I Commit Friday

Before I head into my commitments, I just have to say...

I love early Christmas presents!!!

Imagine my sheer delight when I went to the mailbox yesterday and found a package inside just for me! I mean, really, who doesn't love getting mail?!

I started to open the package in the car but it was so cute that I decided to wait until I got home so I could share the opening with you.


For me, customer service is HUGE!! You give me good customer service and I will be loyal for life. I will choose you over convenience. I will look to you before I go somewhere else. I can tell you this, I may have won a shirt from Banana Blossom Press, but they just won my loyalty. Amazing to win a shirt and be treated so well! Thank you Tonia at Racing With Babes for hosting the give away and thank you Banana Blossom Press for making my day!

Oh, and not to mention, I LOVE the shirt! It fits fantastic, is super soft, and brings a smile to my face! Thank you!!

Moving on...

My commitments:

3 days of running a week. 2 runs of 5 miles. 1 run ranging from 6-12 miles - Check! Well, almost. I ran Tues/Thurs. this week at 5 miles a piece. I'm thinking 10 for tomorrow sounds perfect.

3 days of Jazzercise a week. This will give me the strength training I need - Check! Took last Saturday off of running and went to Jazzercise instead. Headed there Monday, Wednesday and today as well! I'm already feeling stronger and am loving being back consistently!

Daily core work - Almost. Missed yesterday. Completely forgot. But, definitely better than I was!

Water. Water. Water - Not kidding. This was hard for me, but I did it! Every time I didn't want to do it, I thought of you! I committed and knew I would have to check in. Thankful for accountability!

I'm also going to add to it this week.

I seem to have packed on 5 pounds in the last month or so and am not loving it. I was hoping that just by making some healthy changes this week that it would magically disappear. Yeah. Not so much. So, this week, I commit to keeping a food journal. Hoping this will keep me from "eating like a mother!" as my dear friend Mandi so sweetly said to me today when I was sharing my problem with keeping my head out of the tomatillo salsa jar. Thanks Mandi.

How did you do??

Christa
Eryn
Candice
Tortuga Runner
Raegun

Anyone else want to join in on the fun?

A Little Math

Zero motivation + this...


This...

And this...

That's my favorite tomatillo salsa!

Equals hard decision making to choose this...

This...

And this...

And not just do this...


Thankfully, my 5 miles were ran in the dark.

Thankfully, I know this and will do my best to serve my husband and family today.

Now, I just need to give myself a little pep talk.

The Minefield

We heard this song the other day as we headed to our friend's house for dinner. Tears sprang to my eyes as I grabbed my hubby's hand.

I was 16 when we started dating. 21 when we got married. And, I can tell you right now, there were many times that first year of marriage when I would be sitting in our tiny bathroom with my friend, Amy. Telling her that if I had known that THIS was what marriage was like, I wouldn't have done it.

Truthfully.

Our first year was, quite simply, a minefield.

And the years that followed?

Minefields and storms.

Thankfully, I have grown up a bit. Thankfully, so has my husband. Thankfully, we are both in this for the long haul. After all, we promised.

Running has been such a blessing in my life. I have found me again. Rather, I have found a me I never knew existed.

However.

Running can also be a curse. Running can be, in my opinion, a very selfish sport.

Up until a couple years ago, I was strictly the giver in the relationship. I felt guilty to even ask for a night out. It wasn't that Cory wouldn't give. It's that I wouldn't take. Now, I'm the taker.

And, as gracious as my husband can be, I need to remember to take a step back every once in awhile. To bite my tongue when I want to talk about running all the time. To make sure that even as I take, that I give too. That I remember to nurture our relationship.

Because, if I'm not careful, we can be sailing smoothly. Trekking along just fine. And out of nowhere, that minefield will strike.

As I watched the video the first time the part that I loved the most was watching the older couples dancing. Marriage is not easy. It is a dance... through minefields, storms, and hopefully flower filled fields too!

Remember to tell your love you love them. Remember to nurture and give. Remember that it's not always easy. But, as Andrew Peterson says, "that's what the promise was for."

Mr. Sun

Yes. I have young children.

Yes. Many things are turned into sing song phrases in my home.

Yes. The sun is actually shining today which makes me want to break out in the Mr. Sun song.

It's simply beautiful!

It makes me want to go for a run even though this is a non-run day.

However, do you know what makes me NOT want to go for a run?

Pouring rain.

Gloomy clouds.

Howling wind.

And do you want to know what's so great about running in the O'dark morning??

I have had NO exposure to the elements. I cannot see what the sky looks like. I cannot see the trees blowing in the wind. I cannot see the rain pouring down.

Ignorance is bliss.

As the day got more and more gloomy yesterday, I was so thankful that I had done my run before I could see. I am fairly certain that if I did not run in the morning. That if I actually allowed myself to watch the weather all day. That I would NOT be a runner. I'm a big wuss like that.

Again.

Ignorance is bliss.

So, although running in the dark morning requires me to exit my ever-so-cozy and comfortable bed, I'll take it. Because, again...

Ignorance is bliss!

And in other news, here's me...

Me in my new Sweaty Band. I tried it out for Jazzercise this morning and seriously??? It is still in the exact same spot as it was when I put it on this morning. Oh, sweet Sweaty Bands, I am completely and utterly impressed!

Random Tuesday

I received another early Christmas present in the mail yesterday. A Sweaty Band that I had won over at Candice's blog, I Have Run. I took it for a small test drive yesterday while getting chores done and I have to say, so far so good. Usually, a head band doesn't last 1 minute on my head before slipping off! This one didn't slip AT ALL! It was a little chilly outside this morning to wear my new present during my run, but I look forward to seeing how it will hold up to a run test! Thank you again Candice!

Oh, and speaking of Candice, check this post out. It totally made me giggle. Then, she went on to start this FB page. You know you're a Runnerd if you bound out of bed at 5:45 a.m., filled with the sheer excitement and anticipation of testing out your new running gear...

Speaking of bounding...

Bound I did!

New tights on.

New shirt on.

Lovely jacket on.

New hat on.

Yum.

I was a little slow to drink my coffee this morning and by the time I got to the track it was already 6:30. Whoops. I had planned to do a leisurely 5... Oh, who am I kidding? I had planned, but in the back of my head was wanting to do a little tempo run. Leisurely? Haha.

So, the fact that I started so late really worked in my twisted plan's favor. Before I knew it, this is what stared back at me...

Mile 1: 8:52
Mile 2: 8:13
Mile 3: 7:57
Mile 4: 7:19
Mile 5: 8:26

Not even a nice tempo run.

Just a nice quick run.

Quick.

The Monday after the Girlfriend's 1/2, I so sweetly called my friend Nicci and ever so lovingly told her she could suck it. Yes. Those were my words.

Over the weeks leading up to the 1/2, Nicci's FB status would lead us to believe she was overindulging in chocolate and ice cream and doing very little training. So, when she pulled a 1:52:58 for her 1st 1/2 EVER, I felt the need to congratulate her like only a good friend could.

Bite me.

Aren't I a great friend? I did, however, go on to say how proud I was of her. How amazing I thought she was. And, begged for her to train me. Okay, I didn't beg, but I did comment on her training regimen.

You know what she told me?

That I should've done better.

That's a good friend.

She said that based upon my training times and what she runs, I should've done better than she did.

Truth is.

I'm very proud of my time. I raced smart. I reached my goal.

I was also VERY comfortable for the majority of the race.

It wasn't until mile 8 or 9 that I started to think I should start my negative splits. Thinking I should speed up. But, at the same time, not wanting to give too much because I knew I would be tired at the end.

Fact is.

I should've been thinking about it sooner. KNOWING that I would be tired at the end. I should've given more in the middle to make up for the exhaustion at the end.

I could've done better.

But, I'm proud of what I did.

Yet, when I pull out 5 miles with an 8:09 average and still feel great at the end, I wonder. What could I really do?

And in other news...

Blazer season has started.

Which means dates with Dad.

And, just one last thing.

My poor son has worms...

Rubber ones anyway :)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I know. I know.

It's only October 25th.

Two whole months away from the celebration our Savior's birth.

One whole month away from hearing Christmas songs on the radio (mine anyway!) and Christmas tree hunting.

But, in my house, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Why's that? You may ask...

Today, a fire burns in our fireplace. It's dark and cold outside. Well, not that cold. But, it's a whopping 61 degrees in my house and brrrrrr I'm cold!

We've been waiting anxiously for our first fire of the year. Who doesn't love a cozy fire?

And to top it all off, my sweet hubs is all done with his Christmas shopping for me for the year! Yep. He sure is ready ahead of time. Just like him to not put it off until the last minute like someone else I know.

Yep. He's done.

And he didn't even have to lift a finger.

He's cool like that.

It started a few weeks ago when I saw some running clothes go on serious clearance. I texted him asking him if he wanted to get some of his Christmas shopping done early...

Then, I saw these...

Remember them?

Yes.

They were still calling my name.

I used every available brain cell to come up with a great plan.

I do this thing called My Points. Heard of it??

It's a fun program that you sign up for and can earn points by looking at emails that might interest you, completing surveys, and even just by shopping through their website.

Need a printer cartridge? I go to mypoints.com, search for HP, place an order and I not only get free next day shipping through HP, I also just earned 8 points per dollar for something I was already going to do.

Once you earn a certain number of points, you can redeem them for gift cards to various places.

Free money!

As the wheels turned in my head, I realized I had enough points to redeem for a $25 gift card from Amazon.com. I could put that $25 towards the purchase of my tights and wooohoooo, those tights would be mine!!

Then, I just prayed the tights would still be there by the time I got my gift card!

Saturday, the card arrived.

Saturday, the order was placed.

Soon, they will be on my buns and I'm sure that since they're so amazing I will become an amazing runner because of them, right??

Then, Sunday, my husband finished off Christmas shopping as I exited the Nike employee store with my sweet friend who had taken me down there for the day.

Sweet bliss.

Everything 50% or more off of what you pay at a regular store.

Tights.

Two short sleeve tech shirts.

One long sleeve tech shirt.

And one warm hat with a pony tail hole.

I am set.

And as the wind whipped through the trees last night and the rain pelted the window, I was thankful that it wasn't a running morning this morning. And then, I realized, wait, I'm set. I may not be that dry, but I'll sure be warm. No worries.

Winter, bring it on!

*email if you want to know more about My Points. I'd love to tell you all about it!

I Commit Friday

Here's the thing.

I'm a bit commitment phobic.

Because, you just never know.

You never know what life will throw at you. You never know if you will be sick. If you're kids will be puking. If your knee will be bugging you. If your car will not start.

Years ago, when my day did not go as planned, I wouldn't know how to adjust. I would get in a funk. I would be a little lost. Now, I just don't plan. Then, the day can go any way it wants.

However.

I need to commit.

Do you commit?

Now that I'm not training for a specific race, I really want to take this time to get myself in the best shape possible before next season. I want to go into my 1st marathon training cycle fit, fierce and ready to fly.

So, I commit.

I commit to...

3 days of running a week. 2 runs of 5 miles. 1 run ranging from 6-12 miles.

3 days of Jazzercise a week. This will give me the strength training I need... I'll have more on that later!

Daily core work. Need a strong core to keep my form!

Water. Water. Water. In the summer, I have no problem with drinking my water. However, as the temperature drops and I get cold, it's about the last thing I want to drink. But, I commit.

I'm sure there will be more. But, that's my list for now.

I'm turning Friday into I Commit Friday. A day to keep myself accountable for the week. A day to support others who would like to do the same. So, what are you waiting for? Will you commit?