Ladies & Gents:
In my adult life, I've had three concussions. The first: on a very cold day, our group decided to play one more game of paintball as the sun was going down. The paint pellets froze. I got hit in the back of the head by one. The second: on another very cold day, I was walking down Broad Street in Philadelphia when a sheet of ice flew off a building and landed on top of me. The third: on a not very cold day last week, I had an extremely vivid nightmare and smashed my head into the headboard.
So this is how marathon training has ended for me: by giving myself a concussion in my sleep.
I don't know what's going to happen on Sunday at the New Jersey Marathon. Between the wonky foot and concussion, I missed a lot of miles in the last two weeks. My brain clicked back into gear on Saturday and I've done three solid workouts in a row, but it may have been too much. Before I hurt my head, I'd already decided to give up on the four hour goal. I don't know what I'll go to the starting line thinking now. But I know I will run. Late last week I wasn't even sure about that. The pressure of, well, everything was getting to me, and then I hit my head. Did I also mention I'm trying to buy a house and sell mine? It's been…a lot. But I feel much calmer about it all now.
Stuff! I got stuff!
On Tuesday, I'll be on Radio Times, which airs in the Philadelphia area on WHYY 90.9 and worldwide here. I'm the 11 am to noon block. At some point this week, probably Friday, I'll also be on Fox29 talking about the Broad Street Run.
On Thursday, I'll be at the Media location of the Bryn Mawr Running Company for their group run + chat. Run starts at 6. Chat starts around 7.
On Sunday – after I hopefully have finished the New Jersey Marathon with arms raised high and my remaining nine toenails in place – I'll be at APYC on the boardwalk in Asbury Park at 4 (don't be intimidated by the YC i.e. Yacht Club, in the name. It's as much about yachts as yacht rock is – it's a cool spot). Buy a book and you get $1 off a beer. Wear your marathon or half marathon medal, and you get $1 off a book. Prediction: I will be loopy AF. Should be fun (For those running: there had been a possibility of me being at the expo, but that didn't work out. My realtor may be hosting an open house at my house on Sunday while I'm running HAHAHAHAHA so I may not be around much in that area Saturday either because I'll be frantically cleaning and putting stuff away. Sorry guys!)
Recent Bylines
"Strong than the Storm" for METER. This is in the summer issue and not online yet – I'll share when it is.
The New York Times "Running" newsletter has started – and so has my part in it. Hooray! Sign up here. I'm one of a group writing these weekly missives.
Jen Talks About Her Book
"Writer to Writer" in the University of Tampa Journal. This is also an interview with fellow alumni Amy Hill Hearth, who is an amazing person and mentor.
Racing Flat Radio – the podcast is now up.
People Talk about Jen's Book
Peace Love Mother Runner (it's at the end of the post)
What I'm Reading
Underground in Berlin by Marie Jalowicz Simon, which comes out in paperback on May 3. Her son got her to tell her story, which he recorded, shortly before she died. I'm glad he did. Since selling your house means doing all those tedious little home repairs that you never got to (in my case, in the nine years I've owned the place), I'm also listening to Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace: The Private Diary of a Victorian Lady by Kate Summerscale while scraping paint from railings (and then, after I write this newsletter, priming them to be painted again). Women have been treated so wretchedly, haven't we?
What I'm Watching
Last night I finished the second season of the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I think the internet is getting better about spoiler alerts because I didn't get a whiff of any plot twists or special casting (though I guessed one of them. She's in the last episode. Go Jen!) Not sure what I'm going to watch next. Life is a mystery!
Until next time – most likely on Tuesday since I'll be a mess on the Monday after the marathon,
Jen A. Miller
jenamiller.com
runningalovestory.com
twitter.com/byjenamiller
instagram.com/jenamillerrunner
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