What will bring you success...

Hi there, friends!  I'm blogging at a weird time because I'm working a split shift today..I got off a little early and have to be back there at 6:30pm for a few hours.  I wish I was working out right now, but I'm taking a rest day since I have that race tomorrow!  I'm sure I would be fine if I ran today then raced tomorrow, as it's only a 4 miler, but it's habit not to run the day before (though I'll do a 2 miler before the marathon) a race.   I'll be honest, I'm kind of nervous for tomorrow.  This is the first time I'll be racing since Thanksgiving!  That's a record for me since I first started racing.   It's also throwing me off because it's at night and I'm running without any of my running posse.  I know it'll be fine, but I can't help but be a little nervous.  However, automatic PR since I've never done a 4 miler race before.   My goal is just to finish (which obviously I will), but I would really like it if I ran it somewhere between 32-35 minutes.  Sub-9's would really, truly be ideal.  We'll see.

To be perfectly honest, I've been a worry-wart about running in general recently.   Why?  My runs have been going pretty well, I've been injury-free, so what's the jig?   The truth is, a week or so ago, Beth emailed me to tell me she won't be doing Bayshore after all.  Read her post from today.  She illustrates why she's not running it in that post and links to the initial post where she discusses it.  I absolutely, 100% support her and her decision, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bummed.  Moreover, it freaks me the heck out.  A million thoughts swirled through my head when she told me.  "What if I can't do this alone?"  "What if I want to give up in the middle and there's no one there to push me?"  "Maybe I can't do this, after all."  Yes, I know it's silly to think I could only finish with the help of another person, but I never said I have rational thoughts.   In fact, I know 99.9% of my thoughts are quite irrational.   Another part of me felt a huge sigh of relief like, "Oh thank God, now I don't have to feel bad if I hold Beth back."   or "Now I can just run at whatever pace feels best and throw time out the window."  Though Beth was always completely on board with letting me do my own thing, I still wanted to run it WITH her and hope I could keep up.  

Regardless, this is and always was my race.  Even if I ran with her, it would be my legs running, not hers.  I just keep telling myself that.  Here's another thing that is helping quell my fears:

yes, yes, yes!

I'm still in early days of training, but I've done all my runs solo.  If I have a running buddy, it's only for a few miles more or less. So how would be any different?  It won't be.  

While I was thinking of tackling this race on my own, I couldn't help but think maybe that's how it was supposed to be.  Maybe it was supposed to feel more daunting, so that it feels more rewarding at the end.  Maybe I need to do this on my own, on my own terms, to prove it to myself.   That I did it every single step of the way.   And then, I thought of success, and wouldn't you know it?  I found a whole slew of things that helped me define success:

True.  And if I don't give up, then I'll win my own personal race of finishing of a marathon.

I also think I needed this reminder:

It's not going to help me if I whine, or hope, or if it's easy.  I just have to keep working at it.  

and then I found this, and even if  some of it doesn't relate to running, it's a good list for success in every aspect of life:

I love the last one.  Mom, I better be making you proud ;)

I also love #19.  This is me, being bold and courageous.  I've already come so far, I need to finish this journey.  On my own.  I can do this and when I do, I'll look back and be glad I did.   I'd be lying if I said I'm not scared, but then again, everything truly worth it in life is scary.   

Be bold, be brave, go do whatever it is you think you can't do.   I know you can.  

PS - it's not too late to race tomorrow too.  Go sign up for Life as Running Mom's virtual race.   

PPS - were you hardcore this month?  Send me pics, recaps, details at watchmegorun@gmail.com for operation hardcore fit!   I'll post in my shoutouts on the first.

Let's talk,

-What helps you prepare for success?  A certain quote/mantra/ritual?

-Is anyone else doing a leap year race tomorrow?  If so, good luck!

-How's your week going?  Anything exciting thus far?

-Anything else to share?

Megan

What do you think about while running?

Hi again!  Hope your weekend is going well.  I've been busy, busy, busy, but it's been a good weekend.  It just has gone far too quickly.   Want to see some super cuteness? Of course you do.  RunnerSis sent me this picture yesterday:

How cute is runnerbaby?!   She's wearing the future runner shirt I got her, running shoes, and super cute nike tempo shorts.  She's so ready to start running :)

RunnerBro had to work today, so he didn't join us this morning for our run.  Ryan drove separate from me because I had 14 on my schedule and his IT band was  bugging him the other day, so he didn't want to push it if it felt bad.   

Since both he and RunnerSis were running a much shorter distance than me and were going to leave before I got back, we took our picture  before the run.

eeek, not our best look.  They called it our floating heads look.

It was pretty chilly today and windy again.  Even with my gloves on, my hands were cold at first.   Ryan said his legs were feeling pretty good, so he opted to run the first 4 miles with me at my target pace.   Those first 4 miles went swimmingly and we stayed right where we wanted to be...though a few times I got overzealous and had to tell myself to 'slow my roll.'   I was feeling extra peppy today and since Ryan was ipod-less, I crooned to him the songs that I was listening to.  He was not a fan.  At all.  In fact, he threatened never to run with me again.  Party pooper.

At the 4 mile mark, I gave him one of my honey stingers, took one myself, wished each other luck and he headed back as I trekked on.

I was feeling good until right around the 5 mile mark I noticed my ipod was being wonky and kept playing the same 10 songs on loop.  I tried to fix it while running, but it didn't work, so I paused the garmin, stopped for a second and fixed it.   It did this one more time before the 6 mile mark before it finally behaved.  

Since I was on my own, I let my mind wander as it usually does while I'm running.  I either think nothing or have a million thoughts at once going on in my head.   Here's a look at what my thoughts were like today:

-MMM, I want waffles

-What the heck is going on with my ipod?

-Why is my water bottle leaking?

-Seriously, this is NOT going to be enough water to get me back

-Ooh, I hope I don't have to go potty on this run.

-I think I have to go potty.  Oh wait, no, my stomach was just being weird for a second.

-I still want waffles

-I love this song!

-Wow, the sky looks so pretty right now.

-This hill seemed less big before

-Seriously, I really want waffles

-Oh look, horses!  I should take a picture..Oh, that didn't work.

-Hey, there's runnersis in her car!  Hi RunnerSis!  Oh..that means she's done.   

-I need more water.  Stupid water bottle.

-Okay, about those waffles.   I REALLLLLLYYY could go for some right now.

-Hey look, I'm almost done.

-Holy crap!  I'm going to run these 14 miles in roughly the same time it took me to run 13.1 last week.

-Ahhhhh I'm done!  

-Now, about those waffles.  Oh, and water.  MMMM.

This seemed appropriate for me today:

yes, this was exactly how my thought process goes.

And check out that time, which felt nice and easy (mostly):

I even hit the 13.1 mark at 2:03.36 which is 3 minutes faster than my freep 1/2 marathon time and only 4 minutes slower than my best time.  I totally smell a 1/2 PR in my future.  I felt so good that I almost considered doing 15, but didn't want to push it too much.   

And no, I didn't get any waffles after :(  I wanted them so badly, but I stopped at my parents after and by the time I got home, Ryan was begging for lunch, not breakfast.  We got a big box of the frozen kind at the store today though and I plan to make that my breakfast tomorrow.  Yum!  

No worries, because I got the girl scout cookies I ordered today:

mmmmmm.

By the way, don't forget to send me any great accomplishments for the month of february for Operation Hardcore Fit!  I'll post it on March 1st.  

Oh, ps, today's distance?  It was a personal distance record for me, wahoo!

Let's talk,

-What foods do you crave when you're running?

-What does your thought pattern look like?  Are your thoughts all over or is your mind blank?

-Favorite girl scout cookie?  The tagalongs are for me and the thin mints are for ryan.

-How was your weekend?  Do anything fun?

Megan

150 Pounds book review

Hi there!  This will be my first of two blog posts for the day (the book review and a normal post later on).   A while back an author, Kate Rockland, started following me on twitter (@KateRockland).   When I saw that she wrote 'chick lit with edge' and that she had a forthcoming book, I immediately asked if I could do a review of it.   She said yes and I was sent a galley copy of her newest book, 150 pounds (blurb found here: 150 pounds).  I was ecstatic to get my hands on a book before it was released - such a nerd, I know.

photo from kate's website

The book was actually a perfect read for someone like me to read.  It focuses on two women who both blog: Alexis Allbright and Shoshana Weiner.  Alexis writes 'Skinny Chick' and Shoshana is the voice of 'Fat and Fabulous'.   Both women are the extreme of their views - Alexis being food obsessed (weighing the amount she eats, exercising all the time, never having indulgences).  Shoshana eats whatever she wants when she wants, rarely exercises, and embraces the fact that she is severely overweight.  As a blogger who tries to consider all sides of healthy living, it was interesting to see two sides of an argument.  

The two meet on the set of Oprah and immediately bash heads.   After, the story jumps back and forth from each woman's perspective as she tries to navigate through life and deal with other forces including family issues, a romance, and self-discovery.    

Was this book life-changing?  No, but it was a fun read with well-developed characters.   They were flawed, yet still likable.   While it may be fictitious, I still found it rang true to me.  Women, at every size struggle to find themselves and find that healthy balance that will ultimately make them happy.

In the end, while not giving everything away, the women end up both weighing 150 pounds.   Yet, more importantly than the number on the scale, they find themselves, happiness, and that obsessing about weight or health will never truly leave them satisfied.

The book was a light-hearted, quick read. It has wit, romance, and strong relationships.  If you're looking for a fun read, I definitely recommend this one!    

Thanks to Kate for giving me the chance to review this book and I can't wait to see what else you'll write in the future!   

Questions for you guys:

-What draws you into a good book?

-Have you read any good, quick books recently?

-Do you feel as though you enjoy books more when you can relate to them?

Megan

the last few runs...

happy friday!  I've never been so happy to see this day.   I worked a lot over the past few days and I was more than grateful when I worked a half-ish day today.   Once I came home, I ate lunch then promptly took a nap.  It was glorious.

yes, I agree.

As I mentioned in my last post, I ended up running at the 5am hour two days in a row this week.  The first day?  I was a HUGE fan.  I had energy all day. It was peaceful.  I really, truly loved it.   I thought, "I can do this ALLLLL the time."  The second day?  Not so much.  Despite going to bed early the night before, I tossed and turned and got only an okay amount of sleep.  I woke up feeling tired, but put on all my stuff and headed out, hoping for a 5 miler, at least.  It was icy.   Every surface I tried was slick.  My legs felt tired the entire run and every time I tried to speed up, I would slip and slide.  I also almost hit my head on three different tree branches because I was so pre-occupied with not falling.  Needless to say, I spent that entire run cursing.   In the end, I was glad I got it done, even if it was an awful run.  It was better to get it over with and get on with my day.   

Am I ruling out morning runs completely?  Nope, not in the least.  I do like them...every so often.  I don't think I'll do it every day.  I like sleep too much.   However, it does make it nice to have it done so that I can be as lazy as I want when I get off work.

I took a rest day yesterday and did a 5 miler on the mill today in 43:15.   This felt like a huge accomplishment for two reasons.  1. I took a few walk breaks and still did sub-9s and 2. this was the first time in forever that I've done a sub-9 five miler on the mill.   It felt like a huge win!  Ryan accompanied me to the gym and knocked out 4.25 miles.   We attempted to do weights, but I was spent after sweating buckets on the mill (sorry, gross, but true) and we decided to call it a day.

I have to work all day tomorrow, so I may run a few easy miles in the morning so that my legs are fresh for my 14 miler on Sunday.

In other news, I've been sucked into a book.  This one, to be exact:

This is so so good.  I always believed that I hated Stephen King because I associated him with his 'horror' novels.  This one is suspenseful so far, but not scary.  I'm a little over halfway and I just want to keep reading....its 800+ pages though, so it takes a little bit of time.  Ryan bought it on his ipad and is reading it too.  Could we be bigger dorks??

Last, I'm a race ambassador for a new race in my area: the canton liberty run!  It's June 16 and it's going to be all sorts of fun.  There's a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, or 5k+10k race to choose from.  The best part? You get a statue of liberty costume to run in!  They are pretty awesome because they said if I can get a decent amount of people to register, I can give away some fun swag!   If you decide to do it, please pick that you heard from watchmegorun on the drop down menu when asked how you heard about the race.   Seriously, even you out of towners need to consider this one.   Who doesn't like to dress up for races?!  

More info can be found here: Liberty Run.  Even better, if you register through their facebook page, you can get 5% off your registration:  fb registration.

Alright friends, hope you have a great friday/saturday...I'll see ya after my 14 miler on sunday ;)

Questions:

-How have your runs been going recently?  Have you had to deal with bad conditions?

-Has anyone else read this book?  Thoughts?

-Big plans today or tomorrow?

-Who's racing with me?  :)  

Megan

the catalyst that changed everything

Today is a big day in the history of Meg O.  It marks the catalyst that changed everything.   Sometimes it's hard to pinpoint the exact event that changes your life and though there were other events in the past and will be more in the future, this event stands out so markedly for my life as it is right now.   Two years ago on this day, I got my gall bladder out.   You can read more about what the heck a gall bladder does on my post from last year: Dear gall bladder, I don't miss you.  

So why was this event, the removing of an organ, so cataclysmic?   Good question.  Back then, I don't think I even knew the scope of it.  I don't think I knew the effect it would have on my life.  Prior to getting it removed, as stated in last year's post, I ate bad food all the time, never worked out, didn't take care of myself at all.  

The truth is, I was too stupid to even know what I was doing.  I assumed because I was young, I was invincible.  That because I was 'thin', I was healthy.   I was so deep inside a toxic relationship with myself that I couldn't even see that I was slowly killing myself from the inside out.  I wasn't taking care of myself mind, body, or soul and I was letting myself do it over and over again.

I didn't see the signs.  If I did, I was too blind to notice.   I was like one of those girls who makes excuses and say it will it change, but it never does.  I would take up working out, eating healthy, taking care of myself for a while.  Then, I'd get lazy or busy and all the bad things came rushing back.  All the good that I had done quickly came undone.   

Maybe because it wasn't a true 'bad' behavior - I wasn't doing drugs or partying all the time, it was less noticeable.  But, the effects were still detrimental.   You only get one body, so you better take care of it while you can.  After the surgery, I wish I could say I woke up and said, "I need to be healthy all the time!"  Unfortunately, it took more time than that.  It took effort.  It took me wanting to throw in the towel no less than a million times.   It was hard.  But, it was worth it.

finally, I wanted to earn my body.

I realized that if I was going to be 'thin', I needed it to mean something.  I wanted it to be supported by muscle, strong legs, and have a body that was healthy from the inside out.   Not for superficial purposes, not for some 'hot bod', but to know I was healthy.  That I was in a real relationship with my body.  That I loved it, took care of it, treated it well.  In return, it would do the same for me.  It would allow me to run a million races, lift more than 10 lbs at the gym, live with all my organs.   

So this year, two years post-surgery, I have a greater understanding for how much that surgery changed my life.  It saved my life.  Or at least it saved me from further destroying my body, from possibly making it worse, and who knows where I could have ended up.  For that, I'm grateful.  I needed that wake up call.  I needed to realize that no one could save me...but me.   

true, this was something only I could do.

Sometimes it takes something like losing an organ to truly open your eyes.  That day is a constant reminder that I never want to go back to that.  It makes me realize how much I have changed.  I work out, I eat better, and my outlook has changed.   The funny thing about toxic relationships is that they turn everything they touch into toxins.   It didn't just make me unhealthy.  It made me a pessimist.  I didn't believe in much.  I didn't have huge sweeping dreams.   So, with that lifestyle change, I brought on a whole new attitude.  I realized how lucky I am.  How lucky I am to be healthy and not to take it for granted.  When you realize that, it's so easy to see the good and the hope in everything else.   

One small surgery changed me into a runner, a believer, an optimist, and hopefully maybe even an inspiration for those who want to change but don't know how or can't stick with it.   I'm living proof that you can change it all.  You don't have to be the fastest or the strongest or even the best.  You just have to be the best version of yourself.   

because clearly the best version of me is one with a huge cheeseball grin whipping my hair as I dance ;)

So cheers to health, happiness, and leaving the past where it belongs.  In the past.  

PS - for those of you who were wondering, I DID get up both yesterday and today at 5am to run.  More on that tomorrow.

Questions for you:

-have you ever been in a toxic relationship?  With yourself or someone else? How'd you change it?

-have you ever had an organ removed?  Did it greatly effect your life?

-Share something happy with me!  Go on share!

-Any other early morning runners today?

Megan

Running changes you

Hi there, happy monday!  It was the start to another crazy week.  I worked nearly 11 hours today, but still was able to come home and run 3 miles in 25:24.  I'll take it.  As I said on facebook and twitter, "running is my happy hour.  Negative splits are like getting a double shot for the price of one."  Seriously.  Even on the days that I don't feel like it or it feels tough, I almost always feel better after the run.   The other night, we were teasing Ryan's sister and her fiance about running with us.  His sister said it was "too boring."  I couldn't help but be flabbergasted.  Boring?  Never.  Running can be a lot of things:  amazing, torturous, exhilarating, tough, freeing, calming, etc, etc.  But rarely do the words 'boring' come to mind (except on a treadmill, but that's more the treadmill itself, not the action of running).  

I can't help but think that once you get into the groove of running, how much it changes you.   It's true, most people, when they first start out, find it boring, monotonous, frustrating.   It isn't until you have a success (maybe running a mile without stopping, finishing your first 5k, etc) that you see past that and see something more.  It becomes more than running a mile.   It's more than a finish line.   It becomes a metaphor.   It pushes you to succeed in other areas of life.  You achieve something that once felt impossible and suddenly you think, "maybe other 'impossible' things aren't quite so unattainable after all."  

If you stick with running, you change all the time.  You learn, grow, and adapt to training plans, outside forces, injuries, setbacks.   Yet, you don't give up.  You keep going, even with it's tough.  Even when you want to throw in the towel.  And so, you become someone you might not be otherwise.   You learn self-discipline day in and day out.   You learn how to overcome struggles and self doubt.   You become stronger both mentally and physically.  I like this quote from Zig Zigler:

If the destination is the end of the race, I think this absolutely makes sense.   True, we all want to get to the finish line, but along the way, over the course of countless hours of training we become the best version of ourselves.  The unstoppable, strong, fierce, forces to be reckoned with.   

But, running changes us in other ways too.  We learn to appreciate little things that we may not appreciate otherwise.  For example, today I was so grateful that it was still semi-light out at 6pm so I could run outside.   Seriously, does anyone appreciate little things like weather and daylight in quite the same way as runners?   The other week, when I was sick, I realized just how grateful I was that I rarely get sick, so that I don't have to worry about that setback often.  I think this is probably true for any athlete, but you learn to appreciate your health and try not to take it for granted.  And one thing I know I never truly appreciated until becoming a runner?  A good night's sleep.   It makes all the difference for helping get me through a workout.

Running changes you with others, as well.   Since  I started running, I've connected with people I may never would have talked to, if it weren't for the shared interest.  But, it's never like, "oh hey, you like running?"  It's, "you like running?  Me too!  Let's chat about it for 3432432423 hours."  It bonds you with them in an inexplicable way.  Even people I knew before and maybe didn't even like all that much, as soon as we've found out we had the running commonality, all other issues went to the wayside.  Heck, just look at RunnerBro and I.  We used to be like night and day.  We were not friends.  At all.  We were siblings and that was it.   Now, we're like two peas in a pod.  

oh yes, we also both look like death after we run a half marathon.

It even changes you in ways you SWORE you never would.   I am not a morning person.  Not in the least.  I swore I'd never get up at a ridiculous hour to run.  Yet, tomorrow, I hope I can get up at 5ish to run before work.  It may not happen.  I hope it does.  I have all my clothes laid out, along with my garmin, and knuckle light.   I sure hope my body says, "yes, I really want to be up this early to run!"  Does anyone want to tweet/facebook/text me at like 530 to make sure I'm up?   

It's strange how running can change you both inside and out.  How it really, truly is something that gives you more than a good workout.  It's a mood boosting-mind clearing-life affirming- strength proving act.  It doesn't make sense and also makes complete sense at the same time.   Whatever the case, I'm having fun figuring out all the little ways it changes me each and every day.

Let's talk:

-How has running changed you?  

-Any great quotes you love about running being more than just a sport?

-How would you describe it to someone who is a non-runner?

-Did you workout today? How'd it go?

Megan

i was born to skate...at a beginner level + giveaway winner!

Hi there!  As you may recall, we celebrated Erin's (Ryan's sis) bday last night.   It was gooood times.  First, we went to dinner at Buddy's (a fav local pizza place).   It didn't disappoint, as per usual.   Unknowingly, Erin and I both got the 'wear sparkles' memo.

Hooray!  sparkles!

Here are the other gals:

Jamie, Briana, Erin, Me

We also had Ryan and Erin's fiance, Luke in tow.  They didn't want to pose together.  Weird.  After sufficiently stuffing ourselves, we caravanned to campus martius ice rink downtown.  Due to an accident, we lost them and had fun trying to direct them where to park since they're not familiar with downtown Detroit.  Luckily, we finally got it situated and were able to hit the rink!

pretty rink + pretty lights +pretty downtown views

The last time we were there it was pretty crowded, so we were pleasantly surprised to find it was pretty sparse last night.  More room for me to show off my sweet moves!  Fact:  I said several times last night, "I was born to skate! (at a beginner level)"   For being a complete spazz and having a tough time with ice when I'm on foot, I'm surprisingly sure-footed on skates.   It's an anomaly, for sure.   

It was Erin and Jamie's first time skating.  Erin did great picking it up and Jamie did well too, though she was a little less confident.  She still did awesome for a first timer though!   Ice skating really is no joke if you're doing it for several hours (which we did).   It's a good leg workout.  I was surprised to find I wasn't sore, so I glided no less than a zillion times around the rink.  They also play popular songs, so I had fun singing along as I skated.   I'd say this picture encapsulates my behavior for the night:

this is me being all too excited to be skating.   Ryan was in the picture too, but he was too blurry to see. Sorry Ry.

Here's a pic with Ryan in it:

This was not on the ice, obviously.  C'mon now, that would require too much balance and I couldn't hold it long enough for a photo.

Ryan almost bit it once on the ice and I was kind of a jerk and giggled at his flailing arms while I gracefully glided like a gazelle.   Okay, maybe not quite a gazelle, but I never stumbled.  Not even once!  

Here's another shot from on the rink with me, Ryan, Jamie, and Briana:

I was really trying to show my dance moves but this doesn't properly show that.  Darn.

Luke had some sweet dances moves though:

you see why we all get along now, don't you?

Overall, great time.  I hope I get to go back one more time this year!  But, my legs are paying for a long run + skating.  They aren't sore if I'm walking or just sitting, but we took gizzy for a walk earlier and I could definitely feel it when he decided to randomly sprint.  Needless to say, today was a rest day.

We did the formal celebration (plus another fam bday) with Ryan's family today.  While out that way, we got to meet his other sister's new puppy, Bella.  I promptly tried to steal her.  Soooo cute and so sweet:

I tried to sell Ryan once again on the whole 'second puppy' deal, but so far, he's not biting.

After the festivities, we headed home and made a stop at the grocery store since we hadn't grocery shopped for the week.  While there, I picked up these:

Justin Verlander (the detroit tigers pitcher) fastball flakes, which is really just frosted flakes.  

When I posted the picture on facebook, Erika told me I was a marketing person's dream.   Of course, she is totally right.  I told Ryan how I always used to make my mom buy me the Barbie cereal when I was a kid because I wanted the Barbie logo, not even because I necessarily liked the flavor.   I guess things don't change.  If something has running, the tigers, the color pink...I probably want it.  Please tell me I'm not the only person who falls prey to these marketing gimmicks.

And now, for the giveaway winner!  

#13 which is Kristin from Mrs. Miller's Miles!  I hope you see this before you go on your trip.  Email me your address at watchmegorun@gmail.com so they can send your oatmeal!

Let's talk:

-what leisure sport do you love to do that also ends up being a great workout?

-can you do any fancy tricks while ice skating?

-Did you do anything exciting this weekend?  If so, what?

-Does anyone else fall prey to certain marketing gimmicks?  What's something you automatically want to buy based purely on logo/color/style/etc?  

Megan