Really, Monday? You had to arrive so soon?
I won’t complain because this week is a 4-day work week for me. But I will complain a little bit because, really, I’d like a longer weekend all the time, please.
But this weekend was one of my all-time favorites.
- I ran 12 miles on Saturday. I then concluded that 12 miles has somehow become “no big deal” in the grand scheme of marathon training. Crazy.
- I spent the rest of my Saturday with my family! They swung through town on their way to Philadelphia and enjoyed just enough time in NYC to get pizza and frozen yogurt. Sunday involved a recovery run and a delicious brunch in Central Park.
Then Sunday involved Ali feeling very sleepy.
Blah blah blah, get more sleep, take more rest days, blah blah blah.
I know.
So after I got back from brunch yesterday I curled up on my couch with my computer. The plan was to “get stuff done” while watching the World Cup game (which, by the way, was awesome).
I was excited to watch the game because I knew the Run For The Rabbit commercials would be airing and I wanted to catch them live.
Again with the narcissism. At least I can admit it, right?
But the next thing I knew, I was sleeping.
I slept through most of the game. I slept through all the commercials.
Though I did wake up to a handful of texts and Tweets that made me happy!
Fun! Glad the rest of you were able to stay awake…
So then I woke up and I was pissed.
I felt like I had accomplished nothing all weekend. Even though I’d had a great time with friends, family and my sneakers, I didn’t feel like I had made much life progress in terms of getting stuff done.
And then my phone stopped working.
And then my computer froze.
And then I freaked the F out.
Stress got the best of me and I turned into Panicky Ali.
And then I got a Facebook message (because that’s how you communicate when technology fails you) from a nice person.
“I think you should go outside.”
Look what I found outside:
And then I was stressed no more.
Seriously. The chocolate cake cured me.
My incredibly thoughtful friend and I decided to make dinner last night. On the menu: steak (I did not help with this), sweet potato fries (I peeled and cut the potatoes) and spinach (I pushed stuff around in the pan but mostly did nothing else).
It was such a good meal! I really do want to get better at cooking. I’m a little afraid of cooking meat because I’m convinced I’ll manage to poison it or overcook it or somehow kill myself, but if someone else can take care of that part, I’ll gladly whip up some side dishes.
Of course dessert was amazing as well. I was sad to cut into the Ali Cake, but it was pretty dang good.
I’m pleased to report that I was in bed and asleep by 10:30 pm last night! And since Mondays are cross-training days, I was also able to sleep until 6 am. How impressive is that?
I feel rested and happy today!
Even though my outfit is lame and boring.
Frankly, when it’s 85 degrees before I’ve even left the house, the odds of me putting much effort into my appearance are non-existent.
Plus, I have a “black tie affair” to attend for work tonight, so I’ll try to redeem myself for that. Though admittedly my “party dress” is folded up and stuffed into the bottom of my gym bag right now. That should look good and presentable and not wrinkled at all by 8 pm.
To wrap this up, here’s a little health update:
I’m feeling good! Crohn’s Disease is sad right now because I kicked its butt this time around. Mwa ha ha. I’m off the steroids, which I’m very happy about. I was starting to see signs of “moon face” and I wasn’t liking it. I’m eager for my face to return to its normal size.
My mom came to NYC on Saturday bearing photos — of me, just before and after I was diagnosed.
So here I am at 7 years old, on that fateful trip when we first found out I had Crohn’s Disease:
I had dropped to 37 pounds.
Apparently being sick didn’t stop me from sticking out my tongue and ruining nice family photos. Sorry, cousins.
And then here I am weeks later, after being on Prednisone for a while:
Whoooooa face! Though I guess it’s good that I was feeling healthy enough to put on ridiculous outfits and massive amounts of sequins.
By the time school started, I had gained back the weight I’d lost…and I’m pretty sure I was carrying it all in my cheeks.
Don’t worry, Becky. I won’t eat you. Don’t be afraid of me.
So yeah. There’s a little history of my past with Steroid Face. Isn’t it lovely?
But the good news is that the steroids seem to have worked this time around. My stomach has felt totally fine over the past few weeks and I’m pumped to be getting into the heavy part of my marathon training with a happy, healthy body.
Now it’s time to get to work. This is about to be the busiest week ever with lots of work and lots of fun non-work plans including a concert on Wednesday night and a hip hop class with an old friend on Thursday.
AND YOU? What are you most looking forward to this week?
Have a great day!
0 Responses
So glad the steroids worked this time. Moon face is the worst…especially when you don’t even recognize yourself in the mirror anymore. Keep up the great work, you are going to rock the marathon girl! Stay healthy too and listen to your body first 🙂
tn
I can totally relate to Prednisone face. Right after I was diagnosed with all of my food allergies doctor’s put me on steroids to gain weight to get back to a normal weight and my face ballooned to big that my cheeks jiggled on wooden roller coasters!! Luckily that went away…
you are ADORABLE! omgosh so cute!!! happy almost tuesday!
Such cute pictures! You were adorable.
I kept missing your commercial yesterday. It must have come on each time I stepped away for a second because otherwise the world cup was on throughout!
This week I am most looking forward to finally meeting a blog-friend from out of town in person! So excited!
love the 80s shot. and the ali cake. and FAME AND FORTUNE. yep.
I am looking forward to my 2nd duathlon this weekend! I feel stronger overall and ready to rock this race 🙂 Keep up the great work and I am sure you will own the marathon in september!!
I just watched a bunch of the episodes, you are such a celebrity! 🙂
glad you’re feeling better! avoid stress! oh yeah, next time I see you, I’ll want your autograph!
I am so glad you’re feeling better! Hooray for Prednisone and DOUBLE HOORAY for being off it!
I’m looking forward to my first “official” marathon workouts this week (despite the crappy heat and humidity I’ll have to do them in).
LOVED seeing your commercial! I was like, Ahh I know her! Uhh, haha, sorta. But totally awesome commercial nonetheless. And totally badass to be a commercial on ESPN. Congrats!
Your outfits are totally not lame and boring! I love your pictures of them 🙂
Glad you are better! You will have such a great marathon 🙂
I just started reading your blog a few weeks ago but I definitely love it! Oh and I definitely know all to well about the moon face from Prednisone. I was diagnosed with MS just over two years ago in college and I was put on uber high doses of it and had a moon face for the longest time. Love your upbeat attitude on your blog!
That dress you are wearing on the picnic is adorable! I love it!
What a cute little cake! I’m always afraid to cook meat too, that’s why HB takes care of it haha!
I’m glad you’re feeling better and kicking chron’s butt!
I love your outfit from the picnic. So cute. Glad to hear you’re feeling better!
Yayyyy! Glad you’re feelin’ better. I am looking forward to my birthday on Thursday and going home for a week on Saturday!
What a fun weekend you had! I had a big family affair as well – and it makes time fly.
This will also be a pretty busy week at work, but short because I take off for a long weekend in Chicago for a girlfriend’s bachelorette party! I am so excited and contemplating where I can sneak a mini run in while I’m there.
Seeing your commercial made me so happy! Completely loved it. and love your dress/skirt as well – it looks very picnic-in-central-park appropriate. Can we run slash sweat our balls off this week together?
And, where can I get me a Kelly cake? That is beyong adorable 🙂
I love your dress in the first pic : )
And thats such a nice Ali cake from a special person : )
On another note, I think we need to plan another race meetup! Come up to Boston!
That cake is veeeeery thoughtful of this friend… And now I want chocolate cake for lunch. Awesome.
Have a great Monday! It’s super toasty here in DC too- I basically became a puddle walking to the subway this morning, and it was before 9 am!
How cute is that cake! If it’s a “he”, he is a keeper 🙂
Glad you had such a good weekend!!
Can your friend bring me a “Lauren” cake?? I’ve always wanted one of those! Sounds like a pretty good friend to have around, anyway…. 🙂
I’m glad you had a good weekend (love your skirt in the photo from the blogger picnic!) AND that you got extra rest yesterday. Obviously that’s exactly what you needed (so try not to stress, mmmkay??) Marathon training takes a lot out of you, and you are a girl that is always on the go…so there is nothing wrong with having a completely unproductive day once in awhile!
You were such a cute kid! 🙂 So glad to hear you’re feeling better. Any other races on the horizon before the big day?
Haha thanks. I clearly had awesome fashion sense. Limited Too for life.
My next race is the Battle of Brooklyn 10-miler at the end of August. It’s JackRabbit’s race! Then the Fitness 4-miler in September and then HAMPTONS MARATHON! Crazy!
UMBRO SHORTS!! Clearly those were what all the cool kids were wearing!!!
This week I am doing a 60 mile walk beginning on Friday for to benefit breast cancer in Boston.. so I am pretty excited for that. And summer school ends Wednesday so i am on vacation until August 24. Yeeehaw!
I think I missed one of your posts – the blogger brunch in the park looks like it was SO FUN!! Well, your whole weekend looked pretty awesome. And not gonna lie, the chocolate cake? Um, that would SO go with the rest of my iced coffee quite nicely. I must say. What am I looking forward to this week? Killing my next long run (10 miles) in preparation for the half. Just about a month left, ack!! 🙂
really loved your outfit in the first picture! you are so beautiful!! (:
I’m most looking forward to this weekend and seeing you!! Also, thank you so much for posting that picture of us in our matching outfits, that just made my day!! You were (still are) so cute and I look like a fool haha.
Sounds like an amazing end to the weekend… I’m looking forward to trying another post-work yoga class at a (new favorite) yoga studio!! They don’t come easy in Amsterdam.
Amazing how these classes can give you something to look forward to…
Cheers, have a great week! X
LOVE the Ali cake!! So sweet! Those Umbros are HUGE on you. I also enjoyed the Brine LaCrosse shorts. Remember how cool those were?
SO looking forward to a four-day work week with a work team happy hour on the side…should be a good one!
Totally love that you and your friend wore the same outfit to school — too cute!!
Moonface or not, you were an adorable kid! Glad you’re feeling better- that dinner looks like the perfect marathon training fuel. Iron, protein, veg, and chocolate – yay!
you can tell your friend that I also accept Emily Cakes or cupcakes…I’m not picky.
Glad that you’re kicking Crohn’s, like all other things in life, firmly in the buttocks.
loved the out, it wasn’t boring it was elegant like; happy to hear chocolate cake makes you happy too! 🙂
That’s so sweet of your friend to bring you the Ali cake! Super cute. Chocolate fixes everything.