Running With A BeerBelly

#myironiclife

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:23:32 -0400

In 1995, Alanis Morisette released the song, Ironic, about so-called ironic events and circumstances. She should had called it “Unfortunate” because ultimately, “a black fly in your chardonnay” is just unfortunate and by no means ironic. What is ironic though? After nearly 30 years of being adamant about not wanting children, ranting and raving about my big city, single girl, child-free, rockstar lifestyle, I “met the man of my dreams, and then met his beautiful children… “ Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?

It’s ironic too that, the Saturday before Easter, instead of the normal meet up with drinking buddies and getting hammed town at a local bar, I found myself trying to come up with creative places to hide Easter eggs. What’s so wrong with hiding Easter eggs? Hiding Easter eggs is the ultimate sign of adulthood and maturity. You know you’re getting old when any of the following occur:

1. You hide Easter eggs.

2. You actually LIKE the ugly Christmas sweater you once wore to an ugly sweater party in college.

Unless you’ve got some crazy infatuation with egg hunts, chances are if you hid eggs this weekend, you have children of your own. Suddenly, all of my childhood traditions are coming to life again, and Easter isn’t just about embracing my hangover and inhaling my nephew’s candy. I feel like Ebenezer Scrooge when he finally comes to terms with the real meaning of Christmas. I’ve finally come to terms with why people want to have their own families. While difficult at times, children bring so much life to your days.

Saturday was a turning point for me, realizing what a significant part Joel’s girls play in my life. It’s refreshing and terrifying all at the same time. Because it’s one thing to give your heart to one person … it’s a whole other ball game when you give it to three…

“And, all I want is for you to be happy

And, take this moment to make you my family

And, finally you have found something perfect.” - Red Hot Chili Peppers

There goes my dream of being a foot model…

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 07:21:22 -0500

There goes my dream of being a foot model…

hi! have you ever pooped when running?

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:37:44 -0500

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for your kind note! I have pooped during a run! It was everything I could had ever dreamed of!

Yours truly,

Ask a better question

Beach B*tch

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 01:32:17 -0500

I’m headed to Costa Rica tomorrow and although very excited, one of the first and only things that came to mind was “my fear”… No, not a fear of drinking dirty, undistilled water and crapping my brains out or a fear of sharks or hurricanes or greasy guys hitting on me… no, no, no… my fear is much, MUCH worse. You see when I was about 14 years old, I developed a Swimsuitphobia. It’s just how it sounds: The Fear of Swimsuits. I am scared of bathing suits more then the thought of being on an open, unguarded ledge at the top of the Sears Tower. (ok, Willis Tower, SHUT UP ITS MY BLOG!!!) You’d think Stephen King made horror movies about bathing suits, not spiders, the way I get squirmish around the “B” word.

If you think I am kidding, look through the 3,000 Facebook photos of mine and find me in a bathing suit. (Ok, there is one, Circa 1986, when I was innocent and young and far from corruption of the media.) With my fear of bathing suits, has come a rollercoaster of emotional social situations and arguments amongst boyfriends and friends… I’ve spent countless days at beaches, pools, vacations, work trips and boat rides explaining why I’m not wearing a bathing suit. Where most girls buy 3 new swimsuits every summer, I have owned about 3 in my entire life. (That’s including the 1977 hand-me down from my older sister.) About every 10 years, I muster up the courage to buy one, but even then, I miraculously forget it at home.

So yesterday, I walked into Target on a mission for a suit. I drooled over the two piece bathing suits and the pictures of the models with their size 0 waists and flat stomachs. (Hooray for Photoshop!) What I would give to have the confidence to strut my shit in that!?? I piled a couple of suits into my basket, got into the changing room and immediately started to sweat. I think there ought to be a full bar inside women’s changing rooms… Ya know, kind of like having a few drinks at a bar and suddenly thinking you can sing like Whitney Houston or dance like Tina Turner. Had I been a few martinis deep, I swear I would had seen Cyndi Crawford in the mirror… but unfortunately, no… I saw my pasty white, Homer Simpson gut, skinny arms and Kardashian booty that couldn’t keep the bottoms from creeping up my crack. Needless to say not a pretty combination.

This is where I get deep and sappy… MEN need not proceed…

I then had this internal discussion with myself about how liberated I’ve felt in the past few years and how I’ve prided on being a mentor to girls and women who have struggled with eating disorders and body image. What am I teaching other women if I am preaching to love your body yet show up to a pool in a freaking snowsuit in 95 degree weather? I felt that owning a bathing suit was a very simple step towards proving I love my body and everything it has to offer, and that women of all sizes should feel the same. Besides, doesn’t it look more ridiculous to show up to the beach in full length jeans then to just be in a freakin’ bathing suit!?!?!?!?

So here I go… two piece and all… I’ll be showing more skin then a Debbie does Dallas movie… and if there is anything you can take from this blog… is that while in a bathing suit, ensure that everyone around you is hammered. Kiddddddiiinnnnnng! (Kind of. Ok. But for real…)

“The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.”~ Anna Quindlen

"Nearly my whole life I thought losing weight was everything… but I have found that gaining..."

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 07:38:15 -0500

“Nearly my whole life I thought losing weight was everything… but I have found that gaining strength within your mind, body and soul is truly what matters…”

Photo

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 07:33:08 -0500

sorry i missed this day of run club…

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:34:43 -0500

sorry i missed this day of run club…

Photo

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 07:00:54 -0500

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You A Fighter

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:46:08 -0500

Saturday afternoon, Me to Joel… “Ya know, I really hate this marathoning crap! Why do I continue to sign up for these? I don’t want to train for this thing…”

Sunday morning, Me at Stoney Creek… 8 mile run at 7:35 pace, non-stop.

Sunday after the run, me thinking… “Holy shit! That felt great! I can’t wait to race! I can’t wait to train for the marathon!”

Sunday afternoon, Me to Joel..”I totally kicked ass on my run! I can’t wait for Pittsburgh marathon! I wanna sign up for ten more!”

Sunday afternoon, Joel thinking… “This girl is psycho.”

Ya know, even the motivated get unmotivated from time to time. But the difference between motivated people and unmotivated is that motivated people know how to get back up…

This whole Pittsburgh marathon was bringing me down, after what seemed to be an entire month of holiday gluttony, I couldn’t fathom putting myself through yet another torturous marathon training plan. I just wanted to inhale chocolate covered cherries and listen to NPR podcasts. What was I thinking when I signed up? Hadn’t I sworn off marathons back in April of 2011? So, after beating myself up and of course a bit of self pity, I decided to dig deep my first day of marathon training… and that I just did. Unlike most people, when I think all hell has broke loose, when I am down and hate life, I like to turn it around… I like to test myself, prove to myself that I’m better than that. I like to challenge myself…

And with just less than a week into the new year, many people are challenging themselves with new resolutions. My opinion on resolutions is that they’re crap. Yes, I said it. C R A P. Look it up in the dictionary and you’ll see me squatting next to a tree, dingle berries and all. (No, dingle berries don’t grow on trees.) Someone asked me what were my 2013 resolutions… I just laughed. “Resolutions are for people that make excuses all year long.” I make goals for myself on a daily, weekly, monthly basis… I don’t wait 364 days to figure out what I want out of life. I am constantly evolving and striving for more out of life. You ought to do the same…

So, excuse me, if this blog is a bit scattered… it’s been awhile since I wrote. And for some reason today I was craving it. I’ve been craving my artistic side lately. I am entirely certain it’s because of my surroundings, the amazing RAW artists I have in my life that continue to inspire me. In addition to my boyfriend who continues to stand behind me in everything I do… and because it’s a helluva view… (ha!) I have found how necessary it is to have a significant other to encourage you to do what you love. My mother was a bit surprised when I told her yesterday that Joel insists I continue to knockdown my goals and the reasons I set out for Chicago, and to not let our relationship stand in the way. Where most guys would feel threatened to have a confident woman on their hands, Joel encourages it.

So, on this same thought… If there is one thing I can hope for you and your significant other, is that you motivate each other. Notice how after some people get married they gain 30 lbs and get comfortable? Why would you stop being healthy in your relationship… don’t you want to live longer and happier TOGETHER? Joel has most recently gotten me into P90x, a 45 minute full body workout routine. Back in October, after a run, I’d done a few situps, in which he remarks “Did you just do 4 situps? 4?!?!” In which I reply… “Yeah, if I lose my beerbelly, I will have to rename my blog.” So, as big as a runner I am , I never got back into strength training. The truth is, I have a tendency to obsess about things (no shit, Sherlock!) and I did not want to spiral back into the lifestyle I once had (because laxatives should never be a daily part of your diet…) But I got a little push, decided to try this P90x… and I’m about 2 months here and there into it. I will tell you what… I vow that my running is and has improved simply because of it and I encourage every athlete to discover the benefits of strength training.

Last but not least, I will touch on in regard to marathoning..if I hmmm and haw about marathons, why do I continue to sign up for them? You know how you have days you don’t want to exercise but once you do, you feel 10 times better and youre glad you did it? That’s how I get about marathons. Once I am in training, everything else in my life seems to shape up. My work becomes easier, my mind becomes clearer. And being that this marathon is one of the hardest courses I will have encountered, it will also be parallel with my relationship this year. Although, the happiest and most content I’ve ever been in a relationship (and completely in love) it has come with its share of challenges… and just like my marathon training, I’ll continue fight and work hard at it J

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…”- Kelly Clarkston

"The most important thing a woman can learn in her running career is how to snot-rocket gracefully."

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 12:35:02 -0500

“The most important thing a woman can learn in her running career is how to snot-rocket gracefully.”

- Deep Thoughts by Kara Coraci

When I quit running...

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:00:26 -0500

When I quit running...

can’t wait.

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 00:11:43 -0400

can’t wait.

Now that’s my kind of Prince Charming…

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:43:43 -0400

Now that’s my kind of Prince Charming…

"Running a half marathon makes me feel like I skipped half the race. One month ‘til game day!"

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 14:37:44 -0400

“Running a half marathon makes me feel like I skipped half the race. One month ‘til game day!”

"anytime you think about not going for a run… think again."

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 20:28:33 -0400

“anytime you think about not going for a run… think again.”

Kara meets CARA

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 23:46:57 -0400

I made it a point to obligate myself to going to two CARA runs a week. Tuesday evening speed workouts and Saturday morning long runs. This past Tuesday really got me hyped about the marathon. It took me back to a time and a place. About sixty runners took orders from a certified coach: 3.5 miles of speed… 2 by 1 miles and 3 by 800s… just like the good ole’ days. I was clueless what I had in me, seeing the only speed I’d done lately was how fast I could shotgun a beer. But I was soon reminded how powerful running in a group can be. After the first half mile, a few of us decided we wanted to run the same pace and push each other. It was that same feeling I used to get in high school and college workouts… patting each others sweaty backs, high fiving after intervals, and mumbling during the run to a teammate “c’mon, let’s go…”

Trust me, I had been having my share of doubts about this upcoming marathon. What did I get myself into… AGAIN?! In fact, I felt running for my grandmother had been my only motivation. These past couple weeks of running with CARA though, I was reminded what keeps me going back to the marathon. There is no better feeling then sharing a common goal with other people and working together to fight towards it.

“This is the part of me that you’re never gonna take away from me…” -the not so poetic, (but I love this line),Katy Perry

This about sums it up. And don’t forget about really,...

Sat, 30 Jun 2012 22:43:24 -0400

This about sums it up. And don’t forget about really, really, really, really loving beer :)

Photo

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 11:50:58 -0400

goosefoot

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:43:00 -0400

How much would you pay for an all night performance?

I wasn’t exactly sure what I had signed up for when I agreed to go to Goosefoot with my friends on a random Tuesday evening. But with all of the buzz going around town, I didn’t want to miss out.

Now, I’ve never had a problem paying top price for some of the concerts I’ve attended from Neil Young to Madonna, Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and at one point, every girl’s heartthrobs, N’ Sync. I’ve forked up cash for a number of Cirque DuSoleil shows, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Jerry Seinfeld to seeing RENT a whole whopping 5 times and even its counterpart opera, La Boheme. It’s obvious, I have a love and passion for the performing arts but when it comes to dropping $90 + on a meal, I hesitate that it’s more then I can bite off.

At the same time, I have a network of Chicago friends that love their food, love their wine and we just so happen to love each others’ company. So, when they asked me to hit up Chicago’s latest and greatest foodie lovers restaurant, I had no real excuse but to go.

Off the beaten path, Goosefoot is located on the outskirts of Lincoln Square. We nearly overlooked it thinking that a restaurant of this stature couldn’t possibly “be in these parts of town.” Low and behold, there it was a small building off of Lawrence and Western. With only 14 tables inside, twas no wonder it took almost three months to get in. Upon arriving at 8:30pmthe waitstaff was unbelievably pleasant. Pleasant not pretentious. In fact, they had the same attitude as if you had just met them at an indie-rock concert, laid back, hip black attire, eclectic haircuts,and some with handmade jewelry, gave each server a bit of their own personal flare. What I especially loved is that our table of five was taken care of by every server not just one to ensure impeccable service. There was a different person pouring water, serving food, opening our wine bottles, and explaining dishes, it was a collaboration, almost a synchronized dance act that they had practiced for months on end.

The eight course meal lived beyond my expectations, and even more so when they graciously added two courses for our dining experience. Sunchoke soup, scallops, duck breast,compressed apples and crispy goats milk cheese swept across our table. The courses played out as if it were a Broadway show, with sipping on wine and chatting about our weekends being the curtain closes and each new course being another act. The grand finale was a chocolate covered sea bean, it’s sweet and salty taste and combination of both crispy and smooth texture was powerful!

As the clock reached midnight, our bellies completely full and just when we thought it was over, the chef himself, Chris Nugent,personally came to our table for the encore. He shook each of our hands individually, thanking us for being there. He was by far one of the most humble, down-to-earth persons I’d ever met. Maybe I’ve watched too much Top Chef in my day, because I always assumed Chefs were frantic and uptight. But Chef Nugent proved that wrong as he told us about finally living out his dream and the romantic story of his wife quitting her accounting job to assist him with his life long goal of opening Goosefoot.

When the bill came, each person was$90, and we were pleasantly surprised there were no corking fees even after six bottles of our previously purchased wine.

So, how much would I pay for an all night performance? After three and a half hours of constant stimulation, I felt as if I’d just left the theater, ranting and raving about my experience. I could finally justify paying as much for dinner as I do for a concert, so go ahead… let your tastebuds dance the night away…

http://www.goosefoot.net/

Fell In Love In A Hopeless Place

Wed, 30 May 2012 22:35:00 -0400

Now if you think this is some ho-hum blog about my endless attempts of dating..think again. The last time I fell in love was when I spotted the only bottle of Jameson at the local convenient store on St. Patty’s Day morning.

Jameson = Love

Covenient store = Hopeless Place

This time I found love smack dab in the foyer of my apartment building. People always say when it’s the right one… you just know… and I just knew. Without hesitation, I took them into my studio apartment, excitedly, I kicked off my shoes, ripped off my jeans and threw off my panties… I had been waiting for this day nearly all my life. Within the 15 years of my running career, I had never found a pair of athletic shorts like this before… but thanks to UR Sportswear for sending me a pair in the mail, I fell in love…

Last summer I wrote a blog titled “The Pick”, discussing how obnoxious it was to have to pick my wedgie every thirty seconds on a run. Not only is it embarrassing but it starts to mess with your form and slow you down. Having competed at the high school and college level, I learned all of the obsessive compulsive techniques not to do while running.

Here’s a few:

Do not blow your nose in your shirt (a Valentage classic)
Minimize your spitting
Do not constantly look at your watch (nearly impossible)
Do not mess around with your uniform: shorts and singlet

All of these things had the ability to add seconds to your time and in a 5k race, seconds is all it took to lose a race. Most of these I didn’t have a problem with but with a booty that puts Beyonce to shame, I can’t help to have to constantly pick at my shorts.

I’ve tried all sorts of running shorts: men’s, women’s, Underarmour, Nike, Mizuno… I’ve ran in tights and booty shorts and those gawd awful briefs we had to compete in… and I’ve even ran naked… (HI MOM!) But I had no idea what I was missing out on until today, thanks to Jacalyn Gross and her newest line of fitness apparel UR Sportswear. I went out for a brisk 8 mile run in my brand new hot pink UR Sportswear shorts, put my house keys in the convenient and comfortable zip up pocket in the back. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think running shorts could make that much of a difference but UR Sportswear proved me wrong. With the special elastic legs, not once did I have to fidget with my shorts. Wedgie? Nope…not with this butt. Camel toe? No way. I cut my mileage time today by 15 seconds a mile, I was flying! I finally could go out on a run and worry about my performance and not how I was going to pull out my wedgie without the entire city of Chicago having to witness it.

What’s great about UR Sportswear is it’s created by an athlete herself who understands athletes. Her apparel is made here in the U.S., not some sweatshop in China. It’s a good feeling to support independent designers! Go ahead fall in love… try a pair of UR Sportswear shorts.

http://store.ursportswear.com

Now if only I could find a Sports Bra that makes me look like I have a Double D chest :)