Weekly Therapy: Recovery Week Wine

June 3, 2017 - Mel

the week:
Recovery has been nice! I’m one my first of TWO WHOLE WEEKS without running. I started my ladies’ golf clinics and went roller skating for a few miles (including wiping out in the grass within the first five minutes lol). I feel like I have all the energy and time in the world — using it to clean out dressers and organize closets… and, um, drink a lot of wine.

Being fresh off a marathon finish has also given me a new kind of confidence to take on all the other life bullshit falling into the Procrastination category, and I’m on a roll crossing things off my to-do list! #gettingshitdone

weekend:
I volunteered this morning at Dam to Dam at the Tacopocalypse food table. It was so hot, and I was SO happy not to be running. Sorry to all the runners who didn’t get any pork nachos — we ran out of food after only 2 hours. 🙁

I plan to go for a bike ride tomorrow morning, and then partake in a little Sunday Funday (and probably Jethro’s BBQ brunch). I’m kinda liking this run-free summer lifestyle right now.

And here’s how to make your weekend feel longer. I love the first comment on the article: Don’t sleep in.

seven things, seven days:
1. Can you believe the back brake pads and rotors of my NEW CAR had to be replaced already? Crazy.
2. I put on my big girl pants and cancelled my gym membership (that I barely used once a month).
3. And now I need a place to do drop-in yoga. Any suggestions for Des Moines, preferably west/northwestern suburbs? No membership, please.
4. Got any early favorites for this season’s The Bachelorette? ?
5. Deep Inside Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos. I haven’t had Taco Bell in a few years, but I still crave it like my post-party, bar-crawling former 20-something self.
6. The Rise and (Maybe) Fall of Influencers {via NYT}
7. Brutalist redesigns of your favorite social platforms. BE STILL MY BRUTALISM-LOVING HEART. {via The Verge}

Weekly Therapy: Loyalty and road trips and early morning alarms

April 21, 2017 - Mel

the week:
I purchased a lunch bag from eBags a few years ago and was sad when the interior lining started ripping away from the zipper. I finally replaced it a few weeks ago with something new, but strongly disliked its smaller interior capacity (less room for snacks!) and handles that don’t keep the back straight — and no short carry handle on the top of the bag (so high maintenance!). When looking around their site to find my original, I discovered that eBags-branded products have a LIFETIME WARRANTY against defects — and they replaced my well-loved lunch bag with a brand new one!

I’m in no way sponsored or compensated by the company, but I absolutely love when brands do right by their products and will shout my loyalty from the rooftops. I’ll love this lunch bag for another few years and all is right with my world and my many (many) meals and snacks that I need to bring with me to work.

weekend:
I’m off to Illinois to take on the I-Half Challenge (a 5K tonight and a half marathon on Saturday morning) and my first race as a BibRave Pro ambassador! This will be my 10th half marathon. CRAZY.

A friend is also driving up to Champaign to spend the remainder of the weekend with me, and I’m so happy to get to see her and drink wine, since it’s been YEARS. If the weather stays nice, we are planning on trail skating, too. #shutuplegs

seven things, seven days:
1. Remember my office fire from two months ago? Well I finally got a box of my personal belongings from my desk. Which included close to none of my belongings.
2. I had a dream this week where a parade of kids were wearing items from my closet that I haven’t worn in forever. What a message, eh? Must be time for another round of Cleaning of the Closets.
3. For my wedding celebration this summer, I requested a box of party dresses from my Trunk Club [referral link] — and she sent the PERFECT dress.
4. Collaboration creates mediocrity. According to Science. And me, a high performer.
5. Well, this is interesting: The new rules of hydration {via Outside}
6. That voice inside your head will make you a better runner — another great article from Outside.
7. Weirdly, success is about thinking you’re not too successful {via Science of Us}

Weekly Therapy: I am a runner.

May 1, 2015 - Mel

the week:
This week’s been a lot to take in. I’ve been hyper-anxious, overly excitable — with a severe case of NO FOCUS and HANGRY. I guess my focus is on the finish line, as they like to use in running metaphors and motivational posters. And also, what the hell I’m going to wear.

weekend:
Obviously, it’s Race Weekend — so I’ll be taking on the Steel Challenge of running a 5K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.

52 books in 52 weeks:
NOPE. Somehow, I’ve started four books and have nothing to show in the way of finishing anything reading-related. Oh, but I’ll be finishing a marathon AND a winter semester, so then I have some time to relax with my freshly-started books.

seven things, seven days:
1. A new treadmill… that looks exactly like a treadmill. {via Science Daily}
2. Marathon leggings from Dona Jo Fitwear — from a Pittsburgh-based company! {via NEXT Pittsburgh}
3. NEXT also profiled Marathon CEO Patrice Matamoros.
4. Is anyone else really hungry?
5. Also, hey thanks, ovaries!
6. The secret to a longer life and faster metabolism? CHEESE. {via The Telegraph}
7. I can’t focus anymore. Thinking about dinner.