Six Spontaneous Saturday

1.  Just wrapped up my 2011 running mileage:  1093 miles covered in 2011!!!!

2.  5 miles is still feeling a little hard….BUT –

a)    At least I’m running again!

b)    At least I’m not even remotely aware of my incision or any hernia related issues (I know how to handle tight hamstrings, etc.  Potential surgery complications? Notsomuch).

c)    It’s all according to my pre-training plan J

3.  Runner’s World came through this year and sent me my new running log (we are their #1 subscribers after all).  Another symbolic wiping of the slate and opportunity for a fresh start.  What will 2012 bring for mileage, races, PRs???

4.  What’s the best thing one can do after a rainy, cold run?  Why, grab some beach pizza of course!  (If you’re not from the Northeast, my sympathies…..beach pizza equates to Tripoli’s pizza at Salisbury beach – yum!)



Great seating alongside the Atlantic Ocean - no reservation required!



5.  Got to do some of this grocery cart/carriage freestyling today – best way I can think of to play 8 again

6.  Final day of venturing out dressed in bubble wrap.    Until 12:01 a.m. tomorrow, we will make sure we’re protected by bubble wrap, since the company I left is one of the very few I know that doesn't cover benefits through the last day of the month in which one terminates.  But I’m not that bitter.



Lady Gaga might be onto something here



Time is on my side…..yes, it is

I had to credit the Stones with
my blog post title

It’s very cool when timing seems to be on your side and you can quickly see that you’re doing exactly what you should be, at the right time, in the right way.

Although the weather was perfectly conducive to local travel on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it finally got cold and slick today.  With a few of us traveling locally over the holiday weekend, it was comforting that no one had to risk a slippery drive while visiting friends and family.  This morning, however, produced a black ice wonderland.  As I headed out to run, I realized I was going to have to watch my footing.  Some sections of the roads had almost no traction.  The good timing about this is that I still have no business going fast or far, since it’s only my second run post-surgery.  So the conditions did their part to ensure I kept a slow, steady, stay-on-my-feet pace.  And had the road conditions considered providing any wiggle room, my running watch sealed the deal…..

My watch has seen better days

Yep it's true, I did grab my watch this morning to see where my pace is right now.  And it immediately snapped into 3 pieces.  I just wanted to assess a baseline.  No really….  OK, fine - don’t believe me.  The "time" part of the watch still works (i.e. chrono), so of course I could have carried my watch in my pocket.  Instead, I decided to take it as a sign.  I left for my run, sans watch and sans any time concerns. 

4 miles at a pace that worked for me versus against me - YEAH!   Now, where did I leave that duct tape…..

That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

My running shoes and I have reunited,

Bella and I are back on the board, and…..

I felt awesome J

  

That’s what I’m talkin’ about!

A Challenge to Myself

Although I’m not big into listing out New Year’s resolutions, my reflection mode typically sends me in the direction of challenging myself to do one thing better in my life.  This challenge didn’t come to me in a dream or through something I read or heard, but more from some changes that will be happening…..soon.  My challenge to myself is simple:

Stay in the moment.  See it, hear it, feel it, enjoy it, embrace it, value it.  Good or bad, wherever I am at that moment is where I am and supposed to be. 

So, onto the “changes” I referred to at the beginning of this post…. I got a new job!!  Yay me!  In a world where people have been unemployed and are trying to scratch their way back, I’m eternally grateful to have found a position in a company that’s a better fit for me.  I’m hungry for challenge and love to see project successes come to fruition.  I haven’t had that feeling in some time, but knew I had to be patient and make sure I found the right position/company for me.  It’s also been a much more challenging interview process in this economy, with so many talented people trying to escape the unemployment line or trying to get ahead.  I will start my new job at the beginning of the new year and can’t think of a better way to kick 2012 off.

With this new job will come new challenges, including lots of “proving myself” and some travel.  Here’s where “staying in the moment” is going to be very important.  I need to get completely engaged in my new role and with my new peeps.  I need to learn or strengthen my knowledge in some areas I haven’t had to tap into in some time.  And I need to keep running, taking care of myself, and enjoying my family. 

It’s so easy to let important people/things slide when starting a new job.  As happy as I am with what I’ll be doing and where I’m headed, I’m also keenly aware that my personal world will change as well.  Like anything, I will get into a routine before I can spell “routi…”  But for a little while, it’s going to feel hard.  I expect to fall behind with blogging – though I won’t ignore it.  I love writing and I love reading about all of you!  But I realize that the many blogs I follow may not get their normal level of attention from me in the immediate future.

And then there’s my running.  Oh, do I miss you!  Today is 2 weeks since my surgery and I really feel ready to run again.  As I’d hoped, I’m now 100% sure I’ll be getting in a little run this weekend.  Merry Christmas to me J  The times I need running the most are those times where I’m under pressure, stressed, anxious…..so, I cannot let the healthy activity that consistently provides me sanity, confidence, pleasure, and the ability to snack slide.  It’s just not an option.  But it will take a little more discipline and commitment to ensure I don’t let it slide.

This challenge to myself is not always going to be easy.  If it were easy, I probably wouldn’t grow from it.  So, I say “Bring it on!”. 

Who’s with me?

Top 3 Christmas Songs

1.  My all time favorite Christmas song is “Little Toy Trains” by Glen Campbell.


2.  Second is a more recent version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Bare Naked Ladies/Sara McLachlan.


3.  Third is anything performed by Jim Brickman – no vocals needed.

What are your favorite Christmas songs? 

Baby steps

Had a date with my surgeon today to follow up from my hernia surgery last Friday.  I’ve been feeling better each day, so felt like this would be a fairly benign visit.  And I was right!  When I asked him if “this is normal”, he responded with, “Oh yes, and in fact, that’s one of the best healing I’ve seen”.  God I love being an over achiever in the healing department.

He then asked, “I suppose you’d like to know when you can start running again and resume your normal life”.  My response might surprise some of you.  I answered, “I’m interested of course, but I feel like I know my body well enough to know when it’s time to run again”.  I don’t say that in a cocky, look-at-me-being-a-doctor sort of way; I say it in a truthful, look-at-me-being-patient-with-my-healing sort of way.  I also told him (pointing to my incision area), “I only want to do this once”.  He concurred.

Since I’ve already been walking Bella as much as possible to get myself moving again, I’ll continue to do so for the rest of this week.  I will work on speed (hee, that sounds funny) and on stretching my stride, but I will hold back on any jogging for this week.  Depending on how I’m feeling on Christmas Day, I may just surprise myself with a little Christmas gift in the form of a jog and see where that takes me.

I want no setbacks and I want no further doctor visits.  I’ve always erred on the side of caution and that strategy has always worked for me.  I’ve let go of the winter races I had hoped to do this year and will soon focus on putting together a two-part training plan for Boston:  1)  training to get strong again (now thru mid-Jan), and 2) training to get myself to the starting line of Boston 2012 (mid-Jan thru April 16).

Not sure how this will all play out, and not sure if I’ve got another 3:57 in me come April.  I am sure that I will take some baby steps now in order to ensure that I can take some grown up steps later with a goal of celebrating another strong Boston finish.  Who knows, maybe this forced rest period will result in a stronger me:  mentally and physically.  Sounds good, so I’m going to run  walk with it!  

Six Spontaneous Saturday

1.  Had some great Caitlyn time this morning;  watching iCarly, making chocolate chip pancakes, and watching her do cartwheels in our kitchen.  She immediately honed in on all the presents under our Christmas tree.  I explained they were not Santa's presents (duh) and that there was one special one under there for her. Big.Smile.  Nothing like a 6 year old to infuse a special Christmas spirit that only a child can.  

2.  At 9:30 a.m., I was already plotting a nap for later.  “Later” arrived at 12:30.  Duration of nap:  solid 2 hours.  Wow.

3.  Dollar Stores are the best invention ever.  3 gift bags for $1.29 – priceless

4.  Took Bella to get her usual pedicure (hey, for $5, it’s worth the trip!) and decided to let her stay for the afternoon and play with her canine pals.  When I picked her up at 4:30, she slept the whole drive home and then put herself to bed when we arrived home.  Yes, lots of napping in this household today!

5.  Our DVD “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing for at least the 5^th time this season.  What better accompaniment while wrapping our last few gifts.

6.  Biggest success of today (other than my power nap) was finding the Ribbon Candy I buy every year for my mom.  It’s just not Christmas without it!

Hope everyone’s wrapping and napping accordingly.  It’s a great combo, trust me!