Thankful Things Thursday: For The People Who Truly Get Me

Hello.

It’s a gorgeous fall day here in NYC and despite having no hot water in my apartment for roughly the 19th day in a row, I am managing to pull myself into a good mood.

In case you’re wondering if I survived a freezing-cold shower this morning (which you’re probably not, let’s be honest) the answer is no, I did not. I am unshowered and disheveled today. It’s a good look for me. Really.

Here is a photo of a puppy, for no reason other than I think it is cute. And kind of Albino-looking.

And with that, I present to you the latest edition of Thankful Things Thursday!

I’m thankful I slept. Yesterday was painful. After a decent amount of running, strength training and that brutal Figure 4 class on Tuesday night, my body was aching all day yesterday. I may have begged a coworker to get my stuff from the printer for me at one point to avoid getting up from my chair.

So yesterday was a bit of a wake-up call for me, thanks in part to many of your comments. I didn’t end up going to spinning last night and I didn’t wake up to run this morning (though, confession, I do have running plans this evening — more on that in a bit). It felt sinful and wonderful to stay in bed and snooze the alarm 9 or 10 times. Sleep is good. Rest is good. (And someday I will actually really believe that. I’m working on it.)

I’m thankful for hilarious TV shows that directly cater to my sense of humor. I cannot get enough of “Modern Family.” I started watching it from the beginning on DVD a few weeks ago, and I’m onto Season 2 now. I laugh nonstop at every single episode. It’s fantastic.

I’m thankful for pretty flowers.

I'm a sucker for bright colors.

It’s amazing what some flowers can do in an otherwise dark office. My office doesn’t get much sunlight because it’s right next to another giant building. So the flowers make up for the lack of natural light. I like them.

I’m thankful for the people in my life who really, truly get me, support me, encourage me and love me. One of the greatest things that came out of training for the Hamptons Marathon was a new group of friends and people I can really relate to.

This little lady loves sweat and SO DO I. Weird coincidence.

Last night, I spent the evening with a wonderful group of lady runners, trying on running clothes and geeking out about leg warmers (OK, maybe only I got excited about leg warmers) and the NYC running scene. And also puppies. At one point I made a comment that it was so much better than happy hour. I was completely content spending some time with like-minded people who I knew wouldn’t eventually say, “OK, please stop talking about your marathon now.”

Oh look, another marathon photo you've already seen.

Thanks, friends. I’m glad we get each other.

That is friendship right there.

And I’m glad you’re all into jazz hands, too.

I’m thankful Coach Cane hasn’t abandoned me. Since the race ended, I have emailed Coach Cane (and Mrs. Coach Cane) no fewer than 20 times. And they have both responded every time. I have begged Coach Cane to “please not forget about me” and I kind of think he wishes I would leave him alone, but I have no intention of doing that.

Yes, you've probably already seen this photo by now, too. But look! Coach Cane is in it! And so am I! So it's RELEVANT.

Earlier this week, Coach Cane gave me an open invitation to join his Thursday night City Coach running group “anytime.” Done. I know exactly what I am doing tonight: Joining Coach Cane and his race-winning runners and trying not to die. I cannot wait.

I’m thankful for teeny tiny apples. My favorite fall activity is apple picking, and my favorite place to do it is at Gould Hill Orchard in Hopkinton, NH. I’m really sad I’m not going to make it up there this fall. Going home in the fall is something I always try to do, but it’s just not going to happen this year.

I always go to the orchard with my mom and she takes it seriously and picks legitimate, baking-worthy apples off the trees, while I like to find the smallest, most ridiculous ones possible.

When I saw my family at the marathon, my mom came bearing one giant bag of gifts: the smallest apples she could find from Gould Hill Orchard.

My dad makes fun of me because I think anything that's small is automatically "cute." For example, this apple is very cute. But not all babies are cute. Sorry.

She’s the best. I’ve been eating an apple (or three) every day since the race and they taste just like home.

I’m thankful this horrid two-week stretch of madness is almost over. I thought last week was going to be the busiest work week ever, and then this week arrived. Since Race Day, which now feels so long ago, work has been chaotic and stressful. I’m so happy the weekend is almost here and then things just may calm down for a minute or two.

I’m thankful for moccasins. They are excellent commuting shoes. Very comfortable, kind of warm, and I feel a little bit like Pocahontas when I wear them. I also feel like Pocahontas whenever I sing “Colors of the Wind,” which is more often than you might think.

I’m thankful for fuzzy blankets. At the end of a long day, few things are better than a hot shower (not that I remember what that is like), cozy pajamas and a warm blanket. And also Oreos. Yes, Oreos were a major component of my dinner again last night, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

I’m thankful for my health. My stomach has been sucking a bit lately, but I know that I am still incredibly lucky. Things could be much, much worse.

I’m thankful it’s almost ski season. Do I prefer winter? No way. Am I rushing fall? Definitely not. But do I love skiing and, more importantly, the apres ski hot chocolate? Oh Hell yeah.

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN: What are you thankful for today? Did you also have Oreos for dinner? Did you have a hot shower this morning? Is the sun out where you are? All great things, I think. Go ahead. Show your appreciation.

Ali

Ali

0 Responses

  1. I’m thankful for my family. I am also thankful for my health. I get so frustrated that my body can not keep up with all of the running I want to do. I have a nagging inner thing pain on my right leg and am paranoid that if I run through it too much, I will get injured. I am in awe of how your body manages to keep up with the exercise!

  2. I am thankful for Barbara of Barbara’s cereals – I have no less than 4 different boxes of her cereals. What the EFF is she putting in those puffins?

    Jan does not like to hear your stomach is being a bitch. Jan is upset.

  3. I’m thankful that I somehow didn’t get rained on today, even though there were torrential downpours both before and after I left the house.

    I’m thankful that my husband is willing to lend me his Nike+ sensor after mine suddenly stopped working, even though it will screw up his calibration. (I’m thankful I’m married to a fellow running nerd.)

    I’m thankful for my upcoming long weekend with good friends!

  4. Happy Thursday! I am thankful I was able to run 3.5 pain free miles today, for sheezy. And for ART, which I am thinking is a Godsend for IT bands. I’m also extra thankful for my health this week 🙂 And the fact that the sun is shining and it’s a lovely day in NYC. I miss you! If all is going well, let’s run next week?

  5. i am thankful that i went running yesterday so i could sleep in today! I am thankful for my cute little babysittee and her cute little cousins. I am thankful for this indian summer!!

  6. Today I am thankful for getting up super early to go for a run instead of sleeping in way late! And I am also thankful for the two hour nap I just woke up from! 😉
    I would also like to add fuzzy blankets to my thankful list, although it isn’t quite cool enough to use them yet. I am looking forward to the cooler weather, but not quite winter. I have never been skiing though, so maybe if I had it’d be a different story!
    Oh, and I’m also thankful for coffee…who isn’t?

  7. I’m thankful I have a new job that I both enjoy and am paid enough to make it worth my while.

    I did not have Oreos for dinner, but I did just have a chocolate toffee cookie with lunch.

    I did have a hot shower this morning. It was lovely.

    The sun is out, yes. The weather is absolutely perfect in SC right now.

    I’m also thankful for coffee. Always.

  8. I am thankful for pumpkin coffee.
    I am thankful for pumpkin beer.
    I am thankful for candy corn.
    I am thankful for apples for local orchards.

    I guess I am really just thankful for being able to eat/drink my way through fall.

  9. I am thankful that I cleverly decided to take my optional day off on Yom Kippur (aka tomorrow!) instead of Good Friday in April. And even more thankful for a wonderful boyfriend who took off tomorrow so we could spend the day together. 🙂 It’s beautiful in Philly, so I’m guessing NYC is equally as beautiful. Enjoy your Thursday!

  10. I am thankful for my four day weekend that starts after work today.
    I am thankful I can run marathons and am running one this weekend.
    I am thankful that when my work cafeteria was out of sesame seed and everything bagels the nice guy working there went to the back to find me one. When they didn’t have any he gave me two mini sesame bagels for the price of 1 and clearly 2bagels>1bagel 🙂

  11. I had Pirate’s Booty for dinner. But now I’m craving Oreos. Dang it!

    I am thankful for my awesome run last night, I’m thankful that my dog didn’t pee on the floor while we are asleep, I’m thankful the week is almost over, and I’m thankful its sweater weather!

  12. I am thankful that I had to wear my amazing new LONG SLEEVE reflective brooks shirt on my 5am run…. FALL has arrived!!

    I am also thankful for people that make me smile. Nonstop. In a giddy sort of way. Just saying.

    Also, Pancake sort of looked like that puppy when he was born except not as Albino. and Finally, I am happy when people do not refer to him as a lab. I love labs, but he is a golden retriever. Please do not give him a false sense of identity.

  13. I think its amazing you have gone 19 days without hot water. We didin’t have it for one day after Hurricane Irene and I hated it. I hope Brian is sharing his hot water with you!

    I am thankful for life in general! I am very thankful I have food.. we went to a charity benefit last night for a Food Bank.. and it is stunning and sad how many people are going hungry right now 🙁

  14. I’m thankful for leftovers from dinner last night that will equate to lunch today. 😉
    I’m thankful for the community of bloggers that still think of me when I’m not posting actively.
    I’m thankful that I have zero plans this weekend. Thank goodness. I’m hopeful to catch up in sleep!

  15. I am thankful that we’re going to have dry weather for the next 10 days or so. I had some Oreo type cookies (the Wholefoods cookies that have a chocolate cookie on one side and a vanilla cookie on the other with the same creamy filling inside) after my dinner yesterday. They’re not as good as Oreos, but they do the job.
    I have not worn leg warmers since I was a kid, but your posts make me want to wear them again. Would it be a little overkill to wear compression socks and legwarmers? Since I knit, I feel like I should knit a pair of leg warmers, but I may just get lazy and buy them. I saw a woman leaving the train station this morning with leg warmers on. 🙂

  16. I’m thankful that two of my classes were cancelled today!
    I’m thankful that my foot is healing so that I can start running again next week
    I’m thankful that my parents are supporting my parents of moving to New York this summer
    I’m thankful that I have friends who stick with me!

  17. I’m thankful to be visiting my first ever apple orchard this weekend… possibly even two! One in Wisconsin (where I will be visiting my adorable nephew – which I am also thankful for) and one in Michigan (where I will be visiting my parents!). I’m also thankful the weather will be amazing for the Chicago marathoners this weekend, even though I’m not one of them (sad/jealous face). It will make spectating such much better without rain! Oh and lastly, I’m thankful for Christopher Columbus, without him, I would not be able to enjoy a 3 day weekend and apple orchards in multiple states in one weekend!

  18. I’m thankful for the musical theatre class I volunteer at on Thursdays…junior high and high school kids. It’s always cool to see the shy ones gain confidence and watch everyone bond and excel as the year progresses. I’m also thankful for walnuts and bananas in oatmeal (second breakfast). 😀

  19. I am thankful for morning runs. Makes the day go much smoother.
    I am thankful for sunshine.
    I am thankful to get the chance to multi-task a bit & read ur blog in the morning w/ my coffee! 🙂

  20. I’m thankful for running inspiration from “stangers,” (or blogger friends, whatever name you prefer). I’m thankful for my husband, who loves me even though I can’t seem to get a job. I’m thankful for my husband’s job so we can keep living in our little apartment. And I’m thankful for new and better recipes to try after my previous failure with the ice cream bread.
    http://thenewlywedwife.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/ice-cream-bread-my-first-flop/

  21. I am thankful for your blog it makes me smile and laugh out loud.
    I am thankful for running it keeps me balanced.
    I am thankful for my kids they are awesome.
    Your mother sounds like a great Mom!

  22. I am thankful for sunshine.
    I am thankful for chocolate covered raisins.
    I am thankful for getting more than 8 hours of sleep last night.
    I am thankful that I can go out and run today!

  23. I am thankful for having the possibility to run off-road with my boyfriend after work today.
    I am thankful that it is almost Friday. Can’t wait to sleep in!
    I am thankful that this workday almost is over (only 30min left)
    I am thankful for the extra delicious meal my boyfriend is going to cook tonight.
    I am thankful for the ability to run

    So I think that’s all I am thankful for (at the moment)

    P.s.: Really love your Blog!

  24. I am thankful for the fact that it is finally sunny and chilly-but-not-too-cold and NOT raining! Fall is my favorite season in the whole world. Also thankful that even though I had an annoying day at work yesterday, it was nothing a trip to the running store & ordering in pizza couldn’t heal. If solving every problem was that easy, I certainly wouldn’t complain.

  25. Happy Thursday. 1. Totally agree not all babies are cute 2. I’m really sad you brought up Colors of the Wind…I’m such a horrible friend and will spend the rest of my life making up for abandoning you 🙁

    I’m thankful this weekend John and I are taking a little weekend trip to Asheville and getting hot stone massages!

  26. I love you, but I have to say this… taking a morning off is not rest. You need at least a full day or two. Please take care of yourself.

    I am thankful for the ability to run 20 miles and feel great after.
    I am thankful for veggie burgers at Houston’s.
    I am thankful for cookies.
    I am thankful for really sweet people.

    1. Wow, it just took me about 10 minutes to find the comment reply box.

      I was going to be thankful for caffeine for allowing me to function after a night of very little sleep, but scratch that one.

      I am thankful that you are still my friend even after learning that I don’t own leg warmers.

  27. I did have oreos for dinner! They were baked inside of brownies with peanut butter. Peanut butter = protein, cookie = carbs, filling = dairy. So, according to my math, that was a TOTALLY balanced meal 🙂

    I am thankful for my family. I got to spend last weekend with my entire extended family and it was wonderful and much needed. We celebrated my grandpa’s 85th birthday and his and my grandma’s 60th wedding anniversary. To be able to celebrate such milestones was such a privilege, and I am incredibly lucky. There were many many happy tears at the party.

    I am also thankful for the miracle gel eyeliner that apparently withstands EVERYTHING (ie: above’s rush of emotions) yay for not having makeup all down my face!

      1. I Can’t take credit for the idea, i just followed the recipe, which I got @ picky-palate.com the source of the awesomeness. I’ve now tried a few, all of them have been great. enjoy! 🙂

  28. I am thankful that this weekend it is going to hit 80 degrees, but also a little sad at the same time because that will probably be the last of the warm weather for awhile. I’m thankful that my husband and I will run tonight after not being able to yesterday, I’m missing the longer daylight hours. I’m also thankful that it is Thursday which brings us one day closer to the weekend!

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about ali

I’m the creator of the Ali on the Run blog and the host of the Ali on the Run Show podcast. I’m also a freelance writer and editor, a race announcer, a runner and marathoner, a mom, and a huge fan of Peanut M&Ms, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (way better than the first one!), and reliving my glory days as a competition dancer in the early 2000s. I’m really happy you’re here.
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