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August 14, 2007
day 44
The day started out great. I know Monday morning runs are the worst. My legs don't want to cooporate after the weekend. They especially don't feel the need to cooporate at 6am. I had checked the weather and it was going to be a perfect running day, all day. Cool temperatures, low humidity. I could run after work.
I woke up early, long before the alarm was set to sound. The birds were chirping, the curtains were lightly moving with the cool morning breeze. I felt refreshed. All that was missing was a dancing tea cup and a talking chipmunk. The clock read 6.05am.
Maybe I should get up and run? I laugh so hard I almost peed myself.
No, I'm going to do that tonight afterwork.
I could go into work early. Almost fall off the bed. I crack myself up.
Just before lunch, my dad called. They have friends visiting from Ireland at the moment, who I haven't had a chance to meet yet.
"We are coming to town today, and would like to take you to dinner."
The short version of this is I said yes. I'm an only child, a people pleaser and my parents cry very easily. Top that with Irish guilt, it really is a no-win-situation. You are probably thinking "what's the big deal?" yeah I know "just run before dinner" sounds realistic. But my parents, god bless their cotton socks, eat dinner the same time as most teenagers are waking up.
Anyway I said short ... I now had dinner plans for 4.30pm at my parents favourite restaurant, the Mandarin. For those of you not from these here parts. The Mandarin in a enormous chinese buffet.
My parents love it. They bring all our visitors here. They talk them through the elements of buffet eating. It's like a tourist attraction to them. A giant ballI of twine with plum sauce and fortune cookies. They've even be know to take pictures of buffet??? I don't get it at all. It's awful.
My plan was to have a very small plate of something plain. Then by 7pm I'd be ready to run. I started with a small bowl of won ton soup. As I made my way to the main course buffet, I noticed a lady, with a plate full of nothing but chicken balls. There had to be 20 battered balls swimming in sticky red sauce.
I would not to tempted by balls!
I place a small spoonsful of noodles and a tiny helping of stir fried shrimp. I was incredibily proud of my restraint and willpower.
Then my eye caught the spring rolls.
This is where things get blurry. I don't remember what happened exactly, but things got out of control. There was a lot of deep fried, sweet and sour type stuff and maybe a trip to the dessert bar.
I got home at 6.30pm and wanted to die. My stomach ached it was so full. I felt sick.
"How am I going to run?" I had 5 hours to get run 44 in. I never thought the streak would be brought down by a chicken ball.
.... what will happen ....
I wish I could insert some kinda tension building music .... just pretend ....
My phone rang at 7.30pm. It was our coach. Checking to see if I had run today. I explained my teriyaki trauma, my sofa-bound situation and the lack of running on day 44. He offered to run with me.
Just after 8pm we headed out for run 44. We ended up doing 8k, he is not only supportive, but a bit evil and pushy.
I didn't puke.
After the first half my stomach settled down and I felt pretty good. I even did the hill I normally avoid.
Speedwork tonight and definitely no chinese food today!
Posted by Ali at August 14, 2007 8:58 AM
Comments
You were doing so good and then....it all got blurry.....
Posted by: rae at August 14, 2007 12:17 PM
i need a coach!
Posted by: londonjogger at August 14, 2007 12:29 PM
Wow, the suspense was killing me!! Glad you muscled through!
Posted by: Allison at August 14, 2007 12:52 PM
That was a great post. Way too funny. We now know a bit more about your family. Sounds like mine. LOL
Posted by: Pat at August 14, 2007 1:13 PM
LOL
That sounds like a scene out of My big fat greek wedding.
diversion by chicken ball...that is SO FUNNY.
Posted by: Tea at August 14, 2007 1:34 PM
This is why you are a more dedicated runner than I am. I would have gone home and fallen asleep on the couch until bedtime.
Posted by: Vanilla at August 14, 2007 1:56 PM
Nice. I admire the umph to run after that...it makes me a little sick thinking about it.
Posted by: Amanda at August 14, 2007 2:00 PM
That's awesome! I love it!
I had a burger before I ran last night... does that count?
Your coach is great... and apparently a very very mean man.
Posted by: Dave at August 14, 2007 4:55 PM
Not puking rocks. Almost as much as you. 44 and counting...
Posted by: jank at August 14, 2007 10:18 PM
oh, man, you are made of far sterner stuff than I. A boatload of Chinese like that would have put me out of commission for *days*.
ROCK ON!
Posted by: Moon at August 15, 2007 4:55 AM
You are my hero. And in honor of that, I am attempting Septemberathon.
Posted by: Susan at August 15, 2007 8:21 AM
Wow, I have a craving for both Chinese food and a coach :) If you can make it through this, I see quite a streak in my crystal ball...
Posted by: Nancy at August 15, 2007 9:58 AM
I'm not surprised. You. Are. An. Athlete. The running gods are looking down on you - or you are looking up at them??? Just one question.... is the Chinese Buffet part of nutritionathon?
Posted by: strickler at August 15, 2007 10:01 AM
Wow, can't believe you made it out! I would have screened the call, got a tub of ice cream out of the freezer and watched ridiculous reality TV for the rest of the night.
Posted by: Leana at August 15, 2007 11:54 AM