On The First Day of Christmas

Literal B got a whole lot more precise.

I officially entered the world of data geek runnerds as the first day of Christmas Santa brought me a Garmin.  My data-loving, perfectionist, precise self had lasted quite awhile using only mapmyrun and my trusty Nike watch that provided time and lap functions, but it was time to take a leap forward.

Remaining Garmin-less stayed my thing for all of 2012 for a number of reasons.  First and foremost, for a good part of the year I wasn’t sure this whole running thing would stick.  While training for the Country Music Half last spring, I noticed many people with these huge watches on their wrists who were able to tell me what our pace was that instant.  I had no idea that existed (and didn’t really even realize I should think about what my current pace was, I was just trying to finish my long runs without dying at the time) but I was intrigued.  However, I really didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a gadget, even if it was incredibly awesome, if it was going to be rendered useless when I stopped running.   I think this really helped me relax and just grow to enjoy running, as I didn’t worry about time too much for most of the year and (mostly) enjoyed going out at whatever speed felt good.

I also have really strangely small wrists and thought those huge things would look absurd on me.

Fortunately, Garmin came out with the smaller, basic Forerunner 10 about the time that I realized I didn’t need to worry about falling out of love with running.   T received the most specific, and earliest, Christmas request he’s ever gotten from me.  Forerunner 10 in lime green.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I was thinking about it in church yesterday as my too-long-rested legs waited for the Christmas Eve service to start (ok, I’m a little ashamed to admit that, but it’s true).

Along with new running clothes, this little gem got me off my butt this afternoon and out for a short little run.  Not much, but my legs are moving again and it felt great to venture out between the scary southern storms this afternoon.  I’d also forgotten how hilly it is around my parents’ house, but it was a good challenge!   And, I love the data.  Love it.  Being able to not only see average pace, splits, etc. but elevation compared to pace as you “play” your run back?  I’m in love.

2013 running goals here I come, and I’ll now have all the nitty gritty data I need to track my progress!

The Luckiest

For a blog that looks (kind of) like a running blog, there hasn’t been a whole lot of running going on.  Maybe the best time to start a running blog is when you’re taking a break from running?  Probably not, but it’s what’s happening here.  I’m running here and there but largely taking a break due mostly to a completely crazy work schedule.  In the meantime, my husband has reminded me that he’s the most amazing husband a girl could ask for, and that I totally don’t deserve him (bear with me, this is actually running related).

The first Christmas we were dating, T blew me away with “A Very Betsy Christmas” – i.e. 12 days of gifts and activities, all cumulatively making up my *amazing* Christmas gift from him.  It was incredible, and I had already completely fallen in love with him, but this amazing act of generosity, creativity, and thoughtfulness (while some were lovely gifts, one of my favorite memories is the box of instant hot chocolate and It’s a Wonderful Life DVD that we spent the evening enjoying) definitely would have put me over the edge if not!  Fast forward seven years, and this tradition has continued (almost) every year – startup life put a mutually agreed upon pause on the Very Betsy Christmas, but despite even more startup craziness for both of us this year, he decided to revive the tradition.

Last Thursday night, I arrived home exhausted around 11:30 PM after a grueling trip to Atlanta and back with a tough meeting sandwiched between all of that driving.  I walked in the door in a not so great mood, and hanging from the chandelier in our dining room was this little guy:

A cute little doggie with 12 tags – apparently to tell me which of the gifts piled below I should open on each day!  Moodiness solved immediately!

The next day I opened the first gift – socks!  Ok, they were plain white socks that maybe wouldn’t be all that exciting, but they are super comfortable new running socks, and T couldn’t help but immediately declare “there may or may not be a theme to this Very Betsy Christmas.”  Ahhhhh, running gear.  A Very Betsy Christmas just got better!

After the 8th day of Christmas, here’s some of the swag – an LED light for dark runs, GU (he apparently has listened to the fact that I don’t like fruity GU!), and a Sweaty Bands headband with bees on it!  Love!

(the socks are on my feet so didn’t make the picture and one day was a gift certificate for Warby Parker glasses.  Awesome company if you haven’t checked them out yet.  If you don’t wear glasses they do sunglasses too!  Similar to TOMS in that they give a pair to underprivileged children for every pair you buy)

So that’s about all that’s been going on around here that’s running related.  Can’t wait to get back on a training schedule come the first of the year, busy work schedule or not, but for now I’m enjoying running fun without actually hitting the pavement as regularly as I’d like, and much of the credit for that goes to my sweet husband!

A Week of Inspiration

Confession: The next few posts were written back in September.  I’ve been attempting to get this blog moving for a few months now, but life and indecision got in the way.  I want to document these two stories for a few reasons.  First, well, they were already written.  But more importantly, while I was really in like with running earlier in 2012 I fell in love in September, when I got to share it with some of my favorite people.  This span of 7 days was maybe the highlight of my year.  And who knew running would make that happen?!  So, back to September 15th ….

As I write this, it’s early on a Saturday morning and I’m on a plane to Philadelphia.  Normally, I’d be sound asleep the second I boarded a 7AM Saturday flight – one of the great skills learned in a job that requires lots of travel is being able to sleep on a plane – but this morning, I’m too excited to sleep.  You see, today marks the beginning of two back to back fun race weekends made even better by how proud I am of those joining me each weekend.

First – the Philly half marathon tomorrow.  I’m running with one of my very best college friends who I’ll refer to as The Rock.  Not because she’s some buff body builder (though she’s certainly fit!) but because she is truly a rock, a steady place, in so many people’s lives.  The girl’s a better friend than anyone could ask for and certainly than I deserve – she’s pretty much always got everything under control, and even if she doesn’t, she’s there for whatever you need, usually before you even realize you need it.  I’m fortunate to have known her since the very beginning of freshman year and owe many good times and most of my sanity to her.

Anyway, The Rock has struggled with foot and ankle issues since 8^th grade.  Numerous surgeries, physical therapy, in the boot off and on, you name it, she’s done it.  Not fun.  But you’d never know how much trouble it was.  She’s not only always upbeat about it, but she’s managed to find ways to stay fit despite the challenges of a difficult foot, ultimately keeping her body strong enough that she started running.

When I moved away from NYC four years ago, it also unfortunately meant moving 1,000 miles away from The Rock.  And while we keep in very good touch, I was not aware she had started running, so I was shocked when she wanted to come along on the 8-mile run I needed to get in during a girls trip in April.  Even more shocked when she finished strong and declared it the longest and furthest she’d ever run.  Let out a squeal of joy when I got an email from her the following Monday.  “Well, the weekend run was so much fun, that I just registered for the philly rock n roll half marathon on sept 16… Ahhh!!!  Now I have to figure out how to train, details, details :)”  No hesitation, I signed up right then and there as well.  I was thrilled to fuel my newly-acquired love of running and even more thrilled that my friend, who I never thought could actually consider running this distance, was finding it too.  And now I’m on my way to a fantastic weekend of catching up with a dear friend and running her first half marathon with her.  I can’t wait to celebrate with her at the end.  She’s trained so well she’ll probably beat me to it.  If so, I will gladly toast that accomplishment at the end.  I’m literally so excited that I kind of forgot I have to run 13.1 miles to get there.  My training hasn’t been as great as I’d hoped, but that’s not the point with this one.  Time goals that are lurking in the back of my mind will come later.

And so It Begins

Well, here goes nothing …. Since it’s very likely next to no one will read this post, I’m just going to go ahead and get comfortable with talking to myself.  I’ll be ecstatic if that ever changes, but for now it’s cool, as putting the proverbial pen to paper has other purposes.  So, hi there!  Welcome!  I love being my own greeting committee!

I’ve thought about starting a blog for awhile but have grappled with focus, purpose, and structure.  I wanted a medium to write in a way that my job doesn’t supply, and to actively contribute to a community that provides entertainment, education, and encouragement to me daily.   Since I started running more consistently in the last year and relying on the blogging community for advice and inspiration, this desire has grown considerably.  But what the heck do I actually have to offer that community?

The hubs planted the idea long ago with a suggestion that I start a blog called “Literal B” to document the hilarity that comes from my extremely literal nature.  I mentioned it off hand to a dear friend who is often witness to these literal incidents, and she insisted she be the first to know if I actually started such a blog.  Hm, apparently they’re more frequent and more entertaining than even I realized.

However, I know I’m not nearly funny enough (or really ever funny on purpose with any success) to entertain anyone for any substantive amount of time with such musings.  What I’ve come to realize though, is that I’m still looking for that outlet to write and share, to contribute to the blogging community, and to learn about how to manage the technical side of a website (though for now I need some major help with that – thanks to the hubs for making it look as nice as it does so far!).  And maybe, just maybe, my literal approach to life might be interesting to someone.

Or maybe I’ll be hanging out here talking to myself.  Which is totally fine and serves its purpose too 🙂

So, without further ado, welcome to my literal world …. Sometimes hilarious, often embarrassing, always precise.