What is with this month? I feel like I am still flying by the seat of my pants. Imagine trying to cram stuffing meant for a 15 pound turkey into a tiny duck. Bad analogy (proves my complete lack of brain coherency) but you get the point. Goal of no stressing is kind of not starting out so beautifully.
DC is going to be insane today with the inauguration so you bet your bottom dollar I will not be going anywhere not within walking distance. I don’t need stressful crowds today. Not my jam.
I need to get my marvelous on don’t I….
Marvelous is… it is kind of like a Sunday. I don’t have to go into the office so I only have to work in the running store tonight. That means setting the alarm a bit later for my workout and getting the chance to see a college friend I haven’t seen in ages. You may remember I talked about her right around graduation. She seriously saved my senior year, someone who I was never really close to until then. I am giddy just thinking about our coffee date.
Marvelous is… my Saturday morning. Getting the chance to catch up with A over coffee was what I needed. For my sanity. This girl is real, she is hilarious and kind of kick butt in all the right ways. We chatted for over three hours. I laughed for probably half of that time.
Marvelous is… my runs this weekend. I got a solid ten in both days. Exactly what I needed. They were pain free, soreness free and in beautiful weather. After feeling kind of off last weekend, I needed this boost. Dare I say I feel stronger and faster just two weeks into Best Body Bootcamp?
Marvelous is… my new race plans. So I told you I have three races in a span of four weeks – the Rock n Roll, the Cherry Blossom and the Nike Women Half. I finally decided I think I am going to run the Rock n Roll for fun and then actually try and PR on the other two. Let’s be real, the Nike I have high hopes of Molly and I killing it. I would rather take the Rock n Roll easy for that reason.
Marvelous is… connecting with a fellow blend more this weekend. While we can’t see each other in person (yet!), her texts were what I looked forward to. It is so nice to share similar experiences and be 100% honest with each other. You need someone to call you on your bullshit, I am a firm believer of that.
Marvelous is …. laundry. Well not the process but I finally caved and did laundry after a month. Man do I despise that stuff.
Marvelous is… Thrift shop. Don’t even get me started, that song comes on during my runs and man do I start running fast. What is it about certain songs that make my pace pick up? No idea but all I know is that when certain songs hit Kiss 108, I am on fire. I hate T Swift but Trouble makes me bang out a pace, Beauty and the Beat… On the other hand One Direction’s Little Things or whatever song MAKES ME WANT TO DIE. Have you heard it? Don’t, it makes me want to rip my ear phones out. Do not ever talk about a girl squeezing in her jeans, the dimples on her back, her thighs… just no.
Marvelous is… planning. This week is brought to you by planning. No other way to get through it. Save me?
I mean a jet pack to take me home would be ideal. Got to rock this week friends.
Question: What is marvelous about your Monday? How do you plan for your crazy weeks?
You always have the best memes (I think that’s what they’re called…) and they never fail to crack me up. If I’m still in DC tonight then I’m totally coming to your store. I’ll text you so I can find out where it is if that’s the case. Now you’re making me REALLY wish I had signed up for rock n roll! I’d totally do it for fun- I just can’t race it because of track! It would be the perfect training run. Boo. Can’t believe I’m going to be meeting you in less than a week
You should see if someone has a number you could have, I am going to treat it just as a normal run. I think pressure free will be perfect. I know! Can’t wait to see you next weekend. Freaking excited. It may be tough coming to the store tonight FYI there are so many road closings. It is gonna be crazy getting around while the store will probably be dead. I’m bummed I’m working
I totally plan when I get stressed out. just makes me feel better!
Exactly, it is the best form of coping for me.
Oh GOD, that One Direction song. I hate it so much it’s inspired me to de-lurk in your comments section
But seriously, the rhyme scheme is so sickly and saccharine, and the ‘stomach and your thighs’ line actually makes me throw up in my mouth more than a little. There’s a spin coach at my gym who plays it for every single damn cooldown and it’s gotten to the point where I literally stick my fingers in my ears so I don’t have to hear it. Yes, I get some weird looks but it is so false, so insincere and so downright vile that I think I’d probably impale the coach on one of the spin bike’s handlebars if I had to hear it one more time.
Everything about that song bothers me. As if just because some stupid man thinks you’re okay as you are (and they rarely do – there’s a reason why older/less attractive men have an easier time of it finding girlfriends than vice versa. Men are, for the most part, very shallow and looks-orientated) that suddenly makes every anxiety you’ve ever had about your appearance/weight vanish. Umm, no. As if the whole thing is about looking good for guys. UGH.
Sorry for the rant – I’m just glad someone else hates that stinking song.
THIS MADE MY DAY. No seriously I love the delurking just for that song. I mean I didn’t mind them but with this song they are out of my ok book.when was it right for men to comment like that on our bodies? I don’t get it. Plus it isn’t catchy, it doesn’t rhyme so it is off beat, it doesn’t do anything for music. Fail One Direction, Fail.
So glad you get a three day weekend and can snooze in a little later, extra sleep is always good. Glad you had a social time this weekend too, nothing beats a good catch up! Have a great time today too!
I really needed it, sometimes I get in those hide in a shell moments but this reminds me it feels good to reach out and do something
I know exactly what you mean. I’m always here if you want to hide in your shell and only communicate through a keyboard!
Aw thanks girl!
Jealous you have a day off on your hands today- enjoy it
I know, so needed. I wish I didn’t have to work at the running store but hey we can’t win them all
First of all, Stick It may or may not be one of the best movies ever. Second of all, totally agree with you about Little Things. Luke and I heard it in the car last night and just stared at each other. So freaking weird and awkward.
It is a freaking weird song, I hate it. Isn’t Stick it amazing, I forgot about it until it was on tv Friday night. Ideal
I’ll be at the Nike woman half, with a full pregnant belly : )
Oh my gosh please introduce yourself if you see me! I would totally kill for that.
I can’t even imagine how busy DC is going to be…as someone who hates crowds and socially crowded placed…that is not for me. Glad you don’t have to go into the office today, I bet that feels wonderful! Also glad to hear the 10 milers are pain free…also wonderful!
I know, I am so thrilled my legs feel this way. And you bet I will not be making my way around DC today
10 both days?!? Great job! So glad it was pain free! Have a great Monday
Yep, sometimes I do this long weekend because it is hard for me to run alone for a longer run one day. This is a great way to break it up
Stress is my middle name these days. My problem is that I stress out entirely too much over things that I don’t even need to stress about, if that makes sense. I think I make up 99% of my own problems… but that’s what happens when you’re type A and semi-neurotic, I guess.
So you’re not alone on the stress train! I need to do what you’ve been doing, seeing good friends and getting good workouts in always helps!!
I feel like we are so similar in the stress sense. A lot of things I shouldn’t stress about but I do. It makes me realize I need to kind of take a step back.
I can imagine how crazy DC would be today, I’d be hiding in my apartment! And oh my god, Stick It. I have not seen that movie in years.
It was on Tv and I couldn’t resist, totally forgot about it. Yep, no way I am venturing in today.
Haha I’m sorry but… that analogy… I lost it trying to picture that
Thank you for the laugh. As for crazy weeks, I’ve been trying to approach them with a “trim the fat” mentality, and only doing what’s 100% necessary during those crazy times. It’s not always an easy thing, but sometimes there are certain things you just have to let go or put off for another time. It’s a whole heck of a lot better than driving yourself crazy by trying to do way too many things.
I seriously need to do that with stress, trim the fat because I tend to stress about things I can’t change or that are not in my control The worst. I hope I get better at it because this cycle of insomnia blows.
Okay, the movie that’s in all those pictures I loveeee! I’m seriously blanking on the name… Ugh but anyways I have off today too!! So lovely. I hope the crowds aren’t too crazy for ya!
STICK IT see it, watch it. It was on tv and I couldn’t resist. Go watch it now!
dangit i missed it…i will find it again!
I listen to the radio while running too. And this weekend, the top 30 and top 40 shows were on, which meant that all these songs were inevitably on a bunch. And I realized that nothing makes me run more slowly than Thrift Shop!! haha. But with you on the One-D hater-ade. And on the J Bieber bandwagon for the first time ever. (However seeing that disgusting sap of a smile during his music video makes me kind of nauseous when I think about it too much!)
So many amazing things about Stick It. Too many. Missy Peregrym is the star of a Canadian show called Rookies that I ell.oh.vee.eeee. Oh man. She rocks.
And I’ll probably be racing the RnR … can’t believe how close it’s getting. Still have a marathon before then though.
As if I just wrote an epic comment after all the chatting we’ve done this weekend. … nothing left to do but
I think listening to the radio is prime, see thrift shop makes me run super fast. I guess rap altogether makes me run fast. Strange. I am excited for you to race the R and R you are gonna kill it, I will be jogging behind you cheering you on the whole way! Stick it is such a gem, totally forgot about it until this weekend.
Sigh.So jealous of your runs this weekend. I could only get in 2 both days with my asthma probs. Frustrating!
Ugh I am sorry, at least you are listening to your body and doing what feels good. Keep it up!
Yaya for having the day off from “normal” work!
You definitely deserve it. Ugh, and you reminded me I *need* to do laundry today; I have almost no clean workout clothes.
It was insane, one whole month is not ok Alex, not ok.
Ive never seen Stick It, but I do love her in Rookie Blue!! Im still waiting for that show to come back on after last season. They kind of left us hanging!
You have never seen it? Oh girl please watch it now. For me.
I share your laundry feelings. I think the best way to plan for crazy weeks is to be as organized as possible heading into them, and also, to remember that you will make it through them.
That is exactly how i feel, organization makes me feel so much better, I need it sometimes
Love that the GIFs today are from Stick It. Great way to start the week!
Isn’t it? That movie is so freaking good, almost up there with Center Stage
Enjoy your day off! I’m actually totally jealous you’re in DC at the same time as the inauguration, but I hate crowds too. So maybe I would actually hate it, haha.
Ya, I mean I know I should have gone in but this cold weather and crowds just makes it so unappealing
Totally understandable. It’s like DC’s equivalent of New Years’ Eve in NYC.
Ah I’m so jealous you have MLK day off. Enjoy it! A date with a college friend sounds like the perfect way to spend it.
I wish I didn’t have to work at the shoe store, then that would be a full day off. Man a girl can dream.
I love to plan, it helps me stay sane! Love dates with college friends! 2 of my college girlfriends visited me this weekend and it was wonderful!
Sounds like you had a great weekend, I love when friends visit and you get to catch up
Super jelly bean that you have a 3 day wknd! I will have to live vicariously thru u
Enjoy!!
I know, I am pretty lucky. too bad I have to work at the shoe store tonight!
Girl, way to rock the 10′s this weekend! I got in some solid cardio (spin & stair mill) & that kept me sane this weekend. Marvelous is being in my office rollin’ solo today, so nice & quiet! ps. What running shoes do you wear? I’m a Newton gal & thinking of branching out. K, thanks!
Oh gosh the stair mill is like death to me so I give you major credit. It just flat out kills me. Quiet offices are nice, I know the store will be quiet tonight when I work so that isn’t that bad. I wear Mizunos and have for six years, you would say I am a tad obsessed with them. Email me if you have questions, I know a lot about shoes now… therunwithin@gmail.com
I love those songs that just make you go faster, they are totally essential for any playlist. Glad you feel stronger too, I love strength training
I know, how can you go wrong with hits that make you run faster? Yes strength training is needed and finally I am embracing it
I love thrift shops! I loved working out this am and getting it out of the way!
I am such a frugal shopper so I can totally relate.
Haha I saw “marvelous is…laundry” and was like wait what? But I agree- it is pretty marvelous once it’s finallyyy done! I’m the worst at keeping up with it. Hope you don’t get too much chaos with all of the inauguration hype! Enjoy your Monday
Exactly, the clean sheets make it all worth it.
Marvelous is having today off work making for a four day work week!
A four day week just seems so much more manageable.
Haha love the Stick It memes! Thrift shop is also my jam– insta-running mode whenever it comes on.
Isn’t that song bomb? I wish I could listen to it on repeat.
UGH, I could not agree more!! I hate hate hate hate hate haaaaaaateeeee that song. One direction portrays girls to be so insecure, quiet, and vulnerable. They’re glamorizing it too, which is not okay.
I’m so happy you had good runs!! 20 miles in 2 days. Whoa! Oh, and I’m so jealous of all the cool races you’re doing. I would LOVE to do the Nike, and Rock N Roll has always looked like a blast.
Have a good “Sunday”-Monday!!
I just hear that song and I want to hit them, terrible song. It was a good running weekend for sure, I am sure I will feel it soon. Have a great Monday lady!
I thought of you this morning when I turned on the inauguration coverage. I don’t blame you for staying out of the way!
Aw love that you thought of me but Yes I will be staying far from the crazy
just realized you are in the DC area – me too
you are so right about the inauguration turning DC into a chaos. I’m staying far far away!
I know, I had no idea until I read your post this morning.
Good luck surviving the inauguration. It is fun watching it on TV right now, though. Yeah, I definitely have some songs that make me run faster and some that mellow me out. But I don’t listen to One Direction (ipod… so I pick out all my music).
I think a Rock and Roll race would be fun to do for fun and not for time, there’s a lot of entertainment on the course and other good stuff for you to enjoy. Have fun with it and good luck, are those all half marathon distance?
It had both distances but yes they are really jam packed races, so a good one to just have fun with
all of those stick it pics cracked me up, love that movie! and yeah def run the rock n roll for fun then ! it was a fun one when i did it so enjoy that! and sometimes those coffee chats are the best ! i try to get one in atleast once a wk if its possible.. yeah some of tswift and katy perrys songs gets me going on my runs !
The movie was such a throw back when it came on tv, loved it. the rock n roll races are so packed so a good one to just fully enjoy with some friends. have a great monday!
Good runs, coffee dates, day off from work, sounds like a fabulous day!! My day is marvelous because I started with a COOKIE and will be relaxing all day long.
Nothing better than starting with something sweet, I am with you on that one.
My monday is marvelous because I am getting a buttload of laundry done, cleaning, and a longer than normal workout done. Yay to no work!!
Isn’t having the day off amazing, I get to play catch up which is so needed.
Bahahaha LOVE THIS! Glad you’re staying out of the crowds!
Could not deal with that today at all, hope you are having a great Monday.
Oh I am envious that youre in DC for the inauguration! But I feel you on avoiding crowds. I think that maybe I’d just feed off the energy but not venture into the crowd. Who knows though!
Why is that first gif mesmerizing to me? I keep staring at the hands clapping over and over..
I really liked it too, just the movement made me have to put it first. Just going near the metro you can see the craziness that ensued.
Prayer haha…and weekend prep! Good luck with the crowds today! I’m glad you had a great weekend to get you on the right track for a crazy week!
I will not be near any crowds today thank goodness!
O it is so awesome you get to see an old college bud! I want to hear about the awesomeness! I also love the Stick It references made in this post. It reminds me how much I love that movie! Woot Woot for reaching for a couple PRs that is awesome girl, I have a feeling you will make it happen
Have a wonderful day!
Isn’t that movie just so good? I totally forgot about it until it was on tv. I am hoping for some good reasons but I always get nervous when it comes down to it
Stop it. Stop it with all of these coffee dates. I’m getting more and more jealous each time you talk about them. Although I am happy for you that you get to have so much friend face time! Hope you’re surviving the inauguration madness!
I know, one day we will have a coffee date. It will happen
I think I love everything about this post – from the Stick It GIFs to the coffee dates and even the laundry. I’m stuck playing that game too
AND I am obsessed with your race schedule. You have some great plans going on there. I’m totally jealous. Have a great day!!
I am pretty excited, this is the first time in a while that I have committed to more than one race at once. What I needed though for sure.
Wow! 2 10 mile runs ..that is marvelous!
Thank you, it felt great!
Haha, LOVE that we both admitted to Trouble being our jam
And oh, laundry, who invented that stuff?? Sheer misery, but yes, nothing more marvelous than that feeling when it’s finally done!
I know, I saw your post and immediately cracked up. Both of us are so not the Tswift type but we need some good jams to lift our moods. Misery in the process but warm sheets to sleep in for the marvelousness
Mmm, there is nothing like warm fresh sheets! Definitely worth the pain of laundry–plus then it just means you get to appreciate them more when you know how much effort it took
Good for you on the planning & that is a LOT of races coming up for you! When I’m stressed I try to make a physical list of things I need to do… helps me stay organized & sane, plus I like to cross things off it. LOL
Marvelous today is that I enjoyed a fabulous blood orange w/my breakfast & a big bowl ‘o veggies & dippy eggs for lunch. Food makes me happy.
I am the same way, it needs to be a physical list so I can put my finger on it and feel accomplished. i am so happy to hear your are enjoying this food change.
Ahh you’re so lucky to live in DC! And I completely hate Taylor Swift but her songs are so catchy ASKDJFL UGH. It annoys me but I can’t stop singing!
I know, so freaking catchy. what is it that makes me want to jam out every single time?
Love the gifs!! I plan my week by writing everything down so that I can cross it off as I complete things
Yep exactly, the whole crossing it off is like therapy. haha
I really secretly like the Thrift Shop song too
I always start jamming in my car when it comes on! And I can only imagine how crazy D.C is today, but at least you get to be in the center of the action (if you want to be 
)
I don’t know why but that song just makes me want to dance! I guess I need some dancing in my near future.
hahaha I haven’t heard that One Direction song– although most of their songs I cringe with so I’m sure I’d react the same with that one haha
Don’t listen to, it is a terrible song. No joke
haha! I’ll take your word for it
Two 10 mile painless runs?! I am so excited for you! I have visions of you killing those races in the near future!
I hope so, we will have to see though. I have high hopes
omg I love that movie .. but I forgot what it’s called. and oh gosh so much races!! good luck girlie!! can’t wait to read about them!
Stick it, best movie, I hadn’t seen it in ages until it came on tv. So good.
AHHH yesss that’s it!! haha thank you!! I wanna buy that movie but I’ve NEVER seen it on sale
This movie is so dang goofy but when it’s on TV I always watch it and love it
Great job on those runs Alex, very impressive TWO days in a row! You go woman
Thank lady, the movie totally put me in good spirits when it came on this weekend. Nothing like a good laugh
How awesome are friends!! Sounds like you’ve made some great blends recently!!! You are the queen of planning, because you are so busy and fit it all in!
Your running sounds like it is going great guns!
I have, I feel pretty lucky for that. I hope my running continues to feel this good
My Monday was marvelous because my wife got the news that she is essentially cancer free!
That is amazing, I am so happy for her and you both. I hope you celebrated in the best way possible!
Yay for a Monday off! Woot woot! Wow, 10 miles each day is quite the accomplishment! I haven’t heard little things, but just reading about it in this post is enough for me! hah
When Christmas rolls around each year, I treat myself to a super-sized planner so I can keep organized! My parents turned the tables on me this year and picked me up a pretty sweet one.
Do not listen to that song, you are not missing out at all. I love getting a brand new planner each christmas time, it is always the best going into the year feeling organized
AGREED friends need to call me on my bullshit! otherwise that’s not truly being a friend in my opinion. Love your race plans too BTW, three halves in four weeks? BALL SO HARD. I guess you do regularly run that distance though so I doubt you’re gonna have to change anything up. Love that you’re getting to connect with friends in person and over the phone and planning stuff….GAH I wish I didn’t live so freakin’ far away from everyone!! people I’ve met out here are “friendly” and “supportive” and fun to be around…but they’re not “friends”. Let’s just say I spend too much time on the phone and skype :-/. Marvelous about my monday….well I guess it truly was the opposite of marvelous, My doctor refused to give me the green light to go to work so I thought I’d be productive with grad school stuff instead, but then that got ruined because I spent the morning throwing up….BUT marvelous was that after I was done worshipping the porcelain gods, I had a good book to keep me entertained
still? Gosh I am so sorry the meds are still taking a toll on you. I mean I guess everyone reacts differently so you couldn’t anticipate it. I feel like DC still has a lot to offer so I need to be better and spend less time on the phone, on the computer, you know. Go out and embrace the city, still working on that one. I am pretty excited about the races, I haven’t had more than one race planned at a time in ages. Feels really good. Keep hanging in there lady!
So glad you’re liking the Best Body Bootcamp! Tina rocks. You should just come down to ATL and hang with us.
I wish, atlanta is on my wish list of places to go. She is killing me, I mean it
Three day weekends are the best. Can we have those every week? They make the rest of the week so much more bearable!
I’m loving all the Stick It gifs, it’s been too long since I’ve seen that movie.
I know, why can’t every weekend be a three day weekend. i would be in heaven. I hadn’t seen the movie in a long time but it came on randomly friday night. so good.
I bet DC was madness yesterday!!
Oh laundry, I hate folding, just not fun!
laundry is never fun. Just watching the inauguration on tv you could tell dc was a mad house