My Thougths On: Less Than 5 Days Left of Script Frenzy

OMG!!!!!

And, yes, I sound like a teenager, but it's pretty appropriate in relation to how I feel at the moment.

I am at approximately 5,000 words (of 20,000)...with less than 5 days left of Script Frenzy. Can I write 15,000 words in less than 5 days? That's over 3,000 words a day....in addition to my full time job and well, sleeping.

Wow, I have my work cut out for me.

I mean, this is June! The month of mud runs! And trips! And exhaustion! And, whole scripts being written (still in theory)! Can I actually do it all?

Luckily, the Script Frenzy people sent out a VERY inspiring email this weekend and it definitely inspired me because I'm about to undertake this crazy feat. I WANT to finish Script Frenzy before midnight, July 1st.

And, a guy at work has already told me that I can't do it...which makes me want to do it all the more. We all want to do the impossible, don't we? Even if it's just to say "Ha! See - if you stay up for 3 days straight, you too can write an entire script in a matter of days!" and then I'll collapse. Sounds pretty romantically perfect in my mind.

I mean, Sylvester Stalone wrote Rocky in 3 days and that won best picture! So, surely I can write SOMETHING legible in 5 days.....right?

Well, I have 5 days...so I'm about to find out. Wish me luck...as I start to type in a frenzy...

I will leave you with the inspiring words of the people from Script Frenzy:

Greetings Comrades,

Here on the precipice of Week Four, I think it's time to talk about one of the classic plot points in a three-act story. It goes by many names: The Nadir, The Defeat, The Crisis. Essentially, it is the lowest, darkest, most hopeless point in the hero's journey. It's when E.T.'s heart fades from lively pink to deathly gray; when Kathy Bates shotgun-blasts the rescuing sheriff in "Misery"; when Marty McFly begins fading from his own photograph. Amidst the four weddings, it's the funeral.

Some of us know exactly how this dark moment feels, because we're right at that point with our scripts. We're at 2,500 words with only eight days left, and we can't possibly imagine coming up with 17,500 more. Or we've made it all the way to 14,000 but have to attend two weddings, go in for surgery, take a Latin final, fly to a conference in Iceland, and memorize pi to 8,902 places. Our spirits are broken, our fingers are numb, our capacity for invention dulled by lack of sleep and non-frozen foods.

But before you even think of curling up in a ball and calling it quits, I ask you to think back to all those dark points you've seen on the big screen. Did the sad music swell and the credits roll? No! Backed into a corner, thrown into a snake pit, left holding the Kryptonite, the hero digs deep inside to discover an unknown tenacity. Something changes that can never be undone, and from this Turning Point on, no matter how formidable the obstacles, the triumphs of Act III are certain.

Ask your amazing colleagues who've already completed their scripts and they'll testify to the many victorious moments that lie ahead: typing that 20,000th word, receiving your Winner's Certificate, showing off your Winner's-ribbon-bedecked profile to friends, family, and prospective dates. Add in the Script Frenzy Wrap Parties that will be rocking the planet on July 1, and there's a ridiculous amount of fun and glory that awaits you in only one more week.

But as the winners can also tell you, the greatest achievement in the hero-writer journey isn't reaching The End. It's getting past the Crisis and reaching the Turning Point. Winning feels absolutely fabulous, but realizing you can overcome despair, doubt, frustration, and procrastination through sheer force of will? You'll never be the same writer---or person---again.

Even if you can't reach 20,000, that's okay. But still get to that Turning Point. Don't walk away from Script Frenzy with the sense that you couldn't do it. Sit down and push through until you realize that you really have a hidden creative wellspring inside you. Next year, you'll start Script Frenzy knowing that you absolutely can make it to the end.

For those of us shooting for the Winner's Circle, I leave you with the words of hobbit Samwise Gamgee, "Folk in these stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something."

Hold on to your goal of writing a screenplay, your dreams of writing a stage play. Don't stop writing. Don't turn back.

I'll celebrate with you on July 1.

Kristina
Script Frenzy
11,038 words

My Thoughts On: The Camp Pendleton Mudrun

Camp Pendleton Mud Run: The Starting Line

My first thought upon finishing the Camp Pendleton Mudrun: Ohmigawd, I DID it!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo!!!! Followed by nirvana.

It was extremely fun! I would highly recommend for people to do it!

And, the lowdown to those that are anxious and thinking, but I've never run a 10K...and it's through mud and obstacles and hills?!?!?!?! Are you CRAZY? Again, I repeat - it's a lot of fun! I was sooo anxious the week before the race. I didn't know what to expect. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't think anything except - what have I gotten myself into? Would I disappoint my team? What if I had to walk? Would I even survive it to the end? I had never run a race. EVER. Much less a 6.2 mile CRAZY race. I force fed myself carbs and gatorade and watched the minutes pass by until race day....completely freaked out!

But you know what? Many people were there just to have a good time! Now, you should train to be able to handle the 6.2 miles that comprise a 10K, but most people there were there to have fun. People walked portions of it...and it was no big deal. It was all in the spirit of doing the run and having a blast!!!! The marines just kept cheering you on!

In the spirit of fun - there were people in team T-shirts, many with funny slogans. There were girls wearing playboy bunny ears and appropriate attire. One girl was dressed all in white, with a veil, surrounded by male teammates...in full suits! I heard there were 2 marines who did it in full gear with 75 pound packs...in fact, they ran faster than we did!

Our team made it in 1 hour and 42 minutes. Not too bad. The earliest person came in at about 40 minutes (they must have had wings!) and the last at about 2 hours and 37 minutes. We didn't do at all bad, really.

So, what's it like? Well....here goes:

It starts off in a corral of lots and lots and lots of people (about 3000 people ran the race when I did). The gun goes off and you start to run! And, then you stop...because there's so many people, you have to walk for a few minutes until people spread out.

The first thing to hit you is fire hoses...and they feel refreshing! You don't even mind so much that you're now soaking wet and your shoes are kind of squishing with water.

Then you run through a patch of forest and a few muddy streams and some sand. You think - wow, this is kind of nice....

Until you start going uphill. That was really the hardest part of the whole thing. It goes on and on and on for what seems like a really long time. You think it might soon be over and it just keeps on going up. There is a small hay bale obstacle and, after a few more hills, a tire obstacle. Both are just all in good fun.

After eons, you finally start to descend the hill. Thank gawd! And, that's when you encounter the first mudpit and wall. It's definitely muddy. You'll get almost completely covered in mud. But, it's all in good fun! Even if the mud is kinda stinky. It IS a mudrun after all!

It's quickly followed by a rinse in the lake. This was actually kind of relaxing and enjoyable and very serene.

After this point, the marines start yelling that you're almost there! Only a mile left! Yeah. It seems like a little more than a mile.

Then there's another mudpit and wall. Tons of fun again! I fell on this one...but luckily didn't land face first....like other people. I do not envy that.

Then there's a tunnel you have to crawl through. Not too bad...you just have to watch your knees.

And, then it's the slippery hill. It sure lives up to it's name - it's definitely slippery!!!!!! And, muddy and wet. People were falling all over each other at this one. It was kind of funny, really.

Finally, it's the last stretch - the REAL last mile left...or less.

There's one last mudpit...where you crawl to the end under ropes. If you're not completely dirty before then...you will be after this mudpit. I made sure to smile for the photographers. Hopefully in a few days I'll have a nice picture of me covered in mud!

And, then it's a 100 yards to the end!

We were in a team and had to lock arms and that was it! The euphoria of finishing a daunting run set in and it was fantastic! Woo-hoo! I did it!

It was ALL worth it! Every minute!

And, when you get done, there's towels and showers and beer and food! It was a great race and a really good time!

There's another mudrun in October! Anybody care to join me?

Wish Me Luck!

Wish me luck! The mud run is tomorrow!!!!!

My Thoughts On: How To Distract One's Self From Things Like Impending Mudruns

Okay, so I'm really anxious about this mudrun. In the last two days...sleeping is becoming weird. I have this crazy, nervous energy and I want to run around and do things, when I should just go to sleep. I've been waking up in the middle of the night. My mind is in a frenzied whirl.

It's time to CALM DOWN. I have 2 days to go STILL, after all. And, as much as I tell myself that it's all in good fun and I'm doing it to do it and just going for finishing around the 2 hour mark....it's still nerve wracking! It's something insane! And, I've never done it before. I've never even run an organized race before! I used to hate running the mile in high school! And, I don't think I'm quite prepared.

Yes, I need some positive thinking...obviously.

I DO know that I can make it 6 miles. (Yes, 6 miles uphill, through obstacles, and mud - that remains to be seen. It will definitely be a test of endurance. But I'm being POSITIVE here.) And, I know that my teammates will be supportive and egg me on. And, I know there's adrenaline the day of the race (I am praying for a nice 2 hour adrenaline rush, like the ones where people pick up cars off pinned children to save their lives - that would work for me). And, I've been thinking that, at least I won't be BORED running. There will be stuff to do! So, there - I'm being positive...kind of :) and trying to keep other thoughts at bay.

But, enough of this nervousness and anxiety that I am exuding. I need to focus on other things, and get my mind OFF the mudrun (where it's been for the last 2 weeks) - that's what this blog is about - so, what should I get my mind on? What about Script Frenzy!?!?!?! I am so behind! I have a little over 1000 words...and it's half way in!!!!! This is what I should panic about! I need to write 19,000 more words this month.

So, I'm going to put my nervous mud run energy to some use and write a script. It'll take my mind off things...that is...unless my characters suddenly embark on some crazy delusional idea of doing a 10k in mud?????? Nah...... Like THAT'S really believable?

So, here's to Script Frenzy...1000 words and counting up, up, and away!!!!

Let the typing begin! Anyone care to join me? We still have 16 days left!

My Thoughts On: The Mudrun LOOMING

I've mentioned the Mudrun before...and it's coming!!!!!! Ahhhh!!!!!!

I am running the Camp Pendelton Mudrun this Saturday. That's a 10K in MUD and....lots more!!!!

It's starting to freak me out!!!! I don't feel prepared enough, but my teammates tell me it's all in good fun! Um, yeah.... HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT IT?!?!?!?!?!?

Look at what these people have written about it and see WHAT you think:

Here's Camp Pendelton's Map of the course:
http://www.camppendletonraces.com/mudmap.htm

This one pretty much told me what I should expect:
http://forums.runnersworld.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/944106038/m/347103988

This one just reaffirmed the one above, but with a guy, who was obviously ready for the run since he did awesome AND was injured:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21773806&blogID=274765898&Mytoken=85A0A0B8-5D14-456F-AF74E6E4F2D9DD584103559

This one has PICTURES, but it's ceased to work, since the first time I looked at it, freaked out - weeeeeeeeeird:
http://www.bourbonrocks.com

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Will I chicken out? Will I finish the race? Will I finish the race victorious in under 2 hrs 45 min? Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Just freaking out a little. Breeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaathhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeee.

We'll see......

Wish me luck...and bravery....and energy. :)

----------------------------

I wrote that earlier today. Since then, I've talked to friends who have all said: "But it'll be fun!!!!" True...it does sound fun...which is why I signed up. It sounds like a longer version of a Double Dare race course. I LOVED Double Dare. Even my teammate reminded me that I told her that it was all for fun...which made HER stop worrying about it!

And, then the logical side of me kicked in and I pulled up my computer's calculator. If I go REALLY, REALLY slow and use up my 2hrs and 45 minutes....going 6.2 miles (that's how long a 10K is in miles)...well, the average miles per minute turns out to be about 1 mile per 27 minutes. That's like WALKING the whole thing. Ok...I can handle that.

So....I'm feeling more optimistic. Still a little freaked, but more optimistic.

Wish me luck!

It's Been Awhile....

It's been quite awhile since my last post. I had a crisis of blogging. That's the only way to explain it. To blog or not to blog was the question. Do I want to put myself out on the internet for everyone to read? But, wait...isn't that the point of blogging? What do I want? Is it weird to blog? Should I not blog anymore? Why am I blogging? YEAH, a crisis over blogging.

And, I still don't have the answers to all those questions, but I DO have the answer to one.

It's been 1 month since my last posting. And, I've missed posting, quite a lot, actually.

Over the last month, I have seen countless articles I ached to remark upon...IMing (and annoying) friends with them instead) and I've had numerous things happen - that I could have blogged about - like the bird that flew into my bedroom last night.

(Yes, a bird REALLY did fly into my bedroom last night. I think it fell down through the chimney. I chased it out with a rolled up poster. It didn't like being chased and proceeded to fly crazily everywhere except for the door out of the house. At one point it even made it into my closet...upon which I made the mental note to shut all doors not in route to the great outdoors. Good idea - the bird finally flew outside. Good times.)

Anyway, the gist of all that was, was - that I have desperately missed blogging.

So, I'm back. Enjoy!