Remote Access, Orthodics, Snow, Blood, Needles, Glue and Humble Pie

Have I piqued your interest yet? Today has been, um, interesting.

The epic battle began at 6:45 am when I woke up at my parents' house, tried to log on to my work computer and realized I couldn't access my email or the server. I rebooted a few times, ate breakfast, had some coffee and finally called IT around 8. The next 2 hours were spent on the phone troubleshooting - NOT doing the work I woke up early to complete. Luckily, the fight of Tom From IT vs. Computer had the former winning, and I was able to skedaddle to the podiatrist with JUST enough time to make it.

The appointment itself went exactly as expected. The doc confirmed that I over-pronate (he could tell even before he made me walk, just by looking at the callouses on the edge of my big toes and balls of my feet), am heavy on my feet and that both of these things are likely causing my injuries, in conjunction with the long miles and ambitious pace I've been pushing lately. The verdict? Orthodics. For now, I'm going to try some over-the-counter ones. He recommended Power Step or Super Feet brand. I'm inclined to go with the second because perhaps they might give my feet super powers - like, oh, maybe the ability to carry me 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 40 minutes - but will more than likely buy the first, because he listed Marathon Sports as a store that carries them, and MS was the only vendor on the list that I can walk to from my apartment.

From there, I drove back to my parents' house to collect my things and then into the city during a miserable snowstorm. I crawled and fish-tailed my way, all the while staring at the clock and stressing about the work that was waiting for me. "Come on, people, let's move it" was my mantra. Once I squeezed into my parking space without an inch to spare, I started unloading my bags, remembered the keys were still in the ignition, turned quickly to duck in and grab them and WHAM - I cracked my face off the edge of the car door so hard that I felt the impact vibrate through my skull. My first thought was "MAN, I hit the door hard" my second was "oh crap, I wonder if I cut myself..." Then I put my hand to my head, looked at my palm and FREAKED at what I saw. "Uhh... just what exactly have I done?" After actually seeing the wound in my bathroom mirror, I full-on panicked, melted down and called my dad - after all, I promised I'd give him a ring when I was home. He calmed me down and then asked "Is there anyone who can take you to the hospital?" Now comes the humble pie part.

You know the expression "the feet you step on today could be attached to the ass you need to kiss tomorrow?" Well, it's not exactly like that, but I may or may not have been really rude to someone on Sunday night, and then today that person was the first name that came to mind as "someone who lives nearby and might actually be home right now to help me." I owed this person an apology anyway, so I swallowed a big slice of humble pie and made the call. "Uh... are you in the neighborhood? I might need stitches..." Luckily, this person was both big enough to put aside my rudeness and take my call/talk to me (by the way, this is my formal and very public apology...) and thinking clearly enough to call me a cab, rather than have me wait another 15 mins to be driven. Also lucky for me, the ER wasn't too busy and I was taken within 5 mins of my arrival.

A few short hours, a tetanus shot, some medical super glue (It's purple. I look really pretty.) and about 10,000 tears later (I SWEAR to you, Dr. Emergency Room Guy, I'm not abused/depressed. I just had a very stressful day and am needle phobic! Who are you to judge what's a big deal and isn't?), I'm safely on my couch and ready to face my next painful ordeals - a follow-up appointment with The Chad and my nightly ice bath.

On Running Jams

Since the creation of this blog, I've consistently over-shared a LOT of information about myself and my habits, both running and personal. What I've never done though, was talk in depth about the music I listen to when I run (or work out in the gym, as the case is now). I spent 2.5 hours on the elliptical machine at the Longfellow Club in Wayland today while my teammates were out running in the bitter cold, and my tunes were the only thing that got me through this tedius workout, so I decided the topic was blog-worthy.

I always appreciate when other people blog about their favorite running jams, as I often read these lists and think "ooh, good call!" and then add a few songs to my own playlist. So without further ado, I shamelessly present my favorite running music in no particular order (except the first 3, which are easily the top 3). Ahem...

• "Whoomp There It Is" - Tag Team (**Yes, it was mis-labeled as MC Hammer in the version I downloaded a hundred years ago. Serves me right.)
• "Man Eater" - Nelly Furtado
• "Stronger" - Kanye West
• "Lady" - Lenny Kravitz
• "Feedback" - Janet Jackson
• "2nite" - Janet Jackson
• "Any Way You Want It" - Journey
• "See You Again" - Myley Cirus (Yes, I know this one is worth a giant groan, but it's so damn catchy!)
• "La La" - Ashley Simpson (Also worth a groan. Please don't judge.)
• "Tessie" - Dropkick Murphys
• "What It's Like To Be Me" - Britney Spears
• "Jump! Jump!" - Criss Cross
• "Hey Jealousy" - Gin Blossoms
• "If" - Janet Jackson
• "You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC
• "Supermodel" - Jill Sobule
• "Lovestoned" - Justin Timberlake
• "Outta My Head" - Kylie Minogue
• "Break Stuff" - Limp Bizkit (for when I need an angry run)
• "Confessions on a Dance Floor" - Madonna (the entire album, start to finish!)
• "Starry Eyed Surprise" - Paul Oakenfold
• "Nothin' but a Good Time" - Poison
• "Take Your Mama" - Scissor Sisters
• "G Funk Intro" - Snoop Dogg
• "Who Am I" - Snoop Dogg
• "Queen of the Night" - Whitney Houston
• "Toy Soldier" - Britney Spears
• "You're Unbelievable" - EMF
• "Shake That" - Eminem feat. Nate Dogg
• "Holla Back" - Fab
• "Ray of Light" - Madonna
• "Hurts So Good" - John Cougar Mellencamp
• "I Feel Fine" - Riddlin' Kids

GOOD LUCK!

Another huge good luck shout. This time to Tyler and Jeff tomorrow in Miami. Tyler's running the full and Jeff's halving it - and I have no doubt they'll both CRUSH IT. Ohhh how I wish I were in the warmth of Florida cheering them on...

Choices

Over the last couple of days, I've made some important choices in regard to my injury. Some good -- like making an appointment to see a podiatrist and not running Derry tomorrow (single tear... sniff sniff...). Some rather poor -- like going out dancing last night in non-supportive shoes. This morning I made another key decision, and the jury is out on which category it falls in - I went for a run.

I woke up from yet another night of restless, tormented sleep feeling groggy and entirely unmotivated. I hadn't run in 2 weeks, it was 34 degrees and sunny outside and the ArcTrainer seems to be aggravating my arches more than it helps my shins. I couldn't bear the thought of ANOTHER indoor workout and moreover, I was mentally restless. There's a lot going on in my head that I can't seem to work out at the gym when I'm distracted by 4 TVs, people watching and music. I need the wide sky above me, fresh air in my lungs and alone time with my thoughts.

All things combined, I decided to put on my sneakers and give a little test jog around the living room in my pajamas (now there's a mental picture for ya!). Everything felt fairly copacetic, so I said "screw it" and suited up for 4.3 slow easy miles around the river on a beautiful Boston day. My shins and calves felt a little achy, there may have been one or two twinges, but I was outside, working out, propelling forward and ALONE. No friends, no music, no TV. And it was blissful.

What was so particularly hard about this run, though, wasn't the physical discomfort, but the mental. I hated having to run so slowly (and clumsily/stiffly) and was even fighting a tail wind, like some divine power was trying to shove me forward and I had to say NO! I'm running SLOWLY today! It felt like all the runners I shared the river paths with were gazelle-like, cruising by me and making it look easy. I wanted to wear a shirt that says "I'm Injured" so everyone would know I was a real runner and not some New Years Resolutioner picking up the sport. I wanted to increase my pace and pass people. I wanted to secretly race the other women who passed me. I wanted to make eyes at the cute guys running toward me but was too ashamed of my pokey pace to even try. I wanted to break into a sprint when some stupid group of loud college-aged kids started chanting even more loudly in Spanish as one of their cocky dudes broke away from their group to catch up and run directly behind me me, thinking he was being soooo funny (Ok, I might have also wanted to punch him in the face before I bolted). More than anything, though, I wanted to scream in frustration.

I'm still not sure if running today was a good choice or not, and as I submerged my calves into a bucket of ice water afterwards for 6 excruciating minutes (yes, I've also recently chosen to start doing ice baths - they suck every bit as much as you would imagine), I wondered to myself why in the heck I stick with this sport at all. But as I sit here typing all this out, I can tell some of the junk in my brain has been set free and I know THAT is why I run. And it's a choice I'll continue to make for as long as I'm able.

Not Running-Related, But...

Do you think Aretha mis-read an email leading up to her inauguration performance, telling her she could take a big bow?

***Your daily groan, courtesy of an injured runner who is fighting her winter blues one bad joke at a time :)

Today, By The Numbers

1 new leak in my ceiling
10 minutes spent brushing my car off
1 leg still nagging at me
30 minutes later arriving at my desk than planned
3 hours in meetings
1 hour of work lost watching history being made
3 pieces of pizza and 1 bag of vending machine Doritos (stress-eat, much?)
70 minutes on the ArcTrainer
5 pounds gained in the last 2-3 weeks
2+ hours of work left to do tonight before I can sleep
3 loads of laundry to be done

The Worst Part of Being Injured Right Now

On the Mend

After 2 days of inactivity, I think the injury has turned a corner and my legs are on the mend. Even though I had shooting pain that woke me up in the middle of the night, I strangely woke up this morning feeling the best I have in days, then spent it on the couch resting and icing the legs, catching up on work and compulsively stalking Ben and Kristina's races (CONGRATS TO BEN ON HIS BQ FINISH TIME!).

Once Kristina's finish time finally posted (there was a huge lag), I dragged myself to the gym where I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes on the ArcNemesis. I've said it before and I'll say it again - there's a special place in Hell reserved for this activity. I did make the best of it, though, and watched all of Picture This, including its amazingly gratuitous Robbie Amell pool scene (yeah, just call me Mrs. Robinson...), 15 mins of Driving Miss Daisy, caught Obama's speech and watched a few minutes of some sort of figure skating/gymnastics extravaganza which was also was filled with shirtless men and their rippling muscles (I admired their athleticism), all while guzzling 2 Nalgenes of water (had to get off the machine to refill it once) and eating a bag of Sports Beans. I guarantee at least one woman at the gym was watching me and thinking to herself, "Who brings snacks to the gym? Seriously, she's never going to lose weight if she's eating freakin' jelly beans while working out..."

When the workout was finally over my legs felt really good, actually, and I didn't have any pain walking around the locker room or putting my shoes on. Even more surprisingly, the walk home from the gym was pain-free as well. A major improvement. If I keep on recovering at this rate, I might even be able to run Derry on Sunday! But I'll take it one day at a time.

GOOD LUCK!

Because I know I'm going to forget to post about this tomorrow morning, everyone needs to set a reminder in their brain to think fast thoughts tomorrow and help wish my real friend Ben and my imaginary friend The Marathon Mama strong, fast, awesome races in Phoenix at the Rock N Roll Marathon.

Control Freak

"I felt impotent and out of control and I really hate that." That's a line from Clueless, one of my favorite movies of all time, and pretty much sums up how I've been feeling these last few days.

I'll admit it - I have control issues. I need to feel like I have a firm grasp on everything that happens in my life or I freak out, and as soon as I lose the upper hand in a situation, things get ugly. This week, that ugliness slowly built up until I found myself in a coworker's office last night at 9pm (yes, I was still at work) having a small meltdown over an even smaller mistake I had made and was beating myself up over.

There are plenty of areas of my life where I've been frustrated lately because I lost my control/power, including my fundraising efforts, with the frustration culminating this week as my brother finally told me his band only has availability on one day to play a potential fundraiser, and that one day is only 7 weeks from now. To some extent, training for the marathon has been my control mechanism thus far that brings order to the chaos of life. I may not have control over situations at work or in my personal life, but darnit I can control how many miles I run, how fast I run them and how hard I work out at the gym. I can increase the number of pushups I do, the time I spend cross-training, the number of miles I log in and I can shave seconds off my pace - until this week when my shins decided they didn't want to run anymore. Enter: crazy brain and eventual meltdown.

I recognize that I'm WAY ahead of the injury curve because it's so minor and so relatively early in the training season. Getting healthy isn't the problem. What's bugging me is that I love to run, I want to run and I have ZERO control over my body in this situation. Even more, I'm discouraged that this is the second year in a row my body has said "no thanks" when the miles got long. Am I not cut out for marathoning? Is my body just not meant to do the full? Do I have to stick to halves from now on? These are the questions that keep me up at night, along with the nagging pain in my legs.

Last night, Jeff was kind enough to listen to my psychosis and talk me off the ledge. After we hung up, some dinner, a glass of wine and watching Clueless seemed to remedy my situation. Today, I'm still pretty stressed out about work and fundraising, so I'm taking a day off from training (which I don't have control over anymore) to focus on both. Taking back my life, one mess at a time :)

A(nother) Theory

I've got a LOT of self-made theories on the hows and whys of life. If you've ever spent any amount of time chatting with me or having a beer with me, chances are you've heard at least one of them. My friend Jim calls it my "psychological junk drawer" - you know, the drawer where you keep the stuff you don't need or can't find a purpose for right now, but you think you might someday, and then when something breaks in your house, you rummage around to see what you might have in that drawer to fix it? Yeah, he thinks all my theories live in such a place in my head, to be conjured up when something breaks in my life. So here's the latest:

I think my body totally got injured on purpose as a way to punk out on running in the freezing cold.

It's no secret that my brain and outer extremities haven't exactly been digging the Boston winter this year and I find it awfully fishy that I managed to get injured at the EXACT moment when the cold started to become psychologically unbearable. The way I see it, the brain called an emergency meeting of the body once I fell asleep a week ago and they started to conspire. The brain recalled that last year I missed out on running in some major snow and bitter cold because I was injured. The body concurred and they decided to run a little test. "Ok, on the count of three, lets make some crazy pain and wake her up. THAT will teach her! One, two, THREEEE!!!" Only I took some ibuprofen and went back to bed, then a few days later ran 14.5 miles in about as many degrees outside. So they held another meeting. "Ok, a little night pain clearly isn't going to stop this chick. Starting tomorrow, it's relentless. We are SO OVER this winter. Ok?"

You just wait, dear reader. I'm going to slave away on the ArcNemesis for another week and juuust around the time this deep freeze we're in passes, my legs will magically feel better. It's a conspiracy against winter training, I tell you! In the mean time, tonight I still cross-trained for cross-training sake. 45 mins on the ArcNemesis followed by a half-assed ab/arm workout. And now it's ice, ice, baby. Oh what an exciting life I lead!

The ArcNemesis

You know you're a distance runner when for a fleeting moment you start to scan the vitamin aisle at CVS for ibuprofen before remembering it's not actually a vitamin. But I digress...

Last night I logged in 63 minutes (not an hour - 63 minutes) on the ArcTrainer in place of the 5-7 miles Jack had on our calendar and I died a little inside with each minute that went by. Dear reader, last night it was the warmest outside that it's been in weeks. Almost 40 degrees! Perfect winter running weather! It totally killed me to commit to an indoor workout. As I shuffled along my still-slushy alleyway from my car to my apartment I tried to talk myself out of the decision. "Just do the 5. You don't need to do 7. What's 5? Nothing!" But my legs protested even harder, "Um in case you didn't get the memo, even walking right now hurts. Don't be a jerk." So ArcTrainer it was. Or as I'll be referring to it from now on, the ArcNemesis (thanks, Lauren!).

The upside to this scenario, however, is that The Biggest Loser was on TV, so the distraction helped the time passed quickly. If I'm stuck in a gym, I can at least take solace in being able to watch one of my favorite TV shows while I'm there. My $90 a month hard at work...I know I was singing the praises of my ArcNemesis just a few days ago, but it's one thing to switch up your workouts and alternate running with cross training and a complete other to be forced into cross training activities every single day. I can see this getting really old really fast, just like it did last year -- especially since this year I don't have Marcy keeping me company during the long and tedious gym sessions. Send healing thoughts my way!

Injured Reserve

Well... it seems my utter disgust with winter isn't the only thing that came early this year. As I type this, I'm in sneakers at work with 600mg of ibuprofen pumping through my veins.

Helloooo shin splints!

Truth be told, I probably should have stopped running about a week ago and hit the ArcTrainer, but the problem is it doesn't hurt when I run, so I'm reluctant to give it up. It hurts at random times when I DON'T run. Ya know, like at 2 in the morning when I'm roused from a sound sleep by my throbbing calves. Last night it was the worst it's ever been (I actually got up, took ibuprofen and stretched for like 10 mins), so today I'm stepping in to put myself on the injured list for a little bit.

I'm going to give it a week or so on the ArcTrainer, keep up steady doses of "Vitamin I," stretch a LOT, give The Chad a call and see if I can't shake the pain in time to survive, er, run Derry.

Come on, body. Stop being a big wimp. Step it up and DEAL. We've got 3 more months of this and you're going to do it whether you like it or not!

On Cross-Training

I'd like to give a bit shout-out to the wonders of cross-training.

Last year I didn't regularly see the inside of a gym until I got injured and HAD to. Part of that was because I'm darn lazy, another part of it was because I didn't join a gym that was in a convenient location until January, and by then I was pretty settled into a training routine that didn't include cross-training. But when we signed up to run Boston again, Abby and I both vowed we'd actually do it this year.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the terminology, cross-training is basically other forms of working out that supplement your running - biking, swimming, elliptical, weight lifting, etc. Pretty much whatever suits your fancy, as long as you're doing it. For me, it looks something like this:

- 45 minutes on the ArcTrainer with a fairly low resistance to keep the reps high (i.e. simulate a fast, hard run without any stress on the body)
- 2 or 3 sets (depending how ambitious I feel) of: 10 push ups, 15 leg lifts, 20-30 crunches, 30-45 second planks/side planks

I also have big ambitions to get back into the Sunday night yoga class I used to love. We'll see...

I've stuck to my word (mostly) and have been trying to cross-train on Wednesdays and Fridays, and have completely replaced my Sunday easy, short runs of 3-4 miles with hard workouts on the ArcTrainer. And I must say... it's paid off. I have a really hard time believing that I could be at my current fitness level/ability through running alone, and I (and others) see a huge difference in my body tone.

So thank you, whoever invented the concept of cross-training, and thank you (as always) Coach Jack for building it into our training schedule. I never cease to be amazed by how he's always right. Why didn't I listen to him sooner?

Global Warming, My Ass!

Every year around the last couple weeks of January the winter becomes absolutely unbearable for me and I start declaring it "my last year in Boston" and making outrageous claims of moving to San Francisco or San Diego. This year, the feeling came a bit early - I've been completely sick of winter for about a week now. Seriously, I need out.

This morning when I left my apartment at 8:15 for a 14-mile run my little weather widget said 13 degrees. THIRTEEN, PEOPLE. As in ALMOST TWENTY DEGREES below freezing. I got about halfway to the T (the run was from Woodland) when the "this was a really bad idea" thought hit me. Nevertheless, I slugged out 14 with Abby and Jared and not only survived it, but actually had a pretty solid run. In a dual effort to not kill them and work on saving energy to run negative splits, I stuck with their 9(ish) minute mile pace for the first 10 miles, then when we parted ways I picked it up and ran right around my marathon pace - give or take 10-15 seconds. My gatorade was slushy, my hands were numb and my legs were bright red and ice cold by the time I got home, but the workout was successful and I was able to put 14.5 strong miles in the bank and move on with my life.

As I type this blog post, yet ANOTHER snow storm is coming through and I heard rumors of several more coming over the course of the next weeks. Seriously, as much damage as global warming is supposed to do elsewhere, I'm really starting to wish we'd see some of it here in Boston. Who's up for moving to warmer climates with me?

Those Crafty Gnomes...

It seems they took my running tights and brought them all the way to The Burren in Davis Square! I can't imagine how else my tights would have ended up there...

A Somber Reminder - Running For Matty

No matter how bogged down I get in improving my pace and training hard and having fun running, I always try to remember why I signed up to run the Boston Marathon with DFMC in the first place. Tonight I was given a very real and very difficult reminder, as I paid my respects for another life snuffed out by cancer entirely too soon.

My neighbors from growing up's grandson Matty lost his multi-year battle with cancer on Sunday at only 20 years old and tonight was his wake. I've known him since he was just a kid, watched him grow up and it breaks my heart into a million pieces to think that such a loving, smart, driven, good kid's life ended before it even really began - all because he had a form of cancer that the doctors knew from the start couldn't be beat. I ran in honor of his strength and courage last year, but sadly this year I'll be running in his memory.

As I looked at all the photos and videos of his life, I saw him exactly as I remembered him - smiling, a little shy, sweet, kind, loving, courageous and devoted to his family. I thought about the summers he came over to play with my brother and me in the pool, always seeing him around the yacht club and attending his high school graduation party. Then I thought about how unfair it was that science and medicine couldn't save him, but how hard he fought and how strong he was. Matty will surely be in my heart every time I lace up my sneakers this marathon training season and on Marathon Monday, I can only hope his spirit and courage is with me along the route.

Until then, please say a prayer for Matty and his grieving family, then say another that we someday find a cure. May he rest in peace.

Sock Monsters and Underpants Gnomes

Everyone has them - the monster who steals single socks so that you can no longer make pairs. South Park did a spoof on this and made an episode about Underpants Gnomes who sneak into your room at night and steal your underwear. When I was in college, I actually swore that there was a little gnome or elf who lived in the closet that separated my "2-person split" dorm and had a little magical gnome U-Haul where he kept all my stuff.

Well, I think my monster and the gnomes are in cahoots and that they got bored of their usual socks and underwear tomfoolery and decided to move on to bigger and better things - like my favorite pair of running tights. There is no other explanation for how I managed to lose them.

Please, sock monster and underpants gnomes. I beg of you - Return my tights!

Even My Clients Think I'm Lame

I swear, everyone who doesn't run with me and/or know me better thinks I'm some hermit who spends every waking minute either working, running, eating, or blogging about some combination of the three. Today, I think I can add one of my clients to that list.

Big doings at work today - I got promoted to Director and with the title change and new business cards came a nice little salary increase (guess who's going to City Sports and buying new running tights?). Official word went out to my clients so they'd know I bill out at a higher rate now, and one of them was sweet enough to call my desk and congratulate me. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hi, this is Brenda.
Client: Happy New Year! I heard a rumor...
Me: Oh?
Client: I heard you got promoted today...
Me: I did! Very exciting.
Client: AHH! Congratulations! You really deserve it. I hope you celebrate! Have a drink! ...er ...no ...go for a run?

Yep. Direct quote. True story. There you have it. I'm officially perceived as the kind of person who would celebrate a promotion by running. I laughed to myself as my brain processed her words, but are you ready for the delicious irony? Wait for it...

That's exactly what I did.

I worked late tonight and there were 5-7 miles on our training calendar, so by the time I got home and suited up it was 8:15 and I decided to make tonight's run a 5-mile "victory lap" to Washington Square and back. I left the iPod at home and used the time for a little celebration in my head and some more reflection on the year behind me. Once home, I hydrated then treated myself to a good stretch and a hot bath. The leftover New Year's champagne in my fridge remains untouched despite my good intentions to have a glass and celebrate, and I'll be going to bed shortly.

Fear not, dear reader. I've already alerted the usual suspects that a celebration is in order for Thursday at Crossroads. Cheap light beer and greasy pizza. Now THAT is how to do it up right!

20 Miles in 2009

So far this year, I've logged 20 miles in 2 days. So much for everything in moderation, eh?

Yesterday's run was surprisingly snow-less and thankfully growing warmer with each passing minute. I did my usual 7 along my end of the marathon course and was reminded of the most important lesson I learned in my 4 years an Syracuse: LAYERING. Nobody rocked the "two pairs of pants" look as well as I did at the 'Cuse, but since leaving snow country so many years ago, it seems I'd forgotten just what a difference the extra pair makes. Yesterday my weather widget on my computer desktop said it was 16 when I left the house, so I put on not one, but two pairs of tights and mittens over my gloves. Ahhh, sweet warm bliss. Turns out I was overdressed in the mittens, but my legs thanked me for the extra layer.

Today, a less chilly 13 miles - it was actually quite comfortable in the sun - with the DFMC team out of the swanky Mt. Auburn Club at a somewhat aggressive pace that was totally unintentional (sorrrry, Abby!). Despite a killer headwind (I believe the phrase of the day was "uggghhh... SERIOUSLY?") that turned into a delightful tailwind at points, I had a really strong and awesome run today with Abby, Jim, John and Aimee - and I'm right on track for my ambitious BQ goal, believe it or not (although I realize ANYTHING can happen between now and April). After arriving safely back at the club and hitting the showers, it was the usual chatter with the usual suspects - and of course a few cups of coffee and a bagel.

It seems 2009 is off to a fantastic start, as I've been surrounded by the people I love the most for almost every minute of it, and constantly reminded of how lucky I am.

Thanks to Abby for sticking by me the whole way at an average pace of 8:39/mile and not complaining once (Well... maybe once. But only once), and to Jared for volunteering at one of our water stops and being the roving photographer for the day.

Happy New Year

While some of my friends did the annual New Year's Day "Wellie Ellie" run in the biting cold, I carried on my New Year's tradition of spending the day in bed or on the couch, sleeping off the after-effects of New Year's Eve.

Typically, I'm the kind of person who likes to keep busy and schedule every day to the minute, but New Year's is my one throw-away day. As far as I'm concerned, the calendar year is only 364 days long. And that of course also means that I didn't run today, so I'll be kicking off my 2009 running tomorrow by logging in 7 cold snowy miles (we're expecting another storm system).

In the meantime, the best part of New Year's Day is that it allows me time to reflect on the year gone by and the year ahead, as well as put serious thought into making a New Year's resolution. Since last year I broke away from the norm and spent the holiday in Philly, I cheated a little on making a resolution and I believe it was "Finish the Boston Marathon." (check!) This year, however, I did all the necessary reflection and decided to go with "Everything in moderation." (Yes, Jeff, I sound like Jack :)) I recognize that I trend toward excess in everything I do which, as a friend pointed out today, is a big part of who I am and in some instances why people like me (he said I have "passion" for things, not excessive behavior), but there are certain areas where I can stand to chill out and exercise some discipline and self-control. So there you have it, dear reader. In 2009 I take a step back and learn when to say "when."

As you make your own resolutions and do your own reflecting, I'll leave you in the final minutes of the first day of the year with a blog post I wrote in June, "Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned from Running." I recently read back through old entries and when I hit this post, thought it was a good refresher course to help guide me in the year to come.

Hapy New Year, everyone. Wishing you all a successful and healthy 2009, filled with personal bests.