A little something for a lot of miles. (Photo from Ineke.com)
Tomorrow I’ll complete Week 9 of Hal Higdon’s 18-week Novice 2 marathon training plan. Halfway to Umstead! I recently posted in the Manic Runday Aid Station that I’m feeling appallingly good and asked if that’s normal. Is it? It’s certainly surprising. Really, I feel great despite hitting weekly mileage unprecedented for this pokey hack runner.
Pal/runner extraordinaire Gene replied with a brilliant bit of advice: Stay in DNS (do nothing stupid) mode and you will be fine! He then added my new favorite mantra: “Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy” (Lao Tzu).
Other pal/runner extraordinaire Scott claimed my lack of agony is due to my lack of recent racing, and warned that the forecast calls for pain as the longer long runs stack up in January. It’s true about the not racing—resisting The Goad is not my strong suit. I will blithely register for whatever wackadoo all-uphill rock climb disguised as a trail run that my friends nudge in my general direction. DNS mode for me really does mean DNS in the usual sense of the acronym.
Each wee bottle is rolled in tissue and tucked into its own wee box. (Photo from Ineke.com)
I believe in rewarding good behavior—I was a preschool teacher in a previous life, after all—so to reinforce my good behavior and dedication to the plan, I bought myself a little something. You probably don’t know this about me, but I covet charmingly chic boutique fragrances, especially if they have nicely executed floral or citrus notes. Think Bond No. 9′s Little Italy or Jo Malone’s now-classic Orange Blossom.
So, for nine solid weeks of consistently smart training and to propel me through the next nine, the mailman just delivered the fabulously presented Deluxe Sample Collection Vol. 5 from San Francisco perfumer Ineke Rühland. I couldn’t decide on just one fragrance; this little collection contains perfect take-along-size spray samples of letters A through H of Rühland’s floral perfume “stories.” The first one, “A,” is called After My Own Heart and has a perfect middle note of lilac, one of my all-time favorite scents. The cost of the sampler can be applied to a full-size bottle. Nine weeks is plenty of time to decide which one I’ll reward myself with for crossing the finish line on March 2.
Do you reward yourself for meeting a running-related goal? Share in the comments.
New Balance Minimus HI-REZ
3 comments
El Josho
December 29, 2012 at 1:11 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m rewarded by your lovely scent.
.:Ash:.
December 29, 2012 at 3:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your eclectic taste is awesome, Iris! I can’t wait to find out what the official Rühland scent of Umstead is for you!
In answer to your question, I’m not sure I reward myself for accomplishing running-goals. Maybe bragging about the accomplishment on the Internet is my reward. :-/
Scott
December 29, 2012 at 2:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I reward myself with beer and food after a big race. All food tastes amazing a few hours after a marathon. My favorite post race meal was beer, steak, and eggs. Oh man, I’m hungry now…