LIFE

Let's catch up:

More yoga.  MORE YOGA!  I have had some big goals in yoga and have probably mentioned my realization at not taking full advantage of my access to reach them.  Now there are more days in my life and more time on my schedule to bend and flex toward a better me and a stronger body. Daily. From breathing, to how I connect with other living things, and even getting my ass above my head more often.  It must go down that way: through practice.  And not from thinking about it or dipping my toe in the lake of greatness that could be.. but taking a dive into what is and what's possible.

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I ran my first race in over a year on Turkey Day and it was in another city (which has been a goal--and still is--on my list).  On Thanksgiving 2014, I ran a 4.5 mile race in Indianapolis with my boyfriend and his family before partaking in the annual holiday feast that we all know and love.

REMINDER:  I was injured and am working on recovery on my right hip.

The kicker is not only did I run a race. Not only did I not stop at all. I ran it faster than any other race I've done!  I ran 4.5 miles averaging sub 10 min each mile.  What whaaaat!  That's huge!  And I am so damn proud of myself which gets me amped to finish this 100 miles by Dec as well as the half marathons I'll be running throughout the year in 2015.  Much like the yoga, reaching goals takes practice and this totally helped to make the vision of running in 2015 more clear.

Yay!  Also was spotted by the boo at the end and he ran alongside me with a few notes of inspiration and a way to get out of my head and back out into the world by talking about other things. 

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Hubert.  That's my humidifier.  He's bomb.

I am at a space in my health life that I have my stable foundation that works and it's not always lifting weight or eating salad. Usually it's things like using a humidifier, eating protein after workouts, and sleeping.

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Friends.

I'm a loner and a social butterfly. If the test of refueling is true then technically I am an introvert because I get my energy from being alone. But I love me some humans! They're nice. And they make me laugh. They are good to dance with. And nothing beats realizing that you all have a strength or struggle in common.

So here is a pic of me with a few peeps that are cool and can catch the beat.  :)  Dalia and I both teach at the same fitness studio, her fiancé, my boyfriend giving all that 'tude at the top, plus a mutual friend James (Dalia and I both had acquaintance with him before we ever made acquaintance with one another. Trippy!)

We danced and drank good drinks in downtown Chicago on a warm autumn night a time ago. It was fun!

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And finally dinner at Café Ba Ba Reeba in LP.

My company prides itself on connection and interpersonal relationships.  So one night we took Ambassadors of our store out to dinner for tapas served family style and it was really cool.

We talked and drank vino and would pause every few minutes to bring a focus to presence.  What it means to us and our leadership and the holidays. It was so romantic.  To flirt with ideas and look life on the eye and tell it you love it. 

It was next level for us as individuals and as and team. I'm so grateful that I was able to participate and kick off the season with such intent. (This is a partial capture of the super messy table that we left behind that night.)

First Run

So I officialy kicked off my 100 by December today.

I ran 3.1 miles in 35 min or so (this picture includes a 5 min cool down after the goal was reached).  I figured that I should run a 5k since Thanksgiving is coming up.  This way I'm geared up for a Turkey Trot come Turkey Day morning! :)

This run felt pretty good considering how long it's been since I've done a run on my own.  I walked 3 laps of 12 but still went 100% the entire time.  I was surprised at how much I actually ran.  I thought I was going to split after one mile.

My focus is not just on the marathons in 2015, but also in re-fulfilling the vision I had a long time ago of being a runner in my 20s.

I love running. I love the endorphin high and rush you feel mile after mile.

This was a great start for me and I know that this slow build is going to help me run powerfully in May at the Chicago Spring Marathon!

:)

Yay!

Melissa

100 Miles by 2015

I haven't truly been running on my own for almost one year so I am running 100 Miles by Dec 31st.

I want to run three half-marathons next year (2015) and I want to ease myself back into the saddle this way.  (My first race is in May.)

In 78 days, I'll run about 1.5 miles every day (or more..or less).  I envision that it will be just like when I started my weight loss journey back in 2010.  Not as slow or unsure, but rekindling a romance with "the run", sweat, and patience with my body.  And I'll expound on "patience with my body"...

I can still run.  That's not a concern.  At my own pace I can go do a 5k right now.  And I can also run fast short sprints (really fast).  But taking it slow, I can get in tune with what I'm really after in my life.  It's not for a body anymore. I have that.  It's for a lifestyle.  One that I could have lost because of injuries and stress.  Now these runs are my way of saying "I love you".  These new runs are for my future.  I want to run for the rest of my life.  I miss it like mad!  I don't ever want to not be able to run (or not have the confidence in my body to run) again.

Come January I will be busting out 7 min miles (PB) and 7 mile runs like nobuddy's business.  Small steps all add up to the journey of a lifetime.

(I am also seeing a physical therapist to rebuild strength in my right leg and also had the script add on some core work *wink*.  Just to truly secure my foundation as I plan on "getting after it" for at least 70 more years.)

Here's to the baby-steps and foam rolling!

:-)

Mel