The Adventure of Being Blessed and the Girl in the Red Bug

This last weekend, my sis and I were getting our eyebrows done at the esthetician we go to on a regular basis. I love going to our esthetician, not only because I leave feeling    like I have beautiful skin and eyebrows (you know the eyebrows are the picture frame for your face, right!?), but also because of the soulful conversations we have. I wrote on my Facebook page, afterwards, that there are those people you interact with that you just feel the love of Christ oozing from them, she is one of those people.

When I say what I am about to write, I will put out my disclaimer that I am not trying to offend anyone, or hurt anyone's feelings, because I sadly categorize myself in with this statement (there, disclaimer out of the way!)

I have met many people throughout my lifetime that proclaim to be Christians, they go church and Bible Study regularly, many can even quote the Bible, often drawing their words like Cherry Valance drew his pistol in Red River. They proudly display their church bumper stickers on their cars, while practically running you off the road (probably one of the main reasons I have never put a sticker on my car - seriously what representation would I be giving? Ok, I'm from California, I have a honking issue!) They say their mission in life is to preach the gospel and reach others, all in the same breath as they are bullying those around them, or saying hurtful things. Now, as I said in my disclaimer, I am not saying I am perfect Christian, because anyone that knows me, knows that I am miserably inadequate in this area...but, I don't claim to be anything but who I am..a sinner who falls short, but by the grace and mercy of God, I know that I am loved.

I digress, back to my original thought! There are those people that absolutely are shining stars for God. There is something so special about them, often words can't express what you seeing or experiencing, but you know there is something different about them. And, how awesome is our God that a) He has created these wonderful people and b) that they appear in our simple, everyday lives! I know that when I get my eyebrows done, or on happy hair days, I will be blessed. I know that when I read certain blogs, texts, or Facebook posts, I will be blessed! What an absolute gift! And although, in many ways, these bright stars make my inadequacies seem larger, they are never judgmental; they uplift and encourage! That something "different" that you notice is shared with everyone they interact with, it isn't just saved for Sundays, for just friends, or for their family members; it just naturally oozes from them - WOW!

I am so thankful that God places me in moments to have conversations that remind me of the magnitude of His love and the many gifts He provides me. And along with that, I pray that I can be a morsel to others, what these people are to me. I truly, in my heart, long to be one of those people that other's say, "I can't put my finger on it, but there is something different about her." But, honestly, I don't even know how to go about it. But, everyday is a new day and a new opportunity to be a better me. A chance to make a slight difference in this big world.

Until the next time...the Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of Week 1 Half Marathon Training & the Girl in the Red Bug

I am using the Hal Higdon 1/2 Marathon Training app. It is a 12 week program geared towards novices. I definitely consider myself a novice, since the furtherest I have ever run is four miles. I am thankful that throughout the summer, that I tried to maintain some semblance of a running program, even if it was on the treadmill! At least it won't be like completely starting over (well, hopefully it won't be).

One of the things I like most about this app, is that you can track how you feel during the training session, what the weather conditions were, and what the terrain was for the run. It also provides handy tips, which I love.

Throughout my blogging, I want to share with you the ups, the downs, the good, the bad and the ugly of my training. So, here we go!

Day 1 - a rest day. The app has Monday as a rest day, this will be valuable as the program rollout, since Sundays will be the days slated for the long runs. I am already experiencing a little anxiety about the long runs.  But, as far as today was concerned, I felt like a bit of a slug for not getting in some type of exercise! Thought for the day, "It is far better to be exhausted from success then to be rested from failure." Mary K. Ash, founder of Mary K. Cosmetics, Inc.

Day 2- was scheduled to run three miles, but only went 2.13 miles. I will say it was slightly rough.  My pace was off, and the air felt muggy. Am praying that I can get back into the swing of things.

Day 3 - a cross training day. I lifted weights, did push-ups, sit ups and the dreaded plank. It was a decent workout that I kind of made up on the fly.

Day 4 - was scheduled to run three miles, but only got in 2.04 miles. It was a better run than Tuesday night. My pace felt better, not perfect, but better.

Day 5 - Rest Day...I was thankful for the rest, I was tired from my week.

Day 6 - Did a Pilates workout from a series I have been recording. Wow! My core is weak and my hips are so tight. It is very obvious to me, that I need to continue these type of workouts to strengthen my core and to loosen my hip muscles. I can only imagine this will make my running easier.

Tomorrow is my scheduled 4-mile run. I really want to do well with the run. I am hoping that my doing it earlier in the day, will help. We'll see.

Day 7 - Today I completed my 4-mile run. I really wanted to lay in bed, but was going through Facebook and saw that a friend of mine had gotten up and completed her workout, so it inspired me to do the same.

Overall, the run went well. I'm still not back to running the full mileage consecutively, but I am seeing improvement from my earlier runs this week, and that propels me to keep going! I am looking forward to this coming weeks training. Happy running!

The Adventure of the Half Marathon Training and the Girl in the Red Bug

This is the week I officially start training for my first half marathon. I am nervous, afraid, excited...several emotions all rolled into one! I have wanted and talked about completing a half marathon for about five years now. Each time I get geared up to start training and then don't follow through. As I get geared up, yet again, to begin the process of training, I felt I needed to look at what has held me back from the whole process in previous years...the bottom line, a fear of failure. The fear of actually not being able to complete the task at hand! Do others feel this way? Does fear of failure dictate what you will, or won't do? I find that the half marathon is the symbol that represents many areas of my life, it's a symbol of so many things I want to accomplish but yet am fearful to try.

 So, this is it folks, the time to make a change is now! The time is now to kick the fear of failure square in the butt! But, I know I will need help along the way, I will need words of encouragement from those that have the same fears and reservations that I do, from those that have set their goal and successfully completed it, whatever that goal may be. By putting this out there for God and everyone to see, I am hoping it will keep me focused and encouraged. I am inviting all of you on my journey...on my adventure of the half marathon!

Until the next time....the Girl in the Red Bug