A Little Rambling and Lot of Recap (Disney Princess Half)

Sitting at my writing desk in my room with a cup of PG Tips and I'm starting to feel more happy than I have in the past week.

After the finishing the Disney Princess Half Marathon, (yes, I'm surprised too, I SURVIVED! cue your gasp in amazement) I felt such a fantastic sense of accomplishment and a rode a magical, sparkly high that comes after doing something you never thought you could do and you did it in a freaking TUTU.

It's hard to keep that feeling going. I always crash after feeling an unexpected jolt of euphoria (luckily I am a caffeine addict and I'm used to it). Maybe one would call it a runner's crash.

In a, what I thought was going to be short but is really long, recap:
--The first day of the expo. The day that all blogs and all Disney info told us to get up early for and arrive first thing to avoid crowds. ABORT this idea immediately. Trust me, you do not want to see your fellow ladies in arms, dressed in pink, ready to cut...a...bitch. Over Disney Official Merchandise and a place in line, no less. It was a freaking mad house. I am not much of a fan of crowds or people touching me or jostling into me. There is barely room to breathe at this expo. So maybe try for later in the day maybe? I'm not sure, but bring coffee and chocolate, and maybe have some chocolate flavored liquor to pour into your coffee if you want to survive this situation with your faith in humanity in check.

Noted for future expos. 

I think it would have been better for everyone involved if I had arrived slightly intoxicated. Instead of "Hey you in the pink tutu! We're not in the race yet, but if you elbow me ONE more time, I will give you a reason to run now!", I'd be more like "I like your shoes. Everyone needs to bedazzle tennis sneakers. It's such a good idea. Let's not fight ladies, let's hug it out."

Princess runners be crazy,  yo.

--The Saturday before the race, my running partner, Caitlin, and I managed to be THE MOST relaxed people ever. We did not nap, we hydrated, we consumed carbs. It was awesome. There were movies involved.

--Race day. I set three alarms. Felt reasonably refreshed, even after only getting five hours of sleep (I'm a 9-hr a night kind of lady). Caitlin and I primped and prepped and glittered up. Caitlin had made her tutu the day before and discovered many ways of how not to remove a tutu, and for her embarrassment I give you my running partner Caitlin: "I'm covered in sweat and glitter. This must be how strippers feel..."

Sunday morning at 330am, we were ready!

We had done a driving test of the route to the race, following official guidelines, the night before. You can also forget that idea folks. They went and changed the route the morning of. But we followed the crowd and made it there in good time.

I need to interject that the Disney Race Day volunteers are the most magical human beings in the world. I WANT TO GIVE THEM ALL HUGS. Awkwardly but with feeling. In the parking lot, each lane had it's own duo of volunteers on a loud speaker yelling out our lane to remember. "Lane 83 ladies, you are in lane 83...ohmygod I love your shoes. You WORK that dress, Cruella. I love what you've done with your hair. Who's happy to be awake right now?" Or something along those lines....they were a godsend for ladies who don't like to find themselves on the wrong side of 5am.

Another thing you can ignore from recaps of years past, the recommendation to use potties along the walk to the corrals. I can tell your right now, that's what everyone was doing. Better to use the ones in the first area where you start in, before walking to your corrals. SO much quicker. 

I'm an obsessive water sipper, which was a mistake while waiting in my corral because I definitely had to pee during the run. There are plenty of porta-potties along the route, but the one time I stopped to wait in line, I waited so long my body started to hurt so I just ditched the line and kept running.

Caitlin and I separated when it came time to head to the corrals, I was corral E because I guesstimated my time for under three hours (highly recommend!) and Caitlin was in H because she had just added the max time. Neither of us have ever done a half marathon but luckily this was the perfect race for first-timers. I think Caitlin was so crowded in H because most beginner runners added the max time too (not recommended, as she was unhappy with the close quarters and many people feeling up her tutu). It worked out okay for us being separated because we both listen to our iPhones while running and aren't much of the runner/chatter kind. I'm also slower than her and I think it would have not helped me much mentally to see her race off...or maybe it could have pushed me to run faster, no clue. I've never trained running with another person, other than my little sister, so I'm not sure how I would have been.



On the walk to our corrals:

The start of the race for corrals in front of mine. Fireworks are the BEST way to start any race. And I fully appreciated that the Fairy Godmother sent each corral off in the same way, Bippity-Boppity-Boop!

One of things I loved best...there were men in the race (though not allowed to compete or to be in corral's A or B) and almost all 1,000 of them showed up in costume. Here's one of many Jasmines. 

 There were also a lot of male Ariel's and, my absolute favorite, a few Merida's! Yeah Brave!! It was just heartwarming to see that many of the men there were there to run with their lady partners in encouragement or because their marriage contract requires them to be the Prince Charming to their Cinderellas. It happens.

Our fake nerves photo prior to separating:

 To tell you the truth, I didn't have much nerves for this race. Mainly because this was my first race EVER. Of any kind. I'm glad I didn't share that fact with too many people prior because there are a few people who have raised an eyebrow at that and asked "is that really a good idea?" Well I can tell you right now, with this being my first race ever, YES. The Disney Princess Half is a PERFECT beginners race. There were even people speed walking the whole thing. There were ladies of all shapes and sizes, covered in glitter and tutus and crowns and it was THE BEST THING EVER. Granted, there was much bobbing and weaving to be done because, as it's the first race for many people and apparently many people don't obsessively pore over runner blogs like I do, a lot of people didn't know you aren't supposed to slow down in the middle, but walk on the side instead. You can just pretty much guarantee that the middle of the road is for slower-downers and walkers and the sides are for the runners. Just accept that now and you will enjoy yourself.


Here's my OHMYGODISURVIVEDANDTHEYACKNOWLEDGEDITWITHAMEDAL face. (Did ya get that? No? Me neither.)

 *What I'm actually saying "oh my god, I can't feel my knees or my feet and I'm surprised to find I don't care."

The post-race food was amazing and very much needed. As someone with a lot of stomach issues, I was grateful that they provided things I could eat, hummus, GF crackers, bananas (though this actually was my first time having a banana as whole item instead of mashing it like baby food, I figured I earned it. Screw Low Residue Diet....though I did stay away from the nuts packages.) The Luna Protein bar and the dark chocolate were also delicious. Not gonna lie...definitely had the dark chocolate square once I was back at the hotel, in an Epsom salt bath, with a glass of red wine. Most deserved glass of wine ever. Lose your knees, get some wine. 

*I Look like a very oddly dressed mountain climber.

 Sweaty and gross, but happy. Notice hair in bun...BEST advice ever that I got from another blogger. Tay writes over at Running Across The Pond. (My fav kind of blog, expat in England and writing about running. Love.) She provided loads of last minute advice via Twitter when I was mildly freaking out about running in 75-85 degree weather for the first time. (Hey, I did just start running in October...in Western New York...I'm used to running in 30 degree weather. And even that can feel on the warm side sometimes.) But yes, hair in bun when running means no sweaty rope smacking you in the back. I also took her advice to put a lot of ice in my water bottle when running. She may be posting about how to run in the heat soon, so go stalk her blog now.

*Hey guys. My Mom made that skirt. I have no skills in the craft area because she horded them all...and gave some to my sister. But me...I'm lucky I can pick out matching colors and tie my shoes. BUT I DID RUN 13.1 MILES...almost continuously. And without vomiting.

I continued to wear the medal for the majority of the day. Even when we went out to dinner, once we regained feeling in our legs again, off to a British Pub (is anyone surprised? Two Anglophiles go on a weekend trip together...the majority of what we ate was British food we stumbled upon.)

I would definitely do this race again. It was so much fun. I would love to do it again and actually run it with Caitlin and whomever we can corral into doing it. Maybe actually stop to take pictures with some characters this time. (I didn't train to stop and then to start up running again..so I didn't bother with waiting in super long lines for character pictures. The experience is really enough though, people. It's so amazing to see all the costumes other people come up with!)

Truth be told...I cried at mile 4 mainly because I was SO EXCITED to be there. I never thought I could do something like that. I was so worried people were going to get concerned about the girl ugly crying through mile four...and most of mile 5 (cause mile 5 runs are my fav...so I just let myself get emotional about everything...I'm going to be so good with babies someday. I GET YOU small thing that cries over everything. Me too.) I pushed my music up higher and just let my semi-aggressive rap/Whitney Houston classics/pop music carry me along.

Cannot tell you how funny it was to run through Cinderella's castle with the song "Bad Girls" by M.I.A. blasting..."live fast die young, bad girls do it well".

Last note for future runners...there are about 4 inclines. The race recaps I read only mentioned around 2 at the end, but there's definitely an incline at the beginning near mile 4 or 5 (yes, I cried and ran up hill. Can I win a medal for that? Pat on the back? Hug?). I had to walk two inclines, but got up the very last one with some Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's "Make Money".

I wanted to pump my fist excessively. But didn't. Mom, see how much a lady I am? Dig.ni.fied.

For my awesomesauce friend and co-running-pilot, Caitlin's race recap--check it out here, she gives even more fabulousness to our adventure.

Cheers,
Lxxx

P.S. Here's my playlist...I love reading other runner's playlists so feel free to send me your list of favorite running music!
--Respect (Aretha Franklin)--Free Your Mind (En Vogue)--Pretty Girl Rock (Keri Hilson, the song I SOBBED to at mile 4...love it so much. Used to run only to hear that song and then collapse in a heap.)--Try Again (Aaliyah)--Whatta Man (Salt-N-Pepa feat. En Vogue)--Thrift Shop (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)--No Diggity (Blackstreet)--Put It On Me (Ja Rule)--Ignition Remix (R. Kelly)--Look At Me Now (Chris Brown)--Down On Me (Jeremih & 50 Cent)--Ready or Not (Bridget Mendler)--I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston)--Party In The USA (Miley Cyrus..don't judge me)--Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem (Jay-z)--Empire State of Mind (Jay-z)--Bad Girls (M.I.A.)--Ain't No Other Man (Christina Aguilera)--One and Only/Fall Out Boy (Timbaland)--No, No, No Part 2 (Destiny's Child feat. Wyclef Jean)--Get Up (Ciara)--Clumsy (Fergie)--Move Bitch (Ludacris)--Just a Girl (No Doubt)--Fighter (Christina Aguilera)--Big Shot (Billy Joel)--Come to Me (Diddy)--Queen of the Night (Whitney Houston)--C'mon Let Me Ride (Skylar Grey feat Eminem)--Ain't No Rest for the Wicked (Cage the Elephant)--Chelsea Dagger (The Fratellis--PERFECT for running up hills with women in tutus, at least the opening bit of music is and it makes me laugh)--Make Money (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis)--Bounce/Justin Timberlake (Timbaland)--Hit Me with Your Best Shot (Pat Benatar)--You Make My Dreams Come True (The World & Band/Hall & Oates)--Can't Stop (Maroon 5)--Outta My Head (Ashlee Simpson)--Oh My God (Mark Ronson feat. Lily Allen)

Snapshot: Cozy Comforts of a Sunday

Plan were made. Early mass at 8:30am, beginners yoga at 10:30am, filling and rewarding Chipotle burrito for lunch, off to see Argo with a free movie pass, and then on to hang out with my family at my brother's house. Maybe some reading in the evening before bed. Funny how we make so many plans, even for a day of rest.

That was my day of rest plan...but Sunday has a funny way of sneaking up on you. Snow packed grounds and nippy air outside the sun streamed window. The enveloping hug of the duvet that protects you from the chill. Just enough coffee to be happy and sociable but not enough to fight the lure of snuggling in bed with a book.

My itinerary slowly dropped bit by bit, like the ice melting from the house...drip, drop, plop.

8:15, should get ready to go to mass....Ash Wednesday is this week. Should start going again. Say hello to all the other lapsed Catholics. Shakespeare Uncovered on the tv, fresh second cup of coffee, very cold outside the window I perceive....there goes mass. Drip.

Parents and sister awaken and we all convene in my parents room, sit, chat. Laugh at lame jokes, read the news. No talk of the week ahead. Worries aren't allowed. It's Sunday. Chill. Dad heads downstairs to start up some chocolate chip pancakes, but I have yoga class to head to. Dad puts on some sausage and Mom, raised eyebrows, says "you're not joining us?" No go yoga. Drop.

Cozy up to my bed in a chocolate and coffee haze. Bright and gorgeous in my purple and white, stretch of a room. Wish I could capture it on my iPhone. But it's not meant to be captured. Snooze a bit off and on and set an alarm for burrito and movie. Pick up my "Londoners" book and read a bit. Do I really crave a burrito or am I mentally still recalling my craving from yesterday after my run? Do I feel like going to a movie alone right now when reading in my cozy, sunlit room is so comforting? This moment is a sensory memory I want to preserve for another time. Plop.

Not sure how my other plans will go. Family time presides on Sundays. Got on my snug knit socks with the aloe infused lining. Fit just nicely in my boots to head to brother and sis-in-laws house. Light lunch, small bowl, warm gf pasta with some roasted veg coated in a balsamic glaze, feta melted, and basil lightly tossed in. Comforting.

The only concerns for the rest of the afternoon and evening are "can I have another home-brewed beer bro?" and "what's for dinner?" Transferring from day clothes to sweats, which book to read and what to watch before bed.

Grateful for a Sunday such as this one.

L xx

Film Acting Superfuntimes

I don't remember who I stole this from. But one of the crew put it on their FB page. Thanks dude.

I feel like I should give a little update on the whole acting thing. I started this blog to profess my love for all things British, silly and dramatic, but don't ever provide any of the actual created drama...instead I litter the web pages with all my mental dramas.

Aren't you so lucky?

I've done a few things to make January a truly fantastic month and wonderful start to 2013. I participated in a film short, an AWARD WINNING film short, and I survived URTA. And kind of enjoyed it.

Guys...I say the latter and I'm not even drunk. (Any actor who's done URTA to attempt to get into grad school knows where I'm coming from.)

First, the film short. I hopped on to that project after a friend posted on Facebook about needing actors for the Rochester Movie Makers 72 Hour Mind to Movie Challenge. They got their person/place/premise and then had 72 hours to write a script, include original music (or music given by permission I think), and film/edit the whole thing. I volunteered to help out...though I've never done screen work before, and it was such a freaking blast.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk...yes I stole it from your Facebook and I will someday learn how to properly credit a photo back to it's original source. Today is not that day. I'm hungry and need to leave soon.)

The producers of the project, Matt, Adam and Katie, are my new favorite people. And I'm not just saying that cause I live at home with my parents and don't get out much. PROMISE. They're super creative and really funny people. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time (and there was NO booze involved, winning) so it was quite the good time. The whole script is quite pun-y, so obviously right up my alley. The filming is done so completely different than what I'm used to in theatre that it was  definitely a learning experience.

I can't say I love my acting in it. Though for this type of project, you can't really learn lines and delve into character background. We did a read through on a Friday night and we shot all day on a Saturday. We did each little bit piece by piece and didn't go in order. The whole movie can only be five minutes long, but it certainly took all day to make. I would definitely love to try out this kind of thing again. Hopefully, if I get into grad school I'll be able to take some classes on screen work and get better in that kind of medium.

This project, if anything, showed me how important a director and a script are to film. Listening to all the directors talk about their projects at the screening was immensely enlightening to the film making process (btw, if you're in the Rochester, NY area, I HIGHLY suggest going to the screening, even if you're not involved, just to see other creative projects made locally). I can see now that my acting, in just a five minute span doesn't really matter much unless there is a good director behind the camera and a great script. We had both of those and came in second place. So freaking proud of the team that made this film. Check it out below:

*Fun fact: the hay scene was done inside of Matt and Adam's kitchen. We missed out on doing it outside because the sun went down, so they dumped a full bale of hay in their kitchen just to get that joke in. These are the kinds of people I want to hang out with all the time. The kinds of people that will DUMP HAY IN THEIR KITCHEN for a joke. Baller.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk)

Though I obviously have critiques for myself...dude, what is up with my hair? (Just so you know, that's pretty much how I always wear it...with half of it falling out of my clip...so it was quite a true to life picture) I can say that my Mom loved it. So I don't really care what anybody else says, if my Mom likes it, then I can rest easy that I didn't embarrass myself. I win, guys, I win. I want a gold star and a brownie.

*Another fun fact: This is should come as no surprise, but I got real excited about doing this project after Matt said he was going to pay me in pizza. Embarrassing fact about me...I will work for good pizza.

(Picture credited to Matt DeTurk)

I will have to save URTA for another post as now I am off to dinner at a Hibachi place for the first time ever, and then to see "Identity Thief". Now Melissa McCarthy is definitely someone I idolize in the film world...her, Rebel Wilson and Catherine Tate. Comedic genius'.

Cheers,
L xx

Word Vomit and the Uncomfortable Kind of Oversharing

 This is the Christmas Dog of Warnings. He's here in his festive costume to warn you that parental discretion is advised in the reading of this post. You must clearly be bored and not give a damn that I'm about to word vomit all over you.

Christmas Dog has warned you.

 (Me, when I'm not crazy...just a regular 'ol classy gal. And avid Doctor Who fan. But the classiest kind.) 

Now would be a really good time to write something profound and deep. Something you can really learn from and take to heart. I mean, I've recently read some fantastic, well written, beautiful blog posts from other bloggers that has really moved me and made me think.  It was my hope to pass that on.

Buuuut instead of writing something deep and profound...or even, instead of thinking anything deep or profound, wanna know what I'm thinking?

I just demolished some McDonald's fries and the last of my chocolate oranges and I'm not sure if I want to cry because: a. OMG what did I just eat?! b. F*CK, I ate too quickly and nowit'sgoneandIdidn'tgettosavoritandIWANTMORE! or c. should I nap or study my lines....naaaaap or stuuuuudy....why has this always been my problem throughout history?

All this wonderfulness is wrapped up in the loveliness that is PMS...oh no boys, look away or you make catch it!

I'm really good at keeping readership up.

Just wanted to share that to make everyone feel good today. I mean, did you try to lick the salt out of a medium fry box? No. I didn't think so.

When it comes to this time of the month I really need to hibernate or just be continuously drunk. At least then my eating habits would make sense. I have my fingers crossed that menopause is not this hard.

OH WAIT GUYS....just googled "menopause"...cause you know...that's what you do when you're avoiding doing things you should be doing, and that's also what you do when you want to scare yourself. After reading the following article, I have decided that I am, indeed, going through some sort of weird menopausal life. 

Yes...my life is menopause. CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE ABOUT MY LIFE: AREYOUEXCITEDORSCARED?

Particularly take note of number 8...it's like they looked through the internets and into my soul.  I too have thought about writing some poetry, did already take a walk today (yeah speed walking on a rest day, look at me go), would like to watch back-to-back lifetime movies (or in my case, my PMS prefers something with more aggression...craving a back-to-back viewing of the Dark Knight Trilogy, honestly), and I have considered taking a hot bath and drowning myself in it after consuming ALL THE CHOCOLATE and red wine I can find.

(I'd like to take this moment to give myself a pat on the back for ROCKING my BA in English. Queen of run-on sentences right here folks. No autographs please.)

Now that I've officially left you with all of that to ponder, in addition to why you're reading this post at all....oh that's right I included some fun-ass picture at the top and a catchy title, then posted it all over social media and therefore you just had to click, didn't you? No. No, actually you're my Mom and you feel you have to read it out of solidarity to your offspring, you know I have no other dedicated readership except for family, and 'for God's sake Lindsay stop swearing and talking about drinking!' My Mom, folks. I should get her to do a blog post as she is much more eloquent than I. Then you'd learn something. 

Then again, the blog is called 'Smells Like Sunshine', and let's not kid ourselves...we're not here to learn.

Thanks for letting me word vomit, internets. I promise that I'm not always crazy. I mean...just look at one of my more respectable family members, like my little sister---->

She is not at all gonna be pissed I posted that pic. No but seriously, she's not a crazy bird-lady bank robber....she's sane. Promise.

(The "There's a law suit in your future, sister" look that she gives me when I take her picture "for the blog!") Ahh family love. If I didn't have family, I'd have nobody to annoy constantly.

Xx,

Lindsay

This is a picture of scrapple. It is the love of my life now, I do believe, and I've never had anything quite as good as all the left over pork bits fried up.

P.S. I love that I'm writing posts like this after recently becoming a devote follower to a London lifestyle blog that is much more elegant and fancy than myself. Now I feel like it's being all judgy. Don't know why I'd feel unclassy at all. Nope. No idea.

If it fits, then it goes there.

Cold Running and An Overabundance of Confidence With Very Little Training

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my thighs and my cheeks for subjecting them to the elements during my attempted outdoor run today. Granted I was fully clothed, but while my compression socks did cover me well under my running pants, my running pants did nothing to protect my upper thighs. And no scarves for me...with the amount of snot I expel during a run, I was afraid of it freezing on the scarf and then suffocating myself to death.

What an embarrassing death that would be.

I will definitely be looking into warmer tights, maybe compression tights built for single digit weather. 9 degrees Fahrenheit is NOT my favorite. Please come back 30 degree weather...I miss you!

In other news...I'm finding that my half mary training seems to be running parallel with my audition training. In the sense that when you look at what I've done on paper, an expert may raise an eyebrow and think "hmmm, you really haven't done much, have you?" But you know, my mind is totally prepped and ready to go. Mentally, I'm there.

(If you've never read The New Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz, then you should get on that. My favorite positive thinking book, except with real life advice...summarization of the book--you can think positive, but if you're sitting on your ass it does no good, think positive and always work towards your goals. Also, don't listen to the haters. There. Now you don't need to read it. You're welcome.)

I'm re-reading above listed book and it always gets me all jazzed up for big things. My head is definitely in the audition spot and in the half marathon game. I don't want to go into too much talk about my grad school auditions, as my first audition is with the organization URTA and it's next week (it's like auditioning for a BUNCH of schools at once).  But I will say that for my half mary training I'm one month away and I can really only run for one hour total at the moment. I'm estimating that it's going to take me well over two to complete 13.1 miles...if I don't die that is. In my brain though, I'm all like "pssshhhaw, I am so going to do it just fine. I've run 5.5 miles already...that's practically 13.1. Got it in the bag." Other people seemed to be concerned with my "got it in the bag" mentality,  particularly where my audition is concerned. But I totally have faith that I'm going to rock both with the best of my ability.

On this overly frigid day, don't you just looooove uber positivity? I know, I wanna punch me too.

Xx,
Lindsay

Brainwashed to Like Running--Or, No Sane Person Would Choose to Do That

Note From--Saturday 12 January 2013

Dear Diary,

I reached a new all time high in my life. Like, without drug use. Or vodka. May wonders never cease.

I ran for an hour without stopping or taking a walk break. Let me repeat that again...I ran FOR AN HOUR STRAIGHT. Never in my life did I think I would be able to do that...let alone set out to do that and enjoy it the whole time. I ran a total of 5.4 miles around my block (yeah country living).

Side Note: At the time of this blog post publication, I ran another whole 5 FREAKING MILES just this very morning. WINNING. When do I get my award for throwing every gym teacher I've ever had for a loop. Surprise, bitches. I can run. Don't be hatin' haters. Additionally, had you told me I could drink more wine if I ran, I may have tried running sooner.

It was awesome and amazing and hard and not at all scary. Every now and then my brain would have a negative moment...I know, it's shocking to me too, but I sucked it up and just pumped the music a little louder while imagining 50 Cent out of breath behind me. His hot abs can't keep up with this hotness. No but seriously. Hot-ness. All decked out in purple.

Now running has become hard and fun. Poster child for AWESOMENESS, HERE I come!! I am really loving it. Even on rest days, all I do is think about running even when I can't.

I think I can confidently say that my brainwashing has been a success.

Now...I present to you, dear Diary....and blog readers, my brainwashing formula--patent pending:

How to Brainwash Yourself Into LOVING Running

1. Find friends who are just starting off, maybe who have only been running for a few months.

2. Talk to them about it excessively, figure out why they're insane. Try not to appear too stalkerish, restraining orders help nothing and only bring about negative feelings for everyone. Maybe just call their work number at random times, screaming "BUT WHHYYYY?! Why do you run like a crazy person? I thought we were so similar...now you're all smug-happy-runner. Stop it. I love you, show me your ways."

3. Maybe try your hand at running a mile on the treadmill. They say it's easier you know. When you fail, eat a pizza, drink some wine, and read up on why people are mental.

4. Pick up a copy of Runner's World Magazine. You may need to ask your helpful B&N bookseller where they are located. When they keep trying to re-route you over to the cake and baking magazine section, make sure to find someone else to help you on your quest. DON'T be sidelined by cakes. Once RW is in your hands, read inspirational stories...cry. Feel no shame about that, because God knows you cry more over Hallmark/Lifetime movies...better to move on to runner's stories. Your tears over that will make you skinnier.

5.Run an actual whole mile on the treadmill. Hate it for every step. Feel endorphins post-hate run, feel amazing and decide post-run is better.

6. Repeat 5 a lot more.

7. Somehow consider going longer than a mile when you realize your playlist is longer than that and you really want to jam out to just one more rap song.

8. Read up on fueling pre-run. Realize that does banish those feelings of dying mid and post run.

9. Read a self help book focused on positive mental imaging. Then have some vodka. Imagine you practically fly while running....and it shall be so, grasshopper. Especially after all that vodka.

10. Read running blogs.....a lot. Screw work or a social life...READ BLOGS. This will, in no way, hinder your social growth. Pinky swear.

11. Be convinced to sign up for an honest-to-God organized run. Mainly because it involves a cool/geeky/weird/scary aspect to it that appeals to you. Like one where you get to run in a tutu and tiara. GLITTER.

12. Freak out after you realize that you've just paid to be crazy. I love you, knees and will miss you dearly.

13. Finally get to the point where you think about running constantly. 

14. Run 3 miles for first time on treadmill and later realize that's a motherfucking 5k. Playawhat?

15. Submit to the fact that you are, indeed, brainwashed and love running. Eat some cake. Maybe have some more vodka, settle down here in the "yeah, sometimes I run" world...there's plenty other crazies to help you along in this addiction.

You are so welcome. 

Additionally...sometimes it helps running to Respect by Aretha and, surprisingly enough, I'm Every Woman by Whitney Houston...."why yes, Whitney, I am every woman. And some of them run. Represent."

This overly long blog post is brought to you by,

A lot of caffeine.

Xx,

L

What Motivates Me to Run: Cowbell.

I've been thinking a lot about what motivates me to put one foot in front of the other, repeatedly  in a fast-like motion, other than counteracting my obsessive need to consume ALL the peanut butter M&Ms (I just found two pre-counted serving sized baggies of PB M&M's in my purse-yes i hoard chocolate-...it's like HEAVEN mid-day at work.)

There's lots of things that get me out on the road and .... god-forbid ...liking it. Mainly it's because I have a few outfits that have me decked out completely in purple. Nothing makes a girl wanna run all stealth-like with the mission impossible theme in her head when she looks like a NINJA...albeit a purple one. What? Ninjas can be purple. They're the more fashionable ones....

PURPLE NINJA RUNNING POWER!

COWBELL. That's what really gets me moving. Specifically the cowbell that is featured in the song "Free Your Mind" by En Vogue. Seriously, go listen to it and you will hear the sweet, sweet melodious tone of the cowbell in the background. No idea why, but that just motivates me to run.

On an unrelated note, I would someday like to play the cowbell classically. Does that happen? Cowbell classics? Could I be the first? That'd be awesome. (Clearly I need to get out more....drinks anyone?)

Blogging soon, belated New Year's Resolutions....everybody else got to, I'm just super lazy and haven't gotten around to it, obviously failing at #20 resolution--don't be lazy. Also will do a blog post about how I brainwashed myself into loving running, at the moment...but who knows....this love may not be true and long lasting as that of PB M&M's. THERE IS NOTHING BETTER....except mint M&M's, which can only be consumed in December by law.

Cheers,
L