Monday Confessions

I confess today:

• I didn't run. My running buddy cancelled on me. But that meant I got to spend some quality time with my husband before the little squirt got up.
• I didn't eat a well balanced breakfast. But I did take our little girly to see her friend for a breakfast playdate.
• I didn't do any housework. But I did I did help my boss move some stuff around in our new store.

So while I feel guilty that I didn't do some things today I am pleased that the day went well. I love it when things don't always work out as planned.

I shall finish today with a Bible verse and the song that I have been rocking out in my head today to. Here is the song: Newworldson "Learning To Be The Light" and the verse Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,'" declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

God Bless.

Moving Comfort Awesomeness.

I just had to get on and blog about how excited I am. I just found out a won a contest on Facebook with Moving Comfort. I won a bra, top and bottom. Over the top excited. They make my favorite running bra of all times, and now I'm getting on for free. Thanks Moving Comfort!


Happy Weekend.


God Bless!

Phat Phriday :)

Woo Hoo for Fridays! 


It's a great day in my running world. First my day started out getting my beautiful three year old out of bed and dressed so that my husband could snooze a little longer. Then he got up and I was off to get dressed and head out to the Phabulous (it's a little thing that our Phat Girlz group uses Ph instead of F when talking about things that go along with our group) Running Wild for Trigger Point and then a Phat Girlz run.


After the run I became a proud new owner of the Ultimate 6 Trigger Point Kit, thanks Grandma and Pop for the money for it!!

Here is my kit! :)

I can't wait to use my own TP kit in my own home tonight.

Then after I put our little one down for her afternoon "rest" (since she doesn't actually nap) I went out and checked the mail. And look what was in there: 

Hooray for my Sweat Pink stuff!

It's a great day.

Happy Phriday!

God Bless.

Free Swag

Today after my run I realized how blessed I am to have the local running store that I have. It's truly a blessing. They have awesome run groups that I take part in three days a week, one of which is women's only. They have a great selection of running gear and shoes. And they even offer training groups. It's great!


But they also often have running company reps at the store or at our group runs. This morning being one of them. So it got me thinking about how many reps I have seen over the last year (that's when I started going to my first group).

• Newton Running Clinic. We got to test out Newton shoes. -- Perk: Free Newton Socks
• Nike Rep came to our last run before Christmas. -- Perk: Free Nike Hat (which I love!)
• Montrail Trail Running Clinic. We got to run a 5k trail run in Montrails. -- Perk: Free Montrail Water Bottle.
• 110% Rep came to our Friday Women's group. We all got to run in the calf compression sleeves. Then when we got done the Rep added ice to the sleeves. -- Perk: Compression during the run and ice after the run. And my husband let me buy them :)
• Mizuno Rep came to our 6@6 run this morning. We got to run in Mizunos, only ran four miles though since I'd never run in them before. --Perk: Free Mizuno socks and Water Bottle.
• And I know there is a Brooks event coming up next week! Woo hoo for the new shoes that I'm going to get :) and the free swag at that event.

So through all those perks I would just like to give a big fist pump and shout out to Running Wild. I love this store! And whether I stay here the rest of my life or if we move away, I will continue to sport their store logo as long as my gear lasts.

Happy Miles.

God Bless.

Blackwater 10 mile Trail Challenge

Well I did it. I completed the Blackwater 10 mile Trail Challenge. My longest race or run ever. I had two main goals that I wanted to meet for this race. One, was to complete the entire race running, which I did. And the second was to stay on my feet, in otherwise I didn't want to eat dirt, and I managed that one as well. But only by the grace of God and Tina and Dawn yelling out in front where things were since we were on a single track trail. I also wanted to have some fun and I totally managed that. Plus, I made it through my longest race without getting sick to my stomach. Since I changed mid-run snacks I felt so much better. It was a great race and a great experience. And another race checked off my running bucket list.


Oh, I guess I could share my time! I ran it in 2 hrs 7 mins and 38 secs.


Here are some pics I took along the way to document.

Race Shirt, free water bottle and bib.

Race Essentials. Adidas Trail Shoes, Amphipod Belt, Amphipod Waterbottle,  Quench gum, Body Glide and PowerBar gels (not pictured).

Race Day attire. Oiselle bum wrap, Newton socks, Nike Phat Girlz Singlet, Nike Hat and Moving Comfort Vixen Sports Bra.

Close up of my Phat Girlz jersey and bib.

My pre-race layout. Near the bathroom so I disturbed my sleeping husband as little as possible.

I don't have my Sweat Pink laces yet, but my trail shoes have pink laces that came in  them.

Pre-Race Picture :)

Almost to the finish line. With two of my running buddies. We ran the whole race together. Thanks Marla for the picture!

Just getting ready to cross the line. Woo hoo Ten Miles complete! Thank again Marla for the picture.

Awesome day. Now some time with my family.

God Bless!

Mid-Run Snack Attack

I've come to realize that the mid-run snack I like doesn't like my stomach any more. For what reason? Who knows. I usually only snack if its a run longer than six miles.


So today, I tested out a new one. It was Stinger Vanilla Waffle. I didn't, thankfully have any stomach issues. And I will add that it was quite tasty. Tomorrow I have different snack to try and it's also Stinger brand.


So my question is, What is your favorite mid workout snack? Brand? Flavor? And what is your criteria for using a snack?

Rag Quilt

So I'm outing myself. I'm a closet quilter. Sheesh, I admitted it. Now the world knows. I just completed my second rag quilt and I do believe rag quilts have become my favorite type of quilt to work on. Here are some pictures.


You start with 8"x8" flannel squares. Cut batting, I prefer Warm & Natural, to make the 8"x8" squares. Sandwich the batting with two squares. You do random material or two colors like I chose. Then sew them together on the diagonal and again the other way so you from and X. Then sew together two squares with the raw edges on both sides. Then you trim out the excess batting and cut the raw edges so they will fray in the wash. You should have something like this:

 Continue the pattern until you have a quilt as big as you like. I used just over 2 yards of each fabric to make a toddler size quilt. Its 5 squares by 8 squares and it looks like this:

Then after it's washed it looks something like this:

And close up like this:

Sorry I didn't take more pics along the way to make it easier to understand. If you would like more in depth info check out this Quilting Link.

This quilt is for my cousin who shall remain unnamed until her baby is born. It's a surprise :)

I hope I inspired you a little with my fave quilt project. Have some fun with it. And next time I will take more pics.

God Bless.

Running & Reading Long

Starting May 7th I will be participating in a running/reading group called Running & Reading Long. As both a runner and a reader I'm very excited about putting these two passions together. When the program kicks off you will begin to see posts about books I am reading along with the group. And also about my runs through the training program. I can't wait to see how it goes. It should be interesting. Here's to running and reading!


God Bless.

Sweat Pink Saturday

Well I got out and busted out another 8 miles today. Which brings my mileage up to 32 miles this week. My last long run before my longest race ever next Saturday. It's the Blackwater10 mile trail challenge. I can't wait, I'm scared and excited all at the same time. I'm looking forward to running it with a couple of my fellow Sweat Pink Ambassadors too!

I had a running epiphany this week. Not only did I finish my longest ever trail run (9.5miles!!), but it was also my longest ever run and training run. I'm so ready for the 10 mile challenge. Blackwater here I come!

And now I'm off and busy for the day. Catch you later.

Get out there and SWEAT today!

God Bless.

(I don't know that I did the link thing right! LOL)

Journey back to running.

I started running way back in high school. I ran cross country in the fall and track in the spring. I even walked on the track team at the small college I went to. But just before the season officially started I tore cartilage in my knee. It was devastating blow to my ego and to my physical training. I had surgery months later and contacted my coach about how to get back in shape for the next season. He told me "You'll never be back up to par." Which basically meant "Don't come back out next year." I was crushed. I slowly worked my way back up to running by training on a bike and elliptical. 


Fast forward about seven years, at that point I would have considered myself a jogger. I didn't do it all the time but I regularly went to the gym. I wasn't happy that I wasn't running but I couldn't motivate myself to run. My husband enjoyed going to the gym with me but neither of us wanted to run together. Then I found out I was pregnant, got really sick with bronchitis and the doctor made me stop exercising completely. About six months after I delivered our beautiful daughter I started back on the elliptical and I hated it but still couldn't motivate myself to run alone.


Two years or so later, January 2011 my husband got a job as an Associate Priest in Pensacola FL at The Mission Anglican Church. I made a friend at the church who was a runner. She and I talked about the local running store, Running Wild, and that it hosted a women's running group. We started going together. Then I continued to go, week after week. Slowly I started making more and more running friends. 


Then in about July I heard about a race that's a big deal in Pensacola, second only to the Pensacola Marathon. It's called The Double Bridge Run. Its a 15k that starts in Pensacola, crosses over three mile bridge, goes through Gulf Breeze, crosses the Bob Sikes Bridge and then finishes in Pensacola Beach. I though that sounded like the coolest run ever but never dreamed I could do it. 


Along with my favorite women's running group (ok, the only one I have been a part of) Phat Girlz and a couple of dear runner friends I worked my butt off for the next six months.


Well as of February 4, 2012. I can say that I'm a Double Bridge 15k Finisher.

Yup, that's me!

Through a lot of training and support I finally feel like a runner again. I've got my eyes on bigger, longer goals. And I look forward to running them with my runner friends here in Pensacola.


And now I can also say that:

I look forward to encouraging other women to sweat along with me. Whether it be my friends here or my friends across the country. I love to run and I love to sweat. Running makes me feel beautiful, so I will keep doing it and keep sweating right along with it. I'm enjoying this new chapter in my running life.

Want to Sweat Pink with me? Check it out at Fit Approach

God Bless.

A new chapter.

Well I have finally done it. I've started a blog. Why? I'm not quite sure. But I did. 


So here you find topics varying from faith, motherhood, life as a Priest's wife, crafts, baking and running. 


Hopefully soon I'll figure this all out and get to cracking on it.


God Bless.