Me And My Workout

HOW TO GET A BOOTY, now in two ways!

Thu, 31 May 2012 21:01:51 -0400

I got a few messages asking what sorts of butt exercises I did — and guys, you have no idea how much of a workout it is to be born with my genes —but today after work, I figured it was time to hit the weights in addition to the mile I’d already run for the #rwrunstreak challenge.

OPTION 1, done best when fueled by songs like Kanye West’s ‘Monster’ and, of course, this because hey, talk about subliminal, motivational messages and a hell of a lot of comedic throwback — this was my jam in high school, kids.

WARM UP: 1/2 mile run on treadmill. (4 minutes)

SET A, repeat 3 times, 30 second rest between sets:
Bent over close grip rows, 15.

Bent over wide grip rows, 15.

Standing overhead press, 10.

1 minute plank.

1/2 mile run on treadmill. (4 minutes)

SET B, repeat 3 times, do not rest between sets:
Weighted split squat, 15 on each leg.

Step up, 15 on each leg.

Lateral lunges, 15 on each leg.

Squat-jumps, 10.

1/2 mile run on treadmill. (4 minutes)

OPTION 2, buy me a drink. I’m a cheap date. … wait, you mean you didn’t want to get booty? (BA DUMP BUMP CHCCH!)

I AM REALLY GLAD I WENT FOR A RUN TONIGHT.

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:04:09 -0400

andellasaid:

Because no matter how tired I was from working 11 hours, and no matter how prohibitively hot it was — because no, guys, I don’t actually glisten and glow like I’ve been photoshopped in real life — and no matter how pissed off I was about douchebags and their completely unwarranted comments as to whether or not they thought I was pretty, I found somebody’s phone when I hit the two mile mark, stopped, and didn’t leave until they came back for it. I returned a phone tonight, and I’m a good person, and I went for a run, and I feel better, and jackass Marines can suck it.

runlikeella: What I think is a quirky sense of humor is...

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:26:11 -0400

runlikeella:

What I think is a quirky sense of humor is probably perceived by the driven people who raise money for charity as being a complete smart ass. Now, all I have to do is decide if I want to cross the dark side and actually work for a cause. Except next year, the marathon actually FALLS ON my birthday, so I could save the whole first marathon!! thing for then… Or I could call myself out on that bullshit excuse and just do the damn thing, symbolism be damned. I know, tough life choices and #gymbratproblems, man. How’s a girl to choose?

Here is a little something fun from Kim, the one who started it...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:29:50 -0400

Here is a little something fun from Kim, the one who started it all…

“Pigeon pose for all the yoga lovers”

HOW TO MAKE IT IN MANHATTAN.

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:03:07 -0400

runlikeella:

I often get asked how to survive when you first make the move to New York City, so this is a really cursory and completely politically incorrect list of tips to get the most basic of bearings. Granted, I was coddled in my move to the city because I went to college here and did my time in dorms and never had to really leave a three block radius, and my parents and student loans helped me pay for my apartment in the first years of living here, but I’ve still picked up a thing or two in the year that I’ve managed to pay all my bills like a grown up.

ON WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO LIVE: Use Facebook to see if you know anyone in the city who has a couch you can borrow or even rent out for a few weeks. I’m serious on this; it helps ease you into the shock of the city and is way cheaper than staying in a hotel or hostel while you apartment hunt. Most people in the city would be happy to have a little extra money to put towards their rent, and living in the city isn’t complete without a couch-as-bed or mattress-on-the-floor “WHEN I FIRST MOVED HERE!” horror story. (Mine is a yoga-mat-on-the-floor story, but, you know. It ain’t fitness; it’s my life.)

ON WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO LIVE CONT’D: Sublet an apartment for a few months before you decide which area you’d like to live in. Craigslist isn’t actually as scary a place as you’d expect it to be for finding sublets. Both of my roommates are from Craigslist, and they’re not so weird. Friending the people on Facebook before you meet them is key here, though; my old roommates and I screened everyone through that site before we even considered asking them to tour the apartment. (Seriously, Mark Zuckerburg, thank you for doing your part to weird out the creepy people from the rest of the weird New Yorkers.)

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR APARTMENT, MOVE FAST: put the money down immediately. Don’t even take three days to do it. It’ll be off the market and somebody else will live there if you take even two breaths. That’s how fast the real estate market moves here. That’s how fast everything moves here. Get used to it, and get up to that speed. Use it as the standard by which you measure the time it takes to do everything else.

GET A THICK SKIN: Yes, New Yorkers are pissed off, but often, we’re not pissed at you, so don’t ever take it personally. If you do, you’re essentially giving us a reason to be mad at you, and trust me, we will be, but only because we’d like to take out our frustration on something in this godforsaken city, and you’re standing right there, all happy and smiling and friendly and sensitive, like a tourist. And tourists are the easiest scapegoats of all.

BUDGET EVERYTHING: Set limits for everything you spend money on, from booze to restaurants to coffee to the subway. It’s the weeks when I get really Starbucks-happy that I see my money go out the window the fastest, so I limit myself to loading my card to $25 once a week. When it’s gone, I have to make do with coffee from home or from my boss’ apartment, no exceptions.

ON THOSE SPEEDY YELLOW CARS: They’re convenient and they’re everywhere you look, but only use cabs sparingly, and off-duty town cars even less. Also, figure out if you’re going to use the subway enough to warrant buying an unlimited card (at least twice, maybe even three times a day) but if you don’t, try to walk everywhere. Consider buying a bike if it’ll be worth the investment.

GET THE SUBWAY MAP APP ON YOUR PHONE. SURREPTITIOUSLY STARE AT IT ACCORDINGLY, BUT MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU’RE PLAYING TEMPLE RUN: because if you have to ask if this train stops somewhere, or if you pull out a full sized map, then you really look like a tourist, and people will just take advantage of you.

GO OUT OF YOUR WAY FOR CHEAP GROCERIES: Trader Joe’s and Fairway Market will be your new destination shopping trips, and believe it or not, most of the store brand products at Whole Foods are cheaper (and definitely better quality) than the store brand products at other grocery stores like D’Agostino’s or Food Emporium. Also, the fruit carts that line the streets, especially now that it’s spring, are the cheapest source of fruit — but it goes bad sooner, usually in a few days, so keep that in mind and only buy as much as you’ll be able to eat.

(COMPLETELY OPTIONAL): GO VEGETARIAN?! Honestly, meat is the single most expensive thing at most grocery stores, and because I buy beans and other cheap staples instead, I don’t have to fork over 8 dollars for a pound of chicken. (I will fork over 8 bucks for half a pound of really good cheese, however, but hey, priorities.) On that note, frozen vegetables are often cheaper and don’t go bad like fresh vegetables do. They’re usually also conveniently chopped and save time, so hey, everybody wins!

GROUPON. LIVING SOCIAL. LIFE BOOKER. If you don’t know these websites, get to know them. They will be your best friends forever.

SALE RACKS ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND: Stores like Intermix, Olive & Bette, and Bloomingdale’s might seem all fancy and expensive and intimidating, but if you make a beeline to the sale rack when the Extra 40% Off! sales are happening, you can buy J. Brand jeans for $40. Yes, really. I never pay full retail for anything at all. There is always a discount you can find somewhere.

COUPONS ARE LIKE FREE MONEY, not something relegated to your great-aunt. Use them, but only if you’re genuinely going to buy the product anyway.

CONSIDER ONLY HAVING BASIC - FREE! - CABLE: you still get the news, most weeknight shows, and that guilty pleasure, the Food Network. (Yes, Queen Diabeetus and Half-assed Cooking & Cocktail Hour Sandra Lee are on basic cable.) If you miss a show, they’re usually online, so you don’t need TiVo. And if you really need HBO, ask your parents for their HBOGo log-in. I still use my stepdad’s code. Hey, you’re living life on the cheap now. There’s other ways to see Girls beyond paying $70 a month. That would just be silly.

FIND THOSE THINGS THAT ARE WORTH THE EXTRA EXPENSE: Time is the most valuable thing in this whole city, so if you decide it’s more important to have an extra three hours on your days off to yourself than it is to save $10 by doing your laundry yourself at the laundromat, have your laundry sent out to a place that does wash-n-fold. Salons often run a Monday-Wednesday special where a mani-pedi combo is discounted, and tons of places have a Buy 10, Get 1 Free card system. If belonging to a more expensive gym means you’ll use it more, spring for the more expensive gym — but only if you’ll actually go.

ALTERNATIVELY, FIND A WORK-STUDY PROGRAM: a lot of gyms and yoga studios have programs where you can work a few hours a week for free membership. Nobody has money in the city anymore, and that includes businesses and their ability to pay a staff, so they trade for services instead. That’s how crappy the economy is; we’re back to the barter system, ladies and gents.

FREE (OR HEAVILY DISCOUNTED) THINGS TO DO! Honestly, the city is really great for this. They show free movies in Bryant Park every summer, so you can bring dinner and have an outdoor picnic. Get a library card. Look up Restaurant Week if there’s a place you’ve been dying to try, or go there for lunch — which is almost always cheaper than dinner. Also, I’m probably the biggest asshole in the world for admitting this, but most museum prices are suggested donations, not set in stone. You could refuse to pay anything and still get in, of course but that’s a total dick move. Instead, I still say I’m a student and ask if I can pay $5 or $10 because I’m writing a paper on ________. If you go often enough, you could consider buying a membership, or the small donations add up. Whatever makes you sleep better at night.

GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR JOB SEARCH. There’s always going to be somebody more busy than you are, and they’ll be willing to pay you to essentially live their nonworking life for them. I know people who basically just go to somebody’s apartment, walk their dog, grocery shop for them, tidy up a little, do laundry, and just chill out at the apartment. It’s like being a maid but with a lot more leniency. Pick up a shift as a bartender. Babysit. There’s always something you can do. Let’s just not stoop to selling yourself on the streets. Let’s rephrase: there’s always something classy you can do. You have to sell your soul to live here, not your morals. So no, Tim Tebow, God won’t forsake you, after all.

Apparently, it was Bring Your Booty to Work (Out) Day.

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:57:14 -0400

Apparently, it was Bring Your Booty to Work (Out) Day.

runlikeella: Sometimes, life hands you a lemon and you go for a...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:30:54 -0400

runlikeella:

Sometimes, life hands you a lemon and you go for a run. Sometimes, life hands you so many lemons, that you put it in vodka soda, eat a lemon curd cake, and run tomorrow. Life handed me a lemon to the tune of fifteen hundred dollars, and while I try to be responsible about my money, I’ll also try to be responsible about eating feelings. And I have to say, key lime frozen Greek yogurt isn’t a bad road to go down at all. I could get used to the new face of ice cream.

On a related note, is it weird that I hate hate hate grapes unless they’re frozen, in which case, I eat them up like they’re crack pellets? Yes? Okay, thought so. Just wanted to check and make sure.

runlikeella: I know, I know, I know. You’re supposed to say you...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:25:48 -0400

runlikeella:

I know, I know, I know. You’re supposed to say you like to run for the endorphin rush. For the stress release. For the runner’s high. For getting your heart pounding and your skin sweating and your muscles pushing and your blood flowing and your body working. It’s supposed to be about transcending the bullshit and just running.

But then I put on a pair of shorts, my first for the season because hello, 80-something degree weather, and if running a half marathon means my legs will be ready for short shorts, well, damn, sign me up for one every spring.

Sometimes, it’s okay to be vain and image driven. Whatever gets you out there and running, you know?

runlikeella: It’s springtime in the city, you guys, which is...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:29:48 -0400

runlikeella:

It’s springtime in the city, you guys, which is honestly the only argument I’ll ever use in the war of running on treadmill v. running outside. Granted, I took these pictures while I was at work — yeah, my job’s pretty sweet — and not while I was running, but still. The defense rests.

THOUGHTS ON WAKING UP EARLY TO WORK OUT:

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:30:57 -0400

runlikeella:

IT’S A WEIRD SUBCULTURE. Like really weird. You see everyone walking in wearing structured — read: work appropriate — coats over spandex bottoms or shorts, and some are carrying dry cleaned clothes outside of their gym bag. Nobody really talks. not at the door, not in the weight room, not at all. It’s pretty obvious that each person has the simple objective to get in, get done, and get out in time to beat the line at the coffee shop before 9 a.m. Work deadline, indeed.

IT’S A NATURAL PHENOMENON TO MISS YOUR BED. You can read it on everyone’s faces that the bed is exactly where they want to be, and yet they’re at the gym. Once I’m awake, I can’t even let myself sit down on my bed to put my socks on. I know I’ll crawl back in for that extra hour of sleep if I do. At heart, I’m still an extraordinarily lazy human being. You’re allowed to miss your bed all you want, because you still went to the gym so everyone who takes offense to your miserable attitude can shove it.

YOU HAVE TO BE DISCIPLINED. I’m not talking about having the discipline to obey the stupid alarm clock; I mean the discipline to prepare everything the night before. I have to pack breakfast, lunch, and snacks; I throw a change of clothes into a gym bag; and I put my workout clothes on top of my dresser. They’re easy tasks, but every night, I find myself why I can’t put it off until tomorrow. Here’s why: I won’t make it to the gym in time if I do.

HAVE A BEDTIME. Seriously, we’re kicking it old school. Last Tuesday, I worked until 10, and while I finally got to sleep at 10:45, I was so exhausted that I passed out immediately. On Wednesday night, I was in bed by 9:30. Old o’clock? Maybe, but waking up at 5:45 the next morning was cake. But on Thursday night, I stayed up reading a book for two hours, finished it, and proceeded to wake up all night long because I was having freaky dreams about wasps and singing birds wearing orange backpacks — don’t judge me. Needless to say, however, waking up on Friday put me in a bad mood, and I briefly reconsidered going to the gym. It’d be silly to not go because I was cranky, especially since, you know, exercise gives you endorphins and endorphins make you happy (and happy people just don’t shoot their husbands) and sure enough, an hour later, I was as happy as I’ll ever be without coffee. That is to say: not rude and sullen and flat out offensive at every single turn.

SPEAKING OF COFFEE, I’ve actually been trying to cut back on the java. Instead of two cups in the morning and one in the afternoon, I’ve been able to keep it to a single grande cup after my workout. Honestly, I think working out first thing has helped a lot, but if you turn on the TV any time soon to find a breaking news report of a very angry young woman terrorizing Manhattan because she hasn’t had enough caffeine, well, I spoke too soon.

ONCE THE SWITCH FLIPS AND IT BECOMES ROUTINE TO GET UP AND GO, you’re going to hate yourself a little bit at first. The way Tebow must have been sickened by himself accepting the invite to go play football in the heathen capitol of the netherworld. Because this will always be the most appropriate reaction to morning workouts ever, final word.

DRESSING ROOM CONFESSIONS, AND OTHER LIFE STORIES.

Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:23:41 -0400

runlikeella:

I think it’s safe to say that I’ve found a trend with my cooking and eating style, so if you want to eat like I do, here’s all you have to do in four easy steps:

Chop vegetables.

Put into bowl.

Add protein.

Top with avocado.

You’d also think I’d have gotten sick of bootleg Caprese — read: cottage cheese, chopped tomato, chopped basil, bell pepper to make it interesting — or my favorite way to make salad — read: the easiest way I know how, especially since I’m not big on dressing — or carrots and peanut butter, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with that combination at all, and yet… I’m not. I also found the most twee little square of chocolate at the grocery store, and while that was the last of its flavor in the box, and everything else was caramel milk chocolate, gross, it worked as a nice little pre-portioned after dinner mint of sorts. You know, when by “mint,” I mean “the greatest food alive.” My dad says I love chocolate because of my Aztec roots. Dude, seriously, heritage or not, chocolate is just freaking amazing.

I also met with Jamie yesterday, and while there have been a few moments in the time I’ve been training with him that I’ve seriously questioned why I have a freaking former Army drill sergeant as a trainer, I always remember it’s because it’s worth it. If you can only afford to train with somebody once a week, you’d better push yourself to the limit every single time, and Jamie makes sure that I do. After tons of moves from a workout style he calls Animal Flow — most of which really just proved to be evil plank variations in disguise, with Spiderman pushups thrown in for fun!! — he had me do another round on the kettlebells, which were painful from the get-go, if only just because it made the blisters I got on Friday’s session with Justin actually rupture.

GO FOR FOUR ROUNDS, PERFORMING EACH EXERCISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OTHER WITH NO REST IN BETWEEN SETS. ONE MINUTE REST IN BETWEEN ROUNDS. (I USED A 12KG BELL, BUT VARY YOURS TO YOUR SKILL LEVEL.)

ONE HANDED KETTLEBELL SWINGS, 15 ON EACH ARM.

SQUATS, KETTLEBELL LOADED IN RACK POSITION — AT YOUR SHOULDER/CHIN — 5 ON EACH SIDE.

REVERSE LUNGES, KETTLEBELL STILL LOADED IN RACK POSITION, 5 ON EACH SIDE.

STANDING SHOULDER PRESSES, 5 ON EACH SIDE.

10 LEG RAISES, LYING ON GROUND (don’t use the kettlebell for the floor work, obviously.)

10 OPEN-SHUTS, LYING ON GROUND.

10 SCISSOR KICKS, LYING ON GROUND.

ON FOURTH ROUND ONLY: BARGAIN WITH GOD FOR YOUR LIFE. POSSIBLY DIE. IS THIS A PREVIEW OF HELL??? TRY TO ATONE FOR ALL YOUR SINS; REALIZE THAT NO AMOUNT OF CONFESSION WILL SAVE YOU FROM THIS MASOCHISM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT IS AS YOU INDEED PAID FOR THIS.

He also had me use the erg for a few rounds, and I rowed against myself, seeing how many meters I could manage in a minute’s time. I hate the rowing machine, I don’t think it’s fun — and I know this is because I actually have to work at it and I’m not used to it and blah blah, looking for the easy way out, whatever. But I did manage to peak at 240 meters in 60 seconds, which Jamie said was really good. (Whether he’s puffing up my ego or being honest is yet to be determined, but he isn’t the kind of person to lie about stuff like that. Like I said, former. Army. drill. sergeant.)

He also calls me Mighty Mouse. I’ll take it as a compliment.

But onto the biggest revelation of yesterday:

I went shopping, because hey, it’s something I’m really good at, and in the dressing room of Lululemon — where else would I be?! — I was honestly bemoaning the way a pair of low-rise shorts fit when I realized this wasn’t my fault that they weren’t a good fit. They weren’t a good fit for my body, that doesn’t mean my body’s wrong. It means the shorts were wrong for me. So I just didn’t buy them. There’s no need to try to mold your body to fit any article of clothing, ever.

And in the middle of all that revelation, I saw something. My leg muscle. Guys, that’s not artful Instagram shading in that picture, that’s muscle tone. That’s training for and running a half marathon. That’s waking up at 5:45 every morning to hit the gym before work. That’s dedication, and I am fucking proud of that. I’ll take that over legs that can fit into a pair of size 2 jeans ANY day.

(And then I also realized that the lighting at the newly remodeled Gap store I went to is really freaking flattering. And, naturally, I had to document the moment, because complimentary lighting in a dressing room? Or maybe I was just having a really good hair day. Either way, I’ll take it.)

runlikeella: The following is what happens when you’re friends...

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:49:28 -0400

runlikeella:

The following is what happens when you’re friends with trainers who like to text you if you’re free to hang out — and hang out at the gym. Repeat circuit 5 times, without resting in between reps, 1 minute rest in between sets.

NOTE: use the weight applicable to your skill level. By the fourth round, it’s going to be really difficult so keep that in mind when you start out. This was the weight I used. Also, if you’ve never used kettlebells before, I would STRONGLY suggest having a session with a certified professional because, as with any exercise, it’s easy to hurt yourself if you don’t have proper form, but I’ve seen people throw out their backs from using kettlebells incorrectly.

Two handed kettlebell swings, 12kg x 12 reps.

Single arm kettlebell presses, 10kg x 12 reps x each arm.

Two handed lateral kettlebell swings, 12kg x 12 reps x each leg.

BONUS ROUND:

Two handed kettlebell swing, 16kg x 20 reps; 16kg x 25 reps.

And then I collapsed into the floor and debated crying because not only was it deceptively grueling in a short amount of time and proof that you really don’t need a lot of time to get in a good work out — so what’s your excuse now? — but you guys, seriously, I just got a manicure three hours ago but now I’ve got blisters to go with. #gymbratproblems

Jake Gyllenhaal teaches spin class at Soul Cycle

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:48:43 -0400

Jake Gyllenhaal teaches spin class at Soul Cycle:

runlikeella:

veggielife:

FYI New Yorkers…

Very important reblog. Guys, I’m officially a spinner and officially going to meet my husband.

runlikeella: Recipe for a happy Friday, and all before work’s...

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 12:00:13 -0400

runlikeella:

Recipe for a happy Friday, and all before work’s even started.

about life on the other side.

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:59:31 -0400

runlikeella:

Do you also avoid food journaling because of some of previous issues? I’m still an obsessive to-the-bite food tracker.

I’m thrilled for you and your success in recovery. Do you ever consider writing more about what helped you get well? I know there are some of us who would love some insight from the other side.

— Name Withheld

I actually do avoid food journaling and calorie counting because it’s like the gateway drug to my other habits and symptoms. Even just writing everything down to find patterns leads to my wondering how I can cut calories here and make my meals smaller there. It’s better if I look at food holistically — how I ate at a glance over the course of a day, rather than the details of each and every bite.

I do consider talking about recovery and living my life in contrast to what it was when every action was dictated by my disorder, but I’m also nervous about doing so because treatment and recovery is never the same story for two people. How I beat an eating disorder might not be how somebody else will beat theirs, but at the same time, I really do want to give people hope. I’m just nervous about giving them a false sense of hope. I don’t want you to become frustrated if what is working for me doesn’t work for you.

Are all of my days good? No. Are some days markedly better than others? Yes. Is it really tempting to get obsessive about what I’m eating and how I’m exercising? Every day. But life is simply better when I’m not restricting and life is happier when I’m not binging. It’s that fact, along with my stint in treatment and a hell of a lot of support and love and therapy, that’s kept me going for two years now.

I’m not ashamed that I had an eating disorder, nor am I ashamed that I asked for help when it all became too much. To be honest, I blogged about how I needed to get help before I called my mother and told her I’d relapsed. You, the reader, the internet, the stranger — you were the first to know, and so many people showed me such support. I’ll always be grateful for that day, both because I did something about my issue, and because it showed me how wonderful and caring total strangers can be, and that there is that goodness still left in this world. (Cheesy, but true.) I stopped talking about the struggle because I didn’t want it to define me anymore, yet I’ve found that being open about it is the best form of therapy. No more secrets. I can always talk about it more, if people want to listen or have questions — I’ll always be here to support those who want and need it — but it might never be the heaviest topic here, simply because it’s no longer what my life revolves around. I won’t let it be my focal point. Nobody should let it get that crazy, and there’s always, always, always hope and help if you do.

runlikeella: After doing dumb things like calling sweet potato...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:32:32 -0400

runlikeella:

After doing dumb things like calling sweet potato fries “dinner” for a few nights a week and a half ago, I paid for it by getting wicked sick last week. So in an effort of getting back to basics and eating right, I’ll be photo-logging what I eat. Food journals drive me nuts, and using the calorie count apps and tools makes me crazy. I fixate on the numbers and writing everything down, and then I hate my handwriting, and I prove to myself how neurotic I really am. Taking a picture keeps me aware, but I can’t sweat the details. (Big picture thinking, ba dum bump chhh!) And yes, I had hot chocolate after dinner. I have no shame, I regret nothing, and I made it from scratch.

runlikeella: My phone has turned to guilting me into working...

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:30:34 -0400

runlikeella:

My phone has turned to guilting me into working out. It worked.

To be perfectly honest, most of the time, my workout motivation...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:53:26 -0400

To be perfectly honest, most of the time, my workout motivation boils down to how much better the shower afterward will be.

runlikeella: You guys, I can’t even make this shit up.

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:41:56 -0400

runlikeella:

You guys, I can’t even make this shit up.

runlikeella: I know I’m supposed to write something really...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:46:44 -0400

runlikeella:

I know I’m supposed to write something really introspective and poetic and motivating, going back over every second of the two hours and change I spent running from Central Park to Wall Street like a complete masochist, but I run partially because my mind draws a blank when I do. It’s the only time I get to shut my brain down and not think about anything — and now I realize why I should have gone into long distance running sooner, but that’s a moot point.

What I’m trying to say is, the only clear memory of the race I have is when “Like a Prayer” started playing on my iPod right when I entered the tunnel at the end of the course, because I believe in the power of her Madgesty and that the holy ghost of Steve Jobs controls my playlist’s shuffle feature when I need the greatest motivational boost. I also am still sporting the battle wounds inflicted by a poorly stored Clif Shot — I ate that one first, the scarring could have been worse — and my legs haven’t felt normal since… Saturday night? I went to yoga yesterday morning during my break from work and cried, people. I CRIED, and not because the power of the chakras moved my inner eye. But I had the best time ever, and for my first race, bibs and stupid early start times and space blankets and all, I’m kind of amazed at the fact that I followed through and I DID something.

Wait, that got uplifting. Whoops. Anyway, I’m going to try to remember all the nitty gritty aspects of everything, especially because there were so many amazing people cheering me on, and sending good vibes my way, and I really owe you guys the world for that support. But for now, I’m going to get my om on and walk down stairs without immense pain, and enjoy every second of the last two weeks I have in my current job. Yeah, it’s a whole lot of Facebook timeline landmark event kind of crap going on. And it’s crazy and it’s hectic but seriously, I feel like I’m on top of the world right now. (And who’s to say I’m not? Fuck it, I am.)