Growing up and snowy running

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Kelly

NYC got a bit of snow this weekend.

(source)

Usually I’d be annoyed because Saturday is my long run day, but this time I enjoyed the snow storm from inside a nice, warm house in New Jersey with my pal Meghan, her sister Erin and family.

We frosted cupcakes, chopped vegetables, played with Erin’s adorable baby girl and 4 year-old son and got ready for Meghan’s baby shower.

(I did the pink ones. Erin was a much better froster with the blue ones)

Meghan is one of my first really good friends to have a baby, and it’s so weird to see the person with whom I enjoyed many adult beverages and share far too many ridiculous experiences in college get ready to be a mom.

(Meg and I at dinner)

But even though we did a lot of dumb things in college (so, so many), I knew even then Meghan would be a great mom. She inspired me to cook instead of buying takeout from the pizza place below our building every day, and even helped me bake my first fish fillet in the oven. I think it was cod, and I remember being so proud of myself (I probably chased it with a bud light, but still).

With Meghan, I always felt taken care of. She has an effortless, motherly quality that made me want to sit on her bed and talk about anything and everything. Or just skip class, cuddle and watch a Lifetime movie.

And then get shitfaced on cheap vodka or a few 40′s of OE (we were SO CLASSY).

Not going to lie, I’m a teeny bit freaked out that some of my friends are having kids and I’m not even a little bit close. But when I see Meghan with her cute little baby bump, life feels exactly how it should be (for her and me), and I can’t imagine anyone better equipped to be a fantastic mom.

I can already picture telling her new little one how Meghan and I were the most exemplary college students that never did anything remotely dangerous or illegal. Except those twenty or so times that one time…

Running!
Since I took Saturday off of running, the plan was about 12 early miles on Sunday. And to be honest, I did NOT want to run at all. It was cold, it was going to be icy, and my bed was nice and warm.

Usually thoughts like this can screw up a run before I even start, but as soon as I got to Central Park it was on. I felt great, the roads were pretty clear and the snow was beautiful.

12 snowy and surprisingly peppy miles later, I returned to my apartment energized and ever so thankful I got my butt out of bed and out the door.

Question: Did you run in the snow this weekend? Are all of your friends having babies and/or getting married too??

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  • RunTheLongRoad

    way to get it DONE! nice splits for those last 2 miles!

    all my friends just had baby #1 and it was a little weird at first. but now when we get together, it’s so much fun and we don’t take it for granted like we used to. and we sometimes resort back to our old college drinking days, and then pay dearly the next day since we are no longer spring chickens :)

    • Anonymous

      thanks! Haha, I know. Now I get drunk from sniffing wine… it’s sad.

  • http://twitter.com/carriebzyb Carrie Sandstrom

    We had snow this weekend also, and I loved it! Running through a film of flakes is my favorite because when my legs start to get tired I can distract myself by catching snow on my tongue :)

  • http://www.insightfulappetite.com sofia

    aw, i love those maternal kinds of friends who are so darn good at taking care of us (young at heart?) folk. hehe. good luck to meg! very exciting/scary. i hear you on the whaaaa pregnancy thing ;)

    i did in fact run mid-storm saturday morning. all was well and good until on my way back the snow was pelting me in the face and i had to keep my eyes closed. that was not so fabulous. next time, baseball cap and sunglasses. live and learn.

    aaand yep, my friends are settling down a bit, too, it seems. two of my college friends are married, and other friends are in long-term, seemingly serious relationships. hmmm. no babies yet though- thank goodness. we’re too young!

    • Anonymous

      I heard the snow was rough on the face! Maybe even ski goggles would help? The babies will come, my friend… :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=502981395 Christopher Baker

    I ran today because YOU reported ideal conditions! Thanks, I almost went to the gym and ran on the stupid treadmill. I loathe treadmills.

    On the baby topic… I couldn’t even imagine having a child right now. Well, unless they were speedy lil runner babies and could do laps with me.

    • Anonymous

      haha. Well, whenever you do procreate, I’m sure they’ll take after you and be speed demons

  • http://collegegirlontherun.wordpress.com/ Sarah

    Oh my gosh I don’t know what I would do if my friends started having babies. Granted, I am still in college so hopefully none of them are planning on it any time soon.
    I ran this morning on icy, unshoveled D.C. streets (sadly, the District doesn’t seem to be as proactive about using rock salt and sand as NY is). I only fell once, which I guess is good! It was a pretty slow and unexciting run but it definitely felt good to be out there!

  • Meghankeir

    I would be lying if I said I didn’t shed a tear or two when reading this :) I love all of our great/funny/ridiculous memories! And you are right, life does feel so right! Baby K can’t wait to meet you and hopefully go on some fun runs in the baby joggger :)

    • Anonymous

      aww, I may have shed a tear writing it :) Can’t wait to run with you and baby K. Hope you got home ok!

  • http://secondcityrandomness.wordpress.com/ Amy B @ Second City Randomness

    The majority of my friends are married and are slowly starting to have kids. It’s a little weird. But I’m trying to not let it bug me, either… eek.

  • http://www.runforyourlifeblog.com/ Emilia @ Run for Your Life

    Ha, it’s funny how so many people I went to high school with (Smalltown, Oregon) are married and having kids (not necessarily in that order…) and I don’t have a single college (New York) or postgrad friend doing either one…and the latter feels more like it should be, since I’m just 2.5 years out of school and only about to turn 25!

    I did not run in the snow this weekend…I ran in muggy, humid 70+ degree temps. So glad we had perfect, 60 degree marathon weather last weekend!

    • Anonymous

      omg, I know! you’re lucky this weekend’s weather wasn’t last weekend!

  • Karen @ Karen On The Run

    Hi Kelly, sounds like a very nice weekend and great run! Our weather was actually in the mid-50s and sunny for my 11 miles through London. I’ve only run in the snow once and that was freezing Iowa while visiting family years ago!

  • http://findingblissforme.wordpress.com/ Emily

    Funny you should mention this growing up thing. I’m pretty sure my facebook news feed has some bizarr filter where it only gives me info about engagements and pregnancies. Or maybe it’s just what [some] people start doing in their late 20s.
    Nice 12 miler!

    • Anonymous

      mine too! It’s kind of crazy..

  • http://betsyagogo.wordpress.com/ Betsy

    yay! wasn’t it fun getting out there in the snow? what a great weekend to run!

    none of my friends have babies…but all are starting to get married left and right. It’s kinda scary…

  • Anonymous

    I was having a conversation with someone the other day about kids and I commented on how much they would cramp my style…say goodbye to early a.m. runs, late nights out, and froyo for dinner! But then my friend said something wise…eventually you get tired of partying, tired of eating froyo for dinner…and you start wanting a family. I’m not sure I’m there yet (ok definitely not), but hopefully I’ll be ready someday. It’s still weird to see all of my friends getting married, co-habitating, and having babies though.

    So glad to see you’re back on the roads! Nice long run :)

    • Anonymous

      that’s a great point – I don’t think I’m quite ready for my whole life to change either, but someday I will be!

  • http://fightingforwellness.wordpress.com/ Caroline

    I ran this weekend, but drove 40 minutes round trip to the gym. There was about 4 inches of snow on the unplowed roads, and I was not in the mood to run in that!

  • http://keepingitrealfood.com/ Jess

    I was just talking with a few girlfriends about the fact that so many people we know are “settling down” and posting incessant wedding planning updates on Facebook. I kinda wish they’d stop. Like, I’m happy for them, but it feels like a humble-brag thing, like, “OMG this huge-ass rock on my left hand is soooo heavy. Is yours? Oh right—you don’t have one!”

    Not that I want to get married right now. I’m still in “woohoo I just dodged a bullet!” mode and just want to be single awhile, but it’s still annoying. I also have a few friends trying to get pregnant, and it just makes my head spin, especially since I’m the age my mom was when she had me. Um, that is so not happening anytime soon.

    • Anonymous

      oh I know! my mom was 2 years younger than I am not when she had my sister and I. I can’t imagine having 2 year old twins right now….oy!

  • http://runningonsmores.wordpress.com/ Sarah

    Congrats to your friend! So exciting! One of my friends got engaged yesterday actually! I ran yesterday morning and it was insanely cold. Pretty sure my toes just finished thawing out.. I’m so ready for warm weather!

  • http://twitter.com/traceyleffler Tracey Leffler

    I am so scared to run in the snow/ice/cold. I really need to get over it.

    A lot more of my friends than I thought are getting married. No one is having kids (yet) but I am sure that’s next on the agenda.

  • http://amandarunsny.com/ AmandaRunsNY

    I am in the same boat at as you! I have a lot of married friends, but no close friends with babies yet. Sometimes, I feel really behind the curve, but I don’t necessarily want to be married or have kids right now; I’d just like to have that special someone (and not just any old boyfriend). Once in a while, I think, by the time i get around to actually meeting a guy and marrying him, I won’t be able to have kids. But then I just shove that thought out of my mind and remember there’s adoption.

  • http://thethinksicanthink.wordpress.com/ Meggie

    I am from the South so, yes, I am abnormal because I’m not married and close to knocked up, yet. I’ve been dreaming of being a mom since I was 12 though (and probably even before that – been picking out monograms since then though).

  • Anonymous

    None of my close friends are having babies. I am so not ready. The thought freaks me out a bit so I am glad everyone I know isn’t having one yet. Slowly they are starting to get married though. It is so weird when I am on facebook and I am like ” who is this person???” and then i realize it is someone who just got married and changed their name. haha.

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  • http://www.susanruns.com/ Susan- Nurse on the Run

    I didn’t run in the snow and instead drank coffee on the couch…I’m okay with that. :)

    I simply can’t imagine having kids right now! I see Megan’s comment and I feel the same way…not ready to give up random nights out, traveling becomes VERY different, and you can’t just have cereal for dinner. That’s not me yet. Maybe it’s because I’m single with no end in sight, or it’s just the NYC way. I know I want kids at some point, but I wonder if that feeling will kick in before I’m 40! Gah. My best friends (outside NYC, of course) are all married and/or about to be married. Fun.

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