Running, Retreating, and Why It Matters to Dress for the Weather

It feels like for many of us these fall months can be some of the busiest.
Back to school for kids, sports teams begin again, and getting ready for the holidays and colder months, it seems to be a full time.
This weekend was just that for me.

Friday and all day Saturday was the first (hopefully annual) Radiant Light Conference here in SE Michigan. It has been the prayers and a lot of hard work from friends of mine in ministry. Seeing a need, we jumped and took a risk to make it happen.
We had 130 women of all ages show up, and overall I think it was a beautiful and fun weekend.
We had a fancy social gathering on Friday night. Saturday morning started with Eucharistic Adoration. 
Women arrived to a beautiful space, legit swag bags, lots of amazing vendors, and opportunities for reconnecting with friends while time to meet new women. There were keynotes from local women and break-out workshops in the afternoon on everything from finding holy rest, finding joy in transition, and finding God in creativity/art.

I think Mary (the brains behind this project) really tapped into a need in our local community for women to have more of these types of things: for community, sisterhood, and learning and growing together.
It was a long day, but I was so happy to be part of this good work.

Sunday morning I ran my second marathon in Detroit. 

I will be honest and say my training was less committed, and I felt that in both my mental game and in my physical body at times. My time did not really improve at all, but I think going in I knew that.
I was disappointed I had to walk a little bit. But as I finished, I didn't want to be shaming myself. I ended really convicted of a few things.
First, I need to train smarter and be consistent with my running group.  And second, I need to be committed to strength training. Like a lot.
Every life experience is a teaching moment and this race was no different.
It was so wonderful to see my cheering squad at the half-way point. But even better right as I crossed the finish line, and after for some big bear hugs.
I also learned the valuable lesson of why it really matters to dress properly for the weather. With running, I typically tend to overdress in worry I may get too cold. Wellllll yesterday I could've dressed warmer.
When I started seeing everyone else in their running tights, I knew this was going to be a longggg morning. Case in point, be prepared and dress for the weather. #themoreyouknow

It is not always about the race, but the journey.
Yesterday's race was harder than I planned, but I know I can do hard things.
All of us can.

It is about the journey, not just the finish line.

I was into my 15th mile yesterday morning when a woman one the sideline had a cardboard poster board that read, "Today you will finish a marathon!"
She cheered and yelled louder for folks in the green bibs (me!) as it was their first time running Detroit or first marathon ever.
When I ran by here we made eye contact and she hollered at me, "GIRL. You are gonna finish a marathon today!"
That is when it hit me.  I am going to finish and I started to cry. It hit me in that moment (no matter the weather!) I was going to finish my first marathon. TODAY.

I have spent more than half of my life not feeling comfortable in my own skin, wishing I was someone else. Don't even get me started how I felt about my own body.
I spent most of my 20's comparing myself to others and believing lies about me from the time I was a little girl.
I was horribly insecure and hid it well behind a big smile and loud mouth personality.
I have told myself for many years "I can't do that, it's too hard."
And when faced with the hardest situation of my life I knew I was going to not just survive but I was going to thrive.
Running has become a very emotionally and spiritually healing tool in my life. 
Yesterday was about so much more than just crossing the finish line.
It was about the journey that brought me there. 
And I would not trade that journey for anything in my life.
I am certainly not grateful it all happened. But I am 100% grateful for what it has taught me about myself as a woman.
I carried and prayed for so many people and situations yesterday on the road: my godchildren, my immediate family, personal situations, my aunt battling cancer again, all my Blessed Is She sisters (especially the BIS Team!!), friends, and my own future.
When I turned the corner and saw the 25 mile marker I started choking up again. 
I ripped those earbuds out and soaked up every step of that tiring final mile. I recalled the faces and names I most carried in my heart and thanked God for this opportunity.
After I crossed the finish line, I leaned over and just started weeping. 
Sure I was grateful to be done running, but even more grateful what this journey represents to me in a new phase of life.
We can do hard things in life.
We are not responsible for what happens to us, but we are responsible for how we choose to respond to it.
My first 26.2 is not just about a medal.
It represents a change of heart, a change in how I look at life and myself.
Your finish line may look different than mine. But the journey is still the same.
Because all of us can do hard things in this life.

5 Life Lessons You Can Learn From Running

When I started running 2ish years ago I didn't realize how many things running could teach me besides why exercise matters. 
What I did not realize, however, was how many life lessons running would (and continues) to teach me. 

Patience. Let's start off with where I need the most help shall we friends?
One of the virtues I most often suck at and constantly need more practice. Patience leads to self-awareness, discipline, and more refined character...again all things I need more of. I have learned to be patient with myself in pacing, not getting the time I want in a race, and not screaming at the person driving in front of me not using his turn signal.
Being patient with myself and others reminds me, to slow down and not get bent out of shape by life.

You can do hard things. This is my anthem, my battle cry in life right now. Never say never because you can do the hard stuff.

Sometimes the only thing holding you back is your mind. This is especially true for running; how much impact the mind has on the body's ability to perform. There is a point where you hit a wall, and the only thing that gets you across the finish line is positive self-talk and willing your mind to get it done.
Negative self-talk in any form will kill you. The power of lies we often so easily tell ourselves does more damage than we realize sometimes.
The messages we tell ourselves are crazy powerful. Sometimes really the only thing holding you back  is your mind. Believe it can happen and it just might.

Prepare, but go with the flow. Prepare, work hard, do the best you can with what you have, and then go with the flow whatever happens.
If we put in our time and prepare well, we need to find comfort in the fact that we've done our best. Then let it go. #serenitynow

Suffering makes you stronger. True in every sense, in every life situation. Insert Kelly Clarkson singing here.
The hardest, most difficult things in life have the potential to be life changing lessons. And when that happens, you are stronger and more resilient. 
Kelly Clarkson really was right, what doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

You Can Do Hard Things.

The hardest things in life sometimes are the best teachers.
Yesterday I finished my 3rd half marathon. 
It was the second time I ran this particular race, last year was my first time. My time didn't improve by much, but my pace was steady and consistent the entire time. Heck the last 3 miles, I felt great and finished feeling more energized than exhausted! So much so, I know next year I am going to run the full marathon...because I can do hard things.
The last few miles of races I use as a time to just reflect on life over the past year and count my gratefuls. I started thinking about all the many times in my life I have told myself I can't do certain things. Those times I have talked myself out of something because I thought it was "too hard." 
In that final mile, I started repeating to myself, "You can do hard things, you can do hard things." As I approached that finish line, those words just rolled around in my mind so much so I started tearing up as finished. Those 5 little words mean a lot to me.

Yes, YOU can do hard things. You don't need to run away from the hard things.
Stop telling yourself the lie of "I Can't" or "Its Too Hard." Replace it with the life-changing truth of "I Can Do Hard Things." And when you start to believe that in your core, an amazing transformation starts in your soul. You begin to undo all those self-imposed lies. 
I have told myself (and too often believed) so many lies over the years; lies that have held me back emotionally and spiritually. I told myself I couldn't live on my own and take care of myself financially. I told myself it would be too painful or scary to start a new life on my own. I told myself I was not fit enough to run. I told myself it would always hurt, that the pain and sadness would follow me forever. I told myself I won't survive this or will not being able to trust again.
We all tell ourselves lies. Yours are probably different than mine. The lies we tell ourselves are only true if choose to believe them. The choice is up to us.
I am doing hard things I never would have imagined. But that's the beautiful part because the hard things are transforming and shaping me into a stronger, more refined woman. I am done lying to myself, I've wasted too much time on it. 
Stop lying to yourself. 
You can do hard things.
Neve say never.

Never Say Never: How 13.1 Changed Me

I did it. A week ago I finished my first half marathon.
Last year after my 29th birthday I decided to take on a half marathon to celebrate turning 30. I trained, planned, and made it happen. Never have gotten into the whole exercise thing it was the health crisis of my dear aunt and doing a 5K for ovarian cancer research that got me thinking how for to long I have neglected really taking care of my body. 

I loved every freaking sweaty moment of that race...well maybe except the last two miles were I started to feel like death. My time was ideally what I wanted it, but I finished. I made a goal and chased after it. My goal of 13.1 has taught me a lot of things about myself over the last year.
Self-care is not an optional thing. If you don't take care of yourself, it actually hinders you from becoming most fully the person God wants you to be. I'm not saying to go be selfish but making time for self-care makes you feel better about yourself and live an overall more joyful life. Who knew the girl who hated to sweat growing up would later live to say the opposite?
Running has taught me more on how and why should take care of my physical body. Aside from feeling good, I notice a difference in how I talk to or think about my body. Sure I still need to work on mindless eating, but the rampant negative self-talk I would subject myself to has lessened and changed as I made time to take care of myself physically.
I feel more freedom to just be me-smiley, sassy, loud me. Learning to love myself has often come through difficult lessons throughout life. It will always take work and will never come naturally. But, I am slowly learning to love myself just the way I am. 
Maybe for you it won't be 13.1. It could be a 5K or radically changing your diet or stop drinking or leave that unhealthy relationship. But don't let fear or insecurity hold you back from chasing your dreams. Quit slacking and make s$#% happen.

Don't give up. Its never too late.Nothing is Impossible.
Just put on your awesome pants and make it happen.


What are the goals or dreams that you want to make happen in life? 
Is there anything holding you back from chasing it? 

15 Things Running Has Taught Me

Happy National Running Day! I thoroughly enjoy this day falls 2 days before national doughnut day...which is the real reason I run ;-) #themoreyouknow
It was about this time last year I started running and have stuck with it since then. Sometimes I am still amazed I have stuck with it, because my track record of exercise and I has not been that great. But here I am; already on my second pair of running shoes and marking October 18 on my calendar for the Detroit half marathon.
Last year I started out slow. Now I am little less slow.
So here's a little love to something that has helped me love myself better and taught me a lot the last 365 days...

1. Self-confidence  2. A reason to use all those work-out pants and tops I've bought over the years 3. An opportunity to stretch myself physically and work hard for a goal that matters to me 4. The ability to memorize all types of music, from musical soundtracks to hip hop... 5. More acceptance of my body and physical appearance than I've ever had in my entire life 6. 'Me time'...Teaching me the importance of self-care and that it's not selfish to take care of my health and body as much as I would my soul and spiritual life 7. A way to take of my body that I actually enjoy 8. A stronger body 9. A lot of practice at healthy, positive self-talk 10. The importance of chasing dreams (even if they feel impossible at times) and working hard for goals that matter to me 11. To NEVER give up on myself 12. All kinds of new information to help me reach my full potential

13. Why and how the food I eat matters 14. How to prioritize taking care of myself 15. I can do anything I set my mind to with hard work


Any of you into running? Do you have any tips or tricks to keep you focused on your fitness goals?

Happy running!

Getting fit.

I am learning healthy living is two-fold thing: exercise and healthy eating.  In the past, ol' exercise and I have not been to good of friends.  Do you have those awkward relatives you see only at holidays several times a year that you just never seem to get along with?  Well for a long time that has been me and exercise, until recently...

It really would...

On Mother's Day I did a 5K walk/run with my Mom and sister for
ovarian cancer in support of my aunt who was recently diagnosed.  Participating in that really struck a chord within me in terms of taking care of myself and getting healthy.

May 19th I decided to start running with Couch-to-5K and just this week I finished it.  I have NEVER in my life stuck with exercise this long.  I am pleasantly surprised how much I like running and how good it makes me feel...who'd of thunk exercise was good for you?! Apparently, I never read that memo.

With Couch-to-5K I have been running 3 times a week, and now that I'm done I want to keep doing it.  I have decided to set some goals for myself in terms of getting and staying fit.  This fall I want to run in a couple 5K's.  On Mother's Day, I want to run in the same race I did last year with my Mom and sister, only this time as a 10K.  In 2015 to commemorate the big 30, I want to run the Detroit half marathon.
Eeekkk.  I am really really excited to challenge myself like this, because now I am believing I can actually do this craziness.

I have "perfected" many a diets over the years, but never saw the importance of taking care of myself by staying in shape.  Growing up, I was well known to complain that I didn't like to sweat.  I know, I know, weird and strange because lets face it we all sweat...but it felt nasty and gross to me.  So why on earth would I want to exercise?!
Its crazy now because after a good run, I don't really mind the sweat.  I am eagerly saving away for a kick a$# pair of running shoes (hope I make you proud Dave Ramsey), trying to find good socks that won't give my tootsies blisters, and researching the best stretching techniques.

What better way to celebrate exiting my 20's than a half marathon??  Well maybe winning the lottery or going to Ireland again would be a smidge cooler...but physical fitness isn't a bad option either.

October 2015. 13.1 miles...I'm coming for ya!!!