Marathon Sunday

It's nearly here and the city is buzzing!!!! Seems everywhere I turn there's someone talking about the marathon, making plans to meet up and watch the marathon, or anxiously awaiting the start of their own marathon run. This morning is when I felt that buzz the most when just before my Q train departed the 57th St. station, a flock of Italian runners came rushing down the stairs. How did I know they were runners? The gear. It always gives them away. Plus they were all tremendously fit and way too excited for 8:30 a.m. on a weekday in a subway station.

I'm most looking forward to tracking the runners I know racing and cheering for them with all I can muster. It won't be easy, at last count I have at least 8 people on that list... Nettie, Dave, Laura, Kyra, Staci, Alissa, Walter & John. With the new wave starts & various corrals plus all the regular craziness of the race, spectating and actually finding these friends will not be a small task. But it will be a fun one!

Also eager to see one of these finisher medals in person. With a likeness of the great Grete Waitz on the front and the inscription "Grete Waitz: the Greatest New York City Marathon Champion" on the back, who wouldn't want to travel 26.2 miles to earn one?

Welp

I did it.  I...

...talked myself down and decided to just chill on immediate running plans
...got those 3 bags of shoes & clothing donated to Goodwill

...made some real progress at the pool
...tossed the 3 legged table
...rejoined the world where eating a bag of chips with lunch everyday probably isn't the best idea, grab size or not.
...(to be honest, Jason) upgraded the iMac to iTunes 8 and thus launched me into the fantabulous world of Genius playlists

...purchased some Missy Higgins and some Jeremy Messersmith (thanks Brandy!)

...gained more much needed inspiration from friends

...made me some killer new playlists

...decided that it would be a good idea to attend the 6:30 a.m. spin class tomorrow

...purchased the Rojo Cabinet  :-)

Rojo Cabinet: I wish I knew how to quit you

I remember when I first saw you in the pages of the C&B catalog. Looking all versatile, organized and sporting your fresh pop of color. I believe we first met in person many, many months ago. But it wasn't until we saw each other again yesterday that I was reminded how much I really care for you. How much I'd really like you in my life. Sigh.

He Really Loves Me

Whoa!

The week has really flown by. Traveling back from Chicago Monday afternoon, loads of huge projects at the office and a 24 hour business trip to Austin = finding myself on Friday and not knowing how I got here.

The upside - I'm feeling good, really good. My emotions worked themselves around/out and I'm back on track. I hit the pool earlier this week for some laps and a visit to the steam room and will do the same this evening after work. I'm also planning to get out for a run this weekend. The weather looks fall-tastic!!! I'll also be tracking some more running friends tackling various race distances this weekend - woot!

The downside - Something is still awry with my left leg. And while I'm not sure if it's just the hamstring irritated and encouraging his leg counterparts to gang up on me, it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I'll wear a thigh compression sleeve and continue massaging the area to see if that doesn't help any. I could also use several more hours a day to get through a particularly hairy work project. I'll be so glad once this year is over; right now everything is about getting squeezed into a yr. end delivery. Ugh.

Any who, arrived home from JFK late last night to some Magnolia deliciousness Jason picked up for me. No doubt he knows the way to my heart!

A boost

I love you and am so proud of you, Beth!!!!

Melancholy

A feeling of thoughtful sadness. That's how I've felt since Sunday's finish line especially since departing Chicago and returning to the real world of life and work and other crap I don't feel like participating in or dealing with.

It's just one of the large number of emotions that currently occupy my mind & body. I'm soooo happy to have crossed the finish line this year in Chicago and hand-in-hand with my sister!!! I'm exhilarated to have my finisher's medal, to have seen Tim and heard about him rocking his first with a sub-4:00 and to have had the chance to enjoy a post-race meal and tasty beverages with good friends & family. It was a memorable day for sure.

And yet I'm sad and feeling empty.

The race I'd trained for, perfected and remained positive about didn't come to pass. Things happen, we can't control everything and there is plenty of uncertainty in this world. None of this provides me any comfort.

I'm also confused and wondering what to do next.

So there it is, I'll ride this wave of stuff and hope to feel more energetic and more together later this week...

I may have been a centaur in my past life

So after a day o' freaking out yesterday, I think it's out of my system. I also think I'll never start the day again by checking out weather conditions for my race city. No amount of coffee makes a less-than-ideal forecast any easier to deal with. I pouted, I felt despair, I made my day longer than need be and I made my run rougher than it needed to be. I cried, I iced, I refueled, I tiger-balmed and then I re-watched a couple episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
I'm better now.

And because that show cracks me up, here's some of The Gang's best stuff...

Charlie: Why don't I strap on my job helmet and squeeze down into a job cannon and fire off into Jobland where jobs grow on little jobbies.
...
Mac: I'm so hard that people are scared of me and they should be. 'Cause I'll explode all over them.
...
Dee: [to Charlie and Frank]: What are you guys looking at?
Frank: Garbage Pail Kids. Heathen Steven, Classic!
Dee: Are those the stupid cards where babies are doing disgusting things?
Charlie: No, Dee. These are those amazing cards where babies are doing hysterical things...
...
Mac: It's not a jacket, it's a duster. It's like a jacket, only it's longer, thicker, and far more bad ass. I look like Lorenzo Lamas and women find it irresistible.
...
Dee: Mac, I'm gonna stop you right here. First of all, your breath smells like an old lady fart passing through an onion.
...
[Frank and Charlie are tripping on acid. Charlie is wearing a green suit that covers his head and body]
Charlie: ...wait wait! When the hell did I put Green Man on?!
Frank: [referring to Charlie] That lizard talks!
Charlie: Where, where?! I don't like lizards!
[...]
Frank: [to Charlie] Lizard, am I standing in poop?
...
Charlie: Because I cut the brakes! Wildcard Bitches! YEEE HAW!
...