Friday night’s weather report called for a 70% chance of freezing rain. I got the guilt trip from Michael about driving 5 hours in potentially life-threatening weather. I’ll admit, I’m a chicken when it comes to driving in bad weather – so I played it safe. I feel somewhat guilty – Ok, I feel a lot guilty because I don’t actually have freezing rain in my backyard. It’s out there somewhere, I just know it. I talked to a couple people at the gym this morning who made the same decision not to drive – and they were running the full marathon, that made me feel a little better. For a second.
Repentance: The Fort Worth Cowtown Half Marathon next weekend. I won’t have the downhill advantage that Austin offers, but a half is a half and I must makes amends for the half that was not a half today. It had better be warm because my body is in the general state of “I won’t run outside below 40 degress.” Last Thursday it was 85 degrees. It’s not fair – this is Texas, the place where it is supposed to be sunny and warm – ALL THE TIME.
So . . . what did I do this weekend?
Saturday
Rikki and I went to watch Kate and Linda do the 4-mile Mardi Gras walk. With about ten minutes to spare, and to avoid freezing to death, I decided to walk with them. My left leg was a little sore, but not bad. Kate and Linda did an awesome job, both improving on their overall minutes per mile. Also, to everyone’s surprise – for once in her little furry marshmallow-brained life – Rikki was a good dog. She was a complete sweetheart actually – walking most of the way with no happy pee and no incessant barking.
Sunday
I went to the gym and ran 3 miles and did upper, core and lower body weights. It felt great. My butt was needing the squats and my buns are delightfully sore. That’s it. Boring day. I am desperately, desperately in need of a long run.
____________________________________________
On a side note, I spend the better part of Friday night yelling at Michael about the state of my body. “Why me?” “Why are my thighs so big? I can run a marathon. It’s not fair.” My rant wasn’t particularly pretty and I waited in silence for Michael to say something to make me feel better – but his glazed eyes moved to the olympics on television. I won’t go into details, but the residual PMS resulted in me sobbing and being mad at Michael for not caring about my thighs. Sometimes he’s a saint, but sometimes my thigh size is just more important.
Cheer up. A 1/2 next week is the same distance as a 1/2 this week. And you have great legs. Really.
Wise Michael I say! That is a classic “no-win” conversation for a man. Just as well you didn’t stand in front of the TV – he would have been forced to say or do something then. And nor are you allowed to use that tactic in future!
i totally understand. this morning i got all dressed up to go to lunch with phil, and then said…’aren’t i hot’, in a half-joking manner…an unterested ‘yeah’ followed my question, and i got all huffy…sometimes we need some affirmation, eh?
🙂
we were sending clear signals from the drum circle to the greater Texas region… all of us at drum were hoping you didn’t run that half with missing-leg syndrome.
once again, the positive satisfaction i get in beating my drum, and helping people, just puts a smile on my face.
Wise decision. Next week will be better. Sidenote to Michael: Wise decision. Nextweek will be better.
I’m thinking Michael’s a smart guy as nothing spoken or unspoken would suffice in that moment.
I’ll bet he cares deeply about your thighs.
I don’t blame you for skipping the drive… It was supposed to raining ice pellets by midnight. The saddest part is that you missed out on the outlet malls!
On a side note, my husband can’t seem to explain a number of important things like: why I’m not skinner than I am, why he gets to eat whatever he wants and whether these pants “look good”.
What’s wrong with muscular thighs? Absolutely nothing. Florence Griffith Joyner had some of the biggest thighs I ever saw!
I hate it when I happy-pee…
I saw the reports on a link from dirtrunners that the marathon had started late due to the freezing rain and there were people frantically trying to get to the start line. I thought about you and I would not have risked it with freezing rain either. I have been in plenty of it around this area and now I do not even try to drive in it. Cowtown it is! I know it sucks though.
What’s wrong with happy pee? Better than angry pee.
We care about your thighs Susan. Really we do. And they look fabulous!
I read over at Brown Socks blog that it was a mess – good thing you didn’t go!
Have you ever seen pictures of Nikki Kimball? The woman has never lost a trail ultra-marathon – NEVER – and her thighs are not small. I find comfort in that when I start to worry about the size of various parts of my body.
yes, nice legs. and remember, there are people like me who actually LONG for bigger thighs. buck up susan, enjoy the thick legs (which makes some men swoon…)
i agree, michael was wise…
but wow didn’t i empathize anyway…pms is so much fun, the people in my life are so lucky to have to put up with that kind of thing!
i like my thighs; they are ‘big’ because they are muscular. they are big BECAUSE i can run a marthathon, the logic would go (i don’t run marathons, so my story would be “they are big BECAUSE i row”) and so i love them.
its all about redefining the situation…
but i bet the sobbing/being mad thing made you feel better on some pms kind of level anyway
Probably not really about your thighs?
Good decision about the half. And don’t we all have body parts we hate? Mine is the stomach. I want it flat, flat, flat. But I have a feeling that’s never to be.
I take great comfort in knowing your bra is not stuffed with any gadgets; your brain is smart enough not to drive five hours to be miserable; that your things are just big enough to support a great looking caboose; and that your PMS is over for now.
As for running 13.1 next weekend I hope your leg feels some feeling when it’s above 40 degrees.
thighs* (oops)
Poor Michael..err i mean you :)..
Glad to hear that despite no runnign for the weekend, u did some running-related things like walking with your friends and rikki.
Brrrrr, no shopping, but no driving in bad weather either. You didn’t tell them that we slipped on the bridge coming home. I like that pic of me except for the reflection off my glasses. If you have a minute in your busy work schedule (hahahahahaha) next week, will you trim me and rikki out for a new pic on my running blog? It looks more sporty! (I won’t tell the cats though, they will get jealous!)
From what I’ve read already on other blogs it seems like the start of the Austin marathon was a bit of a mess! Glad to hear you had a great weekend anyway!
were you in a rant during speed skating? check out those thighs.
i had a similar moment when i was putting on shorts and realized that no matter what size my legs are, i was always going to have a hint of cellulite. it’s not bad, but IIIIIIIII see it and IIIIIIII hate it. and i thought the same thing… daphuk?!? i run! i eat well. i even walk to other desks and don’t email coworkers. daphukaggin?!?
i’m sorry for your pain, dude….tte. but it does help to know i’m not the only neurotic in the room.
no comment today …. i don’t swim when there are sharks in the water either …. and I have never worked out what to say when Katy says those things …… we need amendments here in Australia, I plead the 15th!!!!
Wise husband, wise (running) dog, wise Susan: this is a wise post!
Looks like I could learn a thing or two from Michael.
And you should do a longish run asap.
Maybe Michael likes your thighs…just the way they are! (Maybe you should try that too….)
Bigger thighs mean a stronger runner, really…think STRONG, MUSCULAR…not big!)
Cowtown is hilly… 🙂
Delightfully sore buns are the best!
Give ’em hell next week. The stress of five hours in freezing rain + running in the COLD would not have made for a fun half anyway.
Can’t wait to hear about next weekend!
Hey people wanting to bring comfort to thighs-there is no comfort to PMS-it’s not rational-that’s the problem. Good antedote-go lift and firm them up-and you feel better now. I hate PMS. Good luck on the run next weekend.
Thighs!!! You have great thighs! I wish I had your thighs! Oops sorry I almost started ranting about my thighs. PMS really does suck.
Love the picture of the dog with a race number. What a cutie.
Good job of playing it safe. No run is worth the hazard. And so I guess I can now wish you good luck for this upcoming weekend! Good luck!
Oh my God – Rikki actually made it to your blog! It is so much better to be safe – and there are always other 1/2 marathons to run!
Note to Michael – I find a good response in no-win situations is to say … “perhaps”, the more pensive and in-deep-thought-sounding, the better. Ahhhhh, yeessssss, per-haapppppssss, hhhhmmmmmmmmm?
I was looking forward to reading about that run. Oh well, back to Ulysses.
Probably a good decision not to do it – how’s the leg? Still disappearing?! Rikki sounds and looks gorgeous – is she a little nervous nellie?
As for the gym – bah! Evil CJ has convinced me that since this is my easy week that this should also include not going to the gym. So consequently I am having a fat week.
Sorry to hear you couldn’t run your half, sounds like a good decision though especially since there was ice.
A lot of times I get upset with my hubby too, especially when I don’t seem to be making any progress and have had a slow week. It usually turns out he does care, he just doesn’t like to see me get too wrapped up in how my body looks, all he wants is for me to be healthy and happy, I am sure that is what Michael wants for you too. And I bet your thighs are all muscle so I wouldn’t worry about it!
I am convinced I could stand in front of the tv (on the olympics) naked and wouldn’t get that much attention!! It is worse than football season!! hahaha!! Can’t believe you didn’t go last weekend!! Probably a smart move with your leg injury and the weather!! I am just jealous you even have a race to look forward to, I am still floundering! I am sure you will do well this weekend!! I will be thinking of you both while I am doing nothing but coaching in Shreveport!! Blehhh!!!! I hope I can get a long run in on a dreadmill!! Miss you at Buttcamp!!
I’ll be there too…hoping and praying for good weather. Its still too darn cold!
Good thing you didn’t run probably. What is freezing rain? Does a 70% chance of freezing rain mean that there is a 70% chance of rain and that the rain will be freezing, or that it will rain and there is a 70% chance that the rain will be freezing. Raining ice pellets – isn’t that hail?