So far I’m not too impressed with Thursday. I was beyond exhausted when I woke up, my stomach is giving me hell and it took three subway transfers to get to the office.
I could let myself be cranky.
That would be fun. I’d be punching people by 10 am.
Orrrrrrr…
I could give myself an imaginary slap across the fact, tell myself to snap out of it and go on with my day in a better mood.
Let’s try to go with the latter, OK?
(Embarrassing confession: It took me about five years to finally remember which one was “latter” and which was “former” in that old expression. For some reason I had a really hard time with it. I’ll be further embarrassed if I got it wrong up above…)
So as you know, Thursday is a made-up holiday at Ali On The Run called Thankful Things Thursday. It’s a time to reflect on the awesome things in life, whether they’re simple (chocolate) or profound (dark chocolate). Here’s what’s on my happy list today:
I’m thankful I get to try new things all the time. I attribute this to living in New York City, where opportunities are endless, and to finally allowing myself to step out of my comfort zone every now and then. On Tuesday I was excited to attend the launch of FITiST, which I talked about a little bit yesterday. Click here to read more about the event in a “live chat” type situation. (You may notice that I am the one in the group chat who repeatedly brings up the brownies. Yes, I have a one-track mind.)
I love meeting new people, I love trying new things and I am still sore from this crazy-long event. Success!
I’m thankful for busy days. For whatever reason (the weather?) this week has felt endless. But somehow each individual day has flown by. Yesterday in particular was very productive. Success again!
Note: I’m still in a funk from my rough morning. So I will continue thinking of things to be thankful for now.
Beer! I’m thankful for beer! I have never drank beer in my life. I’m a wine girl. For a long time I preferred the boxed variety. Yes, it’s true, my college roommates and I survived on a solid diet of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, pizza bites and Franzia. Sunset Blush was our favorite. Now I’m more of a Pinot Grigio girl, because I’m so adult-like and classy.
But last night after work I met up with Tina, who was in town for roughly 19 seconds, and it seemed like the right time to give beer a fair shot.
I usually avoid carbonated beverages and I’ll gladly expand on that in another post sometime if anyone actually cares, but the beer she picked out for me — Blue Point Toasted Ale — was surprisingly good! It was a much heavier drink than I’m used to and I can see myself getting full really fast from it. But I’m glad I tried it, and I’ll try it again.
And it sent me off to the gym with a fun little buzz (which very quickly wore off).
I’m thankful for spinning. I’m thankful for the Wednesday night class that gets me through my week. I didn’t always love this class. Wednesday was a tough day to drag myself to the gym because it’s usually when the mid-week exhaustion sets in. But these days it’s become something I really look forward to. And once class is over, it’s on to Thursday and then the weekend is right around the corner!
I’m thankful I made Brussels sprouts again. On my way home from the gym last night I was beat and I really wanted to just order something easy for dinner. But then I heard a little cry from my debit card, deep inside my wallet. It said, “Please, Ali, no! I’m exhausted! Stop swiping me!” Fine, debit card, you little brat. So I cooked.
I saved myself money by cooking. Good job, Frugal Ali. Take note, this is not all I ate for dinner. Do you know me yet? I also had a heaping bowl of spaghetti and half a bag of baby carrots. Then I dipped some pretzels in Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter. Happy, full belly.
I’m thankful I fall asleep easily. Maybe it’s just because I’m so tired at the end of every day — and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. But lately, when I crawl into my nice new bedding, I pass out immediately. No tossing. No turning. It’s bliss.
I’m thankful I survived my run this morning. I was excited for today’s run: 5 miles, including a 1-mile warm-up, then three miles including striders (hang on, I’ll explain), and a 1-mile cool down. Coach Cane explained to me that striders are short, fast bursts where you run at your half marathon goal pace for 20-30 seconds. He told me to pay attention to my feet, and make sure I’m picking them up higher off the ground than I probably normally do.
Fun!
I like a challenge.
It helped that it wasn’t raining out this morning, for once.
The striders were pretty fun. I like short challenges that leave me feeling energized but not like I’m going to die. (Who would enjoy that feeling?) But during Mile 4, my stomach basically said “F you, Ali.” I wrote a post on my Run For The Rabbit blog last night about how my stomach has been acting up lately. I keep hoping it’s just a fluke and not a pending flare-up, but I’m a little freaked out. It’s not fun being a mile away from your apartment and keeling over in pain on the side of the road. I’ll give it a few days and then might be hitting up the ol’ GI doctor’s office.
Also, when I did make it back to my apartment (alive and well), I noticed this:
Nice, right? At least the blood matched my shoes!
I think I just got bitten by something while I was running, but I did feel pretty hardcore for running with a bloody leg.
I’m thankful for hot pink. After a week of succumbing to drab colors, today I went for hot pink and white. Yes, Mom, I’m wearing white before Memorial Day. Please don’t be mad.
I’m thankful I’m resting tonight and all day tomorrow. Tomorrow is a total rest day. Look how good I’m getting at taking rest days! After Coach Cane’s wife told me that I wasn’t working hard enough if I didn’t like rest days, I can’t stop thinking about it. So I’ve been pushing it and really earning my rest. It’ll be nice to fully relax before Saturday’s half marathon.
I’m thankful for kind, generous people. I’m floored that I’m currently at the top of the fundraising leaderboard in the Run For The Rabbit race. Thank you, from the bottom of my Crohnsy heart, to everyone who has contributed so far. People are good. Sometimes I don’t believe that, but lately I really, really do.
I’m thankful for dark chocolate M&Ms. They’re fantastic in my trail mix and I’m glad the M&M people decided to create them.
I’m thankful for inky pens. I really hate ballpoint ones, and I’m glad a smart person invented felt-tipped pens.
Look! My bad mood is lifting!
And if I keep telling myself that, I’ll be perky in no time.
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN: What are you thankful for today?
0 Responses
Love the former v. latter thing. This is what helps me:
Former = First, Latter = Last
Today I Am thankful for dry shampoo
I hope your day turned around! I’ve never had brussel sprouts, and I’m kind of afraid to try them… I lead a boring food life and am usually afraid of eating something new for fear of my body potentially rejecting it in one way or another. Fail.
I’m thankful for dates and peanut butter, I’m thankful for my friend visiting, and as always I’m thankful for this blog! 🙂
I do ThankFul Thursdays on my website too 😉
I am so thankful for the abundance I experience in my life. I am grateful! I also am thankful for rain (liquid sunshine), being a fitness instructor, and having the best hubby ever!!
This post brought a smile to my face. I’m thankful for beer as well. Nothing makes me happier than an ice cold beer on a warm summer day. Cheers to the fact that those days are just around the corner 🙂
I love your Thursday posts. I’m thankful that I’m on Fire Island for vacation this week!! I’m also thankful that it’s sunny and bright out here and only rained last night. But, I miss you of course and out daily emailing.
sunset blush was my favorite franzia in college too! made me laugh:). so many ridiculous college memories were all possible because of franzia! i just started reading your blog and i love it! hope your thursday gets better:).
Nice bloody leg, so hardcore! Hope your stomach troubles start easing up soon! It’s funny how some rocky starts can get your day off to such a bad tone. Glad you are embracing the positives to get back in the mood, felt tip pens and all.
I am thankful that some slight hip/glute/piriformis pain that cut my run short yesterday, seems to have subsided today! I am thankful I took the extra time to roll out the knots to keep healthy. And I am happy that despite a foggy/humid morning and not blowdrying my hair, I am having a pretty good hair day 🙂
Great post! I’m thankful for being able to complete a killer swim-run workout this morning. Love the outfit!
I am 90% certain we have the same bowls (with the light blue line on the edge).
Have you tried the Staedtler pens? They’re AMAZING and I think you would love them if you love inky pens!
Today, I’m thankful for …
* my bosses being out so I can sneak out early and go try my hand at the Book of Mormon lottery
* the fruit lady by my office serving up a delicious medley of papaya, mango, pineapples, and pears to me this morning
I am thankful for rest. I took my first real rest day.. in like over a month!
I love your outfit today!
Love the outfit today, and I’m more then fine with people wearing white before labor day!
Here’s what I’m thankful for right now!
http://counselormusings.blogspot.com/2011/05/thankfulness-project-monday_16.html
So nice to see you yesterday! Thanks so much for comin to hang out, and I’m so glad you liked the beer!
See you in a couple of weeks! 🙂
P.S. Nice bloody leg!
I love these posts and you are hilarious 🙂 Thinking of things, anythings, to be thankful for definitely help get me out of a funk. I am super thankful to be done with the Spring semester and have actual Free Time. It’s a foreign concept that I am loving embracing.
Hope your stomach troubles calm down and you have a great day!
I am thankful for your blogging! You lift my spirits every morning when I read your blog! I am also thankful for discovering rest days, I love to run, dont get me wrong.. but I also love a day of resting and not worrying about how fast, long, (sometimes painful) my run will be that day! Thank you for your blog, it is my all time favorite!
I love that FITiST quote! Hope your belly feels better soon. I’m thankful for busy days and work followed by leisurely nights at home.
A white skirt on a gross day! Only you can be so awesome. Your brussels sprouts look delicious. I don’t drink carbonated beverages either… my poor belly. I am so sorry you were feeling so crappy during your run. Do you think the beer could have contributed?