Last week I wrote about how when you’ve been sick for so long, you forget what it’s like to be healthy.
Last week I got sparse glimpses of that healthy life I used to live.
This week, though?
This week I’m really, deeply remembering all the most important feelings I used to know so well.
On Saturday, I remembered what it feels like to wake up with the sun on a weekend.
I remembered what it feels like to spend quite a while in the bathroom, eat a bit for breakfast and then lace up my Adrenalines to head toward Central Park.
I remembered what it feels like to start running at Engineers’ Gate.
I remembered how crowded the main drive gets during marathon training season and I remembered that it’s sometimes smarter to run with the flow of runners rather than against it — even if that means slightly less exciting people watching along the way.
I remembered what the west side hills feel like. (They hurt.)

I remembered what it feels like to have a million route options within Central Park, and I remembered every twist, turn, incline and decline on all of them.
I remembered what it feels like to finish a loop of the park and find myself back at Engineers’ Gate.
I remembered what it feels like to keep going.
I remembered the unsteady ground on the Bridle Path and I remembered the gentle left turns along the Reservoir.

Then, 10 miles later, I remembered what it feels like to run double-digit miles. It feels amazing.
Best of all? I remembered how good it feels to approach a bathroom, know it was open for my use — and then keep running because I don’t need it.
On Saturday, I spent the morning running in Central Park for the first time since February. It was my first bathroom-stop-free run of 2013.
As soon as I finished my run — at Engineers’ Gate, of course — I texted my friend Kristan. And then, of course, I visited my dear imaginary friend Bernie and shed [more than] a few happy tears. I couldn’t wipe the silly-stupid grin off my face for the rest of the day.

My first double-digit miles.
My first entirely stop-free run.
I remembered everything so clearly — including the amazing smell of my hard-earned mango soap.
And I remembered that being healthy, if only for the span of 10 minutes or 10 miles, feels so good.
Oh and in the aftermath of my runner’s high, I remembered that sometimes really good runs can be a fluke. So to be sure this one wasn’t, I attempted to make my weekday morning run return on Tuesday.

7.25 miles. No bathroom stops. Countless hugs, high fives and cheers from my friends in the park, and a boy on a bike poised at Engineers’ Gate when I was done.

I like remembering.
74 Responses
Ali, Did you have a PICC LINE installed?
Nope, never had one.
Ali, I am so incredibly happy for you. You are such an inspiration! xox
SO MANY HIGH FIVES ALL AROUND!!!! Yay!!!! 🙂 🙂
Yay!!!! Congrats!!!! I am so beyond thrilled for you and hope this is only a sign of more great things coming your way!
I remember what it was like reading the posts where you are head over heels in love with running. It’s nice to see and hear about you hitting the pavement again. Congratulations on your runs. It’s really awesome news.
Wahoo Ali!!!
YOU. ARE. AWESOME.
Congratulations! I’m so happy you’re getting back to normal.
I was with Kristan on Saturday morning when you texted her – she let out a big hooray! And then she told me you ran 10 miles 🙂
Congrats!
So happy for you!!!! Both thumbs, all fingers and toes up for you Ali!
I am so happy to read this post. So pleased that you are feeling better and I hope this is the start of a better times for you. Also congrats on hiting the double didgets xx
So happy for you! And 10 miles after months of being sick?! That’s amazing!!! Go you 🙂
What an amazing post. Bernie would be proud!
Ah- I like to hear that you are finally remembering, and I hope you keep remembering for months and months to come 🙂 Make sure to easy in carefully so that you make it safely to NYC marathon day. Congrats on some great runs!
HOORAY! I like this post even more than the last. So so so happy and thrilled for your return to health, Ali. It’s about friggin’ time!!!
So happy for you Ali. Knew this day would come. I will never forget my first run back. Just crying and smiling and taking in all the views I once took for granted. Got tears in my eyes now just relating to you! Big steps in the right direction! Xoxo
I’m crying happy tears for you!! Way to go! SO happy to hear that you’re feeling better!
Yayyy! Congrats! I hope you used that special body wash after! You deserve it!
YAY!
This is beautiful!!! Both the content, and the way it is written. HOORAY!
yay! best post ever
I hope this keeps up.
YAY!!!! So happy for you!
I was so thrilled to read this! Doube-digit miles already–amazing!
Where is the uber-supreme-LIKE button??!!!!!!
Wheeeeeeeee!!!!!
Yay, Ali!! I want to send this blog entry to you of a month or two ago to read!!! You’ve come a long way, baby.
AWESOME!
Just awesome!
Ali. That’s amazing. We don’t know each other, but I saw you running in CP yesterday (I’m an early bird like you) you looked happy. It made me smile!
1. YAY for double digits sans potty stops!!!
2. I’m obsessed with park bench quotes too. i recently saw this one on a bench in a park near my home: When the tides of life are flowing against you and you can no longer keep going on, don’t waste your time crying about things that might have been, just turn on your back and float.
You’re amazing! So very, very happy for you.
Yay for such awesomeness! You’re amazing! 10 miles after all the crap you’ve been dealing with? That’s pretty badass.
Congrats!!!
LOVE this post! You deserve this healthy/happy feeling – soak it up!
this post is AWESOME!!!
hooray!
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! Sooooo pumped for this post!! Congrats lady, you deserve every bit of it!
Congrats! Hopefully this is just the beginning of feeling better and getting back into the things you love
So happy to hear you are feeling normal again! Awesome job on the double digit run and its great to see you smiling again.
Awesome good news!
Great to hear Ali! Missed all those running pix, I hope it stays with you 🙂
I am SO happy for you! 🙂
Happy happy happy for you!
You.Are.AMAZING!!! After everything you have been through (and are still going through) you bust out double digit miles. I am impressed and so excited for you. I hope it just keeps getting better and better.
Your text about running 10 miles was the bright spot during an insanely stressful Saturday morning. I even said out loud “Ali ran 10 miles today!” because I felt like the world needed to know. I’m so proud of your progress so far! Wagon wheel.
You really know how to make a girl weep in her cubicle. <3
So excited and happy for you, Ali!!!
Fuck yes
Yay, Ali!!! That’s awesome!
Wahoo!!! Glad you are feeling a bit better
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This makes me so happy! Hope this trend continues, nobody deserves to be healthy more than you! 🙂
Glad you’re back at it! I actually went to your twitter account last night to see what was up as there hadn’t been a post. Hope “Feeling Well” continues 🙂
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WAHOO!!!!!!!!!
This makes me so, sooo happy!! Hooray for recovery, for long runs, and your strength! 🙂 Good work girl!
And just think, you didn’t even need to see a tri-pod pup for modivation – you were soaring regardless!
Because of you, I’ve started my morning with tears. Thanks. No really, thanks. This is great.
Like this. A lot!
So glad to read this post! I was in CP Saturday with the NYRR marathon training run and it was a perfect day for a run. Amazed by your persistence and resilience. Run on!
LOVE all of this.
AMAZING. So happy you’re starting to feel better. I’ve been training for a few weeks and haven’t even gotten to 10 miles yet so, as always, I am impressed with you. I know how amazing it feels to run when you couldn’t for so long. Keep feeling good!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZf3rintTqM
I am so glad this was a happy post! I was having a boo hoo pity party this morning and this was the bitch slap I needed to stop whining about a run and enjoy it. Thanks and congrats!
Hooray!! So glad you are back to running! And yeah…how do you go from sick for months to running 10 miles?! It takes me months or running to work up to 10 miles, lol.
Yeah! You look awesome! Happy dance!
So awesome! I’m feeling really guilty for skipping my run this morning :-/
aw! It’s so nice to finally read a post like this. And the funny little captions with your pics. that you’ve passed thru the worst and are on your way to feeling good consistently.
YYYEEESSS!!!
Now, what did you do there? You got me all teary-eyed with happiness! You’re awesome, Ali, and I’m so psyched for you! 😀 😀 😀
ahhh I’ve been waiting for a happy post for so long! Dang girl, going from deathly ill to running 10 miles? You’re incredible!
This is awesome! Way to Go!!!
Great news Ali, delighted you were able to get out and stretch your legs again! Since I’ve started reading your blog, I never take for granted the ease which i can get out and do my jogging thang-thanks for the perspective 🙂 x
You just kickstarted my morning with happy! You are awesome.
Completely awesome!
Heck yeah!!!!!
I can’t say nothin’ but: YEAH!!!!
Oh, and:
YAY!
WHOOT!
SHA-ZAM!
🙂