Uncomfortable Living, Part 1: Running 13.1 Miles

The DJ tells me to look to the camera on the left as I cross the finish line. I look to my left and see Austin Powers and Marilyn Monroe. I don't see a camera. Not that I expected one. I just wanted to finish.

For three months, I sacrificed three early mornings a week to run. I ran in Mar Vista, Rancho Penasquitos and Danville. I ran in the sun, in rain and for one minute, hail. I ate a bunch of bananas, drank gallons of Gatorade, consumed Clif Bar after Clif Bar. All to run 13.1 miles in three hours. And to have my picture taken with celebrity impersonators.

I made plenty of mistakes on race day. I didn't hydrate all that well pre-race. I didn't stretch until five minutes before running. I didn't account for the massive logjam of cars pulling into the same parking lot. That's OK. I can tell people I ran half a marathon and survived.

Aside from hiking the Inca Trail, this was the hardest thing I've ever done. My legs are in pain. My back is stiff. I now know what "chafing" is. But like a spectator said from the sidewalk as I ran past the halfway mark, "You get bragging rights for a whole year!" So there's that.



And a funky medal that spins. It's all worth it.

The Year of Living Uncomfortably

It started with a vanilla smoothie.

K and I had walked around Downtown Culver City. We were thirsty. M Chaya Cafe was across the street. We were desperate.

We sat at a table outside. The smoothie tasted like rice drink from Trader Joe's. "Isn't this a vegan place?" I asked K.

"It's not vegan. It's organic. See, they have fish on their menu." She paused. "So you're thinking about going to a vegan place?? There's a nice place in El Segundo. Veggie Grill. We should go!"

I looked at her like she just spit in my smoothie. "Umm..."

"You know, it's not so bad. They have carne asada. But they use veggie-steak instead of the real thing. It's much better then you'd think it would be..." As K went on about fake meat, I realized that she may be on to something.

I avoid uncomfortable situations. I eat the foods I know I like. I isolate myself at home, hide behind a book, troll Facebook 198214124 times. I play Bejeweled Blitz for hours on end. My life has become, dare I say it, mundane.

Something needs to change, I thought. Either things remain as they are and I spend this year feeling comfortable. Or I do things that are completely not what I'm used to. Just give it a shot and see what happens.

"OK. I'll go." My stomach twisted as I said this.

"Seriously?" K replied.

"Yes. I. Will. Eat. Veggie. Meat." My eyes welled with tears.

And there, at M Chaya, I made a commitment for 2010. This would be the year of living uncomfortably.

K and I spent the next half-hour listing as many uncomfortable situations as we could. We came up with some doozies. After compiling the list, I pledged to do as many items on the list as I can in the next year.

The list will certainly grow over time. I have no ground rules. I don't win a prize on 1/1/2011. I'm just gonna do them. And write about my experiences.

I'm not thrilled. I'm scared crapless. But for the first time in months, I'm INSPIRED.

And now a question. What makes you uncomfortable? Public speaking? Dating? Eating vegan food? I'd like to know. Your replies may inspire me. Or something. I'm just curious.