"Indecision becomes decision with time." -- Author Unknown
After I crossed the finish line of the 2011 Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 9, I figuratively patted myself on the back for completing another 26.2 mile race and was excited about recovering, resting and rebuilding for the next challenge that was sure to come my way.
A few weeks passed. I was back to running 5-6 days per week and feeling pretty good. Some folks would ask, "so what's next on the agenda for you?" I would hold my finger to my lips and make the universal "shhhhh" symbol and told them it was double top secret. In reality, I was leaning toward squeezing a third marathon in this calendar year and doing the Honolulu Marathon on December 11. A friend of mine lives there and invited me to stay with her. I even had a ride to and from the airport! I did my "reverse" taper and began my ramp. About three and a half weeks ago, after a 16 mile run, I started coughing a bit. The coughing gave way to chest congestion, which introduced me to some body aches that culminated in "OMG, I cannot get warm for the life of me".
After taking a sick day and riding the couch, it became clear to me that I COULD have done another marathon, but perhaps I SHOULD decline. Yes, it was Hawaii, yes, it's "paradise", but I wasn't going there to lay on the beach and drink mai tais. As much as I love running, and I do, marathons aren't easy, no matter where you do them.
So, I decided to pass on Honolulu's 26.2. And my friend totally understood, which I knew she would.
Ever since then, it's been a whole lot of nothing. Don't misunderstand me, here: I'm running. The week after I bounced back from my cold/cough/flu, I logged 48 miles. Last week, I ran 44 miles on a holiday/travel week, no less. I'm SO running.
I'm just...not..."training for anything". Technically.
For the first time in, omigosh FOREVER, I don't have a race planned, whether it be a 5K or a marathon.
And...I'm not...really...interested right now.
AH! There, I said it!!! I don't feel like being obligated to a race or a training schedule. This is a very unfamiliar feeling to me because I ALWAYS have something pending, it seems. I almost feel like a woman without a country.
But, you know what? F**k it. I'm going to ride the wave and see where it takes me.
I'm learning that life is all about "going with your gut". If it feels good and you have a strong desire, then go full force into it. However, if you have to make a pros and cons list in order to decide about something, then perhaps you have already decided. That's what makes that first quote I listed so great. We make big hairy deals about things sometimes, not because we don't know what to do, but because we don't want to accept our answer.
Well, this girl is taking her indecision as a decision. I'm going to ramble, rant, rebuild and run because that is my desire. As much as I love the "R" words, Racing just isn't on my radar right now.
And, I'm okay with that. :-)
"Everything is something you decide to do, and there is nothing you have to do." -- Denis Waitley
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Wanted: Boston Marathon Finishers/Spectators/Volunteers With Really Good Stories
My blog is pretty promiscuous; that is to say, it gets around.
And that is a good thing, particularly when someone needs to get the word out about something important. Friends of mine who are involved with the Danvers 5K Fun Run and Wicked Running Club told me about a man who was getting ready to write a book. After swapping some emails back and forth, I offered to give him a plug:
"My name is Joel Richardson and you can reach me at JoelRichardson@verizon.net. I am writing a book on the Boston Marathon from the perspective of those who have experienced it firsthand, especially runners, but also possibly officials and even spectators. If you have an anecdote or story you would like to tell, please contact me and either send it along or we can do an interview, either online or by phone. Thanks!"
Would you like to share YOUR story??? Come on now, who doesn't want their 15 minutes of fame???
Drop Joel a line. Tell him Cyndi Lou sent you. :-)
And that is a good thing, particularly when someone needs to get the word out about something important. Friends of mine who are involved with the Danvers 5K Fun Run and Wicked Running Club told me about a man who was getting ready to write a book. After swapping some emails back and forth, I offered to give him a plug:
"My name is Joel Richardson and you can reach me at JoelRichardson@verizon.net. I am writing a book on the Boston Marathon from the perspective of those who have experienced it firsthand, especially runners, but also possibly officials and even spectators. If you have an anecdote or story you would like to tell, please contact me and either send it along or we can do an interview, either online or by phone. Thanks!"
Would you like to share YOUR story??? Come on now, who doesn't want their 15 minutes of fame???
Drop Joel a line. Tell him Cyndi Lou sent you. :-)
Monday, November 7, 2011
My 24 Day Challenge Story
Over the summer, I started to notice posts on facebook from my friend, Alison, about a company called AdvoCare. Along with the posts, she had before and after pictures. Now, I'll say this: Alison looked great before. She's always been into fitness. But, her great got even greater in the after shots.
I was...intrigued. I work hard, and I played just as hard. I wondered if this was something I could use to help me feel better and run better. Honestly, the whole "looking better thing" wasn't really on my radar.
So, I reached out to her and she phoned me a couple of days later. She and her sponsor, Laura, spent a good 20 minutes talking to me about AdvoCare and how I could use the products to improve my running which, was truly my top priority. I started with three products: Spark, Arginine Extreme and Catalyst. I went for a run with Arginine and Catalyst on Friday, July 1st and felt pretty good. Then, the next day, I took Spark for the first time before my 5 miler. Holy speed, Batman. If you don't believe me, see for yourself:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96246681
The funny thing about it was, I didn't really feel like I was working much harder than usual. I had the same basic level of effort output, however, my results were much faster. Prior to trying the Spark, I had been running 5-6 miles @ 9:10-9:20/mi. I averaged 8:34/mi for this run which was around marathon pace. I was starting to really believe this stuff.
As the weeks went on, I purchased more product and tried new things: Meal Replacement Shakes, O2 Gold Caplets, Nighttime Recovery Caplets, Post Workout Sports Drink, Rehydrate, etc. The list goes on. The more I tried, the more I liked and the better I felt about this company and the quality of their supplements.
I decided to take the plunge and become an Advisor, the highest distributor discount level, after I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I figured I'd be ordering a ton of stuff anyway, so might as well maximize my investment by getting the most for my money. People were starting to ask me what I was taking, based on how I looked and how my running had improved. Now, I was getting into recommending product and distributing samples of Spark and Slam (which is a 2 oz. energy shot). Since I was already committed and pretty serious about this, I thought it would be smart if I tried their big, potentially "life changing" seller: The 24 Day Challenge.
Their tagline is lose up to 10 lbs./10 inches in 24 days. Again, I wasn't in this for weight loss, necessarily, however, I needed to try it to see if it worked. I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend this to someone who was looking for a weight management program unless I tried it myself. On October 11, 2011, I began my 24 Day Challenge. I took my starting weight and measurements which, I'll share with you here:
Weight: 146
Right Arm: 11.75"
Shoulders: 19" from left to right
Chest: 36.75"
Waist: 29.75"
Hips: 35.75"
Right Thigh: 22"
Right Calf: 15"
And now, gasp, here are my before and after pictures. First, here is me from the front:
And now, here I am from the back:
(Personally, I always thought this was my better side anyway).
I did the 10 Day Cleanse first, followed by the 14 Day Max Pack. At first, I hopped on the scale every day. About halfway through, it seemed to be a little obsessive and I was beginning to allow the daily up/down normal fluctuations in weight to affect my motivation. So, I decided to table the weigh-ins until my challenge was complete. I'd say I was 80-90% compliant with the recommendations and guidelines set forth, so I was pretty proud of myself. The last day of my challenge was Thursday, November 3rd. On Friday, November 4th, I took my "after" weight and measurements:
Weight: 138
Right Arm: 11.75"
Shoulders: 19" from left to right
Chest: 34.50"
Waist: 29"
Hips: 34.50"
Right Thigh: 21"
Right Calf: 15"
I lost 8 lbs. and about 5.25" from my frame. I was under 140 lbs. for the first time in several years. Here I am "after".
First, from the front:
And now, my better side, made even better:
Can you see the difference???
I am not a big fan of getting my picture taken, nor do I particularly enjoy donning a bikini. But, I did it anyway, because I knew how important it was to be real about this whole experience. Seeing a nameless personality on tv or the internet before and after because of some xyz product is all well and fine, but chances are, you won't really identify with them because you don't know them. In order for this to seem credible to my friends, family and others, I had to go into this all the way or not at all.
Needless to say, I feel great and the feedback that I've received from all kinds of people has been super positive. I've sold about a half dozen of 24 Day Challenges so far and fully expect to match that number in the next couple of weeks. I went into this venture, almost four and a half months ago, just hoping to find one or two products that could help me run better. What I found instead, was a healthier body, a fun, profitable business opportunity and a vehicle that can help me improve the health and wellbeing of the people with whom I live, work and spend time.
I'd say that's a win/win, wouldn't you?
Please let me know if I can help you or someone you know and love feel better: https://www.advocare.com/110613152/default.aspx.
"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." -- Benjamin Disraeli
I was...intrigued. I work hard, and I played just as hard. I wondered if this was something I could use to help me feel better and run better. Honestly, the whole "looking better thing" wasn't really on my radar.
So, I reached out to her and she phoned me a couple of days later. She and her sponsor, Laura, spent a good 20 minutes talking to me about AdvoCare and how I could use the products to improve my running which, was truly my top priority. I started with three products: Spark, Arginine Extreme and Catalyst. I went for a run with Arginine and Catalyst on Friday, July 1st and felt pretty good. Then, the next day, I took Spark for the first time before my 5 miler. Holy speed, Batman. If you don't believe me, see for yourself:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96246681
The funny thing about it was, I didn't really feel like I was working much harder than usual. I had the same basic level of effort output, however, my results were much faster. Prior to trying the Spark, I had been running 5-6 miles @ 9:10-9:20/mi. I averaged 8:34/mi for this run which was around marathon pace. I was starting to really believe this stuff.
As the weeks went on, I purchased more product and tried new things: Meal Replacement Shakes, O2 Gold Caplets, Nighttime Recovery Caplets, Post Workout Sports Drink, Rehydrate, etc. The list goes on. The more I tried, the more I liked and the better I felt about this company and the quality of their supplements.
I decided to take the plunge and become an Advisor, the highest distributor discount level, after I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I figured I'd be ordering a ton of stuff anyway, so might as well maximize my investment by getting the most for my money. People were starting to ask me what I was taking, based on how I looked and how my running had improved. Now, I was getting into recommending product and distributing samples of Spark and Slam (which is a 2 oz. energy shot). Since I was already committed and pretty serious about this, I thought it would be smart if I tried their big, potentially "life changing" seller: The 24 Day Challenge.
Their tagline is lose up to 10 lbs./10 inches in 24 days. Again, I wasn't in this for weight loss, necessarily, however, I needed to try it to see if it worked. I couldn't, in good conscience, recommend this to someone who was looking for a weight management program unless I tried it myself. On October 11, 2011, I began my 24 Day Challenge. I took my starting weight and measurements which, I'll share with you here:
Weight: 146
Right Arm: 11.75"
Shoulders: 19" from left to right
Chest: 36.75"
Waist: 29.75"
Hips: 35.75"
Right Thigh: 22"
Right Calf: 15"
And now, gasp, here are my before and after pictures. First, here is me from the front:
And now, here I am from the back:
I did the 10 Day Cleanse first, followed by the 14 Day Max Pack. At first, I hopped on the scale every day. About halfway through, it seemed to be a little obsessive and I was beginning to allow the daily up/down normal fluctuations in weight to affect my motivation. So, I decided to table the weigh-ins until my challenge was complete. I'd say I was 80-90% compliant with the recommendations and guidelines set forth, so I was pretty proud of myself. The last day of my challenge was Thursday, November 3rd. On Friday, November 4th, I took my "after" weight and measurements:
Weight: 138
Right Arm: 11.75"
Shoulders: 19" from left to right
Chest: 34.50"
Waist: 29"
Hips: 34.50"
Right Thigh: 21"
Right Calf: 15"
I lost 8 lbs. and about 5.25" from my frame. I was under 140 lbs. for the first time in several years. Here I am "after".
First, from the front:
And now, my better side, made even better:
Can you see the difference???
I am not a big fan of getting my picture taken, nor do I particularly enjoy donning a bikini. But, I did it anyway, because I knew how important it was to be real about this whole experience. Seeing a nameless personality on tv or the internet before and after because of some xyz product is all well and fine, but chances are, you won't really identify with them because you don't know them. In order for this to seem credible to my friends, family and others, I had to go into this all the way or not at all.
Needless to say, I feel great and the feedback that I've received from all kinds of people has been super positive. I've sold about a half dozen of 24 Day Challenges so far and fully expect to match that number in the next couple of weeks. I went into this venture, almost four and a half months ago, just hoping to find one or two products that could help me run better. What I found instead, was a healthier body, a fun, profitable business opportunity and a vehicle that can help me improve the health and wellbeing of the people with whom I live, work and spend time.
I'd say that's a win/win, wouldn't you?
Please let me know if I can help you or someone you know and love feel better: https://www.advocare.com/110613152/default.aspx.
"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." -- Benjamin Disraeli
Monday, October 17, 2011
Chicago, Chicago, that Toddling Town-Pt. 2
After an intermittent, albeit fairly satisfying, night of sleep, I got out of bed around 5:30 a.m. to get ready for the race. Ted was still sleeping, at least he appeared to be. I went about my morning ablutions as quietly as I could so as not to disturb him, but the likelihood of that happening seemed slim. If there's one thing I've learned about sharing a hotel room with Ted, having done it three times, that boy can pretty much sleep through anything. I marveled at his ability to slip into slumber quickly, not to mention staying there. And I was probably just a little bit jealous.
But only a little.
Eventually, Sleeping Beauty did rise. We had decided the night before that we'd leave around 6:45 a.m. That gave us 45 minutes to get to the start, which was only 3/4ths of a mile away from our hotel. I completely relied on Ted's sense of direction to get us to where we needed to be. I have a habit of not paying attention to my surroundings, and this happened to be one of those times. As we walked, Ted remarked that he's never seen me this quiet pre-race before. I told him that there wasn't really anything to say. I was minutes away from starting this race. I wasn't going to ask for reassurance on how I would do or voice concern about the unseasonably high temperatures (it was in the upper 50's at the start, but it was expected to reach the mid to upper 70's during the race which is not optimal for long distance running). In the past, I would do that, but not this time. I just didn't think it was a constructive thing to do.
All the work was already done. And, contrary to what the engineers at the fitness center think, I do NOT control the weather.
We were both in different corrals so, ever being the gentlemen, Ted saw me to mine before he went off to his. We exchanged hugs and good wishes and then, he went off. I waded through the crowd, looking for "the perfect place to stand". Once I realized there really wasn't any, I powered up the Garmin and waited as we all got funneled into our corral, like cattle. Did I mention that 45,000 people had registered for this marathon?? Since John didn't make the trip with us, let's call it 44,999. I have never been at a race that big in my LIFE.
May I remind you that I am not a detail person? If you read my Atlantic City Marathon race report last year, you already knew that. For the benefit of new readers, if you are expecting a play-by-play of the race, with lengthy, graphic descriptions about the scenery, you may be disappointed. I just put my head down and run. I'm not on a sight seeing tour; I'm on a 26.2 mile mission.
Just wanted to...clear that up.
The gun went off about five minutes after the scheduled race start. I got myself in a pretty good rhythm and told myself that I was going to do my best, whatever that ended up being, and that it would be enough. I did have a goal time in mind and, having heard how fast and flat Chicago was, I figured this would be the race to shoot towards it. As the miles went by, it became clear that I wasn't going to meet that goal. There were lots of people to get around and I didn't want to expend exorbitant amounts of energy weaving around them. The water stops got jammed up with people walking (when all the blood is in your legs, you tend not to think clearly and forget that you have thousands of people trying like hell not to run into you). Perhaps I was a tad bit conservative due to the unknown of how the warm temperature would affect me, but hindsight is 20/20. The good news is, I felt like I COULD have run that time. I felt very strong and fit this time around. When I ran Boston in April 2011, I pretty much ran out of steam at the 30K mark.
But, not here. Not this time. That was not the issue.
I ran the whole thing, no walk breaks. And, when Mile 25 came around, I found I finally had some room to run. So, I poured it on and did the best I could. My GPS showed me crossing the line in 3:50:49, but I probably lost signal a few times due to the abundance of tall buildings. Here is the link containing my Garmin data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120413434.
After crossing the finish line, I continued to walk. I received a heat sheet blanket that I took more out of politeness than sincerity (um, hello, it was 75 degrees by then). The volunteers at the finish line were FANTASTIC. They all smiled and gave you a hearty, "congratulations!" when they handed over the medal. It seemed to be totally genuine too, which reinforced my belief that folks in the Midwest are super duper nice. I got gatorade, water and food. Happily, the streets in Chicago seemed wide enough to accommodate a large group of finishers at one time, at least when I came through (Boston's finish line mimics it's rush hour traffic: stop and go, stop and go, stop and go). I continued to eat and drink while walking. Once I found out where the fountain was, I went in search of Ted. Lo and behold, he was exactly where he said he'd be. We shared our individual marathon experiences with each other. Neither one of us ran our fastest times that day, but we were okay with that. Besides, the bling looks the same:
My recorded finish time was 3:52:08 and I placed 6801 out of 35,628 finishers. Out of the eight marathons I have completed, this was my fourth fastest time.
So, what did I learn from this experience? That you can be satisfied with being dissatisfied. I didn't get a PR at this race, nor did I match my marathon PR from May 2010. But, I'm at peace with that. I am thankful I went into this with a positive mental attitude, a solid training base and, most of all, dear friends like John and Ted that make this journey even more fun, not to mention meaningful.
However, that doesn't mean I don't want more. My desire to run "that time" is even stronger than it was before. But, it's coming from a pure place. We are all meant to grow and expand beyond where we are now. And that is exactly what I plan to do when I train for my next marathon...and the next...and the next.
Thanks a bunch, Chicago. It was a real pleasure. Next time, I'll be sure to try your famous pizza.
"My kind of town, Chicago is...My kind of town, Chicago is...My kind of razzmatazz...And it has all that jazz."
But only a little.
Eventually, Sleeping Beauty did rise. We had decided the night before that we'd leave around 6:45 a.m. That gave us 45 minutes to get to the start, which was only 3/4ths of a mile away from our hotel. I completely relied on Ted's sense of direction to get us to where we needed to be. I have a habit of not paying attention to my surroundings, and this happened to be one of those times. As we walked, Ted remarked that he's never seen me this quiet pre-race before. I told him that there wasn't really anything to say. I was minutes away from starting this race. I wasn't going to ask for reassurance on how I would do or voice concern about the unseasonably high temperatures (it was in the upper 50's at the start, but it was expected to reach the mid to upper 70's during the race which is not optimal for long distance running). In the past, I would do that, but not this time. I just didn't think it was a constructive thing to do.
All the work was already done. And, contrary to what the engineers at the fitness center think, I do NOT control the weather.
We were both in different corrals so, ever being the gentlemen, Ted saw me to mine before he went off to his. We exchanged hugs and good wishes and then, he went off. I waded through the crowd, looking for "the perfect place to stand". Once I realized there really wasn't any, I powered up the Garmin and waited as we all got funneled into our corral, like cattle. Did I mention that 45,000 people had registered for this marathon?? Since John didn't make the trip with us, let's call it 44,999. I have never been at a race that big in my LIFE.
May I remind you that I am not a detail person? If you read my Atlantic City Marathon race report last year, you already knew that. For the benefit of new readers, if you are expecting a play-by-play of the race, with lengthy, graphic descriptions about the scenery, you may be disappointed. I just put my head down and run. I'm not on a sight seeing tour; I'm on a 26.2 mile mission.
Just wanted to...clear that up.
The gun went off about five minutes after the scheduled race start. I got myself in a pretty good rhythm and told myself that I was going to do my best, whatever that ended up being, and that it would be enough. I did have a goal time in mind and, having heard how fast and flat Chicago was, I figured this would be the race to shoot towards it. As the miles went by, it became clear that I wasn't going to meet that goal. There were lots of people to get around and I didn't want to expend exorbitant amounts of energy weaving around them. The water stops got jammed up with people walking (when all the blood is in your legs, you tend not to think clearly and forget that you have thousands of people trying like hell not to run into you). Perhaps I was a tad bit conservative due to the unknown of how the warm temperature would affect me, but hindsight is 20/20. The good news is, I felt like I COULD have run that time. I felt very strong and fit this time around. When I ran Boston in April 2011, I pretty much ran out of steam at the 30K mark.
But, not here. Not this time. That was not the issue.
I ran the whole thing, no walk breaks. And, when Mile 25 came around, I found I finally had some room to run. So, I poured it on and did the best I could. My GPS showed me crossing the line in 3:50:49, but I probably lost signal a few times due to the abundance of tall buildings. Here is the link containing my Garmin data: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/120413434.
After crossing the finish line, I continued to walk. I received a heat sheet blanket that I took more out of politeness than sincerity (um, hello, it was 75 degrees by then). The volunteers at the finish line were FANTASTIC. They all smiled and gave you a hearty, "congratulations!" when they handed over the medal. It seemed to be totally genuine too, which reinforced my belief that folks in the Midwest are super duper nice. I got gatorade, water and food. Happily, the streets in Chicago seemed wide enough to accommodate a large group of finishers at one time, at least when I came through (Boston's finish line mimics it's rush hour traffic: stop and go, stop and go, stop and go). I continued to eat and drink while walking. Once I found out where the fountain was, I went in search of Ted. Lo and behold, he was exactly where he said he'd be. We shared our individual marathon experiences with each other. Neither one of us ran our fastest times that day, but we were okay with that. Besides, the bling looks the same:
My recorded finish time was 3:52:08 and I placed 6801 out of 35,628 finishers. Out of the eight marathons I have completed, this was my fourth fastest time.
So, what did I learn from this experience? That you can be satisfied with being dissatisfied. I didn't get a PR at this race, nor did I match my marathon PR from May 2010. But, I'm at peace with that. I am thankful I went into this with a positive mental attitude, a solid training base and, most of all, dear friends like John and Ted that make this journey even more fun, not to mention meaningful.
However, that doesn't mean I don't want more. My desire to run "that time" is even stronger than it was before. But, it's coming from a pure place. We are all meant to grow and expand beyond where we are now. And that is exactly what I plan to do when I train for my next marathon...and the next...and the next.
Thanks a bunch, Chicago. It was a real pleasure. Next time, I'll be sure to try your famous pizza.
"My kind of town, Chicago is...My kind of town, Chicago is...My kind of razzmatazz...And it has all that jazz."
Monday, October 10, 2011
Chicago, Chicago, that Toddling Town-Pt. 1
"Chicago, Chicago--I will show you around. I love it. Bet your bottom dollar you'll lose the blues in Chicago, Chicago. The town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down." -- Sung by the legendary Frank Sinatra
I met Ted at Logan International Airport on Friday and we boarded a plane headed to Chi Town. We were both running the "We'll charge you $5" Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, 10/9/11 (I just had to throw that in. What do I care anyway...I'm with TD Bank). Our third musketeer, John, didn't make the trip with us this time around due to an unwilling hamstring, but we brought him with us in mind and spirit, particularly since he was the first one of us to register for this race in the first place.
Thankfully, our flight was on time and went off without a hitch. We arrived at O'Hare and took the CTA Train to downtown, where our hotel, the Hyatt Regency, was. Once we checked in, we dropped off our bags and took a taxi to the expo. Turns out, Friday was the day to go. There was a good amount of people there, but the place was large enough to accommodate and there weren't any lines for number pickup. After some light shopping, we took the bus back to downtown. It was at this time we realized we had practically taken every mode of transportation known to man in one day (auto, plane, train, taxi and bus). All we needed was to find a boat and our day would have been complete.
Thanks to some kickass room darkening drapes, we enjoyed sleeping until 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. It could have been even later had the phone not rung. Neither one of us were in a hurry to get up and go, but after receiving two visits from housekeeping in the span of an hour, we figured it was probably a good idea. We got ourselves a light breakfast and went to scope out a place to meet post race. This seemed like the logical choice:
Look familiar? Anyone that has ever watched "Married With Children" has seen this as it appears in the opening of every show. It's Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. Impressive, eh? I took a picture of it with my CrackBerry (which came out pretty good, if I do say so myself). We picked a spot near some trees by the fountain cafe. Having ironed out this important detail, we headed over to The Art Institute of Chicago. I'm ignorant when it comes to art. Now, I'm not putting myself down, I'm using the word "ignorant" in it's proper sense: uninformed. Ted has an affinity for the artsy fartsy stuff, so I followed his lead. I won't bore you with the details, but I will provide you with their website. Perhaps you're artsy fartsy too:
http://www.artic.edu/
We had some tasty Asian cuisine for lunch (egg drop soup for Ted, hot and sour soup for me and Sesame Chicken we both shared) and hopped on the train to visit Ted's friend, Chuck, who lived just outside of Chicago in Oak Park. He picked us up and drove us around so we can check out buildings and houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect, of whom I had no prior knowledge. The only architect I had ever heard of was Mike Brady (yes, I know it's a fictional character, but I come from a divorced family and television was my babysitter).
Chuck was kind enough to take us back to his home so we could socialize a bit. His wife, Wanda, was super nice and made us fresh brewed iced tea complete w/lemon wedge. We enjoyed conversing with them for an hour or so and would have made a night of it, had we not had a date with 26.2 miles of asphalt in 13 hours. So, we said our goodbyes and headed back on the train in search of dinner. We ended up going to this place:
http://www.elephantcastle.com/
They had outdoor seating which was cool...except you had to scream your face off everytime the trains went by. But hey, what do you want? It's the city, for crying out loud. We limited ourselves to one beer each since we needed to be hydrated as opposed to hungover the next day. Once we were finished, we headed to the store nearest the hotel to get runner friendly pre-marathon food. It was hilarious going in there and seeing all of these lean, athletic types walking around with a bagel in one hand and a banana in another. That is akin to a secret handshake for marathon runners. I bet that store never sells that many of either item any other day of the year.
Once we got back to the hotel, we thought it best to get all of our race gear ready for the morning. I covered all the bases:
For this race, I opted to rock my 2008 Lazarus House Team Hunger Striker Singlet. It was light, it was white, and it had my name on it. From what I heard, the crowds in Chicago are AMAZING. I'll shamelessly lap up all of the encouragement and "Go Cyndi's" I can get on a run that long. I also put the D-Tag (timing chip) on my shoe so I wouldn't have to screw around with that at 6 a.m.
With all the pre-race prep done, all that remained was to relax, unwind and wait for sleep to come.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
I met Ted at Logan International Airport on Friday and we boarded a plane headed to Chi Town. We were both running the "We'll charge you $5" Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, 10/9/11 (I just had to throw that in. What do I care anyway...I'm with TD Bank). Our third musketeer, John, didn't make the trip with us this time around due to an unwilling hamstring, but we brought him with us in mind and spirit, particularly since he was the first one of us to register for this race in the first place.
Thankfully, our flight was on time and went off without a hitch. We arrived at O'Hare and took the CTA Train to downtown, where our hotel, the Hyatt Regency, was. Once we checked in, we dropped off our bags and took a taxi to the expo. Turns out, Friday was the day to go. There was a good amount of people there, but the place was large enough to accommodate and there weren't any lines for number pickup. After some light shopping, we took the bus back to downtown. It was at this time we realized we had practically taken every mode of transportation known to man in one day (auto, plane, train, taxi and bus). All we needed was to find a boat and our day would have been complete.
Thanks to some kickass room darkening drapes, we enjoyed sleeping until 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. It could have been even later had the phone not rung. Neither one of us were in a hurry to get up and go, but after receiving two visits from housekeeping in the span of an hour, we figured it was probably a good idea. We got ourselves a light breakfast and went to scope out a place to meet post race. This seemed like the logical choice:
Look familiar? Anyone that has ever watched "Married With Children" has seen this as it appears in the opening of every show. It's Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park. Impressive, eh? I took a picture of it with my CrackBerry (which came out pretty good, if I do say so myself). We picked a spot near some trees by the fountain cafe. Having ironed out this important detail, we headed over to The Art Institute of Chicago. I'm ignorant when it comes to art. Now, I'm not putting myself down, I'm using the word "ignorant" in it's proper sense: uninformed. Ted has an affinity for the artsy fartsy stuff, so I followed his lead. I won't bore you with the details, but I will provide you with their website. Perhaps you're artsy fartsy too:
http://www.artic.edu/
We had some tasty Asian cuisine for lunch (egg drop soup for Ted, hot and sour soup for me and Sesame Chicken we both shared) and hopped on the train to visit Ted's friend, Chuck, who lived just outside of Chicago in Oak Park. He picked us up and drove us around so we can check out buildings and houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect, of whom I had no prior knowledge. The only architect I had ever heard of was Mike Brady (yes, I know it's a fictional character, but I come from a divorced family and television was my babysitter).
Chuck was kind enough to take us back to his home so we could socialize a bit. His wife, Wanda, was super nice and made us fresh brewed iced tea complete w/lemon wedge. We enjoyed conversing with them for an hour or so and would have made a night of it, had we not had a date with 26.2 miles of asphalt in 13 hours. So, we said our goodbyes and headed back on the train in search of dinner. We ended up going to this place:
http://www.elephantcastle.com/
They had outdoor seating which was cool...except you had to scream your face off everytime the trains went by. But hey, what do you want? It's the city, for crying out loud. We limited ourselves to one beer each since we needed to be hydrated as opposed to hungover the next day. Once we were finished, we headed to the store nearest the hotel to get runner friendly pre-marathon food. It was hilarious going in there and seeing all of these lean, athletic types walking around with a bagel in one hand and a banana in another. That is akin to a secret handshake for marathon runners. I bet that store never sells that many of either item any other day of the year.
Once we got back to the hotel, we thought it best to get all of our race gear ready for the morning. I covered all the bases:
For this race, I opted to rock my 2008 Lazarus House Team Hunger Striker Singlet. It was light, it was white, and it had my name on it. From what I heard, the crowds in Chicago are AMAZING. I'll shamelessly lap up all of the encouragement and "Go Cyndi's" I can get on a run that long. I also put the D-Tag (timing chip) on my shoe so I wouldn't have to screw around with that at 6 a.m.
With all the pre-race prep done, all that remained was to relax, unwind and wait for sleep to come.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Nine Seconds
"Time is the longest distance between two places." -- Tennessee Williams
I'd like you to do me a favor.
Get a watch with a second hand and count nine seconds.
I'll wait.
(tapping fingers on table, patiently waiting, whistling merrily)
All set?
Now, how long was that? Not very long, right?
That is what kept me out of the 2012 Boston Marathon this year: nine seconds.
Because of last year's Boston Marathon online enrollment fiasco, the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) instituted a rolling admission process for this year. If you had a BQ (Boston Qualifier) 20 minutes or more FASTER than your standard, you could register on Monday, 9/12/11. Those who were 10 minutes or more FASTER were eligible to do so on Wednesday, 9/14/11 and BQ'ers between 5-10 minutes got to pony up their dough on Friday of that same week. Provided there was still space available, registration would be open to ALL who had met their qualifying standard from Monday, 9/19/11 through Friday, 9/23/11. Because I will be (gasp) 40 years young on the day of the race, I had to have a time of 3:50:59 or faster in order to register. I had run the 2010 Atlantic City Marathon in 3:48:55 last October, so this was the time I used.
I'd like you to do me a favor.
Get a watch with a second hand and count nine seconds.
I'll wait.
(tapping fingers on table, patiently waiting, whistling merrily)
All set?
Now, how long was that? Not very long, right?
That is what kept me out of the 2012 Boston Marathon this year: nine seconds.
Because of last year's Boston Marathon online enrollment fiasco, the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) instituted a rolling admission process for this year. If you had a BQ (Boston Qualifier) 20 minutes or more FASTER than your standard, you could register on Monday, 9/12/11. Those who were 10 minutes or more FASTER were eligible to do so on Wednesday, 9/14/11 and BQ'ers between 5-10 minutes got to pony up their dough on Friday of that same week. Provided there was still space available, registration would be open to ALL who had met their qualifying standard from Monday, 9/19/11 through Friday, 9/23/11. Because I will be (gasp) 40 years young on the day of the race, I had to have a time of 3:50:59 or faster in order to register. I had run the 2010 Atlantic City Marathon in 3:48:55 last October, so this was the time I used.
Apparently, there was an abundance of fast females aged 40-44. I received an email yesterday from the BAA that stated the following: Regrettably, we are unable to accept your application due to field size limitations and the large number of applications we received from qualified runners. Entries from applicants in your age group were accepted through and including the time 3:48:46.
To quote Agent 86, also known as Maxwell Smart, "missed it by that much".
I've done Boston three times already, once as a qualified runner and twice as a charity runner, so I wasn't really all that upset about it. At least, I didn't think I was.
Until I pulled the rookie move of updating my status on facebook
Then, I became "bothered" by it. I felt the need to justify, explain and candy coat the entire experience to my +/- 400 something friends who may or may not even give a s**t. I clearly stated I wasn't upset about it and didn't want sympathy, "I'm sorry's" or the like. I was just...telling people what was on my mind. Those that responded were totally well meaning people with all the best intentions. Of that I had no doubt. But soon, it became clear to me: this didn't feel good. Sharing the news with the world at large made me go from happy to, well, not so happy. Besides, when is the last time someone said , "oh you poor thing!" in the midst of a personal "tragedy" and it helped? I mean, really. You can't shore up another person's weaknesses with your strength. You need to see them as already being strong enough. Once I realized this, I thanked everyone who checked in and promptly deleted this thread so it could never be seen or heard from in cyberspace again.
So, what in the Sam Hill was my freaking issue anyway?
Before I go a little further, some background here: my husband leaves tomorrow for FL on his annual guys trip. As happy as I am that he is doing this, because no one works harder or is more deserving of fun in the sun than he, I confess I feel a little sad that he'll be gone for five days. Couple that with my own impending travel plans to Chicago in 10 days for the marathon on 10/9, it's no wonder that I'm a little "emotional". It would make sense that being slightly hypersensitive anyway, this might seem much worse than it actually was.
Nice try, Cyndi, but no, that wasn't quite it. You had those variables going on before reading the email and posting it on facebook. You were laughing and joking like a five year old all day.
I decided to listen to a guided meditation hoping I'd get to the heart of what was troubling me. I listened to one on letting go and still felt unsettled. I found one on emotional healing (letting the emotions flow freely without judging or resisting). Then, I had some wine and went to bed.
When I woke this morning, I realized why I was upset.
Societal expectations and approval.
I "thought" I "should" want to run Boston every year as a qualified runner since I'm pretty committed to the sport and if I didn't have that aspiration, then I wouldn't be considered a "real marathoner". After all, it's the oldest and "most prestigious" marathon in the world, right? Finally, since I didn't have a time of 3:48:46 or faster (even though I DID qualify based on the standard), that must mean that I would be perceived as "less than" by anyone and everyone.
Ah. EUREKA!
When I took the time to be still and let my consciousness relax, I disconnected from the "should haves, could haves and would haves", the "peanut gallery" and the "expectations", as I perceived them. It came down to this simple question: what do I want?
And this is the answer: to enjoy my sport by running however, whenever and wherever I want while remembering that running a fast enough BQ time doesn't define who I am. My worthiness and value is infinite, constant and doesn't hinge on external accomplishments or meeting the criteria of others, whether they be my peers or the BAA (who has every right, by the way, to run their marathon as they see fit and I have nothing but respect and support for them).
Did I REALLY want to run Boston for me? Would it have been fun? I'm sure it would have. And, truly, if I was that hard over on it, I could definitely get a # through a charity. There is more than one way to skin a cat, you know.
The truth is: in all the ways that matter, it just isn't that big of a deal to me to run from Hopkinton to Boylston Street again, as legendary and magical as it can be. Considering where I came from (smoking cigarettes and being overweight), I'm just happy to be in the mix. Plus, I had already entered the lottery for the 2012 London Marathon, which is held six days after the Boston Marathon. I'll find out before I leave for Chicago if I got in to that race.
When one door closes, another one opens. And if it's not London, it will be something else. There are hundreds of marathons all over the place. If that's really my pleasure, I will have absolutely no problem whatsoever satisfying it. To paraphrase some wisdom I acquired from Abraham-Hicks, "if the Universe has inspired a desire within you, then it also has the wherewithal to deliver the goods". In other words, if I want it, I can have it.
All I have to do is ask and it is given.
Pretty simple, isn't it?
Life is supposed to be that way, you know. We just insist on making it complicated.
"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness." -- Henry David Thoreau
Monday, September 26, 2011
Life is Good
"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." -- Albert Camus
I haven't blogged much lately.
It's not because I don't have anything to say. Lord knows that has NEVER been my problem.
I've just been...living.
Living life. And loving it.
I'm not pushing against the flow. I'm not fighting reality. I'm just putting one foot in front of the other.
I start my day by thinking of something to be thankful for. And once I establish myself on firm footing, the day just seems to take care of itself.
I'm loving my sleep time, my awake time, my leisure time, my running time, my social time, my work time.
I'm just...enjoying.
It's nice.
In other words, life is good. Really, really good.
I decided I was going to be happy.
And I am.
Pretty cool, huh?
It really does work, if you work it.
I realized that I'm in control of how I react to anything and everything, all day, every day. I choose what to expend my energy on. I am the captain of my ship.
I am incredibly aware. And empowered.
And we can all be this way, feel this way, live this way.
All it takes is the desire to be happy.
And so it is.
Are you going to choose happiness? Are you going to create your own beautiful existence?
"The philosophy of mine earth can be summed up as this: Sunshine creates happiness, and I create myself. Nights are long and life is predominantly good. Wind is refreshing. Tea is wisdom. Do the best you can, and be good to yourself so that you can above all be good to others." -- Jessi Lane Adams
Friday, September 16, 2011
365 days of Thanksgiving
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice." -- Meister Eckhart
And, I'm not talking about turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie (although that sounds pretty freaking awesome).
I'm talking about being thankful. Giving thanks. Every day. For an entire year.
Earlier this week, I thought to myself, "what better way to start your day off than by focusing on something that is good in your life?" Some folks I know drag themselves out of bed, after hitting the snooze button at least three times, make their morning coffee and proceed to either read the morning paper or watch the news on television.
Then, they wonder why their day doesn't quite go the way they hoped it would.
Forgive me if you're an avid news watcher. I don't diss you; I diss your choice of programming (in love, of course). It's a simple case of "garbage in/garbage out". What you focus on EXPANDS. The more you give your attention to something, the more you'll get of that something, whether you want it or not. If you keep talking about negative subjects, you'll get negativity. That's one of the laws of the Universe. It's just the way the system works.
So, how do you turn it around?
I start with the small stuff. Abraham-Hicks suggests beginning with the things in your life that are already working. Do you like your car? Well, start with that. How about your spouse, best friend, or job?
I know what you're thinking: My car didn't start this morning, my spouse snores, my best friend talks about me behind my back and let's not even TALK about what my boss did to me the other day.
Then don't say ANYTHING about any of those subjects. I mean nada, nothing, not a single word. Didn't your mother ever use the old, "if you have nothing nice to say, than don't say it at all" phrase on you? Granted, parents can come up with some pretty silly expressions, but that is not one of them. It is much truer than you can imagine.
There is something, somewhere that is working for you. Look for it. Once you find it, emphasize THAT. Give THAT your undivided attention and focus. Before you know it, there will be something else that is working for you. Then another thing...and another...and another...
Pretty soon, you have a veritable PLETHORA of things to appreciate (yeah, that's right, I said "plethora").
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 was New Years Day for me. It was day one of giving thanks. I'm on day four and I've already found several areas of my life that bring me happiness and joy. I am more patient, relaxed, and friendly just by practicing this for less than a week. I'm excited to see how things will be in the weeks and months to come.
You have 24 hours in each day. There are so many blessings contained within that time period. Some of them just require a little digging. But, they are there.
So grab your shovel and get started!
What are YOU thankful for today?
"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." -- Gerald Good
And, I'm not talking about turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie (although that sounds pretty freaking awesome).
I'm talking about being thankful. Giving thanks. Every day. For an entire year.
Earlier this week, I thought to myself, "what better way to start your day off than by focusing on something that is good in your life?" Some folks I know drag themselves out of bed, after hitting the snooze button at least three times, make their morning coffee and proceed to either read the morning paper or watch the news on television.
Then, they wonder why their day doesn't quite go the way they hoped it would.
Forgive me if you're an avid news watcher. I don't diss you; I diss your choice of programming (in love, of course). It's a simple case of "garbage in/garbage out". What you focus on EXPANDS. The more you give your attention to something, the more you'll get of that something, whether you want it or not. If you keep talking about negative subjects, you'll get negativity. That's one of the laws of the Universe. It's just the way the system works.
So, how do you turn it around?
I start with the small stuff. Abraham-Hicks suggests beginning with the things in your life that are already working. Do you like your car? Well, start with that. How about your spouse, best friend, or job?
I know what you're thinking: My car didn't start this morning, my spouse snores, my best friend talks about me behind my back and let's not even TALK about what my boss did to me the other day.
Then don't say ANYTHING about any of those subjects. I mean nada, nothing, not a single word. Didn't your mother ever use the old, "if you have nothing nice to say, than don't say it at all" phrase on you? Granted, parents can come up with some pretty silly expressions, but that is not one of them. It is much truer than you can imagine.
There is something, somewhere that is working for you. Look for it. Once you find it, emphasize THAT. Give THAT your undivided attention and focus. Before you know it, there will be something else that is working for you. Then another thing...and another...and another...
Pretty soon, you have a veritable PLETHORA of things to appreciate (yeah, that's right, I said "plethora").
Tuesday, September 13, 2011 was New Years Day for me. It was day one of giving thanks. I'm on day four and I've already found several areas of my life that bring me happiness and joy. I am more patient, relaxed, and friendly just by practicing this for less than a week. I'm excited to see how things will be in the weeks and months to come.
You have 24 hours in each day. There are so many blessings contained within that time period. Some of them just require a little digging. But, they are there.
So grab your shovel and get started!
What are YOU thankful for today?
"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." -- Gerald Good
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