Yes, I’m Alive

So I had to take a week off from blogging. I just wasn’t feeling it last week. I kept trying to write posts, but they were all just “meh.” Not that I’m writing life changing novellas on a daily basis over here, but I’d at least like to have something somewhat worthwhile to say, yes? Yes.

Without further ado, here’s an update on my life. Try to contain your excitement.

1. Running

I’m afraid I’ve been bitten by the training bug. You know, the one that makes you just dying to log miles and do tempo runs and cross train and work toward a goal? Yeah, that one. I ran the Monument 10K in Richmond on Saturday morning. Truth be told, I was a little nervous to race again in the place where 4 months of marathon training came crashing down around me. There’s also that thing where I’ve only been running for 5 weeks post-injury/burnout. And when I say running, I mean hitting the road whenever it suits me for as long as I feel like running with little regard for pace or distance. Yeah. NOT training. So I was nervous because I know what my potential is, and I knew I wasn’t likely to live up to that potential in this race given all the non-training and whatnot.

Race day pics: selfie in the car. Sorry kids. This is the best I could do.

Well, it wasn’t awful. Garmin time: 48:12 for 6.22 miles. Official chip time 48:20 for 6.2 miles. (Those 8 seconds are lost somewhere in space.) I didn’t feel particularly loose or relaxed during this run, but it felt good to get out there and race again. I also happened to look up my time for the Monument 10K 2 years ago. I’m nearly 8 minutes faster now with little training under my belt, so that’s a pretty big win in my book.

Now that I know I can run this pace without training, it’s time to test myself post-injury with training. That whole remaking my form thing is going on the back burner for a bit so I can set my sights on a half marathon the first weekend in June. Maybe not a responsible decision, but the one I’ve made nonetheless. I’m pretty excited.

2. That Vegan Thing

I really like being vegan. It makes me feel healthy and vibrant and energetic. The stomach issues that plagued me for nearly 5 years are essentially nonexistent now. I get to try new things that I probably never would’ve tried in the past. I’m putting all clean foods into my body. It’s all pretty fantastic.

That’s organic ketchup. So it’s healthy. And a food group.

Except.

It’s almost impossible to eat out. Most restaurants don’t cater to vegans, and while I could get a salad with no meat or cheese pretty much anywhere, it’s not a meal. And brunch? With the exception of one restaurant, vegan brunch doesn’t exist. And I looooooove brunch. I just feel like I’m missing out on life in some ways, which is maybe a little dramatic, but it’s true. I almost never eat out any more because there’s just nothing I can eat. So I’ve decided that I will be vegan 90% of the time–when I’m eating at home and when there are vegan offerings on a menu. Otherwise, I’m going to enjoy a non-vegan meal out from time to time. I’m sure there are real vegans out there rolling their eyes at me, and real vegans, I do apologize for not being able to cut it. But I have to make this work for me. And that’s the cool thing about being a grown up; I can do whatever I want. 

3. Manfriend

I haven’t mentioned him recently, but that guy’s still hanging out with me. I even tried to cash in my crazy card with him (denied), and he still stuck around. And he brings me vegan treats from Trader Joe’s and takes pictures of me at the Bloody Mary bar “for the blog” when we go to brunch. He’s pretty great.

Intense concentration + bacon in my drink for the boy.

 

I have no idea why he hangs out with me, but I’m glad he does. Especially since I think I kind of forgot how to date before I met him. I mean, it had been a hot minute (or a few years?!) since I’d been in an actual relationship, and I forgot what it was like. All that time by myself helped me to become incredibly self-aware, but after all the work I’ve done on being a better me, I think I was a little nervous about what someone else might do to that–how it would change me or the sense of self I’ve finally become comfortable with. I’m incredibly fortunate that Manfriend gets that. He is possibly the most patient and understanding man on the planet. I’ve totally lucked out.

Ugh. Enough about me.