Who Just Woke Me Up and WHY?!

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 156 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 791.1 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 330.2 Money Found For Food Bank: $52.12

'Tis the season for big ol' spider webs
to be hanging from almost every limb
and light post!!

When my alarm clock (aka: Aaron) woke me up this morning, I had absolutely no idea why I was being awakened much less what I was supposed to do with myself. I think I thought it was Saturday. Clearly, I was wrong. My brain didn't feel like it was pulling together, but I did realize that if I was getting up, I was also supposed to run, and I trusted that doing so would bring the pieces of the morning together!

I was totally right, too. Running usually gets my muscles going, but, today, it gave me time to wake up and shake out my brain! In fact, my brain was so in need of such attention that the run itself was pretty lame. I covered the distance, but it ranked low on the effort meter! That kind of run works out great if your name is Elly, though! That's her kind of pace giving her all sorts of license to explore and try to take charge!

Oh, sure. Make me look bad by running
on the sidewalk while I'm on the street.
Nice.

The run was not completely without merit. In addition to having gone at all (you know I'm a big subscriber to 'all miles count'), check out what I found!

When's the last time you saw dollar coins?! Ba-da-BING!!

I only have one short run remaining before the Half! Whee!! Given today's lack of solid physical exertion, I was considering leaving Elly at home for tomorrow's 3 miles. Then I saw on Facebook that tomorrow starts National Dog Walking Week, and I thought to myself, "Now, how could I leave her behind on such a day?" THEN I thought, "Why in the world does a 'week' start on a Wednesday?" and decided I'll just decide in the morning if she's coming based on my mood!


"I'm certain your mood will be that you
cannot wait to have your training
companion with you ... right, mommy?!"

Three more miles tomorrow! I'll check in after as we head into the home stretch! See you then ...

Persevere ...

Elly is busy today embracing the spirit of Rest Day:

"Just perfecting the form, mommy. Perfecting. The. Form."

And, in completely not-applicable sentiment, I found this quote on the I Love To Run Facebook page:
She was unstoppable not because she didn't have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them.

Stop and think about just how many ways that applies to your life. And, then think about how strong that makes you.

I'll check in after the morning run!

Catch Up!

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 155 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 788.1 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 327.2 Money Found For Food Bank: $50.10

Hey! I missed Saturday! Well, I didn't really miss Saturday as much as it was so jam-packed-full that I'm catching up on it today! Let's start by saying that I was up before 5 a.m., and I ran while it was still dark. Let's continue by saying I am never up by 5 a.m., and I most definitely do not run in the dark. Put those together, and you see what kind of day it was!!

To be clear, it was an awesome day which was started out with my run! From the get-go, I was totally feeling it. I kept my speed up motivated both by the desire to get out of the dark and wanting to get on with my day. The short run was a great way to shake out Friday's long one which is exactly what it's designed to do. 'Funny how things work the way someone who knows what they're talking about designed them to, huh?

I would like to note that running when it's mostly dark makes finding money much more difficult than when it's light out. Just sayin'. While more difficult, though, not impossible because I found 4 pennies within the first mile to take the Food Bank total at that point to $49 -- a most satisfying moment for sure. Also satisfying that early in the morning is that when you are running on the sidewalk, and you see someone walking toward you carrying a big stick (for real, it was at least 3 feet long ... and, for what ...?), there is no traffic getting in the way of crossing the street to create a comfortable d.i.s.t.a.n.c.e...

This was a 4-mile run, and at my 2-mile turn-around point, daylight broke. It was kind of like having two runs in one with equal distance in different lighting! That lighting did a lot of things from making me feel a bit more comfortable in my surroundings to allowing me to see something I'd actually run right over unnoticed just 20 minutes prior:

Wasn't I just saying how all of this year's found money was in
the form of change?! Sweet, sweet foldin' scratch!

Right before that, I'd also found a previously unnoticed dime. Booyah: The Bank wins! The tally is now more than $50!!

In addition to the perpetual hope of finding some cash, I was looking forward to the possibility of a great sunrise. It took until my third mile, but the skies did not disappoint:

Oooooo ...

Ahhhhhh ...

Running yesterday also allowed for two straight days of rest. This kid's not complaining about that!! Spend your Sunday doing what fills you up, and I'll check in tomorrow ...!

I Can Run, But I Can't Hide

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 154 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 784.1 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 327.2 Money Found For Food Bank: $48.96

I know you know what day it is, but it's worth a shout anyway: IT'S FRIDAY!!! Yahoo!! And, check out the beauty that started off mine!!

The cool thing about getting up early to run is that I get to see the show in the sky! The window for it is so small, so, I should really be thankful that I took up this running business because I do love me some color up there!! Here's another just moments after the above:

Check out the beams from behind that tree ... sweet !!!

On the agenda this morning was the 10-miler that is always run the week before the Half. I was looking forward to it for the following reason: Because it wasn't 11 or 12 miles. For real, that was the reason. It's all I had on an early Friday, and I embraced it!

The run treated me well all the way around including this score right when I hit the first mile:

Thank you, bike lane!

I had a lot of good stuff to think about while out there because last night I watched another of Oprah's Life Class episodes with T.D. Jakes again (he. rules. entirely.). Given my reflections yesterday about how I'd been defined by others, some of what he said really resonated. Here's one of my favorites:

"Step out of your history and into your destiny ... You can't drive forward looking in the rear view mirror." -- T.D. Jakes

I will say that, when you're running, you can certainly trip over crap that you didn't see coming because you're looking for money and not paying attention. But, that's entirely different.

Okay, give THAT some thought!! He does go on to explain that it's worth looking back, but the purpose of doing so is to figure out what was going right and why, and then work to repeat that kind of pattern. The purpose of looking back on the negative should be to avoid such patterns in the future, not live there .

I had this theme rolling around in my brain and, frankly, in my heart while covering the miles today. There's something about running that has unleashed a freedom in me, and I'm still working to understand in just how many ways that has happened. Of course, yester-me could not have run 10 miles nor would she have wanted to, but, there's more to what's been unleashed, and I continue to work to get to the bottom of it! I do know for certain, though, that running is me in my purest form every time I'm out there no matter how it goes. I can run, but I can't hide. And, as I go forward in my life, I don't want to ...

With that, I'm off to start the weekend!! Start yours off exactly the way you want, and I'll check in tomorrow!

No You're Not; Yes I Am

Pit Crew #3 is reading Of Mice and Men for his section of his English class. He'll get credit for having read it, but there's no accountability for having done so. It's 'on his honor.' Umm ... okay ... Now, I trust my kiddo in many respects, but I am hardly expecting him to make many connections or dive particularly deep into the concepts of foreshadowing or symbolism without a little accountability. Enter: Mom & Son Book Club, at your service ...

This book is taking me back, though, because I'm pretty sure I read it in high school although I remember very little of it. What I remember of reading (as a whole, not just this book) was the number of times I was told I wasn't much of a reader by those who expected me to read as fast as others. Indeed, my reading speed was pretty slow if I had a prayer of comprehending anything. But, isn't it funny (not of the ha-ha variety) that I got the point was to actually comprehend what I read, and I adjusted what I needed -- including extra time to complete assignments -- all on my own, but the continual assessment of my ability was so often about how fast I read. For real, people can be so ignorant. I will not name names.

So, believe when I say I went ahead and adopted the idea that I wasn't much of a reader. I also come from the era where girls just 'weren't that good' at math, so I lived right on up to that expectation as well. Believe when I say that my grades looked a lot prettier than the pathways of pouting and trails of tears leading up to them. And, you've been privy to a story or two reflecting on the many times I was told I was not a runner because -- you guessed it -- I wasn't very fast.

*sigh*

The catch of it all, though, is that all of the 'you can't do it' messages were external. Every one of them. Frankly, I thought I was just fine as a reader until others told me otherwise. I was pretty good at math until I was reminded that it's okay struggling with a new concept because I was a girl (I guess boys never struggled with new concepts? Oh, my ...). And, my running served me just fine especially as I learned to cut angles and play smarter on the soccer field against those whom I accepted I could not beat in a foot race. It just wasn't fine for those who valued speed over endurance.

But, it's not about anyone else's opinion anymore. It hasn't been for a long time. That's why I keep going ... Quickly? No. Persistently? Yes.

And, tomorrow, I'm goinggoinggoing for the last 10-miler of the schedule! I'll check in after as we start off the weekend!!

Elly's Fall Frolic

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 153 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 744.1 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 327.2 Money Found For Food Bank: $47.96

Happy Wednesday, everybody, and happy continued celebration of the beginning of Fall!! It's Elly again chiming in before falling asleep for the better part of the day! Last time I wrote, it was because mommy didn't feel very well. Today, I just got all bossy and said SCOOT OVER because I had so much fun on this morning's Fall frolic that I wanted to be the one report! Oh, sure, mommy had things to say about her soon-to-be-worn-out shoes, the hole she almost stepped avoiding a dude on the sidewalk that had no intention of sharing with us and that time at the end of our run when she hit a sidewalk jut scaring the bajeebers out of her. But, let's just focus on the fab, shall we? Like, THIS:

Mommy said she was bored with our normal 3-mile route, so she said something about 'turning it around.' I didn't really know what that meant, but as long as I was a part of it, I was all for it! I will say that most everywhere we went looked familiar but somehow backward. Maybe that had to do with the turning around business. We also ventured on a couple of new paths, and mommy even found a dime along one of them! I knew this because I heard her say, "SCORE!" and we stopped for a second. That usually means she found money, but I'm not ever sure who she's talking to. That momentary stop was awesome for me because there were some new smells in the air. Ohhhhh, the smellllllsss! Someone somewhere was rustling up some breakfast, and it smelled sooooo very good to this hound! Mommy had other ideas, though, which took us in the exact opposite direction from the breakfast goodness. Oh well, another day perhaps.

This backward route thing had a big payoff that I didn't see coming (because I don't think that far ahead) ... the hill that we usually ascend in the beginning was now downhill at the end! Now, that's my kind of planning!

"Wheeeeee!! Look how fast I'm going! We
should run this direction all. the. time!"

To my surprise, there was a steep incline right on the other side of this downhill dream, but I took care of that by pulling over and utilizing the facilities. At least it gave us a break mid-hill. See how I did that? I used my smarts. And my bladder.

At the end, mommy wanted a picture of me in my current Fall fashion:

"Is this my good side?"

"Or, is it this one? Ahhhh, who are we kidding ... it's BOTH."

It was so much fun taking mommy out for her run today!! I enjoyed every minute of it! I hear there's a Rest Day scheduled for tomorrow, and I'm down with that, too. I've already been practicing for it. See?

"I am soooooo good at this!"

That's it for today! Mommy wants you to enjoy the rest of your Hump Day, whatever that means, and she'll check in tomorrow! Have a great day; I'm off to resume napping!

CHA-CHING!!!

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 152 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 740.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 323.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $47.84

As the hedgehog would say, Happy Fall, Y'all!! It's Fall's first full day today, but I was all about celebrating its arrival last night!! I was so happy it was Fall that I completely whiffed even considering writing about my delight! By the time I even thought about it, it, simply put, was time to go to bed!

This is, hands down, my very favorite season!!It's crisp, it's cozy and it's colorful. WHAT MORE COULD ONE WANT?! Ahhhhh ... I Just. LOVE. It!!!

This morning's Fall kick-off run couldn't have been any better, either! As usual, the idea of it didn't particularly inspire me as I drug myself out of bed. And, as usual, I pushed away the idea  of the run and focused on knowing the actual participation in it would be well worth it. Indeed, I have to remind myself of that notion all the time. You'd think it would just get to a point of being so second nature that that's what I'm doing in the morning that I wouldn't have to convince myself that it's not going to be so bad. You'd think ... Anyway, from the first few steps, just being outside was all kinds of wonderful! It wasn't so chilly that I could see my breath, but the air was cool and not soul sucking like the temps of Summer.

Almost immediately upon starting, I found 11 cents which was a big deal today. Before heading out, I needed to find just 8 more cents to exceed how much money I found last year to donate to the Food Bank. Finding so much (19 cents in total) was truly something to get excited about today especially when I still have 7 or 8 weeks until donation day! WAHOO!! And, let's not forget: $25 of last year's $47.72 was paper money. As of right now, all money found this year is in change ! That explains why I have started stacking it as my temporary overflow system:

You can see the container below the gecko cage. That receptacle was the overflow for the Snoopy dog house bank I already stuffed full, and the coins in the blue container there are a bit precariously balanced to not just spill over ... It's a good problem to have!

Oh, and I had my first conversation with someone in a drive-thru this morning. So, there I was doing what I do, picking up shiny pennies, when a woman came to the window and opened up. She was older than I and just had the sweetest smile, so I am pretty confident she was about to congratulate me for my finds (it's happened before at other places. It's pretty amazing.). She appeared ready to chat, so, I told her what I was doing and why (I figured I'd have a better chance of being supported and not chased off on future runs if I just laid it out there). The woman was so very sweet and seemed very supportive, and just that little interaction was one of those random moments you're so glad you encountered during your day!

Who knew all of the good that can come from running?

With that, it's a short one tomorrow heading toward Friday's long run! I think Elly might just join me tomorrow. She has new Fall fashion to show off and all! Have a great first full day of Fall, and I'll see you after the morning run!

Not NOT Going!

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 151 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 735.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 323.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $47.65

This morning, Elly had a plan. And, it was to run. With me. No alternative plans would do; that girl was not not going running!

"I trade you one picture by your crazy big
purple aster thing for a big run. Let's do
this thing!"

I could actually still feel Friday's 12-miler in my cranky legs, so I wasn't as ready to hop to it as the pooch! I procrastinated as long as I possibly could including slipping in an old episode of Dance Moms (oh, yes, I did that) before mind-over-mattering myself out of bed!

When Elly and I finally got to it, I was a bit surprised that I took off running from the start. Normally, I walk about 50 yards to get myself going, but, this morning, I was ready from the get go. Apparently, my body knew something my mind didn't ...

Elly was ready from the start, too:

"Sweeeeeeet freeeeeeedoooooommm!!"

She was ready to bail by the third mile, though. I guess she used up a little too much energy with her morning ants in pants routine!

Four miles and 22 cents for the Bank later, and we wrapped it up! I have yet to wrap my head around the fact that the Half is in exactly two weeks, but I say BRING IT. I'll be very ready to rock in my own way! But, not before a Rest Day tomorrow!

In the meantime, I have to report that my dad loved his Bingo cake. And, that was more satisfying than any run I've ever done. Just sayin'...

Refreshing

Running cleanses my soul. Being creative feeds it. And, that's what this Rest Day is all about ...

A birthday cake for my Dad ...

... and, a new bandana in the works for the pooch!

I hope your Saturday is full of things that fill you up!! I'm off to dive into more, but I'll check in after the morning run!

Today, Twelve Hurt

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 150 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 731.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 319.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $47.43

I need to make a deal with my legs. It needs to go like this: I don't use bad words at you, you don't use bad words at me.  I think that's reasonable. Right now, they're having none of it, though, because their potty mouths are a'movin'!! I guess I shouldn't complain, though, because they moved for me for all of this morning's 12 miles, so, I should probably just be thankful!

I was thankful to see this right out of the gate:

That was way better than the site I left at home from the disappointed-to-not-be-joining-me hound. She couldn't even look at me.

"The writing was on the wall when you said, 'Sorry, Elly.'
What was the point of looking up?! *sigh* "

I was also glad to see this before, well, before not seeing this ...

That's the fourth banana peel in four runs on four different routes, by the way. What is up with that?!

Oh, and seeing this is just a tear-jerker in my world:

There was more than one penny that got the tar treatment ...

I pictured myself being in charge of the tar-squirting machine and having to stop and get down multiple times during my resurfacing duties to pick up money. I'm sure I'd have more than one of these conversations: "Um, Nancy, why does it take you hours to resurface a space that takes others significantly less time?" "Um, because I am fiscally responsible, just sayin'." "Um, you're also fired ..."

I mentioned yesterday that the 12-miler is a hard one for me, and today was no exception. It's a challenge enough all by itself, but when you add a labor-intensive day yesterday on top of what can only be considered a truly, pitiful warm up, I don't do myself any favors! But, I did get it finished!

And, look how beautifully blue the sky
was at that point!! That was sweet!

When I stopped, I was reasonably certain I could draw with precision how my skeleton all fits together because I could feel a number of places where joints exist that I don't normally think about. Ohhhh, but they were letting me know they were there! They've since calmed down. It's only the legs carrying on with their whining!

And, tomorrow? Can I hear a hell, yeah for Rest Day?! I'm pretty jazzed about it. I think I actually earned this one!! I'll check in tomorrow ... enjoy your launch into the WEEKEND!!!

I Think I Prefer the "Knowing"

This is so true ...

I'm sure the intended sentiment behind this pic (from Justin's Health and Fitness Facebook page) has to do with being anxious to get out and run instead of resting one's body. My personal thoughts were a little different because I can't count the number of times "12 miles ... 12 miles," which is tomorrow's distance, has gone through my head as I'm doing other things. It's just there in the back of my head ... 12 miles ... No matter how many times I've already run this distance, it's still a big one to me!

This distance can be a tough one sometimes simply because I get ants in my pants about how many different ways I can contort local routes to make them somewhat interesting in the double-digit days! At the same time, rerunning what's really familiar has some comfort to it because I can feel where I am (and when I will finish!) more than I can on a new route. That's part of what makes that last mile to 13 suck in a race -- the not-quite-knowing where the finish line is! And, no matter how many times you tell yourself, "It just has to be right up there! Right? Nope! Okay, then, it must be right up there! Wait ... really? No?! Ugh!"

Fortunately, I'm feeling so much better today as compared to the last two days, so mapping it out and looking ahead to it doesn't feel like a drag! That is, in fact, the current order of business! I'll check in tomorrow after my feet carry me over those mapped miles ... see you then!

Stepping In

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 149 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 719.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 319.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $46.81

Hi there on this Wednesday, everybody! Elly here. Mommy's not feeling on the top of her game, so I said I'd take over the writing today which also means you get see even more of meeeeeeee !

It's this kind of day here ...

After our outing, I went into the family room where mommy was, and she was stretched out on the couch with what she calls a screamin' headache. I don't know what that means, but if it meant hanging out on the couch on a rainy day, then I was all for it. So, I took my spot on the other couch, and we bonded for a good, long while!

Before that, though, mommy had a 3-mile run on the calendar, and let me tell you how much she didn't want to go out today because she said she felt yucky. But, I really really really really really wanted to go. So, we compromised with a 3-mile walk at a quick pace. It was a pace that allowed for all of our regular running fun like smelling hydrants (wait ... that's just me) and finding money. And, the fresh air felt oh-so-good to both of us.

It was the perfect outing as far as I'm concerned ...

... and, better yet, we just missed  the rain!!

As her trainer, I commended mommy for keeping up the pace so we didn't get caught out in it. Neither of us are fans of getting rained on, but, secretly, I'm the bigger baby about it. Don't tell. It'll expose my tough girl façade ...

Mommy has a busy day tomorrow, so she's still taking it easy the rest of today ... and, I think I'll go join her!! She'll check in tomorrow, though, on the eve of the 12 miler (which I don't get to go on *sigh*). Until tomorrow ... * slurrrrrp! *

Two Choices

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 148 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 716.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 310.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $46.71

I was watching the new season of The Biggest Loser the other day, and the new woman trainer (can't remember her name) articulated her philosophy as the following (as best I can recall, not quoting): You have two choices as to how to live your life -- out of fear, or out of love. And, when you live out of love, that also means you will love yourself enough to try. You will love yourself enough to encourage yourself instead of tearing yourself down. You will love yourself enough to believe in yourself.

Boy did that resonate with me! I can most definitely relate to and see this in action with regard to my running as this is one of the first endeavors I took on as an adult where, once I approached it in a positive 'I can totally do this' way, it worked. And, it keeps on working. And, I know good and well some other things with which I continue to wrestle come straight out of some form of fear. It's something worth thinking about ...

In the meantime, I pounced on those 5 miles today to the tune of finishing in a time frame that pleased me and with 26 cents a'jingling in my pocket. Sweet, sweet way to start the morning!

Tomorrow is another one! That'll be 3 miles of time where I can figure out what other cobwebs can be cleared to make way for even more light in my life! That'll be time well spent! See you after ...

Consistency Makes It Happen Because My Brain's Not Always Plugged In

Happy, happy Monday!! Ready for the week? Here we gooooooo!!

You saw Aaron's birthday cake in progress the other day. We got to dive in last night ...

Mmmmm ... holy moly mmmmmm ...

Let's just say having a Rest Day scheduled for today was perfection because that is one humdinger of a cake both in deliciousness and in personal need for recovery! Super. Yum.

As usual, Rest Day has been very full (it is Monday, after all), but I did finally make some time to spruce up the house for Fall! Of course, this is one of my favorite spots:

That took me about 2 minutes to create. Well, 13 days and 2 minutes. I'm saying I've been mentally planning to decorate for Fall since the day after Labor Day and just got around to it!

Some things can wait, and others need to happen at a slow and steady pace. Like -- you guessed it! -- the running schedule! If you can believe it, there are only 2 more long runs before the long run! I'm in a bit of disbelief myself, but, fortunately, I only have to count on my obedience to what the calendar tells me to do to keep up and make it happen -- no matter my mental state on any given day!

To that end, we hit the road for 5 miles tomorrow! I'm not feeling it right now, but I've learned to not judge how I feel about a run until I actually get out there and make it happen! So, enjoy the rest of starting up your week, and I'll check in after the morning run!

Day To Celebrate

Some days are for running, and some days are for resting. Then there are the other days that are just meant for celebrating!

Happy Birthday to Aaron!!

I can't think of a better way to spend this day than celebrating him!

And, that's all that's required of today! See you tomorrow ...

For Now Or For Later

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 147 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 711.5 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 310.6 Money Found For Food Bank: $46.45

Sometimes, we do things today because it's an investment in our future more than it is something awesome in the moment. That is precisely what today's run was. No, I'm not talking about the health benefits to running and how that's an investment in my future health. I'm saying I moved tomorrow's short run to today for the very purpose of sleeping in tomorrow.

And, really, is there a better reason to move a run?! I think not.

Elly was totally down with the schedule change because it was one day sooner to run for her. She enjoyed every minute of our jaunt out, and she thoroughly enjoyed being treated like a queen being picked up and driven home:

Stop drooling on the seats, Elly ...

Sometimes our actions are for the moment, and sometimes they're for the long haul! Either way, do what you do with purpose and with passion, and I'll see you on a celebratory Sunday!

Head Games

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 146 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 707.7 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 306.8 Money Found For Food Bank: $45.86

Holy moly, 11 miles is so much easier to run when it's only this many outside!!

Three things dominated my thoughts today. Wait ... four things because I was not immune to seeing the beautiful flowers that are eeking out everything they can before Fall really takes over ...

- and -

A bounty of purple, and an explosion of many colors. No visual complaints from me today!

Okay, but here was the breakdown of thoughts:

• When thinking about a situation that is currently annoying me, the run was a total drag. Darn-near a drudgery.
• When thinking about something fun (like Aaron's birthday), the miles flew.

Coincidence on how the run felt as compared to what I was feeling? I think not.

And, the third thought: My friend Becky and her husband are going to cap off their Couch To 5K program tomorrow morning with their first-ever 5K event!!! They have been working very hard, slow and steady, and, tomorrow, they get to celebrate all of their work! SO PROUD OF THEM!!!!

That is a serious accomplishment both physically and mentally, and thinking about them gave me just the second wind I needed to keep going on my last three miles as I was inspired by their commitment and excitement! They win as soon as they step up to the starting line!

Not every step is easy, but every step is a win! Keep the mental game as positive as possible, and I'll see you after the morning run!

Internal House Cleaning

Aaron's birthday is in a couple of days, so I'm using Rest Day to delve into some birthday preparations including baking his cake. The man loooooooooooves carrot cake. It's in the oven right now. And, I know I'm not the first to say this, but I really am on board with the idea that carrot cake should be considered healthy because it's chock full of carrots. You can even see 'em. I think that's pretty solid evidence for nutritional points, right?! Of course, I had a couple of spoonfuls of the batter after filling the pans (yeah, like that's just me), and now my stomach is totally upset. 'Happens every year. It's not that I don't learn, it's that I don't care.

In the meantime, I recently watched one of Oprah's Life Class episodes featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes (original air date: 9/15/2013). He said something in his talk that blew. my. mind. , and I wanted to share:

(with regard to holding on to pain of the past):
When you hold on to your history, you do it at the expense of your destiny.

When I heard that, I stopped what I was doing, rewound it, and I listened over and over. And, over.

How many ways can you apply this to your life? And, how is what you're holding on to holding you back? And, is the price paid for holding on to that pain worth what you're missing out on?

Of course this is applicable to my running adventures; if 39-year-old me continued to listen to young-teen me, I wouldn't have taken a step. But, that's the very least of the ways I can apply the above quote to my life ...

Take a moment to ponder, and make sure you're living your life to its fullest!! I'm going to fill my tomorrow morning up with my long run! The overnight temp is going to be in the 50s ... what a perfect way to set the morning up for awesome running weather!! I'll check in after!

You Find Some, You Lose Some

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 145 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 696.7 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 306.8 Money Found For Food Bank: $45.83

It was raining when I got up, but I caught a break right when it was time for me to head out for the morning run. I jumped at the opportunity to get outside (vs. running on the treadmill) even though outside was thick with grody humidity. I'd much rather feel gross outside than in, so it was a good call.

I didn't take Elly, though, as dealing with the underbelly of a really wet dog is a sucker's game. No matter how much I try, I never get her dry enough, so she still gets stuff wet. She was still eating her breakfast at the time I left anyway, so I thought it all worked out just fine. As soon as I got home, though, she sat and seemed to wonder what it was that I was going to write about her ...

"I can't wait to read today's installment
all about meeeeeeee."

Sorry, Elly. I've already covered it.

The run went just fine, but it was nothing outstanding. I finally felt myself getting into it when I only had two tenths of a mile to go, so it felt like it ended just when it began ... even though it began a couple of miles back! It again proved my personal theory from the Summer that I don't like runs shorter than two miles because it takes me at least that long to finally get in a real groove.

I also don't like that I put the first two pennies I found in a pocket that I knew had a hole in it! It was one of those moments where you know better but you do it anyway. You see, I felt for the hole, but I only found a teeny one. So, I talked myself into thinking it must be the other pair of shorts that has the hole. Even though I know I knew better. What a tool.


"You paint the eggs, you hide the eggs,
you find the eggs." Classic. But not cool
when you lose your money. ( image )

So, those two pennies are out there to again be found. In the meantime, I put in two from our penny stash to join the one I found toward the end. All problems solved plus a bonus future treasure hunt that I made myself! Kind of like Lucy hiding her own Easter Eggs ... but totally different.

And, tomorrow? I rest up for Friday's long run! The temperatures are promised to drop which will make awesome running weather!! But, that follows plans for a great Rest Day, so I'll check in from there!

Get IN IT To Win It

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Days Run: 144 Nancy's 2014 Mileage: 693.2 Elly's 2014 Mileage: 306.8 Money Found For Food Bank: $45.80


I'm clearly in a mode of deeper thinking these days because the overriding thought on today's run was this:

You have to feel to really live.

There are so many ways I could try to generalize that sentiment, but I won't. I will offer, though, that I, personally, am grateful for the strength to go into and through the lowest of my life lows because feeling that was my signal and incentive to figure out what to do to get out of it. My nature is to cry when I'm stressed or upset, but those tears also put me in motion. They're not weak, as is a popular sentiment about we criers. Instead, those tears let me feel what is going on -- to be fully and completely in it. And, they are greasing the wheels for action, so, watch out because there's no stopping me after a good cry!

We're all pretty adept at the fun stuff, and, by and large, that's what most people seem to shoot for, myself included. But, sometimes, the hard stuff is necessary to do some internal and external house cleaning and to realign personal priorities so as to clear the path to the good stuff.

I could swing all of this around and directly apply it to running. But, I won't except to say that feeling seems to make people whole, and pushing hurt and pain away seems to leave a lot of holes. I remind you of my current Unbroken Tour ...

I don't remember a whole lot of this morning's run because I was long lost in thought and reflection. Elly was behaving herself, therefore, not much of a distraction, and I kept just enough focus to follow all traffic rules, find money and not fall down. Booyah.

Now, here's the best story of the day ... You know how Elly has decided she's all scared of big trucks, right? Okay, so, we were driving home, and she was co-piloting like she always does. I put her window down because I knew she was hot. We were in the left lane waiting at a red light when a big truck was slowing to pull up alongside us. The next thing I know, Elly bailed to the back seat ...

... terrified of the truck.

And, that's where she stayed for the remainder of the drive back home. *sigh*

Tomorrow's another short run! I'll check in after ... we'll just have to see about Elly!

Living Real

Happy Monday, and welcome to the new week!! I know it really started yesterday, but Sunday's still the weekend in my book!

The following thought has plagued my brain for the past few days:

Live authentically, live in truth, and everything else will fall into place the way it's supposed to.

What has been true about my running has been true about my life: The more honest I am with myself and others, the better and more fun the experience! When I began to run, I most definitely had struggles comparing myself to others, and I was not always been particularly kind to myself. But, what would have held me back worse than anything is if I had tried to pretend like those feelings didn't exist, and I espoused a fictitious reality that I would then have to somehow figure out how to produce. I've certainly given that cover-up/let's pretend strategy a whirl in other areas of my life. I think we've all done it. It's just that, by the time I started running, I was old enough to be totally over that strategy of destruction, and I decided the only way to do this right was to do this real.

I was open about my abilities or fears about where they seemed to lack. I was open about my goals, and I was realistic in creating them. I embarked on this activity for me and not to please nor impress anyone else. I made certain I was in touch with exactly who I was and what I expected of myself from the get go, and I had faith I could only build and be better from there.

I have racked up a lot of personal success, and I can identify an equal amount of improvement to shoot for. But, I am absolutely certain I am exactly where I should be right now because running, for me, has never been about becoming a super athlete. Watch out when I'm 80 killin' it in my age group at a Half Marathon, though ... but, I digress.

I've said before that if you want to understand my life, understand how I run. It's that whole art imitating life thing, but my running is the art. Oh, and that art could often easily be likened it to an abstract painting. Or, in Friday's case, splatter paint. hahahahaha

Find your truth, don't lose your humor, and there's no way to fail.

In the meantime, I got myself a hedgehog luggage tag today. Because I needed it.

I'll see you after the morning run!

Ponder It

I saw this on the Power Of Run Facebook page ...

Amen to that.

And, clearly, that's applicable to everything. Not just running.

More tomorrow ...