Just bench me already.
Although, I may complain as though I don't have true feelings for it, running is one of my favorite hobbies. Some days I feel that my thoughts are such a whirlwind that I need the steady rhythm of my feet to enable me to figure it all out. As though once I can convince the major parts of my brain to control my feet, my breathing, my heart rate, my decisions about what turns to take...I'm finally in a place where I can focus on whatever has been on my mind.
I love the alone time. You can run with a buddy, but as far as I'm concerned that battle is just between yourself and the road. Every run I bring all that I have: my prayers, my great days, my stress, my worries; knowing that afterward I'll be completely exhausted and ____ miles stronger than I was before.
I never know what will happen when I lace up my "chocolate and champagne" colored sneakers before I head out. Some days I own the road, but there's definitely days where it owns me.
And here's the rub...
Every time I train for a race, I injure myself. A little too fixated on my goals, I make a plan and go for it, forgetting I'm not the woman of steel.
Last weekend, I somehow slipped in high heels and went for a run later that day. Some point during the run I noticed the arches of my feet aching more than usual. The next day, said pain prevented me from walking down the porch steps when I was about to go for a good 7 mile jaunt.
I feel like the new horse at a race, just too excited by the fact that he's racing to realize pain means you're supposed to slow down.
Now I'm sitting on the couch, icing my elevated foot and popping advil like it's Mike & Ike's (I don't even like those, but it was the best mental picture I could think of). I'm dreading the necessary doctor's appt in the morning, worried that the race in May is out.
It would be so convenient to blame someone right now...but there's no one to point a finger at except that road and me.
Song of the Day: Someone Like You by Adele
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Liquid Love
Coffee might be one of my favorite things about mornings.
To quote Kenneth the page from the great show "30 Rock":
Can we have a moment of silence in its honor...
Okay that was long enough.
This sunrise ritual is comfort, warmth and as essential to me as putting gas into my car. Some days it's like I'm trapped in a haze that can only be lifted by the bold aroma, the dripping sound, and the warmth of my favorite porcelain mug against my hands. Yes, I've even been known to cuddle my coffee mug on cold days.
One day at work last week was so bad, I literally stood in the office kitchen after one of the nurses started the coffee pot and stared at it longingly until it was rea
dy.
Now in my past life as a poor grad student, you quickly learn that taste and quality come second to the sheer power of caffeine. I admit it, I've had bad coffee...willingly. But it's okay, I'm in recovery - - thank you work force and accompanying pay checks.
I don't need too many accessories. You can hold the whip cream and the flavored creamers (unless it's pumpkin, that's a whole other animal). But, I'm not tough enough to drink it black, and I have no desire to be. Just give me some skim milk (preferably steamed if such option is available) and a cup of coffee and I'm pretty sure I can handle the rest of the day.
Once in a while I ponder if this habit is a vice. Perhaps something to give up so that I'm not a slave to anything?
To answer my own question, I found this great CNN article discussing the health benefits of bean juice ( http://articles.cnn.com/2010-04-28/health/coffee.studies_1_coffee-drinkers-coffee-studies-national-coffee-association?_s=PM:HEALTH ).
I like to think of it as saving my life, one mug at a time.
Song of the Day: Coffee by Copeland
To quote Kenneth the page from the great show "30 Rock":
"I love how it makes me feel. It's like my heart is trying to hug my brain."
Can we have a moment of silence in its honor...
Okay that was long enough.
This sunrise ritual is comfort, warmth and as essential to me as putting gas into my car. Some days it's like I'm trapped in a haze that can only be lifted by the bold aroma, the dripping sound, and the warmth of my favorite porcelain mug against my hands. Yes, I've even been known to cuddle my coffee mug on cold days.
One day at work last week was so bad, I literally stood in the office kitchen after one of the nurses started the coffee pot and stared at it longingly until it was rea
dy.Now in my past life as a poor grad student, you quickly learn that taste and quality come second to the sheer power of caffeine. I admit it, I've had bad coffee...willingly. But it's okay, I'm in recovery - - thank you work force and accompanying pay checks.
I don't need too many accessories. You can hold the whip cream and the flavored creamers (unless it's pumpkin, that's a whole other animal). But, I'm not tough enough to drink it black, and I have no desire to be. Just give me some skim milk (preferably steamed if such option is available) and a cup of coffee and I'm pretty sure I can handle the rest of the day.
Once in a while I ponder if this habit is a vice. Perhaps something to give up so that I'm not a slave to anything?
To answer my own question, I found this great CNN article discussing the health benefits of bean juice ( http://articles.cnn.com/2010-04-28/health/coffee.studies_1_coffee-drinkers-coffee-studies-national-coffee-association?_s=PM:HEALTH ).
I like to think of it as saving my life, one mug at a time.
Song of the Day: Coffee by Copeland
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Gone with the Wind
"It's windy tonight" would be an understatement.
It's hit force of nature levels out there. You can't see it or tell when the next big gust is going to strike, but it does. And it roooaars through my crazy hair.
It's one of those evenings where if it wasn't for this wind, it wouldn't be too cold. And it's nights like this that I walk the long way to my car.
There's an excitement in this wind. Change is in the air. The sound of the howl is haunting, almost aching as it penetrates your core. So I slow down my steps and take it in as it steals my breath. It's as though the night is so full with pent up potential energy that it was to escape somehow.
You can't deny it. You can't stop it. So I brace myself against the brick pavement, savoring the adventure in the moment, and smile as I lean into this ferocious wind.
Change in the air.
Song of the Day: Closing Time by Sean McConnell
It's hit force of nature levels out there. You can't see it or tell when the next big gust is going to strike, but it does. And it roooaars through my crazy hair.
It's one of those evenings where if it wasn't for this wind, it wouldn't be too cold. And it's nights like this that I walk the long way to my car.
There's an excitement in this wind. Change is in the air. The sound of the howl is haunting, almost aching as it penetrates your core. So I slow down my steps and take it in as it steals my breath. It's as though the night is so full with pent up potential energy that it was to escape somehow.
You can't deny it. You can't stop it. So I brace myself against the brick pavement, savoring the adventure in the moment, and smile as I lean into this ferocious wind.
Change in the air.
Song of the Day: Closing Time by Sean McConnell
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Super Bowl Etiquette
I love football. There's an empty place in my heart during spring and summer where some good tail-gaiting and tackling usually reside.
Growing up, we were not allowed to interrupt my grandfather when the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing, the penalty would be death glares and family isolation. As a child it seemed silly, but now I understand he was just passing us down the torch of real football fans. That which separates the individual who watches the football game from the person who pays attention long enough for RedZone moments and mistakes Sunday evenings for social time.
A Guide to Super Bowl Manners....Stay Classy.
1. Do not walk in front of the TV.
2. Passing the snacks around doesn't require sound unless it's "mmmmm's" or the crunch of Doritos.
3. Talking is okay when special teams come on the field, but only if it pertains to the subject at hand.
4. Limit yelling at the ref to 10 words, unless a repeat commercial is following.
5. Telepathy helps, practice it.
6. No whining. If your team stinks, your nagging voice isn't going to improve them.
7. If you bring someone new to the group and your team starts losing, it's perfectly acceptable to exile him/her to a different room. Even if it's your grandmother.
8. No girly drinks. Your questionable choices will distract real fans.
9. Any celebratory dancing must stop by the time the next play commences.
10. Don't start talking trash if your team is behind. You just look desperate and will probably have fewer friends later.
11. If no one answers your question, wait until half-time to ask it again...at your own risk.
12. Don't shriek unless it looks like a player has a compound fracture. It's football. It's supposed to hurt.
Song of the Day: She's Got You High by Mumm-Ra
Growing up, we were not allowed to interrupt my grandfather when the Pittsburgh Steelers were playing, the penalty would be death glares and family isolation. As a child it seemed silly, but now I understand he was just passing us down the torch of real football fans. That which separates the individual who watches the football game from the person who pays attention long enough for RedZone moments and mistakes Sunday evenings for social time.
A Guide to Super Bowl Manners....Stay Classy.
1. Do not walk in front of the TV.
2. Passing the snacks around doesn't require sound unless it's "mmmmm's" or the crunch of Doritos.
3. Talking is okay when special teams come on the field, but only if it pertains to the subject at hand.
4. Limit yelling at the ref to 10 words, unless a repeat commercial is following.
5. Telepathy helps, practice it.
6. No whining. If your team stinks, your nagging voice isn't going to improve them.
7. If you bring someone new to the group and your team starts losing, it's perfectly acceptable to exile him/her to a different room. Even if it's your grandmother.
8. No girly drinks. Your questionable choices will distract real fans.
9. Any celebratory dancing must stop by the time the next play commences.
10. Don't start talking trash if your team is behind. You just look desperate and will probably have fewer friends later.
11. If no one answers your question, wait until half-time to ask it again...at your own risk.
12. Don't shriek unless it looks like a player has a compound fracture. It's football. It's supposed to hurt.
Song of the Day: She's Got You High by Mumm-Ra
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