A new craze has hit Japan – earcleaning. You can go to an earcleaning parlor and have a pretty girl clean your ears with a stick. Sound kinky? Well, they emphasize the fact that there is no “hanky-panky” going on, and that people really do just enjoy getting their ears cleaned. It reminds them of their childhood, the way biscuits and gravy and cholesterol remind me of mine.
I’ll stick to biscuits and gravy, thank you, and hold the earwax.
I ran the 5K this morning with a less-than-distinguishing time of 38 minutes. First the first time ever I walked during a race (with the exception of races I deliberately walked, of course). Masterguns Hunt was in my head in the last half, however, shouting at me to “stretch it out” and I made pretty good time from that point on. Good ol’ Masterguns. We miss you.
However, I finished, and that’s the best part. 
I stayed around to watch the elites and was pretty amazed. I feel inspired to do more and I remembered why I do this at all. And, best of all, I seem to have purged my body of illness.
Well, maybe that isn’t the best part. The best part is that I raised $115 for a good cause, what with donations and my entry fees and such. I’m also considering joining Team in Training and raising more money as well as training with others. I saw the TIT people at the race and was fairly impressed with the camaraderie — and the fact that the team raised of $11,000 for this race alone. I’ve been wanting to do the San Diego half marathon anyway.
And you know, all this inspiration came from a paid post. Yes! A sell-out, loser paid post. So to those of you who snarked about my being a PPP blogger, this is what I think of you:
Thank you, Dooce, for the inspiration for this.
It’s 5:03 a.m. and I am slinking around my house gathering running things. John Bingham’s words never rang truer than today. I am getting ready for the Arizona Distance Classic 5K.
Although “ready” might imply that I have run a single step in preparation for this race — I haven’t. Or that I have continued with my diet and lost weight instead of gaining 5 pounds the last two weeks. Or that I did not have the flu yesterday and the day before and actually miss work.
I am not ready. I couldn’t be ready in a month. So I’m just going. Thanks to Seth and Matt for donating to the Leukemia and Lymphoma cause. Seth, I didn’t know they researched multiple myeloma as well. We are all pulling for your dad, and are thinking good thoughts for you.
I’m dressed, it’s 5:11 a.m. now, and I’m really going. Really. I have my favorite red racing shirt on, my ancient JL rowing team shorts, my spiffy Brooks shoes with specially molded inserts and a sports bra. I even have my falling apart, favorite “Gonzaga Crew” hat on. I’m really going. I might even brush my teeth. It wouldn’t be sporting to mow down the competition on breath alone.
Waddle on, friends.
When I was in college, a supervisor used to constantly tell me, “Missy, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself a break.” Ten years later I am finally coming to terms with this: I treat myself like shit. A lot.
The last six weeks have been extremely stressful. First, my supervisor at work left. Then I interviewed for a part-time position. I was offered the part-time position and took it, which meant leaving my job, training new staff, etc. Both kids have been sick off and on, as have I. Simultaneously our oven has broken, our car windows stopped rolling down, a pipe in the backyard sprang a leak, I accidentally broke our front window, Maya has been teething and I discovered I missed all the deadlines for Ben’s school next year.
I am almost nervous to say it, but — what next?
This on top of Ben’s 5th birthday, the two types of termites eating our house and other issues. This on top of the birthday parties for other children, group outings, trips, guests, diets…
I have been berating myself because I haven’t been sticking to my diet, and because I am exhausted all the time I don’t feel like running. I am running a race this Sunday and it is going to kick my ass.
If you could get inside my head, you would hear a drill sergeant barking orders and chastising me for not being perfect. I have to wonder; is everyone else like this? And how do I tell the drill sergeant to take a hike and give me a break?
Today I finally just forgave myself for not getting things done and not exercising and for eating that entire box of girl scout cookies (sorry Marti!) and you know what? I fixed part of the car and got a plumber out to look at our pipe (the entire line is going to have to be replaced — ouch!).
There are still termites, the window is still broken and my room is full of laundry, but I discovered something new this week — the ability to forgive myself. Let’s see if I can do it again, and maybe get that laundry folded…
