Birthday celebration week commences Friday!

This weekend I head off to NYC via DC and I can't wait.  It is the official beginning of my birthday celebration week, I get to see the McQueen exhibit at the Met, Junior's cheesecake in celebration of my day, and the first of 3 5k's with the Do Life crew.  If you're going to be in NYC, DC or Atlanta, come run and/or walk it with me!  Ben (of the Do Life movement) is hitting multiple cities all over the country (Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, LA, etc) and it's such a positive movement to be involved with - and did I mention it's FREE????

While I'm excited to go to NYC because I love the city and wish I could move there, if I could only find a job, I'm also nervous.  I start thinking I'm not prepared, I'm going to fail, I will be the last one to finish, everyone will laugh at me and I'll be a huge joke.  I have realized I struggle with not being able to do what I once did, either by distance, speed or just the activity and instead of facing those and saying I'm working towards those goals again, I start to self-sabotage and only think negatively.  I think of why I can't, why I shouldn't, how I'll humiliate myself and just be a hassle to everyone else.  I don't know why I do this...part of me knows it's something all girls deal with - the negative thoughts, but that's not enough of an excuse.  Which is why I'm also happy that I have people going with me because they're not going to let me back out over my insecurities, which unfortunately is something I seem to do more often than I would like.  No matter what, this is the beginning of my birthday celebration week which is the beginning of the end of 27 for me, which has been an incredibly hard year.  I'm excited to put 27 behind me and start 28 off on the right foot and hopefully it will be a much better year, full of positivity.  If you're in NYC on 6/19, DC on 6/22 or Atlanta on 6/26, I would LOVE to see you and would love to do the 5k with you.  It's going to be SO fun and we're all hanging out afterwards!  Hope to see you out there, celebrating with me!!

Keep on keepin' on

Have y'all seen ABC's new show Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss edition?  It is absolutely amazing.  It amazes me how much difference a year can make.  When I think about it, a year seems so incredibly far away and way too long, but really it's not...4 counts of 3 short months.  The people on this show are at their seeming end and they reach out and ask for help and that simple action of asking for help can actually be the most difficult for a majority of people.  It doesn't matter if you struggle with weight, depression, alcohol, drugs, pleasing, shyness, etc.  Making yourself vulnerable and asking for help, knowing the answer can sometimes be no is an incredibly brave thing to do.  These people transform not only their bodies but their entire lives - their personality comes out, they discover the inner person they always wanted to be and thought was there but never dreamed they could be and do things they never thought they could do.  Case in point - Rachel from the first show hiked up a mountain and bungee jumped off a bridge 400 feet in the air.  Two words:  BAD ASS.  Yes, their lives were documented for a year and they had to put themselves out on national TV in their skivvies but they get this amazing personal trainer who gives them the confidence to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.  That's what I hope to remember every day: just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep on keepin' on. =)

Au Revoir to the Miller's

Tuesday evening I met up with the recently married Ronnie & Deana Miller!  It was the last time we could hang out before they moved to the Raleigh area for Deana's residency so I told Ronnie the choice was up to him what we did.  He chose a bike ride around a park in Glen Allen.  R & D had told me about this park a few times but I never filed it away in my brain and boy was I missing out.  I forgot my camera so I can't show you all the fun we had but no worries, I'll be going back soon.  This place is great!  It has softball and baseball fields, a football field, a playground, 2 trains to play on, a lake with dukes, sheep, goats, horses and trails galore!  We had so much fun going around to all the different places and Deana was telling me about the duck she aptly named Herbert.  I've been a huge fan of Deep Run Park for years now however Glen Allen's park kicks Deep Run's butt from here to Wednesday AND it's maybe 2 - 3 miles from my house, so I can totally bike there!  SCORE!  With all the fun we had at the park, I didn't want to stop riding my bike because that meant it was time to say goodbye to the Miller's.  Ronnie has been a close friend of mine since my sophomore year of college and it's been great having him just a few streets away.  Have no fear, we'll be meeting up again soon...I can't imagine a whole football season passing without seeing them.  Ronnie and Deana - I hope you have a fabulous time in Raleigh....though I don't think I can ever cheer on Duke, but I think I have grown enough to not root AGAINST UVA when they're playing other teams, but that's only because you went there, Deana, and have changed my mine (a little bit) about the school.  Ha.  What can I say, rivalries die hard.  GO HOKIES!  I can't wait to see how this adventure plays out for y'all and the fun you'll have in NC.  Love y'all!!

Memories, memories

When I was younger, I was on year-round and summer swim teams - I basically spent as much time as I possibly could in the pool and I loved every second of it.  As I got older, it changed to only summer swim teams because we were moving around and I wanted to do different activities - gymnastics, soccer, tap, ballet, jazz, etc. until I stopped after we moved from Augusta, GA.  Every time I enter a pool area and smell the chlorine, my memories of that time in my life just take over me and I feel like I've gone home; it's a safe place where I can just be.  I went to the gym after Bible study Thursday night because I had a lot on my mind and when I'm in the pool, cutting through the water, all the outside noises and complications are blocked out so it's time for just me and my thoughts.  Another great plus?  If you're upset, and you need to cry, the pool is a fabulous place to get all those emotions out because no one knows that you're crying.  I'm very fortunate that I'm still able to do some of the things I was so involved in when I was younger because it has so many memories attached and I'm glad to know they still provide that comfort...it's like going home and your mom fixing your favorite meal.  It just doesn't get better than that...and it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

It's June! It's June!

Happy first day of June!  Did you know that June contains the scientifically proven happiest day of the year?  It's true, it does!  Don't believe me?  Check out the article here .  Sure, it's Just pure coincidence that the happiest day of the year happens to also be my birthday.  :) 

Things I'm excited for in June:

NYC
Junior's cheesecake
McQueen exhibit at the Met
Meeting up with the Do Life tour for 3 races.
My birthday & the happiest day of the year!!!
Hanging out with my niece
Sharon returns from 1 year in the Phils

June is also the month that my good friend, Ronnie and his newly married wife Deana move to NC...that will be a sad day when such a close friend (and my resident fix broken stuff at my house :) guy) moves away.  However they're starting their own adventure with Deana's residency at Duke and I can't wait to see how awesome it is and how much they love North Cackalacky.  It's also the start of the summer, more time to hang out with your friends, relax by the water, enjoy the sun on your face and enjoy the slower pace to life.  I'm also hopeful for June to bring some of the changes I've been praying for and working towards.  What are you excited for in June? 

Bootcamp bribes

Here is the email exchange between Tiffany and I about bootcamp yesterday.

Me:  Today.  You're going.  That is all.
Tiffany: Ummmmmm I have my clothes with me…ha…..LOL
Me (7 hours later and 90 minutes before class): I don’t wanna go.
T:  You better…..it’s gonna be hot as fish grease though…LOL
Me:  Meh.  Let's skip this week.
T:  NOPE!!!!!!
Me: K.  How about I skip this week?
T:  Ummmmmmm Nope to that either!!!!!
Me:  Yes but if I don’t go, I don’t have to face you until Monday.  And really that’s a holiday so we won’t have it and then I won’t see you until Wednesday and that’s a whole week and then you will have forgotten.  =D
T:  Ha ha at your  plans……Oh I will remember!!!!!  Put a smile on your face and drive to Deep Run Park for BOOTCAMP!!!!!!

All of that to say, I am so thankful to have friends that keep me accountable.  Bootcamp was the LAST place I wanted to be last night, but I went, it was hot as heck, I worked out, I sweated and I felt better afterwards.  I also picked on the trainer and called him out on a few things.  Heck, you have to keep things fun and yourself entertained, right? 

Tonight is an interval run, upping my intervals but have no fear - I'll be running the inside track at the gym.  I may be from the south but it is just too dang hot out there to be running outside. 

weekend

Sorry I've been so lax about getting stuff up here- I have a post from Ronnie & Deana's wedding to get up here...as soon as I upload the pictures.  BUT this weekend I manned a yard sale for my parents since they were in the Domincan Republic...I know, I know, and I agree - I should have been in the DR on the fabulous trip.  Just kidding!  They deserved a break.  Since I was over there, I took advantage of their neighborhood and the hills that come with it.  I decided I would run to a playground area and take advantage of the different surfaces and do some strength exercises.  It's amazing how close something seems by car, yet while I was running I kept thinking it's definitely around the next curve, I guess the next curve...the next curve?  Finally, I gave up and headed home.  I went out to clock my mileage and it was a 4 mile walk/run!  I didn't realize I had gone that far and it just reinforced what you can do when you put your mind to something and you're thinking about other things.  I also realized I was only a 1/2 mile from the playground but that's okay - I got in 4 miles WITH hills!  I love when I feel accomplished!