Fair Weather Fan

***Note: I am writing this above 10,000 ft so if anything sounds really crazy, it’s because I am temporarily insane on airplanes. Also, there is a weird smell. I don’t like it.

I have become a fair weather runner as of yesterday.

Normally, I’m down running in the rain, as long there is no lightening as I am not really into being electrocuted (it happens people…I’ve known 4 people struck by lightening).

Yesterday, I thought I’d give the ol’ run a go, considering there are some softer surfaces at home (flat terrain, however, is another story). Within 5 minutes, it started to pour. I immediately turned around and headed for indoor activities that may or may not have included me listening to the Mariah Carey + Justin Bieber version of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” about 16 times while on the elliptical.

FYI: I have choreographed Derek Hough and I’s jive to this song, which we will be performing after I get a spot on Dancing With The Stars. And ,again, at the Disney Very Merry Christmas parade after we get asked to perform it there, too.

 

All I want for Christmas is to get asked to be on DWTS. I know. I’m not a star. Minor snag in that plan.

 

Anyways, I turned around because running by myself isn’t really that fun right now.  Running for 30 minutes slowly isn’t enjoyable as most of it involves monitoring if my IT band or hamstring hurts, which, of course, interferes with me pretending I’m a pop/country music star.

 

I love/hate her. Love the sparkle guitar though.

Further, running for 30 minutes slowly doesn’t really seem to serve a purpose for me, right now. I could probably get a better workout or at least some sort of cardiovascular benefit from cross-training (who am I and why did I say that?).

 

Me except insert better outfit and hair accessories.

Finally, there is no real goal or point to most of my running right now, unless I’m social running (socializing is a totally a valid point for running, in my world), which makes running not that attractive of a workout option right now, not to mention it gets dark at 4:30 pm.  I always like for there to be a point or goal to what I’m doing so I think, at least, I’m getting myself to the next step, from A to B, etc.

Side note: Social running is totally cool right now, though, because I have something to distract me from monitoring my leg. Plus, social running is my thing. It’s how I started running. I can’t abandon it.  So, if you want to social run, you let me know.

 

See, my first race was disguised as a social run.

And, for some reason, I kind of just don’t want to know if it hurts or not. If I don’t run, I won’t know. If I stick to safe activities that don’t bother my leg, all seems ok in my world because I can pretend it is, indeed, just fine and I’m only choosing not to run, instead of it being that I can’t run.

OMG this is very turbulent. I can’t breathe. HOW ARE PEOPLE SLEEPING THROUGH THIS TERROR?

Mommyyyyy....help.

TELL ME, PEOPLE: Anyone else turn into a complete psycho on a plane? Can you sleep through turbulence? Anyone ever find running not so fun? Anyone want to join my future women’s [tennis] interclub team? Requirements: You can’t be a psycho and you have to be down with matching outfits.

I’m going to go try and not freak out now. And GOOD NEWS! Tennis doesn’t bother my leg, so if the whole running thing doesn’t work out, I can live out my 17 year old dreams by dominating the women’s interclub scene.

Except I'll need to get a new racquet that generates all of my pace for me in addition to stringing my racquet around 40 lbs (very low tension = more power without trying).

 

Until next time…

Rammer Jammer

I haven’t been living north of the Mason-Dixon long enough to forget the words to “Rammer Jammer,” but my most recent trip to South Alabama confirmed I have been re-sensitized to things that used to not phase me.

Bear Bryant, the patron saint of Alabama

For example, I walked into a Jim and Nick’s (some of my favorite barbecue, just an fyi) and saw a family walk in with all of the men in the family, from ages 5 to 75, wearing full blown camo. I forgot that people actually went hunting. And that ordering non-sweet tea was very abnormal.

*For those of you not familiar with Rammer Jammer, I refer you to this video. The words are, “Hey ___, Hey ___, Hey ___, We just beat the hell out of you, Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer, Give ‘em hell, Alabama!”

Don’t worry, I did as the Romans do when I was in Alabama over Thanksgiving. I ate a barbecue sandwich and a cheese biscuit last night for dinner followed by Dairy Queen. Seriously, what do they put in the Dairy Queen stuff? It’s ridiculously good.

The dipped cone is amazing. Don't lie to yourself. It is.

Side note: My grandparents coincidentally live in the town where my brother’s tennis tournament was. Here’s a pic my grandfather took…you can see I put a lot of effort into how I looked that day. No wonder I’m not married.

My dad, me, and my grandmother, who will always approve of me eating Dairy Queen.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to Target while in Alabama, but I did make it there today (back in TN). I had to wear my “strong” tank (from Believe I Am) to remind myself to be strong against all the cute Christmas merchandise…and had to remind myself that I can’t fit any more junk in my tiny dorm room.

When I was two or three, my mom picked up a present a said “no-no” to me, meaning that I shouldn’t open it. Apparently, the rest of December I went around picked up anything wrapped and said “no-no.” That’s how I feel in Target. Internal monologue = “No, no, do not buy that.”

I do not need these socks. I do not need these socks.

You know you’ve reached a point of insanity when you’re considering buying festive Kleenexes because “they don’t sell fun stuff like this in NYC and I need these Kleneexes to be 100% happy this holiday season.”

Ok, fine, I did buy the Santa's Workshop box. How could I not?

I also got some Hello Kitty duct tape. I definitely will get use out of that.

Thankfully, I left Target with nothing too crazy. On a side note, I could really use a tape worm or case of a stomach virus right now. I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight – NAME THAT MOVIE!

TELL ME: Anyone get any good buys over the weekend? Any good deals to tell me about? Anyone else feel large and in charge?

Also, I saw Breaking Dawn the other day. I still don’t get Twilight. Bella getting impregnated by a killer vampire baby and  the werewolf-Bella-vampire triad isn’t my thing. Sorry, Twihards.

Until next time…

 

Working On My Visor Tan

I think I got sunburned today. This is an all-time low for me – the ability to get sunburned in late November. I’m pretty diligent about wearing sunscreen, but it typically doesn’t cross my mind to wear it on places other than my face past, ummm, Halloween.

For some reason, I can’t play tennis without wearing a Nike Dri-Fit visor (even indoors, I have 10,000 of those visors), so I wore a visor all day. The visor tan I sustained each summer in my youth returns far too easily, just like the sock tan I am pretty sure sticks around year round. I’ve given up on not having a sock tan. It’s never happening.

A pink visor in May...

 

A black visor in November...

 

A blue visor in 2006...

I told you I had a lot of Nike Dri-Fit Visors. This is just a glimpse at my extensive collection I accrued over my tennis years.

I think a lot about my fake, fatherless-as-of-now children and what sport I want to put them in. Obviously, this is important, seeing as they already have first and (mostly) middle names (with last name obviously TBD). I’m sure I’ll start them out in a lot of things and let them eventually pick, assuming they are born one day. I think having a sport as an outlet is important and any sport teaches you a lot of life lessons. I mean, I’m 25 years old and I still need a sport to thrive.

Most of the sports I participated in (gymnastics, tennis) are those you have to start in diapers to be able to compete well. My first dance class was at 2 1/2 years old (I BEGGED my mom to take dance and gymnastics when I was 2, actually), quickly followed by gymnastics enrollment at 4 years old. I started tennis at the very old age of 13.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVED dance and gymnastics. So much so, that I made my mom get tapes of the music we would use for the recital so I could practice at home. See, this whole "being obsessed with something" started early.

 

First Dance Recital at age 3. I'm supposed to be a poodle. Isn't it obvious?!?

My brother has been playing tennis since 5 or 6 and started playing competitive tournaments around the 4th grade (I think, correct me if I’m wrong, Mom). If you don’t have that kid swinging a racquet or begging for a backyard balance beam by elementary school, you’re going to be playing catch up with the other “prodigy” children who have.

Here's little Harry playing tennis around age 13 or 14...

Further, I would say 75% of the kids my brother plays against don’t go to school. Ok, not entirely true, they do go to “online schools,” such as Keystone National High School or Alpha Omega Academy.

If I went to online school, I'd definitely stay in my pajamas.

[I also highly recommend getting a mobile home if your kid wants to be a good tennis player as you spend all of your Fridays thru Sundays traveling to or being at tournaments in hot spot locales such as Little Rock, Arkansas. I've stayed in more Hampton Inns than I can count.]

I can see the theoretical advantage in not attending a traditional brick-and-mortar school if you’re looking to be a high level athlete. You have much more time to practice and do the “little” things (weights, sports psych, speed/agility training, etc), which is probably the driving factor behind the tennis player homeschool craze.  You can travel to tournaments without incurring “unexcused absences” from school as school can go with you. And, to be fair, the only players I do know who have a legitimate shot at making it pro have home-schooled and moved south to Florida to train with the best at Bollettieri’s or some similar tennis greatness breeding ground. Although, the number of people I know who have a legitimate shot at making it pro includes about 3 people. Making it as a professional tennis player is very, very difficult.

Where I went to high school is literally on the wrong side of the tracks. You better hope there wasn't a train coming through at 8:20 am.

However, I think there is something to be said about the social and emotional intelligence that is learned in school. As painful as it may be, I think there is something to be gained from living through your own real life Mean Girls.

On Wednesdays, we wear pink...

And, I mean, let’s be honest. If I was 15 and something called “Facebook” existed, do you really think I’d be able to concentrate on doing my school work online? I can barely do that now at age 25 and I almost have a doctorate degree.

To my knowledge, one nice thing about running is that your probably don’t have to pick the sport up in diapers to be competitive in high school, college, or the pros. I’m pretty home schooling isn’t the norm in the “good runner people” crowd, but you can correct me if I’m wrong.

Unfortunately, if my unborn children take after me, their shot at making the cross country team is slim to none. Sorry, kids.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK? Pull your kids out of school to give them a better chance of getting a scholarship or even pro status? Thoughts on home-schooling for sports or otherwise? Do you think the demands of a particular sport, such as gymnastics, necessitate it?

And, someone clear it up for me, most professional runners got to go to “real” school, right? I don’t think the home school + send your kid to a specialized academy craze has hit the running crowd, yet, to my knowledge.

Until next time…

What’s Up Wednesday

The usual…

1. SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE AT THE AMA AWARDS:

Strike a pose!

I can’t figure out how to do videos on WordPress anymore, but you can click here to watch. Do it. The part where they meet Katy Perry is awesome.

2. KNOXVILLE’S NEWSPAPER’S CROSSWORD AND JUMBLE: Easier than the NY Times = I feel really smart.

My morning ritual.

3. EGG NOG IN COFFEE: Try it. It’s not mocha in an americano, but it’s still pretty good.

Unfortunately, Buddy the Elf forgot this in his four major food groups.

4. TENNIS: It’s nice to have that to fall back on when I can’t run while I’m at home. And, its nice that I have a built in hitting partner in my brother. Too bad tennis is so hard to play in the city.

Little H and I...well, I guess he's not so little anymore.

5. CREOLE PEAS: This is a recipe my mom makes every Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s one of her mom’s recipes (aka my grandmother) who also made it on holidays. My grandmother liked it because she thought the green of the bell pepper and red of the tomatoes looked festive. My mom, sister, and I fight over every last serving of this. Here’s the recipe. FYI – I’ve never made it myself so I can’t tell you how hard or easy this is.

1 – 3 pieces bacon (cooked and crumbled), 3 hard boiled eggs

2 – Chop Up and Brown: 1 Bell Pepper, 1 cup celery, 1 onion

3 – Add 1 Can Stewed Tomatoes

Simmer Until It Cooks Down (WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!?)

4 – Add 1 can of Leseur peas (I don’t know what that is either), bacon, and eggs

5 – Top with crushed Ritz crackers

Bake at 325F for 30-40 min

I don’t know why its called Creole peas as my kinfolk are from Alabama and not Louisiana. Still, it is one of my favorite holiday things, right up there with Target shopping trips.

I know what you’re dying to know — who won the BIC Bands?!? The lucky three are Katherine (Neon Blonde Runner), Lia, and Kelly. I’ll email you to get your info and I won’t be offended if you don’t get a sparkly one.

TELL ME: Any fave holiday dishes? Anything you’re particularly thankful for this year? Gonna watch the Macy’s Day Parade and then the Dog Show?

The Dog Show is fabulous to nap to.

Until next time…

How We Will Know What Our Favorite Things Are This Year?

First, I want to let you all know that this lady is my shopping idol:

Look at that, even a map to the doorbuster deals..

In addition to other things, the doctor on Thursday told me that I need to train to run, not run to train. You know what you also need to train for? Shopping marathons. It can be taxing. I take picky bars with me to keep my energy up so I make sure I don’t miss anything.

I actually don’t do the whole Black Friday thing. I’m passionate about shopping marathons, particularly those at Target, year round.

But, people, I just realized that there will be no Oprah’s favorite things this year, seeing as Oprah retired. HOW WE WILL KNOW WHAT IS NEW, COOL, AND OPRAH APPROVED?

I know, this was unsettling for me, too. So, I’ve decided to step in for Oprah and start compiling a list of my favorite things in case you need gift ideas.

Before, I get into that I did see some cool things at FAO Schwarz today, any of which you can buy me.

Ginormous Pink Dog. Cost - $300.

5 lb cereal box of gummy bears. Cost - One Sugar High, Potential Diabetes

Make Your Own Muppet. Cost - $100

A few other things you can also get me: 1) a new left hemi-pelvis/leg; 2) fly me to Canada so I can learn to tempo with a bunch of people who live in a freezing cold environment; 3) 2nd season of Modern Family; 4) Tom Ford Whitney Sunglasses; 5) a tweet back from Jesse Thomas (@jessemthomas) – the entire Picky Pack has tweeted back to me except for him, I need to complete my collection, for no real reason whatsoever.

Ok, let’s start the list. Some will be ones you’ve heard about, others not.

1. Nike Half-Zip With Wool In It: That thing is seriously warm.

And it has thumb holes...

2. My Planner From South Korea: My paper brain, I’d be lost without it.

A Picky Bar sticker? A Believe I Am Tag? How on earth did that get there...

3. Picky Bars: Literally, the perfect stocking stuffer.

4. Believe I Am Training Diary: For when you do secret santa with your runner friends.

5. Madewell Archive Leather Boot OR Naturalizer Riding Boots: I got my Naturalizer pair off Piperlime (and Madewell off of Madewell’s site). I can walk everywhere in them and no blisters.

Seriously, I wear these everywhere...if I'm not in my Madewell boots.

6. Patagonia Synchilla Snap Fleece: It will become your second skin.

I may or may not have more than one.

7. Wilson Pro-OverGrip: If you know anyone that plays tennis, it’s the best overgrip.

Guess which color I use...

8. LL Bean Wicked Good Clogs: Not the most fashionable choice, but actually wicked comfortable.

However, I heard they don't make them anymore. Don't tell me if that's true.

9. Oiselle Distance Short: It’s like Mary Poppins magical bag – it fits everything. In fact, when I finished the marathon, I found a previously stashed picky bar in the back pocket. I needed that for the country mile walk to get my stuff.

These shorts won't let you down. Your IT band might, though.

10. Billy’s Bakery Banana Cake: Just don’t buy it. Its addicting. I want some now.

11. Sparkly BIC Band:  Just get one. And then wear it with your patagonia as I am now.

A rather festive combination...

I’ll stop there. For now.

HELP ME HELP OTHERS IN OUR OPRAH-LESS TIME: What would you add to the list?

Personally, I need book recommendations and help on the decision between Lunar Elite 2s or Lunar Glide 3s for my next shoe purchase.

Add on, people, add on….

Until next time…

Reconstruction

They say that you can tell how high a new building is going to be by how deep its foundation is. I’m not sure if that’s true. Don’t quote me on that.

Side Note: Who on earth is “they” when anyone says “they say?” Collective wisdom? Experts? Dumbledore and Hagrid?

Dumbledore knows all.

Anyways, so I went to bikram yesterday. Besides homeslice instructor realizing I can’t pay attention (literally calling me out – “Meggie, focus on the mirror and not looking around” – I’m sorry I can’t pay attention, I like to think), I realized my left leg/back/hip/wtv is wacked. Maybe I’m being hypersensitive to anything that feels off, but, I think it does feel like that – off, out of wack, something like that.

Seriously, can anyone actually do this? I can't even start to straighten my leg. Its embarrassing.

My left leg/back/hip has bothered me off and on since I was 17. It’s typically been my medial hamstring (possible adductor, not sure) and lower back. The IT band was new this year. Regardless, my left leg comes to bite me in the butt a few times a year and I’m over it. I have to get it fixed. Or get a transplant, but last I checked, they don’t offer leg transplants.

You can get a kidney transplant though. This is a kidney. Renal physiology is complicated. Be thankful for your kidneys. Give them a pat right at the edge of your bottom ribs in the back to thank them.

I’d love to tell you how I’m going to be back running again soon and how I’m plotting my course to my spring redemption. However, that’s not what I’m doing. I’m going to take my sweet time and take the whole month of November focusing on getting my body 100% ready to run again. Strength first, running second.

I like to think of my strength as my foundation. Clearly, since I got injured before NYC and then ran NYC sort of injured, my foundation isn’t sound. If I want to run another marathon and run it faster than before, I need to dig out a deeper, more solid foundation. For this point, at least for me, I don’t think that means going out and running 50 miles a week (which is more than I’ve ever done, anyways, so I’m not sure where I came up with that number.) To me, it means fixing whatever is wrong on my left side from the hip/SI joint down and strengthening the appropriate muscles.

Let's learn leg anatomy! See the sartorius (more of an anterior muscle) - it helps pull your leg into cross legged position. See where all those nerves are in the back of your knee? That's the popliteal fossa, if my anatomy memory serves me correct. It was 4 years ago, don't quote me.

I could be wrong though. Maybe I do need to go out and run a lot or something.

So, the month of November will be focused on my leg and, of course, TURKEY TROTTING. When I say running secondary, that doesn’t mean zero running. It just means running isn’t the first priority to me like it sometimes becomes when I’m training for a race and tend to skip out on other things like yoga, foam rolling, etc. I mean, hello, I already have the hair feathers. I can totally channel a Native American and trot it up, emphasis on trot.

This is true dedication to Turkey Trotting.

Side note:  I like how I talk like I’ve been doing this running thing for so long as if I have established habits (ie “after a marathon” — yes, all 3 I’ve done). I’ve been running for almost 3 years. So, basically, don’t listen to me.

My very first race with Erika. It was for Miles For Melanoma, which is why we are matching. Clearly, we were having a stimulating conversation. And, clearly, I was only focusing on finishing + not walking.

So, come December, hopefully I’ll be back at it, but we’ll worry about that on Nov 30th.

One last thing. It has occurred to me that maybe I should be worried about fitness losses if I’m going to take my sweet time getting back into running. To be honest, it sort of does, but I also kind of think about it like the following.

I know how to hit a forehand. If I went out and rallied with someone right now, I’d definitely spray or shank a few balls here or there because I haven’t picked up a racquet in a few months. It doesn’t mean my forehand got worse or I’ll never again be able to hit the ball like I used to. It will just take some time to get there. And, if you think about it, getting “there,” wherever “there” is, will take less time than it did the first time around because my body already knows how to hit the crap out of the ball a solid forehand. I feel like my running is the same. My body already knows how to run as fast as I trained it to previously. It will just take some time to get there again.

Unrelated but I just wanted to remind you that I did make it to Staten Island with my orange sparkly BIC band. Said headband is still somewhere in Staten Island. RIP. Hi Kelly and Baker!

Or so I tell myself. Sometimes, I think I should change the name of this blog to “Lies I Tell Myself to Make Me Behave Like a Normal, Rational Person.”

I’m more worried about my clothes not fitting anymore than anything else. And, don’t be surprised when there is another post in a week titled, “OMG! I’M STILL NOT RUNNING AND AM FAT AND OUT OF SHAPE! THIS IS TERRIBLE.”

TELL ME: Anyone who ran the NY Marathon already end their break? If so, why? If not, how much time are you breaking for? Anyone had any weird leg issues and has any bright ideas for me? Or better yet, just tell me something cool you did this weekend.

Guess Who’s Back?

SOPHIA GRACE AND ROSIE!!!

Also, please watch the shopping spree Sophia Grace and Rosie went on at Toys R Us. These girls are women after my own heart. Look at that shopping enthusiasm. You can’t teach that.

I mean, she definitely needed that suitcase just like I needed those Christmas window gel clingy things I bought at Target. I like to call purchases like that “necessary luxuries.”

Guess who is also back? ME!

Me at age 9. Further evidence I spent most of my childhood upside or figuring out how to flip off of things. I think this explains a lot.

Ok, no, I didn’t actually go anywhere, unless you consider venturing to the Upper West Side from where I live a trek. Anyways, in my dramatic, immature last few days where I almost threw my running shoes out the window, I’ve decided the happy running Meggie is back.

See - happy running Meggie. Have you seen this picture before? Yes.

Happy Running Meggie isn’t back to running, yet, because her IT band still hurts and her left SI joint as followed suit, but that’s a topic for two weeks from now if it’s not better. I’m just assuming all of those things will get better in time.

I think most people are goal driven so I have a hard time writing, “I am a goal driven person.” Aren’t we all? Goals do make me happy, though. I like to dream of things I could do, like running a 3:35 marathon and being on Dancing With The Stars (fine – the latter is a fantasy, not an actual dream or goal — unless I become a star). I sometimes think I live most of my life in this dream world where I can do anything I set my mind to and I am queen of my own universe with a crown and septar. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.

My queen of the universe outfit looks something like this...

A sports psychologist we had at tennis once told me to always have something to do after a match, especially during the first 30 min following a match when I was temporarily insane.. That way, I couldn’t dwell on the results, and could focus my irrational self on something else. I could then go back and think about the match when I was in a less emotional, more rational state of being. Typical post match activities included eating or shopping when I was in high school and studying when I was in college.

I found a tennis picture. Sorry, I'm not actually playing. I think this was in 2006. FYI - I always wore a visor and the Nike Dri-Fit ones were my go-tos. I have a zillion of those. Some are really gross and sweat stained like whoa.

True story: At a Thanksgiving tournament, my friend and I once went from the mall, to a match, won, and then went straight back to the mall. I mean, it was Black Friday deals – we HAD to be there.  In our defense, it also been raining all morning so we figured the matches would be canceled for the day. We also had to skimp our warm up a bit because we couldn’t get out of the mall fast enough to get to the courts. Priorities, people. Our coach was kind of mad…wonder why?

Anyways, back to the point. I think not having a new running goal to work towards contributed at least partly to my post-marathon funk. I do have some really cool stuff going on at work and the holiday season is coming up, which obviously means I gotta start getting my decorating on.

My decorating doesn't quite get this elaborate, but close.

I struggled with not being ok without having a goal because I really do think I need to take a break post-marathon and kind of disengage in the whole running thing. However, I still felt like getting my race sign up on would make me feel better and then I could enjoy my breaksie and truly focus on catching up on People Magazine and what really went down between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. I need to get my running ducks in a row so I could rest easy, knowing my IT band redemption 2012 plan is in place.

Actual ducks in a row. Ok, rubber duckies. Close enough.

So, tomorrow and soon thereafter, I plan to get my sign up on and, then, line up babysitting jobs to pay for getting said sign up on. I can start writing my race dreams and goals in my Believe I Am training diary  by drawing gardens of good and bad thoughts — fun things like that. I also plan on becoming BFFs with my foam roller while investigating ways to rid myself of and prevent both ITBS and my dysfunctional SI joint. Suggestions are welcome.

I’m thinking a spring marathon, possibly out West, but all suggestions are welcome, with a good half thrown in there in the build up to that full. All subject to change though. I’ll probably also do a 5K or 10K or two in there because those are fun. I really like 5Ks because all 2 that I have run in my life felt like out of control experiences. It was fun.

TELL ME: Do you think I’m jumping into getting my sign up on too fast? Should I take a bit more of a break before committing to anything or get my Spring 2012 running ducks in a row first?

Until next time…

P.S. I haven’t decided who is getting the Picky Bars, yet. I have to see how many stamps I have..

Still Sulking

Listen, people. I know I am being ridiculous. Running, while important to me, is a hobby – nothing more. There is no reason I should be upset or in near tears when I think about the NYC Marathon. Anyone want to give me a deadline on the sulking period?

Apparently, I wasn't upset here (yet). You know why? Because I saw Ali, Lauren, and Emily all reppin' the sweat squad.

[Seriously, huge thank you Ali, Emily, and Lauren and all the other cheerleaders I saw - Jaime, Jackie, Kimmie, Jess, Courtney, etc - and my virtutal cheereleaders, too many to name]

Mile 18 or so pick me up. HUGE THANKS!

So, yes, my whole crying on the way to work this morning thinking “all of my hard work went to waste” is quite ridiculous. At the moment, it’s the way I feel and I feel somewhat stupid now making my marathon goal 3:35, then putting that out there, and then failing miserably. I have a hard time thinking “oh, it was that IT band thing,” because I’m sure someone out there has PR’ed in a marathon on a bum IT band.

And then I saw this cute puppy on my way to work, which made me instantly feel better. I feel weird calling it "work," considering I don't get paid. Oh well, it's fun, regardless.

Or maybe I’m just slightly psychotic. Someone had the office told me “I’m sorry you’re injured,” and I was like “oh this IT band isn’t an injury, its just an annoyance.” I’m very rational right now, obviously. Like when I almost threw my running shoes out the window this morning – very mature.

Someone at work did validate me by telling me she has similar marathon experiences in not being 100% content with her time. She made me feel so much better and I’m convinced we’re the same person although separated by 6 years in age(we have similar test scores and everything). She told me to not let it ruin the whole experience for me because, at the end of the day, the NYC marathon is a very cool experience.

Anyways, if you know me and how I follow gymnastics obsessively, you would know that I, course, know the slogan of the gym that produced the last two Olympic All-Around champions, WOGA (World Olympics Gymnastics Academy). In true Russian fashion, the motto of the gym is “Train Hard Or Go Home” and “Hard Work Never Disappears.”

I want to raise my kids in Dallas just so they can be good gymnasts...

I like to think the latter one is especially true. Sure, I worked hard for 3-4 months and it didn’t pay off on the big day.

However, I don’t think it’s particularly healthy to judge anything by just one day. I don’t think a surgeon would judge his or her career based on one case.

Similarly, although I spent 3-4 months training for the NYC Marathon, I had a lot of little successes and breakthroughs along the way. I learned how to get rid of negative thoughts at the Boilermaker, I learned that humidity does actually suck the life out of you in New Haven, I learned that focusing on enjoying yourself can lead to big PRs when you least expect it, and I learned how to, finally, appreciate tempo runs. I learned that the physical often follows the mental (ie Believe I Am), that you don’t have to do crazy long runs really early in a marathon training cycle (thank you, RC), and that the whole “training for a marathon” thing can actually be pretty enjoyable, at least in my book.

I still die for the Boilermaker.

[P.S. I have to give a big virtual shout out, hug, and high five to Steph (the RC). She is awesome. She gets a thumbs up from Meggie. And a pointer finger. Although I don't think she reads this blog. Irregardless, she's cool.]

Look at the RC go...she is so fast.

I haven’t found the actual marathon to be enjoyable, yet. It’s kind of a lot of eggs in one basket for me, for a race. But, I figure, that’s kind of how I felt about running for a long time — I thought it was pretty miserable. I figure as long as I have the desire to do a marathon, I’ll keep trying.

So, yep, I think this post actual ends sulking period. Meggie isn’t a quitter, last time I checked. I have some really things going on at my unpaid work, have more time to scheme ways to raise money for Cookies For Kids’ Cancer, and can start planning my marathon revenge.

Also, PS – everyone I have ever met from Oregon or who has lived there at some point is super tiny. I want to know what on earth is in the water there that is making them all so skinny. I want some of that. Or a mild bout of a tapeworm or something. It can’t be just all that running and stuff they do over there, right?

TELL ME: Your comeback stories, your revenge stories, your war stories, your glory days, your successes, how a sport has once been terrible to you and then you loved it again…I need to be inspired. 

Before I go, I ‘ll give you one of mine which has been helpful to me in my sulking period. My junior year of college, I think I won two matches all of the fall season, culminating in a particularly terrible match that I called my “waterloo.” That fall, I felt like I couldn’t hit the side of a barn if I tried. I thought very seriously about quitting tennis that winter, because I just didn’t enjoy it anymore. That spring, I took all pressure off of myself and focused on very basic things. I got all conference that season in both singles and doubles (first team doubles, second team singles, in case you were actually curious.) So, I guess things can turn around.

One of the only pics I have of me playing tennis...I'm sure there are more somewhere....

Until next time…

P.S. Did you buy picky bars, yet?

I’ve Become One Of “Those” People

Literally, people, this not running thing is for the birds. I never thought I’d be one of “those people” that goes crazy not running. Who am I?!?

I keep trying to think of IT band friendly activities that do not include shopping. Today, I resorted to “inversion therapy.”

Exhibit A:

It started to bother the ol’ leg after about 15 minutes and my back realized I’m not the young spring chicken I was just a few short years ago before I started running so much.

[The above was Aug 2009. I think I'd die trying that now.]

I did some arts and crafts:

Snaps for Katie who ran MCM today!!! (And Lauren, Christy, and everyone else!)

I went to visit Paperclip, who was playing hard to get. He knows he loves me.

Dressed to watch the game - GO VOLS! Or not, since they aren't doing so hot this year.

I researched way too much about Derek Dooley’s pants, which are awesome.

FEAR THE PANTS. I hope Dooley doesn't get fired, because I like his enthusiasm.

Ally and I got pedicures.

The flip flops go with my "Knoxville attire," which basically means I wear sweats all day and ridic shoes.

Yes, those are furry flip flops. Don’t lie to yourself. You want some. And, yes, that is a Halloween scene on my big toe. The lady asked if she could do it and I told her ,”Do whatever you want! Go to town!” I commend her dexterity.

Slightly tacky, yet awesome. Hey, you only live once and this will most likely get destroyed in a week.

I mean, if not now, when?

I went on a 2 mile walk with my mom. The leg felt “twingy,” which is a legit medical term, in case you were wondering. I was thinking of trying out some tennis this afternoon, but that walk made me think twice.

So, I’m back to lying supine and reading “The End of Normal” by Stephanie Madoff Mack.

Really easy and gossipy read. Dig it.

I keep trying to tell myself that is not always your situation, but how you look at the situation that really matters. All the work was done when my IT band decided to stage a mutiny against me. Instead of thinking this little hiatus will make me sluggish and slow, I must think that it’ll leave me fresh, excited, and ready to go in a week. If I think the former instead of the latter, I’ll lose it, big time.

Now, I’m off to do some more handstands.

Until next time…

Hitting the Reset Button

I’m a big fan of the “mental reset button.” In between sections of the MCAT and Step 1 of the USMLE Boards, I would close my eyes so as to hit a “reset” button to start the next section fresh, forgetting about what happened in the previous section. [I also thought it would help my eye rest from starting at a screen -- don't ask, I don't know why I thought that either.] Sometimes when I’m running, if it’s laps of Central Park or a track, I pretend each lap I hit a “reset” button to help me forget about the last lap and focus on the next one.

Tangent: Speaking of buttons, for a while I actually thought the Staples “Easy Button” was a real thing. I guess I thought you just had some standard order and when you hit the button it just ordered it for you through internet magic or something. Extreme blonde moment.

Apparently, this button is just a prop and of no real use.

I’m at home for  long weekend and today was the perfect reset day. It was rainy, cold, dark, and gloomy. I got my hair highlighted and, yep, I got some hair feathers of a more autumnal variety. I mean, hello, I think it’s PERFECT for Thanksgiving. I’m sure the Native Americans at the first Thanksgiving put some turkey feathers in their hair after teaching the pilgrims how to harvest their crops and what not.

Feather head dress. Hair feathers. Totally similar.

I got some treatment (ultrasound, stim, ice) on the lower extremity that shall not be named and freaked out a bit there as the PT scared me into thinking 1) I was taking too much time off on my super taper and 2) that I might gain weight so I need to go do something. To be honest, the gaining weight thing is that last of my worries. In fact, it wasn’t even on my radar. In my opinion, I’d rather be 100% better in 8 days or so and a pound heavier than go run a lot tomorrow or something to prevent weight gain and re-exacerbate the lower extremity that shall not be named, preventing me from running in 8 days or so. Just my opinion. I am a tad worried about taking so much time off, though.

Super Taper's powers also include not worrying. Super Taper is working on this, it's not her best super power.

After I left the PT’s office, at the advice of a wise person, I determined I was spending too much time thinking about my damn leg and not enough time on if I was going to go to regular Target or Super Target. So, from this point forward, everyone in my world is not going to talk about the marathon or at least pretend its really far off.

Which brings me to — Reasons I love my family:

1) Interaction with my mom in the kitchen this morning:

Mummy (her self-dubbed October name, duh): “Meggie are you running that marathon of a run here this weekend?”

Me: “No, Mom, that’s next weekend in New York.”

Mummy: “Yeah, but there is like one here this weekend – the Buddy’s Race for Cancer or something.”

Me: “Mom, that’s a 5K.”

Mummy: “Yeah, I know, but all of your races sound so far to me that I call them all marathons.”

2) After telling my sister why I can’t run right now:

Ally: “Well, what did you expect running that much?”

Me: “I don’t run that much.”

Ally: “You run like 20 miles a day. Its insane.”

Me: “You wanna run the Turkey Trot with me at Thanksgiving.”

Ally: “No, running is terrible. It’s miserable.”

Side note: I’m still determined to get Ally to do the Turkey Trot with me.

So, if you’re entering Meggie World in the next few days, you know the rules.

Also, I’d like to introduce you to the lady of our house:

"The Lady" -- She has no name. Suggestions?

I’m not sure where my mom got her from, but when she first got her, she thought about sending her back. We then all quickly changed our opinion as, clearly, she is awesome. She is dressed up for every holiday. This is her Halloween costume this year. Last year, she had a mask.

My 2nd favorite Halloween decoration in our house.

TELL ME: IS YOUR FAMILY A RUNNING FAMILY? OR WHAT SPORT DOES YOUR FAMILY “REVOLVE” AROUND? THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE LADY SHOULD BE NEXT YEAR FOR HALLOWEEN? AND, DO YOU THINK SHOPPING AT TARGET CAN COUNT AS NEUROMUSCULAR STIMULATION?

Because deep water running sounds boring. Really boring.

My family definitely revolves around tennis. Of course, my family supports my running, but whether I run a marathon or not doesn’t really matter to them.

Also, A BIG SHOUT OUT to KATIE, CHRISTY, and LAUREN who are running the Marine Corps Marathon Sunday. Go wish them luck!  [I'm sorry if I missed someone.]

Until next time…