Rainy Day Thoughts

Rainy Day Thoughts

Hi!

I hate talking about the weather but also I’m really bummed out about the weather lately. The cold I can handle. It’s the constant gray, sad, overcast skies. Everything is dreary. It’s hard to motivate. And while working from home is great on these days because I don’t have to navigate my way through seas umbrella-armed rage monsters on the New York City sidewalks (seriously, New Yorkers use umbrellas as weapons), it’s also way too tempting to just flop on the couch for a few minutes. Or “work in bed” for an hour. My resistance is strong, but the temptations persist. Every single day.

Anyway. Some non-cloudy things!

Rainy Day Thoughts
Ellie and me at Asbury Park! We love beach days!

I get to see my parents this weekend! Brian and I have always loved going out to the North Fork of Long Island and hitting up all the wineries out there. We have always talked about getting my parents down here (from New Hampshire) to join us, and since Brian’s mom lives out there, we could all go winery hopping together! Our parents haven’t seen each other since our wedding, so it’s going to be super fun. (When we planned this for April, we were hoping it would be warm. But pretty sure we’ll be winery hopping in snow pants at this point.)

You know what’s not annoying me right now? Crohn’s disease. Isn’t that so cool? I’m so grateful it’s left me alone for the past few months. It’s been awesome.

Rainy Day Thoughts
Morning walks with Ellie BECAUSE I CAN!

I’m running a half marathon in a few weeks! I’m running the New Jersey Half Marathon, which I loved last year and am excited to run again. Last year I ran it as a check-in leading up to the Brooklyn Half Marathon, which was my goal race. I ended up having a much better day in NJ than I did in Brooklyn — I was super sick by the time Brooklyn rolled around a few weeks later — which proves that New Jersey is the best.

Will you be there? I will! Brian will be there, too, with Ellie! She is a great spectator. My friend Laura is running the marathon, so I’ll be hanging out for a bit after I finish (unless she beats me to the finish line, that is), and I finally get to meet my internet friend Danielle IRL, because she’s running the marathon, too. I’m under-trained and over-excited, so it will be a good day.

Rainy Day Thoughts
This is Laura! She’s running all 26.2 miles!

On the workout front! Orangetheory most weekdays, an outdoor run on the weekend, and a rest day. In the past, I’ve never had an issue getting out for a run when it’s nasty out. But this year? It has crushed me. My motivation to run has been so nonexistant. Orangetheory is warm and dry, so I tend to gravitate there instead. I’m hoping to get in a 10-ish mile run over the next few days for a little confidence boost leading up to NJ.

Rainy Day Thoughts
I used to do ALL my runs by myself, especially my long runs. These days, I’m all about team efforts. (This is my friend Emily! She’s running the New Jersey Half, too! She’s so fast!)

Meanwhile, behind the microphone… I love podcasting! You knew that already, but I’m really loving where the Ali on the Run Show is going. (It’s on Spotify now, by the way!) I cannot wait to announce details for the first-ever LIVE SHOW, so stay tuned for that next week. (The announcement, not the show. That’s happening this summer!) I promise it’s going to be so good, and I hope you can all come. Bring your families, friends, running buddies, and significant others!

If you aren’t sick of my voice yet, I’ve been a guest on a few great podcasts recently! For your listening enjoyment…

  • I was on Patients Have Power, talking about how I handle my Crohn’s disease.
  • I was on Runner’s Connect’s Run to the Top podcast, talking about running, Brian, Crohnsing, and podcasting.
  • And I was on my friend Tory’s show, An Excellent Example of Being Human, talking about literally everything. Tory asked some really great, thought-provoking questions, which was awesome.

Finally, if you’re running the Boston Marathon (YAY YOU!), make sure you listen to this episode of the Ali on the Run Show with Desi Linden, and this one with Molly Huddle. My dream Boston women’s podium would be Desi, Molly, and Deena. (Normally Shalane would be on there, but she just won NYC and got to be in a beer commercial, so I don’t know. But also this is probably her last marathon, so maybe I do want her on the podium?) I also think Jordan Hasay will be up there because she’s such a fighter. So many amazing women! And that’s just a few of the pros — everyone is amazing! Yay running! (Clearly I got over those rainy day blues that were plaguing me 45 seconds ago… One day the exclamation point key on my keyboard is just going to collapse into itself.)

Rainy Day Thoughts
Recording a podcast with Katie Burke, who is super inspiring and SO smart. You’re going to love her. This episode will be out in two weeks!

MasterChef Junior is the best show on TV. (Not a debate.)

Speaking of TV, remember when Scandal was good? What is that show even about anymore? I can’t root for anyone because they are all so awful. Olivia? Awful. Murderer. Mellie? Kind of seems like a bad president. Jake? MURDERED JAMES NOVAK. Dead to me forever. Abby? Fine, but needs a stronger spine. Cyrus? Rowan? Kill them both. Quinn? Who is taking care of your baby? You know who I miss? Susan Ross. She was cool. Everyone else is terrible.

Finally, a general life update. I’ve talked a bit here, on Instagram, and on my podcast (this boozy episode, namely) about some relatively heavy-to-me stuff I was feeling over the past few months. So it’s no secret that last year was hard. The spring was lovely, but summer and fall were pretty brutal for me, on the physical and emotional spectrums. Having a chronic illness is hard in that way. You can’t just ignore it or push it aside or hope for the best. There’s so much unpredictability that comes with Crohn’s disease, and that’s where I’ve always struggled. And last year, Crohn’s got the best of me. And I, in turn, turned into the worst version of myself.

Rainy Day Thoughts
But Ellie ALWAYS makes me smile!

I never regret how I handle my Crohn’s flares. Every time is different, and I’m always trying to roll with it as best I can, knowing that some days, my best is the worst. And it’s not just hard for me. It’s also hard for the people around me — the ones I love, the ones I interact with daily, the ones who are counting on me to get my work done on time, regardless of whether or not I’m spending 23 hours of the day in the bathroom. For the most part, the people in my life are incredibly understanding of my situation when things get tough. And, to be honest, they tend to get the brunt of whatever I’m going through. (Ask Brian, or my poor parents.)

I get a lot of emails from people asking how to tell an employer about a chronic illness, or how to tell someone you’re dating about it. Just tell them. That’s always my advice. It’s your life, it’s your situation, and it’s on you to be open and honest about it. From there, it’s on them to decide how to react. You may not always get the reaction or compassion you want or hope for, but that’s not on you. We can’t control other people.

Where was I even going with this?

Rainy Day Thoughts
DOGGY DISTRACTION

Marriage! Let’s talk about that. Brian and I are now in our third year of marriage. Yay! The first year was wedded bliss ’round the clock. Then, with year two came all that Crohnsy goodness. Year two, for me, brought illness and frustration and a deep depression. Conversely, year two for Brian brought the best year of his career. While I was home, doing those bathroom things and crying, Brian was literally flying around the country on Jennifer Lopez’s private jet. Yes, I was thrilled for him. But I also resented him. I hated that he wasn’t around. I hated that I couldn’t be part of what he was doing. I hated that I was sick, and that it was controlling my life. Of all the ways I’ve handled my life with Crohn’s, I would say how I responded to a few key things in the past year may be my only regret. I wish I had been more supportive. I wish I had better communicated how proud of him I was; how psyched I was that he was making all this awesome stuff happen.

But the kinda ugly truth? I was jealous.

It feels kind of icky to admit that, and I don’t think I ever have. But I was jealous that Brian was peaking and I was at my lowest point. He tried to include me — he’d send me photos, he’d call and text, and I didn’t really appreciate any of it because I was in such a rough place. If the tables had been turned — if I were flying around with Celine Dion and Brian wasn’t all jazz hands all the time for me — it wouldn’t have been pretty! Brian took my tough times in stride, and for that I’m deeply, eternally grateful.

Rainy Day Thoughts
Snowy hiking is so much harder than regular hiking. I feel three times, including once where I basically slid into a perfect split. STILL GOT IT.

So now that I’ve bared my soul, how about a ray of sunshine?

We got through it. As I started to feel better, those dark clouds that were hanging over my head for so long started to drift away. As I got back into doing what I loved — returning to podcasting after a break, filling up my workdays with things that were fulfilling, running, going to Orangetheory — I was my best self again. And with that, I was a better person, friend, and wife. Thank goodness for that (and the short run of steroids that helped me get there).

Brian and I have been through a lot when it comes to all this Crohn’s stuff. (Here’s a post he wrote about it a few years ago, and here’s a more recent podcast episode about it.) I’ve had so many flares throughout our seven-year relationship, and we’ve made it through each one. It sucks for a bit, and then we’re stronger for it, individually and as a team.

It’s hard to admit when you were wrong. For me, it was hard to look back on the past few months and realize, oh shit, a lot of the “hard times” I say we went through were because I had morphed into a madwoman. But that’s life. That’s not even just life with a chronic illness. It’s life in general.

Rainy Day Thoughts
#NOFILTER

I haven’t been on that private jet yet, but I did get to meet Brian’s buddies back in February when I tagged along on a trip to the Super Bowl and got to work with Brian and his team. Whenever Brian’s around now, we are maximizing our time together, usually by taking Ellie to the beach or hiking, or generally just enjoying each other’s company. It’s been so good.

There will always be hard times. And the only way to get through them is to get through them.

THIS TOOK A TURN. I JUST CAME HERE TO VENT ABOUT THE RAIN BUT NOW HERE WE ARE. 

Ali

Ali

13 Responses

  1. “I never regret how I handle my Crohn’s flares. Every time is different, and I’m always trying to roll with it as best I can, knowing that some days, my best is the worst.”<-THIS
    Have been trying so hard to give myself some grace for my reactions. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Love this post! Thank you for being super honest about life and illness and marriage. It is always refreshing to read REAL TALK! I feel like we often lose sight of it with all the super positive stuff thrown at us by social media. But life can be tough. So thank you for acknowledging that.

    P.S. Also always appreciate seeing photos of Ellie. I think our dogs would be best friends!

  3. As always, your self-awareness and humility are so courageously human. For today, you’ve made me feel a little more OK with being a human in the world. <3

  4. Everything about this is lovely and perfect. Thank you for being so open about all you’ve gone through! In the least creepy way possible, I’ve listened to all those podcasts you were a guest on and think they’ve all been so great!! Here’s to so many more Ali on the Run episodes, too, always love when it shows up in my feed!!

    http://www.areweadultsyet.com

  5. Ali, Just wanted to say it was great seeing you in the park last weekend, I was so excited to see you because I was listening to your blog at that very moment and there you were! You made me want to run longer. Good luck in the half coming up, you’ll ace it.

  6. This was 2016 for me. My husband was crushing work- my job became toxic and then I had a slow start in my new job and we were going through infertility. I just felt like nothing could go my way and everything was going his way. We’re on the other side of that now (and with a baby), but man, I wasn’t a lot of fun to be around. The only way out is through, and the beauty of strong relationships is you still have support when you aren’t your best and you give support when your partner’s not their best.

  7. anyone would feel jealous under those circumstances! ha

    i just listened to the podcast with brian. you are SO supportive of him. my partner is a dr who works and studies a lot – i whinge and give him a hard time and distract him – and it sounds like he is more present than brian! starting to think i should be better about it. but honestly, it’s the little things. if brian can’t be there physically, he should call you and text you and plan the odd date night or weekend away…send you some pretty flowers damnit! he said he doesnt believe in balance, but that’s BS. if he wants to be all-in on his career, he doesnt deserve an amazing wife like you.

  8. Hi Ali: ‘There will always be hard times. And the only way to get through them is to get through them.’ What a line. I love it. It’s so, so true. Could I quote it some time on my blog, if I credit you properly by providing a link back to this post and also a link to your blog in general? Take care 🙂 Rebecca.

  9. Good morning, Ali! (I live in a different timezone, and it’s morning here.) I’m having my first cup of coffee and it’s sunny outside and now I’m in an upbeat mood. I love your posts.

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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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