More Than a Feeling!*

*since I forgot to listen to the band Boston, while I was in Boston as my dad requested- I am dedicated this blogs title to that missed opportunity.

When I found out Paul was going to Russia (several months ago), me and my Megan friend quickly made plans that I would visit Boston while he was gone. Guess what! I followed through on that promise! The plan was to take the train to New York City then take the megabus up to Boston.

As I was driving from work to the train station, I heard that that day was "Manhattanhenge" which only happens twice a year! It's when the east-west streets of the street grid align with the sun. I was so excited and hoped that I'd be able to see it!

I walked along this super long block in anticipation...

And success! Total Manhattanhenge shot with the Empire State Building!

It was kind of empowering to be all alone in New York, enjoying this twice a year miracle. I think it was quite a nice coincidence that I happened to be walking along the streets that day. 

 Then I got on that Megabus and (after we drove through Times Squre, which I will never ever do if I am behind the wheel) drove for four hours to Boston! Megan was a sweet host and welcomed me with open arms. Friday we both had to work, so I set up shop in her house while she went into work - but not before she gave me instructions on feeding myself with this delicious goodness.

We both got off work a bit early and hurried to do some sight seeing. We picked up some Hubway bikes and she showed me Back Bay, which I hadn't been able to see on our previous Boston trip. The Boston Library was really great, and Megan made sure I got to see the inside too (while she held my bike). 

Then I requested a trip through the Boston Public Gardens - since it didn't quite make the agenda last time, and luckily Megan wanted to go on the Swan Boats too! So we hopped right on board, and had the nice helper take our picture, and laughed when the little Canadian girls next to us tried to avoid the opportunity to be in it with us.  

Guess who likes taking pictures! Megannnnn! haha Paul would usually be embarrassed about this public display of self photography but she loved it right along with me. 

 

Swan boat friends!

We got to go under the bridge!!

And saw a real life swan friend while we were on our swan boat.

As we walked through Boston we took advantage of any reflective mirrors or windows we could find. 

 

And Megan was great at pointing out all the great things in Boston like matching planter box flowers, and taking me to the boats. 

I just love being by large bodies of water and boats and smelling the smells that go along with those two things. I also love stealing Megan's clothes! Thank youuuu!

 Then we went to this nice rose garden that was in memory of someone. A presidents wife I believe?

I must say again how much I love the Boston bike share program and am real glad one is coming to New York very soon. Such a lovely and nice paced way to see lots of nice places.

So we continued on our bikes through ivy covered arches - thank you Boston for looking so nice in every way! Oh yes, and Megan happens to be one of the best bike riders and was just speedy all day. I kept telling her that Paul was going to recruit her to race, those Taiwan streets did that girl good!

 Then it was time for historic old cemeteries. East Coast cemeteries are the best.

 And it happened to be Friday the 13th and even though Salem would have been a nice day trip to celebrate, we settled on headstones near Salem Street.

And also visited our BFFs the Boston Fire Department because Megan happened to know that they let people use their restroom.

We walked passed Paul Revere's House.

 

And I liked all the orangey coppery goodness on so many of the buildings.

Then my stomach was ready for some cannoli time, and Mike's Pastries did not disappoint on the chocolate dipped. 

 Farmers market!

Cucumber phones!

Then we stopped by the Holocaust Memorial, which I had walked right past the last time we were in Boston with out even knowing. Having a local tour guide is the best idea because they don't let you miss these nice things. It was a nice spot to think and appreciate our lives. 

Our next stop was Quincy Market where luckily we ran into a cheerleading competition, and then to South Market.

We walked past a closed store that had all these great posters that I wanted for my house. Bryce Canyon! Bikes! More bikes!

Then we biked through the park next to the river and opted out of the outdoor family movie night, which was still nice to see. I think Boston is neat because it's a big city, but has all sorts of free community events to take advantage of. Megan does a really good job in seeking out those fun activities and inspired me to try to be a bit better of that here in New Jersey. 

We biked across the river and saw MIT and this math guy.

 And then enjoyed some delicious ice cream at Toscanini's. I chose Goatcheese and Brownie, and I know that it sounds strange but I was loving every bite. Little did I realize we had a little friend who wanted to be entertaining for the camera. Please find her below.

We headed home and instead of going to bed we stayed up and talked until 4 in the am. Whoops. Two hours later I set out on my run along the Charles river. I loved the rowers and boat houses and park and city view and each mile just became better and better. 

And the bridges were nice on the eyes, and also good distance markers.

I hit the very end of the path and what would you know, it was exactly half way. Perfecto. I sat on that bench for a moment and missed Paul and listened to our selected while-you-are-gone-in-Russia song and enjoyed the moment.

 Because this was my view!

When I arrived back at Megans I took a little shot of her house because it is cute and sweet and lovely. There is even a bench under the tree!

 I showered, then fell asleep watch the Tour de France - then Megan got home from the engagements she was photographing and took me to her favorite Pad Thai restaurant.  It totally lived up to her hype. Delicious.

Then we got to see the Boston temple and it's over-sized Moroni! It was closed for cleaning, but it was a nice pit stop on the way to Walden Pond.

Walden Pond was much larger than I expected - but really beautiful and nice even with all of our other swimming friends.

I'm so glad we got a close up of our "Thai Babies" (aka eating a huge meal right before showing off our swimsuit bodies. 

After fun swimming, we came home and quickly got ready for Sandcastle Festival time! I could not believe that people could actually make this complicated of a sculpture out of sand and water. It was so cool!

I think I will forever covet those green jeans of Megan's. 

This one is for Demi the Boston Red Sox lover.

Photographer Megan was fun to watch. She takes really nice pictures. 

 

Including this shot, which I really appreciate!

 We stuck around for the fireworks show, but headed to the car a little early to try to beat SOME traffic, which wasn't that successful. 

Then stopped for Wendy's and I took this fry and frosty picture because Paul thinks I think I invented that tasty combination.

On Sunday, I enjoyed going to church with Megan and had forgotten about how silent single ward sacrament meetings and also how quickly people like to meet you and also how embarrassing it is to be at a single wards and have multiple people/interested guys say "Oh, why are you living in New Jersey?" and then saying, "For my husband's PhD" which sometimes feels really awkward but there really isn't any other answer! I also met many of her nice friends, including one that was identical to Kenneth from 30 Rock, and when I mentioned it to Megan she didn't know what I was talking about so I pulled up a Google image and she completely agreed. I promise - twins.

After church we went to Mount Auborn cemetary and enjoyed the watch tower views, millions of trees, ancient headstones, and beautiful ponds, flowers and weeping willows. All of it really.

Megan was so happy she just started doing laps around the top of the tower. It was great. 

We also spent plenty of time trying to figure out how to actually exit the cemetary - and I think this screenshot of the map I was looking at will help you understand why. So many turny roads that don't connect to real roads even when they look like they do. 

Next stop: The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow House! Megan had stumbled upon an outdoor concert series held at the house, and lucky for me there was a Charles Dicksons Tribute performance that afternoon!

Feel free to read that program and learn all about how Henry and Charles were BFFs and why Dickens loved music.

We decided that when you are the youngest people in the crowd, you are in the right place. What is not in the right place are those performers just hiding right behind the tree. 

JOYFUL!

 Photographer!

During the jig it took all our willpower not to stand up and dosey-do.  We tried to be reverent and pretend dosey-do in our seats. The music was just too inspiring!

We walked through the gardens and Megan got a little sensual. 

Then our best friend the violinist came walking by and we asked for a picture! He said "only if I get to hug you". Ok you weirdo! Anything for this shot!

And then he just wanted Megan to try on the top hat. He was thrilled. 

Next up, I found a man who I am positive is a scientist - in the typical uniform of camping zip up pants, button up shirt, a map, and a canvas bag. This is Paul is 60 years, people.  I just had to get a picture with him!

Before I had to go home, we took a little time to explore more of Boston - a real pleasant afternoon stroll. 

 Then it was goodbye/Megabus time, and I got to the station 20 minutes before my bus was supposed to leave and guess what! They left 15 minutes early, and I'm real glad I made it. Unfortunately, limited seats were available so guess who got to ride backwards all the way to New York!

Luckily Megan had packed me tortilla chips and Oatmeal Squares which kept me really happy.

Then, our bus just got stuck in a crazy rainstorm and THEN stuck in traffic, and it ended up being really late. When we finally got to Manhattan I pulled up the train schedule (because I still had to take an hour train from New York to my city), and saw there were very limited trains left. I watched with stress as the little blue dot on my phone that represented our bus on the map inched slowly towards Penn Station. When it finally parked, I was the first one off that bus and SPRINTED the 4 more blocks to Penn Station, knowing that my chance at a train was leaving in 4 minutes, and if I didn't make that one, it would be a long night alone in Penn Station.

Luckily, my marathon training came in handy, as well as my asperation to be on the Amazing Race as I sprinted through the streets of New York at midnight with a big backpack and a serious deadline.

I got to the station, waited in a short line to buy my ticket with stumbling fingers as I worked the ticket machine, grabbed the ticket and read the monitors to find out what track to get to as I ran through the corridors of Penn Station, down two flights of stairs and finally to the track that I thought I had read. There was the train! But... all the doors were already shut. I kept running up the platform, and luckily some doors near the front were still open. I jumped on, and breathed the biggest sigh of relief. I sat there shaking for the next 10 minutes - what an adrenaline rush! Miracle! And then I took that train home.

The weekend was so fun, and I'm so glad to have a friend in Boston to experience that neat city with. It has been fun to experience real friendship with Megan and I really enjoyed our nice chats, funny experiences, and lengthy (late night) discussions about life and struggles. Paul was also so appreciative of Megan for giving me some company and a nice distraction while he was out of the country. Win win win for everyone!

running realizations

9 mile run in Hull, MA next to the Atlantic Ocean; June 8, 2012

In April I decided to run a marathon.

It'd been a thought stewing in my brain for years. I'd done a half before, but thought that a full was a good life goal to accomplish. This summer seemed like the perfect opportunity. You may have seen bits and pieces and hints of my running on this blog, but for the most part I've been quiet about it here. 

But it has become a really huge part of my life, and consequently an important part of my identity.  I think it's time I talked about it a little.

When I began this marathon journey (a word I have learned to use from watching too much Bachelor/ette) I did a few things to help me take it really seriously and hopefully be successful. I made up a training calender (based off this one), I wrote down goals, and I started a training log here (which up until now has been private). I think I kept it quiet because I don't want it to seem as though I feel like I know a lot based on just 3 months of training, and also because physical activity can be very emotional, personal and maybe even sensitive.

For example, if you happen to go to my training log you will see that I am dealing with a foot injury - the first that feels significant and the first to actually affect my training schedule. Up until now I had missed only one run (for another luckily-short-lived-injury). I've been getting up extra early 5 days a week for the past 13 weeks, adjusting my schedule, sacrificing and working so that I can feel prepared. It is really tough to feel out of control of the situation and not be able to physically do what I really want to. I am doing everything I can to get this little foot better fast, but appreciate all the support I can get right now - I'm so close to the end - it's the home stretch! With just 5 weeks left until race day, the injury is not just frustrating, but scary. I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

As I have documented my running over the past few months, and had lots of time on while my feet are hitting the pavement to think about what I am doing, I have some ideas on what has worked, what has been hard, and what my strategy and approaches are I've come to some realizations of how my brain and body work. Some of these I have been writing throughout the past little while - so this new injury is even changing my opinion on some things. See! Still just a newbie learning all the time. I consider myself very much a novice and beginner, and I held back sharing my thoughts for a long time because I don't want to sound like I think I've become an expert. I really just want to share and collaborate with other people in a similar running situation or who want to be in a similar running situation. So. Here is what I've learned, with nice little bold inspirational sports words captions for each paragraph:

Commit. Once I set a goal of running a marathon in April, I wrote on the back of my training calendar a few goals. One of those was to never miss a workout. So when 5:15 am comes and I am really enjoying my bed, I just know that it's time to run, not time to sleep - kind of like my parents always said, I have already made the decision so it's not that hard of a choice. Same as making plans, I just factor running in first, and then plan the rest of my day around it. Even as our summer has taken us on trips, I've just made running work - so far I have ran in Vermont, twice in Massachusetts (a month apart), I'm hoping for a run this weekend in Pennsylvania, and by the time I do the marathon I can add Idaho and Utah to the list - and of course New Jersey. If it's a priority, I make time for it, no matter what my plans are (and in doing so have had to learn to enjoy the pre-sunrise 5 am hours of the morning). Having an actual goal, like a race I've signed up for, is helpful too - because it pushes me out the door when I otherwise wouldn't have the motivation to train. Finding a friend to run with is also great, but I like solo runs as well.

Determination. Related to that is the fact that I am my own worst guilter. Meaning, that I won't go back on my own word just because I will torture myself if I do. For example, a few Saturdays ago I had other commitments and my training schedule was off. I equal parts didn't want to run (tired, ornery, hot, late) and did want to run (accomplish my goals, not feel regret, feel prepared), and I let the more positive part win out - and it feels much better in the end. Sometimes determination and guilt can be my worst enemy, as I woke up yesterday unable to run I felt it heavy. I still was able to do an arms and abs work out to compensate for my missed milage, but I still just felt sick about tainting my record and not reaching my goals.

Rewards. Sometimes small goals are nice too, especially with incentives. Finish one week of training, or hit a new mileage and then treat yo self. My rewards are sometimes things I need but also things I want. My incentives ranged from a new pair of shoes (which is really important, take care of those feet!), a nap, new running clothes or regular clothes, a tasty treat... anything that suits your fancy. Sometimes I plan these incentives, and sometimes they are justifications for other spending). :) Even during a run I will make incentives for myself, especially when I first started out - as simple as "If I make it to that street light, I can walk for 10 seconds", or "once I get to the bridge, I can take in the view for a minute". Sometimes running and exercise is great for meditation, when I don't feel like actually exercising (winter blues!). I have a spot I like to run to and then sit there and stretch and think for a while. Sometimes the mind needs the exercise more than the body.

Distractions. Listening to something is very helpful. Sometimes it is music, sometimes NPR shows (This American Life, Radio Lab, and Car Talk are my favorite podcasts), sometimes General Conference or other talks. I try to find things that help me be upbeat and energized, or something to distract my mind from what my body is doing, etc. A few Saturdays ago, in the middle of a hard run, the thing I needed was to listen to the rain fall and hear all the birds, but that only lasted about 2 miles... I think it's hearing myself breathe that is the thing I like to cover up, like I am trying to not let my mind know the secret about me needing more oxygen.

Visualization! I preach it to my lacrosse team all the time, but visualizing can be helpful in running too - it can also be taxing to the brain, so I have to be careful and use it for good and not for bad. I use it mostly for visualizing my routes. If I visualize a route and it feels easy to my brain (even if the mileage might be the same as another route) then I choose the easier. Or, sometimes if I'm struggling I visualize myself finishing that training run, or the marathon finish line, or even (and I know it's vain) picture my legs looking stronger, and toned. On the flip side, I struggle with overthinking things. The biggest reason I run in the early morning is because I have to get it over with or I think about and stress about it all day long.

Planning the route. Plan routes that settle well in your mind, for me - that's big loops that include a park or scenery. Having my GPS Garmin Watch (you can use an iPhone app too) lets me "guesstimate" on how far I need to go and then not worry about it much when I am actually running. Once I find a loop I like, I add or subtract mileage on it based on how far I need to run that day.

Nutrition and fuel. I have had to learn to drink water. I try to keep one at my work desk and try to refill it several times a day. I'm trying to work on eating the right foods for good running fuel also. Paul just got me The Feedzone Cookbook that we feel like will give us good ideas for both the runners and cyclist in our family of two.

Have a support system. Talking to other people who know about running marathons (my mom, dad and Paul) and talking to people who are also training (my sister-in-law Mindy) or reading blogs and running articles, helps me feel supported and motivated. Sometimes when I am struggling with a long run, I will think “Paul will think I’m awesome if I do this in a good time,” and it helps push me when I can’t push myself. Surround yourself with cheerleaders! I will be one if you need it. :) With my current injury, people who have experience with marathon training have been comforting me in letting me know it's not going to ruin all the training I've done up until now, and that resting an injury is better in the end - because they dealt with injuries too, and it ended up ok.

Lastly, I think I just learned that running is difficult, but it's doable. I don't know if I will ever be to a place that running feels comfortable - I think that is the point of it. We could sit or walk to be comfortable, running is to get our body to a place it doesn't usually go! And, maybe it feels uncomfortable during it - but there is no denying the satisfaction of a good sweat, or the sore muscles, or the mental boost. I highly recommend it.

(This next paragraph I wrote pre-foot injury):
I've been lucky to have very little injury the past 3 months, I had a few days with an Achilles pain, and iced the heck out of that guy, and I've had hip pain here and there, but do strengthening exercises that really do help. I hope my body keeps it up for the next 5 weeks because I really feel like I'm on a roll. I feel like I've accomplished a lot but still have a lot to look forward to achieving.

So let me write a new closing paragraph, as that "on a roll" feeling left me flat against a brick wall on Wednesday when the pain in my foot put my plans on hold:

Running has taught me a lot about myself and what I am capable of. It's also forced me to let go of control sometimes, a lesson I really need. I've become faster and stronger over the past few months, and even though it's been hard, sometimes lonely, and right now frustrating -- I really recommend it.