Training for the half...

At the beginning of this year I started working out on weekends with an old friend and these weekend workouts turned into a great time to push each other to do better but also allowed us to de-stress and reconnect with each other.  These weekend workouts turned into pushing/supporting each other to work out during the week and really get our bodies/healthy lifestyles back on track...and we were feeling great.  Obviously as time goes on and on life seems to get in the way of routine work outs unless those routine work outs become priorities in your life...this is when I decided that I have always wanted to run a marathon so I made the decision to train for a half-marathon in July.

Deciding on a half-marathon to run was a hard decision because it put my words into action and setting a date that culminated all the hard work of my training.  The benefit behind actually registering for the half-marathon was that it gave me a definite time frame to accomplish my goal...

With the craziness of life I didn't seem to run much in August and I was terrified I was never going to be ready for this half-marathon of 13.1 miles in November...previous to August I had increased my mileage from .5 miles to 3.1 miles at a nice constant pace and I was already so proud of myself for being able to constantly run a 5k.

So I put my words into action...the beginning of September I jumped back on the training schedule and having to start back at 1.5 miles, yes that is what not running for a month will do to you, almost a month later I am at a solid and constant 4 miles and even last weekend I ran 6.8 miles...which is the farthest I have ever run at one time without stopping...

These small accomplishments have helped me realize that you truly can accomplish anything that you put your mind to!  Who knows what will actually happen on race day but as of right now I am empowering myself by setting small goals and believing in myself to accomplish them!

I challenge you to jump out of your comfort zone and start accomplishing those goals that you have set for yourself or that you have always wanted to do...it truly is a rewarding experience! :)

A new bedtime ritual...

For the past handful of years I always go to bed with the tv on...it definitely helps me fall asleep no matter how tired or awake I may be.  My shoe collection varies between The Golden Girls, The Nanny or Three's Company...I know I am totally not hip.  But since moving into my new apartment and our tv/internet isn't set up yet I think I have found my new bedtime ritual.  One night I was extremely stressed out by the craziness of like that I laid down in my bed, randomly opened my bible and read the passages on the two pages I seem to open up...from this many thoughts stumbled into my mind.  I tried to make small connections to the passages and what was happening in my life.  After slowly reading the two pages I picked a passage that truly caught my mind, wrote it in my journal and then jotted down some notes that were on my mind.  I have done this the past week that I have been in this new apartment of mine and not only am I coming over some great passages that I have never read before but I am also going to bed with such a clear and clam head and heart.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.