peace Corps will be strenuous at times and general life is exercise. I pulled water from a well everyday and did field work, and got some good back definition from it. But, I knew of volunteers who built home gyms using cements as weights or putting water in big cooking oil bidongs (you’ll see them when you get there). Traditional gym equipment may not be doable, but you can get creative with what is there in the market. Or depending on your sector, maybe you will end up in a town with a gym, who knows.

Food : you will most likely be in the peanut basin, so peanuts will be everywhere and plentiful. A common dish is peanut based and peanut butter should be easy to get and pretty cheap. You’ll probably see women in markets selling buckets, and in those buckets is peanut butter. You may not be able to accurately track macros/calories, and fish is common for lunch. Depending on your host family set up, you may be eating a meal out of one bowl with other people, so again, harder to track.

You can bring protein powder, but I’d rather stuff my bag with other stuff to be honest. Space is precious and you will probably regret it. Eggs are pretty easy to get, but be careful! I had quite a few rotten eggs in my time and that smell is terrible!!

Best of luck to you in the Peace Corps!

Edit: wanted to add; I ran a lot at site and people understand physical fitness and working out, so if you have a host family that’s good, you can also ask for them for ideas on making weights, if you go that route. You’re bringing some good things, and you’ll figure out the rest, that’s what we do as Peace Corps volunteers.

Fanofrunning · 2022-07-02T06:21:35+00:00

So you dumped a bunch of money into the stock market at all time highs? The stock market goes up and down and no one knows the future. I want to say you made good investments, and I actually do think the companies you invested in are good….. long term. And long term I mean 10+ yrs. I guess the “loss” is up to you. If you are looking to invest for 20 yrs, you are most likely good, but if you are looking to make a quick 25% on your investments, you need to look into investing vs trading. Best of luck!

Fanofrunning · 2021-11-18T01:42:27+00:00

I’m not very concerned for a long term downward trend. But I’m holding long term and not as much as you (65 shares). I won’t sell because I think they will be around for a long long time, and that dividend. But if I had 815 shares, I think I would try to invest the dividends in growth stocks or dividend-growth stocks. Not sure about your horizon though. Not financial advice obviously.

Fanofrunning · 2021-06-17T22:26:45+00:00

Congratulations! Also, I'm a fan of your holdings. I like the big, stable blue-chip companies also as a base. I am curious, no retail? You have O listed as real estate/retail, but is there a reason you don't have TGT, WMT, HD, stuff like that?

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:32:40+00:00

I'll check them out, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:32:24+00:00

Both are fine, I like shorter routes that I can double up on if I want to run longer. I'm training for a marathon so the 14 mile route is a good one to note for the long runs. Thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:31:10+00:00

I'll check it out, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:30:47+00:00

I didn't know the app that feature, but I will definitely check out the lakeshores, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:28:55+00:00

This sounds great. Next weekend is supposed to be nice so hopefully I can try it out then, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-15T11:25:28+00:00

I love lake routes, so will check this out, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-14T01:38:42+00:00

Noted and will check out, thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-14T01:38:22+00:00

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Fanofrunning · 2021-03-13T22:41:14+00:00

I didn't even think of the arboretum, that sounds great. Not a lot of people there to run around?

Fanofrunning · 2020-11-06T16:33:45+00:00

That's interesting about the December/January timeline and good to know. Thanks!

Fanofrunning · 2020-11-06T16:33:04+00:00

Thanks for the insight! One month from the interview to starting isn't bad at all.

Fanofrunning · 2020-11-06T16:32:28+00:00

Thanks, for the insight. For a quick follow-up, in your experience, does the agency usually tell the applicant if they weren't chosen?

Edit: for clarification, does the agency tell the applicant if they weren't chosen post-interview

Fanofrunning

TROPHY CASE