Post about things that suck.
No wait. NOT a post about things that suck! I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and post about things which DON'T suck. Particularly after a discussion the other day about how we often don't post good stuff, because it feels like bragging.
I may be able to run the Freescale Marathon. I may not. What I do and how I recover over the next 3 weeks (er.. less than 3 weeks!) will be the deciding factor. I have several appointments with new doctors/PTs coming up to see if they have any advice. Otherwise.. lots of stretching. Lots of massage (self and purchased). Lots of icing. And a beautiful schedule for the next few weeks which has our runs significantly shorter (10 this weekend, 7 next) (I never thought I'd consider those to be "short" distances. Ever.) and our workload significantly reduced. I say that now like it's a good thing. I'll probably go crazy when it happens. It's called "taper madness". No, really.
Anyway. I thought I'd do a little Focus On The Good. It's rare for me, especially in matters concerning myself.
So! Obvious things.. I ran 20 miles. Laura and I were reflecting this weekend while running 3M that 2 years ago, we couldn't make it around a standard high school track once without then walking and wheezing to recover. I've resumed swimming, and found that I still have It. I swam a mile in open water last year in a time that made me happy and got me a ribbon. I rode 100 miles in one day last year, only to get up the next day and ride 80 more. I rode 100k later in the year at an average speed I never, ever thought I could hold onto for that long a distance. All of this from someone who briefly did some gymnastics in HS.. briefly played kickball poorly (catcher!) as a kid.. swam on the swimteam in a mediocre manner. I NEVER saw myself as an athlete, and I'm not even sure how it happened. And now I've paid a ridiculous amount of money to try out a half-Ironman triathlon. And I'm extremely excited, and not quite yet terrified, though that will come.
I signed up to get organic vegetables and fruits delivered to my home. That's made a huge difference in how much of those things I eat (previously, very little). It makes me happy, as it brings me closer to who I want to be. Which apparently is someone who eats more fruits and vegetables. I also managed to kick caffeine again. I will sometimes have a diet coke after my long run on the weekend, but otherwise, I'm caffeine-free and not suffering for it.
I'm in better shape than I've ever been in. I still have lots of pounds I'd ideally like to lose. But I can now look at pictures of myself and say "Hey.. I have leg muscles!" If I could only direct the fatloss to also afflict my stomach, I'd be set. It'll happen. Just not at a pace which satisfies. Because that's not how body-modification works.
I got mail from meilaan saying that her dad had seen pictures from Riley's birthday party and he was amazed at how different I looked, and was really impressed ("He says you look really athletic and that your face is a totally different shape now"). That really made my day (and just reinforced my love for Emily's dad.. even though he once made me eat turnip cake).
Tack onto all that the fact that I have parents who support me in whatever crazy crap I decide to do, and love me unconditionally (and I'm not just saying all of this because I know they read my LJ). I have a sister who I've grown incredibly close to despite our early history of completely ignoring each other. A husband who never fails to impress me and never fails to support me, and against all odds still seems to love me nearly 7 years later. A dog who once bit my face. Er.. and has come miles and miles from that place, and is now loving and affectionate, if not still somewhat weird. And friends who have stuck with me despite my perhaps being in a very different place from when they first met me, and putting up with my whims and changes and complaints and confidence issues. And more recent additions to my friend circle who, by all appearances, seem to like me despite all my bizarreness. And a job that isn't what I ever saw myself doing, but now I can't see myself doing anything else (it's all about the people) (uh, the coworkers, not the psycho students).
Okayokay. I'm done now, I think. I just figured I'd throw in some positivity to shake things up a little.
So.. thanks, all of you.
I may be able to run the Freescale Marathon. I may not. What I do and how I recover over the next 3 weeks (er.. less than 3 weeks!) will be the deciding factor. I have several appointments with new doctors/PTs coming up to see if they have any advice. Otherwise.. lots of stretching. Lots of massage (self and purchased). Lots of icing. And a beautiful schedule for the next few weeks which has our runs significantly shorter (10 this weekend, 7 next) (I never thought I'd consider those to be "short" distances. Ever.) and our workload significantly reduced. I say that now like it's a good thing. I'll probably go crazy when it happens. It's called "taper madness". No, really.
Anyway. I thought I'd do a little Focus On The Good. It's rare for me, especially in matters concerning myself.
So! Obvious things.. I ran 20 miles. Laura and I were reflecting this weekend while running 3M that 2 years ago, we couldn't make it around a standard high school track once without then walking and wheezing to recover. I've resumed swimming, and found that I still have It. I swam a mile in open water last year in a time that made me happy and got me a ribbon. I rode 100 miles in one day last year, only to get up the next day and ride 80 more. I rode 100k later in the year at an average speed I never, ever thought I could hold onto for that long a distance. All of this from someone who briefly did some gymnastics in HS.. briefly played kickball poorly (catcher!) as a kid.. swam on the swimteam in a mediocre manner. I NEVER saw myself as an athlete, and I'm not even sure how it happened. And now I've paid a ridiculous amount of money to try out a half-Ironman triathlon. And I'm extremely excited, and not quite yet terrified, though that will come.
I signed up to get organic vegetables and fruits delivered to my home. That's made a huge difference in how much of those things I eat (previously, very little). It makes me happy, as it brings me closer to who I want to be. Which apparently is someone who eats more fruits and vegetables. I also managed to kick caffeine again. I will sometimes have a diet coke after my long run on the weekend, but otherwise, I'm caffeine-free and not suffering for it.
I'm in better shape than I've ever been in. I still have lots of pounds I'd ideally like to lose. But I can now look at pictures of myself and say "Hey.. I have leg muscles!" If I could only direct the fatloss to also afflict my stomach, I'd be set. It'll happen. Just not at a pace which satisfies. Because that's not how body-modification works.
I got mail from meilaan saying that her dad had seen pictures from Riley's birthday party and he was amazed at how different I looked, and was really impressed ("He says you look really athletic and that your face is a totally different shape now"). That really made my day (and just reinforced my love for Emily's dad.. even though he once made me eat turnip cake).
Tack onto all that the fact that I have parents who support me in whatever crazy crap I decide to do, and love me unconditionally (and I'm not just saying all of this because I know they read my LJ). I have a sister who I've grown incredibly close to despite our early history of completely ignoring each other. A husband who never fails to impress me and never fails to support me, and against all odds still seems to love me nearly 7 years later. A dog who once bit my face. Er.. and has come miles and miles from that place, and is now loving and affectionate, if not still somewhat weird. And friends who have stuck with me despite my perhaps being in a very different place from when they first met me, and putting up with my whims and changes and complaints and confidence issues. And more recent additions to my friend circle who, by all appearances, seem to like me despite all my bizarreness. And a job that isn't what I ever saw myself doing, but now I can't see myself doing anything else (it's all about the people) (uh, the coworkers, not the psycho students).
Okayokay. I'm done now, I think. I just figured I'd throw in some positivity to shake things up a little.
So.. thanks, all of you.