Let’s just dive right into the free flowing thoughts running around in my head today (at goal marathon pace, of course.)
1.) I’m thinking about how I always avoid dealing with the logistics of marathons until I absolutely HAVE to.
I guess it’s a product of my nerves and feeling overwhelmed, but I will think a lot about how I’m NOT planning, taking up way more time and space in my head than it would take to actually plan.
Luckily, Adam is usually good about figuring out logistics when I’m overwhelmed, BUT, knowing that only makes me avoid it more. I rarely “outsource” for anything, and I can’t quite figure out why I do it for this. I’ve been training hard, I guess something has to give!
I’ll set my alarm for 2am and if someone else could please just place me at the start line, that would be lovely. But really, wouldn’t that be awesome? Oh, and also pick up my bib, lay out my race outfit, check the weather incessantly for the 2 weeks prior, give me a rundown of the course, and tell me where to look for you on the course so I can shove over my arm warmers and forget to say “hi.”
2.) I’m thinking about all the sleeping I’ll do in approximately 2.5 weeks.
Almost like the reverse of childbirth, right?
I know I’ve gone on about my lack of sleep several times on the blog, but lately it’s just been BAD! I don’t know what to blame – it’s a mixture of me staying up later doing blog stuff or reading, being at the peak of training and probably flooded with cortisol, and mentally just not being in “sleep mode” since I know I have to wake up at 5 every morning to get my runs in.
I am making a PROMISE to myself (you know how I feel about those) that after running NYC I will allow force myself to sleep as much as I can for at least a week. The idea sounds great now, but I know I’ll resist it because that’s just how I roll. I’m not a sleeper! But the past few days, since my 22 miler, I’ve been feeling the effects, and I know I need to take the fatigue seriously.
3.) I’m NOT really thinking about my birthday, which is one week before the marathon.
Except I am, because I just thought about it 🙂 What I’m really thinking about related to my birthday is typical of all of my thinking and it’s ridiculous.
It starts out innocently, with the idea to make a special birthday dessert recipe to celebrate (not original) and essentially ends with me fixated on making something probably too elaborate with the purpose of making my birthday as stressful for me as I possibly can 😉
Why?
Because I’m me, and my birthday is all about celebrating ME! It’s my birthday and I’ll put unnecessary pressure on myself if I want to, I guess.
I’m not complaining and I’m not really all that “into” my birthday to begin with. Expectations – just another one of my ongoing issues!
4.) I’m thinking about sausage, and don’t you know it!
This time though, it’s all about my old recipe for homemade breakfast sausage patties that I revived yesterday and then inhaled, with some roasted butternut squash and eggs. SO GOOD!
5.) I’m thinking about how I don’t feel like I’m tapering yet, probably because it’s the last 2 weeks (and really 1 week) when running really cuts down.
I’m still basically of sound mind, and no ghost pains, which is odd for me. I must be super distracted by social media and sausage to not feel like I’m tapering yet.
There’s still plenty of time to lose it and lose it completely, I do not doubt!
What’s on your mind this week?
Thoughts/feelings on your birthday?
Hi! I'm Michele. Paleo eater and recipe creator, runner, and mom of 3. Welcome to my blog, where we obsess over all of it and love every minute! (It's way fun over here, promise.) Stay a while to eat, run, and rant with me! 
I love birthdays!! Mine especially, oh, and my son’s birthday of course. I am noticing the marathon commercials have started on tv which means it’s really really soon! omg, so excited for you.
Yes, it’s coming! Expo in 2 weeks, wow.
I’m really really excited for youand I am really really the same. Yes marathon training with kick my ass – – but the logistics would push me over the edge!!!
NYC logistics of any kind are overwhelming, the marathon really is over the edge!
I’m sorry, I just threw up in my mouth when you mentioned getting up at 2 am…
Yes it does sound rough. I think it might be 3, I hope it’s 3!
Hopefully you can get some sleep during taper. I know I’ve run myself into the ground in the past and it isn’t pretty! It’s hard being a runner. We’re such perfectionists about everything in life.
I should probably be asleep right now, oops 😉 I might never be cured of perfectionism!
I love my birthday, but I totally don’t want to do anything on it. Take me out, please! For years we didn’t go out, because it’s a holiday & my husband doesn’t like crowds or having to make a reservation & finally I thought this is ridiculous — how hard is it to make a reservation? I’m worth it & that’s what I want, so now we usually do go out.
Good luck with the sleep, the taper, the logistics & the race!
Not that hard to make a reservation, and you are most definitely worth it! And thanks 🙂
I had butternut squash, all the green foods, and eggs for breakfast but I wish I had those sausages! Birthdays are always kind of weird. I love them when I was little, but now I’d rather celebrate someone else’s any day. Except when my mom buys me a lot of running clothes.. you’ll never hear me complain about that!
Yum that all sounds good anyway 🙂 I agree new clothes of any kind really makes for an awesome birthday!
You deserve way more than a week to sleep in after the race! Oh and the logistics for NYC threw me for a loop. But they really have their stuff together and it was as well organized a race as you can have for 50k+ people. The very long wait at the starting line was the worst though (hope it’s not 40 mph winds for you too).
I always have mixed feelings about birthdays…I want the spotlight on me, but I don’t want too much. Doesn’t make sense! I really like to do simple things I enjoy (run, eat good food, spend time with family, friends).
I like simple birthdays too, and limited stress and drama 😉
It’s too early to be nervous for weather, but, I’m not looking forward to the wait in the morning!
Get some rest friend. I know you will. And we can celebrate your bday after! And i think I’ll make you a sausage cake! haha, jk. <3
Haha! I might have to draw my sausage line there 😉
Need to try the sausage!! Also, planning out birthday stuff always stresses me out, so I usually tell my hubs that for my birthday I want to plan nothing. Win win.
A whole lot of nothing on my birthday sounds awesome 🙂
Love my birthday and I love to make a big deal about it haha. I don’t feel like I’m in taper mode yet either, still another 50 miles this week, but next week I’m under 40 and then only running 15 before NY. Can’t believe it’s here already. Oh… and I have no idea where I’m sleeping the night before …. delayed planning at it’s finest! 🙂
Right, it’s next week when the taper feeling will kick in I think! Glad I’m not the only one who avoids the planning!
My birthday is next Wednesday. I used to get uber excited about birthdays until last year. I’m still perplexed about that?
I have a marathon in Dallas in December and all I can think about is staying injury free. #1 forefront of my brain. I’ll wait until the last minute to plan anything else out. Enjoy the taper!
Thanks, sounds like you’re doing well with your training! And happy early birthday 🙂
Sleep is a good thing 😉 I mean, if I didn’t have to do it (if I never got tired) I wouldn’t, but alas 😛
And ooooo birthdays!!! Haha, mine always suck, but I do always have big expectations (should learn not too!)
xoxoxo
I wouldn’t if I didn’t “have” to either 😉 But I might miss my crazy dreams! I’m still working on bday expectations, lol 🙂
I need to try that sausage recipe! I was such a sausage lover as a kid, I need it back in my life!
Birthdays are special and I always try to plan ALL my favorite things in that day.
That’s a nice way to approach your birthday, I need to learn from you 🙂
Sleep is a wonderful thing but I know what you mean about sleep pressure – the more I feel like I need the sleep, the less of it I’m able to get. Especially when you go to bed thinking, well if I fall asleep NOW I get 7 hours…and it ends up being 4 as the clock ticks…
Ugh, that’s the worst! I hate lying in bed knowing that even if I fall asleep that second 5 hours is my max – and there’s a tempo run on the other side!
for me….i might let my BF plan the logistics so that just in case anything doesnt go exactly how i want it i can blame him : ) oops did i say that outloud ? for me…my bday is not a fun time. i treat it like a reverse new years for some reason. like new years is all fun of look at all the wonderful ways im going to improve things and look at all these goals ive set i will achieve. my bday seems more like looking back and saying…wow i thought i would ahve had this done by now or be better at this cuz im X years old. it all started on like my 25thish bday and every year i just hate it. i mean i like the gifts and cake but it seems to be just a time for me when i get down on myself for some reason and just feel old. aging scares me for some reason ? each year i try to be better. and sometimes i am but sometimes not to much. i guess just try to relax ? but for someone like you that probably means finding something else to occupy your mind vs literally meditating on the floor : )
Oh no, it’s too early to think that way about your birthday! And you’re right, for me relaxing is finding something amusing to occupy me!
Ugh the NYCM race logistics are no joke. I ran the past 2 years and it’s just a lot. Luckily the race makes up for it because it is amaaazing.
I don’t really care about my birthday anymore…but luckily others know I love cake and there is always a cake 😉
I love how you have to decide your transportation in July – that is definitely no joke! I hate logistics, lol 🙂
I am stressed out for you just by reading this! I am so sorry to hear that you haven’t been sleeping well. I sabotage my sleeping all the time by staying up too late blogging/reading/social media-ing (is that a word? It should be.) Positive thoughts your way!
I’m just starting to look into the details now, it IS overwhelming! Thanks!
I need to try that sausage recipe! I think the logistics of a big city race like NYCM would totally overwhelm me, so I don’t blame you want bit on avoiding them. I love my birthday probably too much – it’s an excuse to eat cake!
So so true, cake!!! This is why my kids love my birthday, lol 😉
You’re always thinking about sausage aren’t you, you saucy minx! 😉
Ha! You nailed it 🙂
Absolutely, race logistics are one of those things that make you think “Hey, I’m running a marathon here… The cheek of them expecting me to organise myself & get myself there!” So funny. It’s great that you have someone to help you out on the day. Sausage is a nice distraction 🙂
I know, I’m actually just now looking at all the details, glad I’m getting somewhere!
wow i can’t believe you are this close to the big day! i’m so excited for you, and will be sleeping double to help you out. LOL. i love celebrating all birthdays, i just like festivities and celebrations. period! mine included 😀
i’m realizing that wearing a knee wrap reallly helps… that’s all i got, and strength training. luckily my schedule is about to get super busy with work and a new schedule so i’ll be busy and not spending so much time worrying. extra time can really be my frenemy!
Yup, extra time to think too much is not always good. Glad the knee wrap is helping 🙂
EEEK! SO soon, its so exciting!!!! Get some sleep girlfriend, you will definitely need it!
I’ll try!! Thanks 🙂
I need to try homemade sausage. Thanks for the sharing!
Really easy and delicious, hope you try!