gandhi lied

I had to snicker when I stumbled across this quote the other day:

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."

I call BS on that, Gandhi! How do I know this is a lie? All I've been able to do lately is THINK about running and I'm no closer to becoming an actual runner.

WARNING: If you like coherent thoughts and well-written content, I suggest you read no further. Here comes a totally random and disjointed rant. It will be written in a stream-of-consciousness style and I can't guarantee it will make sense.

Thing is, I'm having a really difficult time finding balance in my life lately. Things that used to be manageable like a 1-hour commute and housework and running are starting to become ridiculously irritating as I pull off 14-hour days at work. I'm forgetting how to juggle. Balls are getting dropped everywhere. My husband thinks I'm a stranger. I haven't picked up the dry cleaning that was ready two weeks ago. Shit. I spend all night tossing and turning with a zillion thoughts and 'to do' tasks spinning through my mind. I'm not doing the things that make me happy. I don't understand why I can't make these things a priority. I read about people going out for a run at 10pm and I can't imagine myself doing such things. Not when I get home at 8pm (if I'm lucky!) and I have a 5am wake-up call on the horizon and haven't even thought about what I'm going to eat or wear the next day and I have a 40th anniversary party to plan and the dog hasn't been out for a walk yet. I really need to learn how to delegate. Hubs has been helping out with making meals and stuff, but it's shit food (chicken fingers!? KD, really!?!) but how can I criticize when he's trying to help?? I've been drinking 5 coffees a day. I've been stopping at the drive thru on the way home. That's what happens when you haven't eaten anything all frickin day. I've gained 5 pounds in the last 2 weeks. I'm struggling. I need help. I'm not good at asking for help. I feel I don't even have time to make a plan for myself to get back on track. And I don't even have kids!! Crap. How the hell do working moms ever fit it all in...well, they probably don't work 70-hours a week. I should really get a housekeeper. FUck.

long overdue

A couple of weeks ago I was given the Stylish Blogger award from Bobbie at Journey in Running. Thanks for thinking of me, Bobbie! Your blog has been a great source of information and inspiration on my own running journey. I love how you share the details of your marathon training without being all technical and "pacey" (yes - I'm coining that phrase!). It doesn't scare us newbies away. ;)

The Rules for the Stylish Award:
Make this post and link back to the person who gave the award
Share 7 things about myself.
Award 5 great bloggers.
Contact the bloggers to tell them they've won!

Here are 7 little-known facts about me...

1. I am a published poet. I once submitted a poem to a publisher on the insistence of a high school teacher and it actually got picked up, much to my surprise.

2. I am allergic to everything found in nature. Animals. Pollen. Trees. Grass. The sun. Everything.

3. Two years ago, I became a golf fanatic. I play at least once a week in the summer and took my typical score from 120 to 92 last year.

4. I know how to solve the Rubik's cube and can usually do it in less than 3 minutes.

5. I love vegetables, but the most disgusting food on the planet, in my opinion, is the green pepper. Putrid little things. Yuck.

6. I was a total tomboy growing up. I always had more fun skateboarding and fishing than playing with dolls.

7. I love all-things aviation. Growing up, my grandfather (who flew Lancasters in WWII) used to take me to air shows across the country and I really treasured our time together sharing this hobby. I was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and I worked as an airframe mechanic "intern" at my local airport during high school...but this really involved a lot of oil & spark plug changes and tire removals. It also meant I got to go on the occasional flight - and that made it worthwhile. ;)

I know I'm supposed to pass the award along to 7 bloggers, but I think all my blog buddies are fantastic. SO, if you haven't already received it, please take the Stylish Blogger award and feel free to use it.

Have a great week, everyone!

Rae

xo

feelin' the luv

I decided to let the creative juices flow today while I mapped out an EPIC lunch-hour run through the streets of Toronto. What better way to increase my mileage than to force myself into a unique loop pattern:



This run will have me logging 6.79 km - longest distance ever tackled in one session. I think my heart will thank me. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog buddies. I hope you have a great day with your loved ones and families.

XO

Rae

Edited to Add: I survived! I managed to pull this off within my 90-minute window. Despite a wrong turn or two, I stuck to my Valentine's pattern, lol. Thank goodness for baby wipes and an afternoon free from meetings. I was a hot mess afterwards!

trying new things

Life would be pretty boring if you didn't try something new every once in a while, no??

New Thing #1: Zumba
This week, I tried my very first Zumba class. I was invited to attend the class by my mother-in-law, of all people. :) It took place in a community centre just outside of the city....it looked something like this, only with more 60-something year-old ladies shakin' their groove thang:

To be honest, I had a blast. The instructor was an absolute riot and the music took me back to my university days when I spent time in the reggae and soca clubs of Detroit with my Bahamian roommate. I'm going back for more next week.

New Thing #2: Lindt Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt
Don't let the name fool you - this stuff is to DIE for. The best part? One itty-bitty square can annihilate a chocolate craving for less than 50 calories.


This is definitely a responsible way to indulge. The Chili flavour is next on my list.

New Thing #3: Going Scale-free
That's right...I didn't get on the scale once all week. My schedule was nutty and it was the last thing on my mind. It seems that NOT obsessing may have been a good thing, because I'm down 3 pounds this week. Woot!

Have a great weekend, everyone!
Rae
xo

naive enthusiasm & kudos to Chris K!!

Yesterday morning, during a leisurely brunch with my in-laws, I somehow agreed to attend a Zumba class with my mother-in-law. She seemed quite excited about her new-found exercise program and was quick to recruit my sister-in-law and myself to attend with her this evening "just to try it out". What have I gotten myself into? Normally I am not into aerobics classes. For some reason, I agreed to participate. I guess I had one glass of cava too many. Oh....and my sister-in-law has since opted out.

I hope everyone had a great weekend - one full of good food, good friends, good running and a Superbowl victory in your favour! I want to give a shout-out to a blogger buddy who had a particularly stellar weekend: Chris K who qualified for Boston!

That's right...Boston! Chris has been a major source of running inspiration for me over the past several months. It's hard to believe one would have time to train for a Boston-qualifying marathon, when you spend all your time organizing fashion shows & swim suit calendars and having toga parties, but it can be done! :)

Now, go over to visit Chris at BQ or Die and congratulate him on his accomplishment!

Rae
xo

spaaaaaaah!

Can you think of a better way to celebrate 50 pounds down?



I didn't think so! :)