Sorry I’ve been remiss, but I’ve needed a break. I haven’t felt like writing anything, not even my Eugene Half recap. I’ve been focusing on resetting myself and getting my body and mind back to normal.
The past month has been a little rough for me, but I’m working on relaxing and learning not to stress because somewhere along the way I have forgotten how to do those things.
I literally think about this quote every day.
Be back soon!
What an amazing weekend! I feel so lucky to have these travel opportunities and so happy to have such a supportive husband!
I spent the weekend in Eugene, Oregon with friends from all over the country and although the race didn’t go as planned (more on that later), I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
Don’t mind my sleepiness, this was before my coffee and at the end of the weekend!
I stayed in a house with Molly, Corey, Holly, Laura, and Allison and we had the best time together all weekend. It was so nice to get to know these ladies a little more as we shared lots of laughs, tears, and many, many stories.
Traveling took a lot out of us, so we were in bed by 9:30 Friday night! We met up with about 15 other girls Saturday morning for a shakeout run on Pre’s Trail.
It was absolutely beautiful, we definitely weren’t in NYC anymore 
. We then grabbed some delicious waffles and ran into Casey and Mason from Nuun. It was there that plans developed for Casey and I to run together.
Off to the expo to pick up our numbers and to hear Lauren Fleshman speak. She was so motivating and hilarious! I freaking love her, it was really awesome to meet her in person. We then took a giant Oiselle Team picture since so many of us were there.
We invited the others over to our house for dinner that night and we made 2 huge batches of pasta and I drank a beer. It was a really fun night, but again we were in bed nice and early since we had the race the next morning!
[Insert race recap]
After the race, we showered and then headed over to the Ninkasi Brewery where there was a Picky Bars party going on. I had a couple beers and got to talk to a lot of new people, it was a really great atmosphere.
Oiselle Birds
Nuun ‘gene
We ended up at a few more places, including Rogue, but by 10:00, everyone was exhausted. Luckily we were only about a mile from our house, so we were home quickly.
It was a long day of traveling home on Monday, but luckily I had Laura to share the exhaustion with
I came home to find my poor cat, Leela immobile. I knew what to expect since I had to talked to my husband, but the reality had set in once I finally saw her. I haven’t talked about it on here, but last week she had 4 seizures within 12 hours. Something was definitely wrong.
After some tests and speculation from the vet, she most likely had a brain tumor. We put her on crazy drugs to stop the seizures, but she was continuing to deteriorate as the week progressed. Before I left, she was still able to walk around, she was a bit wobbly, but could move around alright. By the time I got home Monday night, she couldn’t even stand up. 
My husband and I work opposite schedules, so we talked on the phone when I got home that night around midnight. There was only one thing we could really do.
I stayed home from work yesterday to have time to say goodbye and so that Derek and I could go to the vet together. I don’t know if any of you have ever been through the experience of putting a pet to sleep, but it’s one of the saddest and hardest things I’ve ever done. This is the second time I’ve gone through it and it wasn’t any easier.
We are going to NH this weekend to bury her in my parents backyard. She will be right next to her sister, Galadrial, so hopefully they are frolicking in kitty heaven right now and eating lots of fishes.
She was 17, she lived a long and happy life, but will be missed so very much.
Nothing like a matter of extreme highs and lows over the past few days. It was really hard to come home from such an amazing weekend and to be then thrown into this sad reality.
It’s been a really rough month for me overall, I am so ready to start fresh with the month of May! Hoping for relaxation and lots of good running. Be back soon with the recap of the race!
Well, last week was quite the downer, to say the least. It was full of sad news and tragedy and I felt helpless, especially because I couldn’t even run.
I ran 14 miles last Saturday and then woke up on Sunday with a wonky quad that just wasn’t feeling right. I attempted a 6 miler, but as soon as I started running, I knew it wasn’t good, so I got a mile and a half in and called it quits. I haven’t run since then. I took the whole week off, while my quad slowly got better and better each day. I foam rolled like crazy and now I am finally back at 100%.
I missed a lot of runs, including a 22 miler But, it was completely necessary. I was hoping to be healed by Friday, but it still wasn’t there yet, I had a minor freakout, since I was patient all week, but I quickly got over it since it was Derek’s birthday and I had the day off from work.
I woke up Saturday and for the first time I felt absolutely zero pain in my leg. I was hoping to have 1 day pain free before I even attempted running again, so the plan was to run Sunday, but unfortunately that did not happen because of a little thing called alcohol that I had too much of on Saturday night.
Anyway, after a week of no running, and a weekend of drinking, I don’t feel the best today. Surprise! I am so, so happy my leg is better, but I still have to attempt that first run back, which will be tonight at the #BostonStrongNYC event in Central Park.
I just feel plain gross. My stomach isn’t great, my body feels like it’s put on 10 pounds and I just can’t wait to feel normal again. The plan is to take each day this week and do as much as I can to detox my body and prepare for Eugene next weekend! I am going to eat incredibly healthy all week and get back into the groove of running. I’m not going to dwell on all of the runs I missed last week because at this point they don’t matter and it was so important to let my quad heal 100%.
As long as I eat well and sweat a lot this week, I’m still pretty confident that I can run sub 1:50 next Sunday.
It was Derek’s birthday Friday and we both had the day off from work. We had a great weekend that included the 9/11 Memorial, Big Gay Ice Cream, lots of delicious food, and of course, lots of beer. It was a fantastic weekend and we were so happy to be able to spend so much time together, it’s kind of rough since he works the night shift and we barely get to see each other. It was all worth it. Time to get back to real life!
I had a fantastic birthday weekend! Saturday was filled with lounging and then heading out to a nice dinner with friends at Thymari over here in Astoria.
Derek and I went there a few weeks ago and loved it, so I figured it was a great choice for my birthday dinner. I got the Vegetarian Moussaka and it was amazing! I definitely made the right choice, it was tasty and full of delicious cheese. We also loaded up on appetizers and cocktails and I even had a ‘Marathon’ beer!
Sunday morning was the Central Park 10 miler put on by NYC Runs. I was so happy when they announced this race, since I was really hoping to be able to race on my birthday. I signed up immediately and was hoping to be in the same marathon shape come my birthday, but that didn’t happen. It’ s okay though, I figured I would use this race to see where I was at physically and mentally.
I met up with my friend Jeremy and his girlfriend Kat, before heading to the starting line, which was nice and empty (compared to NYRR races). My plan was to test out 8:45 min/miles, but I just couldn’t seem to get in that groove. I was either going way too fast or too slow. Even so, after about 3 or 4 miles, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to hang onto that pace for the whole race and it was about this time that I ran into Meggie! I caught up to her and ended up running the whole rest of the race with her. It definitely made the miles fly by, so thanks Meggie for keeping me distracted and running strong.
Erica Sara was out there taking pictures, so thanks to her for some of these great shots!
This was right before the finish, where a huge group of our friends starting singing happy birthday to me as I ran by! You guys are the best and really know how to make a girl feel special!
Finished in 1:31:54
Average pace of 9:11
After the race, a few of us went to brunch to stuff our faces and booze it up on bottomless drinks. I only had 2, but that was more than enough because I left very happy and ready to celebrate the rest of the day. Thanks to Leticia for organizing a fun birthday brunch, it was awesome!
Derek and I then headed to Target to pick up a few things with our gift cards we got for Christmas, including a new set of weights. Then we headed to our friends house to watch the Patriots game. Happy they won! I’m not a hardcore fan, but, Derek definitely is. The game led into the Golden Globes, so we stayed and watched those too, since we don’t have cable.
It was a nice and relaxing birthday! I usually go out and drink too much every birthday, and this year I just did not feel like doing that. I wanted to feel good and not wake up feeling like crap, I did enough binge drinking in December anyway.
And, like I said I would, I did my first set of Strength Training for the week tonight! I used the weights that I bought at Target and I’m happy to say that they weren’t too heavy and they felt right. If you are looking for free weights, they are on sale at Target right now, it was great timing for me.
Did you do your first set of strength training for the week? I know I’m not the only one out there who would celebrate their birthday by running a race, which races have you done on your birthday?
Recently, I feel like everywhere I look read, people are talking about their future, making 5 year plans, 10 year plans, or they are talking about their past and how they are at their 10 year plan mark. I know it’s obviously not the intention, but these things stress me out. They always have. For some reason or another, I have never had a strong vision of where my future will be, I’ve never been a very career driven individual, and a lot of “these plans” are made around a specific career goal.
Now, I’m not saying that I’m getting old, but I will be turning 28 on Sunday and to me, that pretty much means I need to get my shit together in the next 2 years. The goals I have all begin at the ripe age of 30 and I don’t even feel remotely in the process of achieving those goals.
Don’t even get me started on my job. I’m mostly happy with where I am at in my current job, but 1 – 2 times a year I go through a period where I am sure I am about to get laid off. And to say the least, IT’S STRESSFUL. It’s the industry though, I work at a television production company and laying people off is just part of the norm here. I don’t know how I’ve managed it, but I’ve been here almost 3 years and have somehow made the cut each time lay offs happen. I feel really LUCKY, but I’m not sure how long that’s going to last.
Alas, I am at one of those points right now, things are slow and I could easily be let go and then I am left wondering the hell I am supposed to do next. What do I even really want to do? I consider job hunting one of the worst things in the world.
Like I said, I’m not a super career driven person and that’s probably because I have never found that one thing that I know I want to do for the rest of my life. My future goals revolve around running and having children. Is that bad?
Mentally, I feel like a 28 year old, but financially, I feel like a 20 year old. Have I been irresponsible with money? I don’t think so. But, somehow I have no money saved and I’m in debt, mostly due to stupid veterinarian bills from my sick cat. But, whatever, a lot of people share the same stress regarding credit cards, so I try not to dwell on it too much because to an extent, there isn’t much you can do about it.
I guess this is me trying to make a 2 (3?) year plan. What will I do in these 2 years that will help me achieve what I want to by the time I hit 30?
If everything was perfect and it went the way I wanted to, this is how it would go down.
2013:
2014:
2015:
Seems simple enough, right? I just have to learn to execute the steps to make these goals happen, but where do I even begin? I need a life coach.
I just feel so behind on life. Aren’t I supposed to have thousands of dollars saved and be buying a house soon? I know times are different and everyone is at different points in their life, but every once in a while, I get scared and wonder if I did something wrong along the way.
This is a personal post and it’s kind of embarrassing to put it out there, but it helps writing it all down and getting it out of my head and onto paper the blog and who knows, maybe there’s someone out there who is in the same boat.
Do you have a 2, 5, or 10 year plan? Did you make one 10 years ago, how how did your life turn out in comparison?
Stay injury free – This is always my #1 goal!
Run less races – I ran 18 races in 2012! Although, I never physically felt burnt out from racing, my bank account sure did.
Run for fun and run happy – Why run if it’s making you miserable and feels forced?
Cross train more – This is very general, but it’s something I am constantly thinking about
Here are my big Number Goals for the year:
I’ve also updated my race schedule for 2013, so let me know if you are planning on running any of these too!
Happy 2013! What are your goals for the year?
I thrive on routine. It’s something that’s been slipping away from me ever since the marathon has been over. It’s also something that tends to change as the seasons change. For me, winter is the hardest season to find a routine in, therefore it’s the hardest to thrive in. I am working on finding what works for me each and every day and sticking to it, I’m a creature of habit and I like it.
Everything from what I eat for breakfast to the scheduled time I leave for work every morning, I like it to be the same.
This morning, I am trying something new. Even though it wasn’t planned, since I slept through my alarms to get up and get my butt out the door for a run (surprise), but once I got up, I realized I had showered last night, so I figured what’s the point of showering again. My hair was literally still wet, so I let it out from it’s bun and styled it accordingly.
My winter breakfast consists of oatmeal. I’m way too lazy to make real oatmeal, so instead I use the “less sugar” Quaker instant oatmeal. I almost always make 2 packets, because come on, one of those is NOT enough, plus it’s only like 160 calories per packet. How is that a whole breakfast? Along side my oatmeal is a nice hot cup of coffee.
Just pretend I’m this little boy, because clearly he doesn’t shower either.
Could this be my new routine? Exercising and showering at night, and waking up to a nice relaxed morning with breakfast and coffee? Sounds nice, right? I kind of like it, although my eyes are definitely feeling the fact that they have yet to be hit with the streams of hot water from the shower.
I also got a sunlight simulated light for Christmas. I think I am going to add this in every morning, use it while I’m eating breakfast and drinking my coffee. It takes regular use to have an effect, so I might as well get that into my routine ASAP.
What is your daily routine? Do you have one, or do you just wing it every day?
Hello!
It sure has been a while, 3 weeks to be exact. To move things along quickly, I took a week off after the marathon, I didn’t run, exercise, or move very much at all. I actually felt great and I wanted to run, but I was forcing myself to take a break mentally and physically.
After that 1 week was up, I immediately got really, really sick! It started as a terrible sore throat that led to flu-ish symptoms, 2 days off from work and 10 more days of feeling pretty awful. I feel like I can finally say after 2 weeks, that I am actually feeling better.
So, after sitting my butt on the couch for 3 weeks, I FINALLY went for a run on Saturday!!! It was kind of weird, mostly I was feeling a little fluffy around the edges and a little out of shape, but it was pretty good overall. I ran with Kim and Kristin and the 5 miles flew by.
I had a wonderful Christmas and an abbreviated stay in NH due to a sick cat, but it was so nice to see my whole family, I miss them so much.
And….now it’s almost 2013! I haven’t looked at the goals I set for the year since, oh, last January?!
Let’s see what we have.
Instead of going over each one individually, I’m just going to go over the ones that really matter.
My first goal was to run 6 half marathons, I initially was trying to run all of the NYRR Borough halfs so I could qualify for the 2013 NYC Half. That didn’t happen, but I did run 6 Half Marathons, just a few different ones than I expected.
I ran the Manhattan Half, Rock n Roll DC Half, More/Fitness Women’s Half , Staten Island Half, New York 13.1, and the Philly Half! CHECK!
I also wanted to take a Spin Class – CHECK! I took 3 spin classes this year, 1 at Flywheel, 1 at SoulCycle, and 1 at PedalNYC!
Goal #3 was to PR at the NYC Marathon. Even though I clearly could not run NYC this year, I PR’ed at Rehoboth Beach and that definitely counts as a big fat CHECK!
I was really hoping to Try Crossfit at some point this year because my sister LOVES it and I was hoping to tag along to a class with her, but it just never happened.
Run the NYC Pizza Run? Ha! I have a problem paying $50+ to run 2 1/2 miles.
And a random one; Take better care of my nails – CHECK! I’ve been painting my nails way more often, which helps me from biting them and allowing them to look terrible.
It’s hard setting goals at the beginning of a year, you have no idea what that year will bring! 2012 was a seriously amazing year for me!!! I never would’ve guessed it would turn out so awesome! I am so thankful I had so many opportunities! I made a slew of running friends and I’m so happy to have them in my life. They have made me a better person, and a better runner, and I can’t wait to experience another year running races and eating my face off with them.
2012 Highlights:
I ran some great races, set some new PRs, and made a whole bunch of new friends. Seriously, one of the best freaking years ever!!! Here’s to 2013 being even better!
Time is quickly ticking away and we are down to the wire, people! 1 week until I am running one of the biggest marathons in the world! Ahhhh!
So, I am feeling much, much better, since my last crazy post! The taper crazies were happening, for sure. My weird neck pain went away and I finally feel like a normal human being. So what does my normal human being self do? Make Marathon To Do Lists of course.
We had a few friends over the other night and Nick, one of my friends jokingly added something to my list; “Run until finish line“. I laughed and thought, how appropriate! But, the more I thought about it, the more I realized how important that one task is. It’s so easy to get caught up in the extra things around marathon training. I know it’s important to feel prepared, but isn’t running a marathon about running and about crossing that finish line feeling proud?
None of these things on my list are really necessary. The only necessary ‘to-do’ is already done. I’ve trained my heart out and the hay is in the barn (I love this saying). Now it’s time to run one of the best races of my life, whether I meet my goal or not, it’s freaking New York City! So that’s what I plan on focusing on; running until the finish line!
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am still going to cross off all of these tasks one by one, because they will for sure help my brain feel a lot better come Race Day.
I got so much done yesterday! I don’t know where all my energy came from, but it was nice to get it all out of the way, since I am now just sitting in sweatpants watching 30 Rock all day. I started off my day by heading to the Salvation Army to pick up some throwaway clothes. I bought these sweat pants that say ‘Plattsburgh State’, I don’t even know where that is, and yes I am wearing them today. They have been washed and they are quite comfy. Might as well get my $4 out of them!
Then I went to Michael’s and picked up some sparkly pink letters and a cotton shirt that is the same color as the shirt I am wearing for the race. I am planning on ironing my name onto a cotton shirt and then cutting it out and pinning it onto my real shirt. Make sense? This was a set up, just getting it ready!
I also went to Rite Aid to try and find some marathon nail polish. I was originally thinking I would do some kind of orange and blue thing, since those are the marathon colors, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I found this fun sparkly red color and I instantly fell in love. The color is called Red Velvet and I’ve already painted my nails. Hopefully just a touch up before the race will do.
After all of my errands, I came home, ran 8 miles at an average 9:48 pace, did laundry, and went grocery shopping! I was done everything before 8pm! I made this delicious dinner of angel hair pasta with vodka sauce, mushrooms, and parmesan cheese.
I ended my night by watching a cheesy horror movie on Netflix!
Today has been about relaxing, hydrating and eating lots of good food. I was planning on going to the Museum of the Moving Image tonight to see Poltergeist and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but because of Hurricane Sandy, they are closing early and the screenings are canceled. Sad.
No work for me tomorrow (and probably a lot of NYC) due to the subways and public transportation shutting down, so it’s a 3 day weekend! Stay safe everyone!
I don’t know what’s going on with me, but I haven’t felt normal or like myself for the past 4 days. I am struggling mentally and physically and I’m having a real hard time functioning like a normal person, especially today.
Saturday and Sunday I woke up feeling like a zombie. I had absolutely no energy or motivation. I did eventually run 12 miles on Saturday, but it was after a lot of whining on my end and motivation through twitter, thanks to Ashley.
I slept until 10 on Sunday, then stayed in bed for another hour and when I eventually got up, I was just in this weird tired funk. I couldn’t snap out of it and I was falling back asleep at like 1:00 on the couch. I just felt like I was in this weird haze and I needed to keep moving or else I would just zone out and continue feeling lifeless. I finally did a 4 mile run Sunday night and felt normal again afterward.
I woke up yesterday with pain in my neck and my back and at first I thought it was from yoga, but as the day went on I decided it was probably because I slept on it weirdly. It improved a little bit over last night, but it’s still bothering me today and it’s slowly starting to drive me insane.
I can’t help but be dramatic and semi-freak out about it because I just want to feel normal again. I just feel so broken, like I’m falling apart. All I can think about is the NYC Marathon. I want my body to feel strong, relaxed, and limber, isn’t that what taper is for?
The pain or soreness is hard to describe. It kind of feels like it’s around the muscles in my throat, sometimes it hurts to talk. It also hurts on the back of my neck and going down my back, towards the top of my spine. It’s uncomfortable and I can’t help but scour the internet and come up with a million and one absurd diagnoses.
All of these things are leading me to have a mini panic attack while I’m at work. I can’t seem to just sit here and deal, I NEED to know what’s going on and when I will feel like myself again.
Hopefully I’m just being dramatic and I will wake up tomorrow or even Thursday feeling just fine and dandy. But, until then, I will probably be stressing myself out.
