Energy Management

We talked over the weekend about energy management on race day, Coach Rick brought up something that was a concern of mine already that I now want to focus on preventing.

Emotions. Emotions can take energy away from us or bring energy to the table. The wrong emotions the morning of can effect the success of the run dramatically. So I want to confess some emotions I am already having as I’m training.

Recently when I run, as I scan the scene of an intersection before I decide to lift off the curb, or as I map my runs around the best Christmas lights my mind becomes obsessed with thinking a lot about Harry Lapan, my 13 year-old brother. Harry recently lost 80% of his vision to a benign brain tumor.

These days, when I’m focused on my current marathon challenge I think of Harry and how his challenge is going to be one that lasts a lifetime. His marathon isn’t 20 weeks worth of training, its forever. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that this tough place my family has been in for 4 months is now permanent. A different marathon for us as we begin to support him. Sometimes I feel selfish as I begin to focus on the Boston Marathon.

Sometimes when I run I think about how much I already admire my little brother for his bravery, I just get so emotional over it. Harry is going to develop the patience of a pet rock, which I could never do. I know he can transform into whatever he needs to transform into to get him on course to a long healthy life. I am still just so sad and its coming out of me when I run, and I need to push past it and smile, smile in honor of him.

I guess in sum between now and marathon day I want to move a few miles in my grieving of this turn of events for my brother and sort of turn the page towards what is next.

Check out my fundraiser at
http://www.razoo.com/mags

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is my father’s 53 birthday, and in honor of  the man himself, I’ve compiled some corny dad stuff. Enjoy 🙂

All fathers are invisible in daytime; daytime is ruled by mothers and fathers come out at night. Darkness brings home fathers, with their real, unspeakable power. There is more to fathers than meets the eye.
–Margaret Atwood, Cat’s Eyes

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.  ~Mark Twain, “Old Times on the Mississippi” Atlantic Monthly, 1874 (not a true story for me of course— but found this funny)

 

Smart

My dad gave me one dollar bill

‘Cause I’m his smartest son,

And I swapped it for two shiny quarters

‘Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters

And traded them to Lou

For three dimes—I guess he don’t know

That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates

And just ‘cause he can’t see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,

And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs

Down at the seed-feed store,

And the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheeks

And closed his eyes and shook his head—

Too proud of me to speak!

— Shel Silverstein from

Where the Sidewalk Ends

There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.  ~John Gregory Brown, Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery, 1994

A Summary of Summer 2010

So clearly I have taken a bit of a holiday on the whole blogging thing. But I’m assuring myself that is ok. I guess some things have changed that are worth updating.

My sister got married in August…thus I have a brother

 

 

 

I ran a half marathon in September … thus I’m 1/2 way to my marathon goal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK here’s the truth, I ate a lot of Caramello’s along the way…  so maybe I’m more like 40% to the marathon

I managed to get my 1st tan since 2003…though it faded within 2 weeks

 

 My hair’s a little longer, and not so red anymore…thus I’m anxious to cut and color it

 

 

 

All summer long I fell deeper and deeper in love with this guy I know….thus all is good on Planet Mags.

 

And as the days are getting colder and shorter— all feel’s very quiet, and I’m unsure of what the next big thing in life will be. I am starting to consider that maybe I should stir up some small projects throughout the darker seasons that come, just incase that something big falls right into my lap.

Sweeten up the weekend at Hebron CT’s Maple Festival

Goodbye winter, hello spring! As many of you have gathered, spring is just around the corner, and oh how “sweet” spring is in New England. This weekend, March 13th and 14th, the Maple Festival of Hebron, Connecticut is celebrating its 20th birthday. The festival welcomes New Englanders from far and wide to treat themselves to this annual tradition of maple related festivities. The town hosts this event every year hoping to bring families together and provide noncommercial, inexpensive enjoyment during a quiet time of year.

Just a few of the activities you’ll find at this sugary festival include …

To finish reading this article you may read it for free at: http://www.examiner.com/x-38831-New-England-Getaways-Examiner~y2010m3d10-Hebron-Connecticut-hosts-20th-annual-Maple-Festival-March-1314

Click and say “If it’s free its for me!”

Introducing…Mags

Some might call me a loser for starting a blog, but I just can’t sit around anymore. Sit around watching other people’s lives move forward. Moving on with babies, weddings, honeymoons and trips around the world. I need to map out my trip, my road to fame.

I’m 24, happier than I’ve ever been, but my day-to-day is lacking substance and direction. I can’t think of any better time to discover my gift and to begin to cultivate it into something huge.

Something huge defined:

Radio Talk Show Host

A new SNL comedian, that is actually funny!

Motivational Friend available for hire

A curvy runway model

Miss America

A Creative Consultant at Hallmark- that doesn’t have to know how to draw- but says “I love it, but I hate this about it, change it to black and white- fix the rest and have it on my desk by Friday at noon. Oh, and call Sophie’s school- she’ll be out tomorrow. I’m taking her to the opera.” Sophie is 6.

Interior Decorator for Restaurants and Hotels

Personal Shopper for someone with a large house, skinny waist, and no personal preferences whatsoever- but likes change CONSTANTLY

A Mom of 5

Independent Wedding/Event Planner

Trivia Host

Independent Slogan Writer

Personal Budget Goddess for teens and young adults

Board Game Designer

Free-lance Brainstorming Machine

___________________________________________

 

Can I do it all?

Realistically… definitely.

Mags

Ready or not here I come.....