I questioned the title of this post for a couple of reasons. First, I don’t really like the term “me time” because it seems to be just another one of those cheesy, made-up, trendy phrases that a lot of people use with little meaning. Second, last week was mostly about not being on a training schedule and not running very much, two things I don’t really enjoy, which is the opposite of what “me time” is supposed to be…I think?
If taking time for yourself to do the things you really want to do, is what it’s all about, I feel like I do that a lot, and it most always involves activity in some form. Of course I wasn’t completely inactive, but I did force myself to rest, to remove the phrase “I have to…” from my head and, of course, there was a little trip to a wedding in Miami.
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2015
RUNNING
Re-entry is always rough. The week after a big race is always tough for me, no matter the outcome. I don’t think I’m going to far when I liken it to childbirth. You train for months (or carry a baby or two), all your training comes down to one day (if you’re lucky), and afterward you feel exhausted (sometimes in a good way), emotional and lost.
My first run was four days post-marathon and I was just so happy to be out there. I didn’t think about pace, I just ran. I also may have chosen a route based solely on elevation, or more specifically, lack of elevation.
The best part of that run was the last song to come though my ear buds – “Fix You” by Coldplay. It’s a longtime favorite of mine and the first verse begins “When you try your best but you don’t succeed…” Yep.
I ended the week with two great runs in Miami! Great because I had an ocean view most of the time and, it was so damn hot and humid, my legs were super loose and felt great!
Post run balcony stretch out!
SWIMMING
I am so grateful to love swimming about a tenth as much as I love running. I absolutely could not wait to get into the pool on Tuesday and just go! I even did some kicks and my legs protested at first but then, felt so much better then they had in 48 hours. After resting (and napping!) on Monday, I swam on Tuesday and Wednesday with a good soak in the hot tub after each 45 minute session.
The best, by far was doing laps in the pool at 8:00am on Sunday morning in the Miami heat!
FLYING
If we’re talking about burning calories then I have to include “flying” as fitness. One of these days I’m going to strap on a heart rate monitor before take-off just to see how far it skyrockets. Although the flight was completely smooth to Miami, I’m never really at ease during a flight. I was trying to use some of the mind games I’m learning from The Runner’s Brain and, on take off at least, they seemed to work. #NoXanaxNeeded
[Tweet “#TheRunnersBrain mind games are not just for running! #TrainYourBrain @RodalePress”]
CROSS-TRAINING
So I have a confession to make. I’m playing volleyball. Weird, right? I actually played in my very first game the week before the marathon. Stupid, right? Well, here are four things I can tell you about my all-women’s recreational team experience, after one game:
- The first time I touched the ball, I hit it so hard it flew up and got stuck in the ceiling.
- I have not played volleyball ever, unless you count high school gym class. I don’t.
- I’m very glad I purchased knee pads. I wish I purchased a face mask since yes, I hit the ball off of my face. It wasn’t embarrassing at all.
- We lost all four games but improved in closing the gap with each one. I’m sure next week will be better. If not, my teammates may ask me to f**k off. I would not blame them.
FUEL
My shipment of Lucy’s Granola arrived just in time for my trip south and in the most convenient, packable sizes. It’s like she knew.
Lucy’s holds a special place in my heart because my niece is named Lucy and, the first time I saw it was on a family trip with her at L.L. Bean in Maine. Who knew it would surface as a sponsor for the Rise.Run.Retreat this past October? I love it when my worlds collide in the best possible way. #ILoveLucy
RACING
Of course I’m already thinking about what 2016 will hold and even hope to get in a 5k before the year is out. On Friday I wrote about the 5 steps I use in planning my racing calendar and I’m already plotting out a sweat-filled 2016. My focus will be on triathlon, with nationals in August, and I’m maybe most excited about returning to a local duathlon to see if I can defend my title and claim another sword! Because a girl can never have too many swords.
THINGS I LOVE
The outpouring of support from all of you after I posted my recap of the NYC Marathon. There are many days when I question the validity of this blog and then, I have a day like last Wednesday and I know for certain my life is better because of it.
I also love this NYC Marathon hat I got from Another Mother Runner!
Had I not had this outlet to talk about my experiences I would never feel as good as I do about that race, or as quickly afterward. For all of you who commented that you’ve been there and you get it, and especially for those of you who said it was helpful or that you wish you had done what I did in your last disappointing race, makes it all worth it.
THINGS I DON’T LOVE AS MUCH
Taking a chance on having my make-up done before the wedding and ending up looking like a old hooker.
These were the directions I gave the make-up artist:
- I don’t wear a lot of make-up so I want a neutral look.
- I’m wearing pastels and need to keep it light.
Either she didn’t speak English or she just hated me because this is what happened:
She was also a chain smoker and I loved having her face in mine for the 30 minutes it took for this abomination.
Needless to say I couldn’t face time my kids until I made it back to my hotel and scrubbed my face off, lest they have nightmares until they’re 16.
READING
Here are my picks of the week:
Magic Words to Say When Everything Goes Wrong | UpWorthy by Tim Lawrence | Basically, don’t say “everything happens for a reason.” I know this first hand from when my mom died. I don’t think anyone had the audacity to actually say that to a 17 year-old who just lost her mom but, you may be surprised. I did hear “she’s in a better place,” quite a bit which is worse. Of course, Mr. Lawrence puts this all much more eloquently.
7 New Nontraditional Empathy Cards | UpWorthy by Laura Willard | This is what you should say, or send, instead. Creator of these fantastic cards is Emily McDowell, a cancer survivor who never wanted to hear “everything happens for a reason” ever again, so she created an alternative. Way to take matters into your own hands and finally give people something real to say when you really can’t say anything:
Unwanted Parenting Advice from Non Parents and How I Would Like to Respond | Scary Mommy by Clint Edwards Read it because every single word this man typed is truth. If you don’t have a kid, please shut the hell up with your parenting advice. I wish I had before I had kids. Learn from my mistakes – I beg you.
This is my favorite…it’s almost as if I wrote it.
RANDOM QUOTE and PICTURE OF THE WEEK:
“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. What happens in Miami, never happened.”
Shhhhhhh
Yes, I’m sheep riding with my husband and a friend. What?
Are you getting enough “me time?”
How was your week?
Did you give parenting advice prior to becoming a parent? What was it?
OMGOSH THE OLD HOOKER THING IS THE FUNNIEST THING IVE HEARD IN FOREVER.
That would be entirely my luck as well and probably because the artissssste thought I needed it 🙂
I just had to share because, really? The only way anything good came out of that is for others to get a good laugh 🙂 Thanks Carla!
Ha, I always enjoy the humor of your posts. I don’t think you should regret taking any time for yourself to be honest. I’m glad you had a good week and enjoyed yourself. You looked absolutely gorgeous too.
LOL – thanks Hollie! I hope that make-up picture fulfilled your LOLZ for the day 🙂
Allie I am obsessed with the quote on that card! how perfect! I have someone going thru something right now that could use that.
You look AH-mazing and I loved following your pics on IG this weekend!
I’m so glad Emma!! I love that those cards are out there and really hope I never have to buy one.
Me time may sound cliche but it is necessary for our mental wellbeing. I had a suck race this weekend so I’m all about me time on the elliptical lol and no I never did try giving advice. I didn’t want kids lol but I love my boy now!!! 😉 I went to Merle Norman once and came out looking like a hooker. Never again. I’m not a big make up girl.
I’m so sorry about your race. It’s hard to get over sometimes but know you are not alone!!!
I feel the same about my boys. I really questioned ever having kids and now they are the most important thing(s) in my life. Gotta love that!
So if that’s a natural look, what does made up look like?!?! 🙂 I’m glad you are taking all the me time in the world. I spend my me time riding sheep as well. Hahaha!!!
Seriously!!! So, so insane. I should have gone back to the sheep riding after I had the make-up done 🙂
I’ve always wanted to Miami!! That sounds fun. And sheep riding. So awesome that you’re bouncing back into running so quick and easy! I miss swimming in a nice heated pool, ours is ok but certainly first world problems:)
Ok I totally get the crazy makeup artist thing. Every time I had mine done, it’s like they thought I wanted the Drag Queen look!! What’s up with that??? And why do they want to give me caterpillar eyebrows??? In grey?!! Yeah I don’t trust em,
Miami was amazing and I definitely want to go back as soon as possible!
I’ve only had my make-up done twice when it came out the way I wanted so I took a chance…and lost badly!
Oh the make up…….so not you!! But I did laugh! Just a week late for Halloween!
Love reading your post. I am sure the wedding was a blast…now back home to reality..and your wonderful boys.
SO not me!! Thanks Jane and yes, although Miami was fantastic it was so great seeing my boys!!! It’s good to be home.
The makeup cracks me up…. I’ve had times when I later looked at pics of myself at an event when I had too much make up on and then have to ask my sisters why they didn’t tell me I looked like a drag queen and make me take some of it off before heading out the door….. the pics I saw elsewhere with you toned-down makeup you were looking gorgeous. I just got back from a 3 day meditation/yoga retreat last night….the most me time I’ve had in ages, and it was fantastic.
I saw a picture from your retreat!!! It looked amazing. Cannot wait to read and see more from that!
Oh my gosh Allie! I literally laughed out loud when I read your makeup comments and then scrolled down to see the photo. That is so incredibly the opposite of what you said! And your face is priceless!
Good for you for playing volleyball. I can’t stand it! It hurts my wrists so so much!
I also took that picture outside in 90 degree heat while texting my husband. It was just so miserable all the way around but at least everyone can laugh at it 🙂
I’ve only had one volleyball game so far and the wrists were good – it was my forearms that were sore probably from hitting the ball too hard!
This is awesome! I giggled about the hooker make up comment! I hardly ever wear makeup 🙂 I also don’t take a lot of “me time” other than solo running…I need a “pamper day” or something, sometime 🙂
Yes! I think a lot of runners use runs for “me time” but we do that a lot. A nice spa day or even just a nap mid-day goes a long way to rejuvenate 🙂
Omg I am still laughing about the makeup commentary. Miami sounds lovely!
It was something else all right. I swear if I had been hungover I would not have been able to stand her smokey scent. Just gross.
The rest of Miami was gorgeous and fun!!
Allie, those are some serious lips you were sporting!! I wanted to comment after your post about NYC but the week got away from me 🙁 What happened to you sucks period, end of sentence. However, thanks for being honest about it as I am getting to run the Philly marathon in (deep breath) 13 days. It will be my third time at 26.2. Last year there were some missteps, I got sodium depleted, and I face planted just shy of the 24 mile mark. FYI, when you face plant, you don’t get to finish the race. New year, new fueling plan, new mental monkeys to take up space in my brain. But I thank you for sharing your experience as I will make sure to drop a Nuun tablet in every other bottle of water as I hydrate next week 🙂 Thanks for all you do to brighten up my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 🙂
Thank you so much for writing this! I’m so glad it helps in some small way. That is truly awful about your marathon last year – I cannot imagine it! I’m sure you will fare MUCH better in Philly and I have heard nothing but greatness about the race. Good luck and check back in so I know how you did!!!
Ohmigod that MAKEUP!!! Holy cow. So glad you got some time to relax after NYC.
It was much needed…the make-up was not.
Thanks Carly!!
Thanks. I laughed out loud at the makeup. At least you left it on, I would have taken it off and attempted myself, which basically means lotion and chap stick.
Oh I didn’t leave it on!! As soon as I got back to the hotel I scrubbed it off and, let me tell you, it took a good 5 minutes to get it all off and my face was red and sore!!! Crazy.
That makeup is so bad, its SO NOT YOU. man! I can’t even. That granola looks so yummy! I am so excited you got to jump down to miami and have some fun!! I totally think you will get another sword because that thing belongs to you girl!! And YES to that quote…especially when you are on the run and the options are so little. ugh.
SO not me!!! Insane. I only wish my Russian make-up artist could know how much laughter she brought to so many! 🙂
Thanks Nellie!!
I love how you called the week after a big race “reentry”. Because that’s totally what it feels like!
I’ve had my makeup done, and yep, they always seem to overdo it!
It’s a weird coming back into a slower, less focused life and it’s just weird. Hope you’re re-entry is going well 🙂
haha your expression in that picture with your make-up done – priceless. Same thing happened to me when I get trying to find someone to do my make-up for my wedding – natural please, I don’t wear a lot of make-up, etc. Every single on made me up with a super dark lip and heavy eyeshadow. I don’t have eyelids so i’m not sure what they were thinking with the eyeshadow. Bless my husband’s soul for not laughing in my face whenever I finished with the trials.
I took the pic outside to send to my husband and it was like 90 degrees out so I was completely miserable. His response was “take it off!” No kidding!!!
Dying laughing about the makeup!!! I totally think less is more!! Sorry you had to endure smoker lady ;0
Love, love Coldplay and love that song!!!
Miami looks awesome – so glad you two were able to get away – that is the best marathon recovery!!
You have so much to look forward to in 2016!!! 🙂
YES! I’m looking forward to being unfocused for the rest of this year and then diving head fist into 2016. Thanks so much Natalie!
That last photo- amazing!! I hear you on trying to sort out 2016 and what’s next… although like you, I don’t think I’ll have much going on for the rest of 2015 which is kind of nice. The wedding looked like such a great time!
It was pretty amazing 🙂 although running in that heat I can definitely do without.
I hope we get to run together next year as much as we did this year!! That would be fantastic!
BTW you look amazing sitting on that sheep !!( but I’m sure you hear that all the time). 🙂 I had a childless friend recently put on FB that he would never let his kids watch electronics and how it would ‘rot their brain ‘blah blah. I basically replied the same way . With reality! Sometimes I think I was a better mom before I had kids but if the McDonalds and iPad watching makes your kid a little happier for a moment and gives you a break for a moment ; then so be it:)
Oh yes, I’ve heard that a lot – LOL 🙂
I said I would never let my kids get an Xbox or Wii or any other video game. I bought them the Skylanders Wii game for Christmas when they were 5. Yep.
OMG, dying here over your makeup!!! I mean you look beautiful no matter what, but did the makeup artist think you were a drag queen?! WTF?!
When I said “wedding” I think she heard “drag show.” Definitely. 🙂
You quack me up! where does this make up (I hate to call her artist), come from? You’re so totally beautiful w/o make up, what possessed her? She should have know just a few accents to bring out your features! Gotta tell you though, I really had to control my laughing fit, what was she thinking? Tell me she had the sense to remove herself from the genetic pool!
You are brave to post that pic, and so self-deprecating, a true sign of humility.
Yes, God is great with pandas, waterfalls, and don’t forget unicorns. I’ve heard this line so many times b4 from well meaning friends; not sure to be forgiving or incensed?
The week sucked, it was moving week!
McDonalds sucks big time, and yes, the food is horrendous; but the oppressive obliterating corporate ethic of the pursuit of the almighty dollar above all is despicable.
You performed so outstanding at NYC, the fruits will bear in your future to come!
I may have to come over and knock some sense into you about how truly Awesome you are! Can’t wait to read how you do in 2016 with Triathlons and Duathlons.
LOL!!! Thanks…she was very interesting and possibly only does make-up for drag queens and serious party-goers. She meant well but fell oh so short.
Thanks for the verbal sense knocking about NYC. I need to just move on and focus on 2016!