Thinking Out Loud – Somehow We End Up Talking Running

 

Just about every day, someone asks me what I do when I have nothing to write about. Truth is, I always have something to say and sometimes don’t know what to say first.

There are those times though, like this week for example, where my schedule is so overwhelming that I don’t have the time to devote to getting my thoughts out of my head and organized into posts.

Enter Thursday for Thinking Out Loud – My opportunity to sit down and just write what comes to mind.

Let’s see where this goes today, yes? Yes. Thanks Amanda for the link-up fun!

Remember how I needed to get into the city yesterday morning super super super early to attend the bris?

I am always up early, but up and out, into and out of Manhattan all by 10:00 am?

I could say that my motivation for getting out the door so early in order to deal with city traffic came purely for the love for my family and desire to see this absolutely adorable and precious little cousin of mine, but that would only be part of the truth.

I will arrive just about anywhere at any time when I know an abundance of good food will be readily available.

A fabulous food spread including bagels, lox, muffins, cookies, rugelach, fruit, french toast and who knows what else was a major driving force for me here. There. I said it.

I couldn’t even blame my little boy for grabbing slices of French toast in one hand and muffins in the other as I prepared his bagel and lox plate – he is so my child.

As I made my way through my loaded plate that was topped off with serious amounts of fruit, I was reminded of how I fuel up in the days before a race.

I always rely on fruit, especially watermelon, to hydrate me properly. I swear, the extra doses of watermelon work every time.

Remember when I took a fall season hiatus from racing?

Oh yes. I AM BACK. Fitness Magazine Women’s Half here I come. April 13, 2014.

I knew my hiatus from racing would be short-lived.

All I needed was a break. I knew that, accepted it, honored it and now I am over it.

I registered yesterday for the More/Fitness Magazine Women’s Half Marathon and I think before we know it, April will be upon us.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I ran this half but really, it was almost a year ago.

If you asked me what my exact finish time was for this race, I honestly couldn’t tell you.

Is that weird? Most runners know their times to the second. I can’t rattle off one accurate race time of mine if I tried.

It is becoming quite clear to me that numbers of any kind really don’t matter to me.

In fact, MapMyRun sent me my training log for 2013. Their stats are based only upon the runs I actually logged meaning I ran even more than the statistics in the chart claim.

 

2013 WORKOUT SUMMARY view all

245 workouts 196 routes 1,503.3 miles 315.1 hours 125,434 kcal burned

 

Interesting. These numbers seem like they should be a big deal, some type of motivating factor to better myself in 2014 yet I don’t think they hold much value to me.

Sure, I am proud that I am out there just about every day yet I have no intention of trying to go above and beyond 2013’s statistics.

I just run for me. Not for the numbers. Not for the races, not to win. Just for me.

I run for my daily dose of endorphins. For the mental clarity it gives me. For that crazy confident feeling it gives me each and every time.

As I looked at how beautiful and amazing my cousin appeared yesterday only 8 days after giving birth, I thought about how I felt after having my son.

If you have gone through childbirth, you may be able to relate – I felt as though I was the only person in the world to give birth.

Sounds crazy, right? But I recall the feeling. I recall thinking I just did such an amazing thing, I brought a life into the world and yes, I was the only person in the world capable of doing so.

Now, we all know this is not true. We all know that babies are born every day.

Where am I going with this? Well, when I run, I feel the same way. I feel as though I am the only one out there.

Each run is mine and each run I set out for and complete is some form of a crazy amazing achievement.

Imagine having such a wonderful feeling several times a week? No matter how crummy a run is, you feel the accomplishment.

Each run requires me to show up. Getting through those miles, as fast or as slow as you go, requires mental and physical stamina.

And when you complete what you set out to do, you have yourself an achievement.

I haven’t addressed New Year’s Resolutions because I really don’t believe in them.

I do believe in the power of running though.

I feel pretty confident in saying that running (or at least a daily workout routine) will give you confidence into everything else you set out to do.

This positive mental boost achieved through the power of exercise will help to keep you motivated in your weight-loss goals, healthier eating goals and just about any other goal on your list.

There’s your New Year’s Resolution pep-talk. I feel much knowing I finally mentioned something towards the resolution hoopla.

I am such a planner but I think I enjoy posts like this that just happen as I type.

Make sure you check out the rest of the Thinking Out Loud fun!

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I NEED TO KNOW:

Have you registered for any spring races?

Do you remember your race finish times?

Why do you run?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Run, Rest Day, Chinese Food, Sushi and a Cold Stone Sundae

Weekends are best recapped in food, don’t you think?

Let’s start with my little boy’s Chinese food craving that hit as soon as he got out of school on Friday.

He walked out of school with an extreme, out of nowhere Chinese food craving and since I never deny the boy an Asian meal, Chinese food it was.

It was a bit early in the evening, but since he wasn’t heading off to his dad’s so fast and since I wasn’t going out until much later, it was all good.

Or shall I say yum. I just love steamed vegetable dumplings.

As well as steamed shrimp and mixed veggies, heaving on the water chestnuts.

The little boy likes chicken and broccoli, although he never eats the broccoli. Hey, at least he allows it on his plate. It is a step in the right direction.

I must admit, I really do miss boneless spare ribs. It may be the only food I truly miss as a vegetarian. They were my favorite.

I quickly got over my longing for the Chinese spare rib as soon as I had my favorite sundae. Nothing beats the chocolate dipped waffle bowl from Cold Stone Creamery.

Chinese food and chocolate dipped waffle bowls should have provided me with adequate fuel for my long run Saturday morning, don’t you think?

Taking my sneakers off after running 12 miles = happiness.

My run was just OK. Mentally I was totally there, my legs were another story. They weren’t in total protest, they didn’t have picket signs to rally against the run or anything but they were tired.

The jelly beans I carry in my pocket didn’t help much. But they made me smile since they matched my shirt.

Since none of my miles came in under 9:00/mile, I knew I was due for a rest day.

But I just couldn’t rest on Saturday after the run. Oh no. Too much to do.

Besides getting a manicure and my hair attended to, I really needed some new boots. And shoes.

Let’s call this love at first sight. They had me at the pink bottom. I now can’t wait for the cold, rainy, messy weather.

And these may just have to be worn immediately.

Something to ponder: I recently canceled a race registration and hotel reservation for a particular race weekend. That money was now used to buy myself these awesome boots and shoes.

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good race and the traveling involved with a race weekend but when you are able to spend that same amount of money on apparel…..hmmm. You decide.

Let’s discuss Saturday night’s dinner. I have decided that the sushi chef at one of my favorite restaurants may indeed have a crush on me.

Please take note of the heart-shaped sushi roll which appeared on the  plate once again.

Turns out, it isn’t any specific roll that is made in a heart- any roll can be made that way and the chef randomly decides when he does it.

I am so glad he decides to roll out sushi in hearts for me. Makes me feel special.

Anyway, I gave myself a full day of rest yesterday which I really don’t do often enough. My body sincerely thanks me by feeling refreshed and ready for a run this morning.

The little boy is off from school today for Columbus Day and I kinda wish it was Thanksgiving here as it is for my Canadian friends up in Canada. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday- for the food of course.

To all of my Canadian friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and please eat extra stuffing and sweet potatoes and pie for me!

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I NEED TO KNOW:

If you are a vegetarian, are there any foods you miss or feel you miss out on? I don’t crave anything that I used to eat but I do miss those spare ribs!

Run any races this weekend? How did it go?

Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving today? What’s on the menu?