The Opposite of Loneliness
Marina Keegan was a 22-year-old activist/writer who was killed in a car accident after her graduation from Yale. I am horrified to have to type the words “22-year-old” and “killed” in the same sentence and my heart goes out to her family.
She was on my mind a lot today because I had a happy day and it was inspired by her piece, “The Opposite of Loneliness.”
We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life.
More than finding the right job or city or spouse – I’m scared of losing this web we’re in. This elusive, indefinable, opposite of loneliness. This feeling I feel right now.
I’ve never read a better descriptor of happiness: the opposite of loneliness.
I felt so grateful for the long list of people and experiences that make up my “opposite of loneliness” today.
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My legs felt so dead yesterday and today with falling temperatures, they felt much better.
I ran 3.1 miles in 29:14 today and although there is a part of me that wishes I were throwing out 5 and 10 milers like Speedy Gonzalez but heck, when I can’t run right, I’ll run left. :D
I decided to taste-test a new shot - the GU Jet Blackberry - because it seems that GU gels are at more races than Cliff shots.
It tastes like cough syrup and has a very thin consistency so it went down a bit easier than Cliff. No one needs a gel for a three mile run but I find that testing new gels during longer runs is just asking for trouble. :D
My day started with a yummy strawberry-basil smoothie and toast points with almond butter.
I made another round of homemade iced coffee - anytime I make my own iced coffee I want to weild it like a trophy.
Look at me: I’m being frugal and I’m saving the environment by not using a disposable cup - like a motherf*cking adult!
After my workout, my wisdom tooth extraction site started bleeding.
I called my oral surgeon and they said to place a moistened tea bag at the site because the tannins in tea can stop bleeding (the more you know!)
Luckily, it’s not a dry socket because that pain is hellacious. Lunch ended up being soft and quick - a Fage yogurt with a sprinkle of brown sugar blend.
Dinner was a tapas style take-out meal from Sultan’s Market - my favorite little Mediterranean joint: Lebanese spinach pie - different from Greek Spanikopita because it is always made vegan!
A cup of yellow lentil soup with one of my favorite hot sauce bottles from our New Orleans trip stirred in - Bayou Passion, Louisiana Pepper Sauce.
Alligators and crocodiles are awesome. :D
And since I was missing my greens, I also enjoyed a small tabouli salad - finely diced parsley with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and cracked wheat dressed in lemon juice and olive oil.
Off to do some hatha yoga then turn in early! Hope you had a great day.
Face Down, A** Up
My first workout since the Fargo Marathon was a 30 minute session on our new spin bike.
Spin IS SOOOO FUN! You work up a sweat really fast and it challenges your balance.
Good Mother, it was tougher than I expected though.
I held position 2 (from the video) for most of the workout, returning to position 1 for a short breaks. I held a cadence of 50-60 RPM and I can’t wait to get stronger!
My goal will be to cross train 1-2X a week (depending on my running schedule) and build up to 90-120 minutes!
Why Spin? It might make you a faster runner and it’s a great way to increase fitness and endurance while pounding out miles!
- This relationship between spinning and running lies on the hip rotation, specifically the relationship between cadence and the velocity of your hip rotation in degrees per second. For example, an individual pedaling at a cadence of 90 or 90 rpm’s, is rotation his/her hips at a velocity of 220 degrees per second. This is equivalent to a 6:45 per mile running pace. For those of us in the “average” running department, a cadence of 70 is equivalent to about an 8:00 minute per mile pace.
- Cycling will also benefit muscle development in the legs. According to Niles, a pedal stroke rquires more muscle power than a running stride. Thus, if you ride regularly, you will increase the size of your leg muscles…for an average runner, the added strength may increase knee stability without compromising running speed.
- The bottom line: replacing easy running days with cycling can increase your running intensity on your hard running days (such as your speedwork days). Therefore, you will improve your running speed on less mileage. Pretty cool huh?
- Below is a cadence/running equivalency chart. Because everyone’s stride is different, the equivalencies will vary, but the chart is fairly accurate. If you are interested in measuring cadence, you will need to purchase a bike computer that offers this feature.
{Source: Niles, Rick, “Spin Cycle.” Runner’s World (June 1992), p. 33}
Any other spin girls out there? I found this master class video on Spinning really helpful!
Summer Sunday
Happy Memorial Day weekend!
When I raced the Marine Corps Marathon, everything came together - handsome Marines, English Bulldogs, and military history.
I transcribed a history of the English Bulldogs and their “soldier boys” and it puts a smile on my face every time I look at my own little “devil dog.”
If you are obsessed with bulldogs and Marines, have a look. If you are a Marine with a bulldog, call me. :D
Nigel hopes all dogs are snuggling with their soldiers tonight or will get to soon. And for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, our thoughts are with your loved ones today.
Chicago is gorgeous this weekend with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the high 90’s!
As you can see from the length of that bully tongue, we are shade seeking during every walk and Nigel is only out for a few minutes at a time - too hot for smoosh faces! :D
We had an exciting weekend and are now the proud owners of a GE-NU-INE spin bike! :D
John and I both wanted to incorporate cross-training into our routines (one to two days for me) but we dislike elliptical machines and recumbent bikes.
They always felt boring and lazy to me no matter how much I increased the resistance and speed.
Enter Le Spin bike!
We went with a model with a console to easily track our efforts and with a 40 lb fly wheel in the front to make sure we got the intense training we wanted.
You can read more about the importance of a weighted flywheel here.
It was hilarious watching John put this together because he is so methodical, doing the completed opposite of what I would do: he lays out all the tools and supplies and actually reads the directions once through.
I am so glad John had it delivered on Saturday and was home to put it together. The bike weighs 120 lbs and he had to help the delivery man carry it in - and Nigel was not volunteering. :D
John had to use his bitching tool set which he got as a groomsman gift a few years ago - BEST GROOMSMAN GIFT EVER!
John’s super excited - he’s placing it in front if his big screen and planning on getting through seasons of t.v. shows he never has time to watch.
We’re off to a neighbor’s BBQ in our courtyard and since I’ve been eating nothing but veggie broth and frozen yogurt because of my wisdom tooth, I’m excited to try some of the soft BBQ foods. ;D
Hope everyone is having a great hot weekend!
I’m Only Happy When It Rains
Not quite…bring on the blistering heat of summer please!
Breakfast started with half an Ezekiel English muffin with raspberry preserves. English muffins seem overrated but the ones by Ezekiel have a very nice and nutty texture.
I paired my muffin with a Chobani blueberry Greek yogurt and a cup of coffee.
My morning snack tableau looks to be Nigel’s very first Twilight cover.
Somehow the choice isn’t as dramatic when it’s between a vampire and an English Bulldog since that’s not really a choice - BULLDOGS 4EVA! :)
I also ate a tablespoon of raw honey for a sore throat - can’t get sick now!
Lunch was a veggie sub from Potbelly’s, a cute little sandwich chain that started in Chicago.
Stuffed with mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, oregano, and mustard - they dig out the bread for you and you can always ask for a freshly made one! :)
Nothing ever tastes as good as homemade to me so I hate when I’m out of groceries.
Dinner was endless bowls of veggie soup and hot chocolate - seriously, I can put away a lot of soup! :)
Today’s Workout is going to happen in twenty minutes - a C2 hot yoga class.
Hope everyone had a brilliant start to their week. :)
Beastie Pup, Beastie Run
{No Sleep till Brooklyn + RIP Adam Yauch}
This Friday had LAZY written all over it. When I left the house in the morning, Nigel had plunked down after breakfast.
Hours later, I found him right where I left him.
I came home, downed some coffee, and went to finish my workouts so I could have an awesome Friday night out.
WOD:
C1.5 Hot Yoga - it felt so good taking the beginner level classes. It beats up my body less and it lets me see how far I’ve come which is always confidence building.
It’s also surprising to see people watching me in class for cues. I think a lot of my yogi readers can identify with this - once you have the routines memorized you can move through it easily. It’s always funny and flattering. :)
3.1 miler (5K) in 27:12 minutes. A lot of intervals, a lot of hustling. Much better than yesterday’s run since the heat was gone today! I hate cold weather but love the runs - sigh, there’s always a compromise! :D
First lap: 8:16, Second lap: 9:10; Third lap: 8:45; .1 lap: 59 seconds.
Hope everyone has a lazy and/or fun Friday night!
Workouts + Monday Miscellany
I think my Nigel Bear is perfect. Well, that would be a roll of shredded toilet paper.
Nigel loves the cardboard tube and he has figured out he can get to them all by himself. :)
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We had a full weekend - it started with waking up at 5 am so we catch our Friday flight for a Friday wedding - yes, young ones, my generation thinks Friday weddings are acceptable.
We came back Saturday after the wedding brunch and took Nigel for a long drive and decided we really wanted to see Five Year Engagement and it was a hilarious date night movie.
After my own pratfall at a lovely wedding, I appreciated the physical comedy. :D
I got some messages about the dress I wore:
a) this is what it looked like from the front - yeah, it was really windy! :D
b) For a previous message sender, the scar on my arm is from cooking for the first time in our new house. I hadn’t gotten used to the dimensions of a much larger oven and when sliding out a pan of roasted veggies, I pressed the edge of a pan heated to 450 degrees to my bicep. It felt not awesome.
c) This is what the back looked like without the wind.
I honestly couldn’t love a dress more and I am so happy others felt the same.
When I came home from my own long run on Sunday, this is what I found. John ran 21 miles in total and he and Nigel were recovering with ice packs.
You might think that I spoil Nigel the most but this man walked into a natural foods pet store and walked out with three treats on Nigel’s morning walk.
And after his kick-ass 21 miles, it was Nigel who got all the cuddles.
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Running Bunny Weekly Report 4/23-4/29
I had an intense training week - I took four C2 hot yoga classes and increasing the load of advanced classes has been the most effective way to take my practice to the next level.
{Unknown Source, please message me if you know}
In Sunday’s hot yoga class, I was able to stand easily in Bird of Paradise pose. I am still working on extending my leg and looking in the other direction at the same time but I will add this advanced pose to my practice!
John is a bit concerned that I am pushing myself too much but I always believe that hot yoga cures everything. :)
I ran a total of 17.86 miles this week - a 4.5 miler, a 3.11 miler (in 25 minutes!) and a ten miler on Sunday.
It’s been tough ramping down the mileage - I’ll only be running ten milers as my long runs until the race because I want my legs 100% refreshed. With less than three weeks until the Fargo Marathon, I am jumping out of my skin with excitement!
WOD + WOW: 5K P.B. & Our African Adventure Begins!
Today was a intervals day and I ran a 3.3 miles in 26:35 minutes!
My 3.11 mile time (5K) was 24:56!!
I want to thank the Academy, G-d, John, and my mom.
Not really, I want to thank carbs. Pure, unadulterated carbs.
It was tough and this is what I looked like after. :) In race conditions, I am hoping this will translate to a 27-28 minute 5K soon!
With a little over three weeks until the Fargo Marathon, I’m in my taper phase where I bring down my mileage and focus on speedwork and my hot yoga classes.
My second workout today is 90 minutes of yoga at home using Tara Stiles’ book!
I hate to admit it, but I don’t love the Wednesday teachers and I find it distracting to my practice - I know I should overlook mannerisms or teaching style but it becomes so closely intertwined with your concentration that it’s tough to do!
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Today was also awesome for another reason: we booked our trip to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and bought our plane tickets!
Our trip is going to involve a trek up and down the mountain and a two-day African Safari! This is one of my biggest dreams and I am so excited just imagining seeing the lions, zebras, and elephants walking about in their natural surroundings.
We tried to take a family portrait after we bought the tickets but Smooshface McGee was hogging the spotlight as usual.
Sadly, no English bullies up Mt. Kili. :)
What Sets Your Monday off on the Right Foot?
I started my Monday right - dippy egg, wheat thin, and spinach with pepper flakes.
Lunch included an egg-shaped cookie which was good but not as yummy as this…
Gigantic, shiny, organic berries are almost here!
I always come home to find John and Nigel with berry-stained lips and several empty berry pint holders around them.
Today, I got to the strawberry pints first - how do you like me now? :)
My strawberries were a sidecar to my hummus and baby spinach sammie that I packed for lunch!
Dinner was delish but quick - I roasted a block of tofu (with hot sauce dip!) and whipped up a pan of soy sauce-glazed green beans. I halve the plates (saving one for John), and was pretty pleased that I was able to get this on the table in 20 minutes. :D
WORKOUT of the DAY
If I don’t work out on Mondays, I don’t feel quite right. I set the tone for my whole week on Monday so I was determined to get to my hot yoga class which I sorely needed. Puntastic! :D
I sprinted to a C2 hot yoga class at 8:45 p.m. - the last one of the day! Nigel has his way of dealing with stress and I have mine. :)
And for a post-workout snack, I pilfered from John, my favorite berry thief.
Your Breath is Your Guide and Compass
Workout of the Day: C2 Hot Yoga, where I got a little deeper into compass pose. My extended eg is a bit straighter and my head is closer to my shin!
I haven’t been posting my food as much because I’ve been eating the same things - dippy eggs, salads, tofu and roasted veggies for dinner (and many cups of coffee!). :)
I made these perfect green beans for last night’s dinner by adding a tablespoon of water and low-sodium soy sauce to a skillet, letting them “steam,” and then tossed them with roasted red onion and garlic slivers.
They were hot, had a great raw crunch, and we have flavorful leftovers for dinner tonight!
I get into food routines easily so I wanted to try for some variety today.
I walked on the wild side with a peanut butter and raspberry preserves sammie on toast for a mid-day snack since I only had a yogurt for lunch. :)
Dinner was toast and two dippy eggs with a ton of cayenne pepper and some extra wilted spinach on the side!
My Second 20 Mile Long Run!
I completed my second 20 mile long run yesterday, finishing in 3:13:59!!
I ran it as fast as I could, doing intervals the entire time and finished it more than six minutes faster than my last 20 miler (3:21)!
Mile 1 in 8:37 + Mile 2 in 9:18
I started off way too fast and ran a two miler in 18:44. I’m happy to see the faster numbers but I definitely have to remember, “Marathon means 26.2 miles of running.” :)
{Source}
Mile 3 in 9:38 + Mile 4 in 9:39 + Mile 5 in 9:48 + Mile 6 in 9:37
“The uneventful miles” so I decided to shake things up! I run the lake-front path a lot and around mile 4 when I saw the same bird’s nest in a tree that I’ve seen for the last few weeks, I decided I wanted to see something new - so I went through a nature preserve area.
I got to see all the new plantings (wild grasses and flowers the city put down to help out the birds and bugs) and it is eerily quiet when you lose sight of the city and the water.
I love urban oases. One of the ways I’ve been able to prevent burnout has been constantly seeing something and doing something new - I haven’t missed a run since I started training and I hope the Angels of Injury can keep it that way.
Mile 7 in 9:53 + Mile 8 in 9:47
{Source - Miles 7 and 8 involved me freaking out about my moleskin slipping - I’ve had a cut I’ve been nursing and I didn’t want it to act up!}
Mile 9 in 10:42
My right hip stated acting up and I let the Garmin run while I assumed pigeon pose, stretching it out). My only mile over 10 minutes and most of it was holding pigeon. :D
{At mile 10 - I like to pretend the lake ends here and I’m at the end of the world.}
Mile 10 in 9:54
Back to business with my fastest training 10 miler in 1:37! I definitely had to slow down a few times but I can’t wait to see an even lower number during a race!
Mile 11 in 9:40
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I run because it makes me feel good. When I’m having a bad day or when I feel like someone has caused me unhappiness, a run makes me feel better. I run because I love it and can’t imagine a life without running. I run because my body thrives on it and I feel more alive when I run. I run because it makes me madly happy even if the run isn’t great.
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This run was definitely harder because I was running it faster and I had ten more miles to go at this point. I had my honey badger eyes of fury going - but I also had a smile on my face. :)
Mile 12 in 9:26 + Mile 13 in 9:49
I felt tight so I focused on my posture, my hips, my stride, but at a certain point, I think I was just going to have to get used to my body feeling some aches while I forced it to go faster.
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Mile 14 in 9:34
After the half-marathon mark, there’s always a moment of “Mother Mary, I still have more miles, don’t I?” An encouraging text from John provided a second wind!
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Mile 15 in 9:38
On my way down the lake-front, I decided to take a section that is closed off with gates and police signs because lots of other runners were jumping the fence.
A quarter mile in, I realized that I (we?) are trapped because the trail leads into the water where it collapsed. I navigated some rocks (imagining I was that dude in 27 Hours) and climbed a small stone wall.
Everyone jumped so I jumped - it wasn’t very high, maybe up to my tummy and I’m only 5’2 - but the pain in my left ankle when I hit the ground - never doing that again!
Mile 16 in 9:51 + Mile 17 in 9:45
At this point, my hands were shaking and unable to open my pocket for Swedish fish. I ran in my Lulu tank top and vest to test out my gear for race day but once the sun was gone, I was chilled.
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Mile 18 in 9:48 + Mile 19 in 9:52 + Mile 20 in 9:34
My favorite moment in a long distance race is the last two miles - I was extra motivated to finish strong because all I wanted was to go home, shower, and drink hot chocolate! I also started to use Kelly Clarkson’s running advice:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone!
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter,
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over cause you’re gone
Who knew? Kelly Clarkson, running coach. I didn’t want to think, I just wanted to run so the song was on permanent loop until the end. :)
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I came home, collapsed in the shower with Gatorade, and then collapsed into bed. :)
