Tag: me

10 miles//11:58 pace with 20mph wind gusts in my face and a fair amount of walking.
I don’t allow myself to walk that much during a race so I’m feeling pretty good about this run.
Also, post-run I’m a sexy beast! Look at those strange sweat lines and dried salt on my face! Sexxxxxxxyyyyyy!

Happy Saturday friends! Thanks for all the love, support and encouragement! I couldn’t do it without you!

“Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world.” -Virgil Kraft

There are 2 of these trees outside my TV station. Each year they bust out these fragrant blooms and the smell is amazing! And they look incredible for about 4-5 days. Then, inevitably, the winds come and blow the blooms away. But for those days? It’s amazing.

In other news:

  • Thanks for all the sweet compliments on my post the other about that picture. I love you guys! You made my week!
  • It’s 82 degrees here today and tomorrow. I’ve begun stalking the forecast for the marathon on the 4th. It’s promising so far.
  • I think May is my favorite Month. Here’s why: I love the promise that it holds. The weather is just (generally) going to keep getting better for 3 more months, its still building up to the Summer Solstice. We start eating on patios and doing things outside again. And the days are just going to get longer. I like the anticipation of a lot of things (sometimes) more than the actual event!
  • I’ve actually spent a lot of time thinking about that lately….how I don’t enjoy things because I’m constantly looking ahead or worrying about things. I am not good about living in the moment all the time. I’m working on that. 
  • But I’m a really good over-thinker and shutting my brain off is not my specialty. Especially at night.

Anywho! Busy weekend ahead, Corky, long run tomorrow morning (last one before I taper!!) going to the Psychic with my friend and then a 3rd (!) date Saturday. Then Sunday, Church and a huge private party for Corky. I’m going to need a weekend from my weekend!

Have a good one friends!

That moment when…

…your friend uploads and tags a photo of you on Facebook that you forgot taking and you can’t stop staring at yourself.

Call it narcissism. Call it obsession. Call it ironic. Call it whatever you want.
But, in the midst of feeling low about your appearance, sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words to turn your mood around.

I expect I’ll lose some followers over this post of self acceptance and love.

When I was fat, I was told I had “such a pretty face.” And people said that, “she’d be so pretty if she lost the weight.” I lost the weight and started dating. And guys liked me. And it was a weird thing when they started telling me that I was beautiful. I don’t know if I believe them when they say it. 25 years of feeling (and looking) one way is tough to shake. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy with how I look now. I’ve worked too hard to be that down on myself. But we all experience those low periods. 

So, in the interest of self-love, acceptance, and feeling like occasionally, you CAN look like a million bucks; I give you this photo.

Because sometimes all a girl needs is the right dress, makeup, and camera filter to look and feel beautiful! 🙂

And that’s just fabulous.

Terrific Tuesday!

  • 3.1 miles before work OUTSIDE this morning! It was a brisk 44 degrees, but it was great to be outside running. I’m a fan.
  • The flowers and trees have burst into blooms recently. I am such a fan. It makes all the difference in the world to me when spring finally hits and the world wakes up from its winter slumber. 
  • This tree is one of many along the hospital that I live across the street from. I love the way the morning sunlight is hitting the buds.
  • I’m having a dinner tonight with my former College professor that I am very close with. She’s a friend now. I like that. 
  • My friend Rob and I are going to a Psychic and then going to get Froyo. I’m so excited. I’ve always wanted to go to a Psychic…just for fun! 

I’ve read some other posts about this community and there are some things I want to address. But right now, it’s time to do the news! So that’s a post for another time!

Have a great day friends!

Scenes from my 10.2 mile run.

The flowers and trees are blooming!
I stupidly waited until 2:30 to run. It was 81°, and humid, and partly cloudy. The heavens opened up and it rained a bit on me. It was nice to get cooled off.

I got yelled at by guys in 2 cars within 30 seconds of each other. They were going opposite directions. It was kind of funny.

I’m a hot, salty, sweaty mess. But, I’m feeling better about the half in 2 weeks.
10.20 miles//12:17 pace.

Sunday Runday Funday!

Happy Easter!

Of No Runs, Bad Runs, and Tired Quads

I’ve been aboard the struggle bus lately when it comes to my training runs. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL, PEOPLE! I’ve been inconsistent at best when it comes to weekday running. But I vowed to get back on the Horse this week.

And I did!

3.1 miles Monday night. 1.5 miles of speed work Tuesday. 3 Miles BEFORE work this morning. 4-5 miles tomorrow and 10-13 on Sunday. We’ll play that one by ear. 

But here’s the thing: for a few weeks now, my legs, specifically my quads have been so sore. Like, they feel exhausted when I run, no matter the time of day. Is this because:

  • I need more sleep?
  • I worked (and stood for 4 hours) at Corky last night?
  • I sit most of the day at the station?
  • I’m a wimp and need to power through it?

Maybe a combo of all of these. But today’s run was kind of eh. I’m hoping sleep will help and I can have a good couple of runs this weekend. 

In other news:

  • I had a blast at Corky last night. I met this great couple (the wife was hilarious!) I told her some of my dating stories. She told me how she and her hubby met and married at age 18. 12 years and 3 kids later, still together and very much in love. Adorable. Insta-friend, you know what I mean? I even gave her my blog address! (hi Rachel!) By the end of the night she was teasing me and told me to get my “whore mouth out of here!” (dating story throwback). I died laughing when she was horrified by what she said. Good stuff.
  • I have a 2nd date tonight with this guy from last week. The guy I went out with Wednesday night on our first date was BORING. I started yawning midway through the date! Whoops. I said to myself, “I grow weary of this dating game.” Seriously. I’m over it. If things don’t pan out with this guy tonight, I’m taking another dating break for the summer. I just can’t even anymore. Ya know? He has been texting me everyday, which is nice.
  • Thanks for all the kind comments on my cheek mishap. Good news? I’m fine. It went away to just a pink spot by the evening. No lasting damage. 
  • I have the weekend off from Corky, heading home for Easter with the fam. I’m also getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow. It’s getting crazy long. 
  • See?
  • Note how flat it is with any curl in it? This is why I have to do my hair everyday. Its not a good look otherwise.

Well, have a wonderful Easter weekend friends!

Let’s Chat

  • I have another date tonight. It’s a first date with a new guy. In fact, I may or may not be seeing 2 guys at once. YOLO and all that stuff, right?
  • On that note, the guy that I went out with a handful of times appears to be disappearing into the night. I HATE that. Don’t ghost me dude. If we’ve gone out more than a couple of times (read: 5) then it’s your duty to man up and be honest about your behavior. I’m an adult. I can take it. Geez.
  • My plan to get back on the Marathon Training horse is going well; I did 3.1 miles on Monday, 1.5 miles of speed work last night, a rest day today, and will do 3 miles tomorrow morning before work. Accountability FTW!
  • I want to go to NYC in July with Brooke . It’s sweeps, and it may be a struggle. But I’m certainly going to try! 
  • A recent discovery: I don’t really like a lot of the old foods that I used to love anymore. Particlulary: Chinese food, cake, fettuccine Alfredo (really most pasta) and others I can’t think of. I find myself craving good for me foods now. I dig it.
  • “Comparison is the Thief of Joy.”-Dwight Edwards. Oh how true this is. I find myself seeing pictures of other people that I follow and thinking to myself, “I weigh less and am the same height as they are, but why do they look skinnier than me?”  No joke. I still struggle with body issues, despite being pretty much where I want to be-weight and size wise. But everyone has a different body shape and ways that they carry their weight. I am tiny on top-like a size 4, whereas my bottom half is an 8. And that’s cool. That’s me. I have hips and thighs. I also haven’t been working too hard lately. I get it. But I see others who post selfies proclaiming self love and it makes me sad. I don’t look like them. My hips are bigger, or appear that way in the camera shot. But why should I be sad? My journey isn’t their journey. My story isn’t at the same point as their story. It’s all relative.                       Which leads me to another point…
  • Who are the selfies and “Body love” pictures posted for? I’m as guilty of this as anyone else. But are we posting the photos for attention or for the praise and attention that the pictures receive because of our looks, progress and new hot bods? Do we get a thrill from the likes and comments about how awesome we look? Or do we want people to see how far we’ve come? I don’t know. These are things I think about.

Anywho, have a great Wednesday friends!

My Lincoln Half Marathon training has not been the best lately. 

In the past 3 weeks I’ve been sick with a head cold and a tooth infection. I’ve been busy with work and life. I’ve let my weekday runs go by the wayside. I’ve pretty much only run my long runs on the weekends. Maybe a mile or 2 during the week. 

So it’s no wonder that my runs have been suffering. I feel like I’m not conditioned enough. Like my legs are dead and I’m super sore. So, with 3 weeks until the Half, I decided to get my proverbial crap together. Today, I ran 3.1 miles. On the treadmill. Without stopping. I usually take a few walk breaks. My legs felt good, for the most part, but they know what’s coming: I’m running 3 miles tomorrow too, and Wednesday, or Thursday. There will be a run on Saturday, and then I’m doing 10-13 miles on Sunday. So, in that spirit, here’s today’s post-run selfie. 3.1 miles//33:52 //10:54 pace.That was a good, sweaty run.

It’s time to re-commit to this. I have 3 weeks . I’m in good shape. I want a sub 2:25 half. I can do it. I WILL do it. 

It’s on.

What’s that I see? Are those Melissa’s legs in SHORTS for an outside run for the first time in forever?

Why yes, yes they are! It is so nice outside. I wanted to run 13 miles, but woke up too late for that. I then decided I could run 7, but cut it down to 5 when I realized my cold was still kicking my butt.

I’m not complaining, but you guys! It was almost humid out! I am not acclimated to the warm weather yet. They’re forecasting thunderstorms possibly tonight, so that explains the humidity and warmth. It was a rough, rough run. 5 miles//12:07 pace. So slow for me. 

There were a few houses with their sprinklers on. I was a fan, especially when the wind caught the water and I got a cool, wet breeze. I was HOT!

And, some trees are blooming. Hooray for spring!

I’m going to hit the showers and get ready to head to Corky this afternoon.

Happy Weekend friends!