My Trick For Snapping Out Of An Injury-Induced Funk (Plus A Giveaway!)

We’ll get to the giveaway part in a minute. Here’s a hint: It’s food.

Who wants a tasty treat? How about a whole BOX of tasty treats?!

But first I’m going to tell you some stories about how I did not get taken off the injured list overnight.

I hate waking up and hitting Snooze.

When I could run, I never used the fancy little Snooze function on my alarm.

Why sleep more when I can lace up my Brooks and run in Central Park?!

But now that I’m sidelined, I’ve been smacking my alarm clock every single day — not normal behavior for a self-proclaimed morning lover.

Eventually I’ll get up and do some core work or an On Demand fitness video. Today it was Ultimate Abs, which I’d like to rename 16 Minutes of Ultimate Boring. Was my core quivering by the end? Yes. Was I drenched in happy sweat with a 10-mile tally to start my day? No.

I’m tired of writing about being injured and how much I think it sucks. (My guess is you’re tired of reading about it, too.) I miss writing really giddy, excited posts wherein I analyze my splits and post pictures of the sunrise from the Reservoir.

These past few days have been crazy, and until today I almost forgot about the fact that my entire left side feels broken. I’ve gone back and forth to Rhode Island twice — once on a very plush Amtrak train for a wake and another time in a much more convenient car for a funeral. It’s been an emotional week for sure, and running hasn’t been the first thing on my mind.

I haven’t slept a whole lot — the train got into NYC one night close to 3 AM, and when we drove to Rhode Island we were up at 3:30 AM to hit the road — and at some point this week I managed to make my April dish (I cook exactly one time each month), which was a Chicken and Broccoli Rice Bowl and it was good.

Topped with toasted almonds, that I toasted myself. I'M READY FOR IRON CHEF. And food blogging. Duh.

I know it was good because it had melty cheese in it, and Brian ate the whole thing. I did, too, but I always clean my plate. Or bowl.

Today, though, I woke up and was going to go to spinning. I wasn’t feeling it, so I snoozed.

An hour later, I got up to stretch, foam roll, ice and attempt to get six-pack abs. The fact that I chased my workout with a massive bowl of chocolate-covered oatmeal probably didn’t help my washboard ab goal, but it was tasty.

As I showered and got ready for work, I started to slip back into my semi-depressed state. I let my hair dry while I scrolled through my Twitter feed and read about everyone’s amazing, incredible, SO FAST AND PERFECT morning runs. That was fun for me. I’m psyched for you guys. And then I tried to get dressed and realized that my beloved Frye boots have gone missing. My beautiful, finally broken in, post-marathon reward, I’m-buying-these-even-though-I-can’t-afford-them boots. They are nowhere to be found, and I wanted to wear them today.

Rage!!!!!!!!!!

Not being able to find my dang boots pushed me right over the edge this morning. Lauren can explain the feelings more eloquently and less whiny than I can, so read her post. Or read Aron’s, which is also significantly less bitchy and complainy than mine.

I miss my morning routine. I miss rushing around to get to work because I decided to tack on two extra miles in the park. I miss my Garmin tan. I miss my running friends and I miss Engineers’ Gate. I even miss the tennis court bathrooms.

I’m trying to stay positive. I really am. I know this pain isn’t going to stick around forever, and I’m refusing to run until I feel absolutely ready. And most times, especially because I’m keeping so excitingly busy, I’m doing OK with the injury thing. I hate to say it, but it kind of helps that a lot of my friends seem to be injured right now, too. I don’t want them to be! I want them to be feeling amazingly well and fast. But having people I can commiserate with and compare X-ray and ART notes with has been really helpful for me.

Plus, there’s still so much I can do, like cross train! I love spinning and strength training, and though they’re nothing compared to running, they’re still things I’m able to do.

Last night, in fact, I got back to the city and got to chat with and take a class with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.

Here I am post-workout with Harley. I hugged him even though I was really really sweaty. Also I'm breaking out. That's lovely.

I thought he’d be all crazy and intimidating and would scream at me a lot, but he was super cool and I loved the workout. I’m sore today, so that’s good.

The workout was fun, and I left feeling like my normal self.

Now I’m done talking about injury. Just like that. Officially snapping out of it…for now at least.

One trick I’ve been using on myself is to give myself a period of time during which I can be sad, frustrated or angry. I can cry a little, and I can pout — but only for a few minutes. For some reason I seem to get saddest on the subway. I guess that’s where I do my most personal thinking, when I’m wedged in a subway car in between the angry businessman, the lady eating a McGriddle Something for breakfast and the homeless guy convincing me he needs my money, even though all I have on me is a debit card.

So I get one song.

If I feel sad, I let myself feel sad for the rest of whatever song is playing on my iPod at that time. When the song ends, I have to think happy, positive things and get over it. What’s the use in being pissy for longer than four minutes? Nothing. It’s a waste of my time and energy.

And so I move forward, and even if my smile is forced, it’s still a smile.

Another trick: Make someone else feel good! Putting a smile on someone else’s face inevitably puts a goofy grin on my own.

So how about a giveaway?

This is my refrigerator. Yours could look like this, too.

I will never give away a product I don’t genuinely love, and my latest obsession (how late am I on this one?) is Greek yogurt. Chobani, specifically. I changed up my diet a little since my last Crohn’s flare-up. Whatever I was doing wasn’t working, so I wanted to tweak a few things.

That meant no more Entenmann’s Deliciousness for breakfast every single day. Sad and tragic, I know. But I wanted to test some things out, and starting my day with a bar of chocolate and sugar maybe didn’t seem like the smartest idea.

I always hated yogurt because I thought the texture was gross. Turns out, if you dump a bunch of granola in the yogurt, you have a crunchy snack that is filling and good.

No one is paying me to say this. I wish they were. I just actually like Chobani — blueberry and strawberry are my favorites, and I’m a sucker for the new little kid kind with chocolate in it — so I thought I’d hook you up and let you enjoy it as well. (Also, I’m a Featured Blogger today on Chobani’s site, which makes me feel cool. I may have a broken leg filled with cholera, but I can still eat yogurt!)

Giveaway alert!

Want some Chobani? Like a whole box of it? OK. Let’s do that.

TO ENTER: You know I’m not going to make this difficult for you. No Twitter following, Facebook Liking or “Go to this website and pick a product and OMG tell me which one you want” stuff. That’s difficult. Winning yogurt should be easy. So, just leave a comment here with one happy thought. The happy thought can be “I’m getting a puppy tomorrow” or it can be “I like yogurt.” Simple. Good luck!

Oh and by the way, when my leg feels better and I’m back to running, shit’s going to get crazy on this blog. Get ready for an overload of exclamation points, sunrise photos and ALL CAPS DECLARATIONS OF MY LOVE FOR THE BRIDLE PATH.

(Also, I just want to point out that I was cranky when I started writing this post and now, for some reason, I’m in a significantly better mood. This crap is therapeutic, I swear.)

Ali

Ali

346 Responses

  1. I am working on getting rid of unused items in our household to take to the local People’s City Mission. Whenever I am trying to decide “keep or give away” it is so much easier to decide to give it away when I know someone who really needs it will get it for free! That’s a good feeling!

  2. I love Chobani!!! LOOOOOOVE it!! I’m happy that today is Thursday, which means tomorrow is Friday!!

  3. I love love love Chobani!! Eat it almost every day! My fun comment is the my father in law breeds beagles and when visiting last weekend I got to see my first litter of puppies! The beagle pups were only 2.5 weeks old and had just opened there eyes. They made little “peeping” noises when we held them!

  4. Happy thought –

    I’m moving next week to a grown up house with a garage and yard and pool and swingset for my 4 year old! No more double parking in front of our city house while I lug the groceries inside! No more circling the block for 30 minutes looking for parking!

  5. I love, love Chobani yogurt- Champion ones & all. I eat a Chobani daily & buy it by the cases at BJ’s. Would love to win this giveaway!! 🙂

  6. I’m happy that instead of traveling for work I get to spend the weekend with my family!

    Chobani peach is so yum!

  7. I’m happy because I get to see my parents on Saturday! I haven’t seen them since the beginning of March and its their anniversary!

  8. Sorry about your injury. On those mornings when you wish you were taking pics of the sunrise, can you just go for a walk instead of a run? Walking is still good exercise and you’ll still be outside and everything…
    I would love to win the yogurt, Greek yogurt is amazing! Not sure if you can ship to France though…

  9. I am challenging myself to work out every single day this week just to see if I can do it! I’m happy-sore all the time and it’s great!

  10. Now I’m sad that I’m NOT getting a puppy tomorrow. But I am happy that I’m volunteering at a marathon on Sunday! I’ve never done that before.

  11. I eat at least one Chobani every day..it’s an addiction.

    happy thought: It is raining right now, but the nice light splashes of drops into puddles outside my window will lull me to sleep!

  12. Positive thought of the day: All super awesome cool runners become injured. Thus making you apart of the super awesome cool runner club. Welcome!

  13. I love yogurt! But also, I love your blog. I’ve just started getting into running, and I’ve loved reading about your running story.

  14. Hope you are back running soon. I started seeing a life coach today and it felt so good to talk about the things that bother me. I’m working on getting my happy self back 🙂

  15. There are 13 baby ducklings that live right outside of my office building. They are glorious and make me smile every time I walk past.

  16. Your post made me happy! 4 months of no running because of a broken left side (ran myself into 2 hip stress fractures) and I’m still not running. Pool running and ellipticals just don’t cut it compared to the bridle path. Thanks for reminding me that I’m not alone and that I will run again when I’m ready!

  17. Happy thought – I just remembered there’s an ice cream sandwich in my freezer with my name on it!

  18. First, I love greek yogurt! I think it is fabulous! Second, I am glad you get to at least do some cross training, and I hope you get all the way better soon!! Finally, I am so thankful (even though it’s not Thursday) that I have been able to get in some really nice runs over the past couple of weeks, as I wasn’t able to the previous couple of weeks!! Big smiles!!

  19. I’m happy about running my first half marathon this coming weekend – The Flying Pig, oh, and Chobani is AWESOME! Hope you’re back to running soon!

  20. We don’t have Chobani yogurt in Canada 🙁 I think I need to drive across the border to get some. I’m surprised you can eat almonds though with your Crohn’s, nuts kill me and I haven’t even been diagnosed yet (pending Crohn’s diagnoses = stressful times)

  21. Happy thoughts for the day: 1) I signed up for a half iron distance tri today, 2) in just a few short weeks I’ll have my very own I <3 SWEAT tee AND 3) there's a chance that these happy things will lead to a case of Chobani!! SO much happy!!

  22. for the love of zack morris, please choose me! you will be rewarded with puppy kisses (not from me…or my puppy…because i don’t actually OWN a puppy…but somewhere, there is a puppy waiting to deliver kisses to you).

  23. I really hope that you get better soon so we can hear more of your running journey in NYC! Happy Thoughts – I love running Bridle Path more and more every day thanks to discovering it through your blog! Thank you!

  24. When I’m unhappy (like when I’m studying for finals) I like to wear a neon colored sports bra (today it’s bright pink) so that every time I remember I’m wearing it, I get a little happier inside.

    A little weird? Maybe. Happy thought? Absolutely. 🙂

  25. I am sending you lots of positive vibes to get better and back to running soon 🙂 Good luck!!

  26. I’m running my first half on Saturday – thats VERY happy thoughts for me. Never had Chobani before but I do dump granola into normal yogurt for a more filling snack.

  27. I love that as a New Yorker I can see and do amazing things. Even if you’re too injured to run, there is rarely ever a reason to have a bad day in this amazing city!

  28. I’m excited for my sweat shirt!!! I also got my sister a matching one since we like to match when we do the same race/run together.

  29. I’ve injured my knee and can’t run either! But my happy thought: I’m using the energy I could spend running to tone up my core, get buff arms, and focus on my eating habits!

  30. My happy thought – I’M COMING TO NYC TOMORROW!! (caps were absolutely necessary).

    It’s my first time and while I’ll only be there overnight I’m sure I can find my way to 16 Handles!

  31. It’s festival season in New Orleans! (Yes, we have a whole SEASON of festivals. Yes, it is awesome.)

  32. Happy Thought: 4pm at work and a coworker brought me a piece of dark chocolate. Best pickmeup ever!

  33. Things that are happy: It’s may! One month left till the best season of the year!
    Also, yogurt is the best. I love Chobani!

  34. Happy thought- just got off the phone with my sister, she lives on the other side of the country! So nice to hear her voice. Oh and I’m totally in love with greek yogurt, so yummy!

  35. My birthday was yesterday and I got to celebrate with my closest friends. It doesn’t get much happier than this 🙂

  36. I went back to the gym after 6 months, had a great spin workout. I ate a Blueberry Chobani before class for a boost.

  37. Happy thought of the day: Finally seeing my best friends for the first time in months this Friday for our annual cinco de mayo celebration! Sunny thoughts make this cloudy day just fine 🙂

  38. I love the mango chobani!!
    I’m happy my son hit a homerun last night!!! Just wish I would have been there to see it.. my daughter had dance.

  39. Great friends and family, a roof over my head, and Chobani in the fridge — does it get any better?

  40. I eat no less then 3 chobani a day. They are filling and good for you. I am on a weight loss journey and chobani has helped me!

  41. Holy crap! 238 comments. People must really love you and Chobani! 🙂
    Crying on the subway — it’s the best. People always look so concerned. That’s when you know there’s still some humanity left. I feel weird though when I’m crying (bawling) because of the book I’m reading.
    Happy thought: you can still drench an I <3 SWEAT shirt by cross training! Sweaty clothes are gross, but at the same time so rewarding.
    Also puppies are wonderful. How can anyone look at puppies or photos of puppies and feel sad. You should save some of theh puppy photos on your phone and when you need a pick me up pull it out and browse through them.

  42. I love how you capitalize each word in the title of blog posts. When I started blogging, I guessed and the look of title really bothered me if some words weren’t capitalized. I’m glad you could decide that debate for me- capitalizing is okay. Cool.

    Also, I’ve never had Chobani yogurt. I’ll have to try some considering it’s so good.

  43. I love Chobani cherry yogurt and my happy thought is I get to go to visit my family tomorrow – haven’t seen them in a few months/

  44. Happy thought? I got in on the I <3 Sweat shirt ordering yesterday PLUS I had an awesome workout this morning. Many more happy thoughts – I will be an aunt again soon (probably in the next couple weeks), I'm going to visit NYC next weekend and I hopefully will get to run the bridle path…

  45. Happy thought of the day daughter (8) told me yesterday she can’t wait to be old enough to run a half-marathon with me!!!! Beaming proud (and SUPER EXCITED) mommy right here! You have to try the Apple Cinnamon Chobani – heaven. I <3 all the flavors though!

  46. only one more exam until im done with my second year of law school!! and also, chobani is delicious 🙂

  47. My happy thought of the day is that I’m having a chobani vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries on top for my afternoon snack!

  48. I don’t have any plans tonight and I can’t wait to go home and put my PJs on. So excited for a night off!

  49. I hate it when I decide to actually SPEND money and can’t find ANYTHING on that shopping trip!! So, I feel your pain!! 🙂

    my happy thought:
    I AM OFFICIALLY DONE WITH STUDENT TEACHING AND I AM GRADUATING ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    WHOOOOOP WHOOOOOP!!!

    🙂

  50. Happy thought: I leave for an Ireland vacation on Friday!

    Random other (probably not happy) comment: As a fellow runner who is also currently injured (and hoping to God I find out what it is tomorrow, it feels like someone is trying to tear my femur out), I’ve really enjoyed/sympathized with your injured posts. However, I’ve been scared to work out since I don’t know the injury (and surely don’t want to make it worse), but it’s motivating to see that even though you can’t run, you are making it work with videos and spin class. I hope to join you in the world cross-training soon! And I hope your injury clears up quickly 🙂

  51. One time someone stole my Chobani out of the fridge at work so I yelled out across my office trying to find the perpetrator (in an office of 100+ it proved to be futile). I tweeted @Chobani and they said they’d send me some coups, but alas, I am still waiting… would love an influx of Cho from you Ali. Thanks!

  52. THAT’S WHERE THE BATHROOMS ARE?! I figured they had to be somewhere around the Res; sooo many people ask me and I helplessly tell them where the water fountains are instead (probably making their problem worse!).

    Oh and, I don’t need any yogurt, I just wanted to drop you a line. Get better soon!

  53. Happy thought: I just signed-up for my first 10-miler and realized that the date of the race is my one-year anniversary of starting to run! What a difference a year makes!

  54. I finished Couch to 10K Week 2 Day 2 today in the hot 90 degree Alabama sun in the middle of the day! It was a bit slower, but I am really starting to get this running thing. 🙂 That is my happy note.

  55. Happy thought – I am running my FIRST 20K on Saturday, my longest distance to date, and I am not freaking out! I also love greek yogurt 🙂

  56. My happy thought: my sewer does not need $10K worth of repairs. Your happy thought: you don’t have to worry about sewers because you rent.

  57. If you freeze greek yogurt like Chobani for about an hour or so, it is kind of like ice cream (or at least frozen yogurt)!

  58. Happy thought-I brought a really tasty salad to work today and I successfully got up early and had a great Pure Barre class today!

  59. I pick up my first ‘real’ bike tomorrow, you know, the super fast kind (cross-training here I come!).

  60. After 6pm tomorrow evening, I will officially be finished with my 3rd semester of my MBA program. YES! 🙂

  61. Happy thought – checking the mail for wedding responses is my favorite thing to do these days. AND I just started eating Chobani (truly, as in this week) and it’s delicious!

  62. I don’t have to travel for work this week for the first time in AGES! Which means quality time in my apt, the gym and living on a normal schedule (for at least 7 days). And that makes me ecstatic!!

  63. Happy thought — I don’t have to cook dinner tonight, yay! 🙂 Our family can’t get enough Greek yogurt… I’m not sure who loves it more, my husband or my 19-month old daughter!

  64. I started a fantastic new job this week! And I am currently sitting at my (new!) desk eating Chobani for lunch… yum. I agree with you on adding a little crunch — I’m allergic to most kinds of granola, but I usually stir in some kind of dry cereal (bran flakes, chex, etc.)

  65. I have a month old kitten at home named BooBoo that likes to chase my feet and it makes me laugh

  66. My happy thought = my husband is back from deployment. and even though we currently live 8,000 miles apart from each other ( he lives in guam) we get to talk to each other on a fairly regular basis right now. Yippee!!

    oh. p.s i was late on the chobani bandwagon too. now I’m addicted.

    p.p.s we have the same name .. wheee 🙂

  67. My toddler love this stuff!! He might be covered head to toe in yogurt when he is finished, but he loves it!

  68. Happy Thought: I get remicade on Friday!! Happiness all around! Also, that means I get to eat more things that I love, including GREEK YOGURT. Get in my bellayyyyy.

  69. Ali, I love how your blog always makes me smile. I hope all these happy thoughts do the same for you. Here’s mine:

    I love that feeling that I get every May, where it’s starting to feel like summer, but we still have the entire season ahead of us. It’s the exciting start of months of fun. I love May.

  70. A happy, smiling baby photograph (of my nephew) is staring back at me from its frame on my desk. Makes my heart happy every time I see it!

  71. I ate greek yogurt for breakfast this morning! It’s amazing. Happy thoughts = running my first 26.2 this weekend!!!

  72. I love that you came to the workout yesterday and I got to see your pretty face! Harley was awesome, that’s for sure.

    And I really like Chobani. Try the apple cinnamon if you haven’t yet. YUM.

  73. Happy thought – I saw that you got to take a class w/ Harley last night…. well I got to take a class w/ Jackie Warner last night thx to Fitness Magazine and that’s my happy thought for today 🙂 Great workout w/ an awesome trainer!

  74. I only have two weeks left until I’m done with school!! I can finally say, “summer’s almost here!” and be telling the truth!! 😀

  75. Happy Thought – I have Choboni in my work fridge for an afternoon snack! But now I want to try this new little kid kind!

  76. Happy thought – Flywheel studio just opened down the street from me and in 6 hours I will be attending my first class there!

  77. I have been sidelined too- stupid hip flexor and IT band and piriformis. BUT super happy because I finally got to order one of your shirts!!!!!!!!!

  78. I plan to go for a quick run at lunch and will NOT let other things get in the way! I love the positive attitude and know that I make the choice to be happy. Thanks Ali!

  79. OMG! I hated yogurt since I was 5 and my mom made me eat it when I had diarrhea that wouldn’t go away!! I just tried the Chobani Champions chocolate vanilla kind, and it was awesome! Love it!!

  80. Cinco de Mayo is on a Saturday this year, which means margaritas ALL DAY! I love Chobani with slivered almonds mixed in.

  81. Happy thought – the deliciousness that I’ll be assembling for dinner. Nacho toppings in a bowl, with plain chobani and hot sauce dumped on top. YUM.

  82. Happy Thought: my husband is planning something for me for Mother’s Day – he told me this morning to “keep the day open”!! YAY!

  83. Happy thought: Last year I could barely run three miles, and last Saturday I ran 15… That is the furthest I have ever gone!!

  84. I started reading Ali on the Run when I heard about you through Team Challenge friends a few weeks ago. Everyday I sit in my office at work and literally LOL (Who says LOL anymore? Well, apparently I do.) through your posts. So, happy thought for today, besides Peach Chobani, is already raising $3,107 for CCFA and exactly 1 month until my first half!

  85. Love the be sad for a song then think of something happy! My HAPPY thought is that I went to Spinning on monday night and loved it!! It was dark, there was flashing UV lights, the music was pumping and someone was shouting at me to sweat, move my legs faster and keep going… loved it. Didn’t love the unidentified white fluff all over my black top though!

  86. My happy thought… I get to sleep in tomorrow… (no running because I’m resting for my half marathon on Saturday…)

    Also I am currently obsessed with Chobani as well… I really like the Blood Orange flavor…

  87. My twin sister is coming home today from Atlanta and we are running the Indianapolis mini marathon this Saturday! 🙂

  88. Sigh. I’m injured too right now ( torn muscle in my right hip….PT for a month and no standing up cardio f any kind,including spinning, for the next two weeks) . I’ve been extremely grumpy but in a strange way, I’m glad yore injured too because now I feel like you’re giving me pep talks about not letting it get to me 🙂

  89. I get to go home to Indianapolis this weekend and run a half-marathon with 35,000 of my closest friends! Reading your blog helped keep me motivated to train, so THANK YOU for that! I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you to have a speedy recovery!

  90. Happy Thought I just got the keys to my new apartment and am SO EXCITED to move!!! (ok maybe not the “moving heavy objects” part but the new place part most definitely!)

  91. Finally made my Garmin work for me rather than against me. Can’t wait to continue runs with negative splits!

  92. I love your approach to finding “happy” while you can’t run. Go you 😉

    Happy thought ‘o the day? My race is coming up on Sunday and I am NOT stressing it. Just gonna run along and see how it goes. good plan,right?

  93. Throwing a surprise B-day for my BFF tonight! Love making the people I care about happy 🙂
    and I really really like chobani blueberry!

  94. I get to move to Washington DC in a month for a work rotation! Considering how unhappy I have been here for a while, no news is better than this 🙂

  95. My happy thought contribution is that tonight is my “happy night” at the gym – favorite yoga class, killer abs, and back-to-back tabata classes with the best instructor ever. LOVE Wednesdays. (And Chobani. And Ali on the Run!)

  96. Don’t you love when you write a post and your mood changes by the end of it? that’s the best! My happy thought for today: date night in with M. Our midweek ritual that makes the world go round <3

  97. I have a happy puppy who will lick my face at 4:30am to make sure I get out of bed to go running. Best alarm clock ever.

  98. I’m running my first 1/2 marathon on Saturday and I’m so giddy with excitement. Also, I brought two (2) Chobanis for work snacks today 🙂

  99. I hope the Chobani will help you through your injury! My happy thought is I just ordered new running shorts and a top. I got a little online shopping crazy the past few days..oops.

  100. My happy thought is that I have a phone interview later today!!! And I am happy that I’m eating Chobani as I’m trying to win more : )

  101. the semester is coming to a close, summer is only a week away! cant wait for beaches and sunshine 🙂

  102. I am really excited to run in my new Saucony Kinvara shoes for two totally ridiculous reasons: 1. they are hot pink and 2. they are named after a small town in Ireland and I’m super Irish and love all things related to the country

  103. I am flying to NC this weekend to see my grandparents and Baby Elliot is coming too! I’m so pumped for the grand P’s to meet that adorable little guy! Oh and I just scarfed down my morning breakfast, which is blood orange Chobani topped with fresh raspberries. The best!

  104. yesterday was a great day – I made a new friend! (No seriously, it was & I did.)

    And also seriously, Ali, hope things turn around for ya soon. It’s rough. It’s OK to be frustrated.

  105. Great giveaway! Chobani is my favorite. too! I’m looking forward to a cinco de mayo party on Saturday, and my puppy is invited too. He gets to meet his future girlfriend!

  106. If you put chocolate chips and peanut butterr into that plain yogurts its the most amazing thing ever. Seriously on crack. Happy thoughts for sure.

  107. my happy thought of the day is that i only have 2 more days of school and I will officially be done with my sophomore year of college! 🙂

  108. My happy thoughts for today are that the dress I ordered, which is arriving today fits me and looks great!

  109. Happy thought: I have 1 week left of grad school!! Also, I was just eating my morning snack of chobani with fruit & granola while I read this post…

  110. I’m going on vacation to Mexico in 38 days! (And 20 hours, 21 minutes, 45 seconds in case you like specifics!) AND I love yogurt!

  111. We miss your early morning sunrise posts with pictures as well. At least I don’t feel like I’m the only one up int he wee morning of the hours running! 🙂 It makes me smile.
    The only yogurt I eat these days is Chobani.

  112. I have always been a yogurt fan, but like you I am really slow to jump on the greek yogurt/Chobani wagon… but oh man is it delicious! Happy thought: I am going up to the alma mater this weekend to see my college friends after 6+ months (or so) apart; I love reunions!!

  113. I love yogurt and granola, but I also love yogurt with salty tortilla chips dipped in. It’s that sweet and salty combo, YUM. Like french fries and ice cream, but more healthy.

  114. I am so happy and nervous that my first half marathon is on Sunday!! And I would be so excited to win this give away…I love this yogurt!!!

  115. I love Chobani. I love the legwarmers I won from you. I would love to eat Chobani in my leg warmers.

    Get better soon 🙂

  116. I’m headed to Rhode Island this weekend for a conference – hoping to squeeze in some beautiful runs along the cliff walk in Newport!!!!

  117. Its hot and humid today in Chicago and finally feels like summer. Plus, I think I am going to bike to work tomorrow!

  118. I like your one song strategy, friend! It’s ok to let yourself get sad but then snap out of it and do the things you can do. Also, yayyy for probiotics! I’m nerdily curious to see if eating yogurt a little more regularly and changing your diet will help reduce the frequency of your flare-ups.

    happy: one week left of this semester! and maybe we can hang/get 16 Handles/etc. soon 🙂

  119. Happy Moment: yesterday when one of my students not only got the lesson but was able to connect it to something he learned in his German class. So small but made my day. Oh and the beer with a lime wedge, hello summer, didn’t hurt either!

  120. Happy thought : Just celebrated my 1 year anniversary with my husband!

    Hope you are feeling better soon!

  121. Happy with some cheese: I’m learning how to love and be loved and while it’s reaaaaalllly hard sometimes, it’s so worth it. 🙂

  122. My boyfriend and I decided to buy a house and I cant wait to put the countless hours of HGTV watching knowledge to work. I hope!!

  123. I’m going on vacation in two weeks! A week full of hiking, running and biking in the mountains? Can’t wait.

  124. My finals are almost over! And let me say, there’s going to be exclamation points and smileys all over my blog too when I’m done with classes and when I can run again too without pain. You’ll get through it!

  125. I LOVE chobani- the apple cinnamon one tastes like pie!! It makes me happy! But other happy thought is that I FINALLY was able to order a sweat shirt!!!

  126. I’m going to the Bruce Springsteen concert tonight! And I’m eating my morning Chobani as I’m typing this LOL 🙂

  127. I’m going home in three weeks to enjoy my mom’s cooking, hang out at the pool, and play with my dog — can’t wait!

  128. Oh Ali. Sending you hugs. In fact, I will GIVE YOU A HUG when I see you NEXT TUESDAY! I totally feel you, everything you said, 100%. Being injured is the devil. But you will get through it. And likely with much more aplomb and many fewer extra lbs than yours truly. xoxo

  129. Ali, I came across your blog last fall when I was injured and in some form of self torture felt the need to read about others running. I spent 6 weeks in physical therapy in an attempt to make it to the start line of the NYC Marathon, had to defer and take 6 solid weeks off from running, I was a mess. I alternated between rage, wanting to punch a wall (or one of the many happy runners that seemed to surround me) and depression. I did not handle any of it well and reading your blog recently has reminded me of how upsetting and frustrating being injured was.

    My happy thought: it gets better! You will run again, and you will appreciate running more than you ever thought you could. That first morning that I was cleared to run/walk three very slow miles on the treadmill was one of the best in recent memory and I happily laced up my sneakers.

  130. I love Chobani yogurt. My favorite flavor is the new (at least I think it’s new) blood orange. Yummy!

  131. Ha! I hated yogurt too…. until I discovered Chobani with lots of crunchy granola. So yummy! It’s a staple in my afternoon snack department!!

  132. Hi Ali, new reader here! My happy thought is that its almost summer! Goodbye crappy rain and hello sunshine and beach days =)

  133. I’m going to physical therapy this morning and am looking forward ice and stim and having 15 minutes of not doing anything.

  134. My happy thought it that in 3 days it’s cinco de mayo, which means mexican food. yummm. can’t wait!

  135. I’ve never tried Chobani, but so many of you seem to be obsessed with, so now I would like to try some 🙂 I was once injured and couldn’t run for 7 LONG weeks, but then I was better and could again and you WILL RUN AGAIN!!!! Keep your chin up and just keep letting all the puppies and crazy, awesome views from your apartment make you cheery. I saw a ridiculously cute puppy yesterday on 2nd avenue. Maybe he will go for a walk more uptown today and you too can be his friend!!!!!!!

  136. I am getting married in 3 DAYS in ANTIGUA! (if that’s not happy I don’t know what else is… 😉 … and I love Chobani, ees the best!

  137. I am excited (and a little nervous) today because I will be going for my first post hip flexor strain run! Well, I’m going to run today after 2 weeks off running, replaced with foam rolling, stretching, and clams to see if my hip flexor is still strained or not. Here’s hoping!
    I am also excited and nervous because I am going to shadow and ‘hang out’ at a potential new job today…that will give me great experience and a great paycheck.

  138. My Frye boots are my favorite shoes I have ever put on my feet (besides running shoes). I am sending happy shoe thoughts to you to find yours. Also, I ordered new Brooks – the Pure Cadence (I am currently an Adrenaline fan too!) and they are on their way to my house as I write!

  139. My happy thought is that the cafe in my building has free coffee on Wednesdays, so happy free coffee day to me and my co-workers!

  140. I just started putting crunchy granola in my yogurt, too! I always am sure to add some dried cranberries as well. Yummy!

  141. I am going on Vacay with my hubby to Jamaica tomorrow and I am really excited! I LOVE Chobani and want some for free! 🙂

  142. My happy thought – I’m going to Jamaica in 10 days!! I’m so excited to get some sun and relax. Thanks for hosting such a great giveaway, Ali!

  143. Happy thought: I’m runnign the Long Island Half on Sun and I don’t care how well I do, I’m using it as a training run for the BK half.

    And bummer about the boots, I would be way more than rageful!!!

    Oh, and I too love Chobani!

  144. My happy thought: today is my last full day of work this week before I get to go home for a short visit to see my family!

  145. happy = visiting my best friend in Austin this weekend! we are attempting a rookie triathlon =)

  146. I am graduating college in a week. This can be taken in the scary sense or the happy sense and I’ve decided to go happy with it. A new chapter in my life means so many new possibilities!

  147. 2 happy thoughts:
    1) I ran a half marathon this past weekend on bad training and sickness/injury in the past couple weeks. In 1:39. For me, that is awesome!
    2) I am leaving in 3 weeks for San Francisco for my first real job! (a summer stint.) This means that I am trying to stop food shopping for pantry stuff, so that when I sublet my apartment there aren’t barrels of oatmeal and rice that I have to try to hide. Looks like chobani would be the perfect thing to stock my scarily empty fridge with 😉

  148. Happy thoughts- I broke out my new bright green toms today, I made it work on time despite a dr appointment this morning, and it’s warm enough outside for ice coffee!

  149. Happy Thought: I bought a “I <3 Sweat" Shirt for myself and my boyfriend who has Crohns! Many times before he has declared that "Nobody cares about Crohn's disease." and then i said "I know of someone who does!!!" and you made him smile knowing someone is doing something for CCFA! So way to go!!

  150. I hear ya, my friend. I’m so sick of being injured and thinking about being injured. I’m pretty sure I’m driving everyone around me nuts. But I do feel lucky that I have you. I know that must sound awful, because I hate that you are also injured. But just knowing that I can complain to you for the millionth time in one hour and you will still understand means a lot. It’s definitely helping make this frustrating time a little bit easier to get through.

    Hang in there! We will be back running one of these days. …though try not to get better before me, okay? Because then I might have to start hating you too…. 😉

  151. I’m borderline obsessed with watching Maru the Japanese Scottish fold kitty on YouTube. He makes me happy.

  152. I worked on Sunday, traveled on Monday, and went to work on Tuesday – which felt like a Monday. So today I woke up – and it is Wednesday already! This week is flying by! And that made me happy. Great story, no?!

  153. I am glad to hear that you are being such a smart runner. Taking time completely off from running unfortunately is the only way to heal your left side so you can run again. I love that you are also a sucker for the kid yogurts. I also am in love with the chocolate chunk kid Chobani. You should try freezing the chocolate chuck yogurt, it is super good.

  154. I wore my Sweat shirt at the Girls on the Run in Atlanta this weekend and it was a big hit, thanks for sharing the charm

  155. Blogging IS therapeutic – but injuries have kept me from running and I hated only cross training – now that I can’t even take a spin class I’m going half crazy. I try to remind myself of all the blessings in my life instead of dwelling on the challenges. Have a great day!

  156. Injuries suck. When I had runner’s knee I started drinking vodka cocktails at 2 in the afternoon while reading Camus. Talk about a pity party. But injuries come and go; you’ll be back out there soon! In the spirit of your giveaway, I’ll add this: I’m happy that I have cable this Olympics, and can watch the men’s distance runners allll day long. Oh yes.

  157. Summer is almost here! I hear it’s going to be near 80 in NY today – you can’t run but you can still drink margaritas, right?

  158. My parents are coming to visit me tomorrow in the City from TEXAS 🙂 Havent seen them in months!

  159. The subway is where I felt the most hopeless too. But you are doing the right thing and I am SO proud of you for taking this rest. And I suppose I was one of those happy perfect run people this morning. Also, have you considered an MRI? I love knowing exactly what my injuries are and those always told me.

    1. Do either of you watch How I Met Your Mother? There’s an episode where they say that you aren’t a true New Yorker until you’ve cried on the subway. (I checked that one off my list pretty quickly, ha.) I like the idea of a four-minute sad period, and then snapping out of it, though. We all deserve to wallow for a bit … but only a bit.

      Love to you Ali … keep smiling.

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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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