In spite of it all...

Carrie and I were in the PA/NJ area for business & pleasure this weekend. Today, we drove for about 7 hours to get home, (from Bryn Mawr, PA to Boston). Pictured here is a self-portrait I took after stumbling into the bathroom this morning. Check out that hair. HOT.

ANYWAY...

I was absolutely determined to run after not running on Friday & Saturday due to:
(1) the blister of death
(2) a 22 hour long day on Saturday, complete with 9 hours of driving, 1 performance (Carrie & I in NJ at the Fuel House), and 1 happening involving Susan Werner who played a faaaaabulous set in Bryn Mawr at the Gazebo.

THAT was yesterday.

Today, after the drive home, I dropped Carrie off and drove straight to the gym. I arrived at 5:57 pm. The gym closes at 6 p.m. This was news to me.

I briefly considered going home to take a nap. Instead, I mapped out a new running route with my car's odometer, parked the car, re-tied my shoes, and took off down the street on foot.

The route I'd picked is one incline after the other. I was shuffling along like an 80 year old asthmatic until I saw my reflection in the store windows. My heart rate jumped about 20 beats per minute every time I got near a reflection - meaning I'd check myself out and then extend my stride, stop slumping, suck my stomach in, and start to move. When I couldn't see myself, I aged dramatically again. That's a habit that needs breaking. Anyone watching was surely amused by my obvious vanity...

All in all, the run was good. My goal was to run 3 miles, but due to the incline and the impact of the concrete, I ran about 2.5 miles and walked .5. I feel good about that, though. I could've given in to my instinct to order a pizza and watch an aerobics video (my usual work-out). But I didn't. That's cool. ;)

BUT the b***h is back. BLISTER. My new blister-proof band-aids and non-friction socks did not solve the problem, so I will likely need new shoes. The sandals I've been wearing for the runs are absolutely adorable - strappy, sassy with 3 inch heels - but...

Kel

Yeah? So what.

So I fell off the treadmill.
Shut up, thank you very much. :)

Friday's ridiculousness has developed into huge bruises on my elbows and left thigh, and a really stiff neck.

I know you want to know what happened and I really don't want to relive it, but if I can tell the audience at my gig on Friday night, I can tell you.

I was at about 2 1/2 miles on Friday, but I needed a tissue. It wasn't the "wipe your nose on your sleeve" thing either. I needed a tissue.

Fine.

I hop off carefully, leaving the treadmill running, because if you pause it, it will shut itself off before you have a chance to come back from your tissue trip. 'Tis true. I've tried that. And yes, I usually bring tissues with me, but I forgot on Friday.

Anyway ... hopped off, got tissue, finished my business, saw little girl crying in gym, knew her, said "Hi Marlena!," watched her start screaming again, got really distracted, walked back to treadmill, went to walk back on it ...

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Yes. I forgot I'd left it on. I was distracted!
MORTIFYING!!! I promise you, it's just as mortifying as you imagine it to be. This is all to be imagined with a very cute runner on the treadmill across from me. Horrifying. I did actually feel like jumping out the window but it's triple-paned and that would suck.

I haven't run since Friday because Kel and I have been out of town having a super super time gigging and listening and hanging.

I'm glad to be back and will be running tomorrow at 5:30. Woohoo!