Compliment Challenge

You might have noticed my facebook status last night--it was Day 1 of the 30 day "Compliments Challenge."  I chose on my first day to compliment my dad, the first man I ever loved.  He was the prince charming to my dressed up princess, the under-the-bed monster checker, the man who helped me learn to pee in the woods while out on an adventure (that one didn't work, I still can't pee unless I'm on a toilet).  I love my dad, and I do not tell him enough.

But some background on this whole challenge...

A few weeks ago I was invited to participate in a challenge where all participants compliment a different person every day.  At first I ignored this invite--I compliment people all the time.  I think at least once a day I dish out a compliment.  Whether it is to my husband, telling him he made a nice dinner or is a great hugger, to a coworker who looks particularly nice, or to a rando at a store, I dole out compliments like they are going out of style.  No, really.  Mountain Man hates it.  I will literally stop a stranger in the street and tell her she is pretty, or I like her bag, or her baby is so cute...I constantly embarrass him by giving compliments to people I do not know.  

But you know what?  I LOVE getting compliments.   Never have I ever gotten a compliment by a stranger and then said "god, that person was so weird!"  Instead I feel honored that someone recognized something that I did/put effort into and I blush and feel like I am flying high on the compliment cloud for at least 3 hour (more like 24).  Because of this, I like to compliment others.  So sue me.

So yesterday, after seeing my facebook wall literally overrun with compliments, I decided to join in.  I do not think it will be a challenge for me to think of 30 people to compliment--I could compliment everyone I know with an honest-to-goodness compliment. But it will be challenging for me to think of only 30 people.  Some days you will see my compliments on facebook (I think the official challenge is that you need to post them?) but some days I will compliment the person face to face (Momma PB for example does not have the ole' facebook).  Some compliments will be heartfelt and full of deep thought, others will be shallow and fun, but sometimes those are the best.

So I urge you to join me and the hundreds of others to compliment a different person for 30 days.  It might seem simple and easy (and even a little cheesy!) to you, but everyone loves receiving a compliment.  Go ahead, make someone's day.

A Public Service Announcement

If you would kindly refrain from posting or talking about or tweeting or in general rubbing in my face that you are either: 

A) on or about to go on vacation

B) moving into your newly purchased (or even better, built!) home

C) pregnant or just gave birth

I would appreciate it.  Salt in the wounds and all.

Thank you kindly.

A Different Kind of PR

As you well know, on Sunday I ran my third half marathon.

It was a mess, and my slowest race to date, by more than 11 minutes.   

But I finished.

The day started out cold and bright.  It was pretty windy, but manageable.  Fortunately the race organizers anticipate it will be chilly so the start of the race is not until 11 am.  We arrived, got in our corrals about 10 minutes before the start, muttered about how cold we were, and then off we went.

The first mile was comfortable and easy.  I warmed up right away, and despite the mid 30 temps, my asthma was fine and I was content.  Mile 1 and mile 2 I was right on track for a strong finish.

Then at 2.5 miles I felt like I was punched in the stomach, and I doubled over and threw up.  

This wasn't a normal "side stitch" stomach pain.  It felt honestly like someone punched me right in the gut.  I walked a bit, then went back to running and threw up again.  The feeling wouldn't go away.

I carried on until mile 4, where there was a medic.  I stopped and cried and threw up again.  He asked if I wanted to stop.  I thought I did, but the words that came out were "I am going to try to run to the mile 6 medic and then stop."

So off I went again.  I threw up again and had to keep walking and continued to cry.  I felt so stupid.  Why in heaven's name was I throwing up?  This has never happened before.  I wanted to finish, but I just couldn't take another step.  Not only was my stomach aching and I was throwing up, but all of my energy was being spent on that rather than on the run.

I made it to mile 6--about 8 minutes behind what I would have been happy with for a pace.  I cried to the medic that I had to stop.  He asked if I was sure, and I decided I would continue on to the mile 8 medic.  So off I went again.

Of course at mile 7 I started to feel better, no more stomach pain, but then we were on the beach.  And it was cold.  And very windy.  So it was rough going for a different reason for the next few miles.  But I knew if I could make it to mile 8 that I could make it to 10.  And if I made it to 10 I could make it to 13.

I continued on, constantly walking and shuffling and such a slow pace.  I knew I was towards the end of the pack.  I was running about 200 meters and walking 50 for the last 6 miles of the race.  I knew I was a strong runner, as every time I ran I passed all the other runners in our slow little group, but I just didn't have the energy anymore to sustain it.  I had thrown up all my energy,

I carried on, and at every mile marker when I saw the clock I was disappointed.  "If I was feeling normal I would have been finished by now, but today I still have 3 more miles."  It was discouraging to know that I still had to keep going when normally I would have been done and relaxing by that point.

Finally I was at mile 12.  It was a long hill.  I ran up it as much as I could (200 meter run, 50 meter walk shuffle shit) and finally I was at the top of the hill.  Downhill for the last .3 miles.  I knew I could do this.  I ran, saw the finish line, and sprinted over it and got my medal.  It was the hardest earned medal I had worked for.

I finished the race and felt completely fine.  No blisters, stiffness, soreness, etc, even two days later.  (No shit sherlock, you walked about 1/4 of the course.  No wonder you're not sore!)

The race itself was well run, organized, easy (other than the brutal wind on the beach) and had great crowd support, even through the sketchiest of neighborhoods.  If it were not nearly 4 hours away I would sign up for it again in a heartbeat.

I am so proud of myself for continuing to run through so much pain and discomfort.  3 years ago I started my journey with running--I ran my first 5K three years ago to the date.  Now I have completed three half marathons, and I know that I can do more.  If I survived this one, with the cold temps, the brutal wind, and the extreme stomach issues, I know I can do it again, and do it better.

Check back in June to see how the next half goes!

The Internet Wins Today

One can find all sorts of gems on the internet, this being my favorite find of the week.

Happy Friday, I hope to survive the weekend to tell the tale of what may very well likely be the worst 13.1 mile run of my life (only time will tell).

Wish me luck!

Granny

A List of Things I Simply Do Not Understand

There are a lot of things in life I will never understand.  Why is the grass green, why is the sky blue, are you there, God? etc.

But then there are just simple things that literally make no sense to me.  I hear of these things, or I see something and I just, um, huh?

Throw Back Thursday on instragram. #tbt.  

You weren't that cute of a kid.  And just because it is Thursday doesn't mean you need to find an old picture and make it look even older and alternative.  Just post it when you find it, no need to save it 'til Thursday.

241543903.

Google it.  I'll wait.

Heads in Freezers?  Again, what the mother fuck?

The Harlem Shake.

WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK IS THIS?  Perhaps the most confusing.  I literally have no idea what this is, why it is cool, and where it came from.  I don't get it.  I don't want to get it.  Why??

Gun Nuts.

(sorry to get political on you.)

(No I'm not.)

(#sorryimnotsorry)

I hate the argument, "criminals will still use guns, so why make assault rifles illegal??"  Ok asshole, drug users still use drugs, kids still like to light up, alcoholics still like to drive home, and yet we make all of those things illegal to try to put a small dent in crime and accidents.  Why not do the same here?  Because your right trumps my safety?  Because you might need to revolt against Obama? Kindly fuck off and calm your tits.

The Twilight series.

No description necessary.

Selfies.

Am I the only one who constantly shies away from a camera whenever I see one?  Am I the only one who DREADS having their picture taken alone?  So awkward.  And even more awkward?  The way I look when I try to take a selfie.

SIDE NOTE: even more than the regular selfie, I do not get why so many women take selfies in the car. Is that the only place you are ever dressed up and have good lighting?  That cannot be correct.  Please stop, you are beautiful friends of mine, do not ruin your picture with an awful backdrop.

Hipsters.

They think they are so original.  I've got news for you, you trendy fucks, some of us were wearing glasses for years.  And flannel too.  It is not trendy, it is how we see and stay warm.