Sunday, July 01, 2007

Embracing My Inner Maggot

Here’s how tough things have been around here: I started running in the morning.

It was a long time coming. I had to skip my run more and more often, what with late meetings/work/HellBoy meltdowns. And I started to wake up too early more and more often, opening my eyes in a panic: What is it I’m overdue on today?

Finally one morning as I lay in bed waiting for the 6 am alarm to go off, I realized I was a maggot, and I knew what I had to do. I hauled my carcass out of bed, put on my running clothes (discovering in the process that a tight running bra is a lot harder to wriggle into when you’re stiff), did my warmup stretches (ditto), swallowed some coffee, and for the first time since I started running some two decades ago, went out for a run as the sun was rising.

I hated it. I’m a running owl, not a lark. But I thought of all you maggots out there, and I did it. And did it again, and again. And you know? It’s not so bad. It’s certainly very different. I can’t get the same cleansing, relaxing feeling I do at the end of the day, when I can let all of my built-up frustrations melt away. I actually need to run longer to feel like I’ve done anything. But it does lend the rest of the day a certain calmness.

On another subject, we saw the ENT, and got good news: since HB is overall improving, we can hold off on surgery, as he is likely to outgrow this. I was more relieved than I expected to be.

As for the blog rename, I’m mulling over the options. I won’t go password-protected. I’ve been combing through my archives a little bit, and I don’t think I have too much on here that I’d be horrified if someone discovered. I’d much rather not be outed, and I do think I need to change things up a little, but to completely prevent all possibility of recognition would mean changing the blog so much that it wouldn’t be fun anymore.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so happy you'r posting again and that all is well! Thanks for sharing the good news about HB.

DrSpouse said...

For some reason your blog is showing up on bloglines as DoctorMama. I wondered who this was.

I still haven't got back into running after the pregnancy/miscarriage but I think I might after we get back from a short holiday. However I have been to water aerobics and decided I need a new suit for that, and even bought one.

Sami said...

Congrats on embracing your inner maggot. Also congratulations on HB improving so that surgery is not imminent. It's nice to hear from you again... I hope that the rest of life - chaos and work slow down so you can enjoy yourself.

Anonymous said...

Again, thanks for helping me recognize that I am a maggot. It {at the moment} is helping me survive a cross-country move. Still, the early morning thing just isn't for me.

Erin said...

I've always been a morning runner/exerciser--I find it gives me a calm that lasts throughout a lot of the day. Congratulations on finding that it's working for you (at least somewhat).

I'm glad HB doesn't need surgery right now. That must be quite a relief.

Harry Somers said...

Glad you're posting again and that the Boy's throat is getting better. I wanted to let you know I awarded you a Rockin Girl Blog Award since I've been enjoying your blog so much. You can check it out here: http://egg-donation-directory.blogspot.com/2007/06/and-rockin-girl-blogger-award-goes-to.html

E. said...

Yes, congrats on the early morning running. I am in no way a morning person, but I do think heart-rate-raising and sweat-producing exercise is best in the morning, at least for me. It just gives a good start to the day, and gives me more energy.

You had actually inspired me to start running again after 10 years off following a hurt knee, but then I got knocked up. I know you can run while pregnant, but I don't think you're supposed to start your running regimen while pregnant. But once I'm recovered from labor and delivery, I swear.

Snickollet said...

Hats off to you, maggot. I've always been an AM exerciser, but I'm having to rethink my routine due to kids sleeping until it's too late to take them on a run in the morning. It's hard for me to think of exercise as something to do after work, but, well, there you go.

Good news on HB.

I assume work is still nuts? Sorry about that. Do you think you'll keep your morning running ways if work calms down?

Anonymous said...

As someone who spends time looking down people's throats, I disagree with the 'he'll grow out of it' business. Tonsils tend to get fibrotic, pitted, and chronically inflamed. Kids don't grow out of these sorts of tonsils. Please don't assume he will just because you don't want him to go through anything unpleasant at a young age. Surgical recovery, as you know, is easier when the patient is younger. Maybe the ENT told you what you wanted to hear? Get a second opinion. The sleep apnea portion of your report is disturbing. Children need restorative sleep, as do the rest of us. Without it, they develop cognitive difficulties. With big tonsils they don't eat well. They don't grow well. Their faces become long and deformed. They get cranky and miserable. You know this, doc.

Sheri said...

i enjoy your blog.
glad you are posting again.

Lorigertzauthor said...

I love your candidness! I wax and wane sometimes but I feel just like you most of the time.

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Sam said...

I think that there is no way to be perfectly "safe" from being discovered, and all you can do is to read your blog while asking yourself "does this information hurt anyone?" and move on from there. I would never want employers to see my blog (hello there's my ASS!) but other than that I feel like people can take it or leave it. If they haven't been invited then they have no right to complain about the content. /rant

Anonymous said...

I am going to try to learn from your example and re-establish my gym habit. Maggot. I am a maggot...

Meegan @ The Harvey Circus said...

Hi :)
As a new reader of your blog, I'd just like to say I love the name of it! But, I also know that a change is good every now and then. I hope you've had some really good suggestions.

And good news about HB! Hopefully this is improvement will just keep on getting stronger and an operation will be a thought of the past.

OMDG said...

Do you get really hungry when you run in the morning? I've found that I really need to eat something before I head out the door (the coffee helps a LOT too) or else I tend to bonk in a very bad way after about 2 miles. I'm glad you're feeling well enough to go now, though.

Unknown said...

I've been meaning to write & tell you--thanks for the maggot inspiration. I had a delayed reaction to your running posts. I finally started running this past March. I joined a runner's club locally and with a large group of beginners did a version of the "couch potato to 5k" program from coolrunning.com (I think). I'm nowhere near 5k, but I can run 30+ minutes without stopping now which is big for me. I run 3x/wk. Hoping to go to 4x then 5x/wk over the next 5 months.