In Other News…
Have I mentioned that I have a race coming up on Saturday? Hahahahahaha… I’m pretty sure just about everyone is aware of that. Obviously the weather stalking, list making, planning, and worrying are in full swing, but there have been a few other things going on! Like… let’s talk about the Super Bowl. What a great game! It was close, exciting, and the correct team won (although some might contest that.) But more importantly, I made a REALLY yummy Super Bowl dinner. Instead of doing anything football-related, I just decided to make a fun dinner that I wouldn’t normally make. I chose the Vegan Buffalo Mac and Cheese from Nora Cooks. GAH! This was so good. You make a cheesy cashew-based sauce that has hot sauce and plant-based ranch mixed in. Nora’s version is prettier, because she garnishes it with extra sauce, but it didn’t need it. As a last minute nod to “health” I threw a couple stalks of celery on my plate. And then we had leftovers the next night. Next topic! I’ve invented a new thing called “reading in bed.” Ha, well, MAYBE I didn’t invent it, but I haven’t read in bed at night in years… like, probably since my kids were born. My husband usually goes to bed before me, and I normally read at night on the couch in the living room. Last week I decided to shake things up, and in an effort to get more sleep, I started getting in bed early- between 8:30-9:00 with my book. I love it! It really relaxes me, and somehow it’s soothing to hear my husband out puttering around the house. The only danger is, sometimes it’s hard to put my book down and go to sleep. But I’ve been pretty good about turning the light off by 9:30 or 10:00 at the latest. I get a gold start sticker in my planner (thank you, Elisabeth for that idea!) if I turn the light off by 9:30, so that gives me extra motivation. And what am I reading? In addition to My Brilliant Friend (Cool Bloggers Book Club book) I’m reading this book: Lindsay mentioned that she loves Ann Cleeves, so I decided to check her out. So far I’m loving this book- but it’s a mystery, so I’m going to give my final verdict after I finish it. Nothing worse than a great mystery with a disappointing ending. I trust you, Lindsay, but I’ve been burned before. And that’s it! I’ll be back soon with some final pre-race thoughts. Did you watch the Super Bowl? Did you make any fun food? What are you reading? Header photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
Weekly Rundown- ONE MORE WEEK!
I’m almost there! My race is this Saturday. I’m getting more and more excited every day- this race better come soon or I might explode. Meanwhile, I had a good week, although (as I predicted) it was not without drama. I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah as always for the Weekly Rundown. Read on for details! Monday Our beautiful weather continues, and I had a nice 4 mile run. followed by Knees Over Toes exercises and some planking. In the evening I had an interesting conversation with my husband that went something like this: Husband: I just found out Ron has Covid. Me: Oh no! Who’s Ron? Husband: The guy I sat next to last night. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! After I got over my initial panic, I calmed down a bit. The truth is, we’re probably both- or, including my daughter, all three- exposed to Covid all the time. I made my husband promise to tell me if he started to feel ANY SYMPTOMS (in which case I would immediately move out of the bedroom and wear a mask in the house) but otherwise went on living my life as usual- except that I went to bed at 9:30. Finally, motivation to get eight hours of sleep! Tuesday I went to the gym and did the “Cool Bloggers Workout” (CBW) which is 30 minutes on the treadmill, 12% incline at 3 mph. Then I did upper body weights, including (but not limited to) reverse flys. Still trying to strengthen my upper back to carry my hydration vest for 50 miles! Wednesday Okay, so bear with me. For the last couple days I was noticing a pain in my left shin. I know what you’re thinking: “Jenny. You can’t possibly have all these things actually wrong with you! This is all in your mind.” Maybe. OR, maybe I tweaked it last week on that sandy long run. I’m not taking any chances, so instead of running outside I went to the gym to run on the treadmill. First I walked for 20 minutes at a 12% incline (CBW) and then ran 4 miles. I was prepared to stop immediately if my shin hurt, but it was fine. After the run I walked for 10 more minutes at 12% incline. Then (knowing I wouldn’t be back at the gym this week) I did deadlifts. Someone was using my usually rack, so I didn’t get to use the big plates (the little ones don’t look as impressive, ha.) Thursday It was an easy day! I did a 2 mile walk and then the Knees Over Toes exercises. On this walk I experimented with putting my headlamp around my waist. At night my daughter’s jazz band had MPA (Music Performance Assessment.) Her high school has two jazz bands, and since she plays guitar she plays in both of them. Anyway… both bands did great, got Superior ratings, and it was a late night. I didn’t get to bed until 11:00, wrecking my amazing sleep schedule. Oh well. Friday 4 mile run! Followed by dead bugs. I was dragging a little all day, thanks to the late night, but there was more! On this night my daughter had Solo and Ensemble, where she played a solo, a flute choir, and a woodwind choir. Once I got over the tiredness and crankiness at having to drive far away (again) I enjoyed it. And she got Superior ratings in all her events! Saturday After two late nights, this was a planned rest day. I was able to sleep in until 7:00 before going to work. While at work, I discovered something surprising, which is that I’m on the schedule for tomorrow. My manager claims that, when I asked for next Saturday off (to run my race) I said I would work tomorrow instead. I NEVER SAID THAT. One of us is crazy, but there’s no way of proving which one. I’m already booked with clients, and I don’t want to cancel everyone. Sunday On tap for today- 5 mile run, and then apparently I’m going to work! Grr. Then, home to get ready for the Super Bowl, hooray! I’ve been going through football withdrawal. We have a fun meal planned, and will be rooting for Patrick Mahomes. Er, I mean, the Chiefs. Heh heh. So, I finished the week with two healthy shins, and no one has Covid (yet.) My husband is healthy and I’ve been masking at work (and will continue to do so until after my race.) ONE MORE WEEK, WOOHOO!!! I think I’ll make it in one piece. How was your week? Do you still wear a mask? – I forgot how much I hate it. Any big Super Bowl plans?
Belief and Goggins (Mental Tools for Hard Things)
A few weeks ago, while browsing around the internet, I came across the question; “What do you believe that most people don’t?” Hmmm. I thought about it, and then made a list of things I believe. But each of those things were ideas I got from other people- podcasts, blog posts, books- rather than something unique that most people don’t believe. Ever since then I’ve been thinking about it- there must be SOMETHING! While getting ready for my race, I decided my answer- for now (I hope I can come up with something else as time goes by)- is that I believe I can complete a 50 mile race. Of course, I’m not the only one who believes this- people are running 50 miles, and much farther, all the time. But almost always, when I mention it to someone, the response it “How can you do that? I could never do that! I can’t even imagine running that far!” The truth is, most of us could do it. It’s just that most people don’t want to (and that’s completely understandable.) It’s not like I’m a gifted athlete. And it’s not like I have an invincible body. I’ve mentioned many times that after my daughter was born, I was plagued by one injury after another. But I’ve always wanted to run ultra marathons, and I believe I can do it, so I found a way to make it happen. Today in the gym I listened to this episode of the Huberman Lab podcast with David Goggins. I know a lot of people don’t like him, but if you need a pep talk or a kick in the pants, this episode is powerful. Huberman shared some scientific findings that show when you do something really hard, something that you don’t want to do, a part of your brain actually gets bigger. This part of the brain is associated with willpower, and ultimately the will to live. (This part of the conversation comes at 46:00 into the podcast, if you’re interested in things like this.) Goggins talks about how everything is hard for him. Running hurts, but he does it anyway. He says he’s not smart and grew up with ADHD, but he’s studying to be a paramedic right now, and learning the material is excruciatingly slow for him. But the whole point is that these things are hard. If he loved running, or if studying came easy, it wouldn’t create that friction he needs to grow. If you listen to this, you’ll realize that most of us are living pretty cushy lives. I know we all have our troubles, but overall we like to be comfortable. I remember last year when we were in Tampa, my husband and I had signed up for a 3K race. The forecast was showing a very cold- “Florida cold,” that is- morning, 40s and rainy. The night before, my husband said “Do we have to do it?” My son said “What would David Goggins say?” and it made me laugh. Let’s see.. this was a 3K race, which is less than two miles. Okay, 40 and rainy feels cold to Floridians, but it’s not really cold. When I’m running my race and things start to fall apart (which they inevitably will) I’ll ask myself “What would Goggins do?” He would probably laugh at the thought of quitting in a 50 mile race. He would also probably swear at me. And after he finished laughing and swearing, he would definitely tell me, in no uncertain terms, to keep going. Can you think of something you believe that most people don’t? Is there anything really hard you don’t want to do, but you do anyway? – (Does making dinner every day count???) Header photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
Race Goals, and Phrase of the Year in Action
You guys… I’m so excited about my race. I mentioned in a previous post that it’s all I can think about, and the other day I found myself wishing that the race could just be TOMORROW. I’m ready! I don’t want to wait! Then I thought… do I really want to wish these two weeks away? EVERY DAY COUNTS. I took down my outdoor Christmas lights yesterday (finally!) and while I was doing it I had a flashback to the happy sense of anticipation I had while I was putting them up. When my kids were little and Christmas was a couple weeks away they would say “I wish Christmas were tomorrow!” I would always remind them that the buildup to Christmas is part of the fun, and we wouldn’t want to skip over it. This is an extra busy week- my daughter has MPA (Music Performance Assessment) with the high school jazz band, and also Solo and Ensemble, where she is playing a solo and two ensembles. Both these things require extra driving on my part, and will take up two entire evenings. At first I though, “Oh good! Being busy will make the week go by faster.” But… there will never be another week exactly like this one. My daughter will never be playing in these things as a freshman again, while I’m also getting ready for my first 50 mile race. I know at some point when the race is over things will seem flat and unexciting, and I’ll look back on this week as being extra-special. So I’m trying to lean into it and appreciate it while it’s happening… rather than only in retrospect. So what about those race goals? Well, “goals” may not be the right word. “Vague hopes” might be a better term. Some things, like the weather, are out of my control. I’ve never run 50 miles, and I’ve never run on this trail. So anything could happen! But I do have one hope, which is that I finish before dark. The race starts at 7 am, so finishing “before dark” would mean in about 12 hours. That seems reasonable- if my finish time is much longer than that, it probably means something went wrong. I would like for nothing big to go wrong, and I would also like to avoid being out on the trail in the dark. This race has a 100 mile and 50 mile option (I love that I’ll be running with the 100 milers! The first 50 miles is the same course for everyone.) Headlamps are required gear for both distances. I got a new headlamp- my little clip-on light won’t cut it on a dark trail- and I tested it out this morning. I hate it! But, I hate all headlamps. They either bounce, or if they’re tight enough not to bounce they irritate my forehead. If I were running the 100 mile distance I would have paid any amount of money to get a really great headlamp. As it is, I ordered one from Amazon that should be… fine. Especially since I’m hoping not to use it at all. So that’s my goal- to finish this race, uninjured, in the daylight. But I’ll take any finish. And if I have a DNF because of injury, I’ll take that too and chalk it up to a learning experience. I’m linking up with Jenn and Zenaida for their Tuesday Topics. Their actual topic for the week is “My Worst Running Habits” so if you want to read about that, check them out! Any headlamp suggestions for me? Are you looking forward to anything this month?