Month: July 2022

What’s in the length of a string?

Truth be told most books that I read get a quick recap and a note as to whether or not I would recommend the book. I rave about those that I love and enjoy passing them along to others to read. I politely say a book wasn’t quite my taste, while hoping to not offend the author that I know spent endless hours writing and editing. The Measure, by Nikki Erlick deserves its very own blog post. That should tell you the significance of this book. If you only read one book that I’ve talked ever-about make this the book. It’s not so much about the story (which is great), but more for the thoughts that it provokes while reading. This debut novel by Erlick will get you thinking. Quick recap about the premise of the book…everyone 22 and older receives a box at their front door. Inside they find a string and the length of the string is an indication of the length of their life.

So many thoughts- but first I have to start with to look or not to look?? How do you decide whether or not you want to know when you are going to die? Can you imagine having the chance to know when specifically death was going to come? Not how, but when. How would it alter the way in which you live your life. Would it make you live life more fully or would you be bitter if you were a “short stringer?” Would you quit your job and travel the world? Spend more time with those that you love? Perhaps be kinder to those who you knew had less time left? My first thoughts on to look or not to look are tied to my family history with Alzheimer’s. I couldn’t quite shake that thought throughout the entire book. There are of course genetic tests that can be done to determine if you have the gene for Alzheimer’s. Similar to looking at your string, you can’t unsee the results. Long string…yay life is good. Short string…why is this happening. No different with the genetic testing. No potential likelihood for Alzheimer’s a big cheer. You have the gene- changes the rest of your life. It’s easy to say that you wouldn’t allow the knowledge to consume you, but personally I just don’t know how it wouldn’t have an impact. There was a period of time when I thought I would get the testing. I’m a planner after all and would rather know than not. I could at least make plans for the future. But then there’s a huge part of me who knows that it would be looming in the back of my mind if the results weren’t favorable. So for now, I’ve opted for ignorance is bliss.

Next big thought abut the string length is also directly related to my experience with Alzheimer’s. Long string means a long life, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a long life with a good quality of life. So, is a long string that includes a period of dementia or an illness that limits your quality of life better than a short string with a higher quality of life? I would argue that a short string with a healthy, higher quality of life would be better than a long string. But I imagine there are different opinions as to quality over quantity. I vote for quality every day of the week!

In our house we are always trying to make the most of each day. My mantras for running marathons are “I run for those who can’t” and “I run today because one day I won’t be able.” I would like to think that we are making the most of every without knowing when the end might be coming. Is that not what life is all about? That’s not to say that there aren’t things you have to do before the things you want to do or that it’s fun and games all the time. But that’s also life. There are responsibilities that come with the ability to go and do and explore the world around you.

One last aside, for those who know me, I run in the morning. When I got up this morning I just had to finish The Measure. So I sat on the floor with the Ruby while the rest of the house was asleep. Until my eight year old came into the room, book in hand and asked if he could sit in my lap and read with me. So we read, in a quiet house, while I cried finishing The Measure and I can’t think of a better reason for skipping my morning run.

So I have to know…would you look or tuck your box away and continue with life as though it hadn’t arrive?

Three months to the Chicago Marathon

Three months…90 days until I run my next marathon. I’m really starting to believe that running a marathon is like having a child. Allow me to explain. You find out you are pregnant and you have nervous excitement. The equivalent to I just finished a marathon and I signed up for another on the way home. Nervous excitement. Then there’s some waiting. Similar to a pregnancy there comes that moment of oh wow, this is getting real. That would be today for me. Things are real and rather than start nesting it’s time to get my butt in gear!

So over the last few weeks my running has been really inconsistent. Quite honestly, I was just plain tired. I’ve been sick off and on and gave my body some grace. What started out as giving my body grace turned into a lack of routine, which translated to a lack of consistency, which made it easier to skip another day. Another pregnancy similarity- it’s like I just excited the first trimester and feeling good. Please note this is not some subliminal pregnancy reveal- I just really love the parallelism better the two journeys. Pregnancy is hard on your body and you get an amazing child at the end of the journey. Training and running a marathon is hard on your body- but rewarding in so many ways.

While marathon training doesn’t start until July 18 I had a solid build up week this week. I’ve been running long enough to know if I go from 10-12 mile running weeks to 24 miles I’m going to be sore and run the risk of injury. So after some seriously low mileage weeks I ran just shy of 17 miles this week. Next week I’ll run 20 miles over the course of the week and then I’ll be ready for that first week of training which calls for 24 miles.

Another way marathon training and pregnancy are similar…you need to eat better and get more sleep. While I’ve been keeping my water at 100 or so ounces a day, which if you know me is a major accomplishment. Huge! But overall my eating has been, shall we say- whatever the heck I want. As I sit here sipping my protein shake (thanks Kerry for the push to get back on the shake train!) I know that fueling my body is critical for the added miles and strength training coming my way. There will also be less Prosecco in my future. (See another pregnancy similarity!). But notice, I didn’t say none, just less so I guess it’s a little different. And I just need to get some more sleep. Basically, if I’m going to expect my body to perform and hold up to training cycle and marathon, I need to give it the things it needs- sleep and better nutrition.

This will be my third marathon training cycle. First was during COVID, when I ran a virtual marathon. Feels crazier and crazier every time I think about it. I had the gift of all the time in the world during most of that training cycle because we weren’t going anywhere or doing anything. Second training cycle started right after my Dad died. I had the extra emotional push of channeling my why and the fact that after so much anticipation I was running the NYC Marathon. But that was combined with having gone back to work full time. So far less time for training- but I got it done!! As I contemplate training cycle number three my why remains the same. I run in memory of my Dad and to #endalz. In some respects it is hard to believe that he’s gone nearly a year. The emotion is still raw, but in other ways because of Alzheimer’s I truly lost my Dad, years before. Not that it makes it any easier to fully lose him, but the disease robbed us of quality time together. So when I’m tired or trying to figure out when I’m going to get my next training run in, I did deep and channel my why. While it won’t bring my dad back, it might save another daughter from having to watch the effects of Alzheimer’s on their mom or dad.

Please consider joining me in the effort to end Alzheimer’s….no you don’t have to run…even though I’m trying to put together a running group at work. You can join me by making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in support of my Chicago Marathon run. Together we can end Alzheimer’s!

Stay tuned- a training cycle means more posts. I love keeping track of how I’m feeling during the process so I have something to compare it to next time. That said, I keep sayin Chicago is going to be my last marathon- so maybe the training updates will just be for prosperity?! Time will tell.