Liar Liar Pants on Fire

I have a tough shell.  It takes a lot for me to let someone in and truly get to know me.  I think my reason for this is because when I open the door I open it all the way so I want to be sure you are not going to hurt me.  I tend to feel to much, love to hard, care to deeply and forgive to easily.

Recently I started opening the door for someone despite what everyone was telling me and seeing the warning signs myself.  I tried to look past what I was told and form my own opinions.  I found that despite the issues this person had there was something there and it was slowly peeking through.  I actually was getting to a good place and feeling like things were starting to happen when a stupid lie made me slam my door shut real fast.  

Hearing other say things like I told you so or did you really think they would change was hard to hear.  I am usually a good judge, but I guess I didn't have the break through I thought I did.  I think the hardest part was the lie that was told was just so dumb and senseless.  WHY??? 

I have wondered the past couple of days what benefit would a person have for telling such a silly lie.  So I did some research on lying and found that there are two kinds of people those that tell little white lies and lairs.  Everyone has it in them to say that little white lie and when they do flat out lie they usually end up coming clean.  Habitual lairs on the other hand live in their own little reality.  The live a life full of deceit.  They are delusional.  A habitual liar is usually in love with themselves, a coward and has no real legs to stand on.

When I read this article I thought to myself seems like a pretty sad life.  I couldn't imagine.  Why would anyone want to live like this?  I just don't get what is so hard about telling the truth.  Especially when it is something so small.  Why lie and say you are going somewhere when you know you are not.  Why lie and say you went to Chicken Salad Chick when you actually went to Rosie's?  I just don't get it.

It's hard to close a door when you can see so much potential there, but sometimes you have to realize the battle is not ours.  All I can do is pray for strength in this struggle.

I love Pinterest!  Here are few things I found that I wanted to share...

What do you think?  Keep the door cracked or shut it and be done?  

Spring Training

After my half marathon in February I had to take a break from running due to a hip injury.  Sadly, every time I tried to run my hip was killing me.  In all my craziness I pretty much just stopped doing everything.  I should of continued to strength train and do other cardio, but I was mad and just stopped everything.

A week before Run The Bluegrass I did a couple short runs and a 10 miler.  It wasn't my best, but I was running/jogging/walking and getting it done so I was happy.  I knew I wasn't going to be PR on that hilly course, but I still wanted to do my best.

If you are going to run a difficult half do it with friends!  Makes it so much more fun.  Luckily I met up with my girlfriends for a fun weekend.  We met up Friday had a wonderful dinner and hung out in our hotel room catching up.  Saturday we were up bright and early to do a hilly half marathon through horse country.  Oh, did I mention it was 24 degrees at the start of the race.

Kristie and I started in the same wave so we took off together and I stayed with her for a long time.  I believe we were at about mile 8.3 when I told her to go one without me.  Not only was my hip hurting me, but my knees were, too.  I managed to wobble across the finish line 2 hours and 45 minutes after I started.

It was a beautiful run.  It was a hilly run, but not too awful.  The dreaded mile 9 wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be either.  I enjoyed the first 9 miles and than the pain set it and I just wanted to finish.  I was very upset with myself.  Why did I stop strength traning?  Why didn't I do another type of cardio?  What was I thinking!?!?!

YEAH!  It's over!

Kristie rocked it!

My amazing sister-in-law getting it done!

BUT--when it was over I was happy to celebrate with great friends.  Not only did I have my girlfriends that I was spending the weekend with, but I got to see a ole college buddy and my new running buddy from Huntsville came up for the run, too. 

Monica (my college friend)

Kristie and I with our free Kentucky Ale

All my girls!

Kristin and I 

We ran, we ate and drank beer and we napped!  Now it's time to have a great dinner and find a local pub so we can watch the Kentucky game!

It was a great weekend!  After getting home my hip was good after a couple days.  I went for a few walks and some shorts jog/runs, but still didn't get back into training mode.  So 2 weeks later when the Bridge Street Half rolled around my knees gave out around mile 6.  I was so mad at myself.  What should of a been a great run due to it being a flat and fast course ended up being a painful 2 hours and 47 minutes!  I have learned my lesson big time.  Strength training is a must and if you can't run you can still do other cardio.

Although I am not happy with myself for slacking, I am happy that I did finish both half marathons.  I signed up for them months ago and had high hopes, but sometimes things get in the way to slow you do.  The key is to work around whatever is slowing you down.  Lesson learned!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

God knew...

So I went a little crazy for a beach towel last week.  Yeah, I am serious!  Sunday before last I was cruising a running group page on Facebook and saw a post for this cool finishers beach towel.  I popped the picture up so I could see the towel better and thought that's the run Natalie was talking about.  So I text her and said did you know you not only get a medal, but a really cool beach towel.  She didn't know and was excited.  I jokingly said I should do it with you.  I bet you can figure out how this story goes.

It's a good thing I signed up for the race that evening because I woke up the next morning with a sore leg.  Felt like a strained a muscle during the Hot Chocolate 15K so thought I would just take it easy this week and be ready for the half on Sunday.  All week I stretched it out, put an anti-inflammatory on it and took some ibuprofen.  Saturday as we were leaving for Birmingham to do the Mercedes-Benz Half Marathon I thought I would be good.  We did a lot of walking that day and when we got to the room I was hurting a bit and wondering would I make it through this half.

So much was going through my mind as I tried to sleep that night.  

1.  I bombed my first half and don't want to do it again.

2.  Will my leg make it 13.1 miles?

3.  9.3 miles is the longest run I have done since I did my first half back in November.

4.  Can I really do this? 

Sunday we are up at 5 AM and getting ready to go.  My leg is sore and I am nervous.  As we walk over to the start line I am saying little prayers and reminding myself that I rocked at 9.3 last week and I can do this.  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Me, Natalie and Loren

The race starts, but I am back at the 11 minute pace area so it is 7:07 when I cross the start line.  Nat and I take off and I am feeling it, but going to push through and see what happens.  If my legs keeps me from running I will just walk it, but I am crossing that finish line and getting my towel and medal!

Natalie runs on ahead of me.  She can keep just under a 9:00 minute a mile pace so I knew I wouldn't be able to stay with her long.  Around mile 3 the pain goes away and I am feeling good.  Thank you Jesus!

That's me praying for strength

I am cruising along around mile 5 when I hear "hey girl" and look to my side to see Natalie?!?!  Confusion and than "are you okay" comes out of my mouth.  She says she is not sure what is going on, but she feels off.  Thinking maybe her sugar is low.  We all have off days so I tell her we just keep going together and cross that finish line even if we have to walk.  We got another mile or two in and we see a medic so she tells me to keep going that she is going to have them check her.  As she runs over to them I say a little prayer for her and keep going.

She rejoins me and says she is good, just feels off.  I feel bad for her, because I know she can run so much faster and was wanting to PR today.  We keep going, but I can tell she is not herself and it worries me a little.  We stop to walk and I am trying to encourage her and be positive--it's just a bad day we will finish today and you can go for a PR next time.  We start to run, but she still is feeling off.  I don't know what to do so we walk and I pray.  She stops to have someone check her again and tells me to keep going she'll catch up.  Should I stay with her?  Should I keep going?  I am so confused because I want to be there for her, but I am running so much better than I did my last half.  She tells me to go on so I do.

I make it to 10.1 miles before I am passed by the pace car for the full marathoner.  Woohoo! I made it a whole 10 miles before I was lapped.  Hehe!  At mile 11.2 my knees are killing me.  I don't know how to explain it other than to see it felt like my knee caps were going to pop out the sides of my legs.  I thought to myself I have hit my wall and am going to have to stop and walk these last 2 miles and ruin this good pace I have kept the whole race.  I was about in tears when I heard "I'm back" and there she was.  I told Nat I was dying that my knees were killing me.  She told me I had this and we're less than 2 miles from finishing and I could do it.  I knew she was feeling better and could of probably kept a better pace, but she stayed there with me and we just kept going.  She was my rock that got me to the finish line.

Me dying and Nat happy its almost over

Okay I am happy now, too.

Around mile 12 and half I looked up to see my friend, Vanessa on the side lines.  She was there to cheer her daughter on.  I saw her happy face and big smile as she begin to cheer for me and it gave me that last boost of energy to get to the finish line.

Less than a mile to go!

And we cross the finish line!  We survived.  We did it for ourselves, for each other and God!  I had a PR doing the half in 2:34:41.  Keeping a pace of 11:48.  A whole 23 minutes faster than my first half in November.  I needed this confidence booster!  I am so sorry Natalie had a bad day, but so thankful she was there to get me through that last 2 miles.  

 We did it!

God knew exactly what he was doing when that enticing beach towel popped up on my news feed.  He put Natalie and I together on that run so we could be there for each other and make sure we finished.  Because of Him and each other we ran and didn't grow weary.

But those that trust in the Lord will find new strength.  

They will soar on wings like eagles.  

They will run and not grow weary.

Isaiah 40:31

Will run for Chocolate!

What an amazing 24 hours!  It all started around 12 on Friday when Nat and I hit the road to Nashville.  We made a quick stop at Green Hills Mall to check out Lush.  After seeing a few of my sorority sisters commenting nonstop about it on Facebook I decide I needed to find the nearest one to me.  We spent an hour in that little store and loved every minute of it.  I left with Bath Bombs, Bubble Bars, Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap.  Plus, I found out that mall is only 10 minutes from where I go to my migraine doctor every 3 months so I will be visiting regularly now!

Next we headed downtown to pick up our race packets.  I love downtown Nashville.  Packet pick up was great.  We got to sample the amazing hot chocolate.  The expo had some great stuff.  We got a BondiBand and a Sweaty Band. 

Than it was off to my Aunt Jean's house.  What a blessing she was to us.  Not only did she open her house up to 4 crazy ladies, but she prepared an amazing meal for us.  She worked all day preparing the most amazing pasta sauce.  She also made a pesto pasta, huge salad, homemade bread and dripping oil.  Oh and I can't forget the homemade strawberry cupcakes.  The bathroom was stocked with toiletry items in case we forgot anything.  After we all helped clean up the kitchen we ended up in the bonus room chatting the evening away.  It was a wonderful night.

We were up around 5 AM to get ready to run for some chocolate!  It was such a fun run.  The course was awesome.  The first half was all up hill and just the test I needed for my very hilly half I have next month.  Along the run they were giving out chocolate chips, tootsie rolls and marshmallows.  Around mile 3 we passed a Krispy Kreme and they were handing out fresh hot donuts to the runners and wishing us a Happy Valentine's Day.  The race was so well organized and the people were fantastic.  Not only were they directing us where to go, but they were dancing and cheering us on.  Even the police officers were cheering for us.  It was a great experience!

What a marvelous sunrise!  God is good!

This was my first run starting in corral's.  It was pretty nice and a lot less crowded doing it this way.  Only thing I didn't like was crossing the finishing and the time being off.  The run started at 7:00 with corral A. I was in G so I started around 7:22.  

I have been training hard since December to improve my running and I was given the satisfaction that my work is paying off.  I completed the 9.3 miles in 1:44:40.  I averaged 11:15 a mile which is what I have been doing on long flat runs.  Mile 4 was my slowest--- the last part of it was all uphill.  I did it in 12:06.  My fastest mile was 10:29 and most of the others averaged around 11:09.

Natalie was first of our group to finish.  She had an amazing run!  Finished in 1:22 with an average pace of 8:53.  I was so happy for her.  She is ready for her half next week that is for sure!  Go Nat!

Doesn't that look amazing!  It sure was good.  I wasn't able to eat the sweets along the run, but I sure did enjoy this afterwards.

I was able to get a picture of my sister-in-law, Carrie crossing the finish line!  Thanks to the text updates during the race--Thanks Hot Chocolate 15K.  She did amazing!  So proud of her.

Tracy snuck across the finish line so we weren't able to get her picture--that little devil. She did fabulous!   

Hot Chocolate 15K/5K is a must do race!  I would recommend it to everyone!  The goodies you get are top notch-- a cool bag, zip hoodie, the finishers medal and finisher mug full of yummy.  All around fabulous race!  I give it a A+!

Another run in the Garmin!

Throwing love & kindness around randomly...

February is a month about love!  I love love!  I want to spread love and kindness around everywhere I go.  I think being positive and finding the good is key to a happy life.  I use to love sending cards or leaving random notes for people.  I miss it and have decided to start doing it again.

We live in a world of instant gratification. Don't get me wrong a random text or email is awesome, but what's better than going to get your mail and instead of bills and junk you have a random card from someone.  It makes your day!

I am challenging everyone to buy some stamps and start randomly mailing your friends and/or family a card, a letter or a little surprise.  Lets throw some sunshine around!  Put a smile on someone's face.  You never know your Random Act of Kindness could arrive in someone's mailbox just when they need it most!

Facebook is a wealth of knowledge!  You can get birthday's and anniversary's.  You see a friend that's been having a hard time or lost someone close to them send them a card.  One of your friends gets a job, gets engaged or has something wonderful happen to them send them a card.  Don't have there address and don't want to ruin the surprise go to whitepages.com. 

Let's add some happy to the world. 

No resolutions for this girl!

Happy Happy 2015 yall!

So hard to believe another year has gone by!  When you are little time takes forever and as you get older it just goes way to fast.  My guys and I went to Gatlinburg for Xtreme Winter and it was such a blessing.  A perfect end to a great year and a reminder to start each day with God just as we started 2015 with Him.

I don't see a point in making any resolutions I tend to not keep them, but I have decided to make goals for 2015.  Yes there is a difference between a resolution and a goal.  A resolution is a decision or determination; a resolve: to make a firm resolution to do something.  A goal is something you are trying to achieve or a desired result.  A few of my year long goals are...

1.  Spend time with God each morning.  I am not a morning person and usually get up with just enough time to get ready and grab breakfast as I walk out the door.

2.  End my day with God.  I usually study my lesson at night after everyone is in bed so this goal will be easy for me.

3.  I want to run at least 15 races in 2015.  

4.  Get to my goal weight and maintain it.  I am only 7 pounds away...

5.  Pray for things I can't change.  Things are always happening that make you feel for another person or want to scream at a person.  I want to learn to hold my tongue and say a prayer.

6.  Judge no one!  I am pretty good about this, but sometimes I still catch myself judging so I need to work on it more.  I may be wrong, but I really feel that no matter how we feel about something someone else is doing we should NOT judge them.  The bible tells us over and over to love everyone and judge no one.

I also want to do monthly goals.  I think this will help me reach some of my year long goals.

January Goals:

1.  Stick to my training plan no matter what.  No excuses!

2.  Run 58 miles

3.  Date Night

4. Lose 2 pounds

5. Have dinner together at the table at least 3 nights a week.  Between baseball practice and work schedules this has been difficult for us so I am making it a goal.  Family time is important.

6.  Deep clean a room a week

Do you have goals for 2015?  What are they?  Any advice for helping me maintain my goals?

So I run with purpose in every step. 1 Corinthians 9:26

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch- Changes

It's been a summer of changes for me.  I started off summer be signing up for my first half marathon and pushing myself to get back in shape.  I am ending the summer a little lighter, a lot healthier and with a new job!

I wouldn't say the running is getting easier, but that I am getting stronger.  I enjoy my runs more and more each day.  I love getting stronger and seeing the changes in my body.  I love taking in all the beauty around me when I make it outside for a run.

I have also taken advantage of our pool on cross training days.  I am loving swimming laps.  It gives the old knee's a rest, too.

Of course no summer could be complete without seeing my girls!  I have been friends with Kristie, Tracy and Brandi since the mid 80's.  We met when we were all between 9-11 years old and have been amazing friends all these years.  We were supposed to do the Foam Fest 5K while in Cleveland, but the race was cancelled so no run for us this time around.  We still had an amazing time!  Love you girls!

Oh yeah!  We all got these awesome tattoo's to signify our friendship.  We are always together, never apart.  Maybe in distance, but never in HEART!  I am purple, Kristie is pink, Brandi is green and Tracy is red.

The biggest change for me this summer is I GOT JOB!  I am no longer working as a full time substitute at Buckhorn.  This was a really big thing for me.  I have loved working where my boys are and have become so close to my teacher friends, but it was time to move on.  This week I started working at Wee.  It's a daycare and pre-k program.  I went from being around 12-18 year old's all day to babies!  I absolutely LOVE IT!  It's stress free, I am always smiling and the ladies I work with are wonderful.

So good bye summer break and hello to school and work.  Time to make the adjustments I need to so that I can stay on track with my running.  I can do it and I see greatness in my future!

"Your life doesn't get better by chance, it gets better by change."

-Jim Rohn