Wednesday, October 18, 2006

I've got to get some work done!

"I don’t know what inspiration is, but if and when it comes, I hope it finds me working…" - Pablo Picasso

Well, to make a long story short - I DID IT!!! It was truly the hardest thing I have ever done. I did it in a very slow 3 hours and 11 minutes. I have been hobbling around ever since, but I have the medal and the t-shirt and I can now say that I have done a half-marathon! YAY! (and the very best part is that it is done!)

A strange thing happened to me as I made my way along the course of the race. After running a few miles and then stopping for a 'comfort break' I found myself towards the back of the crowd. I am not really an athlete, and I often needed to stop and walk. At around mile 7 I started paying attention to what was going through my head. (I had to pay attention to something other than my screaming hips!) I was shocked by how negative my thoughts were. All that was going through my head was how I wasn't going fast enough or how I wasn't running enough or that I was going to be the last person to cross the line. I was worried that the people along the route were judging me because I wasn't going quickly enough. Finally I forced through my head that I was DOING A HALF-MARATHON and that I needed to be proud of myself. The whole process really showed me how I think and how I need to change the way that I speak to myself. Lots of lessons learned.

I also have realized in the past few weeks that I have been stretching myself too thin. I have so much that I want to do and need to do that I haven't been doing any of it. I realized that in order to make my dream of a book-lined writing room a reality I need to get myself focused. We are getting close to getting our website up and running but I have been shamefully neglecting my portion of the work. Right now that is the work that needs to take priority in my life. So I have made a difficult decision. I am taking a blogging break. Actually I am taking a writing break. No writing allowed that isn't website-related. I hope that this means that I will be able to come back to writing and blogging refreshed and energized and ready to get this chick's words published!

So I am taking a blogging break until December 1. Between now and then I am going to turn 32 (on October 25th,) go on a journey to the States to meet some incredible women, see the Indigo Girls in concert, start a new part of my job, and hopefully get a large amount done. So I'll have lots of stories to tell, and I'll be looking forward to catching up on yours.

Keep safe and well, take care of you and I will see you in just over a month. (I should be walking normally by then...)

xo

26 comments:

Colleen said...

Great work on finishing the half marathon Meg! Sorry to hear about the walking trouble. I'm looking forward to seeing this mysterious website. Good luck, have a great month! Have a Happy 32nd too!

Susannah Conway said...

yay you!! a half-marathon - that is an incredible achievement (and sounds like pure torture to me :-) so proud of you, girlfriend! xox

Anonymous said...

i love this quote! i'm doing to have to post that next to my desk!

and CONGRATULATIONS on the half-marathon and all of the realizations that came with it. i am so happy for you! i
will look forward to hearing from you when your blogging break is over. take good care of yourself!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! And I'll miss you during your blogging break, but I hope you come back bursting with your stories and refreshed.

Colorsonmymind said...

Yeah!!!!!!!! I am so proud of you. You must be so sore yet feel so good:)

Is that your room in the pic? I love the idea of the book lined writing room.

Happy Birthday lady!

I think it is great you are taking time to work on these wonderfiul creations. I can't wait to see them all.

Even more so, I can't wait to see you!

Love and kisses

Anonymous said...

have fun!

you rock for doing the half-marathon.

see you soon.

Darlene said...

you will be missed...take good care of yourself and good luck.

Sending you off with some prayers for health and happiness

xxx :D arlene

M said...

Congratulations on the run!! Yeah! I remember when I was doing my 10km I had the same negative script running through my brain - every time I run actually! Nice to knwo I'm not the only one.
Have a great blogging break and good luck with the website. I'll miss you!! oxoxoxox

Claudia said...

Oh my goodness!!!! How can you leave me for soooo long! Over a month with no words from Megg???
I will manage somehow and I hope you have a great time in America (wish I was coming too!) and have a lovely Birthday. I´m going to miss you!!!

Anonymous said...

Have a profitable break - see you when you get back and Happy Birthday for next Wednesday.

Amber said...

Be safe and well. We will miss you.
But I think you are wise to put things in order like this...

:)

sophie said...

I am just amazed and inspired
by you.

Even if you showed up three months
later after the marathon
started.
You did it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Deirdre said...

Well, I'm impressed. Congratulations for sticking with it even though all those negative things were going through your head. I'll miss you while you take a break, but it sounds like it will be productive and fun. And Happy Birthday too!

Ali Ambrosio said...

Congratulations - this is one of the things I've always wanted to accomplish. Good for you for sticking it through to the end and realizing how your mind was trying to bog you down with unimportant things.

Also, I wanted to say how much I identify with your previous post on things you miss from Canada. It is a regular thing for me to cry in homesickness, and I think I avoid keeping up on my personal e-mails because I just miss everyone so damn much. Somehow even keeping in touch can be painful!

I hope you have a great trip to the US and a wonderful birthday.

Enjoy your break!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on getting it done! I struggle with that inner voice that says "this isn't good enough". It does get easier. Hope you want to do another one. Look forward to seeing your website. Enjoy your break.

Alex S said...

I don't think so Megg. You cannot take a blogginng break without the congress of bloggers approving! Well, I understand but I am going to dearly, dearly, dearly miss your blog so much! AND CONGRATULATIONS on this majestical feat of running! I am so proud of you because I know how very much this means to you. Wish I could have been there to give you a huge hug at the end of it!!

boho girl said...

counting...xoxo

Leah said...

happy, happy birthday!!! i've come back just in time to see you leave, but i hope you have a wonderful time on your various journeys. see you in december!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you've got alot going on. COngratulations for you for your accomplishments!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! A half marathon is HUGE!!! Have a wonderful break and much fun in the States!

kelly rae said...

having run my first half-marathon last summer, i know how hard it is, so a heartfelt congratulations coming your way!

[a} said...

awesome about the marathon! :)

Anonymous said...

Awesome job on the half marathon! I did my first half marathon too around that date. I did it by myself and halfway through, I was getting negative thoughts. I pushed them aside and focused on the next water stops.

I did another half marathon two weeks later in San Francisco with my sister, and I had a blast! It was great running with someone I knew and the scenery and cheering fans were great.

I'm glad you made it through. Have a good time on your trip.

kj said...

i'm happy to visit your blog. i'll be back when you're back.

and congrats on a fine achievement! and for making sure your mind saw things the right way!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! The NYC marathon just happened this past weekend and I have to admit, when I saw the tv footage I actually thought, Maybe I could do that, too! You must be absolutely proud of yourself! :)

paris parfait said...

Congrats, Megg! Well done - that's quite an accomplishment. You're an inspiration.