Kristin and I have tons in common. For instance, we love the same type of almond butter.
But despite the kindredness, when Kristin and I started this blog project, I noticed some significant differences between our approaches to running. I would take all of your time to list them all out, but to call out a few:
- I ate pizza as a part of my regular diet, while Kristin, well, when was the last time you had pizza Kristin? (Probably, it was with me!)
- I planned my marathons around LIFE.
- I did very much enjoy our club, but it felt like there were lots of things vying for best part of my week!
- I went out every week, and sucked it up on the track. I was pretty happy to be doing decent at best.
- I had lots of friends I saw REGULARLY that did not run.
Over the past three months, if you can believe me, I think Kristin is rubbing off on me!
Case 1: Nutrition
- I don’t know what the hell happened, but I turned around the other day and my diet consists of fruit & veggies, quinoa, almond butter, lentils, yams and sweet potatoes, and I find myself searching for the most nutrient-packed rice I can find in the grocery store! In fact, I’ve made no new friends at pizza shops! (Full disclosure: to be fair, as I write this, I finish-off Kristin’s cookies from the race she made today, one being a “healthy cookie” which was amazing, the other being a “protein square” which, was horrendous to be honest!)
- Actually, hell no. Mark my words, Kristin will never convince me to stop drinking beer socially! In fact, I have actually found a way for beer to performance-enhance running, a la 2:47 marathoner teammate Barry Young, who calls for 2 or 3 or 4 beer, or 1/2 a bottle of wine, the night before a big race, to fully relax. Amen.
- What the! Where did all my non-running friends go?! Thing is, I now spend way more time with my running friends than my non-running friends. We plan running trips, running runs, coffee runs, and strategize around running programs for the community. I still love you, non-running friends! I need your perspective too! Awkward silence. Well, at least that’s out in the open now…
- Whatever happened to my last-minute, apathetic way of competing in what I called “races”? I’m now a full-fledged, “Marathon Planner”! If you come up to me on the street, I would now be able to list-off my most exciting races for the next– 6 months!! And I even skip sweet events in the community that often crop up with non-running friends, to train. (Sorry again, non-running friends!)
- This is really tough to admit, but I often skip plans on Friday nights that extend into Saturday mornings. Simultaneously, we happen to have a workout on Saturday’s early mornings. Is this a coincidence, or is this some kind of subconscious and revolutionary change in my values and approach to life? (On the bright side, I’ve read that admitting is the first step to reversing behaviour!)
It’s so weird to wake up one day and sort of see how you’ve (totally) changed. I think it’s mostly for the better: I’ve become more focused in how I spend my time and energy, more healthy, and a much better runner. In fact, many people were saying that I had improved dramatically over the past two months, and I had no explanation. Some part of me wonders, is this Kristin’s focus and drive rubbing off on me?!
The other part of me is happy to have chronicled these changes, to see areas and opportunities to pull back. Because, while it’s great to have focus and maintain a tight-knit social group, it’s so important to keep a few lenses on life, and I miss the people I’ve neglected (clearly, my non-running friends) and the incredible dimension they add to my life! I guess it’s like any sort of passion. As you get more passionate about something, it evolves to fill more and more of your free time– it’s not really a matter of choosing it to be that way, it just happens! With that said, I think I will call some old friends and plan art night, before the 35k run tomorrow.
I wonder how Kristin feels, about me and my subtle influence?
Hahah ahhh yes the protein bars were terrible, agreed. Lesson learned….don’t trust recipes found in mens health magazine. Stick to the Oxygen Clean Eating recipes for future tasty things.
I think the almond cookies made up for them though, no?! Mmmmmmm yummm!! You have been noticeably more focused and fast Alicia!! Making amazing progress. Hmm,, I have to admit to you rubbing off on me in a similar way…I attended two non-running related events in the last two weeks, and sacrificed over-doing workouts on long run days in order to attend said events with non-runner people. LIke, today, I skipped the hot yoga session (would have followed my 36 km long run) to spend the afternoon socializing and visiting being out and about. I think maybe we really are starting to balance out….