My Run-Spiration

Ladies & Gentleman, this is Jake!

Jake is not only best friend from grad school but he is my friend soulmate! Jake has taught me a lot about life from deepening my appreciation of a good "cardi" and fashion scarf, the do's and don'ts of hosting a birthday party at Taco Bell,  to how to really be who I am, say what I want and do what I want for me.  Jake reaffirmed confidence in the midst of doubt and always knew how to use little bit of passive aggressive sass to liven any situation. However, what Jake has guided me through the most is how to overcome the mental hurdles I set for myself. 

Little does Jake know but he's my Run-Spiration :) 

For several years I've wanted to become a "runner" but never thought I could. In grad school running was very much the "in" thing to do. Everyone around me was all a buzz about running, training, signing up for races and blah blah blah!  Now despite rigorous 6:00am workouts 5 days a week, I have never had any running endurance. I would try and get into a routine and it just never worked out. However, in February of 2011 I decided that I needed to make it happen and couldn't take no for an answer. Jake always said, "you just have to push yourself-it's all mental-you can do it". While this sounds reassuring and quite fitting for the committed Student Affairs professional that Jake is, I never really believed it. 

So there I was, Super Bowl Sunday to be exact, I got to the gym, hopped on the treadmill with my iPod in hand and I knew that I was just going to run until I couldn't move anymore. That day something happened! The stars aligned, my auto-shuffle playlist was in sync with my desires and I ran almost 4 miles without stopping. While this may not seem like a giant feat, it was for me! I would typically call it quits after a mile and hop on the elliptical, but not this time. This time I ran, I enjoyed it and I wanted to do it again! So I did :) 

I started training for half marathon that April and was running up to 5.5 miles with ease! Sounds great, right? Then life happened, and as Jake would say, life handed me a "slapping" between Masters Comps, NASPA, job search, graduation, lack of job, continued job search, moving to Chicago, training and BAM! 

Here I am.....out of my routine and aching to go back! I feel gross, insecure and physically not in the shape that worked so hard to be in over the last year. It's not fun folks :(

As Jake would say, "I'm on the precipice" and need to get back to the routine of not just working out, not just running but taking time out for myself...making me a priority. I need to get back into gear for both my mental, physical and emotional well-being. The last few months have been rough because I've deviated from the very routine that not only brought me endorphins and an after workout glow but the self confidence and assurance that I was on my game in all aspects of my life. It doesn't matter if people tell you that you look good, because if you don't feel good then it simply doesn't matter.

Jake is sadly not here in Chicago to remind me, to push me and to threaten to turn up the speed on my machine if I didn't run fast enough. The motivation now comes from within! It doesn't matter what others are doing around you if you don't take the initiative to do it for yourself.  The goal setting comes from within and that is what is going to happen:

Action Plan:

•      -October 15th-Pumpkin Run 5k in Chicago
•      - Another two 5Ks by January (probably something not in the Chicago snow)
•      - Half Marathon by the end of the 2011-2012 school year

Paging Dr. McDreamy.....Stat!

About a week ago, in the midst of training/move-in/life madness,  I started breaking out because I was a little stressed out...no biggie! I went to bed one night looking fine and woke up the next morning with half of my face swollen, blotchy and really hard! It looked gross and I tried to keep it covered up with make up which didn't help the healing process.  I hadn't yet been to a doctor in Chicago and was new to the whole "pick your own doctor" process with Blue Cross so I resorted to what I know best: television!

Television is where all true knowledge comes from, right? Want to learn how to solve a homicide? Easy: CSI. Want to learn how to survive in the outdoors? Easy: Jeff Irwin (Ooooh, too soon?)

For the last seven seasons I've prided myself on being an avid Grey's Anatomy follower. Not only have I learned about navigating hospital romance, why not to cut an LVAD cord and how to perform open heart surgery, but I've also learned the in's and out's of successfully negotiating a hospital merger. However, what Grey's didn't teach me was how to pick a doctor with a PPO (oh, how I miss Kaiser) and what to actually do to get help!

As if Grey's Anatomy were not enough to validate my expert medical opinions, I consulted with my personal medical assistants: WebMD  and Youtube. Now, repeat the following phrase with me: NEVER AGAIN. I learned way too much inaccurate information, freaked myself out and am never allowed to self diagnose again.


To make a long story short, saw a bad doctor, got some antibiotics and was referred to a hospital for "facial drainage".  Yay!


In true Sophie fashion,  I was totally freaking out the entire day before my procedure.  Not only have I never been put under anesthesia, but I've watched way too many shows on TLC like, "Anesthesia Gone Wrong," or "Lies Your Doctor Told You" to be at ease with a medical procedure. (Disclaimer: These show's aren't actually aired on television, and I'm too young to be sued by TLC).  I also really just wanted to be home with my family because they always make everything feel better! But any who, I learned that I'm lucky to work with people who care just as much as family! My supervisors went to the hospital, stayed the whole time and have continued to check up on me.


But back to the fun parts.......

My day began at 6:00am:


Yes, I got dressed in the whole hospital get up: form fitting, one size fits all gown, hair net and stylish feet booties. Now, let me throw out this fun fact for you. Little did you know that when you go in for surgery they ask you to remove any nail polish that you may have on so that they can monitor the color of your skin pigmentation under your nails. Sounds great, right? Well, I found the loop hole! If you ask once, just once, "do I really?" you will immediately be asked if you just got a manicure and pedicure because if the answer is "yes" then "you'll be fine". Great! I'd hate for my $60 mani/pedi to be money wasted in order to SAVE MY LIFE :)

I had a lot of time to contemplate the mixed messages associated with the health care system and their care for my mani/pedi while waiting for my doctor who was running 2 hours late. No big deal! Not like I was freaking out, or had been fasting or was generally in a bad mood or anything.

When it was finally time to get wheeled away, I was a HOT MESS!!! Cried my eyes out and I'm pretty sure the nurses knew that I was going to need much more than a sticker and a lollipop at the end of all of this.  I remember being wheeled away, moved on to the operating bed in the frigid cold meat locker of a surgery room and the nurse telling me she was going to start anesthe....zzzz. Yep, it happened that fast! I don't remember a thing other than waking up in the recovery room 35 minutes later, looking up at the nurse and saying, "So tell me how the general clinic here works-Can I schedule just a check up or do you not do that?". Yes, I over analyze even in my anesthesia induced sleep!

I got some lovely takeaways from the hospital including a follow-up appointment next week, antibiotics, pain medications and this lovely bandage on my face which my supervisor offered to bedazzle. Yes, they know me ALL TOO WELL :)