After staring at a computer screen most of the day, I was SO ready for this!! My partners in crime today rocked their run!!! 👍👊👟🏃

 #MarathonHigh

 

Shake Up the World a Little More...

Plankety Plank :)

Because I know some of you have decided to try this planking thing 😉::

When it starts to hurt....DON'T hold your breath!! Learn to breathe through discomfort correctly & you can last a little longer than you think you can....and that goes for more than just planks!! 😘😘

Go Ahead. Underestimate Me.

Available in my Etsy shop!! Click on the pic to be taken there!! =)

This Is My Fight Song....

Available in my Etsy shop!!  Click on the pic and you will be magically taken there!! ;)

Never Never Never Never Never Give Up

Available in my Etsy shop!!  Click on the pic to be taken there!!! =)

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

Available in my Etsy shop!!  Click on the pic to be taken there!! =)

When it's Wacky Wednesday in my virtual challenge group....ya never know what you might be asked to do!!! This Wednesday is Wacky WATER Wednesday....and the assignment is two-fold.

 1.) Did you know that you SHOULD be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water DAILY??? This is my norm & not usually a challenge for me, but when I'm sick the way I have been for the past week...I don't want to drink or eat!!! Not drinking enough isn't helping me out in the getting better dept, so this challenge is on like Donkey Kong for me!!! ;)

 2.) Take a wacky picture of yourself drinking your water. I tossed wacky to the curb because my focus was on trying to stop regurgitating my pre-run Larabar 😂 ... and went for...Water On The Riverfront instead..😉😉😉 Getting started on a healthy path can be hard!! STAYING on a healthy path can be harder!!! Challenge groups can make it more fun & can occasionally get a little wacky....& you should be in mine!!! 😉😉 See Jill drink water??? You should drink more water, too. 😉

It does your body good, in so many ways!!!!

 

 🎵🎶 I want to put on.... my my my my my boogie shoes....
Just to boogie with you....🎶🎵 😉😎👟❤ Sing it with me now...

 

Available in my etsy shop!!  Click on the pic to be taken there!!

The myriad of emotions I may have gone through during the progression of this Monday....

 1.) Not amused at life's complications
2.) Even LESS amused.... 😉
3.) After a one day only sneak peek workout of Beachbody's newest program about to be released....Core de Force, a martial arts/kick boxing/self defense inspired program.....that is flippin' AWESOME!!! This is one I could get TOTALLY addicted to!!! 😍😍😍. High intensity. Will work that core like nobody's business and had sweat flying with every kick & punch!! 😉 👊 And after doing it, has me reevaluating that my Monday's not so bad after all, and has me sayin'.....gurrllll, you such a fighter. Life's complications ain't got nuthin' on you!! Sweat is MAGICAL, dontcha know???? 😉 #coredeforce #sweepstakes #beachbodyondemand #nevermissamonday

High Protein Oatmeal

I'm wearing my chef's hat this week!!! 😉 You can't taste the eggs, but they boost the protein to double what it would be without!! This variation gives you 12 grams according to my recipe calculator...💪👍

 High Protein Oatmeal (2 servings)::

 3/4 cup rolled oats
2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut almond milk (I highly recommend Califia Farms brand👍)
1 Tbsp. Ground flaxseed
1 tsp. Cinnamon
 1 ripe banana, mashed
1/2 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup berries, fresh or frozen (thawed)

 Mix all ingredients except berries together in a pot on the stove; turn to med-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches normal consistency and the eggs are no longer runny (about 5 min). Stir in extra milk, if desired. Top with berries and make it pretty, then mix them in & eat it up!! 😉

 Beachbody Container Equivalents:: 1 ❤, 1.5 💛, 1.5 💜, 1/2 🎃 (there's no orange heart 😉) #EatLikeAnAthlete #BreakfastOfChampions 😉

 

Roasted Red Pepper Lentil Soup

Took a new recipe for a spin tonight with a couple of my own detours!! Roasted Red Pepper Lentil Soup with Cilantro & Green Onion garnish......and I think the picture is food magazine worthy so I had to post it!! 😉😉

 

Some Princesses Wear Running Shoes....

So. I try to plan my runs in the middle-ish parts of my days most days. I'm kinda like a kid whose mind is more alert and sharp in the morning, so that's when I like to get my think-hard work done....but then I hit a point where I need a recess or PE break to shake some of it off, and then refocus for the rest of my day after. It works for me. Don't criticize. wink emoticon

Sometimes, depending on the time I'm able to schedule my PE time & the route I choose, I'm often at the end of my run at just when a nearby elementary school gets out. Today was one of those days. Just as I got to the school and pick-up car line, I switched my runkeeper to walk for the rest of the route home. As I was walking away from the school, I got behind a mom pushing a stroller and a couple of kids walking beside her. She was going pretty s-l-o-w pushing that stroller, so I increased my walk to run past her. As I did, her little girl appeared on the other side. Crazy, wild brown curls going all kinds of which-ways on her cute little head. Disney princess dress with play clothes underneath. Sneakers, or "running shoes". Normally, kids just move away or back up, closer to their moms when I pass them while running. This cutie, however, was in her own little world, bouncing along....and when she saw me, instead of getting that shy little look I'm used to seeing and backing closer to her mama....she grinned and those twinkly eyes lit up. She turned that bounce into a run and started running with me!! As we "ran" together, her smile got bigger and she kept looking at me. We were "racing"!!! We got to the crossroad and of course, she got there first. wink emoticon She was so excited that she won..."I won!!" she said and then looked at me...."We were racing!! Did I win???" I told her "of course you did" and gushed over what a good...and fast... runner she was. As she ran back to her mom, I heard her say, "I won!! I knew I would win!! Because I'm a princess"!!

I love kids and the way they see things. <3heart emoticon

May she always have sparkly eyes with a zest for living each moment to its fullest potential. And let her brown curls get crazy messy, because fun things happen when you let your hair get messy. And may she never doubt herself....not for a second, that she can do things....and and do them well....and even win.

Because princesses like pretty things. Like sparkles & flowers ....& princess dresses....they like to look and be pretty. That's how they're created. And they should be sweet & kind....& loving & gentle. But they should also be strong & smart & capable. And courageous & adventurous. If life doesn't make them forget or convince them otherwise....and if it does that to her....may she find her running shoes again. To help her remember.

Running in the Rain (video)

I Ran A Mile....

Watching my 14 year old at baseball tryouts & thinking about our after school convo from yesterday....

Him:: "Mom, I ran a mile at school today"
This, from the kid who hates running...and, in the past, was not shy about letting me know it when he was forced to.
Me:: "You did?!?! Was it awful & horrible for you???". wink emoticon
Him:: "No.... All those other kids were complaining so much and I thought, 'you shouldn't complain.. This is nothing! My mom ran 28!!!'. I even said it out loud to one kid. Because I'm really proud of you, Mom". ❤❤❤

Maybe their thing isn't running. Maybe YOUR thing isn't running. But taking care of yourself, pushing to achieve goals...it's not selfish. It's being an example....you're teaching those you care for that they can achieve hard things too. They're always watching & always learning from you, whether you think they are or not.

Throw Back Thursday....I Got My Kicks On Route 66

Confession::  I've been whining about shivering on a "cold" Florida day today....and I MIGHT have been whining about cold Florida days every day before today. :( I'm not a whiner, but the cold seems to find that part of me and brings it out of hiding.  I was NOT bred for it!!!  I hate it!!! It's awful and horrible and miserable....you get the idea.  BUT... there's always an upside if ya look for it. I mean, hey. I get to wear this hot li'l number because of it...😉 

My first marathon, Nov. 2015!!!   I once said, "I would never.  I could never".  Now, I say...."Never, ever, EVER say never"!!!  

Super cool.  Super fun.  

Cute & fun photo opps at the expo!!

I had to alter my attack plan due to several weeks of sickness prior...and an injury.  Jeff Galloway method.  I highly approve....got me through it, I finished faster than I expected to (I threw out my original pace goals & was seriously just wanting to cross the finish line!!  I can alter my plan, but giving up is not something I do well.   Now, I have a time to beat for my next one. ;)

This is the way a Fl runner meets 25 degrees at the race start time ;)

Twinkly, Sparkly...Endorphin Therapy

Night running in January. 1st night run in.....a long, long time.

Highlights:: Christmas lights!!! Because most people still have them up, ya know.  Puts a little jolly in my haul-y. tongue emoticon
AND, I got to say "on your left" two times as I came up behind and passed other pedestrians!!! 

Captain America reference....just in case you don't know.  Sigh.  <3 Captain America <3 ....but, I digress....

wink emoticon smile emoticoheart emoticonOther observations:: 

1.) at night, my shadow goes before me and I notice things I've never noticed before...like, my ponytail wags like a happy dog's tail when I'm running.

2.) in the dark places where the street lights' illumination cannot reach.....it is REALLY dark and will test my memory of the twists and turns of a well-traveled path

3.) people coming home from work do not care that I am there. In fact, I think they resent it. They would like to turn me into a Flat Stanley.

Only my running friends will appreciate this post. I'm ok with that.

This post brought to you by endorphins.  ;)

YES.  Yes, I do.

Run/Walk/Crawl....My 2015 Wall of Awesomeness ;)

"I always thought of running as just dancing forward" ~ Tom Hiddleston


 BEHOLD. The wall of awesomeness that was my running year, 2015.  Looking ahead to this one. ;)

♫Life's a dance, you learn as you go...sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow♫......I don't think it really matters, as long as you Just. Keep. Going..... & find a way to dance along the way wink emoticon

♫Don't worry 'bout what you don't know, Life's a dance...you learn as you go...♫