friends

Challenge Two: Running Buddies Make A Difference

So I figured it’s about time I gave you an update on my preparation for Challenge Number Two: The Surftown Half Marathon in Rhode Island. It’s a little over a month away and I think I’m on track. On Friday I ran 11.6 miles and I felt pretty good afterwards—only had a mild headache which tells me I need to hydrate better the day before.

I’m feeling good in general. I’d like to work on some drills to improve my pace. I think a ten minute mile is a realistic goal for me even though I’d like to do a 9.5 minute mile. I definitely want to do better than an eleven minute mile.

I invested in a water belt, which I ran with on Friday and really liked.

What has been really helpful is having running buddies. I can say with certainty that I would not have stuck to this on my own. When I was younger I used to look forward to running for an hour by myself. Now I don’t even want to go on a thirty minute run by myself. And I don’t see myself doing anything more than 3.5 miles alone. I […]

Challenge Two: Running Buddies Make A DifferenceMaggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:43-04:00

Best Friend

Julie is my best friend. We have known each other since kindergarten. Nearly two years ago she moved to Chicago. While it’s great to have an excuse to go to the Windy City and have someone local show me around, I miss her tremendously.

So when I woke up the Saturday before my birthday and discovered her in my house (she had flown in and Matt had picked her up at the airport while I was sleeping), I was most surprised. It was the best birthday present ever—even better than swimming in Jell-O.

It meant so much to have her here that weekend. Thank you Julie and Matt for knowing me better than I know myself, and recognizing how important it would be for me to have my best friend around on my 30th. It really will always be hard to top that gift. I hope you both realize that.

Good friends (whether they be friends you met in school, later in life, or family members you connect with in a special […]

Best FriendMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:56-04:00

Do I Deserve Praise?

My month of no dessert really wasn’t that hard. I didn’t lose any weight so I’m not sure how it benefitted me except to say that I did it and used my will power. The problem is I’m always better at saying no to a particular food if I’ve banned it. I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. My great-grandma used to be really good about restricting herself to two cookies a day. This is a gene that didn’t get passed down to me. I’m more apt to eat no cookies or a bag of cookies. This is why I try not to keep this kind of food in the house. And why I feel insanely lucky that I like to exercise.

On the couple of days when I passed on a dessert that seemed really good—like my Grandma’s birthday death by chocolate, or the butterscotch pudding in Seattle, or the coconut cream pie by Tom Douglas that people online seem to rave about, I posted my on Facebook a picture of what I didn’t eat. I […]

Do I Deserve Praise?Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Friends Help You Be Healthy

Matt and I go to our friend’s Dan and Isa’s house every Thursday evening for dinner and a French lesson. In July we’ll all be going to France–Isa’s native country. Sometimes we make pizza, sometimes we order it–our dinner varies, but frequently revolves around pizza followed by some kind of dessert.

A couple of months ago when Isa and I went for a walk, passing by the creamery in Old Wethersfield, we went in and I passed on ice cream. I love the ice cream at the Wethersfield Creamery, but I was trying not to eat dessert during the week. Isa was stunned and praised my will power. I’m not sure I deserve the credit. I think my will power would deserve praise if I could eat small portions of sweets, but I can’t seem to. Give me a taste of something sweet and I tend to want more.

That Thursday at our French lesson, dessert did not come out. Dan and Matt were disappointed, but Isa explained that I didn’t eat dessert during the week so she […]

Friends Help You Be HealthyMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:58-04:00

Challenge 43: Tell Them You Love Them

Today is Matt’s and my nine year anniversary, and I’m still lucky to be completely infatuated with him. I tell him I love him everyday, and it’s always nice to hear. So today, write a note to someone you love (a friend, a spouse, a parent, a child, a cousin) and tell them why you love them. It will make you and the person you write feel good. Do it now.

(And if you have the time, pick a different person and write them every day this week.)

Here are just some of the reasons I love Matt:

He makes me laugh
When I need help he’s always there
Waking up next to him always makes me smile
He smells good (and doesn’t use any cologne or other products)
He loves to walk
He listens
He’ll dance with me
He’s smart (and I’m proud of all his accomplishments)
He never sweats the small stuff
Family is important to him
He helped me make a lamp and encourages me
He’s a good friend

Okay, I’m realizing I could continue with this fairly easily. But the challenge worked. I’m already smiling and happy […]

Challenge 43: Tell Them You Love ThemMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:32:05-04:00