Gardening in High Heels

cultivate a beautiful life

Sunday Lately, 16

I wonder if I’ll ever start a Sunday Lately post with, “Dang that was a perfect week,” because this week felt like it took forever but then also felt like I didn’t have time to do half of what I wanted to do.  Y’know, story of my life.  I swear, it isn’t for lack of trying!

What have you been up to lately? This is week 14 of Sunday Lately link up with Katy, Meghan, and Nicole!

Planning

Summer!  It’s finally warm in Pittsburgh.  I hope we have a “spring” this year with cooler mornings/evenings and warmer days before endless humidity hits.  Also looking forward to a weekend away next week.

Loving

Having a plan.  I seriously feel so much better when there aren’t many variables bumping around.  I dislike not knowing what’s going to happen next.  I’ve mentioned that my father was selling his house and it seems like it isn’t quite so “holy shiz, this is what’s happening and it has to happen yesterday.”  That is great to know.

Reading

Still reading Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before.  I’m sorry, Birchbloggers, when I finally get to read at night, I make it a page before I fall asleep!  Then I have to more on to more Julia Child biographies and books I’ve been loaned that need to be reunited with their long-lost owners.

Wishing

To see my mom.  It’s been since Thanksgiving.  We haven’t gone this long without seeing each other…ever.  At this time last year, I had already driven down to Virginia twice.  This whole “full time job” thing is just crampin’ my style, man.

FeelingSo happy that snow is gone.  Calm and confident about the Pittsburgh Half Marathon in exactly two weeks.  Excited to take a weekend trip this Saturday and Sunday.PS: if you’re interested in running, I’ve been writing a lot about it here and here.What’s been happening with you lately?

Half marathon prep

As I mentioned last week, I’m running in my fifth half marathon on May 3rd.  It’s definitely an intimidating undertaking, especially if you have no idea what you’re doing.  The first half marathon I ran was in Williamsport, PA, and it was a benefit for ovarian cancer.  I prepared as best as I knew how, aka: I ran a lot.

And then race day came.  Now, I don’t know if many of you have visited Williamsport or any area in PA, but it’s all basically just one big hill.  I was feeling great going down, but the back half was all up.  And it sucked.  I walked most of the back end because I couldn’t run up a hill for 6 miles straight.

The first time I did the Pittsburgh Half Marathon, I took my aunt’s bib because she hurt herself in training.  It was in February and the race was in May.  I again did the best I could, but it was still hard because I didn’t know what I was stepping in to and vastly different than in Williamsport.  It almost felt like my first half marathon again.

Five things I wish I knew before I ran in my first half marathon. #gameonPGH #running

So, in my best effort to impart the wisdom I wish I had known, I give you five things I wish I would have known before I ran my first half marathon.

1. Your toe nails will probably abandon you.

I wasn’t ready for this one.  I got blisters under my nails and it damaged the nail bed.  And there went a few toe nails.  Yep, it’s gross, but at least it doesn’t hurt.

The best advice I have for you is to find shoes that don’t rub and are held securely to your foot.  I like this post to help identify different ties for your shoes based on your shoe woe.  Socks also make a big difference.  I like good ol’ Hanes socks.

2. Take the solar blanket.

I didn’t do this after my first run in Pittsburgh because I didn’t have this option in Williamsport so I didn’t know how necessary it was.  It felt like I was almost in shock after the run.  This really helped the next time to gently regulate my temperature.

3. You will probably shit yourself.

It ain’t fun to talk about, but let’s get real here.  I don’t know why or how to prevent this (although I did take some Immodium before the run last year, which made a difference).

I didn’t even know this happened until my mom asked me in hushed tones, “So…did you…crap your pants?”

I didn’t, but I realllllllly had to go soon after stopping.  So just be prepared for that.

4. Eat the gummy worms.

Another point from the Pittsburgh half that I didn’t know the first time.  Around mile 8, they hand out gummy worms.  Take the gummy worms (or power bars or gel or whatever).  It really helps to give you a boost.

5. Have someone waiting for you at the finish.

It’s nice to have people cheering along the course, but it’s really nice to have someone you know waiting for you.  Or running right beside you like Jonathan and I did last year.

Either way, it really helps motivate you when you have someone waiting for you at the end to congratulate you and be amazed that you ran that far.

Bonus!

Bring another change of clothes.  I needed to get out of the cold, sweaty clothes I was in.  Bring a change of pants, shirt, and socks.  It feels so great to get out of your running shoes, trust me.

A woman I worked with told me this one: drink water the first half, then switch to Gatorade.  Your body really doesn’t need a boost of electrolytes after 3 miles, but it sure could use some water.

Another woman I worked with shared this with me: hills are easy for short people to climb.  Our little legs don’t have to lift up as high to clear the road as you tall people.  It makes me feel good going uphill, even if it’s a placebo effect.

Have you run a marathon (or a half or even a 5k)?  What are you best tips?

I need my phone fix

This weekend has slightly been a Murphy’s Law weekend.  It was nice, but not what I thought it would be, which is okay.  Then Monday rolled around and it was like, please just get it over with.

I went to work, went to the hospital, then came home and said I’d run just three miles but went for five.  Then I read (a long overdue task) Gretchen Rubin’s Better Than Before in the tub.  It was relaxing and soothed my muscles.  It seemed like the day was going to end on a high note.

It didn’t.

What happens when you drop your phone in water and you're forced to be without it for 24 hours.

After I managed not to drop my phone in an entire tub of water, I went to the kitchen for a drink of water.  I reached across the sink with my phone in my hand, completely forgetting it was there.  It slipped and went for a quick dip in a shallow pan of water I had sitting in the sink.

Never in my 10 years of owning a cell phone has this ever happened.  Like, ever.

I could see a few screens overlapping (like I could see Instagram faintly in the background of the home screen). The buttons seemed to be working but the touchscreen wasn’t.  And then it started to get faint lines in it.

Shiiiiiiit.

At this point, I was semi-panicking.  But I’ve seen enough pins on Pinterest to know that you should put your phone in a bag of rice (not enriched!) to dry it out.  So into a bag of rice it went.

Then I pulled out my laptop and went a little crazy searching for “Will my life ever be the same now that I am the kind of person who drops my phone in water?!”

What I have learned (aside from “be careful around water” and “I have at least three tampons in every purse I own but absolutely no silica packets”) is this:

The universe has crazy ways of telling you to chill out.  Maybe it was telling me to unplug.  Maybe it was telling me to get off the phone.  Maybe it was telling me to focus on myself and not be so readily available for everyone.

Maybe it was me just being stupid.  Maybe I need to learn more patience (as if I’m not learning it enough at work).

Maybe it was telling me to stop saying, “If only I had done X, then Y wouldn’t have happened.”  If only I had done the dishes, then I wouldn’t have a pan and water in the sink.

Or maybe, just maybe, the universe isn’t telling me anything.  Maybe it just happened.  And that’s a lesson in and of itself.

This was a crazy-cruel detox, though.  Even though I can do everything I do on the computer (including using iMessage and Google Hangouts to communicate), I’m so used to having my phone around me.

If I need to fill in a spare minute while waiting for a file to download, I’m on Instagram.  I habitually tap the home button to see if anyone texted me while I was looking away.  Gee, I wonder what’s happening on Twitter?  Let me look.

As I’m writing this, I’ve gone 24 hours without it and I hate not being able to text Jonathan like normal.  Using Google Hangouts is great because I can still hear from him, but I feel so immature, like I’m on AIM messaging my crush.  Ugh.

And what if I want to call my mom and not be chained to the landline with the cord.  I don’t even know if I have long distance calling.

I don’t even know if a run counts if I don’t log it with RunKepper.

And how many steps did I take yesterday?  I can’t tell without syncing my UP!

First world problems.  I know.  I’m going crazy and need a fix.  I hope it’s dry soon.  I don’t want to rush it but, guys, I need a hit.

Have you ever gone through a digital detox?  What happened?

What no one tells you about running

Running sucks. #SeriouslyThough

I could probably stop there.  I started to write this in my head in the middle of a run on Tuesday and that’s how I was feeling.

#BlogPostsAlwaysComeToMeWhenIDontHavePaper

What no one tells you about running. #training #marathon #running

In case you missed all my bitching about hospitals and moving, it’s been a little tricky to find time to train for the marathon (that’s just the Pittsburgh Marathon Half, I’m not going crazy here).  I’m getting off my ass and doing it, though. #Finally

Now, I’m not a physical therapist, nurse, pro athlete, coach, or licensed to give advice, so don’t take this as be-all end-all medical knowledge.  It’s just what I know.  And this will be my 5th total half marathon, so I kinda know what I’m talking about in terms of myself and my body.

What I know about running is that it’s hard.  No one tells you how hard it is to get up and get moving.  An object a rest, #amirite?  There are some days when I just feel like I had the best workout ever and there are some days when it’s struggle city and I just want to turn around and go home. #ButSeriously #CanIJustGoHomeNow

Despite the suckiness and the burning shins and the sore lungs, ya just do it.

I think the biggest thing that no one tells you about running is that it really makes you listen to your body.  When it isn’t feeling it, honor what it’s saying.  Hit your mile goal for the day, but be gentle on yourself. #DoWhatYouCanWithWhatYouHave

I used to get so upset if I couldn’t stand running more than three miles when I was trying to train.  Now I just go with it.  On Sunday, I ran for an hour and I hit six miles.  It felt great.  Tuesday during my lunch break, I only did three. #YeahIKnowONLYThree #sarcasm

Instead of beating myself up about only running three miles, I made a deal with myself.  I ran to the next stop sign and I said I could walk if I wanted to.  I didn’t feel like I needed it, so I ran to the next stop sign.  And repeat.

Running is also a very mentally challenging sport.  Running 13.3 miles is a physical challenge for sure, but you have to believe you can do it.  The phrase “mind over matter” is so incredibly true.  I can’t emphasize it enough.  You have to be really assured that you can do it, even if you’re doubting it.  #DontLetYourselfSmellYourOwnFear

And you’re with yourself for 13.3 miles.  That’s a little longer than two hours.  If you’re telling yourself, “OMG I’M GOING TO DIE,” chances are, you aren’t doing very well.  Don’t listen to those crazy voices in your head! #LifeAdvice

When I started running, I wish I would have known that it was okay to have off days (#AsLongAsYouGetOutsideYoureAhead) and that it’s really hard to do when your mind isn’t working with your body.

Another thing no one tells you about running is that you’ll probably lose a toe nail or two and you really need to have a bee-line to a restroom when you’re done.   But more on that later.

Are you a runner? What’s something no one told you that you wish you knew?

#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo

Easter Hangover

Happy Monday, Gardeners!  I didn’t want to NOT write something, but I also have nothing to write – it happens.  I’m the first to admit it.

This weekend after spending a great time in Columbus (where #AngelicaAteColumbus hardcore), lunch with family, and running to prepare for the Pittsburgh Marathon (just the half, thanks), I didn’t get a post written for today.

If you’re missing a dose of my Monday beauty advice, check out my #LipStockChallenge on Instagram and Twitter – I’m rotating through my stash of lip products, one per day until I run out.  Follow the fun and join in if you want to share your #lotd (lip of the day).

How was your weekend?

Let’s Play

           

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We Belong in the Garden Together