Running update

So, last night was the first time doing 5 miles...I think in my whole life (how sad is that?). I have to admit that I was a bit nervous going into it...could I do it? Would I have to stop? Would I be dead the next day? I was already terribly sore from the shoe mishap on Monday..would that make the run more difficult?

We took off for the run and right away I felt good...felt light on my feet, felt like I had good oxygen intake. And long story short, we did it...the whole 5 miles, no stopping and both feeling really good...I'm sure we could have gone longer, I'm positive. It felt GREAT. With that 5 mile run under my belt I'm feeling confident and ready for the race on Sunday. And I'm feeling ready to keep running as a constant in my life. My running partner and I have already decided that we're going to continue running once or twice a week together. We found an awesome 5 mile loop with the last mile being along the lake...the perfect way to end a run.

Now I am beginning to think of my next goal. Since my sister runs full marathons, I'm thinking a fun new goal would be her and I doing a half together (baby steps...). Who knows!

Come cheer our teams on on Sunday. KeyBank red jerseys - Team "Will Run for Cree-Mees" and "Soak up the Run". I'll be running the 4th leg from Battery Park up North Ave. Woohoo!

Attempting to become a runner

As I mentioned before, I opted into running a leg of the Vermont City Marathon relay. We have two teams so each person has a running partner and my leg of the race is 5.5 miles. Not that big of a deal really. However, I have spent the past 25 years of my life pretty much loathing running, especially outside. Convinced I was ill-equipped to run, legs that would never handle running properly, a mind that would always reject it. I'd go out and run a mile and decide I hated it so much I'd be done. So, once I signed up for this relay, I was in. I am not one to commit to something and then back out, no matter how much I may be second-guessing my decision...especially when other people are counting on me. So. Here I am...4 days before the marathon and preparing to run 5 miles tonight for the first time. I have been doing 3 and 4 mile runs consistently the past 2 weeks with decent results. Monday's 4 miler was a bad one..I decided to switch from my Nike Free shoes to my high end New Balance runners and that was a bad idea...shin splints throughout the run and really sore legs the next 2 days. So, I'm back to the Frees with a new pair arriving tomorrow that I'll test out Friday to see if they are worthy of Sunday's run.

This process, although it's only been about 3 weeks, has been interesting and exciting. I find myself really dreading runs but once I'm out there, and especially when I'm done, loving the solidarity of if, the mind clearing, the way I feel after I finished a good run. I enjoy having a goal, a reason to be running and that has really made all the difference. I have learned that my body is in actuality, not ill-equipped to run, it was my mind sabotaging the process the whole time. For me to think about the fact I've been running 4 miles is insane...I literally used to do 1.5 miles and feel like I'd run a marathon. I am athletic, I work out regularly, but for some reason running used to kill me. Now I don't let running hold the reins, I have taken control. I really hope that I continue to run consistently and become even better at it and incorporate it into my life for good. My sister runs marathons and now I'm thinking how fun it would be to do a marathon with her, perhaps we'll do a relay and each do a 1/2...I'm not sure if I have the attention span to run for 4 to 5 hours.

So. Tonight...5 miles. I have new running shorts, a new sports bra and am getting mentally prepped. I'm really excited about the relay, and really excited at how far I've come so quickly. It's amazing what you can do when you just change your outlook on things.

Making strides

I feel like there is so much going on right now that I can't even write it out. Work is crazy, my phone is constantly ringing and I can't keep track of which airline I'm flying next and to which city. Not to mention the wonderful task of packing up my apartment in preparation to move in a week and a half to my new place which I'm really excited about. Having all of this going on and also training for my leg of the marathon has really made me look at myself in a different light, stand back and examine things in my life.

There are moments in the recent past that I look at and wonder how I got there, how I lost so much of myself, how I slipped into being someone totally different than who I am. When you find yourself deep in a situation like that, it truly takes work to get back to where you need to be. And once you start to feel yourself being as you should again, it's awesome! There's something empowering about being so busy and stressed you find yourself sitting on the floor wondering how you will take another step, and than a few days or weeks later you see how you overcame it and got everything done, made so much happen. I like to test the limits of my strength and ability to take the world on my shoulders and not ask for help. The recent craziness has really turned me around, reminded me of how impressed I can be with myself sometimes.

Things really do work out in the end...and if they have yet to work out, than it's not the end.

Like birds of a feather

I hate to admit it but I can be kind of lame during the week...I tend to be in bed by 11pm, sometimes even as early as 9pm. Last night however, I found myself driving home at 1am after hanging out with a girl friend of mine. We both had work the next day (her having to be up at 5am for it!) and had originally planned on takeout sushi and a movie. It turned out to be a night of sushi and awesome conversation. The kind of conversation that ebbs and flows between so many topics that somehow link together, so many interesting points, so many things discussed, so many thoughts shared, so many bits of advise given. It was one of those nights where you leave feeling so full, so satisfied. A conversation that left you thinking and caused you to take actions in some way.

One topic of conversation was the Law of Attraction. This sort of "birds of a feather flock together" or "misery loves company" kind of thought. If you dish out positive energy, visualize and think of what you want, what you expect it's more likely to happen. Similarly, if you sit and brood, complain, whine and moan it's going to attract that outcome and that crowd only creating a spiral down and down the negative path. Have you ever been thinking about someone and the phone rings and it's them? Well, yeah we all have. How about twice in one day? Three times in 2 days? Yeah...this recently happened to me. I was thinking about my brother in law and how he hadn't called me back regarding an important voicemail and poof, the phone rings literally as I'm about to pick up and call him again. Then later in the day I start thinking about a friend who usually doesn't go longer than a week w/out calling me but I hadn't heard from him in a few weeks and then I hear my phone ring and later check it...it was him. Manifest destiny..put your thoughts out into the atmosphere, let the universe swirl it around a bit and see if it comes back. Chances are, it will.

Did I mention that I, someone who loathes running, is running a leg of the marathon next weekend? Yeah...I think I was drunk when I agreed to that. I only started "training" for it last week and it's been interesting. I must say, I'm somewhat surprised at my capability...that and the fact I'm interested in continuing running past the marathon. Although my body is still not quite used to running, I am looking forward to it getting easier and more fluid and seeing where it takes me...literally!

Catching up

It has been, fair to say, an extraordinarily long amount of time since my last post. Not to mention what a cliff hanger I left it at..anticipation of a recap of my trip to Istanbul. I'm currently sitting in a hotel in Montauk, NY preparing to go to bed before a long weekend of surf competitions. My new client, SoBe, is a sponsor of the Eastern Surf Association and this is their Northeast Regional competition. I was just in Myrtle Beach, SC last weekend for the Mid-Atlantic Regionals and it was a great event...so fun to spend a weekend on the beach with people who are just pumped to be there. Montauk is supposed to have highs of 53 and rain all weekend so the vibe will probably be a bit different, but hopefully some sun will peak through.

I will do a full Istanbul post this weekend, pictures and all. In short, it was a great trip in a great city...so full of color and sound and beauty. I was truly amazed.

I have to quickly reflect on my current location. I have traveled extensively, for pleasure and work, and therefore notice things that a less seasoned traveler may not. And because I am presently on a whirlwind tour, traveling for literally the next 6 weeks, I'm also acutely aware of interesting things. For instance, the hotel we are in does not have hair dryers or irons in the rooms, but it has a kitchen complete w/a stove and mini fridge. Interesting. We were given "ocean view" rooms...heaven. Our rooms in SC were the same and we literally were on the ocean. Ocean View in Montauk means something entirely different. If I crane my neck over my balcony, I can see a snippet of the ocean...hence "ocean view". However, we did just eat an amazing seafood prix fix meal at a local restaurant...asparagus soup, grilled mako shark with island veggies and a delicious fruit cup for dessert. It was delectable...so much so that I ate until I literally hurt. I love meals like that once in a while.

A lot has gone on recently. I went to Istanbul. The following weekend after my return I drove down to Boston and had the most amazing weekend visiting some girl friends down there...so much laughter, so many great conversations, so many funny happenings. Then I found out my apartment has been sold and the new owners will be moving into my apartment...my sanctuary, my home, my love. I am married to my apartment...I love it. I must say, I'm heartbroken to leave it. I have been frantically searching for a new place amidst being on the road constantly, not to mention the fact I will be gone during my supposed June 1st move out. I think I have decided to hold off unless I find something in the next week or two. I may move in with friends for June and July and then into someplace great in August...give myself more time to find something that is really me, that I will be able to really make my home. I have to admit. If I hadn't taken this current account and wasn't traveling like this, I would probably be looking for an apartment in another city. I'm feeling it...the winds blowing in a new direction, the smell of something unfamiliar, calling me it's way..what it is yet, I'm not sure. There have been many interesting happenings lately...the apartment, the travel, some out of the blue communication. Who knows what will happen in the next few weeks.

And now I must retire as the first heat in the competition is at 7am tomorrow which means we need to get there by 6:30am to set up. Think sunny thoughts for us...please. Goodnight moon.