Monday, February 18, 2013

50 Shades of Grey in large print

The final official training week for my marathon next month is complete, and this week is an easy breezy taper week of only 41 miles. 

Last week was rough, and not just because I ran a total of 59 miles. Wednesday night my sister called me to tell me that our grandmother had taken a turn for the worst. I left for her nursing home in Pennsylvania first thing Thursday morning and spent the next three days at her bedside with my family, saying our goodbyes. She passed away late Saturday night.

My sister, Gram, and me (at my wedding, if the veil didn't clue you in)
I have about a million sappy things I could say, so it's probably a good thing that I decided to write this post in the morning with coffee rather than last night while I drowned my sorrows in red wine and coffee. I'll save my reminiscing to do with those who were lucky enough to know her, because there really are no words that could possibly explain how special she was. I did try when I wrote an uncharacteristically lovey dovey post about her awhile ago. I'll just throw out there that she was almost finished with the second 50 Shades of Grey book, in large print, when she passed away, and I don't think you'll find too many copies of that in nursing homes!

Rocking out to Shout at our wedding!
If I ever needed running, it was this week! Obviously I still turned to my usual favorites, chocolate and wine, to cheer me up but nothing really does the trick like a good run. And you know who else really helped? My girl Ke$ha! Did you know it's physically impossible to cry while listening to Blow? You can't argue with science.

I've long expressed my jealousy for Kari, Kara, and anyone else who owns a treadmill and is therefore able to run while watching TV or movies. I was finally able to try it out for myself at the Friday morning by streaming Netflix on my Kindle using the hotel treadmill and wi-fi. I have been dying to see Brokeback Mountain basically since it was in theaters and just never got around to it (probably because I almost never watch movies that aren't based on young adult novels I've read) so that was the perfect choice.

The experience was all I hoped for and more. 11 miles flew by, even with 8 x 400s (overall pace 8:34). There was an elliptical positioned right behind me that a woman and her husband took turns on (no way I was giving up the one treadmill) so I amused myself by assuming they thought I was running speed intervals while watching gay porn. 

After that, I had one last 14 miler on the schedule. I couldn't get up early enough to do it Saturday morning, and then unfortunately my mom and stepfather were forced to see what usually only Eric has to deal with - how annoying I am when I am supposed to run and don't. 

I get fiesty.
They made it until about 2pm until they insisted I take a break from the hospital and run, and my cousins suggested a local bike path which turned out to be mostly flat and deserted, aka perfect. I did 7 miles at an 8:33 pace and then did the other 7 the following morning at the same pace while watching old episodes of The Office on the treadmill. 

I watched the episode with Phyllis's wedding, so I tried to keep the theme going with a pic from my mom's wedding. 
I don't really know how to close this post except to say that I am going to miss Gram so much, every day. I've been blown away by friends, coworkers, and even strangers reaching out to express condolences and share kind words and funny stories about Gram, so I'm going to ask a more lighthearted question for the comments section. 

What's your favorite entertainment for the treadmill/gym? Be specific - as in particular artists, podcasts, TV, etc. 

20 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry about your grandma. She seemed like a really cool lady, especially considering her reading material. Then again, if she's a part of your family, how could she not be awesome?

    On the treadmill, I watch entire seasons of tv shows from the early 00s that I apparently missed out on. I'm currently watching Alias.

    ReplyDelete
  2. First, Alyssa I am so sorry for your loss, I know how special Gram was to you. Lean on me at work when you need to!
    Secondly, I love my treadmill and I never ever thought I would utter those words! Until recently I have watched episodes of Ellen on the TM but now I watch Gavin Degraw videos on the ipad- are you shocked by this? LOL I have a playlist and the time just flies by cause I get his music but also his adorableness! You are going to love having your own!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sorry to hear about your grandmother. It sounds like she was quite the lady.

    I really like to watch TV on the treadmill/gym especially Wheel of Fortune. I don't know why but it is very entertaining. I listen to podcasts as well and my favorites are NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and Jillian Micheals.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm sorry to read about your grandma, Alyssa. She sounds like a wonderful and spunky lady! She was clearly also cooler than me, because I never even started 50 Shades of Grey. Hope you are doing okay!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am so glad you got to see your grandmother before she passed. You must get a lot of your "coolness" from her! Fifty Shades of Gray in large print--Gotta love it!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I will miss your Gram, my Aunt Bonnie, so much as well. Stopping at her house was always fun. One year, probably when she was buying Beanie Babies for you, she gave me the Princess Diana Beanie Baby. Which was a big deal then, of course.
    I hate that Aaron and I won't be able to make it up for the funeral, but we will send our love with my parents.
    Praying for you and your family!
    P.S. At our gym, I position myself on a treadmill somewhere between the TVs tuned to E!, TLC, and TBS. I switch between the three during commercial breaks. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. My condolences. Your gram sounds like the coolest grandma ever! I'm glad you got to spend time with her before she passed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Dancing to Shout with Gram will always be one of my favorite memories of her. Although, there's so many good ones to choose from. She will be so missed.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother. She sounds like an awesome lady.

    ReplyDelete
  10. oh alyssa, i'm so sorry. 50 shades of grey in large print?!?! that definitely made me smile. sounds like she had a great sense of humor!

    umm, your marathon training flew by! for me, at least :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. So sorry to hear about your grandmother. I love all the great pictures of her. Cherish your memories.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am sorry for your loss. We are looking forward to seeing you -- Sunday at least, if not Saturday.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so sorry, Alyssa. Your grandmother sounded like an amazing lady.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I read this in the middle of the night and I totally thought that I commented, but I guess not. I really wish I could have met your grandmother, she seemed so fun.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh Alyssa, I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandma :( She sounds like quite the lady!

    ReplyDelete
  16. So sorry to hear about your Gram. Glad she lived a kick ass life!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm so sorry about your grandmother. She certainly seems like a special lady with all that you've shared about her on the blog. Sending thoughts and prayers for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Alyssa, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. Her spirit shines through that dancing picture at your wedding and I am further impressed by her reading selections. I'm glad you are back to blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am so sorry about your Gram! She sounds like one special lady!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for commenting! Comments make me probably more happy than they should.