Magic Where You Are

New Year's Resolutions aren't something I've made, ever. I find that I don't stick to them, I forget about them as the year goes on, I get bored...you get the picture. However, I do like to make goals. Goals are relatively easy for me to stick with and I love when a goal is accomplished. 

With this new year of 2019, I've been toying with an idea in my mind and it's all about magic. 

For the Disney fan, magical moments are huge at the Disney Parks and Cruise Line. They happen all over the place and they happen quite often. Why, Disney itself is pure and simple magic. 

Instagram is full of accounts of those who spend time at the Disney parks and fill their Instagram feed with Disney magic. I absolutely love looking at them and seeing pictures and stories from the happiest place on earth! 

However, the thought hit me one day...what if that same magic...that butterflies in your stomach, make you smile, fill your heart with love type of magic can happen to us wherever we are? For those who live away from the parks, finding that Disney type of magic can be easier than you think! 

Have you ever truly taken the time to watch a sunrise or a sunset? How about giggling right along with the sound of a child's laugh? Or reaching a fitness goal you've been working on for a long time? What about a Disney movie? (Take Mary Poppins for example - I left the theater feeling the Disney magic for days!) 

Last week, I was pulling weeds (glamorous, I know), and as the sun started to set, I began to notice the sound of crickets. Now, you might be thinking that the sound of crickets doesn't sound very magical to you, but when I leaned back on my heels and closed my eyes, I envisioned the Wilderness Lodge. That sound brought me right back to a place that's 13 hours from my home - my favorite resort on property and it made me smile. 

Enter #MagicWhereYouAre

This year, I am making it my goal to slow down and take time to capture those magic moments that happen to me wherever I am and I would love for you to join in the fun with me! On Instagram all year long, whenever I find a moment that reminds me of that special magic, that Disney feel type magic, I'm going to capture it in photo, hashtag it with with #MagicWhereYouAre and if you do the same, I'll be able to follow in the fun along with you! This is all about discovering those magical moments whether at home or at the parks - wherever you are! 

I hope you'll join in the fun with me! I can't wait to see what magical moments await in 2019!

Really Big & Slightly Scary Running Goals

Another whirlwind of a weekend has come and gone and this one was spent in New Braunfels, visiting my brother and sister-in-law! We had a BLAST and loved our time there. I even took an extra day off of work (yesterday) so we could leisurely return home, which was definitely the right call.

With another Tuesday upon us comes another Tuesdays on the Run and this one is all about race goals - big, scary, hairy race goals.

To be honest, I hadn't given much thought to race goals prior to this summer. Earlier in the year, I began to experience something that concerned me and after speaking with my physician, it was determined that I have a complication that arose during childbirth. I haven't shared about this here because I haven't been quite sure how to go about doing so and let's just say that what I've experienced has left me with a heart full of gratitude that I can even run at all. My running goal prior to this summer? Just. Keep. Running.

Throughout this "journey", so to speak, I met an amazing physical therapist who taught me a wealth of knowledge and gave me hope when I needed it the most. Maybe...just maybe I wasn't completely done in for just yet!

With the conclusion of physical therapy came the eye opening wonders of Orangetheory. I love this form of cross training because it's doable for me, even with a weight restriction. I can work on strength as well as cardio at the same time which is perfect for me! I can also see and feel the benefits of Orangetheory and now I'm totally 100% hooked.

Now, my goal of "just keep running" has turned into "maybe I can run a little faster"..."or farther"...?

So, where do I go from here? Well, I thought I'd never be at a place where I'd be able to reach or beat my current half marathon PR from 2015. My goal that year was to break 2 hours in the half and with the help of a pacer, I did just that.

Is a sub-2 hour half marathon doable for me again? I can't say exactly, but I'm starting to feel strong and more powerful, just like I did back in 2015. Breaking my half marathon PR IS a huge and scary goal for me, so we shall see what the future has to hold.

Another HUGE lofty goal for me is to hit a 4:30 full marathon time. My current PR is 4:44, but my knee can say otherwise at times, so I'm not sure how many more full marathons I have in me. Again, we will see what the future has to hold here!

Is "just keep running" a big, lofty, scary goal? Sure it is. Each of us are fighting our own battles, and if putting one foot in front of the other is the biggest goal that can be set right now, then I'm all about that. I might never reach a PR status again, but if running is something I can continue to do for years to come, I'll be happy enough with that!

Do you have a running goal that scares or intimidates you?

It's the Tuesdays On The Run Linkup with Erika, Marcia and Patty. 

Taking It Back To Where It All Began

If you’ve read through my journey, then you know all about how I started running, why I became a runner, and the motivation that got me to the start line. However, I never shared more about the weeks and months that followed my decision to begin running.

As I ran up and over and up and over a very steep bridge with my running group on Tuesday evening, my mind drifted to “the early years”. I began thinking about where I started in my running journey, who I started it with, and how far I’ve come ever since I began running. I had to laugh at the headwind of what felt like hurricane force that was blasting me in the face – seven years ago, had you told me that I would be running laps over this bridge in the not-so-distant future, I would NOT have believed you. Actually, I would have thought you were crazy.

My wandering mind then brought me to my very first 5K, a mere 5 weeks after I began my running journey.

The race was held in 2009, I ran my hardest, and I crossed the finish line with a time of 32:10 and a pace of 10:23. I was so proud of myself for accomplishing that goal, I didn’t think I’d ever beat that time.

However, with a little bit of hard work, I broke the 30 minute barrier just a few months later…and boy was I surprised! (I’m saying to Jason here…OMG, look at the TIME CLOCK!!!)

Now with countless 5K’s under my belt (and many years of training), I’m going for 24 minutes in the 5K distance…and I’ll get there, it just takes time – and I have to remind myself on a daily basis….progress takes time!

Then my thoughts drifted to the half marathon distance. Rock ‘N Roll Mardi Gras of 2010 was my second half marathon and the first where I ran my hardest and gave it my all.

I finished this half marathon with a time of 2 hours and 28 minutes and I truly felt as if I could never run that fast EVER again.

Fast forward to December of 2010 - after running hill repeats and training hard all fall, I crossed a half marathon finish line with a time of 2 hours and 12 minutes……a sixteen minute PR! I was so excited, I ran up to one of my running coaches screaming with glee!! The funny part….she jumped up and down and did a happy dance with me! To me, that’s the best part about running , we are ALL in this together (and no, I’m not talking about High School Musical…although I do love that movie)!

Again, I thought my 16 minute PR was it, I’d officially achieved MY half-marathon time and I was done…set for life.

Do you see where I’m going with this?

In January of this year, I accomplished one of my life-time goals as I crossed the finish line of my 19th half marathon – breaking 2 hours in the half marathon distance.

Am I super fast? NO, I’m not. Breaking 2 hours in a half marathon was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life….while others breeze by that 2 hour timeline like it’s nothing. We are ALL on different journeys – it’s good to remember that sometimes!

To the new runners out there, don’t get discouraged. Set a goal and focus on the baby steps until you get there – because you WILL get there if you stick with it, sometimes it just takes a little bit of time.

Source

Setting goals are super important, but celebrating each step along the way is key…


Source

Its all about the baby steps and being proud of yourself along the way!

So, what’s my next big goal? Breaking 4 hours and 30 minutes in the Full Marathon – but that won’t come for quite a while and I’m OK with that.

Some might scoff at the goals you set for yourself but you know what? These goals are YOUR goals….they are goals you can work hard at achieving and ones you can be PROUD OF when you accomplish them!


Source

It’s amazing to look back over the last six years and see how far this running journey has taken me. I’ve made some amazing friends and explored incredible destinations all because of running.

I never thought the running bug would bite me like it has, but I’m so grateful it did! Where would I be without running? It’s my stress relief, my afternoon companion, my goal, hopes, and achievements all wrapped into one!

I’ve said all of that to say…..if you’re just starting out on your running journey or you’re discouraged where you’re at, don’t give up! You NEVER KNOW where running will take you or where this path may lead! Who knows what exciting possibilities are in your future….you CAN do incredible things, just believe in yourself!!

How far has your running journey taken you?